Stereo Microphone Unit With Shared Windproof Cover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microphone technologies face challenges in achieving improved sound detection with directional effects, particularly in medium and high frequencies, and struggle with wind noise damping while maintaining compactness.

Innovation Solution

A stereo microphone unit with two non-parallel interference tubes, each ending with a microphone capsule, is designed with a shared windproof cover that minimizes acoustic resistance to high frequencies and turbulence, allowing for reduced volume without compromising wind damping, and can be attached to a camera or mobile device for stable stereo audio capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a single large-volume wind shield is provided for each interference tube, then wind noise damping is improved, but device volume and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind noise dampingVSAvoidmicrophone unit volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate wind shields into a single common wind shield that surrounds both interference tubes. This unified design provides adequate wind noise damping for both microphones while significantly reducing the total volume compared to having two separate large-volume shields, directly resolving the contradiction between wind protection and compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common wind shield serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects both interference tubes from wind noise, provides a compact housing structure, and maintains acoustic transparency. This multi-functionality allows a single component to deliver the wind damping performance of multiple shields while occupying less space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the acoustic resistance of the wind shield is increased to dampen wind turbulence, then wind noise reduction is improved, but high frequency sound detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind noise reductionVSAvoidhigh frequency sound detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the acoustic resistance parameter of the wind shield material and structure. By optimizing this parameter, the shield achieves sufficient turbulence damping to reduce wind noise while maintaining adequate acoustic transparency to preserve high frequency sound detection capability, thus resolving the contradiction between wind protection and frequency response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides enhanced directional sound detection and effective wind noise reduction while maintaining a compact design, ensuring high-quality stereo audio recordings that match camera movements without the need for individual microphone attachments.

Implementation Method 1

The acoustic resistance of the shell can be dimensioned in such a way that high frequency components are only very slightly damped. Furthermore, the acoustic resistance is designed in such a way that turbulence can be slowed down.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic resistance: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

The acoustic resistance is designed in such a way that turbulence can be slowed down. The volume enclosed by the shell is designed in such a way that this volume can serve as a calming zone in which turbulence can be reduced or calmed down.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence damping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

By providing the slots and/or bores, a directional effect can be made possible, particularly in the range of medium and high frequencies of the interference microphone. In this case, the directivity can arise in particular from the fact that, due to the design of the interference tube, sound waves can be bent into the interference tube through the lateral slits or bores.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave diffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP3130156B1Stereo microphone unit with two interference tubes
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 SENNHEISER ELECTRONICS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3130156B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3130156B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3130156B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a stereo microphone unit with a first and a second interference tube (110, 120), which are arranged at an angle (α) to each other and each of which has a first end (111, 121) and a second end (112, 122). The stereo microphone unit has a first and a second microphone capsule (MK1, MK2) for detecting an audio signal. Each of the microphone capsules (MK1, MK2) is provided at an end (112, 122) of the first and second interference tube (110, 120). The microphone unit further has a securing unit (150, 151, 152) for collectively securing the first and second interference tube (110, 120), in particular on a mobile device or on a stand. Furthermore, a sleeve (130) is provided as a windscreen, which is connected to the securing unit (150) and which completely surrounds the first and second interference tube (110, 120).