RU2791521C1 - Limitation of sound radiation in speech capture devices - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: prevention of the possibility of eavesdropping, as well as to limiting sound radiation into the environment in speech capture devices.

SUBSTANCE: invention to provides shielding of the environment from speech sound, thereby achieving improved capture of speech sound by means of a microphone of the speech capture area. For this purpose, the speech capture device (10) is designed to be located on or near the head of the person speaking (100) and contains an inner side (11) and an outer side (22), including a microphone (19), a speech capture area (18), which is at least partially facing the inner side (11) or forms it, and a sound-suppressing device (20) that is at least partially facing the outside (22) of the device (10) or forms it. In this case, the sound-suppressing device (20) has a front side (32) facing the person, a back side (30) and a sound-suppressing structure (34) that extends at least partially between the front side (32) and the back side (30). In addition, the silencing device (20) has at least one vibroacoustic region and/or the silencing device (20) on the front side (32), at least in sections has a fibrous surface texture with several protruding fiber-like sections of the material.

EFFECT: present invention enables to shield the environment from a speech sound.

18 cl, 16 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a solution for limiting sound radiation, and especially sound radiation to the environment, in devices for capturing speech.

Speech capturing devices are known in various ways, for example in the form of a mobile phone or a headset. To capture speech, microphones are used, which are located in the speech capture area of the device.

First of all, devices for capturing speech are known which are wearable on the head, for example by means of a headband or earpiece. An example of such a device is a microphone-telephone headset. The microphone, or more specifically the speech pickup area, is generally positioned by means of a support structure, in particular an elongated support leg, near or directly in front of the user's mouth. In this case, the supporting leg, as a rule, extends from the region near the head, and especially near the ear, along the user's face (for example, along his cheek or jaw) to his mouth. At the front free end of the carrier leg, a speech capture area may be provided.

Also, only head-worn, but not necessarily fixed, devices may, within the meaning of this disclosure, form speech capturing devices such as mobile radios. Also, such devices are known to have a speech capture area with a microphone in order to record or transmit to a remote communication partner the user's voice information. When such devices are used by a person to capture speech, it can interfere with other people nearby. This applies, for example, to the use of mobile radios in public areas (eg trains, restaurants or public places). Also, for reasons of confidentiality, it may be undesirable that people around you can eavesdrop on voice information as part of a telephone conversation. Then, users often use their hands to form some kind of soundproof structure around their mouth and/or mobile phone, which is inefficient and not comfortable enough.

Also, the use of voice capture devices in office environments can interfere with other employees. For example, it is known that in call centers many employees are in spatial proximity to each other and use the microphone-telephone headset described above as a speech capture device. An employee may be distracted by other employees' telephone conversations, or these telephone conversations may be recorded and transmitted by their own microphone and telephone headset as unwanted background noise. Therefore, they often try to place soundproof structures near employees, for example, in the form of soundproof walls. However, these measures are costly and not always effective.

US 2012/095768 A1 discloses a system and methods for blocking the lips of a speaking person, and especially in a lip blocking system, using a sound deadening or sound absorbing material.

US 2019/253886 A1 discloses glare protection with sound absorbing material.

US 9,614,945 B1 discloses a device for preserving the privacy of communication, and the sound during use of the device can be captured and/or absorbed.

US 2013/100233 discloses a sound focusing system.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the use of speech capture devices, especially with regard to unwanted sound emission to the environment.

This problem is solved by means of the subject matter of the appended independent claims. Preferred improvements are indicated in the dependent claims. Of course, the features mentioned in the introductory description may be provided separately or in any combinations also in the present disclosed solution, unless otherwise indicated or is obvious.

In general, it is proposed to provide a sound deadening device which is designed to limit sound emission to the environment. First of all, it must still be possible that the speech is captured by the microphone. Thus, the microphone or the speech pickup area surrounding the microphone can be at least partially uncovered, especially on the front side which faces the user's mouth. However, with respect to the environment, the microphone, especially on the back side, which faces away from the user's mouth, can be shielded by a sound dampening device.

Thus, from the user's point of view, the microphone can be located between the user's mouth and the sound-damping device, for example, at least when the speech capture device according to the preferred embodiments is a head-worn or head-worn device, such as a microphone - telephone headset.

However, it can also be possible that the microphone and/or the speech capture area is positioned adjacent, above and/or to the side of the mouth from the user's point of view, for example at least when the speech capture device according to the preferred embodiments is communication device such as a mobile phone. However, the user's mouth can then be at least partially covered or shielded by the sound dampening device, for example, as the sound dampening device extends to the user's mouth. However, the free space between the mouth and the speech capture device can be left free by the silencer, so that the user's speech information or the sound waves generated by the user can still at least partially enter the speech capture area without interacting with the silencer.

In general, it can be provided that the sound deadening device is mountable on existing speech capturing devices, for example by hand or without the use of tools. In this case, it is preferable to put on, fasten or generally create a connection with a power or positive lock (above all, a locking connection) to secure the sound dampening device.

Additionally or optionally, the sound dampening device (for example, after being pre-attached) can be movable relative to other elements of the speech capture device, and above all relative to the speech capture area. This may include the possibility of manual orientation, for example by turning the sound deadening device.

Additionally or optionally, the sound dampening device, above all within the framework of the first and second operating states described below, can be placed differently relative to the area of capturing the speech and/or mouth of the user. To this end, the sound deadening device can be moved back and forth between different positions, for example by selectively extending and retracting or by selectively folding and unfolding.

In general, the sound deadening device can be made flat, and above all in the form of a screen or panel.

First of all, there is provided a speech capturing device (speech capturing device) which is placed (for example, permanently by a headband or temporarily by hand hold) on or near the head of a speaking person (i.e., a user of the device), having:

- inner side and outer side,

- including a microphone area for capturing speech, which, at least in sections facing the inner side or forms it, and

a sound deadening device which at least partially faces or forms the outside of the device.

Preferably, the sound dampening device has a front side, a back side, and a sound dampening structure that extends at least partially between the front side and the rear side. This does not preclude that the sound dampening structure forms at least one of the front and rear sides at least in sections (that is, it is made in one piece). However, it can then be provided that another section (eg in the depth direction) of the sound dampening structure is located between this front side and the rear side. In other words, the sound-damping structure can be, first of all, sections, enclosed between the front side and the rear side and/or forms a sound-damping layer between them.

Also disclosed is a speech capture device that is placed on or near the head of a speaking person, with:

- a speech capture area including a microphone, and

- a sound-damping device which at least partially faces or forms the outside of the device,

moreover, the sound dampening device is placed in front of the user's mouth, namely,

- that the speech capture area is located at least partially between the sound dampening device and the mouth (for example, when placing the speech capture area directly in front of the mouth),

- and/or (for example, when placing the speech capture area next to, above and/or to the side of the mouth) that the free space between the mouth and the speech capture area is at least partially not covered or, in other words, not covered by a sound dampening device, for example, because the sound deadening device does not extend into this free space.

As described below, the headspace may be oblong and/or extend along one cheek of the user between the sound deadening device and the speech capture area.

Both of these devices are combinable with all the explanations, features and improvements described below.

References used here in the sense of above, below, next to, etc. can be oriented relative to an upright or upright sitting person and, above all, his head when he uses the device.

In general, any device described herein can be brought into contact with a human head or provide for such contact when used correctly.

In general, one can confine oneself here to the state of use of the device, which corresponds to the intended state of use, in which, for example, the device is placed on the head in a natural way (and, for example, with the best wearing comfort) and / or speech capture is obtained with maximum quality (and, before total, maximum amplitude or maximum frequency range) without adversely affecting other functions (e.g. the acoustic output function). The latter, for example, may occur when the free space between the user's mouth and the grip area is maintained, but at the same time the acoustic output area (loudspeaker) is located near the user's ear.

The inner side may be generally facing the wearer's mouth and/or facing away from the environment. The outer side may be facing away from the user's mouth and/or facing the environment. The speech capture area may be positioned to the side, adjacent to, or opposite the user's mouth.

As already mentioned, the speech capture area according to one variant may be placed in front of the user's mouth section of the microphone-telephone headset. First of all, the speech capture area can be located at the free end of the carrier structure (or also the carrier foot or carrier headband) or form this end.

Optionally, the speech capture area can be placed in the body of the device, especially when the speech capture device is a communication device such as a mobile phone. Then, the speech capture area is preferably located on the underside of the communication device and/or housing. Conversely, the acoustic output area described below may be provided on the opposite top side, which may include, for example, a loudspeaker.

Along with the microphone, the speech pickup area may optionally include acoustically transparent covers, housings, walls or other structures, which can suitably serve to protect the microphone.

In general, the speech capturing region may be configured to allow sound waves that are generated by a speaking user to pass to the microphone (ie, in general, be acoustically transmissive). On the other hand, the speech pickup area can protect the microphone from undesirable environmental influences such as, for example, pollution or air currents. First of all, the speech capture area may at least partially shield the microphone from the environment, but due to the presence of perforations or other structural features (eg cutouts) be permeable to sound waves.

We can talk about transmission to sound waves when possible attenuations or other influences on sound waves do not significantly affect the pickup result by the microphone or lie below predetermined acceptable limit values. Permeability can first of all be considered sufficient when an air-conducting connection between the microphone and the environment is provided through the speech capture area (for example, through its perforation or its cutouts).

Preferably, the speech capture area on the inside of the device is not covered or forms an uncovered portion of this inside. However, the speech capture area opposite this inner side can be at least partially covered by the sound dampening device, whereby it is shielded from the environment, or overlapped with it. This limits the output to the environment of sound waves that do not interact with the speech capture area or are not absorbed by it. This relative positioning of the speech pickup area and the sound dampening device can be provided in particular for microphone/telephone headsets or, more generally, for head-worn speech pickup devices.

However, it can also be provided that, in particular, when the speech pickup area is located in a housing (for example, a mobile phone), it is, so to speak, on the rear side, at least not overlapped or shielded by the sound dampening device. First of all, then at least a part of the housing can be placed between the speech pickup area in the sound dampening device, so that the latter does not at least directly overlap with the speech pickup area and/or does not directly overlap or shield from the rear side. First of all, in this case, the speech capture area may not be located directly in front of the user's mouth, but, for example, be located to the side of him near his cheek. The sound deadening device may extend (for example, starting from said body) to the mouth and preferably also at least in sections to the area in front of the user's mouth. In this way, it can be prevented that sound waves generated by the user are not muted into the environment. But at the same time, there remains a free space between the sound-damping device and the housing and/or the speech capture area, through which sound waves without direct sound-damping interaction with the sound-damping device can enter the speech capture area (for example, without having to hit the sound-damping device or pass through him).

The sound-damping device, and above all its sound-damping structure, can provide a sound-damping effect, which can primarily be due to the type of material used or, alternatively, to a specific sound-damping structure. The latter may refer not to the microscopic structure of the material itself, but to the macroscopic structure formed by the material. For example, the sound deadening structure may include recesses, holes, channels, perforations, walls, cavities, or the like, which are created separately and are not inherent properties of the material.

The sound deadening structure can be produced by either generative or additive manufacturing (primarily 3D printing). Examples of additive manufacturing can be found in the following instruction: VDI 3405, Herausgegeben von VDI-Gesellschaft Produktion und Logistik, Dezember 2014.

The sound-damping device, and above all the sound-damping structure, can provide an increased sound-damping effect compared to other device materials. In general, they can be made in order to make it possible to soundproof (i.e., muffle the sound of speech emitted to the environment) by a few decibels and/or at least 30%, and preferably at least 50%, relative to the case without muffling (that is, in the absence of a sound dampening device). However, the numerical values mentioned above may refer to the expected frequency spectrum of human speech.

Another embodiment provides that the sound deadening device is flat. By this it may be understood that the sound dampening device has a dimension in thickness which does not appreciably reach at least two other dimensions (or measurements) of the sound dampening device which delimit or circumscribe a plane, and preferably has no more than 50% and preferably no more than 10% of these other measurements. Other dimensions may be length and width dimensions. They can be measured rectangular to each other.

The thickness may be measured in a direction extending rectangular to the surface of the sound deadening device (and/or orthogonally to its rear side or front side). In general, the thickness may correspond to the distance between the front side and the back side. It can be at least partly determined by the thickness of the sound deadening structure or correspond to its thickness.

It is possible that the flat sound dampening device is primarily curved such that the rear side of the sound dampening device facing the user's mouth is curved convexly and/or the front side facing away from the mouth is curved concave. Also, the dimensions mentioned above can then be bent and extend respectively bent along the front side and back side.

Also, the sound deadening structure can be suitably planar and have all the optional features described above in terms of the aspect ratio (especially the thickness dimension) or possible bending.

The plane of the sound dampening device may be oriented or orientable such that it extends substantially along and/or parallel to the wearer's face, and especially his mouth. Thus, for a vertically standing person with a straight head position, the sound deadening device may be substantially on edge and/or define a vertical plane.

In general, by means of a flat design of the sound dampening device, a reliable acoustic shielding action can be achieved.

Additionally or optionally, the sound deadening device may be fan-shaped and include several separate fan-shaped elements that are movable relative to each other. First of all, they can move along a curved axis or rotate around a common axis of rotation. Individual fan elements may themselves be curved. As a result, a generally bowl-shaped or dish-shaped structure, in particular a half-cup structure, into which the user can speak can be created.

According to one improvement, the sound dampening device has a length of at least 5 cm, and preferably at least 10 cm. With regard to the dimension in length, it can be a dimension along the longitudinal axis and/or a dimension in the plane of a preferably flat sound dampening device. The length may extend horizontally and/or from left to right along the user's mouth (eg, headsets). First of all, the length may extend from the speech capture area towards the mouth (eg mobile phones). It turned out that with such a length, suitable shielding is possible in many applications, especially the user's mouth.

On the contrary, the maximum length may not exceed 30 cm, preferably 20 cm. It has been found that then a particularly effective matching is obtained, but at the same time a sufficiently comfortable handling is ensured, and above all, the possible manual movement of the sound dampening device.

As mentioned, the sound deadening device may be at least portions located in front of the user's mouth. To this end, it may be suitably sized and/or suitably positioned within the device, suitably movable and/or suitably orientable.

Another aspect provides that the sound deadening structure has a different structure and/or a different material as at least one of the front side and the back side. Thus, the sound deadening structure can be positioned as a separate layer of structure or material between the front side and the rear side. This makes it possible to have a compact structure and in some cases also to protect the sound dampening structure from environmental influences (especially pollution) by means of the front side and rear side.

In general, it can be provided that the front side is acoustically transparent. However, it is preferably at least partially, and particularly preferably mostly, closed, for example, since it has a correspondingly fine perforation. In this way, the front side can be easily cleaned and, above all, be wiped for disinfection or, in general, be brought into contact with liquids, but at the same time also protect the sound-damping structure. On the contrary, the back side is preferably closed or even. It may be open-celled (eg, include foam), but preferably does not have many notches, holes or punctures, especially in the central regions that are located opposite the wearer's mouth. In this way, a large-sized structural support of the sound-damping structure can be provided and/or the sound-damping effect can be improved.

One embodiment provides that the sound deadening device is configured (eg, suitably molded and/or curved) to at least partially focus user generated speech sound waves in a predetermined area. This variant is particularly suitable for microphone/telephone headsets.

Focusing can be achieved by having the damping device reflect the speech sound waves in an appropriate manner, ie the reflection is tuned so that the sound waves meet in this area in a focused manner. To this end, the sound-damping device, and in particular its user-facing side, can, for example, be suitably molded, angled or curved. In general, for this, the sound deadening device can be curved concave and thus adapted to the contour of the user's face. In this case, it is preferable if the sound dampening device is installed opposite the mouth and also extends beyond it, for example, towards the user's cheeks. First of all, the sound deadening device can be molded like a parabolic mirror.

A speech capture area may be located in the focus area. In other words, by focusing the speech sound waves can thus be focused in the area of speech capture. In addition to reliable shielding of the environment from speech sound, an improved capture of the sound of speech by the microphone of the speech capture area is thus achieved.

Optionally, the microphone can be shielded from the user by means of an additional sound dampening device and thereby capture focused or reflected sound waves to a decisive extent. This will be described below with reference to the figures.

Various structural features of a sound-damping device, and especially of a sound-damping structure, which can lead to acoustic damping of speech sound, will be described below. They may or may not operate independently of the shape of the sound dampening device, but of course be combined with all of the forms of the sound dampening device described here (for example, with the parabolic mirror focusing shape described above). Structural features may be provided in a generally material layer or generally in an element, primarily within, preferably, a monolithic sound deadening structure. They can be, in general, facing the person, but also performed on the side facing away from him. This can reduce the spread of sound from the cabinet soundproofing into the environment.

Structural elements can be produced, for example, by 3D printing or injection molding. They can be in the millimeter range or micrometer range. Preferably, the maximum size of the structural elements is suitably not more than 5 mm, or, for example, in the case of fibers or hair, not more than 20 mm.

Structural elements can be determined through simulation or experimentally to mute sound in a specific frequency range (eg, through appropriate sizing, orientation, or positioning). By this, it can be understood that they reach or exceed the required acoustic damping in a certain (sound) frequency range.

As further described below, similar or different structural features can also be combined with each other (i.e., they can be provided together in one sound deadening device, in which case it is preferably designed to mute speech sound in different frequency ranges. Due to this, it can be a wide-range acoustic character of jamming has been achieved.

A preferred combination includes uneven surfaces in combination with recesses and/or recesses, for example to form the Helmholtz resonators described below, or preferably channels that are repeatedly bent along their course. Additionally, fibrous or hairy structures can be provided on the surface at least in patches, i.e. the surface can have a fibrous or hairy texture. This combination proved to be preferable for achieving broadband sound attenuation.

According to one preferred aspect, the sound deadening device (as an exemplary structural feature) has an area with an uneven surface. Preferably, this area faces the person. Preferably, the region has an area of at least 50 cm ² , and more preferably at least 100 cm ² . It can be provided independently and/or in addition to the bend of the sound deadening device. The irregularities may include a difference in height in the millimeter range, hence, for example, a height difference of up to 5 mm or up to 1 mm.

In general, unevenness can be provided by changes in the height of the area's surface and/or by means of a fluctuating surface profile height. This can be achieved, for example, by placing regions with varying planes and elevations next to each other to form a surface. For example, the planes and/or elevations of this region may be randomly distributed.

With regard to the uneven area, it may be the front side of the sound deadening device. First of all, the sound deadening structure may have or form a corresponding region. Roughness can be provided by at least one of the following: an undulating surface, a jagged or corrugated surface (for example, a zigzag profile of surface heights), a surface structure with a roughness of a smaller size, and above all without smooth areas or lines of more than acceptable length (for example, not more than 5 mm or not more than 1 mm).

By providing an uneven surface, speech sound waves emanating from a person can be scattered and therefore at least partially mutually canceled out as the sound level decreases.

Surface unevenness can also be achieved by the fact that it (and, above all, the sound-damping structure as such) is porous or has a fibrous (or also covered with fibers) or hairy surface. First of all, a suitably porous or fibrous material layer can be provided, for example in the form of a sound dampening mat. In this way, absorbing effects can be achieved, ie the sound energy can be at least partially converted into heat energy.

According to one preferred embodiment, the sound-damping device, and especially its sound-damping structure (as exemplified as a structural feature), has Helmholtz resonators. They can be made in the form of depressions and/or recesses, for example, in the human-facing area of the sound-damping device or sound-damping structure. In a known manner, these recesses and/or recesses for forming Helmholtz resonators have an inlet region which has a reduced cross-sectional dimension compared to the downstream regions. In other words, the recesses and/or recesses can define a volume in the form of a chamber, which is connected to the environment through a cylindrical inlet section with a reduced volume or cross section.

As another optional structural feature, the sound deadening device may have a hollow portion, and in particular a film or layer in the form of a cavity. The hollow section may be filled with an inert gas and/or extend in a planar manner within the sound deadening device. It may have a base surface that corresponds to at least 50% of the base surface of the sound deadening device. As a result, sound transmission through the sound deadening device can be reduced.

Additionally or optionally, the sound-damping device, and above all the sound-damping structure (as exemplified by the structural feature), have absorber wedges. They may represent a special case of the uneven surface described above. Absorbing wedge can be made in the form of a wedge-shaped protrusion. Preferably, several such absorbent wedges are located next to each other, and above all adjacent to each other (hence, without significant distances from each other areas of the bases of the wedges). First of all, absorbent wedges can be made monolithic relative to each other or connected, therefore, made, for example, in the form of protrusions, in a common layer of material. In this case, the absorbing wedges can be differently oriented relative to each other, and above all rotated relative to each other (for example, around extending perpendicular to the common base surface or the base plane of the sound dampening device).

According to one improvement, the sound deadening device has channels with a (preferably multiple) curved course. The channels can be made in the form of air-conducting cavities connected to the environment. It can be (but not necessarily) elongated channels with a significantly reduced cross-sectional dimension relative to the length. The curved course may result in the channels being labyrinthine or cochlear or generally having multiple reversals. As a result, the length of the channels is increased with sometimes limited space requirements, as a result of which the sound path is also increased with sound damping.

The channels may be at least unfilled. However, they can also be at least partially filled with, for example, porous insulating material and/or reinforced foam.

Channels can be accessed through slotted openings. First of all, elongated slotted opening regions can be provided, along which several channels of the type described above are located next to each other and/or in which several respective channels terminate.

As another optional structural feature, the sound-damping device, and above all the sound-damping structure, can have at least one vibroacoustic region according to the invention. In this case, it can be a region in which vibrations are excited by means of speech sounds, which has a sound-absorbing effect. The area can have several vibroacoustic elements. They can, for example, be made in the form of protrusions on the side facing the person.

Vibroacoustic elements can form a "spring-mass" system, in which vibrations are excited by means of speech sounds.

One improvement provides that the vibroacoustic region has several vibroacoustic elements. Preferably, the vibroacoustic elements are respectively located in the region of the Helmholtz resonator according to the aspect described above or the channel according to the aspect described above (or, more generally, in the region of the hole or recess). First of all, vibroacoustic elements can be locally assigned to a Helmholtz resonator or channel, respectively. From the user's point of view, the vibroacoustic elements can, for example, be located at least in sections above the Helmholtz resonator or channel, and therefore overlap with it. Preferably, vibroacoustic elements and Helmholtz resonators or channels are designed to attenuate sounds of different frequency ranges. Then, vibroacoustic elements can serve as a kind of sound attenuating pre-filtering system, and the remaining part of the sound can be damped by Helmholtz resonators or channels.

According to another variant, the sound-damping device includes at least one layer of material mechanically connected to the sound-damping structure, and the mass of the material layer is greater than the mass of the sound-damping structure. As a result, mechanical vibrations during excitation by speech sounds can be reduced, which is advantageous, for example, in order to limit the possible transmission of sound by means of a sound deadening device on the body.

In one improvement, the sound deadening structure (as exemplified by another structural feature) includes or consists of a metamaterial. The metamaterial can be manufactured by an additive manufacturing process of the kind described above, primarily through 3D printing. In general, a metamaterial can be understood as an artificially made material, the properties of which, and above all the structure, do not occur in nature. In this way, an artificial structure can be created which is purposefully adapted to obtain the desired physical properties. First of all, a metamaterial can have a negative refractive index for incident acoustic waves. In general, the desired physical (primarily acoustic) properties of a metamaterial can be explained primarily by its structure and to a lesser extent by its own material (eg, a synthetic material).

Preferably, the structure may be regular and include structural elements such as voids, channels, openings, walls or material-filled volumetric elements, which may be arranged relative to each other according to the structure. First of all, the metamaterial can define the repeating pattern of these or other structural elements. Preferably, the regular repetition of the structural elements can take place along or in the plane of the sound deadening device, but optionally also in the thickness or depth direction. In this case, all structural elements can be smaller in size than the wavelengths in the expected or typical wavelength spectrum of human speech.

First of all, the metamaterial may include or provide all of the structural features described above. For example, they can be 3D printed from a synthetic material, the metamaterial or resulting and suitably structured part including the metamaterial.

In this case, the structure of the metamaterial can be such that the fraction of acoustic waves entering it significantly exceeds the fraction of acoustic waves emitted and/or reflected by it. First of all, acoustic waves can also be absorbed in the structure, preferably in such a way that they are introduced and guided in a predetermined manner within the metamaterial, for example over a distance of several millimeters.

The underlying muffling effect of the metamaterial used may in this case be reduced to the sound absorption capacity of this material (or its structure) and, to a lesser extent, to the creation of interferences due to reflections of sound waves in the direction of the source (the mouth of the user). The proportion of sound damping achieved by absorption in the metamaterial (eg reduction in decibels) can thus be greater than the proportion of sound damping achieved by interferences or other superpositions of sound waves.

To this end, the metamaterial may have an acoustically receptive and/or permeable surface, which, for example, faces the front side of the sound dampening device, so that sound waves can enter it. But due to the described guidance of sound waves within the structure of the metamaterial, they can then no longer, or only to a lesser extent, leave the metamaterial again.

Metamaterials for acoustic damping are known, but so far purely in connection with research. First of all, the invention differs from prior materials research by offering the practical application and incorporation of a metamaterial into a specially designed, positioned and in some cases pre-sized sound deadening device for a speech capture device.

One improvement provides that the sound-damping device (and, above all, the sound-damping structure) has a first region, which is designed to dampen sound in the first frequency range, and at least one other region, which is made to dampen sound in the second frequency range, which is not overlaps, or at least not completely overlaps, with the first frequency band. As a result, several frequency ranges can be acoustically attenuated and thus the sound suppression bandwidth can be improved.

Regions may be provided by providing similar structural features to all of the types described herein, however, said regions are differently sized, located or oriented, and/or have deviant vibroacoustic behavior. For example, structural features in the first region may be sized to be larger than similar structural features in the second region.

Additionally or optionally, it may be provided that different structural features of all the species described herein are provided, wherein the first range is dominated by structural features of one species (e.g., provided exclusively there) and in the second range, structural features of another species (e.g., provided exclusively there).

It goes without saying that more than three structural features can also be combined with each other, for example the above-mentioned combination of an uneven, and above all notched, surface with holes, as well as fibrous regions. Then, all structural features can be implemented to mute sound in distinct or individual frequency ranges.

In another embodiment, the speech capture area and the sound dampening structure may overlap at least in some areas. This applies in particular to the variant already mentioned above, in which the speech capturing area is preferably shielded from the environment at least partially by means of a sound-damping structure.

One improvement provides that the device also includes an acoustic output region (for example, a loudspeaker), wherein, in at least one first operating state, the speech capture region, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, is located between the acoustic output region and at least one area (for example , bottom edge) of the sound dampening device.

This operating state may be the main state of the device, for example, if the sound dampening device is not movable in the manner described below, but is permanently open. Then, also along the longitudinal axis, the main state with a different relative arrangement of the said features may not be provided. However, the variant described below with the second operating state, together with a changed relative position and, above all, with a movable sound-damping device, is preferred.

A suitable position along the longitudinal axis can be achieved, for example, by placing the acoustic output area near or at the user's ear. Conversely, the speech capture region may be located below the ear, or more generally between the ear and the mouth (eg, near the user's cheek). Conversely, the sound deadening device may extend to the mouth and shield it from the environment in order to limit sound emission.

The distance between the acoustic output area and the speech pickup area along the longitudinal axis may be several centimeters, and preferably at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm or at least 15 cm. The distance between the outer end of the sound dampening device along the longitudinal axis and the speech capture area may also preferably be at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm, or at least 15 cm. However, it may be limited to a maximum of 20 cm or a maximum of 30 cm in order to provide sufficient ease of use and/or stowage for storage.

The development described is particularly advantageous for mobile phones or, in general, for preferably hand-held communication devices. However, it can also be used in microphone-telephone headsets, for example, where the sound-damping device protrudes outwardly over the speech pickup area.

In this connection, in addition, it can also be provided that the speech capture device has a housing. It may include a speech capture region and preferably also an acoustic output region. The housing may consist of one part or several parts. It can be made flat. It may have a surrounding frame structure, the thickness of which determines the thickness of the hull or determines it to a decisive extent. It may also have or contain an indicator device, such as a touch screen. The display device may at least partially form the front side of the housing or be surrounded by it. Instead of a case, you can also talk about a mobile phone as such.

Facing away from the front may be the back of the case or mobile phone. It can be placed, directed, hinged or otherwise placed and, above all, movably fixed sound dampening device. First of all, the sound-damping device can be movable relative to the housing/mobile phone and for this, for example, is located with the possibility of a corresponding movement on the rear side of the housing/mobile phone.

First of all, it can be provided that the sound dampening device is movable relative to the body of the device, which includes the speech capture area, in such a way that the sound dampening device in the second operating state protrudes to a lesser extent relative to the body or does not protrude at all along the longitudinal axis ( and, for example, towards the user's mouth) than in the first operating state.

In other words, the muffler and the housing/mobile phone in the second operating state overlap to a greater extent (first of all, completely overlap) than in the first operating state, in which there is only a small overlap (eg, 80% less overlap). In the first operating state, the sound-damping device can for the most part extend freely from the housing and/or be mostly uncovered by the housing, and then, for example, lie at least in parts against the user's mouth.

The second operating state may also be referred to as a resting state or, more generally, a state in which the sound deadening device is retracted, folded, and/or inactive. In the first operating state, the sound dampening device may be, for example, deployed, extended and/or active (ie, be sound dampening). The transition from the first to the second operating state and vice versa can take place by moving the sound damping device, primarily relative to the housing and/or mobile phone mentioned above.

Then, according to one variant, a preferably flat sound-damping device can be placed on the rear side of the housing and/or mobile phone in a movable manner, for example, by being placed between the side guide rails. The guide rails may extend along the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the user can manually slide the sound deadening device in a direction through these guide rails, namely preferably along the longitudinal axis and more preferably so that the relative positioning of the first operating state is achieved.

However, it can also be provided that an actuator, in particular an electric motor, is provided for moving and, in particular, for extending the sound damping device. It can move the sound deadening device between an active and inactive (primarily extended and retracted) position.

Side guide rails can be located on both sides of the sound deadening device. The guide rail can also be formed by sliding the sound deadening device between the case surrounding the housing/mobile phone and the rear side of the housing/mobile phone. The guiding action can then be provided by means of the inner walls, and especially the inner side edges, of this boot (which can also act as side guide rails in the sense described above).

The cover may have a recess, in particular an oblong and/or recess extending along the longitudinal axis. In this way, the user can come into contact with the sound deadening device and manually move or pull it out.

In principle, the maximum extension length and/or the maximum movement path of the sound-damping device, in particular when changing from the first to the second operating state (and vice versa), can be limited, for example, by means of a suitable locking device or locking contour (for example, the inner edge of the aforementioned notches).

However, the possibility of movement and, in general, the transition between the second and first operating state is not limited to the described displacement of the sound dampening device relative to the housing/mobile phone. Instead, the sound deadening device can, for example, also be opened or tilted.

However, in principle, it is preferable that in the second operating state, a retracted state of the sound dampening device is provided, in which it is largely and preferably completely covered by the housing / mobile phone (for example, its contour) and / or slightly protrudes beyond it. Conversely, in the first operating state, an unretracted or extended state of the sound dampening device may be provided, in which it is less covered or overlapped by the case/mobile phone and/or protrudes significantly from it (for example, by more than half of its length).

It can also be provided that, during the transition between the second and the first operating states, relative movements of the sound dampening device and the housing/mobile phone around or along several spatial axes are possible. For example, the sound deadening device can first be moved relative to the housing/mobile phone in the manner shown, but then also still rotated, bent and/or articulated relative to it, for example towards the user's mouth, in order to get closer to the sound source.

In general, the aspect of the preferably manually movable sound deadening device for the transition between the described operating states represents a simple and reliable way of boosting in case of sound dampening. For example, the user can, if necessary, move and, above all, pull out (that is, slide towards his mouth) the sound dampening device only when it seems necessary to him for reasons of privacy.

The invention also relates to a sound deadening device for a device according to one of the aspects described above. First of all (but not necessarily) the sound-damping device may have a front side, a back side, and a sound-damping structure that extends at least partially between the front side and the rear side.

Additionally or optionally, the sound-damping device may include a connecting section, which, for example, is connectable to other components of the device and, above all, a microphone and telephone headset and or a mobile phone. The connecting section may include, for example, an installation structure for creating a force-locked or form-locked connection.

First of all, the connecting section can be attached to the carrying tab of the microphone-telephone headset described here (preferably by hand and without the use of tools). Also, the connecting section can be brought into engagement with the system of guide bars and/or boot.

In principle, the invention also relates to the use of a sound-damping device, according to any mode of operation described here, for limiting sound emission to the environment and, above all, in speech capturing devices that are located on or near the head of the user. First of all, the invention relates to the use of such a sound-damping device in communication devices, mobile phones or headsets.

Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. At the same time, signs that coincide in their form and/or function can be provided with the same reference symbols in relation to all figures and, above all, to all embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a sound deadening device according to the first embodiment,

Fig. 2 shows the rear view of the sound dampening device in the second operating state with the sound dampening device retracted,

Fig. 3 shows the rear view of the sound dampening device in the first operating state with the sound dampening device extended,

Fig. 4 shows a partial sectional view through the sound deadening device of the first embodiment,

Fig 5 shows the use of the sound deadening device according to the preceding figures in the first working state,

Fig. 6, 7 show a view of the sound dampening device according to the second embodiment,

Fig. 7A shows another embodiment similar to FIG. 7 form,

Fig. 8A-8B show an optional improvement of the first embodiment, in which the orientation of the sound dampening device after extension is changeable,

Fig. 9 shows a sound deadening device according to a third embodiment,

Fig. 10A-10E show examples of sound deadening structures and structural features that may be provided with each sound deadening device disclosed herein.

In FIG. 1 shows a sound deadening device 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this case, the voice capture device 10 is in the form of a mobile phone with a housing 17, more specifically in the form of a traditional smartphone, which, however, additionally has a sound suppressing device 20 as described below.

In FIG. 1 shows the inside 11 of the speech capture device 10 (also the front side of the mobile phone) with a large area display device 12 (for example, a touch screen). The inner side 11, as seen from FIG. 5, when used, faces the wearer and generally rests against the wearer's cheek and/or ear.

In addition, the front camera 13 is shown. The dashed line shows the shape of the case 14 (more precisely, the outline of its recess, described below), into which the mobile phone is slid. The cover 14 on the front side shown has a recess having a large area, which leaves the camera 13 and the display device 12 free. The cover 14 can be open in the area of the top side and/or bottom side described below (eg have a hole groove there) so that the mobile phone can be pushed in there. On the longer side edge along the longitudinal axis L, the cover 14 is preferably mostly or completely closed.

On the upper side of the housing 17, the mobile phone has an acoustic output area 16 which includes a loudspeaker not shown. On the opposite underside of the housing 17, the mobile phone has a speech pickup area 18 with a speech pickup microphone 19, not shown in more detail. In these areas 16, 18, the sheath 14 can be perforated accordingly.

The longitudinal axis L of the speech capture device 10 is also shown. It extends in the case shown along the longest side or edge of the speech capture device 10 or housing 17, or more generally along the longest dimension of the speech capture device 10 (which is optional but preferred). It connects respectively the top side and the bottom side and also in the case shown the acoustic output area 16 and the speech capture area 18 . In use, it extends respectively from the wearer's ear towards the mouth.

In FIG. 2 shows the outside 22 of the speech capture device 10 (hence the back of the mobile phone). As can be seen from FIG. 5, when used, it faces away from the user or towards the environment. In this case, the cover 14 is closed to a greater extent and, compared with the inner side 11, has a longitudinal recess 24 of a smaller size. The notch 24 extends along the longitudinal axis L.

Another optional recess 26, which is substantially smaller, is provided for the rear chamber 13 as well as the light source 15.

A contact surface 26 protrudes into the recess 24. This is secured to the rear side of the sound dampening device 20. The contact surface 26, for example, is configured to contact a finger and then move along the recess 24. 3 position, the sound dampening device 20 is also extended.

More precisely, in FIG. 2 shows an inactive operating state (herein also referred to as the second operating state) in which the sound dampening device does not exhibit a sound dampening effect. On the contrary, in Fig. 3 shows an active operating state (herein also referred to as the first operating state) in which the sound dampening device 20 is used for muffling.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 3 it can be seen that the sound dampening device 20 protrudes along the longitudinal axis L from the underside of the speech pickup device 10 or more generally from the housing 17 and thus also from the speech pickup area 18 located there (see FIG. 1). The length D by which the sound deadening device 20 protrudes accordingly can be, for example, at least 10 cm or also at least 15 cm. As will be described below with reference to FIG. 5, thus the sound dampening device 20 can be placed in front of the user's mouth.

The width B may, for example, be at least 5 cm or also at least 10 cm. The width B and the length D extend orthogonally to each other and define the area of the sound deadening device 20.

To sum up, the user can also, by shifting the contact surface 26 along the longitudinal axis L, push the sound deadening device 20 into or out of the case 14. In this case, the cover 14, and above all the inner surface in contact with the sound dampening device 20 (especially the inner side edges), form a guide structure or guide rail for guiding movement along the longitudinal axis L. The lower edge of the recess 24 limits the extension length, since the contact surface 26 cannot be extended beyond recess 24.

In the active working state according to FIG. 3, as seen in conjunction with FIG. 1 and 3, when viewed along the longitudinal axis L, between the acoustic output area 16 and the outer end of the sound dampening device 20 (for example, its outer or lowermost edge 28 shown in FIG. 3) is the speech capture area 18. In other words, the sound dampening device 20 also protrudes from the speech capture region 18, more precisely along the longitudinal axis L from the housing 17.

It should also be pointed out that the speech capture area 18 and the silencer 20 in the case shown do not directly overlap each other, in other words, the speech capture area 18 is not shielded and/or directly covered by the sound dampener 20, since the housing 17 is between these features. mobile phone 10.

It goes without saying that a suitably slidable sound dampening device 20 can also be provided independently of the case 14. It can then, for example, be slidably positioned on the rear side of the mobile phone 10.

In FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view through an exemplary area of the sound deadening device 20. The cross-sectional plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The sound deadening device 20 is shown to have a rear side 30 and a front side 32. FIG. 3, the rear side 30 faces the user and extends, respectively, along the outer side 22 of the speech capture device 10 or forms a portion of this outer side 22.

Conversely, the front side 32 in FIG. 3 is facing away from the viewer and facing the user. First of all, as described with reference to FIG. 5, it is placed in front of the user's mouth.

The front and rear sides 32, 30 can be made from the same material or also from different materials. Preferably, the front side 32 is acoustically transparent. However, it may optionally have all of the disclosed sound deadening structural features. For the rear side 30, acoustic transmission is not essential. Instead, it may even be substantially acoustically impervious and/or generally closed and optionally provide a sound deadening effect. The front side 32 may be perforated, for example. However, it is preferably smooth and thus easily wipeable in order to enable disinfection.

The front side 32 and the back side 30 enclose a sound deadening structure 34 between them. Preferably, the sound deadening structure 34 has a regular pattern of free spaces and material areas (eg walls) in order to receive and direct sound waves in a sound damping manner within the structure and, above all, to be able to absorb them. Particularly preferably, the sound deadening structure 34 has or consists of a metamaterial and/or all of the structural features disclosed herein.

In one preferred embodiment, the front side 32 (primarily in a monolithic embodiment with a sound deadening structure) has an uneven surface of the kind disclosed herein, for example a wavy or scalloped surface (or a surface with a correspondingly scalloped or scalloped height profile). Additionally or optionally, the surface may have a fibrous texture, thus having several raised fibrous material areas which, for example, form something like a fibrous pad. When viewed along the dimension T of the depth below and/or ending in the front side 32, other structural features can be provided, especially within the sound damping structure 34. Preferably, these are Helmholtz resonators, channels or, in general, holes.

Of course, the described combinations of structural features can be provided independently of any layered structure of the sound deadening device 20.

In general, the sound deadening device 20 is flat, so that the thickness T shown in FIG. 4 is significantly smaller than, for example, the length D in FIG. 3 (eg less than 20% or also less than 10% of it).

In FIG. 5 shows the sound deadening device in a second operating state according to FIG. 3, namely, in the state used by the user 100. The ratios of the values, and above all the length D of the sound-damping structure 20, may deviate from the representation in FIG. 3. Not shown is the hand of the user 100 holding the muffler 10.

It can be seen that, facing away from the observer in Fig. 5, the inner side 11 faces the user and is positioned so that the closed acoustic output area 16 rests against the ear 102 of the user 100. Conversely, the also closed speech capture area 18 is in the cheek area and therefore laterally and slightly above the mouth 104 of the user 100.

Mouth 104 is also closed, namely by means of a sound dampening device 20. It extends from the lower side of the body 17 along the longitudinal axis L and protrudes above the speech capture area 18 to the mouth 104. In this case, the front side 32 faces the user 100, so that the sound produced by him the waves (i.e. the sound of speech) are impinged on the damping device 20 and therein on the sound dampening structure 34.

It can be seen that the flat sound-damping device 20 does not have to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis L. Instead, it can be folded away from it or tilted relative to the spatial plane containing the rear side of the mobile phone in the direction of the user 100. To do this, it can be hinged to the mobile phone 100 and primarily the cover 14. It is also possible that the sound deadening device 20 includes a deformable portion, such as a hinge, which may be a solid hinge, a foldable region, or a folding mechanism.

Summarized in FIG. 1-5 show that the outer side 22, especially in the area of the mouth 104 of the user 100, is at least partially formed by the sound dampening device 20. Conversely, the inner side 11 has a speech capture area 18. There, it is not primarily covered by the sound dampening device 20, which in any case forms areas of the inner side 11 which lie to the side of the speech capture area 18 .

The silencer 20 also leaves a free space 50 between the mouth 104 of the user 100 and the speech capture area 18 so that at least a portion of the sound of the user 100's speech from the sound dampener 20 can reach the speech capture area 18 through this free space 50 unmuffled. On the other hand, the sound of speech cannot be voluntarily emitted into the environment, but first hits the sound-damping device 20 (primarily in the front area 100 from the user's point of view). The position and extent of free space 50 is also clear from the discussion of similar free space 50 with reference to FIG. 7.

In FIG. 6 shows a speech capture device 10 according to another embodiment. The speech capture device 10 is made in the form of a microphone-telephone headset and includes a sound-damping device 20 described below.

A headband 40 is shown, which in a known manner enables positioning on the head of the user 100. It can optionally be provided that the headset also has an acoustic output region 16 in the form of a loudspeaker, which is adjacent directly to the ears 102 of the user 100. Therefore, speech can talk about a microphone-telephone headset with a headset function or including a headset.

Extending from the headband 40 is an elongated carrier bracket or carrier tab 42. It extends from the ear region 102 or the acoustic output region 16 towards the re-closed mouth 104 of the wearer 100. The carrier tab 42 also has a sound deadening device 20, namely through the connecting portion 44. It is made so that it is attached to the carrier tab 42 additionally. For example, the connecting portion may include an open ring that is elastically slidable onto the carrier tab 42.

In FIG. 7 is a highly simplified plan view of the view of FIG. 6.

The headband 40 is again visible, as well as the acoustic output area 16 located on both sides (that is, on both ears 102). The carrier tab 42 extending in the direction of the mouth 104 is again visible. At its free end it has a speech pickup area 18 with a microphone not shown separately. In addition, the connecting section 44 is visible and again made flat sound-damping structure 20. It extends out from the connecting section 44 to the mouth 104, so that the speech capture area 18 is located between the mouth 104 and the sound-damping device 20. Thus, between the speech capture area 18 and mouth 104 there is a free space 50 that is not covered by the sound deadening device 20.

If we return to the first embodiment, then with the same according to FIG. 7, the top view, the speech capture area 18 would be located in the area of the connecting section 44. Then, the free space 50 would be defined as a narrow elongated space also between the sound-damping structure 20 and the mouth 104, which would extend outward from the mouth 104, for example, along the bearing tab section between the speech capture area 18 and the connecting section 44 according to FIG. 7.

Referring again to the second embodiment according to FIG. 6 and 7, the sound dampening device 20 thus forms, at least in sections and especially in the area of the mouth 104, the outer side 22 of the device 10. On the contrary, the speech capture area 18 forms, in particular in front of the mouth, a section of the inner side 11 of the device. 10. Therefore, it is positioned between the mouth 104 or person 100 and the sound deadening device 20, for example, when viewed along (or parallel to) an axis that corresponds to the line of sight when the person 100 is looking straight ahead (and/or is located perpendicular to the sound deadening device 20).

Also, the sound deadening device 20 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4 and thus includes a multi-layer closed material layer in the form of a sound-damping structure 34 which extends primarily in the area in front of the mouth 104. , in the form of a curved convex surface on the outer side 11.

The bend can be chosen so that the sound dampening device 20 makes it possible to focus the sound of speech in the region of the microphone 18. For this, the bend can be substantially stronger than in FIG. 7, and the sound deadening device 20 can be made with a larger area in general.

A corresponding example is shown in FIG. 7A on a similar FIG. 7 form. A correspondingly more strongly curved sound-damping structure 20 is shown, which is again attached to the carrier tab 42. The arrows show the sound waves that emanate from the user's mouth 104 and on the viewer-facing inside of the sound-damping device 20 are preferably repeatedly reflected. It will be understood that this occurs in such a way that the sound waves converge in the area of the microphone 18 and are therefore focused there.

As an optional other feature between the mouth 104 and the microphone 18, an additional sound-damping device 21 is shown. In principle, it can be made according to any variant of the sound-damping device 20 described here and, above all, have a corresponding sound-damping structure 24. For example, the additional sound-damping device 21 can be again made flat or curved. This happens so that it is curved concave in the direction of the microphone. Accordingly, it can extend towards the mouth 18 with a convex curve, which is, however, purely optional.

By means of the additional sound-damping device 21, it can be prevented that the focused sound through the microphone largely escapes again into the environment. Although from the point of view of the microphone 18, the mouth 104 is shielded by the additional sound dampening device 21, by focusing a sufficient amount of sound waves can reach the microphone.

The sound-damping device 20 and the speech capture area 18 overlap each other, especially in the area of the mouth 104. This overlap can be called direct, since no other components and, above all, sections of the housing of a possible mobile phone or the like are located between the sound-damping device 20 and a speech capture region 18 . In other words, in this way, the speech capture area 18 is shielded from the environment over a large area by means of the sound-attenuating device 20. Therefore, speech sound not absorbed by the speech-capture area 18 can be muffled, or, more precisely, absorbed by the sound-attenuating device 20.

In FIG. 8A-8B show an improvement in addition to the first embodiment. This shows a top view of the speech capture device 10, with the direction of view corresponding to the arrow Z according to FIG. 5. In FIG. 8B also schematically shows the position of the mouth 104 of the user 100. The free space 50 discussed above between the mouth 104 and the speech capture device 18 is also shown.

In FIG. 8A, the sound deadening device 20 has already been extended and is in the active position (that is, in the first operating state). In this case, the sound deadening device 20 is flat and extends primarily parallel to the rear side of the housing 17.

As shown by the arrow P, the user can apply a force and, above all, a pressure force to the sound dampening device 20. This causes the sound deadening device 20 to take the curved path according to FIG. 8B. First of all, the sound deadening device 20 then assumes (for example, on its front side 32) a concave shape, so that it curves around the wearer's mouth 104, so to speak. This enhances the sound-reducing effect because the sound dampening device 20 better shields the mouth 104 from the environment.

Optionally, a sharp bend in the area of the arrow P would be possible, all the more so when a hinge or rigid articulation is provided there. Then, the sound deadening device 20 could be folded in at least portions towards the mouth 104.

When the conversation is over, the user can, by applying a pressure force to, for example, the bottom edge 28 of the sound dampening device 20, flatten it again and then slide it into the case 14 according to FIG. 2.

Thus, the third operating state according to FIG. 8B, in which the sound deadening device 20 is suitably curved (or optionally bent) for particularly effective sound dampening. However, at the same time, a storage capability is provided because the sound dampening device 20 can be brought back to the flat state.

The change between a flat and a curved state can be achieved, for example, by applying a pressure force P to a slightly convex curved area on the front side 32 of the sound deadening device or, in general, to a protruding fold located there, for example. Then, the pressure force P may cause the region to deform elastically and abruptly assume or form the shape of an opposite fold or fold (eg, a concave fold or a fold protruding on the rear side 30). To this end, the sound deadening device 20 may include a suitably resiliently deformable and preferably a metallic material.

As mentioned, optionally, a hinge or solid articulation can be provided in the area of the arrow P, so that the bottom edge 28 including the bottom portion can then be bent or turned towards the mouth 18.

Finally, in FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment. Preferably, it is suitable for a communication device, such as a mobile phone, from which the housing 17 is again shown. In this case, one looks at the rear side of the housing 17. in the area extending there cover) is located or fixed on it sound dampening device 20 and, thus, at least indirectly connected to the housing 17 (for example, through the cover).

In a not shown retracted state, the sound deadening device 20 may be located in the area (facing away from the observer in FIG. 9) of the side edge and, for example, extend across the front side of the housing 17.

In the extended state shown, the sound dampening device 20 forms a kind of convex cup-shaped structure. More specifically, the sound deadening device 20 is fan-shaped and includes a plurality of fan elements 110. These are respectively connected to a common rotational hinge 112 and are accordingly rotatable about a common axis of rotation X. They are rotatable about an axis of rotation X along an axis of movement W, which is curved, for example, starting from the side edge of the body 17. However, in doing so, they preferably remain in contact with the respectively immediately adjacent fan element 110. This results in, preferably closed structure.

The fan elements 110 are movable to different positions in FIG. 9 and, in general, an increasing amount of movement from left to right from the side edge 17 along the movement axis W.

As a result, the fan elements 110 can surround the wearer's mouth 104 with a vaulted front side 32 and therefore capture and absorb the sound of speech particularly effectively. In addition, the focusing effect disclosed here can also be achieved with this embodiment, and the fan elements 110 can reflect and focus like a parabola.

The rotary joint may be provided with an actuator (motor) which is configured to move the fan members 110 along the movement axis W. Preferably, he also moves them against the marked direction in order to render the sound deadening device 20 inactive.

In the not shown region 18 of the speech capture, there is again a portion of the inner side 11 of this device 10 of the speech capture. The vaulted rear side 30 of the sound deadening device 20 at least partially forms the outer side 22 of the device 10.

Below with reference to FIG. 10A-10E, exemplary embodiments of the surface of the sound-damping device 20 and, above all, its possible sound-damping structure 34, as well as optional additional elements of the sound-damping device 20 will be described. First of all, structural elements that can be used to absorb the sound of speech will be described. . These are, respectively, views of individual areas, that is, only partial views or partial cuts from significantly larger surfaces. Possible undulations of this surface are not shown, however, nevertheless, can be provided.

In FIG. 10A shows a cutout of the sound dampening structure 20, showing a view of the inner side 11 facing the user 100. The sound dampening structure 20 has a sound dampening structure 34 with, by way of example only, in a regular raster, groups 200 of correlated structural elements 202, 204. Not all groups 200 (six in total) and structural elements 202, 204 are provided with reference symbols.

Each group 200 includes, as a first structural element, a vibroacoustic element 202 and, as at least part of a second structural element, an opening 204. Preferably, it is part of a Helmholtz resonator or labyrinth-like channel, the extent of which inside the sound dampening device 20 is indicated by dashed lines, and it forms the second structural element proper.

The sound-dampening structure 34 is, by way of example, two-layered in order to simplify the manufacture of the second structural element 204 and, for example, be able to perform it independently of the manufacture of the first structural element 202.

The first and second structural elements 202, 204 are located one above the other. Preferably, they are designed to perform sound attenuation in different frequency ranges. By this it can be understood that the sound deadening effect is mainly related to the respective frequency range (for example, reaches a maximum there or remains constant above the minimum damping) and that the two frequency ranges of the structural elements 202, 204 differ from each other.

In FIG. 10B shows a similar one to FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sound deadening device 20, however, with the orientation rotated (see the depth dimension T rotated with respect to FIG. 4). The sound deadening structure 34 is made up of a sequence of several different layers of materials. On its front and rear sides 32, 30 it has a material film 203 or layer of material, respectively, which are similar to each of the sound damping structures 34 described above and/or may be a layer of porous material. Between them is a section 206 of the cavity, which can reduce the transmission of sound. The cavity portion 206 may be filled with an inert gas or mixture (eg, air). The thickness a, b, c of the individual layers of the individual layers 203, 206 can be selected depending on the desired (main) frequency range of the damping.

In FIG. 10B-10E show the height profiles of the surface of the sound dampening device 20 and, in particular, its sound dampening structure 34 and/or front side 32. These are examples of uneven surfaces as structural features for sound dampening. In this case, the arrows indicate the diffuse reflections of the incident sound of speech through these surfaces. This can result in sound-reducing damping.

In FIG. 10B shows absorbent wedges 210 as structural elements. Absorbent wedges 210 are turned relative to each other, and in the case of rectangular absorbent wedges 210, their side surfaces inclined relative to the sheet are visible. The dimensions a, b of the individual damping wedges 210 may be varied in order to achieve broadband sound attenuation.

In FIG. 10D shows as a structural element an irregular height profile and, above all, a macroscopic surface roughness. In this case, first of all, it is provided that smooth surface areas are not provided, or at least correspondingly smooth surface areas lie below the permissible maximum values, for example, in terms of their length and/or area.

In FIG. 10E shows a succession of differently extended surface regions 212 as a structural element. They are shown as columns only by way of example and can also be integrally connected to one another. Also in this case, the individual dimensions and, above all, of the outer planes facing the environment of these individual surface regions 212 can vary.

Claims (28)

1. Device (10) for capturing speech, which is configured to be located on the head or near the head of the speaking person (100), having: - inner side (11) and outer side (22), - including a microphone (19) area (18) of capturing speech, which is at least in sections facing the inner side (11) or forms it, and - a sound dampening device (20), which at least partially faces the outer side (22) of the device (10) or forms it, moreover, the sound-damping device (20) has a front side (32) facing the person, a back side (30) and a sound-damping structure (34), which at least partially extends between the front side (32) and the back side (30), characterized in that the sound-damping device (20) has at least one vibroacoustic area and/or the sound-damping device (20) on the front side (32), at least in some areas has a fibrous surface texture with several protruding fiber-like areas of the material. 2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound deadening device (20) is flat. 3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) has a length (D) of at least 5 cm, and preferably at least 10 cm. 4. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) is at least in sections arranged in front of the mouth (104) of the person (100). 5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound-damping device (20) is designed to at least partially focus human-generated (100) speech sound waves in a predetermined area. 6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) has an area with an uneven surface facing the person (100). 7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound deadening device (20) has Helmholtz resonators. 8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) has absorber wedges (210). 9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) has channels with a curved passage. 10. The device according to one of the preceding paragraphs, wherein the vibroacoustic region has several vibroacoustic elements (202) and the vibroacoustic elements (202) are respectively located in the region of the Helmholtz resonator according to paragraph 7 or the channel according to paragraph 9. 11. The device (10) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the sound-damping device (20) includes at least one layer of material mechanically connected to the sound-damping structure (34), and the mass of the material layer is greater than the mass of the sound-damping structure ( 34). 12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound dampening structure (34) includes a metamaterial. 13. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) has a first area, which is made to mute sound in the first frequency range, and at least one other area, which is made to mute sound in the second a frequency range that does not overlap, or at least not completely overlap, with the first frequency range. 14. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the speech capture area (18) and the sound damping structure (20) overlap each other at least in some areas. 15. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, also including an acoustic output area (16), wherein at least in the first operating state, the speech capture area (18) when viewed along the longitudinal axis (L) is located between the area (16 ) acoustic output and at least one section (28) of the sound dampening device (20). 16. The device according to claim. 15, characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) is movable relative to the body (17) of the device (10), which includes a speech capture area (18), so that the sound dampening device (20) in the second operating state protrudes to a lesser extent or also does not protrude at all along the longitudinal axis (L) from the housing (17) than in the first operating state. 17. Sound deadening device (20) for the device (10) according to one of the preceding paragraphs. 18. Device (10) for capturing speech, which is configured to be located on the head or near the head of the speaking person (100), having: - including a microphone (19) area (18) of capturing speech and - a sound dampening device (20), which is configured to be located in front of the mouth (104) of a person (100), namely, - that the speech capture area (18) is at least partially located between the sound dampening device (20) and the mouth (104) and/or - that the free space (50) between the mouth (104) and the speech capture area (18) is at least partially blocked by the sound dampening device (20), characterized in that the sound dampening device (20) has at least one vibroacoustic region and/or that the sound dampening device (20) on the human-facing front side (32) at least in some areas has a fibrous surface texture with several protruding fiber-like material areas.

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