Interface for microphone-to-microphone communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249122-A1
Application number	US-201615015973-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A microphone system includes a first transducer deployed at a first microphone; a second transducer deployed at a second microphone, the first microphone being physically distinct from the second microphone; a decimator deployed at the second microphone that receives first pulse density modulation (PDM) data from the first transducer and second PDM data from the second transducer and decimates and combines the first PDM data and the second PDM data into combined pulse code modulation (PCM) data; and an interpolator deployed at the second microphone for converting the combined PCM data to combined PDM data, and transmits the combined PDM data to an external processing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A microphone system comprising:
a first transducer deployed at a first microphone; a second transducer deployed at a second microphone, the first microphone being physically distinct from the second microphone; a decimator deployed at the second microphone that receives first pulse density modulation (PDM) data from the first transducer and second PDM data from the second transducer and decimates and combines the first PDM data and the second PDM data into combined pulse code modulation (PCM) data; an interpolator deployed at the second microphone, the interpolator being configured to convert the combined PCM data to combined PDM data, and transmit the combined PDM data to an external processing device.

2 . The microphone system of claim 1 , wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) transducers.

3 . The microphone system of claim 2 , wherein the first microphone includes a first charge pump and the second microphone includes a second charge pump.

4 . The microphone system of claim 1 wherein the first microphone includes a first sigma delta converter and the second microphone includes a second sigma delta converter.

5 . The microphone system of claim 1 , wherein the first microphone and the second MEMS microphone share a clock.

6 . The microphone system of claim 5 , wherein the clock is supplied by an external processing device.

7 . The microphone system of claim 1 , wherein the external processing device is a codec or system on a chip (SoC).

8 . The microphone system of claim 1 , wherein the decimated PCM data is sent to the external processing device.

9 . A microphone comprising:
a housing that encloses: a transducer; a decimator that is configured to receive first pulse density modulation (PDM) data from the transducer and second PDM data from another transducer external to the housing, such that the decimator decimates and combines the first PDM data and the second PDM data into combined pulse code modulation (PCM) data; an interpolator deployed that is configured to convert the combined PCM data to combined PDM data, and transmit the combined PDM data to an external processing device.

10 . The microphone of claim 9 , wherein the transducer is a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) transducer.

11 . The microphone of claim 9 , wherein the microphone includes a charge pump.

12 . The microphone of claim 9 wherein the microphone includes a sigma delta converter.

13 . The microphone of claim 9 , wherein the external processing device is a codec or system on a chip (SoC).

14 . The microphone of claim 9 , wherein the decimated PCM data is sent to the external processing device.

15 . A method of operating a microphone system, the system including a first transducer deployed at a first microphone and a second transducer deployed at a second microphone, the first microphone being physically distinct from the second microphone, the method comprising:
receiving first pulse density modulation (PDM) data from the first transducer and second PDM data from the second transducer; at a decimator deployed at the second microphone, decimating and combining the first PDM data and the second PDM data into combined pulse code modulation (PCM) data; at an interpolator deployed at the second microphone, converting the combined PCM data to combined PDM data; transmitting the combined PDM data to an external processing device.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) transducers.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first microphone includes a first charge pump and the second microphone includes a second charge pump.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising sharing a clock between the first microphone and the second MEMS microphone.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the clock is disposed at the external processing device.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the external processing device is a codec or system on a chip (SoC).

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the decimated PCM data is sent to the external processing device.

Assignees

• Knowles Electronics Llc

Inventors

• Popper Robert
• Nandy Dibyendu
• Raghuvir Ramanujapuram
• Qutub Sarmad
• Khamharn Oddy

Classifications

• H04R2201/003

  Mems transducers or their use · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R1/04 Primary

  Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor (in electric hearing aids H04R25/00) · CPC title

• B81B7/008

  MEMS characterised by an electronic circuit specially adapted for controlling or driving the same (B81B7/0087 takes precedence; arrangements for starting, regulating, braking, or otherwise controlling an actuator H02N; control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators G09G3/00) · CPC title

• H04R3/00

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title