Unidirectional ear microphone and gasket

摘要

An ear piece device configured for being supported in the ear and providing a microphone which primarily detects only sounds originated by the user is contained within a housing which is configured at one end to fit snugly at the ear canal of the user, but not to extend within the ear canal. A microphone element is coupled within the housing in a position such that the microphone element is separated from contact with the skull of the user by the housing. This microphone element is contained within a case which is mechanically and acoustically isolated from vibrations occurring within the housing. A support gasket formed of acoustical absorbing materials is interposed around the microphone case forming a bridge between the housing and the microphone case and contained active element. This gasket includes an outer perimeter in contact with the housing and an inner perimeter which defines two separate circumferential points of contact at the microphone case which are respectively equidistant from and on opposing sides of a plane which includes the active element to provide cancellation of residual vibrations passing to the microphone element from the housing. A speaker element may be included within the ear device and can be decoupled acoustically so as to avoid feedback. This system can operate with full duplex and enable hands free communication and direct voice command by user through computer modems, telephone networks and other communication systems.