Differential Microphone Assembly with Mutually Exclusive Membranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Differential microphone arrays face challenges in packaging multiple microphones at close distances due to mutual separations and interference from wiring between separate processing and noise suppression circuitry packages, which also require high pass frequency compensation.
Innovation Solution
A differential microphone assembly with multiple membranes oriented in mutually exclusive directions within a single package, where the membranes are mechanically and electrically coupled to a shared substrate and processing circuitry, allowing for efficient noise cancellation and signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If multiple microphones are packaged in a single package with close mutual separations, then compactness is improved, but manufacturing precision and alignment difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple acoustic transducers (microphones) into a single integrated package with shared processing circuitry and mechanical coupling structures. This merging approach achieves compact packaging while the integrated design ensures precise alignment through common mounting substrates and mechanically coupled membranes, resolving the contradiction between compactness and manufacturing precision.
2Ease of manufacture
If processing and noise suppression circuitry are placed in separate packages, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity and wiring interference worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the processing circuitry directly into the same package as the acoustic transducers, eliminating separate packaging and extensive wiring. This single-package integration reduces wiring complexity and interference while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular circuit board designs that can be assembled using standard PCB fabrication processes.
3Reliability
If membranes are oriented in mutually exclusive directions for noise cancellation, then noise cancellation performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs membranes with asymmetric orientations in mutually exclusive directions (e.g., forward-facing, rearward-facing, lateral-facing) to achieve differential pressure sensing for noise cancellation. The asymmetric design is implemented through precise mounting angles on the substrate during manufacturing, achieving the required directional sensitivity while using standard fabrication techniques to manage complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables effective noise cancellation and enhanced speech quality by canceling far-field noise while minimizing background noise, and allows for compact packaging and reduced interference, improving the practicality and performance of close-talk microphones.
Implementation Method 1
pressure gradient or first order differential (FOD) microphones, and have a diaphragm which vibrates in accordance with differences in sound pressure between its front and rear surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A differential microphone assembly with multiple membranes in a single package and oriented in mutually exclusive directions.