Microphone Module Sharing Acoustic Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hearing assistance devices face challenges in space utilization and performance due to the complexity of microphone port and microphone design, particularly with multiple microphones, which complicates manufacturing and increases noise and feedback issues.

Innovation Solution

The development of a microphone module that combines omnidirectional and directional microphones into a single acoustic volume, using conjoined microphone capsules with aligned slits for effective sound transfer and simplified electrical connections, allowing for enhanced space efficiency and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple omnidirectional and directional microphones are used, then noise reduction and directional performance are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidmicrophone port configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple microphone capsules (omnidirectional and directional) into a single integrated microphone module that shares a common acoustic volume. This merging approach allows multiple microphones to function together while reducing the total number of separate microphone ports required, thereby improving noise reduction and directional performance without proportionally increasing device complexity and manufacturing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared acoustic volume serves multiple microphone capsules simultaneously, allowing a single acoustic port to support both omnidirectional and directional microphones. This multi-functional design enables the system to achieve enhanced noise reduction and directional capabilities while avoiding the need for separate dedicated ports for each microphone type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple omnidirectional and directional microphones are used, then noise reduction and directional performance are improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectional performanceVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple microphone capsules into a single modular assembly that can be manufactured as one unit or pre-assembled module. This merging of multiple microphones into a unified structure simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate components that need to be individually handled, positioned, and connected during assembly, while still providing enhanced directional performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The microphone capsules are configured and connected within a shared acoustic volume in a pre-defined arrangement that can be manufactured or pre-assembled before integration into the hearing device. This preliminary configuration of the microphone array within the shared volume simplifies the final assembly process by reducing the complexity of positioning and connecting multiple separate microphones during device manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If separate microphone ports are used for each microphone, then microphone performance is maintained, but space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrophone performanceVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple microphone capsules into a compact integrated module that shares a common acoustic volume and port structure. This consolidation allows multiple microphones to function with full performance capabilities while occupying significantly less space than would be required for separate microphone ports and housings for each individual microphone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested configuration where multiple microphone capsules are positioned within a shared acoustic volume, with one microphone effectively nested within the acoustic field of another. This nesting approach allows multiple microphones to coexist in a compact arrangement, maximizing space utilization while maintaining the acoustic performance required for both omnidirectional and directional microphones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9491555B2Method and apparatus for microphones sharing a common acoustic volume

Publication Date: 2016.11.08 STARKEY LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

The present subject matter provides method and apparatus for improved microphones sharing an acoustic volume. Some embodiments are useful for hearing assistance devices. Examples of an improved microphone module offering omnidirectional and directional microphone capsules are provided. Different mounting and interconnection embodiments are provided. Different electrical connector embodiments are discussed. Improvements in space and performance, and other efficiencies, are provided by the teachings set forth herein.