Microphone unit

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,559,664
App. No.: 12/691,250
Granted: Oct 15, 2013
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A microphone unit comprises a microphone, leg members and a base. The microphone comprises a diaphragm for detecting sound and a housing for containing the diaphragm. The leg members project outwardly from a rear wall of the housing, and are provided near a second through-hole which connects a second inner space to outer space. The base is connected to the leg members to form a gap between the housing and the base. When the microphone unit thus formed in a simple structure and reduced thickness is mounted in a product, the gap allows the outer space to be connected to the second inner space through the second through-hole, making it possible to efficiently guide sound to the second inner space and obtain good differential characteristics.

Claims (55)

1. A microphone unit comprising:

a vibratory diaphragm for detecting sound;

a housing having an inner space for containing the vibratory diaphragm;

at least one leg member projecting outwardly from the housing; and

a base connected to the at least one leg member; and

a cover for covering the housing in which the cover has a first opening and a second opening formed therein,

wherein the vibratory diaphragm divides the inner space of the housing into a first inner space and a second inner space,

wherein the housing has a first through-hole formed therein to connect the first inner space and an outer space outside the housing and a second through-hole formed therein to connect the second inner space and the outer space,

wherein the at least one leg member is provided near the second through-hole,

wherein the at least one leg member and the base secure a guide path to guide the sound to the vibratory diaphragm via the second inner space,

wherein a gap to connect the second inner space and the outer space through the second through-hole is formed between the housing and the base or between the base and a part of the at least one leg member,

wherein the guide path includes the gap, the second through-hole, and the second inner space,

wherein in a space covered by the cover, a first sound path is formed which connects the first through-hole and the first opening, and a second sound path is also formed which is independent of the first sound path and connects the second through-hole and the second opening, and

wherein the cover includes at least one plane portion, in which the first opening and the second opening are formed in the same plane portion.

2. The microphone unit according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one leg member is a plurality of leg members having the same length, in which the gap is formed between the housing and the base.

3. The microphone unit according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one leg member is a plurality of leg members which surround an area including the second through-hole and have different lengths, with a long part and a short part of the leg members, in which the gap is formed between the base and the short part of the leg members.

4. The microphone unit according to claim 1 ,

wherein the gap has a length of at least 0.15 mm.

5. A microphone unit comprising:

a vibratory diaphragm for detecting sound;

a housing having an inner space for containing the vibratory diaphragm;

at least one leg member projecting outwardly from the housing;

a base connected to the at least one leg member; and

a cover for covering the housing and the base in which the base has a first opening and a second opening formed therein,

wherein the vibratory diaphragm divides the inner space of the housing into a first inner space and a second inner space,

wherein the at least one leg member is provided near the second through-hole,

wherein the at least one leg member and the base secure a guide path to guide the sound to the vibratory diaphragm via the second inner space,

wherein the guide path includes the gap, the second through-hole, and the second inner space, and

6. The microphone unit according to claim 5 ,

wherein the at least one leg member is a plurality of leg members having the same length, in which the gap is formed between the housing and the base.

7. The microphone unit according to claim 5 ,

8. The microphone unit according to claim 5 ,

wherein the gap has a length of at least 0.15 mm.

9. The microphone unit according to claim 1