# US 2014/0192201 A1 · Passive devices for broadband acoustic acquisition and passive systems for broadband acoustic imagery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192201 A1 - Document ID: US20140192201A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/150,099 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: ACB Engineering - Applicants: ACB Engineering - Inventors: Vincent Benoit; Christian Corbeau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192201A1 ## CPC - G01S 7/52023: {Details of receivers} - G01H 3/125: {for representing acoustic field distribution (using optical means G01H9/002; sonar systems for imaging G01S7/56, G01S15/89; acoustic holography G03H3/00)} - G01S 3/808: using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems - G01S 5/18: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - G01S 15/8915: {using a transducer array} - G01H 3/00: Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations by using a detector in a fluid (G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence) - G01H 17/00: Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves, not provided for in the other groups of this subclass - G01S 15/89: for mapping or imaging - G01S 15/8925: {the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays} - H04R 2430/20: Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic (H04R2203/12 takes precedence) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES - 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 Passive device for broadband acoustic acquisition (3) that can communicate with a digital processing unit (4), the device including a plurality of microphone sensors (7) that can generate an electric signal (8) that is representative of an acoustic pressure (9) received, electronics for processing and digitizing (12) electric signals being able to adapt the electric signals and transform them into digital signals (13) of acoustic pressure, transfer electronics (14) being able to communicate with a digital processing unit (4) and to make possible the transfer of the digital signals of acoustic pressure to the digital processing unit. The microphone sensors and the transfer electronics are mounted on a multifunctional rigid support element (17) that incorporates the processing and digitizing electronics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Passive device for broadband acoustic acquisition (3) able to communicate with a digital processing unit (4), the device having a plurality of microphone sensors (7), each of the sensors being able to generate an electric signal (8) that is representative of an acoustic pressure (9) received by said microphone sensor, electronics for processing and digitizing (12) electric signals that are able to adapt the electric signals generated by the microphone sensors and to transform them into digital signals (13) of acoustic pressure, transfer electronics (14) able to communicate with a digital processing unit (4) and to make possible the transfer of the digital signals of acoustic pressure from the electronics for processing and digitizing to said digital processing unit, the acoustic acquisition device being characterized in that the microphone sensors and the transfer electronics are mounted on a multifunctional rigid support element (17) that incorporates the processing and digitizing electronics. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of microphone sensors (7) comprises a number of microphone sensors greater than or equal to three and less than or equal to sixteen, the number of microphone sensors being preferably greater than or equal to six and less than or equal to twelve, the number of microphone sensors being preferably approximately equal to eight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein for any first sensor selected from among the plurality of microphone sensors (7) and any second sensor selected from among the plurality of microphone sensors, a maximum distance (L1) between the first sensor and the second sensor is less than or equal to fifty centimeters, said maximum distance being preferably less than or equal to thirty-five centimeters, said maximum distance being preferably approximately equal to twenty centimeters, and/or a minimum distance (L2) between the first sensor and the second sensor is greater than or equal to four centimeters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein sensors from among the plurality of microphone sensors (7) are placed approximately in a circle (11). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional rigid support element (17) has a plurality of receptacles (21), and wherein each sensor from among the plurality of microphone sensors (7) is mounted in an associated receptacle from among the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, further having at least one distance sensor (26) incorporated in the multifunctional rigid support element (17). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional rigid support element (17) has a means for association (22) with a digital processing unit (4) that is able to attach a digital processing unit rigidly to the multifunctional rigid support element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, having one of the following elements: the multifunctional rigid support element (17) has a rigid shell (18) in which the processing and digitizing electronics (12) are housed, the multifunctional rigid support element (17) has two rigid shells (18, 19) attached opposite one another and containing between them the processing and digitizing electronics (12), and/or the multifunctional rigid support element (17) is perforated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional rigid support element (17) has at least one of the following elements: a grasping means (23) able to make possible handling and carrying of the acoustic acquisition device (3) with one or two hands, in particular a zone or zones (24) of a rigid shell or of rigid shells (18, 19), a means for fastening (25) to an external support, in particular to a tripod stand, and/or an autonomous electric power source (28) incorporated in the multifunctional rigid support element (17), in particular a battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1, wherein the transfer electronics (14) are: either wire transfer electronics having a connector (15) and able to communicate with the digital processing unit (4) by an interconnection cable (16), or wireless transfer electronics having an antenna or an optical emitter-receiver and able to communicate with the digital processing unit by means of a wireless connection, in particular a wireless radiofrequency connection or a wireless optical connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Passive system for broadband acoustic imagery (1) of an observation zone (2), the system comprising a passive device for acoustic acquisition (3) according to claim 1, a digital processing unit (4) suited to receive digital signals (13) of acoustic pressure from the passive device for acoustic acquisition and to determine and store, for each of the points of a plurality of points (29) of the observation zone (2), at least one digital value (31) of the acoustic pressure level (32) at this point from the digital signals of acoustic pressure, and a means for displaying (5) a grid (33) of the digital values of the acoustic pressure level associated with each point of the observation zone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 11, having one of the following elements: the digital processing unit (4) is attached rigidly to the multifunctional rigid support element (17), a thickness dimension of the passive system for broadband acoustic imagery is less than twenty centimeters, preferably less than ten centimeters, and still more preferably less than five centimeters, and/or the passive device for acoustic acquisition (3) is supplied with electric power by the digital processing unit (4). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 11, wherein the display means (5) have a touch screen (35) able to make possible the communication of commands (36) to the digital processing unit (4). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 11, further having a means for acquisition of photographic images (37) to obtain at least one photographic image (38) of the observation zone (2), and wherein the display means (5) are able to display the photographic image of the observation zone and the grid (33) of the digital values (31) of the acoustic pressure level, in particular in the form of a palette of colors or of the level of gray associated with the grid of the digital values and superposed with the photographic image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 14, wherein a mobile apparatus (42) comprises the digital processing unit (4), the display means (5), and the means for acquisition of photographic images (37), the mobile apparatus having an autonomous electric power source, in particular a battery (43), preferably in which the mobile apparatus (42) and the plurality of microphone sensors (7) are respectively placed on opposite faces (39, 40) of the multifunctional rigid support element (17), the multifunctional rigid support element having a through opening (41) opposite the means for acquisition of photographic images (37) able to make it possible for the means for acquisition of photographic images to acquire a photographic image (38) of the observation zone (2).