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US 7,630,504 B2Granted
Microphone comprising integral multi-level quantizer and single-bit conversion means
AssigneeEpcos AG
InventorJens Kristian Poulsen
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Abstract
The invention relates to a digital microphone comprising an integral analog-to-digital converter based on a multi-level quantizer in cascade with a digital signal converter which is adapted to provide a single-bit output signal. Digital microphones in accordance with the invention are particularly well adapted for use in mobile terminals and compact portable communication equipment such as mobile or cellular phones, headsets, hearing prostheses etc.
Claims19
A digital microphone comprising:
- a microphone housing having a sound inlet and comprising:
- a transducer element comprising a displaceable diaphragm and adapted to generate a transducer signal representative of sound received through the sound inlet,
- an analog-to-digital converter comprising a multi-level quantizer operatively coupled to the transducer element to convert the transducer signal into multi-bit samples representative of the transducer signal, the multi-level quantizer having at least three discrete quantization levels, each of the discrete quantization levels being represented by a set of corresponding symbols, each symbol comprises a number of one signs, the number of one signs being proportional with a magnitude of the transducer signal represented by the corresponding multi-bit sample,
- a digital signal converter adapted to convert the multi-bit samples into an unformatted single-bit output signal, and
- an externally accessible terminal adapted to provide the unformatted single-bit output signal.
2 more elements
A monolithic integrated circuit for a miniature microphone, comprising:
- a preamplifier adapted to provide an amplified transducer signal and comprising an input section couplable to a miniature electret or condenser transducer element,
- an analog-to-digital converter comprising a multilevel-quantizer operatively coupled to the amplified transducer signal and adapted to convert the amplified transducer signal into multi-bit samples representative of the amplified transducer signal, the multi-level quantizer having at least three discrete quantization levels, each of the discrete quantization levels being represented by a set of corresponding symbols, each symbol comprises a number of one signs, the number of one signs being proportional with a magnitude of the transducer signal represented by the corresponding multi-bit sample,
- a digital signal converter adapted to convert the multi-bit samples into an unformatted single-bit output signal, and
- an integrated circuit pad adapted to provide the single-bit output signal.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.