# US 2021/0243512 A1 · Variable microphone shelter, sound collection system, sound collection method, and program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243512 A1 - Document ID: US20210243512A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/162,081 - Filed: 2021-01-29 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Yusuke SAKAI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243512A1 ## CPC - H04R 1/086: {Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens} - H04R 1/04: Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor (in electric hearing aids H04R25/00) - H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response - H04R 1/021: {incorporating only one transducer} - H04R 2410/07: Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone - 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 sound collection system includes a sound collection unit, a variable shelter configured to cover the sound collection unit, an optimum form determination unit configured to determine a form of the variable shelter on a basis of an ambient environmental state, and a shelter optimization control unit configured to change the form of the variable shelter on a basis of a determination result by the optimum form determination unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sound collection system comprising: a sound collection unit; a variable shelter configured to cover the sound collection unit; an optimum form determination unit configured to determine a form of the variable shelter on a basis of an ambient environmental state; and a shelter optimization control unit configured to change the form of the variable shelter on a basis of a determination result by the optimum form determination unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sound collection system according to claim 1, wherein the variable shelter includes a plurality of shelters, and the form is changed by switching the shelters that cover the sound collection unit such that the sound collection unit is covered with one or a plurality of the shelters of the plurality of the shelters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sound collection system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of the shelters is different from one another in shape, structure, material, or characteristic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sound collection system according to claim 2, wherein the shelter has a streamlined shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sound collection system according to claim 1, wherein the form of the variable shelter is changed by changing a shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sound collection system according to claim 1, wherein the form of the variable shelter is changed by changing an orientation of the variable shelter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sound collection system according to claim 1, wherein the optimum form determination unit determines the form of the variable shelter on a basis of at least one of ambient weather, wind speed, rainfall, presence or absence of raindrops, dust concentration, temperature, humidity, or noise level, as the environmental state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sound collection system according to claim 1, further comprising: a signal optimization processing unit configured to perform signal processing according to the form of the variable shelter or the environmental state, for a sound collection signal obtained by the sound collection unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sound collection system according to claim 8, wherein the signal processing is equalizer processing or filter processing. ### Claim 10 A sound collection method by a sound collection system including a sound collection unit, and a variable shelter that covers the sound collection unit, the sound collection method comprising: determining a form of the variable shelter on a basis of an ambient environmental state; and changing the form of the variable shelter on a basis of a determination result of the form of the variable shelter. ### Claim 11 A program for causing a computer that controls a sound collection system including a sound collection unit, and a variable shelter that covers the sound collection unit to execute processing of: determining a form of the variable shelter on a basis of an ambient environmental state; and changing the form of the variable shelter on a basis of a determination result of the form of the variable shelter. ### Claim 12 A variable microphone shelter comprising: a plurality of shelters, wherein the shelters that cover a sound collection unit are switched such that the sound collection unit is covered with one or a plurality of the shelters of the plurality of the shelters according to an ambient environmental state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The variable microphone shelter according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of the shelters is different from one another in shape, structure, material, or characteristic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The variable microphone shelter according to claim 12, wherein the shelter has a streamlined shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The variable microphone shelter according to claim 12, wherein a shape of the shelter that covers the sound collection unit is changed according to the environmental state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The variable microphone shelter according to claim 12, wherein a direction of the shelter that covers the sound collection unit is changed according to the environmental state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The variable microphone shelter according to claim 12, wherein the environmental state is at least one of ambient weather, wind speed, rainfall, presence or absence of raindrops, dust concentration, temperature, humidity, or noise level.