THROWABLE MICROPHONE

• US 20160345087A1
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PeeQ Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: PeeQ Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cox, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 10,075,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/007 Protection circuits for transducers

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention include a throwable microphone device. The throwable microphone device may comprise a housing. The throwable microphone device may include a microphone, a communication unit, a motion sensor, an orientation sensor, and a processor disposed within the housing. In some embodiments, the microphone may receive sound waves and generate a corresponding electrical audio signal. The communication unit may wirelessly transmit at least a portion of the electrical audio signals. The motion sensor may detect changes in acceleration of the throwable microphone device. The orientation sensor may detect changes in orientation of the throwable microphone device. The processor may be electrically coupled with the microphone, the communication unit, the motion sensor, and the orientation sensor. The processor may mute the throwable microphone device in response to data from the motion sensor and may also unmute the throwable microphone device in response to data from the orientation sensor.

Claims

1. A throwable microphone device comprising:

a housing;

a microphone, disposed in the housing, configured to receive sound waves and generate a corresponding electrical audio signal;

a communication unit, disposed in the housing, that wirelessly transmits at least a portion of the electrical audio signals;

a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, that detects changes in acceleration of the throwable microphone;

an orientation sensor, disposed in the housing, that detects changes in orientation of the throwable microphone; and

a processor, disposed in the housing, electrically coupled with the microphone, the communication unit, the motion sensor, and the orientation sensor, the processor configured to mute the throwable microphone device in response to data from the motion sensor and configured to unmute the throwable microphone device in response to data from an orientation sensor.

2. The throwable microphone device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of soft shell, foam, fleece, polyester, cotton, rubber, nylon, leather, and padding.

3. The throwable microphone device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a flat portion, and wherein the microphone is disposed proximate to the flat portion of the throwable microphone.

4. The throwable microphone device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer, and the orientation sensor comprises a gyroscope.

5. The throwable microphone device of claim 1, wherein muting the throwable microphone device comprises switching “

off”

of the microphone;

not transmitting the electrical audio signals from the transmitter;

or, transmitting a mute signal from the transmitter.

6. The throwable microphone device of claim 1, wherein unmuting the throwable microphone device comprises switching ‘

on’

of the microphone;

re-transmitting the electrical audio signals from the transmitter;

or, transmitting an unmute signal from the transmitter.

7. A method comprising:

receiving sound waves at a microphone disposed within a throwable microphone device;

wirelessly transmitting electrical audio signals corresponding to the sound waves, via a transmitter disposed within the throwable microphone device;

receiving at a processor disposed within the throwable microphone device, an acceleration signal from a motion sensor;

muting the throwable microphone device, in the event the acceleration signal exceeds a first threshold;

receiving at the processor a spin signal from an orientation sensor; and

unmuting the throwable microphone device, in the event the spin signal is lower than a second threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer, and the orientation sensor comprises a gyroscope.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the spin signal is represented based on the orientation of the throwable microphone device along a rotational axis, and wherein the spin signal is also determined based on the presence or absence of a rotational force on the throwable microphone device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein muting the throwable microphone device comprises switching “

off”

of the microphone;

not transmitting the electrical audio signals from the transmitter;

or, transmitting a mute signal from the transmitter.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein unmuting the throwable microphone device comprises switching ‘

on’

of the microphone;

re-transmitting the electrical audio signals from the transmitter;

or, transmitting an unmute signal from the transmitter.

12. A throwable microphone device comprising:

a microphone that receives sound waves;

a transmitter that transmits electrical audio signals corresponding to the sound waves to a receiver;

a sensor to detect any motion of the throwable microphone device;

a processor configured to;

receive at the processor a first sensor signal;

determine based on the first sensor signal, that the microphone is facing downward;

set the throwable microphone device to a muted state;

receive at the processor a second sensor signal;

determine based on the second sensor signal that the microphone is facing upward; and

set the throwable microphone device to an unmuted state.

13. The throwable microphone device of claim 12, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer measuring the acceleration of the throwable microphone device with respect to gravity along an axis and providing an acceleration value.

14. The throwable microphone device of claim 13, wherein when the processor determines whether the throwable microphone device is facing downward or upward based on whether the acceleration value of the throwable microphone device is below or above a threshold value.

15. The throwable microphone device of claim 12, wherein when the processor receives the sensor signal and detects the motion or average motion of the throwable microphone device is below a threshold, the processor determines that the throwable microphone device is in a still state.

16. The throwable microphone device of claim 12, wherein the throwable microphone device enters the auto-mute state when the first sensor signal is below a threshold value continually for a given period of time.

17. The throwable microphone device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to perform:

determining that the sensor signal corresponds with a shaking action; and

unmuting the throwable microphone device.

18. The throwable microphone device of claim 17, wherein the processor unmutes the throwable microphone device in the event the sensor signal comprising an acceleration corresponding to the shaking action is above a threshold.

19. The throwable microphone device of claim 12, wherein muting the throwable microphone device includes switching “

off”

of the microphone;

not transmitting the electrical audio signals from the transmitter;

or, transmitting a mute signal from the transmitter.

20. The throwable microphone device of claim 12, wherein unmuting the throwable microphone device comprises switching ‘

on’

of the microphone;

re-transmitting the electrical audio signals from the transmitter;

or, transmitting an unmute signal from the transmitter.