Variable Microphone Shelter for Wind Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microphones face challenges in performing high-quality sound collection in outdoor environments due to weather resistance and wind noise issues, with existing solutions compromising either sound quality or durability.

Innovation Solution

A variable microphone shelter system that includes a sound collection unit covered by a variable shelter, with an optimum form determination unit and shelter optimization control unit to adjust the shelter's form based on environmental conditions, combining weather-resistant and wind-resistant materials to maintain high-quality sound collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a general microphone is used for outdoor sound collection, then the microphone structure is simple and cost-effective, but wind noise increases and sound quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrophone structure simplicityVSAvoidwind noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wind screen as an intermediary component between the microphone and the outdoor environment. This wind screen acts as a mediator that reduces wind noise while allowing sound to pass through, resolving the contradiction between simple microphone structure and wind noise reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a flexible wind screen made of porous material that can adapt to wind conditions while maintaining sound transmission. This flexible shell structure reduces wind noise impact on the microphone without requiring complex rigid enclosures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a wind screen is used for outdoor sound collection, then wind noise is reduced, but the solution is only temporary and not suitable for long-term outdoor use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind noise reductionVSAvoidlong-term outdoor durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic shelter structure that can be deployed and retracted based on weather conditions. The shelter includes movable components that allow it to adapt to changing environmental conditions, making it suitable for long-term outdoor use while maintaining wind noise reduction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the shelter into multiple modular segments including a main body, wind screen, and protective cover. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific functions and enables easy maintenance or replacement of individual parts, improving overall reliability for long-term deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a waterproof cover is used for long-term outdoor sound collection, then weather resistance is improved, but sound quality deteriorates due to muffled sound

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather resistanceVSAvoidsound quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses porous materials for the wind screen and protective cover that allow sound waves to pass through while providing weather protection. The porous structure permits acoustic transmission while blocking rain and wind, resolving the contradiction between weather resistance and sound quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials that combine weather-resistant properties with acoustic transparency. The protective cover uses layered composite structures that provide waterproofing while maintaining sound transmission characteristics, preventing sound muffling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a variable shelter system is implemented to optimize sound collection, then sound quality and weather resistance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound quality and weather resistanceVSAvoidshelter system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-adjusting shelter system that automatically responds to environmental conditions without requiring complex control mechanisms. The shelter uses passive mechanical designs and natural forces to adjust its configuration, reducing the need for active control systems and simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11363361B2Variable microphone shelter, sound collection system, sound collection method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A sound collection system includes a sound collection unit, a variable shelter configured to cover the sound collection unit, an optimum form determination unit configured to determine a form of the variable shelter on a basis of an ambient environmental state, and a shelter optimization control unit configured to change the form of the variable shelter on a basis of a determination result by the optimum form determination unit.