Microphone Assembly with Movable Inner Sleeve for Directivity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional microphones typically have only one definite directivity, requiring multiple microphones to achieve multiple directivities, which complicates design and increases manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A microphone assembly with a movable inner sleeve and outer sleeve system, allowing sound receiving holes on the front and rear surfaces to transition and change the overall directivity, enabling multiple directivities with a single microphone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple microphones are used to achieve multiple directivities, then the directivity versatility is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectivity versatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a movable inner sleeve that can shift relative to the outer sleeve to dynamically change the exposure state of sound receiving holes. This dynamic mechanical adjustment allows a single microphone to achieve multiple directivities (omni-directional, bi-directional, uni-directional) by changing its acoustic environment, replacing the need for multiple fixed microphones with different directivities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The single microphone assembly is designed to perform multiple functions by achieving different directivity patterns. Through the movable inner sleeve mechanism, the same microphone can function as an omni-directional microphone, bi-directional microphone, or uni-directional microphone depending on the relative position of the sleeves, thus providing universal directivity versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple microphones are used to achieve multiple directivities, then the directivity versatility is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectivity versatilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The movable inner sleeve mechanism enables a single microphone to dynamically adjust its acoustic characteristics, achieving multiple directivity patterns without requiring multiple specialized microphones. This reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need to produce, inventory, and assemble multiple different microphone types while maintaining the capability to provide omni-directional, bi-directional, and uni-directional pickup patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If sound receiving holes are fixed, then the structure is simple, but the directivity cannot be changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddirectivity changeability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a movable inner sleeve that can shift along the axial direction relative to the outer sleeve. This dynamic structure allows the sound receiving holes to transition between exposed and blocked states, enabling the microphone to change its directivity pattern from omni-directional to bi-directional to uni-directional, thus providing adaptability without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inner sleeve is nested within the outer sleeve, forming a compact concentric structure. This nested design allows the movable inner sleeve to adjust the exposure of sound receiving holes while maintaining a space-efficient and relatively simple overall structure, avoiding the need for complex external mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 simplifies the structure and reduces manufacturing costs while allowing the microphone to achieve multiple directivities, such as bi-directional and omni-directional modes, by adjusting the relative positions of the inner and outer sleeves.

Implementation Method 1

there will be sound wave diffraction entering from the rear and reaching the rear of the diaphragm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave diffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

what the diaphragm senses is a pressure difference between a front sound wave and a rear sound wave on the diaphragm surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic pressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12108206B2Microphone assembly with multiple directivities

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 LANTO ELECTRONIC LIMITED

AI summary

A microphone assembly includes a microphone, an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The microphone has a shell, a diaphragm, a first sound receiving hole and a second sound receiving hole. The inner sleeve has a first hole and a second hole. The microphone is received between the first hole and the second hole. The inner sleeve is movable relative to the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve and the outer sleeve have at least two relative positions: in a first relative position, both the first hole and the second hole communicate with an outside environment; and in a second relative position, the first hole or the second hole communicates with the outside environment. The microphone assembly utilizes the relative movement of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to achieve directivity change.