Acoustic collection system for handheld electronic devices

• US 9,414,155 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratoscientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stratoscientific, Inc.
• Inventors: Mulumudi, Suman K., Mulumudi, Mahesh S
• Primary Examiner(s): Huber, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/054,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20150104027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/08 Non-electric sound-amplifying devices, e.g. non-electric megaphones amplifying by horns G10K11/02; amplifying by focusing G10K11/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/22 for conducting sound through hollow pipes, e.g. speaking tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

A mounting system is provided to allow the attachment of an acoustic collector to a handheld electronic device such that sound is conducted directly to the device'"'"'s microphone. A fitted case or band encloses part of the device and includes a tube running from the collector to the device'"'"'s microphone. In certain embodiments, the tube may be embedded in the case, and a detachable mount may be provided to connect the collector to the case. The collector may be a stethoscope chestpiece, or an open air collector, such as a parabolic collector.

Claims

1. A tool for connecting an acoustic collector to a microphone-equipped handheld electronic device, said tool comprising:

(a) a detachable fitted casing for fitting around at least a portion of said handheld device;

(b) said acoustic collector affixed to said casing; and

(c) a tube configured to carry sound waves through air from said acoustic collector to a microphone on said handheld electronic device, wherein the entire length of said tube is physically incorporated as a channel within said casing.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said handheld electronic device is a Smartphone/Tablet and said casing is designed to hook onto said handheld electronic device.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said collector has a rim capable of detachably mounting a diaphragm.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the casing is configured to hook onto the electronic device and exert a squeezing force on the electronic device.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the casing is configured to create an airtight seal between the tube and the microphone.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein the casing is configured to create an airtight seal between the tube and the microphone.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the acoustic collector is formed from a flexible rubber material configured to deform to match contours of a surface being listened to.

8. A method for using an acoustic collector, said method comprising:

(a) providing a microphone-equipped handheld electronic device;

(b) providing a detachable fitted casing covering at least a portion of said handheld device;

(c) providing said acoustic collector;

(d) providing a tube configured to carry sound waves through air from said acoustic collector to a microphone on said handheld electronic device, wherein the entire length of said tube is physically incorporated as a channel within said casing; and

(e) allowing said handheld electronic device'"'"'s microphone to detect sounds transmitted through said collector.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing said handheld electronic device as a Smartphone/Tablet and providing said casing with lips for hooking onto said device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a software program capable of augmenting user-selected sound frequencies.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising using said collector as a stethoscope chestpiece.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing said handheld electronic device as equipped with a camera, and including using said camera to capture a visual image of the subject that is emitting said sounds.

13. The method of claim 8, including configuring the casing to exert a squeezing force on the electronic device, the casing including a sealing means between the tube and the microphone, and allowing the squeezing force to create an airtight seal between the tube and the microphone.

14. A casing for fitting around a handheld electronic device, the casing comprising a tube whose entire length is physically incorporated within the casing, the tube configured to carry sound waves through air from an acoustic collector incorporated with the casing to a microphone on the handheld electronic device.