# US 12,003,915 B2 · Acoustic filters for microphone noise mitigation and transducer venting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,915 B2 - Document ID: US12003915B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/060,726 - Filed: 2022-12-01 - Published: 2023-05-25 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-01 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Jerad Lewis; Philippe Vossel; Michael Perkmann; Martin Seidl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003915B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type} - H04R 5/0335: {Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests (for monophonic headphones H04R1/105)} - H04R 1/086: {Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens} - H04R 2201/107: Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication - H04R 2460/01: Hearing devices using active noise cancellation - H04R 2460/11: Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract Playback devices such as headphone devices can include an earpiece configured to be positioned adjacent a user's ear. The earpiece can include a transducer having a diaphragm configured to face toward the user's ear when the earpiece is positioned adjacent the user's ear, as well as an outlet vent in fluid communication with the transducer and a microphone. A support member within the earpiece includes a first opening aligned with the microphone and a second opening aligned with the outlet vent. An acoustic mesh extends over the first opening and the second opening, wherein the mesh has a substantially uniform acoustic impedance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A playback device comprising: an earpiece configured to be positioned adjacent a user's ear, the earpiece comprising: a transducer having a diaphragm configured to face toward the user's ear when the earpiece is positioned adjacent the user's ear; an outlet vent in fluid communication with the transducer; a first microphone and a second microphone; a support member having a first opening aligned with a first microphone, a second opening aligned with the outlet vent, and a third opening aligned with the second microphone; and an acoustic mesh extending over the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening, wherein the mesh has a substantially uniform acoustic impedance of about 30-150 RaylsMKS, wherein the first opening and the second opening have corresponding first and second areas, wherein the transducer has a downstream acoustic impedance based on the second area and the acoustic impedance of the mesh, and wherein the first microphone has an upstream acoustic impedance based on the first area and the acoustic impedance of the acoustic mesh. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a first semi-annular member, and wherein the mesh comprises a second semi-annular member positioned over the first semi-annular member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, wherein an area of the second opening is at least 50% greater than an area of the first opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, wherein the microphone is configured to detect voice input from the user. ### Claim 5 An earpiece assembly for a playback device, the assembly comprising: an audio transducer; a housing containing the audio transducer, the housing defining an acoustic volume; an aperture in fluid communication with the acoustic volume; a first microphone and a second microphone; a support member disposed adjacent to the audio transducer, the support member comprising a first port substantially aligned with the first microphone, a second port disposed substantially aligned with the aperture, and a third port substantially aligned with the second microphone; and an acoustic filter material covering the first port and the second port, wherein the acoustic filter material has an acoustic impedance of about 30-150 RaylsMKS, wherein the first port and the second port have corresponding first and second areas, wherein the audio transducer has a downstream acoustic impedance based on the second area and an acoustic impedance of the acoustic filter material, and wherein the microphone has an upstream acoustic impedance based on the first area and the acoustic impedance of the acoustic filter material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The earpiece assembly of claim 5, wherein the support member comprises a first semi-annular member, and wherein the acoustic filter material comprises a second semi-annular member positioned over the first semi-annular member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The earpiece assembly of claim 5, wherein the first port has an opening size that is less than twice an opening size of the second port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The earpiece assembly of claim 5, wherein the acoustic filter material comprises an acoustic mesh. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The earpiece assembly of claim 5, wherein the acoustic filter material has a substantially uniform acoustic impedance. ### Claim 10 A portable playback device comprising: an audio transducer; an enclosure defining an acoustic volume adjacent the transducer; a vent opening in communication with the acoustic volume; a first microphone and a second microphone; a first port substantially aligned with the vent opening, the first port having a first area; a second port substantially aligned with the microphone, the second port having a second area; a third port substantially aligned with the microphone; and an acoustic impedance member extending over the first port, the second port, and the third port, wherein the acoustic impedance member has an acoustic impedance of about 30-150 RaylsMKS, wherein the audio transducer has a downstream acoustic impedance based on the first area and an acoustic impedance of the acoustic impedance member, and wherein the microphone has an upstream acoustic impedance based on the second area and the acoustic impedance of the acoustic impedance member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable playback device of claim 10, wherein the playback device comprises a wearable playback device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The portable playback device of claim 10, wherein the first port has an opening size that is less than twice an opening size of the second port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The portable playback device of claim 10, wherein the acoustic impedance member has a substantially uniform acoustic impedance.