Microphone Suspension With Arched Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microphones face challenges in balancing axial and lateral stiffness and damping to effectively isolate vibrations, particularly in asymmetrical designs, leading to unwanted noise from external forces.
Innovation Solution
A microphone suspension system with a flexible suspension element providing low axial stiffness and high lateral stiffness, combined with a counterweight to align the center of gravity with the suspension axis, effectively isolating vibrations by utilizing arched flanges and a polymeric material to absorb energy at resonance frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If isolation components are added to reduce vibrations, then vibration isolation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension element combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides axial compliance for vibration isolation, lateral stiffness for transducer positioning, and damping for resonance control. This merging eliminates the need for separate isolation components, thereby improving vibration isolation without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension element exhibits different mechanical properties in different directions: low axial stiffness for vibration isolation, high lateral stiffness for transducer support, and specific damping characteristics for resonance frequency control. This anisotropic local quality allows a single component to address multiple vibration isolation requirements simultaneously
2Object-affected harmful factors
If axial stiffness is reduced to allow transducer translation for vibration isolation, then vibration isolation is improved, but transducer positioning stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension element is designed with asymmetric stiffness characteristics: soft in the axial direction to permit vibration isolation translation, but stiff in the lateral direction to maintain transducer positioning stability. This asymmetric design resolves the contradiction by providing direction-dependent mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the suspension element provide different mechanical functions: the axial portion allows compliance for vibration isolation, while the lateral portions provide stiffness for positioning stability. This local differentiation of mechanical properties enables simultaneous achievement of vibration isolation and positioning stability
3Reliability
If lateral stiffness is increased to prevent transducer contact with housing, then transducer protection is improved, but vibration isolation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension element provides high lateral stiffness at the transducer support regions to prevent contact with housing, while maintaining low axial stiffness in the vibration isolation direction. This localized differentiation of stiffness properties protects the transducer without compromising vibration isolation effectiveness
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 system achieves improved vibration isolation and damping, reducing noise from unwanted vibrations while preventing the audio module from contacting housing components, enhancing handling performance and audio quality.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible suspension that provides low axial stiffness, high lateral stiffness, and high damping
Implementation Method 2
At frequencies around the suspended resonance, the damping plays is effective at absorbing the vibrational energy and maintaining low capsule motion
Implementation Method 3
the center of gravity of the capsule system may be aligned with the centerline of the suspension
Data Source
AI summary
A microphone includes a housing. The microphone includes a windscreen coupled with the housing. The windscreen and the housing define a central volume. The microphone includes an audio module within the central volume. The audio module includes a receiver capsule, a carrier unit coupled with the receiver capsule, and a counterweight coupled with the carrier unit. The microphone includes a suspension element that is coupled with the housing and carrier unit to suspend the audio module within the central volume. The suspension element includes an inner body that contacts the carrier unit. The suspension element includes first and second flanges extending outward from the inner body. The first and second flange are fixedly coupled with the housing. A cross-section of the first and second flange includes an arched region that extends at least partially to an inner wall of the housing. The arched regions are oriented in opposite directions.