Patent · US Active

Microphone array diffracting structure

US7366310B2 · kind B2 · utility

57Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 2, 2006
Grant dateApr 29, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2430/20
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention increases the aperture size of a microphone array by introducing a diffracting structure into the interior of a microphone array. The diffracting structure within the array modifies both the amplitude and phase of the acoustic signal reaching the microphones. The diffracting structure increases acoustic shadowing along with the signal's travel time around the structure. The diffracting structure in the array effectively increases the aperture size of the array and thereby increases the directivity of the array. Constructing the surface of the diffracting structure such that surface waves can form over the surface further increases the travel time and modifies the amplitude of the acoustical signal thereby allowing a larger effective aperture for the array.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.