Microphone isolation system

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to the field of audio fidelity, and more particularly to a vibration isolator such as a microphone isolation system.

#2. Background of the Invention

#FIG. 1 is a top view of a prior art attempt at a microphone isolation system.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary microphone isolation system according the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top unit of the microphone isolation system of FIG. 2.

#As shown in the exemplary drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding elements among the figures, embodiments of a system according to the present invention will now be described in detail. The following description sets forth an example of a microphone isolation system.

#Detailed descriptions of various embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, method, process, or manner.

#As mentioned herein, various drawbacks to the prior art telephony approaches exist. For example, when one attempts to design a terminal's speech transducers to exhibit wideband response, there are numerous acoustical and mechanical difficulties that arise. One problem that arises is that the microphone is exposed to the terminal's solid borne vibrations (e.g., vibrations resulting from a table, the terminal's fan or other moving part, or the terminal's loudspeaker voice coil motion) over a much broader frequency range than otherwise. This problem is particularly troublesome at lower frequencies since the mass or inertia of the terminal is not very effective at attenuating such solid borne vibrations before the microphone senses the vibrations. It is especially helpful to be able to adequately attenuate vibrations in planes substantially orthogonal to the direction of gravity. The prior art does not accomplish this kind of attenuation satisfactorily.