Microphone orientation and size in a speakerphone

• US 8,116,500 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Oxford, William V., Kellar, Kevin Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/405,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20060239477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 381/150, 381/361, 381/355, 381/122, 381/87, 381/91, 379/388.01, 379/388.02, 379/420.01, 379/428.01
• US Class Current: 381/361
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones

Abstract

In various embodiments, a speakerphone may comprise multiple (e.g., 16) microphones placed in a circular array around a central speaker. The microphones may be mounted vertically in the speakerphone with their respective diaphragms substantially parallel to the top surface of the speakerphone. The centrally mounted speaker may be coupled to a stiff internal speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may be made of a stiff, heavy material (e.g., a dense plastic) to prevent the speaker vibrations from excessively vibrating the speakerphone enclosure (which may affect the microphones). The speaker enclosure may also include a raised rim and ridges to increase its stiffness.

Claims

1. A speakerphone, comprising:

an enclosure comprising a top plate and a bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate supports the speakerphone;

at least three microphones, wherein each microphone comprises a diaphragm having a surface to receive sound;

wherein the at least three microphones are mounted vertically in the enclosure to the top plate by respective microphone supports with the respective surfaces of the diaphragms of the microphones substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the bottom plate, wherein the at least three microphones are acoustically isolated from the bottom plate by a first material located between the bottom plate and the at least three microphones.

2. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the at least three microphones are mounted in a circular array.

3. The speakerphone of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, wherein the speaker is mounted to the speakerphone in a speaker enclosure.

4. The speakerphone of claim 3, wherein an interior of the speaker enclosure is comprised of a dense material.

5. The speakerphone of claim 3, wherein an interior of the speaker enclosure includes at least one ridge to increase stiffness of the speaker enclosure.

6. The speakerphone of claim 3, wherein the speaker enclosure includes a raised rim along an edge of the speaker enclosure to increase stiffness of the speaker enclosure.

7. The speakerphone of claim 6, wherein the first material comprises a foam rim placed on top of the raised rim, wherein the microphones are above the foam rim and are cushioned from the raised rim by the foam rim.

8. The speakerphone of claim 3, wherein the speaker has a perimeter driven diaphragm.

9. The speakerphone of claim 3, further comprising a phase plug coupled to the speaker.

10. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises at least one hole positioned above each of the at least three microphones.

11. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein the at least three microphones comprise at least 8 microphones in a circular array around a central speaker.

12. The speakerphone of claim 1, wherein each microphone support comprises:

a central mass that receives the respective microphone;

a mounting strip that suspends the central mass; and

a mounting bracket coupled to the mounting strip, wherein the mounting bracket is mounted to the top plate.

13. A speakerphone, comprising:

an enclosure comprising a top plate and a bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate supports the speakerphone;

at least three microphones, wherein each microphone comprises a diaphragm having a surface to receive sound, wherein the at least three microphones are mounted vertically in the enclosure to the top plate by respective microphone supports with the respective surfaces of the diaphragms of the microphones substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the bottom plate, wherein the at least three microphones are acoustically isolated from the bottom plate by a first material located between the bottom plate and the at least three microphones;

a speaker mounted to the enclosure;

a speaker enclosure mounted to the enclosure and the speaker;

wherein the at least three microphones are mounted in a circular array around the speaker.

14. The speakerphone of claim 13, wherein an interior of the speaker enclosure includes at least one ridge to increase stiffness of the speaker enclosure.

15. The speakerphone of claim 13, wherein the speaker enclosure includes a raised rim along an edge of the speaker enclosure to increase stiffness of the speaker enclosure.

16. The speakerphone of claim 15, wherein the first material comprises a foam rim placed on top of the raised rim, wherein the microphones are above the foam rim and are cushioned from the raised rim by the foam rim.

17. The speakerphone of claim 13, wherein each microphone support comprises:

a central mass that receives the respective microphone;

a mounting strip that suspends the central mass; and

a mounting bracket coupled to the mounting strip, wherein the mounting bracket is mounted to the top plate.