Series-Connected Capacitor Microphone Units for High Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitor microphones face a trade-off between high frequency directional response and sensitivity, with small units excelling in high frequency response but having poor sensitivity, and large units having high sensitivity but poor high frequency response, and existing solutions struggle to improve sensitivity without degrading frequency response.
Innovation Solution
A capacitor microphone design that connects multiple small units in series, each with its own impedance converter, to achieve high sensitivity and balanced output while maintaining excellent directional frequency response in the high frequency domain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a small capacitor microphone unit is used, then directional frequency response in high frequency domain is improved, but sensitivity and S/N ratio deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone is divided into multiple small capacitor microphone units (e.g., four units) arranged in a specific configuration. Each unit maintains its small size for excellent directional frequency response, while the collective arrangement provides sufficient sensitivity through multiple active elements working together.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple small capacitor microphone units are electrically connected in series through impedance converters. This merging of multiple units allows the system to achieve high sensitivity (equivalent to a large unit) while each individual unit retains the directional frequency response characteristics of small units.
2Reliability
If a large capacitor microphone unit is used, then sensitivity and S/N ratio are improved, but directional frequency response in high frequency domain deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large capacitor microphone unit, the system segments the function into multiple small units. Each small unit provides good directional frequency response, and the combination of multiple units achieves the sensitivity level of a large unit without sacrificing high frequency response.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single large unit approach to a multi-unit array approach. By arranging multiple small units in space and connecting them electrically in series, the system achieves both high sensitivity (through multiple elements) and excellent directional frequency response (through the small size of each element).
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 enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity significantly while preserving the high frequency directional response, effectively addressing the limitations of both small and large capacitor microphone units.
Implementation Method 1
a sound signal output unit including an impedance converter that converts vibration of the diaphragm due to sound waves into an electrical signal as a change in capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
Diaphragms of a plurality of capacitor microphone units are arranged in the same plane and the capacitor microphone units are connected in series to make an output from an impedance converter connected to one capacitor microphone unit drives a ground side of another capacitor microphone unit connected to the impedance converter.