Sharing Earpiece Acoustic Opening for Microphone Beamforming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile multi-function devices with multiple microphones require separate acoustic openings, which are aesthetically unappealing and complicate design and manufacturing, while also being obstructed by the user's hand during certain operations.

Innovation Solution

A mobile multi-function device design where one microphone shares the receiver acoustic opening with the speaker, eliminating the need for additional openings and ensuring unobstruction during use, with a beamformer processor combining signals from multiple microphones for improved audio capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate acoustic openings are provided for each microphone, then each microphone can be exposed to the outside environment for clear audio capture, but the housing becomes aesthetically unappealing and manufacturing becomes more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio capture qualityVSAvoidhousing design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the acoustic opening for the first microphone with the existing receiver acoustic opening used by the speaker. This consolidation eliminates the need for a separate opening for the first microphone, thereby simplifying the housing design and improving aesthetics while maintaining audio capture functionality through the shared opening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver acoustic opening is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as an acoustic opening for the speaker during phone calls and simultaneously serves as an acoustic opening for the first microphone during operations such as video conferencing, voice dictation, and voice activation. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of openings required in the housing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate acoustic openings are provided for each microphone, then each microphone can be exposed to the outside environment, but additional openings complicate the design and construction of the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrophone exposure to environmentVSAvoidhousing manufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the acoustic path for the first microphone with the existing receiver acoustic opening. This merger reduces the number of separate openings that need to be manufactured in the housing, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing construction complications while ensuring the microphone remains exposed to the external environment for audio capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If microphones are located on the front and back of the device, then audio can be clearly sensed in various locations, but each microphone requires a separate acoustic opening that complicates housing design

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio sensing in various locationsVSAvoidnumber of acoustic openings

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the acoustic opening requirements for multiple microphones into a shared receiver acoustic opening. This consolidation reduces the total number of openings in the housing while maintaining the capability for microphones to capture audio from various locations, thereby reducing housing complexity without sacrificing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver acoustic opening is designed as a universal opening that serves multiple microphones for different functions: it supports the speaker during phone calls and enables the first microphone to capture audio during video conferencing, voice dictation, and voice activation, thereby reducing the number of specialized openings needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The design enhances aesthetics and simplifies manufacturing while ensuring unobstructed microphone operation, improving audio capture and noise isolation through beamforming techniques.

Implementation Method 1

The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeamforming:

Data Source

PatentUS10003885B2Use of an earpiece acoustic opening as a microphone port for beamforming applications

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 APPLE INC

AI summary

A mobile multi-function device that includes a speaker, two or more microphones, and a beamformer processor is described. The beamformer processor uses the microphones to perform beamforming operations. One of the microphones shares a receiver acoustic opening with the speaker while the other microphone uses a separate acoustic opening. The receiver acoustic opening may be an earpiece opening that is held to the ear of a user while conducting a phone call with the device and provides acoustic input and output paths for the microphone and the speaker, respectively.