US 11,758,332 B1
Biodegradable microphone
Joshua M Kogot, Panama City, FL (US); and April M Hirsch, Panama City Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/721,571.
Int. Cl. H04R 9/08 (2006.01); H04R 9/02 (2006.01); H04R 9/04 (2006.01); H04R 1/04 (2006.01); H04R 31/00 (2006.01); H04R 7/04 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01); H01F 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 9/08 (2013.01) [H01F 7/02 (2013.01); H01F 7/081 (2013.01); H04R 1/04 (2013.01); H04R 7/04 (2013.01); H04R 9/025 (2013.01); H04R 9/045 (2013.01); H04R 31/003 (2013.01); H04R 2201/029 (2013.01); H04R 2307/021 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biodegradable microphone, comprising:
a housing fabricated from a biodegradable ferromagnetic filament, the housing comprising a substantially cylindrical body portion, a housing interior, an open first end and an opposite second end having a substantially centrally located opening therein that is in communication with the housing interior, the body portion of the housing having a side opening that is in communication with the housing interior;
a permanent magnet positioned within the substantially centrally located opening in the opposite second end, wherein the permanent magnet and the biodegradable ferromagnetic filament cooperate to produce a magnetic field within the housing interior;
a biodegradable diaphragm joined to the open first end of the housing and having an interior side facing the housing interior, wherein the diaphragm is configured to vibrate when it is subjected to sound waves;
a biodegradable coil joined to the interior side of the diaphragm such that the coil extends downward into the housing interior, the coil being formed from a biodegradable electrically conductive filament and having a first end adjacent to the interior side of the diaphragm and an opposite second end in proximity to the permanent magnet, whereby vibrations of the diaphragm cause reciprocating motion of the coil within the magnetic field; and
a pair of electrically conductive members, each of which being coupled to a respective end of the coil, the pair of electrically conductive members extending through the side opening in the body portion of the housing;
whereby when the diaphragm is subjected to sound waves, the diaphragm vibrates thereby causing reciprocating motion of the coil within the magnetic field, wherein such reciprocating motion of the coil induces an electrical current in the coil and wherein the electrical current flows through the pair of electrically conductive members.