Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing input to and output from a microphone, including adapting the microphone&#39;s response to changing polar response patterns among multiple microphone capsules, providing output via multi-colored lights to reflect the system state and operational characteristics, and sending various information to and from the microphone (such as carrying power to the microphone, digital and/or analog audio from the microphone, and data to and/or from the microphone) via a single cable.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/909,509, filed Nov. 27, 2013, titled “Response-Compensated Microphone.” The disclosure in that application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to microphones, and more particularly to microphones switchable between sensitivity patterns, visually indicating information, and communicating data with other devices. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Microphone manufacturing uses different approaches to create variable sensitivity patterns, but the common ways are to use a minimum of two audio-sensing elements. They could be a combination of pressure and gradient (e.g., omnidirectional and figure-eight) elements, two back-to-back cardio elements, or two or more omnidirectional elements, the outputs of which are connected via a time-delay algorithm. With certain microphones, one can set the sensitivity pattern locally on the microphone (for example, the Astatic 930VPL microphone, distributed by CAD Audio of Solon, Ohio) or remotely (for example Astatic 901VP microphone, also available from CAD Audio). 
         [0004]    Some existing microphones attempt to use identical microphone capsules in order to create a proper polar pattern pickup. Unfortunately, manufacturing tolerances for microphone sensitivity often require adjustments before use. In some situations, existing techniques use manual microphone balancing. Unfortunately, such processes are susceptible to human error, challenged by the difficulty of containing a uniform acoustical field during sensitivity balancing, adjustments being rendered in a non-anechoic environment, and the time-consuming nature of the process. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A first aspect of this system relates to a microphone array capable of producing a repeatable, gain-smoothed output signal during polar pattern switching. The system achieves DSP-based frequency-response equalization during polar pattern switching. Another aspect is the ability to balance gain between microphone capsules during the production testing stage. 
         [0006]    Still another aspect is the use of multi-color lights (e.g., LEDs) included in the microphone&#39;s housing and configured to provide status information, such as power status, mute status, failure mode, input level, recording status, microphone identification, system connection status, microphone sensitivity pattern, and the like using fixed colors, flashing or pulsing patterns, fading patterns, and/or progressions between two or more colors. 
         [0007]    Still another aspect is the communication of information to and from the microphone using an RJ-45 connector. The CATS and higher cable in some embodiments carries power to the microphone, carries differential analog and/or digital audio output signals from the microphone to another device, and provides a bidirectional communication channel. 
         [0008]    The system achieves the goal of frequency response equalization during microphone polar pattern switching. Another object of the system is to provide the ability to balance microphone capsules&#39; gain during the production testing stage. Current microphone production testing is a manual process, where human error is the main error component. At least some microphones constructed according to the present disclosure overcome this problem by implementing software-defined, automatic channel gain equalization. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a first-order microphone array setup. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a collection of graphs of polar patterns and correlated frequency responses. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a first-order microphone array with controllable output equalizer. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a variable pattern microphone, configured for setup gain equalization. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an anechoic box microphone test setup. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a host and microphones system according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments and any further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a commonly used first-order microphone array setup. If microphone capsules  101  and  102  are cardioid picking pattern elements, then we can form different patterns by combining or subtracting signals from capsules  101  and  102  in mixer  103 . Output buffer  104  provides sufficient output gain and an appropriate interface for the particular microphone application, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    It has been observed that one common problem with the approach discussed above is inconsistent frequency response when different sensitivity patterns are applied. For example, Astatic 901VP microphones have frequency response patterns as shown in  FIG. 2 . This inconsistency can cause unintentional acoustical feedback and other undesirable audio results when microphone sensitivity patterns are changed. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates frequency response variations depending on the selected first-order polar pattern of an exemplary microphone. During pattern switching, output for some frequencies and locations can have significant variations between the gain resulting from the old pattern and that resulting from the new one. For example, if the polar pattern switches between the illustrated “Omnidirectional” and “Bidirectional” (figure-eight) patterns, output for a 7 KHz audio signal can change as much as 20 dB. 
         [0019]    In order to minimize the effect of variations in frequency response, microphone system  200  includes an output equalizer  204 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Microcontroller  205  selects the polar-pattern pickup, controlling settings of mixer  203  and switching equalizer  204  as a function of the currently selected pattern and the previously selected pattern. 
         [0020]    Individual level and/or frequency response parameters of microphone capsules  101  and  102  can be corrected by input equalizers  201  and  202 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . If the frequency response of both capsules is within the limits required by the particular application, input equalizers  201  and  202  can be replaced by simple input amplifiers for capsule-level balancing. 
         [0021]    Mixer  203 , input equalizers/amplifiers  201  and  202 , and output equalizer  204  are built in this exemplary embodiment on a digital signal processor (DSP). Other implementations will use alternative audio processing technology. 
         [0022]    In this embodiment, level balancing and optional frequency response correction of microphone capsules  101  and  102  are executed only at a production setup stage as described below. During sensitivity pattern switching, only parameters of mixer  203  and output equalizer  204  are controlled by the microcontroller  205 . In alternative embodiments, other parameters will be adjusted to achieve smooth transitions between sensitivity patterns. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a microphone with components for automated channel balancing/correction. If no frequency response correction is required, the procedure for channel balancing in this embodiment is as follows:
       A uniform acoustical field  404  in the form of white noise (see  FIG. 5 ) is applied to microphone capsules  101  and  102 .   Amplifiers  201  and  202  are set to have the same initial fixed gain value.   Microcontroller  205  turns on switch  206  and turns off switch  207  so that only audio coming through microphone capsule  101  is being processed by mixer  203 .   Microcontroller  205  reads the output level from capsule  101  from the level detector  208 .   Microcontroller  205  turns off switch  206  and turns on switch  207  so that only audio coming through microphone capsule  102  is being processed by mixer  203 .   Microcontroller  205  reads the output level from capsule  102 , compares it to the output level from the capsule  101 , and adjusts the gain value for amplifier  207  until the output level from capsule  102  becomes equal to the one measured with switch  206  on (that is, the output level from capsule  101 ). In some embodiments, this calibrated gain value is saved permanently (e.g., in a non-volatile memory) for that particular microphone.       
 
         [0030]    If frequency response correction of microphone capsules is required, the procedure is as follows:
       An external signal generator creates a sequence of single tones, which are applied to microphone capsules  101  and  102  by the speaker as a uniform acoustical field. Depending on the number of bands necessary, one of the standard sequences (for example, one-third octave bands) can be used. Switching to the next tone in a sequence is controlled by microcontroller  205 .   The first frequency of a sequence is applied to microphone capsules  101  and  102 .   Microcontroller  205  turns on switch  206  and turns off switch  207  so that only audio coming through microphone capsule  101  is being processed by mixer  203 .   A fixed gain is applied to the first band of equalizer  206 .   Microcontroller  205  reads the output level from capsule  101  from the level detector  208 .   Microcontroller  205  switches the signal generator to the next tone in the sequence and measures the output level of capsule  101 .   The output level is compared to the one for the previous tone, and the current band gain is adjusted until the levels are equal.   The procedure of switching to the next tone and adjusting gain is repeated until all tones in the sequence are exhausted.   To achieve better results, the whole procedure may be repeated until repeatable results are achieved.   Microcontroller  205  turns off switch  206  and turns on switch  207  so that only audio coming through microphone capsule  102  is being processed by mixer  203 .   Starting from the lowest band, microcontroller  205  measures the output level from capsule  102 , compares it to the level from capsule  101  and adjusts the gain for the current band of equalizer  207  until both levels are equal.   Calibration data is stored to restore the gain for each capsule to the adjusted point.   Microcontroller  205  switches the signal generator to the next tone and adjusts gains until the whole tone sequence is exhausted.   To achieve better results, the procedure for capsule  102  may be repeated until repeatable results are achieved.       
 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, the output of mixer  203  is further calibrated as follows:
       A uniform acoustical field  404  in the form of white noise (see  FIG. 5 ) is applied to microphone capsules  101  and  102 .   Any mixer equalizer gains are set to 0 dB.   An output gain applied to the combined output of the first microphone capsule  101  and second microphone capsule  102  is adjusted until a target output level is achieved.   Calibration data is stored to restore the output gain to the adjusted point.       
 
         [0050]    Similarly, the response of mixer  203  to input of various frequencies is calibrated in some embodiments for each selectable response pattern as follows:
       The response pattern for the microphone is set to the selected response pattern.   An external signal generator creates a sequence of single tones, which are applied to microphone capsules  101  and  102  by the speaker as a uniform acoustical field. Depending on the number of bands necessary, one of the standard sequences (for example, one-third octave bands) can be used. Switching to the next tone in a sequence is controlled by microcontroller  205 .   The first frequency of a sequence is applied to microphone capsules  101  and  102 .   The microphone&#39;s mixer output gain is adjusted until a desired reference output level is achieved.   Calibration data is stored to restore the mixer output gain to the adjusted point.   These steps are repeated for each frequency band.       
 
         [0057]    Fast testing of the balancing between microphone capsules  101  and  102  can be achieved by switching the microphone to the figure-eight pattern and applying acoustical field  404  at equal distance from capsules  101  and  102  (see  FIG. 5 ). Switches  206  and  207  are closed ( FIG. 4 ). Microcontroller  205  measures the output signal from the mixer  203  through the level detector  204 . If capsules are balanced, the output signal from mixer  203  should be equal to zero with the precision chosen by current application requirements. 
         [0058]    For automated channel balancing and testing, microphone  402  may be placed in an anechoic test box  400 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Embedded speaker  403  produces a uniform acoustical field  404  from speaker  403  for application to microphone capsules  101  and  102 . 
         [0059]    As illustrated schematically in  FIG. 6 , microphone  501  includes a DSP-based, customizable audio development engine  503  with configurable sensitivity patterns and mute capability; a touch-sensing push button  505 ; and one or more configurable, multi-color RGB LED indicators  507 . The microphone  501  is connected to a host audio system  521  by a CAT-x cable  509  via RJ-45 connector  518 , and that cable carries at least the following signals: power  511  to the microphone  501 , a differential analog/digital audio signal  513  and a bidirectional serial communication channel  517  (differential). 
         [0060]    Push button  505  is configured in this embodiment to generate “button pressed” and “button released” events for the system corresponding to the pressing and releasing of the physical button. As a function of the current “control mode” of microphone  501  (local, remote, or mixed, for example), these events, their timing, and their sequence are interpreted either locally by a microcontroller  519  or by the host audio system  521 . Responsive actions taken by the system  500  are based on the interpretation of these events and the current control mode. 
         [0061]    RGB LED indicator(s)  507  provide a significant increase in functionality over single-color indicators. Indicator(s)  507  are fully configurable, allowing the system manufacturer, installer, integrator, or the like to create multiple custom light patterns based on combinations of their color, intensity, and timed lighting operation, such a combination for a light element being an “activation state.” Light patterns in some embodiments include one or more of the following:
       custom colors shown with a uniform intensity;   blinking of a custom color with a particular pattern; and   a custom color “wave,” for example, by changing the intensity of a single color and/or changing the color over time, such as a gradual transition between two colors.
 
Multiple-stage sequences can be configured by combining these light patterns. This variety of signaling techniques greatly increases the available methods that can be applied to communicate information to users of the system.
       
 
         [0065]    In some implementations, a particular microphone is assigned a “base” color, which is used with the signaling techniques listed above to create signaling patterns adapted for that particular microphone. The “base” color distinguishes that microphone from other microphones in that particular system for more convenient configuration, use, and management. 
         [0066]    Touch button  505  may have various functions depending on the configuration and the microphone&#39;s operating mode: local, remote, or mixed. 
         [0067]    As mentioned above, microphones in the present embodiment can operate in local, remote, and mixed control modes. In local mode, operation of the microphone  501  is based on a locally stored configuration, which could be either preprogrammed at or uploaded to the microphone (for example, over a serial port (not shown) or communication channel  517 ). Button  505  events are interpreted locally based on the configuration, which also defines actions to be taken based on button events or sequences thereof. Responsive actions that can be used in some embodiments include:
       microphone push-to-mute, push-to-talk, hold-to-mute, hold-to-talk, etc.;   displaying preconfigured light patterns to attract attention;   displaying microphone properties, such as an indicator of the audio pattern currently selected; and   configuring microphone properties, such as the selected audio pattern.
 
In local mode, RGB indicator(s)  507  can reflect status or indicate the taking of an action based on a button event, or display microphone status information using configured light patterns, to name just a few options. Though others will occur to those skilled in the art, selected example status information includes:
   mute/un-mute status;   input audio level (e.g., by changing color and/or intensity); and   failure, malfunction, or error status of the microphone  501  or broader system  500 .       
 
         [0075]    In remote mode, the microphone  501  operates as a function of the configuration stored on the host system  521 .
       events and commands are communicated over the serial channel  517 ;   the host system  521  can query the status of push button  505  at any time;   local microphone properties, such as an audio pattern such as the currently selected audio sensitivity pattern, can be queried or changed at any time by sending a command from the host  521  to the microphone  501 ;   the firmware in microphone  501  can be updated by the host  521  over the serial communication channel  517 ;   button events are sent to the host system  521  and interpreted by the host system  521 , such as
           audio functions, such as push-to-mute, push-to-talk, hold-to-mute, hold-to-talk, etc., and   system functions, such as record, private, request to talk, request for attention, etc., where custom configuration allows adjusting system functions for particular use scenarios; and   
           operation of the LED indicator  507  is defined by a light pattern command sent from the host  521 . In this mode, indicator  507  can display the local and/or system status, as defined by the command, such as:
           microphone mute/unmute,   system record, private status, etc.,   permission/request to talk,   system error or malfunction code,   microphone connection error code,   microphone identity, and   other functions defined by the system.   
               
 
         [0091]    Mixed mode is a combination of local and remote modes, wherein operation of the microphone&#39;s audio engine  503 , the effect of push button  505 , and output of indicator(s)  507  can be defined by local configuration, host commands, or a combination of the two. This mode is the most flexible and allows customization of the microphone&#39;s operation for various use scenarios. 
         [0092]    All publications, prior applications, and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each had been individually incorporated by reference and fully set forth. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.