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GoogleGranted patentAudio & voiceInterest 6/10

Google patents ring design to smooth out microphone sound quality

Google has been granted a patent for a specific internal design used in electronic device microphones. The invention uses a small ring-like structure inside the microphone's air channel to adjust how sound waves travel. This adjustment helps reduce unwanted loud spikes in certain sound frequencies, resulting in clearer audio.

Why it mattersThis improvement helps ensure that microphones in phones and other devices capture voice and sound more naturally without harsh, resonant noises.

In the filing’s own words

An impedance-tuned microphone tunnel for an electronic device is disclosed. The impedance-tuned microphone tunnel includes a ring-like structure having a central opening positioned within a microphone tunnel of an electronic device. The central opening of the ring-like structure has a diameter that is smaller than diameters of other central openings within the microphone tunnel. The ring-like structure may be used to tune an impedance of the microphone tunnel by varying the diameter of the central opening. In this way, the impedance of the microphone tunnel may be tuned to a frequency response target to reduce a resonant peak of the microphone tunnel. The ring-like structure may be coated with a non-stick material, such as with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially orientated polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET), polyimide (PI), and the like.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An apparatus comprising: a first layer of adhesive including a first central opening having a first diameter; a second layer of adhesive including a second central opening having a second diameter, the second diameter being substantially equal to the first diameter; a waterproof membrane positioned between the first layer of adhesive and the second layer of adhesive, the waterproof membrane having a first outer diameter, the first outer diameter being larger than the first diameter and the second diameter; and a ring-like structure including a third central opening having a third diameter, the ring-like structure disposed on the second layer of adhesive effective to couple the ring-like structure to the waterproof membrane, the third diameter being smaller than the first and second diameters.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Impedance-tuned microphone tunnel
Patent number
US12726756B2
Application number
18889160
Filed
Sep 18, 2024
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
12

Classified under

H04R 1/2807 Electricity & electronicsH04R 1/04 Electricity & electronicsH04R 1/086 Electricity & electronicsH04R 2201/003 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.