Noise control device

• US 5,854,848 A
• Filed: 01/12/1997
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Umevoice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Umevoice, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolff, Steve B., Tate, Joseph B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Application Number:
  US08/787,010
• Time in Patent Office: 716 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 381/169, 381/160, 381/91, 381/355, 381/356, 381/357
• US Class Current: 381/357
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/342 for microphones

Abstract

An apparatus for noise cancellation of ambient noise impinging upon the front surface of a pressure differential microphone. The apparatus utilizes curved reflectors to cause ambient noise which impinges on the front surface of the microphone to also impinge on the back surface of the microphone. In addition, the curved reflectors deflect a speaker'"'"'s voice which is directed toward the front surface of the microphone to be deflected away from the back surface of the microphone.

Claims

1. A noise-controlling apparatus for use with a directional microphone comprising:

a housing having a first sound opening located in a front side of a barrier element and a second sound opening located in a back side of the barrier element, the housing having a curved reflector extending from the back side of the barrier element which deflects a user'"'"'s voice away from the second sound opening and deflects ambient noise directed at the front side of the barrier toward the second sound opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved reflector comprises a continuously variable curved surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved reflector comprises a semi-parabolic curved surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved reflector comprises a quasi-parabolic curved surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the back side of the barrier element and the curved reflector form a non-tubular sound concentration zone around the second sound opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved reflector curves in the y and z directions only.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved reflector curves in the depth and height directions only.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise-controlling apparatus is coupled with an airplane telephone.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise-controlling apparatus is coupled with a cellular telephone.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise-controlling apparatus is coupled with a car telephone.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise-controlling apparatus is coupled with a headset.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise-controlling apparatus is coupled with a stage microphone.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the noise-controlling apparatus is coupled with a telephone handset.

8. A noise-controlling apparatus comprising:

a microphone having a sound-receiving front side and a sound-receiving back side;

a housing having a centrally located barrier element with a first sound opening in a front side of the barrier element and a second sound opening in a back side of the barrier element communicating with the sound-receiving front and back side, respectively, of the microphone, the housing having a first curved reflector and a second curved reflector each extending from the back side of the barrier element and which deflect a user'"'"'s voice away from the second sound opening and ambient noise directed at the front side of the barrier toward the second sound opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the curved reflectors comprises a continuously variable curved surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the curved reflectors comprises a semi-parabolic curved surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the curved reflectors comprises a quasi-parabolic curved surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the back side of the barrier element and the curved reflectors form a non-tubular sound concentration zone around the second sound opening.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the curved reflectors curve in the y and z directions only.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the curved reflectors curve in the depth and height directions only.

15. A noise-controlling apparatus comprising:

a microphone having a sound-receiving front side and a sound-receiving back side;

a housing having a centrally located barrier element with a first sound opening in a front side of the barrier element and a second sound opening in a back side of the barrier element communicating with the sound-receiving front and back side, respectively, of the microphone; and

means for deflecting a user'"'"'s voice away from the second sound opening and deflecting ambient noise directed at the front side of the barrier toward the second sound opening.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 having means forming a non-tubular sound concentration zone around the second sound opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 having means for increasing the sound pressure from the ambient noise on the sound-receiving back side of the microphone.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 having means for preventing or minimizing resonance at the second sound opening.