Shielded microphone

• US 6,771,788 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Copeland, Bill, Soutar, Ian, Watkins, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US09/579,119
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 381/189, 381/334, 381/345, 381/346, 381/347, 381/355, 381/360, 381/361, 381/369, 381/FOR.145, 381/FOR.147, 381/FOR.151, 128/201.19, 181/149, 367/141, 367/174
• US Class Current: 381/355
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces

Abstract

A microphone shield system is disclosed. The microphone shield system includes an impervious elastic membrane stretched over and covering a microphone on substantially all sides. The impervious elastic membrane is adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range. The selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects, such as wind and rain.

Claims

1. A microphone shield system, comprising:

an inflated impervious elastic membrane stretched over and covering a microphone on at least one side, said impervious elastic membrane adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range, wherein the selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects; and

an opening to allow a plurality of wires to pass through said inflated impervious elastic membrane, said plurality of wires providing connections to the microphone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said impervious elastic member covers the microphone on substantially all sides.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said impervious elastic membrane is stretched over the microphone by a pressure induced by gas.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a porous foam coupled to said impervious elastic membrane, said porous foam adapted to acoustically dampen natural resonances of said impervious elastic membrane.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame configured to allow said impervious elastic membrane to form an enclosure around the microphone.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the enclosure is substantially sealed to protect the microphone from rain.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said impervious elastic membrane is inflated with air to form an enclosure around the microphone.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the enclosure is substantially sealed to protect the microphone from moisture.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said impervious elastic membrane is pressurized with gas to form an enclosure around the microphone.

10. A shield system for a sound transducing device, comprising:

a chamber having a first opening, and adapted to provide an enclosure for the sound transducing device; and

an inflated impervious elastic membrane stretched over the first opening of said chamber, said inflated impervious elastic membrane adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range, where the selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said chamber is hard and rigid.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the sound transducing device is a microphone.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said chamber is gas-pressurized above atmospheric pressure.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said chamber has a second opening to pass a plurality of wires providing connections to the sound transducing device.

15. A method for shielding a microphone from noise created by environmental effects, comprising:

inflating an impervious elastic membrane over the microphone to form an enclosure, said impervious elastic membrane adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects; and

passing a plurality of wires through said impervious elastic membrane to provide connections to the microphone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said inflating includes pressurizing the impervious elastic membrane with gas.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

covering said enclosure with a porous material.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

lining an inside surface of said impervious elastic membrane with damping material porous to sound.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

lining an inside surface of said impervious elastic membrane with damping material porous to sound.

20. A method for shielding a microphone from a high wind condition, comprising:

inflating an impervious elastic membrane over the microphone to form an enclosure, said impervious elastic membrane adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range, wherein the selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects;

coupling a porous foam to said impervious elastic membrane, said porous foam adapted to acoustically dampen natural resonances of said impervious elastic membrane; and

passing a plurality of wires through said impervious elastic membrane to provide connections to the microphone.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said impervious elastic membrane is stretched over the microphone by a pressure induced by gas.

21. A method for shielding a microphone from a high wind condition, comprising:

enclosing the microphone in a chamber with an opening;

inflating an impervious elastic membrane over said opening of the chamber, said impervious elastic membrane adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range, wherein the selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects; and

coupling a porous foam to said impervious elastic membrane, said porous foam adapted to acoustically dampen natural resonances of said impervious elastic membrane.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said impervious elastic membrane is stretched over the microphone by a pressure induced by gas.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

covering the chamber and the impervious elastic membrane with open-celled foam or other porous material.