Speakerphone including a plurality of microphones mounted by microphone supports
View Patent ↗In various embodiments, a speakerphone may comprise multiple (e.g., 16) microphones placed in a circular array around a central speaker. Each microphone may be mounted to the speakerphone through a microphone support. The microphone support may be made of a flexible material and have various features designed to minimize interference to the microphone (e.g., from the speaker and/or vibrations external to the speakerphone). The centrally mounted speaker may be coupled to a stiff internal speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may be made of a stiff, heavy material (e.g., a dense plastic) to prevent the speaker vibrations from excessively vibrating the speakerphone enclosure (which may affect the microphones).
1. A speakerphone, comprising:
at least two microphones, wherein each microphone is mounted to the speakerphone through a separate microphone support;
wherein the microphone support comprises:
a central mass operable to receive a microphone;
a mounting strip operable to suspend the central mass; and
a mounting bracket coupled to the mounting strip, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be mounted to the speakerphone.
2. The speakerphone of claim 1 , comprising at least three microphones which include the at least two microphones, wherein the at least three microphones are comprised in a circular array on the speakerphone.
3. The speakerphone of claim 2 , further comprising a speaker inside the circular array of microphones.
4. The speakerphone of claim 3 , wherein the speaker is an edge driven speaker.
5. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein the microphones comprise a diaphragm, and wherein the microphones are coupled to the speakerphone with the diaphragm of the microphones substantially parallel to a top surface of the speakerphone.
6. The speakerphone of claim 1 ,
wherein the central mass comprises a top hole with a smaller diameter than a bottom hole; and
wherein the central mass is configured to receive a microphone through the bottom hole with a diaphragm of the microphone closest to the top hole.
7. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein the mounting strip has a rectangular cross section and is made of the same material as the central mass.
8. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes at least two holes to receive posts for mounting the microphone support to the speakerphone.
9. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein at least the central mass and mounting strip are tuned to isolate a mounted microphone from at least a portion of vibrations applied to the speakerphone.
10. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein the central mass is suspended between two mounting brackets by two mounting strips.
11. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein the central mass, mounting strip, and mounting bracket are made of plastic.
12. The speakerphone of claim 1 , wherein the central mass, mounting strip, and mounting bracket are made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.
13. A speakerphone, comprising:
at least four microphones in a circular array, wherein each of the at least four microphones is mounted to the speakerphone through a separate microphone support;
a speaker comprised in the circular array of microphones;
wherein each microphone support comprises:
a central mass operable to receive a microphone;
a mounting strip operable to suspend the central mass; and
a mounting bracket coupled to the mounting strip, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be mounted to the speakerphone; and
wherein at least the central mass and mounting strip are tuned to isolate a mounted microphone from at least a portion of vibrations applied to the speakerphone.
14. The speakerphone of claim 13 , wherein the speaker is an edge driven speaker.
15. The speakerphone of claim 13 , wherein the microphones comprise a diaphragm, and wherein the microphones are coupled to the speakerphone with the diaphragm of the microphones substantially parallel to a top surface of the speakerphone.
16. The speakerphone of claim 13 ,
wherein the central mass comprises a top hole with a smaller diameter than a bottom hole; and
wherein the central mass is configured to receive a microphone through the bottom hole with a diaphragm of the microphone closest to the top hole.
17. The speakerphone of claim 13 , wherein the mounting strip has a rectangular cross section and is made of the same material as the central mass.
18. The speakerphone of claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket includes at least two holes to receive posts for mounting the microphone support to the speakerphone.
19. The speakerphone of claim 13 , wherein the central mass is suspended between two mounting brackets by two mounting strips.
20. The speakerphone of claim 13 , wherein the central mass, mounting strip, and mounting bracket are made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.