Pilot Microphone Cover with Sound Redirection Ridges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft microphone systems face significant interference from ambient noise, particularly in high wind environments, which disrupts voice communication within cockpits and other noisy locations.

Innovation Solution

A pilot microphone cover featuring an enclosure with an audio aperture and a pair of sound redirection ridges that blocks ambient noise while allowing sound from the front to reach the microphone, further attenuating noise from above and below through its design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the microphone is exposed to capture all directions sound, then the voice communication is clear, but the ambient noise interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice communication clarityVSAvoidambient noise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating an enclosure with different acoustic properties for different directions: the front aperture allows sound entry while the surrounding surfaces are designed to reflect or absorb noise from other directions. The ridges create localized acoustic zones that redirect noise away from the microphone capsule.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the acoustic environment by dividing the space around the microphone into useful areas (front aperture) and harmful areas (surrounding surfaces with ridges). This segmentation allows the microphone to capture sound from specific directions while blocking noise from other directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the microphone is covered to block ambient noise, then the noise reduction is effective, but the voice capture capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambient noise blockingVSAvoidvoice capture capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an acoustic intermediary structure (the enclosure with ridges) that mediates between the ambient noise and the microphone. This intermediary selectively allows voice frequencies from the front to pass through while blocking or redirecting noise from other directions, thus protecting the microphone without completely isolating it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a simple cover is used to reduce noise, then the device complexity is low, but the noise attenuation from all directions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover structure simplicityVSAvoidnoise attenuation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses the limitation of simple covers by adding dimensional complexity through three-dimensional ridges that extend from the enclosure surface. These ridges create acoustic pathways that redirect noise from above and below, adding a vertical dimension to noise control that simple flat covers cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Effectively reduces ambient noise interference, enhancing voice communication clarity in noisy environments by blocking noise from all directions except the front, where sound can enter through the audio aperture.

Implementation Method 1

The enclosure may block the ambient noise while allowing the microphone to pick up sounds that originate in front of the microphone and that enter the enclosure through the audio aperture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound blocking: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The pair of sound redirection ridges may further attenuate the ambient noise originating above and below the microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound redirection: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS11805346B1Pilot microphone cover for reducing ambient noise

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 KINCART ROBERT LANDEN

AI summary

The pilot microphone cover for reducing ambient noise comprises an enclosure, an audio aperture, and a pair of sound redirection ridges. The pilot microphone cover may attenuate ambient noise to reduce interference with voice communication within a cockpit of an airplane. The pilot microphone cover may be used for anyone who wears a headset in a high wind environment, including but not limited to, ground support, staff, crew, etc. The enclosure may be adapted to cover a microphone of a headset. The enclosure may block the ambient noise while allowing the microphone to pick up sounds that originate in front of the microphone and that enter the enclosure through the audio aperture. The pair of sound redirection ridges may further attenuate the ambient noise originating above and below the microphone.