EP1362497A1 - Microphone equipped with a range finder - Google Patents
Microphone equipped with a range finderInfo
- Publication number
- EP1362497A1 EP1362497A1 EP02700906A EP02700906A EP1362497A1 EP 1362497 A1 EP1362497 A1 EP 1362497A1 EP 02700906 A EP02700906 A EP 02700906A EP 02700906 A EP02700906 A EP 02700906A EP 1362497 A1 EP1362497 A1 EP 1362497A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- microphone
- sound
- circuitry
- range finder
- distance
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000030366 Scorpidinae Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011835 investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003534 oscillatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
- G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
- G01S17/88—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R17/00—Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers
- H04R17/02—Microphones
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a microphone that comprises a microphone housing, an acoustoelectric transducer in a forward part of the housing for receiving sound from a sound emitter, as well as equipment for transferring sound-repre- senting signals from the transducer, out from the microphone to external sound signal processing equipment.
- Microphones and in particular song microphones, often have a problem in the fact that the distance from the microphone to the sound emitter, for instance the mouth of an artist, influences the sound resulting from the microphone record- ing.
- Microphones have various types of directional characteristics and various types of distance response, and often a manufacturer will undertake optimalization with regard to certain parameters, when making a microphone.
- one special microphone will for example be intended to be used at a very close range, while some other microphone may be manufactured to pick up sound from a larger dis- tance.
- a microphone that has been optimised for one certain type of use may provide a poor result when the use deviates somewhat from the originally intended use, and the result may be exaggerated S sounds, incorrect frequency response etc.
- a microphone of a more flexible type i.e. a microphone that can easily be adjusted regarding optimalization parameters for varying distances to a sound emitter.
- the present invention aims at solving this problem, and in accordance with the invention there is provided a microphone such as stated in the introduction, and which is characterized in that it is equipped with an element for measuring the distance to the sound emitter.
- the element for measuring distance is included in the acoustoelectric transducer.
- the transducer may then be constituted by elastic piezoelectric foils suspended in a surrounding frame and having a massive centre body, the centre body containing the element for measuring distance.
- the element for measuring distance may be and ultrasound echo range finder.
- the ultrasound echo range finder may comprise two piezoelectric elements, one for emitting a narrow ultrasound beam forwards toward the sound emitter, and one for receiving ultrasound echo from the sound emitter.
- the element for measuring distance may be a laser range finder.
- An inside compartment in the microphone housing may contain circuitry for generating, respectively interpreting signals to, respectively from the element for measuring distance.
- Parts of the circuitry may be adapted for generating ultrasound oscillations for exciting a piezoelectric ultrasound transmitter element, and other parts of the circuitry may be operative for receiving and interpreting received signals from a piezoelectric ultrasound receiver element.
- parts of the circuitry may be adapted for generating control signals for emitting light from a laser element in the element for measuring distance, and other parts of the circuitry may be operative for receiving and interpreting received reflection signals from a light detector in the distance measuring element.
- the microphone in- eludes a circuit device for utilizing the measured distance, said circuit device having at least one function among a function group that comprises shutting down transfer of sound-representing signals from the microphone, adjusting a gain factor as a function of measured distance, and adjusting an equalizer setting as a function of measured distance.
- the element for measuring distance and circuitry attached thereto are also adapted for sound detection through demodulation of a reflection signal from the sound emitter, said reflection signal, being a high frequency signal, receiving superposed sound modulation from the sound emitter and from ambient noise.
- Fig. 1 shows a microphone in accordance with the invention, in an embodiment with a cable
- Fig. 2 shows a microphone in accordance with the invention, with a wireless transmission system
- Fig. 3 shows the same microphone as Fig. 1 , however without a microphone housing enclosure
- Fig. 4 shows the top parts appearing from Fig. 3 in closer detail
- Fig. 5 shows the sound transducer of the microphone.
- Figs. 1 and 2 appear two embodiments of the microphone 1 in accordance with the invention, with transmission through a signal cable 2 (Fig. 1 ), respectively via a radio transmitter 3 and antenna 4 (Fig. 2).
- Fig. 1 signal cable 2
- Fig. 2 radio transmitter 3 and antenna 4
- Fig. 3 radio transmitter 3 and antenna 4
- Fig. 3 appears a microphone that corresponds to the one shown in Fig. 1 , however without an outer microphone housing 5 (Fig. 1 , Fig. 2).
- the same microphone top 6 as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 appears also in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, but these figures show an acoustoelectric transducer 7, shown in better detail in Fig. 5.
- the primary function of the transducer 7 is of course picking up sound vibrations transferred through the air from a sound emitter, for example from the mouth of an artist, and further transferred through the grill-shaped microphone top 6.
- the transducer 7 as shown has an outer frame 8, and supported rigidly therein via beams 9, an inner frame 10.
- piezo-elements 15, 16 have been laid in, i.e. one piezo-element 15 for transmitting vibrations, and one piezo-element 16 for receiving reflected vibrations.
- Signal wires to/from the piezo-elements of the centre body do not appear in Fig. 5, however they follow paths on sectors 11 from the centre body 16 and out to signal wires 17 appearing in the figure.
- the piezo-elements 15 and 16 are in this case cast-in "half moons" of a piezo-material. The manner of operation will be e.g.
- the centre body piezo-element 15 transmits high-frequency vibrations, preferably in the range 5-10 MHz (however not limited to such a range), in order to make an echo sounder measurement, possibly an echo Doppler investigation for more precise examination of the movement mode of the sound emitter.
- the ultrasound beam that is transmitted from the centre body can be very narrow and directional, and may for example pass centrally out through the microphone top 6, i.e. through a special centre hole.
- the two "crescent shaped" piezo-elements 15 and 16 can also have a parabolic or approximately parabolic curvature, to achieve transmission of a narrow beam, and for correspondingly directional reception.
- the different sectors of the sound receiving element with piezo-foils 11 can also be used both for transmission and reception, however this is of less interest in a microphone embodiment.
- the separate sectors provide mainly possibilities for electronic signal combinations, in order to cancel out noise.
- a system of stays 18 provides support for a tightening screw 19 that, when operated, is able to pull the centre body 13 some distance in a downwards direction, so as to impart a downward slanting position toward the centre body 13, for the foil sectors 11 inside centre frame 10, thereby giving the whole active part of the transducer a somewhat more "parabolic" shape, and hence more directional.
- the centre screw 19 constitutes a stiff coupling all the way up to the centre body 13 on the underside, only with a possibility for ac- commodating rotation, the centre body 13 is locked with regard to vibration in a vertical direction, and the foil sectors 11 will then only be able to vibrate between such a fixed centre body 13 and a fixed inner frame 10. But if a link between the tightening screw 19 and the centre body 13 is equipped with an elastic part, the whole system of foil sectors and the centre body will still have a vibrational mode in the vertical direction, however modified by the influence of the elastic link.
- Signals to/from the active elements 11 , 15, 16 in the transducer are forwar- ded along signal wires 14, 17 (Fig. 5), as mentioned, and further to/from the base unit 20 shown in Fig. 3.
- This base unit 20 may contain signal processing equipment, for example an A D converter, a controllable/programmable equalizer, amplifier and other equipment.
- the microphone is of a type with cable attachment.
- the base part 20 will preferably contain a power source in the form of a battery, which power source will also be necessary for operating possible other circuitry as mentioned above, and in the case with wireless transfer to external equipment (Fig. 2), also for operating a radio transmitter/receiver in unit 3 (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the circuitry for interpretation of range finding signals will be operative for utilization of the measurement result, for example by shutting down transfer of sound-representing signals from the microphone if the distance to the sound emitter exceeds a certain predefined threshold value.
- the centre body with its range finding system also has a double function.
- the high frequency ultrasound signal that is transmitted from element 15 to be reflected from the sound emitter, after reflection also will receive a slower vibration as a superposition, namely the sound of interest from the sound emitter, and possibly also some noise from the surroundings.
- These slow sound vibrations can be separated from the high frequency oscillations, by means of signal processing, and they can be used as a basis for signal processing for the sound vibrations that are also picked up through the foil sectors 11 , and in particular with regard to cancelling noise and undesired sounds from the sound signals.
- the circuitry in base element 20 can also be adapted for such a function.
- range finder is a device utilizing a laser beam, and it is possible to incorporate a small laser diode, possibly with micro-optics, in the same position as the unit shown in Fig. 5, namely in the actual centre body 13.
- a laser beam preferably using infrared light, is then emitted through a corresponding opening in the microphone top 6, to be reflected from the sound emitter and back to a light detector arranged together with the laser.
- Such a laser range finder can also be arranged in some other place on the microphone, for instance peripherally. (Such a range finder can be retrofit equipment.) How- ever, for obvious reasons a central position will be preferable.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
- Pens And Brushes (AREA)
- Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
- Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Electrostatic, Electromagnetic, Magneto- Strictive, And Variable-Resistance Transducers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/NO2001/000064 WO2002000117A1 (en) | 2000-06-23 | 2001-02-21 | Two-way mechano-electrical transducer |
WOPCT/NO01/00064 | 2001-02-21 | ||
NO20015985A NO316560B1 (en) | 2001-02-21 | 2001-12-06 | Microphone with rangefinder |
NO20015985 | 2001-12-06 | ||
PCT/NO2002/000071 WO2002074010A1 (en) | 2001-02-21 | 2002-02-20 | Microphone equipped with a range finder |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1362497A1 true EP1362497A1 (en) | 2003-11-19 |
Family
ID=26649028
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP02700906A Withdrawn EP1362497A1 (en) | 2001-02-21 | 2002-02-20 | Microphone equipped with a range finder |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1362497A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004526150A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1628485A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2439087A1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO316560B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002074010A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NO20015982A (en) * | 2001-12-06 | 2003-04-07 | Meditron Asa | Microphone |
NO20015983A (en) * | 2001-12-06 | 2003-04-07 | Meditron Asa | Singing microphone |
US10057706B2 (en) * | 2014-11-26 | 2018-08-21 | Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. | Information processing device, information processing system, control method, and program |
US9877114B2 (en) | 2015-04-13 | 2018-01-23 | DSCG Solutions, Inc. | Audio detection system and methods |
CN110572759B (en) * | 2019-08-30 | 2020-12-15 | Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 | Electronic device |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT1066823B (en) * | 1975-12-30 | 1985-03-12 | Sits Soc It Telecom Siemens | ELECTROACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER PARTICULARLY OF THE PIEZOCERAMIC LAMINA TYPE |
US4586195A (en) * | 1984-06-25 | 1986-04-29 | Siemens Corporate Research & Support, Inc. | Microphone range finder |
US4638207A (en) * | 1986-03-19 | 1987-01-20 | Pennwalt Corporation | Piezoelectric polymeric film balloon speaker |
US4727279A (en) * | 1987-04-29 | 1988-02-23 | General Motors Corporation | Piezoelectric knock sensor |
GB9314822D0 (en) * | 1993-07-17 | 1993-09-01 | Central Research Lab Ltd | Determination of position |
US5901232A (en) * | 1996-09-03 | 1999-05-04 | Gibbs; John Ho | Sound system that determines the position of an external sound source and points a directional microphone/speaker towards it |
DE19943872A1 (en) * | 1999-09-14 | 2001-03-15 | Thomson Brandt Gmbh | Device for adjusting the directional characteristic of microphones for voice control |
-
2001
- 2001-12-06 NO NO20015985A patent/NO316560B1/en unknown
-
2002
- 2002-02-20 CN CNA028053001A patent/CN1628485A/en active Pending
- 2002-02-20 EP EP02700906A patent/EP1362497A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-02-20 WO PCT/NO2002/000071 patent/WO2002074010A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-02-20 CA CA002439087A patent/CA2439087A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-02-20 JP JP2002571746A patent/JP2004526150A/en active Pending
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO02074010A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO20015985D0 (en) | 2001-12-06 |
WO2002074010A1 (en) | 2002-09-19 |
CN1628485A (en) | 2005-06-15 |
NO20015985L (en) | 2002-08-22 |
CA2439087A1 (en) | 2002-09-19 |
NO316560B1 (en) | 2004-02-02 |
JP2004526150A (en) | 2004-08-26 |
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Legal Events
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Effective date: 20030904 |
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GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: ORTEN, BIRGER |
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GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20050901 |