# US 2017/0281120 A1 · Acoustic collection system for handheld electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281120 A1 - Document ID: US20170281120A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/627,313 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-15 - Assignees: StratoScientific, Inc. - Applicants: StratoScientific, Inc. - Inventors: Suman K. Mulumudi; Mahesh S. Mulumudi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281120A1 ## CPC - A61B 7/04: Electric stethoscopes - G10K 11/004: {Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device (mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00)} - G10K 11/08: Non-electric sound-amplifying devices, e.g. non-electric megaphones (amplifying by horns G10K11/02; amplifying by focusing G10K11/26) - G10K 11/22: for conducting sound through hollow pipes, e.g. speaking tubes - H04R 1/46: Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope (throat mountings H04R1/14) - H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response - H04R 2499/11: Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 A mounting system is provided to allow the attachment of an acoustic collector to a handheld electronic device such that sound is conducted directly to the device's microphone. A fitted case or band encloses part of the device and includes a tube running from the collector to the device's microphone. In certain embodiments, the tube may be embedded in the case, and a detachable mount may be provided to connect the collector to the case. The collector may be a stethoscope chestpiece, or an open air collector, such as a parabolic collector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stethoscope for use with a microphone-equipped handheld electronic device, said stethoscope comprising: (a) a detachable fitted casing for attaching to at least a portion of said handheld electronic device, said casing having a broad surface; (b) a stethoscope chestpiece incorporated with said casing and located on said broad surface of said casing; (c) a tube configured to carry sound waves through air from said stethoscope chestpiece to a microphone on said handheld electronic device, wherein the entire length of said tube is physically incorporated as a channel within said casing; and (d) wherein said tube has a microphone end opening configured to be located over the microphone of said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stethoscope of claim 1, wherein said handheld electronic device is a Smartphone/Tablet and said casing is designed to hook onto said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stethoscope of claim 1, wherein said stethoscope chestpiece has a rim capable of detachably mounting a diaphragm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stethoscope of claim 1, wherein the stethoscope chestpiece is formed from a flexible rubber material configured to deform to match contours of a surface being listened to. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stethoscope of claim 1, wherein said microphone end opening has a compressible sealing ring configured to be compressed around said microphone, and wherein said casing is configured to compress said sealing ring around said microphone when said casing is attached to said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stethoscope of claim 1, wherein said stethoscope chestpiece has a substantially circular sloped inner wall terminating at a hole that corresponds with one end of said tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stethoscope of claim 1, wherein said stethoscope chestpiece is formed together with said casing as result of a manufacturing method selected from the group consisting of (A) casting said stethoscope chestpiece and said casing together in the same mold, and (B) three-dimensionally printing said stethoscope chestpiece and said casing together as a single unit. ### Claim 8 A method for using a stethoscope, said method comprising: (a) providing a microphone-equipped handheld electronic device; (b) providing a detachable fitted casing for attaching to at least a portion of said handheld electronic device, said casing having a broad surface; (c) providing a stethoscope chestpiece as incorporated with said casing and located on said broad surface of said casing; (d) providing a tube configured to carry sound waves through air from said stethoscope chestpiece to a microphone on said handheld electronic device, wherein the entire length of said tube is physically incorporated as a channel within said casing; and wherein said tube has a microphone end opening configured to be located over the microphone of said handheld electronic device; (e) attaching said casing to said handheld electronic device; (f) contacting said stethoscope chestpiece to an object; and (g) allowing said handheld electronic device's microphone to detect sounds transmitted through said stethoscope chestpiece from said object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing said handheld electronic device as a Smartphone/Tablet and providing said casing with lips for hooking onto said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a software program capable of augmenting user-selected sound frequencies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing said handheld electronic device as equipped with a camera, and including using said camera to capture a visual image of the object that is emitting said sounds. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said microphone end opening is provided as having a compressible sealing ring configured to be compressed around said microphone; and wherein said casing is configured to compress said sealing ring around said microphone when said casing is attached to said handheld electronic device; and further comprising the additional step of allowing said sealing ring to be compressed around said microphone when said casing is attached to said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing said stethoscope chestpiece as having a circular sloped inner wall terminating at a hole that corresponds with one end of said tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said stethoscope chestpiece is formed together with said casing as result of having been manufactured by a method selected from the group consisting of (A) casting said stethoscope chestpiece and said casing together in the same mold, and (B) three-dimensionally printing said stethoscope chestpiece and said casing together as a single unit.