IP Library Granted Patent US 8,605,930
Granted Patent B2
US 8,605,930 · App. 12/934,809 · Granted Dec 10, 2013

Microphone unit, close-talking type speech input device, information processing system, and method for manufacturing microphone unit

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,605,930
App. No.
12/934,809
Granted
Dec 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microphone unit 1 of the present invention includes a case 10 having an internal space 100 , a partition member 20 which is provided in the case, and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane 30 , that splits the internal space into a first space 102 and a second space 104 , and an electrical signal output circuit 40 that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane. A first through hole 12 through which the first space 102 and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole 14 through which the second space 104 and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case 10 . In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-quality microphone unit whose outer shape is small and which is capable of performing thorough noise cancellation.

Claims (44)

1. A microphone unit comprising:

a case having an internal space;

a partition member provided in the case and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane, wherein the partition member splits the internal space into a first space and a second space; and

an electrical signal output circuit that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane,

wherein a first through hole through which the first space and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole through which the second space and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case,

wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is set to a distance within a range in which sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a differential microphone does not exceed sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a single microphone with respect to a sound in a frequency band less than or equal to 10 kHz.

2. The microphone unit according to claim 1 , wherein

an outer shape of the case is a polyhedron, and

the first and second through holes are formed in one surface of the polyhedron.

3. The microphone unit according to claim 1 , wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is 5.2 mm or less.

4. The microphone unit according to claim 1 , wherein the vibrating membrane is composed of a transducer having SN ratio of 60 decibels or more.

5. A microphone unit comprising:

a case having an internal space;

a partition member provided in the case and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane, wherein the partition member splits the internal space into a first space and a second space; and

an electrical signal output circuit that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane,

wherein a first through hole through which the first space and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole through which the second space and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case,

wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is set to a distance within a range in which sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a differential microphone does not exceed sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a single microphone in all directions with respect to a sound in an extractive target frequency band.

6. The microphone unit according to claim 5 , wherein

an outer shape of the case is a polyhedron, and

the first and second through holes are formed in one surface of the polyhedron.

7. The microphone unit according to claim 5 , wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is 5.2 mm or less.

8. The microphone unit according to claim 5 , wherein the vibrating membrane is composed of a transducer having SN ratio of 60 decibels or more.

9. A close-talking type speech input device in which a microphone unit is mounted, the microphone unit comprising:

a case having an internal space;

a partition member provided in the case and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane, wherein the partition member splits the internal space into a first space and a second space; and

an electrical signal output circuit that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane,

wherein a first through hole through which the first space and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole through which the second space and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case,

wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is set to a distance within a range in which sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a differential microphone does not exceed sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a single microphone with respect to a sound in a frequency band less than or equal to 10 kHz.

10. The speech input device according to claim 9 , wherein

an outer shape of the case is a polyhedron, and

the first and second through holes are formed in one surface of the polyhedron.

11. The speech input device according to claim 9 , wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is 5.2 mm or less.

12. The speech input device according to claim 9 , wherein the vibrating membrane is composed of a transducer having SN ratio of 60 decibels or more.

13. A close-talking type speech input device in which a microphone unit is mounted, the microphone unit comprising:

a case having an internal space;

a partition member provided in the case and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane, wherein the partition member splits the internal space into a first space and a second space; and

an electrical signal output circuit that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane,

wherein a first through hole through which the first space and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole through which the second space and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case,

wherein a center-to-canter distance between the first and second through holes is set to a distance within a range in which sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a differential microphone does not exceed sound pressure in a case where the vibrating membrane is used as a single microphone in all directions with respect to a sound in an extractive target frequency band.

14. The close-talking type speech input device according to claim 13 , wherein

an outer shape of the case is a polyhedron, and

the first and second through holes are formed in one surface of the polyhedron.

15. The microphone unit according to claim 13 , wherein a center-to-center distance between the first and second through holes is 5.2 mm or less.

16. The microphone unit according to claim 13 , wherein the vibrating membrane is composed of a transducer having SN ratio of 60 decibels or more.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2017
From: ONPA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041232/0508 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2016
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ONPA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 039857/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2015
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC ADVANCED APPLIED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC.
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035295/0038 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2011
From: TAKANO, RIKUO; SUGIYAMA, KIYOSHI; FUKUOKA, TOSHIMI; ONO, MASATOSHI; HORIBE, RYUSUKE; TANAKA, FUMINORI; CHOUJI, HIDEKI; INODA, TAKESHI
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; FUNAI ELECTRIC ADVANCED APPLIED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC.
Reel/Frame 026053/0138 →