Audio device comprising a microphone

• US 8,494,204 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Jensen, Lars Tuborg
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/013,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/322, 381/359, 379/430
• US Class Current: 381/359
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/041 Adaptation of stereophonic signal reproduction for the hearing impaired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/07 Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/402 using contructional means

Abstract

An audio device includes a microphone, a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone, a signal path from the microphone to a receiver, and a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user. A protection screen is provided at the sound canal, and includes a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal, and defines a slit-formed opening between the first surface and the second surface. The curvature between the first surface and the slit-formed opening is smooth and gradual, and a sharp edge is located at the transition between the second surface and the slit-formed opening.

Claims

1. An audio device, comprising:

an external casing;

a microphone housed within the external casing, acoustically connected through a sound canal to an inlet port of the external casing; and

a protective cover attached to the external casing above the inlet port, the protective cover including

a first surface facing substantially toward exterior of the audio device, the first surface having a smooth curvature toward an elongated slit opening of the protective cover, and

a second surface facing toward interior of the audio device, the second surface meeting the first surface along an edge defining the boundary of the elongated slit opening.

2. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein

the edge has a cross-sectional angle of less than ninety degrees.

3. A protection screen for an audio device, comprising:

a first surface facing substantially toward exterior of the audio device, the first surface having a smooth curvature toward an elongated slit opening; and

a second surface facing toward interior of the audio device, the second surface meeting the first surface along an edge.

4. The protection screen for an audio device according to claim 3, wherein

the audio device includes an exterior casing having at least one microphone inlet, and

the elongated slit opening of the protection screen is positioned above the at least one microphone inlet.

6. The protection screen for an audio device according to claim 3, wherein

the edge defines the boundary of the elongated slit opening.

7. The protection screen for an audio device according to claim 3, wherein

the edge has a cross-sectional angle of less than ninety degrees.

5. A protection screen for an audio device, comprising:

a first surface facing substantially toward exterior of the audio device, the first surface having a smooth curvature toward an elongated slit opening; and

a second surface facing toward interior of the audio device, the second surface meeting the first surface along an edge, wherein

the audio device includes an exterior casing having two microphone inlets, the elongated slit opening extends above the two microphone inlets, defining an open space between the protection screen and an upper surface of the casing between the two inlets.

8. An audio device, comprising:

an external casing including two microphone inlets;

at least one microphone housed within the external casing, acoustically connected through a sound canal to at least one of the two microphone inlets of the external casing; and

a protective cover attached to the external casing above the two microphone inlets and defining an open space between itself and the external casing, the protective cover including

a first surface facing substantially toward exterior of the audio device, the first surface having a smooth curvature toward an elongated slit opening of the protective cover,

a second surface facing toward interior of the audio device, the second surface meeting the first surface along an edge defining the boundary of the elongated slit opening, and

the elongated slit opening.