Microphone device with a closed housing and a membrane
View Patent ↗The disclosure relates to a microphone device. The microphone device comprises a closed housing with a sidewall, a microphone arranged within the closed housing, and a membrane at an outer surface of the sidewall wherein a first part of the sidewall has a first thickness and wherein the membrane is comprised by, in particular is formed by, a second part of the sidewall having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. The disclosure further relates to a method for generating the microphone device. The microphone device protects the microphone from water or particles at high protection level.
1. A microphone device comprising:
a waterproof closed housing with a sidewall;
a microphone arranged within the waterproof closed housing,
a membrane at an outer surface of the sidewall,
wherein a first part of the sidewall has a first thickness and wherein the membrane is comprised by, in particular is formed by, a second part of the sidewall having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness,
a cavity arranged between the membrane and the microphone, wherein the second part of the sidewall is arranged adjacent to the cavity, and wherein the cavity is arranged within the sidewall, and
at least one support element positioned in the cavity and directly contacting the second part of the sidewall, wherein the at least one support element retains the microphone at a fixed position relative to at least one of the housing and the sidewall of the housing.
2. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane covers the cavity.
3. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is confined by the sidewall of the waterproof closed housing, or wherein the cavity is confined by the second part of the sidewall of the housing, and the at least one support element.
4. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support element seals the cavity against an inner space of the housing.
5. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the at least one support element is embedded within the cavity of sidewall of the housing.
6. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the microphone is at least one of arranged on the at least one support element opposite the membrane or adjacent to the cavity, and wherein the at least one support element comprises an opening between the cavity and the microphone.
7. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cavity or the at least one support element has a conical or cylindrical shape.
8. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support element is made of plastic or rubber.
9. The microphone device of claim 1 comprising a plurality of microphones arranged as a microphone array.
10. The microphone device of claim 9 , wherein each of the microphones of the microphone array is opposed by one of a respective one of a plurality of membranes or a respective one of a plurality of cavities.
11. A method for generating a microphone device, the method comprising:
providing a waterproof closed housing with a sidewall;
providing a membrane at an outer surface of the sidewall; and;
placing a microphone within the housing and opposite the membrane;
wherein a first part of the sidewall has a first thickness, and
wherein the membrane is formed by a second part of the sidewall having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness,
forming a cavity within the sidewall of the waterproof closed housing, wherein the cavity is arranged between the microphone and the membrane; and
positioning at least one support element in the cavity and directly contacting the second part of the sidewall,
wherein the at least one support element retains the microphone at a fixed position relative to at least one of the housing and the sidewall of the housing.
12. A microphone device comprising:
a waterproof housing with a sidewall; and
a microphone arranged within the waterproof housing;
a membrane positioned at an outer surface of the sidewall,
wherein a first part of the sidewall has a first thickness, and
wherein the membrane includes a second part of the sidewall having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness,
a cavity arranged between the membrane and the microphone, wherein the second part of the sidewall is arranged adjacent to the cavity, and wherein the cavity is arranged within the sidewall, and
at least one support element positioned in the cavity and directly contacting the second part of the sidewall, wherein the at least one support element retains the microphone at a fixed position relative to at least one of the housing and the sidewall of the housing.
13. The microphone device of claim 12 , wherein the membrane covers the cavity.
14. The microphone device of claim 12 , wherein the cavity is confined by the sidewall of the waterproof housing, or wherein the cavity is confined by the second part of the sidewall of the waterproof housing, and the at least one support element.
15. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of continuous and closed walls and the sidewall is continuous and closed where the microphone is positioned within the housing and positioned adjacent to the sidewall.
16. The microphone device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support element is positioned in the cavity and separates the second part of the sidewall from the microphone.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
positioning the at least one support element in the cavity; and
separating the second part of the sidewall from the microphone with the at least one support element.
18. The microphone device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one support element is positioned in the cavity and separates the second part of the sidewall from the microphone.