Patent · US Active

Wearable directional microphone array apparatus and system

US9402117B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 2012
Grant dateJul 26, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2430/23
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wearable microphone array apparatus and system used as a directional audio system and as an assisted listening device. The present invention advances hearing aids and assisted listening devices to allow construction of a highly directional audio array that is wearable, natural sounding, and convenient to direct, as well as to provide directional cues to users who have partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. The advantages of the invention include simultaneously providing high gain, high directivity, high side lobe attenuation, and consistent beam width; providing significant beam forming at lower frequencies where substantial noises are present, particularly in noisy, reverberant environments; and allowing construction of a cost effective body-worn or body-carried directional audio device.

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