Suspended Internal Sound Capture for Acoustic Isolation in Drums

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sound capture systems for musical instruments, particularly percussion instruments with stretched membranes, face challenges in achieving effective acoustic isolation and minimizing unwanted noise pickup due to rigid mounting and placement issues, leading to suboptimal sound quality and interference from adjacent instruments.

Innovation Solution

A sound capture system with a suspension system that acoustically decouples a sound capture device from the musical instrument, using a plurality of transducers and a signal processing circuit to generate and process audio signals, including radio-frequency noise-canceling transducers and a diffusor to reduce unwanted resonances and noise, allowing for improved sound isolation and signal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a transducer is placed inside the musical instrument, then the sound capture is improved, but the transducer picks up unwanted noise and interference from the instrument structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound capture qualityVSAvoidnoise pickup from instrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A suspension system with elastic elements (springs or rubber bands) is introduced as an intermediary between the transducer and the instrument structure. This mediator allows the transducer to be positioned inside the instrument for optimal sound capture while preventing direct mechanical contact that would transmit structural noise and vibrations to the transducer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transducer is extracted from direct contact with the instrument structure and isolated using the suspension system. This separation removes the harmful coupling between the transducer and the instrument's vibrating surfaces, allowing the transducer to capture only the intended sound waves without picking up structural noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a fixed or rigid mounting stand is used to hold the transducer, then the transducer is securely positioned, but acoustic isolation from the instrument is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransducer positioning stabilityVSAvoidacoustic interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid mounting stand is replaced with a flexible suspension system using elastic elements such as springs or rubber bands. These flexible components provide the necessary mechanical support and positioning stability for the transducer while simultaneously acting as acoustic isolators that prevent vibration transmission and maintain acoustic isolation from the instrument structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If the sound capture device contacts the interior surface of the instrument, then the device is stable, but unwanted vibrations and noise are transmitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system acts as an intermediary layer between the sound capture device and the instrument's interior surface. This intermediary provides mechanical support and maintains device stability while preventing direct contact that would transmit unwanted vibrations and noise, effectively decoupling the device from the vibrating structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If external microphones are used to capture sound, then acoustic isolation is maintained, but the sound quality and consistency are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic isolationVSAvoidsound quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system enables the transducer to be positioned inside the instrument (closer to the sound source) while maintaining acoustic isolation through the elastic mounting. This resolves the trade-off by allowing the transducer to capture sound with high quality and consistency from an optimal position without directly contacting the vibrating surfaces, achieving both improved sound capture and acoustic isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides enhanced acoustic isolation, reduced noise interference, and consistent sound capture across various musical instruments, improving sound quality and ease of use by eliminating the need for external microphone placement and adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

The suspension system is capable of acoustically decoupling the sound capture device from the sound-generating device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

A plurality of transducers configured to generate a plurality of audio signals concurrently from sound generated by the sound-generating device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 3

The first transducer and the second transducer are radio-frequency noise-canceling transducers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interference cancellation:

Implementation Method 4

a diffusor positioned below the sound capture device within the sound-generating device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic diffusion:

Data Source

PatentUS20240022846A1Sound capture system for use within sound-generating devices

Publication Date: 2024.01.18 LATIN PULSE MUSIC INC

AI summary

A sound capture system can include a sound capture device configured for placement within a sound-generating device. The sound capture system can include a suspension system configured to suspend the sound capture device within the sound-generating device. The suspension system acoustically decouples the sound capture device from the sound-generating device. The sound capture device includes a plurality of transducers configured to generate a plurality of audio signals concurrently from sound generated by the sound-generating device. In another aspect, the sound capture system includes a signal processing circuit.