Packaging of luminaire mounted microphones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017359643-A1
Application number	US-201615275190-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Jun 13, 2016
Publication date	Dec 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The specification and drawings present packaging for integrating a microphone into an outdoor luminaire that provides high sensitivity and dynamic range together with being waterproof, resistant to impact and wind noise, environmentally resistant and unobtrusive to passers-by. Various embodiments describe packaging of outdoor luminaire mounted microphones to achieve waterproof and minimized unwanted noise performance, and other desirable features.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An outdoor luminaire, comprising:
an exterior housing comprising a wall being waterproof and comprising one or more holes, where each of the one or more holes is covered on an interior surface of the wall with a membrane using a waterproof seal, wherein the membrane is waterproof and impervious to ultraviolet radiation but substantially transparent to sound waves; one or more microphones, each located in a vicinity of a corresponding hole of the one or more holes and configured to receive a corresponding sound wave signal through the corresponding hole; and a foam material surrounding the each of the one or more microphones to mechanically de-couple the each microphone from the exterior housing to protect the each microphone from detecting unwanted outside noises, wherein an exterior surface of the wall including each hole and all parts of corresponding one or more areas surrounding each of the one or more microphones are unobtrusive into an exterior air column surrounding the exterior surface of the wall in order to reduce creation of a wind noise which is detectable by at least one of the one or more microphones.

2 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the each of the one or more microphones is mounted inside of the foam material.

3 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the each of the one or more microphones is separated from the membrane by a predefined distance.

4 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 3 , wherein the predefined distance is provided using a spacer.

5 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 4 , wherein the spacer comprises the foam material or a further foam material.

6 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

7 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the unwanted outside noises include one or more of: an impact noise of falling rain drops, sleet or hail.

8 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is configured to minimize reflected sound waves to avoid reverberation.

9 . The outdoor luminaire of claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the wall of each of the one or more holes is tapered for providing a smooth and continuous transition to an outer surface of the membrane in order to reduce creation of the wind noise.

10 . A sensor module attachable to an outdoor luminaire, the sensor module comprising:
an exterior housing comprising a wall being waterproof and comprising one or more holes, where each of the one or more holes is covered on an interior surface of the wall with a membrane using a waterproof seal, wherein the membrane is waterproof and impervious to ultraviolet radiation but substantially transparent to sound waves; one or more microphones, each located in a vicinity of a corresponding hole of the one or more holes and configured to receive a corresponding sound wave signal through the corresponding hole; and a foam material surrounding each of the one or more microphones to mechanically de-couple each microphone from the exterior housing to protect each microphone from detecting outside noises.

11 . The sensor module of claim 10 , wherein the each of the one or more microphones is mounted inside of the foam material.

12 . The sensor module of claim 10 , wherein the each of the one or more microphones is separated from the membrane by a predefined distance.

13 . The sensor module of claim 12 , wherein the predefined distance is provided using a spacer.

14 . The sensor module of claim 13 , wherein the spacer comprises the foam material or a further foam material.

15 . The sensor module of claim 10 , wherein the membrane comprises an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

16 . The sensor module of claim 10 , wherein the outside noises include one or more of:
an impact noise of falling rain drops, sleet or hail.

17 . The sensor module of claim 10 , wherein the membrane is configured to minimize reflected sound waves to avoid reverberation.

18 . The sensor module of claim 10 , wherein an exterior surface of the wall of each of the one or more holes is tapered for providing a smooth and continuous transition to an outer surface of the membrane in order to reduce creation of the wind noise.

19 . A sensor module attachable to a luminaire, the sensor module comprising:
an exterior housing comprising a wall including one or more holes, where at least one of the holes is covered on an interior surface of the wall with a membrane, said membrane substantially impervious to ultraviolet radiation and substantially transparent to sound waves; one or more microphones, each located proximate a corresponding hole of the one or more holes and configured to receive a sound wave through the corresponding hole; and a foam material at least partially surrounding each of the one or more microphones to mechanically de-couple the microphones from the exterior housing.

20 . The sensor module of claim 19 , wherein each of the one or more microphones is separated from the corresponding membrane by a spacer.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Saha Koushik Babi
• Clynne Thomas
• MEYER Jonathan Robert
• Dureiko Rick Dean

Classifications

• H04R1/086 Primary

  Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens · CPC title

• F21V33/0052

  Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor · CPC title

• H04R2410/07

  Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone · CPC title

• H04R1/028

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• F21V23/0442

  activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors · CPC title