IP Library Granted Patent US 9,641,939
Granted Patent B2
US 9,641,939 · App. 14/859,474 · Granted May 2, 2017

Acoustic transducer and microphone

Inventors: Yuki Uchida (Otsu, JP); Koji Momotani (Nagaokakyo, JP); Takashi Kasai (Kusatsu, JP)
Assignee: OMRON Corporation
H04R19/005H04R19/013H04R19/016H04R2201/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,641,939
App. No.
14/859,474
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An acoustic transducer includes a slit having higher passage resistance than in conventional structures and having a lower rate of decrease in the passage resistance than in conventional structures when, for example, the vibration electrode plate warps. The acoustic transducer includes a stationary electrode plate, and a vibration electrode plate facing the stationary electrode plate with a space between the electrode plates. The vibration electrode plate includes a slit that allows sound to pass through. The vibration electrode plate includes a resistance increasing section including at least one pair of high-resistance surfaces that constitute side surfaces of the slit in a width direction thereof, and are thicker than a middle portion of the vibration electrode plate.

Claims (50)

1. An acoustic transducer, comprising:

a stationary electrode plate; and

a vibration electrode plate facing the stationary electrode plate with a space between the electrode plates, the vibration electrode plate including a slit that allows sound to pass through,

wherein

the slit includes a straight portion that extends substantially parallel to a peripheral side of the vibration electrode plate,

the vibration electrode plate includes a resistance increasing section that increases resistance to passage of sound through the slit, and the resistance increasing section includes at least one pair of high-resistance surfaces that constitute side surfaces of the slit in a width direction and are thicker than a middle portion of the vibration electrode plate, and the high-resistance surfaces overlap in the width direction of the slit; and

the resistance increasing section extends along the straight portion of the slit.

2. The acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the resistance increasing section includes surfaces at the slit each of which is shaped in a square wave.

3. The acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the resistance increasing section includes surfaces at the slit each of which is formed by a single high-resistance surface extending in a longitudinal direction of the slit.

4. The acoustic transducer according to claim 1 ,

wherein the resistance increasing section protrudes from the vibration electrode plate in a direction opposite to a direction toward the stationary electrode plate.

5. The acoustic transducer according to claim 1 ,

wherein the vibration electrode plate includes a plurality of the slits surrounding the middle portion of the vibration electrode plate, and

the stationary electrode plate is within an area defined by the plurality of slits as viewed in a direction of a normal to the vibration electrode plate.

6. The acoustic transducer according to claim 1 ,

wherein the slit is shaped to surround the middle portion of the vibration electrode plate, and

the stationary electrode plate is within an area defined by the slit as viewed in a direction of a normal to the vibration electrode plate.

7. The acoustic transducer according to claim 5 ,

wherein the stationary electrode plate and the vibration electrode plate are directly or indirectly fastened to a substrate including a cavity that opens in a first surface thereof, and

at least a portion of each slit is arranged more inward from the cavity than an opening rim of the cavity of the substrate at the first surface as viewed in a direction of a normal to the first surface.

8. The acoustic transducer according to claim 6 ,

wherein the stationary electrode plate and the vibration electrode plate are directly or indirectly fastened to a substrate including a cavity that opens in a first surface thereof, and

at least a portion of each slit is arranged more inward from the cavity than an opening rim of the cavity of the substrate at the first surface as viewed in a direction of a normal to the first surface.

9. The acoustic transducer according to claim 7 ,

wherein a peripheral portion of the vibration electrode plate is fastened to the substrate with at least one support.

10. The acoustic transducer according to claim 8 ,

wherein a peripheral portion of the vibration electrode plate is fastened to the substrate with at least one support.

11. The acoustic transducer according to claim 9 ,

wherein the at least one support comprises a support that fastens a portion of the vibration electrode plate outward from the slit to the substrate.

12. The acoustic transducer according to claim 10 ,

wherein the at least one support comprises a support that fastens a portion of the vibration electrode plate outward from the slit to the substrate.

13. The acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a back plate to which the stationary electrode plate is attached,

wherein a portion of the back plate facing each slit includes no acoustic hole.

14. The acoustic transducer according to claim 2 ,

wherein the vibration electrode plate is prepared by forming a plate member including a slit structure with a longitudinal cross-section shaped in a square wave, and removing a middle portion of the slit structure in a transverse direction of the slit structure.

15. An acoustic transducer, comprising:

a back plate;

a stationary electrode plate attached to the back plate; and

a vibration electrode plate facing the stationary electrode plate with a space between the electrode plates, the vibration electrode plate including a slit that allows sound to pass through,

wherein

the slit includes a straight portion that extends substantially parallel to a peripheral side of the vibration electrode plate,

the vibration electrode plate includes a resistance increasing section that increases resistance to passage of sound through the slit, and the resistance increasing section includes at least one pair of high-resistance surfaces that constitute side surfaces of the slit in a width direction and are thicker than a middle portion of the vibration electrode plate, and the high-resistance surfaces overlap in the width direction of the slit;

the resistance increasing section extends along the straight portion of the slit; and

a portion of the back plate facing the slit has no acoustic hole.

16. A microphone, comprising:

the acoustic transducer according to claim 1 ; and

an integrated circuit configured to amplify an output of the acoustic transducer.

Assignments (3)
DE-MERGER Recorded May 20, 2022
From: OMRON CORPORATION
To: SHIGA SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060132/0451 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded May 20, 2022
From: SHIGA SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: MMI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060132/0466 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2015
From: UCHIDA, YUKI; MOMOTANI, KOJI; KASAI, TAKASHI
To: OMRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036609/0343 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2014-195896 · Sep 25, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160094918A1 · Mar 31, 2016