Sound collector

• US 7,609,843 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hajime Hatano, Yamatake Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hajime Hatano, Yamatake Corporation
• Inventors: Terashima, Shinsuke, Tamanoi, Yoshihito, Hatano, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Young; Wayne R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pendleton; Dionne H
• Application Number:
  US10/968,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20050157901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 381/304, 381/305, 381/307, 381/308, 381/67, 381/26, 381/336, 381/122, 381/355, 381/359, 381/360, 381/361, 381/365, 181/158, 181/171, 181/175, 181/131
• US Class Current: 381/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/34 by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/402

Abstract

The present invention provides a sound collector preferably applicable to an acoustic analysis with a high degree of accuracy and includes a sound collection hood having an opening at the front end and a sound reflective inner wall shaped like a rotating surface having a focus behind the opening at least provided on the opening side, thus forming an inner space, a microphone placed inside the sound collection hood with at least a sound receiving face oriented forward for receiving a sound wave entering the sound collection hood and an acoustical absorbent body formed in front of the sound receiving face so as to form an incident path for sound to enter the sound receiving face and in a shape surrounding the incident path.

Claims

1. A sound collector comprising:

a sound collection hood having an opening at the front end and a sound reflective inner wall shaped like a rotating surface having a focus behind the opening at least provided on the opening side, thus forming an inner space;

a microphone placed inside the sound collection hood with at least a sound receiving face oriented forward for receiving a sound wave entering the sound collection hood; and

an acoustical absorbent body, independent of the sound reflective inner wall, formed in front of the sound receiving face so as to form an incident path for sound to enter the sound receiving face, shaped so as to surround the incident path, and wherein an angle of the incident path is in the range 150°

±

15°

.

2. The sound collector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the front of the acoustical absorbent body and the surface contacting the sound collection hood is formed comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped surfaces so as to reflect sound waves diffusely.

3. The sound collector according to claim 1, wherein the acoustical absorbent body is provided with an acoustical absorbent member and a cover which spreads over the surface of the acoustical absorbent member and covers the acoustical absorbent member in such a way that the shape of the acoustical absorbent member remains.

4. The sound collector according to claim 3, wherein the cover is made of a jersey cloth.

5. The sound collector according to claim 1, wherein the acoustical absorbent body consists of two longitudinally detachable portions.

7. The sound collector according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the sound collection hood is provided with an acoustical absorbent around the perimeter of the opening.

11. The sound collector according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the sound collection hood is provided with an acoustical absorbent around the outer perimeter of the opening.

12. The sound collector according to claim 1 or 10, wherein the sound collection hood is further provided with a second acoustical absorbent body formed entirely behind the sound receiving face, adjacent to and separate from, the acoustical absorbent body formed in front of the sound receiving face.

6. A sound collector comprising:

a sound collection hood having an opening at the front end and a sound reflective inner wall shaped like a rotating surface having a focus behind the opening at least provided on the opening side, thus forming an inner space;

a microphone placed inside the sound collection hood with at least a sound receiving face oriented forward for receiving a sound wave entering the sound collection hood;

an acoustical absorbent member, independent of the sound reflective inner wall, disposed inside the sound collection hood so as to surround the sound receiving face of the microphone, forming an incident path for sound to enter the sound receiving face, wherein an angle of the incident path is in the range 150°

±

15°

; and

a partition wall which is disposed ahead of the acoustical absorbent member and separates the inner space including the sound receiving face from the outside of the sound collection hood.

8. The sound collector according to claim 6, wherein the partition wall is made of a sound-penetrable sheet.

9. The sound collector according to claim 6 or 8, wherein the partition wall is detachable from the sound collection hood.

10. A sound collector comprising:

a sound collection hood having an opening at the front end and a sound reflective inner wall shaped like a rotating surface having a focus behind the opening at least provided on the opening side, thus forming an inner space;

a microphone placed inside the sound collection hood with at least a sound receiving face oriented forward; and

an acoustical absorbent body, independent of the sound reflective inner wall, formed in front of the sound receiving face so as to form an incident path for sound to enter the sound receiving face, and wherein an angle of the incident path is in the range 150°

±

15°

.