Microphone

A microphone includes a housing and a microphone capsule positioned within the housing. The microphone is also provided with a vibration damping, non-porous capsule support member supporting the microphone capsule within the housing and electronic circuitry transmitting the signal from the microphone capsule to other equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a microphone.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditional microphones function by using complex electronics to electronically modify the pickup pattern of the microphone. These microphones commonly employ a housing in which a microphone capsule is positioned for receipt of sound waves. The sound waves are sensed by the microphone capsule, which sends electric signals to the microphone electronics for further processing and transmission to amplification units and/or other sound processing equipment. In addition, the microphone capsules used in conjunction with traditional microphones are delicate and subject to damage during use of the microphone.

As a result of these facts, noise handling characteristics and durability of traditional microphones are compromised. The present invention addresses these shortcomings of prior microphones by providing a mounting system for the secure mounting of a microphone capsule in a manner which dampens vibrations to which the microphone is exposed and offers a mechanism for physically altering and modifying the pickup pattern of the microphone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a microphone including a housing and a microphone capsule positioned within the housing. The microphone is also provided with a vibration damping, non-porous capsule support member supporting the microphone capsule within the housing and electronic circuitry transmitting the signal from the microphone capsule to other equipment.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the housing is a substantially hollow cylindrical member having an open end shaped and dimensioned for receiving the microphone capsule.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the capsule support member supports the microphone capsule within the open end of the housing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the microphone capsule includes an omni-directional pick-up pattern.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the microphone is an electret microphone.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the capsule support member includes a support member body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a sidewall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the capsule support member includes an aperture in which the microphone capsule is mounted.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the central aperture extends through the capsule support member such that it extends from the top surface to the bottom surface so that electrical wires may extend from the microphone capsule to the electronic circuitry of the microphone.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the capsule support member is cylindrical.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the top surface is convex.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the top surface is concave.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the top surface is flat.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a microphone wherein the capsule support member is composed of rubber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 7, a microphone10is disclosed. In particular, the present invention focuses upon a sound focusing and mounting system for microphone capsules and audio sensors. The microphone10in accordance with the present invention includes a housing12with a grille13secured to the upper end of the housing12. The microphone10further includes a microphone capsule14positioned within the housing12, and electronic circuitry16transmitting the signal from the microphone capsule14to other equipment. It is appreciated the electronic circuitry16may be adapted to perform signal processing altering the output of the microphone capsule14to the equipment being driven.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the housing12is a substantially hollow cylindrical member having an open end18shaped and dimensioned for receiving the microphone capsule14. It is appreciated that although a cylindrical housing is disclosed herein with reference to a preferred embodiment, the housing may take various shapes, for example, spherical, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The microphone capsule14is supported by a capsule support member20. Once the microphone capsule14is positioned within the open end18of the housing12, an internal cavity22is defined in which the electronic circuitry16may be housed. Commonly, the housing12includes a hole24in its end26opposite the open end18thereof for the passage of a wire42use in connecting the microphone10to other equipment.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the microphone capsule14may take a variety of forms known to those skilled in the art and preferably includes an omni-directional pick-up pattern before installation into the microphone in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the microphone capsule is a small condenser microphone referred to as electret microphones.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the capsule support member20is resilient and preferable manufactured from rubber. The capsule support member20includes a substantially solid cylindrical support member body28having a top surface30, a bottom surface32and a sidewall34extending between the top surface30and the bottom surface32. The bottom surface32may take a variety of shapes within the spirit of the present invention. As to the top surface30, it may take three different configurations depending upon the acoustic characteristics desired by the user (see alternate embodiments disclosed with references toFIGS. 2 & 3,FIGS. 4 & 5, andFIGS. 6 & 7.

The top surface30is provided with a central aperture36in which the microphone capsule14is mounted. The central aperture36extends through the capsule support member20such that it extends from the top surface30to the bottom surface32so that electrical wires38may extend from the microphone capsule14to the other electronic circuitry16of the microphone10.

The microphone capsule14and the capsule support member20provide a forward projecting, omni-directional microphone capsule14(or audio sensor) that can be securely mounted in a vibration dampened manner in a handheld or other format whereby the rubber enclosure defined by the capsule support member20also acts as a means to alter and modify favorably, the pickup pattern of the total microphone10. By combining the present microphone capsule14with a capsule support member20in accordance with the present invention, a smaller less costly and complicated capsule that can be mounted the flexible rubber capsule support member20to significantly reduce handling noise is achieved. In addition, by implementing the construction contemplated in accordance with the present invention, the microphone capsule14is much more durable due to electronic components of microphone capsule14being mounted in rubber (that is, within the rubber capsule support member20), so when it is inevitable dropped on the floor, the sensitive electronics of the microphone capsule14will not suffer damage. In addition, the construction of the present microphone capsule14is less costly and complex than traditional microphone element designs.

As discussed above the top surface30of the capsule support member20may take three distinct forms. While three distinct surface configurations are discussed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is appreciated other iterations of the shape of the encapsulation may be used for mounting shapes not disclosed in this document. It is appreciated there are “in betweens” shapes that are also possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

By providing a rubber (or other non-porous) support member with a top surface of different shapes the present microphone physically alters the frequency response and polar pickup pattern of the microphone capsule in present microphones to achieve different and usable results; for example, omni, cardioid and supercardioid pick-up patterns (and potentially hypercardiod). It is also appreciated that two or more of these forms can be combined to form multi-pattern angles (for instance a figure eight pick-up pattern) or may be used in conjunction with each other to form stereo pairs or multi channel microphone transducers.

It should be appreciated the top surface30may be formed with a perimeter groove or recess to accommodate various grilles that might be used in conjunction with the present invention. For example, and with reference toFIGS. 4 & 5, the top surface30of the capsule support member20is provided with a perimeter groove50. However, this groove50is actually not a part of the function of the focusing of sound. Rather, it is included so as to allow for the inclusion of a twistable and removable top microphone grille50. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the feet (not shown) of such a removable microphone grille50, fit in the groove50to install it to the housing12at a position above the support member20. The groove has nothing to do with the focusing of sound. Although such a groove is not shown in the other examples discussed below (that is, cardioid and omni) but it could be included with such embodiments where it is desirable to include a removable microphone grille. It is also not necessary to be there in order for the super cardioid version to function correctly. It is simply there for the function of the “pop top” grille.

In accordance with a first embodiment, and as shown with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, an omni-directional microphone is disclosed. When viewed from the side, the top surface30of the capsule support member20is a convex conical rubber encapsulation in which a small forward facing omni-directional microphone capsule14is provided at the apex thereof. In accordance with a preferred embodiment the top surface30, and with the exception of the central aperture36formed in the support member body28, the top surface30is substantially convex having a consistent radius of the curvature along the entire surface. The capsule support member20is attached to and pushes outward off the open end18of the housing12of the microphone10while the electronic microphone capsule14is mounted in the center of the capsule support member20within the central aperture36.

A second embodiment as shown with reference toFIGS. 4 & 5provides a cardioid directional microphone10. In accordance with this embodiment, the electronic microphone capsule14is mounted in the center of the capsule support member20wherein the top surface30of the capsule support member20is totally flat when viewed from the side. As such, the place in which the top surface30lies is substantially parallel to the plane in which the top edges40at the open end18of the housing12lie. As with the prior embodiment, the capsule support member20is attached to and pushes outward off the open end18of the housing12of the microphone10while the electronic microphone capsule14is mounted in the center of the capsule support member20within the central aperture36.

In accordance with third embodiment as shown with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, a super cardioid directional microphone10is provided. When viewed from the side, the top surface30of the capsule support member20is a concave conical rubber encapsulation in which a small forward facing omni-directional microphone capsule14is provided at the bottom of the recess defined by the concavity of the top surface30. In accordance with a preferred embodiment the top surface30, and with the exception of the central aperture36formed in the support member body28, the top surface30is substantially concave having a consistent radius of the curvature along the entire surface. The capsule support member20is attached to and pushes inward off the end of the housing12of the microphone10while the electronic microphone capsule14is mounted in the center on the microphone capsule support member20.

With reference toFIGS. 8 to 10, an alternate embodiment allowing for adjustment of the pickup patterns is disclosed. In accordance with such an embodiment, and as disclosed below in greater detail, the microphone capsule is provided in conjunction with the flexible, rubber support member, that is, the microphone capsule is mounted on a moveable membrane made of non-porous rubber (or other non-porous, elastic, flexible material) that can be moved up and down. The moveable membrane is pushed and pulled from below into a variety of different orientations so as to offer a multitude of different polar pickup patterns and associated frequency responses; that is, a form of physical (non-electronically derived) multi-pattern microphone.

The disclosed embodiment includes a cylindrical housing112, a microphone capsule114positioned within the housing112, and electronic circuitry116transmitting the signal from the microphone capsule114to other equipment. As with the prior embodiment, the housing112is a substantially hollow cylindrical member having a concave upper end118in which the microphone capsule114is mounted. The microphone capsule114is mounted at the apex152of the dome shaped surface154defined by the upper end118of the housing112. As with the prior embodiment, the housing112further includes a hole (not shown) in its end opposite the upper end118thereof for the passage of a wire (not shown) use in connecting the microphone110to other equipment.

Positioned about the housing112is a profile adjustment member156. The profile adjustment member156is shaped and dimensioned with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter158of the housing112so as to allow for relative movement between the housing112and the profile adjustment member156. As with the housing112, the profile adjustment member156is cylindrical and includes a first end160and a second end162. The first end160is covered with a resilient, moveable membrane164made of non-porous rubber (or other non-porous, elastic, flexible material) that can be moved up and down as will be explained below in greater detail. The second end162of the profile adjustment member156is open so as to allow for movement of the housing112within the confines of the profile adjustment member156.

The moveable membrane164of the profile adjustment member156extends entirely across the opening defined by the first end160of the profile adjustment member156and the edge166of the moveable membrane164is secured about the entire circumference of the edge168of the profile adjustment member156defined at the first end160thereof. In this way, the moveable membrane164fully covers the first end160of the profile adjustment member156.

The center170of the moveable membrane164is secured to the apex152of the concave upper end118of the housing112and moves therewith. In particular, a small hole172is formed in the center170of the moveable membrane164through which the microphone capsule114extends. The area sounding the small hole172is secured to the upper surface174of the upper end118of the housing112, for example, with adhesive. In this way, as the profile adjustment member156is moved relative to the housing112, the coupled portions176of the moveable membrane164and the upper end118of the housing112remain coupled and move together.

As such, and with reference toFIGS. 8,9and10, relative movement changes the shape of the moveable membrane164, which in this present embodiment functions in the same manner as the top surface30of the capsule support member20discussed above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7. For example, when the profile adjustment member156is moved, such that the first end160thereof extends above the apex152of the upper end118of the housing112, the moveable membrane164takes on a concave configuration (seeFIG. 8). When the profile adjustment member156is moved, such that the first end160thereof is substantially aligned with the apex152of the upper end118of the housing112, the moveable membrane164takes on a substantially flat configuration (seeFIG. 9). When the profile adjustment member156is moved such that the first end160thereof is positioned below the apex152of the upper end118of the housing112, the moveable membrane164takes on a concave configuration (seeFIG. 10). Controlled positioning of the profile adjustment member156relative to the housing112is achieved using a selective locking mechanism, for example, a set screw180extending through the profile adjustment member156for selective engagement with the housing112.

With the foregoing embodiment in mind, it is appreciated the support member may be manufactured in various manners that would allow for adjustment thereof permitting one support member to selectively take the form of a concave orientation, a flat orientation and/or convex orientation.

By mounting the microphone capsule in this manner (that is, within a rubber support member) microphone handling noise is eliminated and excellent vibration isolation is achieved.

As a result of the present microphone construction a smaller less costly and complicated microphone capsule can be mounted in the flexible rubber support member to significantly reduce handling noise while maintaining signal quality and integrity. In this way the microphone capsule becomes much more durable due to electronic components of microphone capsule being mounted in rubber, so when it is inevitable dropped on the floor, the sensitive electronics of the microphone are protected from damage. In addition, the present microphone offers reductions in cost when compared to other microphones.