WO2010068961A1

WO2010068961A1 - An audio device

Info

Publication number: WO2010068961A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001842
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Raymond Lewis; Boon Guan Adrian Tan
Original assignee: Blueant Wireless Pty Limited
Priority date: 2008-12-15
Filing date: 2008-12-15
Publication date: 2010-06-24

Abstract

An audio device in the form of a headset (1) has a housing (2), an opening (7) in the housing for receiving sound and a distinct channel (8) along which sound can travel. The channel (8) has a wind noise reducing turn (12), a wind noise reducing filter (11) adjacent to the opening, a sound space (9) in communication with the channel, and a microphone (10) in communication with the sound space. The headset (1) is formed such that when it is in use spoken sound can pass through the opening (7) in the housing (2) and through the filter (11), pass along the channel (8) into the sound (space 9), and from the sound space to the microphone (10) such that at least the filter plus the turn or turns in the channel, provide a reduction in wind noise reaching the microphone.

Description

TITLE

An Audio Device

FIELD OF INVENTION A preferred form of this invention relates to an audio device (for example a headset) for use in the field of communications, for example in telecommunications and computer technology.

BACKGROUND It is known to use headsets with speaker and microphone functionality. A problem with some such headsets is that their microphones pick up undesirable levels of background noise, for example wind noise, and this leads to a reduction in sound quality. It is accordingly an object of at least a preferred form of the present invention to go some way towards addressing the above problem or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an audio device comprising a housing, an opening in the housing for receiving sound, a distinct channel along which sound can travel wherein such channel has an acoustic energy reducing turn or turns, an acoustic energy reducing filter adjacent to the opening, a sound space in communication with the channel, and a microphone in communication with the sound space; the audio device formed such that when it is in use spoken sound can pass through the opening in the housing and through the filter, pass along the channel into the sound space, and from the sound space to the microphone such that at least the filter plus the turn or turns in the channel, provide a reduction in wind or other background noise reaching the microphone.

Preferably the filter comprises scrim.

Optionally the filter comprises foam.

Optionally the filter comprises a combination of scrim and foam. Optionally the filter comprises at least two pieces of scrim wherein one of these is oriented at an angle to the other.

Optionally there is a quantity of wind noise reducing foam between the two pieces of scrim.

Preferably the channel comprises a pipe and the turn or turns are formed by the pipe.

Preferably the audio device has an earpiece speaker suitable for playing sound to a user's ear.

Preferably the audio device is formed to receive and transmit sound signals wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth technology.

Preferably the pipe and the sound space are within a supportive boot.

Preferably the microphone is at least substantially within the supportive boot.

Preferably the audio device is a headset.

DEFINITIONS

References in this document to a "channel" should be taken to indicate a distinct pathway having boundaries running in the direction of such pathway. The term should not be construed to mean simply a space, even if enclosed.

The term "comprising" and derivatives thereof, if and when used in this document in relation to a number of features, should not be taken to exclude the presence additional unspecified features. The term should thus be read as non-limiting.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a headset speaker and microphone;

Figure 2 shows a cross section taken through part of the headset; and Figure 3 is an isometric cut away view of part of the headset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to figure 1 , the headset 1 has a main housing 2 and a speaker in the form of an ear piece 3. The housing 2 incorporates a generally central microphone arrangement as indicated by label 4 and a forward microphone arrangement as indicated by label 5. While this description focuses on the central microphone arrangement it should be understood that forward one is constructed in substantially the same manner. The housing 2 may or may not be formed to swivel with respect to the earpiece 3 so that the position of the central and forward microphones can be adjusted with respect to the face of a human user. When the headset 1 is in use it may be worn by the human user with the earpiece 3 in the user's ear and the housing 2 proceeding forwards a short distance along the side of the user's face towards his or her mouth. As the user speaks his or her voice is picked up by the central and forward microphones and the user can, at the same or a different time, listen to sounds played through the earpiece 3. The headset has an ear hook 6 which can be hooked around the user's ear to more securely hold the headset in place when in use.

The headset 1 is formed to work with Bluetooth technology so that it is 'wireless', although in other embodiments of the invention the headset may be other than wireless. It is particularly suitable for use with computer or telecommunications hardware although it can of course be used with other types of technology.

As discussed earlier in this specification, a problem with some headset microphones is that they pick up an inordinate amount of wind or background noise generally, particularly when used outdoors, and this can undesirably reduce the clarity of a user's voice when played on a paired speaker device remote from the headset. The headset shown at figure 1 is specifically designed to address this problem.

Figure 2 is a cross section through part of the headset 1 in the vicinity of its central microphone arrangement. In particular the housing 2 has an opening 7 for receiving sound (the position of this is also indicated in figure 1 ). The opening 7 communicates with a channel 8 which in turn communicates with a sound space 9. The sound space 9 has a cross section significantly wider than the channel 8 and is open to a microphone 10. As shown, a layer of acoustic scrim 11 (eg a suitable polyester cloth) is positioned between the housing's opening 7 and the channel 8. Optionally, a further piece of scrim 11a may be positioned between the channel 8 and the opening 9.

With further reference to figure 2, when the headset is in use sound proceeds through the opening 7, passes through the scrim 11 , and enters the channel 8. The scrim 11 has a wind filtering affect and thus serves to resist the flow of turbulent air (wind) to the channel. The channel 8 has at least one turn 12 arranged to further reduce the flow of turbulent air. Sound passing through the channel 8 enters the sound space 9. Because the space 9 is significantly wider than the channel 8 (eg 2 mm as opposed to 1mm) the sound is able to spread within the space 9 to be better picked up by the microphone 10. The affect of wind turbulence within the channel 8, if any, may be minimised by the fact that the sound space 9 is broader than the channel. The microphone 10 converts the sound into electrical signals which are then transmitted by the earpiece to a paired device, for example to a cell phone or computer, to facilitate communications through a telephone or other network, etc.

As shown in figure 2, the channel 8, the sound space 9 and the microphone 10 are all within a supportive plastic or rubber boot 13. In at least some forms of the invention the channel is part of the boot 13 although in other embodiments the channel may be a separate piece (eg a pipe) set within the boot. Preferably the boot 13 is formed from a material suitable for absorbing energy from wind turbulence within the channel 8, if any.

In some embodiments of the invention the scrim 11 and/or 11a may be supplemented by or even replaced with a squab of wind noise reducing foam (not shown). If the scrim is used with foam then the two can be placed one over the other (eg touching). In such a case they should be collectively regarded as an acoustic or wind noise reducing 'filter' even if they are separate pieces.

Figure 3 is a cut away view of part of the headset 1 illustrating the housing 2, earpiece 3, opening 7, microphone 10, scrim 11 and boot 13.

In some embodiments of the invention there may be an outer piece of scrim positioned as per the scrim 11 to the left in figure 2, together with an inner piece of scrim (not shown) set at an angle, for example at 2° to 90°, with respect to the outer piece. In such embodiments of the invention the angled inner piece of scrim is to provide effective wind noise suppression under a range of conditions. For example, when wind prevails on a piece of scrim straight-on there may only be minimal wind noise suppression. Thus by providing two pieces of scrim at an angle with respect to one another the ability to reduce wind noise is less dependent on the direction of the oncoming wind. Further, by locating foam between the two pieces of scrim (filling or not filling the space between the two pieces of scrim) additional wind noise suppression and sibilance reduction can be achieved. In a channel 8 configuration the channel may be angled from the exterior product surface with the outer piece of scrim located at or near the headset's exterior entrance to the channel.

While the invention has been described in the Detailed Description section of this specification in the form of a headset it should be understood that the inventive principle, and thus the claims forming part of this document, should not be seen as limited to only headset applications of the invention. It could for example be used in connection with speakerphones, mobile phones, polycoms, etc.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above arrangement, in addition to reducing wind noise, may serve to reduce breathing noise, fan noise, air flow noise from an air conditioner or other forms of air flow noise.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An audio device comprising a housing, an opening in the housing for receiving sound, a distinct channel along which sound can travel wherein such channel has a wind noise reducing turn or turns, a wind noise reducing filter adjacent to the opening, a sound space in communication with the channel, and a microphone in communication with the sound space; the audio device formed such that when it is in use spoken sound can pass through the opening in the housing and through the filter, pass along the channel into the sound space, and from the sound space to the microphone such that at least the filter plus the turn or turns in the channel, provide a reduction in wind noise reaching the microphone.

2. An audio device according to claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises scrim.

3. An audio device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter comprises foam.

4. An audio device according to claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a combination of scrim and foam.

5. An audio device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the filter comprises at least two pieces of scrim wherein one of these is oriented at an angle to the other.

6. An audio device according to claim 5 wherein there is a quantity of wind noise reducing foam between the two pieces of scrim.

7. An audio device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel comprises a pipe and the turn or turns are formed by the pipe.

8. An audio device according to any one of the preceding claims, having an earpiece speaker suitable for playing sound to a user's ear.

9. An audio device according to any one of the preceding claims, formed to receive and transmit sound signals wirelessly.

10. An audio device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe and the sound space are within a supportive boot.

11. An audio device according to claim 10, wherein the microphone is at least substantially within the supportive boot.

12. An audio device according to any one of the preceding claims in the form of a headset.

13. An audio device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.