Microphone Assembly Bend and Clamp for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lavalier microphones face issues with bulky clips, imprecise attachment, damage to clothing, and noise from exposed cables, which affect sound quality and visibility.

Innovation Solution

A microphone assembly featuring a rigid tube with a bend to position the microphone away from noise sources and a clamp member for secure attachment to clothing, hiding cables and reducing noise by guiding them behind the clothing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a clip is used to attach the microphone to clothing, then the microphone can be mounted hands-free, but the clip may be bulky, lack precise attachment, and damage the clothing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidbulky clip
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of the traditional bulky clip is extracted and removed. Instead of using a separate clip component, the patent integrates the clamping function directly into the microphone housing itself, eliminating the need for an external clip while maintaining the hands-free mounting capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The microphone housing and clamping function are merged into a single integrated structure. The housing itself is designed to clamp onto the collar, combining the protective enclosure function with the mounting function, thereby eliminating the need for a separate bulky clip component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If the microphone is positioned close to the mouth for high quality sound recording, then sound quality is improved, but the microphone may be subject to noise from cable scratching against clothes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound recording qualityVSAvoidnoise from cable scratching
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable routing is moved from a two-dimensional plane near the microphone to a three-dimensional path through the collar and along the body. The cable exits from the bottom of the microphone and routes downward through the collar opening, placing it in a different spatial dimension away from the scratching interface between clothes and microphone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The collar itself acts as an intermediary structure that separates the cable from the microphone. The cable passes through the collar opening, using the collar as a protective mediator that prevents direct contact between the cable and the microphone, thereby eliminating scratching noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the cable is exposed near the microphone, then connection is simple, but the cable may scratch against clothes causing noise and may not be properly hidden

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable connectionVSAvoidnoise from cable scratching
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable routing path is predetermined and pre-configured during product design. The cable is designed to exit from the bottom of the microphone and route through the collar opening along a predetermined path that naturally hides the cable while preventing scratching, eliminating the need for user configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of an exposed cable causing noise is converted into a benefit by using the collar opening as a natural cable conduit. The collar structure, which could potentially cause scratching, is instead used as a protective guide that hides the cable and directs it away from the microphone, turning the collar into a beneficial element

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Reliability

If a traditional clamp is used to attach the microphone, then the microphone can be secured to clothing, but the clamp is visible to observers and may damage the clothes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidvisibility of clamp
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping function is merged into the microphone housing itself, eliminating the need for a separate visible clamp component. The housing is designed with integrated clamping surfaces that directly contact the collar, making the attachment mechanism invisible while maintaining secure attachment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The separate clamp component is extracted and removed from the design. The clamping function is taken out as a distinct element and integrated into the housing structure, eliminating the visible clamp while preserving the attachment security function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3050316B1Microphone assembly with a bend and clamp
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 DPA MICROPHONES
  • EP3050316B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3050316B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3050316B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A microphone assembly is disclosed, the microphone assembly comprising: a microphone for converting an acoustic signal to an electrical microphone signal; and a rigid tube with a first tube end and a second tube end. The microphone is attached at the first tube end. The rigid tube encloses at least a part of a first conductor for conducting the microphone signal. The rigid tube has a first tube part extending along a first axis, and the rigid tube has a first bend between the first tube end and the first tube part. A clamp member is mounted on the rigid tube, wherein the clamp member is configured for clamping the microphone assembly to a piece of clothing placed between a clamping section of the rigid tube and a clamping section of the clamp member.