Audio device comprising a microphone

• US 20070053538A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Jensen, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

The invention regards an audio device and comprises a microphone and a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone. Further a signal path from the microphone to a receiver is provided and powered by a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user. According to the invention a protection screen is provided at the sound canal, whereby the screen comprises a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal whereby the screen has a slit formed opening between the first surface and the second surface whereby the transition between the first surface and the slit formed opening is smooth and gradual, and whereby a sharp edge forms the transition between the second surface and the slit formed opening.

Claims

1. Audio device comprising a microphone and a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone wherein further a signal path from the microphone to a receiver is provided and powered by a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user and wherein a protection screen is provided at the sound canal, whereby the screen comprises a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal whereby the screen has a slit formed opening between the first surface and the second surface whereby the transition between the first surface and the slit formed opening is smooth and gradual, and whereby a sharp edge forms the transition between the second surface and the slit formed opening.

2. Audio device as claimed in claim 1, wherein two slit formed openings are provided in the protection screen with an intermediate plate element between the two slit formed openings and whereby a canal leading to the microphone is provided below the intermediate plate element such that a sound path is provided from the surroundings through the slit formed openings and into the canal leading to the microphone.

3. Audio device as claimed in claim 2, wherein two or more canals leading to a microphone or microphones are provided in the area below the intermediate plate element.

4. Audio device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two slit formed openings are extending side by side, and where the distance between the slit formed openings is such that the below opening to a canal leading to a microphone is covered by the intermediate plate element.

5. Audio device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a space beneath the slit formed openings is provided along the whole length of the openings, such that sound may pass through the slit formed openings at any point and reach the microphones.

6. Protection screen for an audio device where the screen has a first surface which faces the surroundings and an opposed second surface which faces an audio device, wherein the first surface is substantially smooth, and wherein a slit formed opening is provided in the screen between the first surface and the second surfaces and wherein the transition between the first surface and the slit formed opening is smooth and gradual, and whereby the transition between the second surface and the slit formed opening is sharp and edge-like.

7. Protection screen as claimed in claim 6, whereby the slit formed opening has a lengthwise extension allowing two microphone openings in a directional microphone system to be placed along the length of the slit-formed opening.

8. Protection screen as claimed in claim 6, wherein two slit formed openings are provided side by side and spaced around 3 mm apart, such that an intermediate plate part is formed between the slit formed openings.

9. Wind screen as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slit formed openings have a width in the range of 0.1 mm to 05 mm.

10. Wind screen as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sharp edge-like transition between the second surface and the slit formed opening is provided as a sharp edge with a maximum radius of curvature of 0.05 mm.