Ribbon Array Microphone Emulating Ribbon Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ribbon microphones are mechanically and acoustically delicate, resulting in limited robustness and low output levels, making them unsuitable for applications like live performances and loud instruments, and are expensive, which restricts their usage.
Innovation Solution
An array of small, robust microphones is used to simulate the sound pressure differences and motion of a ribbon microphone, emulating the voltage generated across a ribbon in a magnetic field, thereby producing a mechanically and acoustically robust microphone with desirable sonic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ribbon microphone is made with a thin corrugated aluminum ribbon suspended in a magnetic field to achieve warm natural sonics and strong polar pattern, then the microphone achieves desirable acoustic characteristics, but the ribbon becomes mechanically and acoustically delicate, limiting robustness and suitability for loud instruments and live performances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an array of robust condenser microphones to copy and simulate the acoustic response of a ribbon microphone. The array of microphones replicates the polar pattern and frequency response characteristics of the ribbon microphone without using a fragile ribbon, thereby achieving both robustness and desirable acoustic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical ribbon element with an electronic array of condenser microphones. Instead of using a physical ribbon that mechanically responds to sound pressure, the system uses multiple robust microphones with electronic signal processing to emulate the ribbon's acoustic characteristics, eliminating the mechanical fragility issue.
2Reliability
If a ribbon microphone uses a thin ribbon with very little tension to maintain sensitivity to sound waves, then the microphone achieves high sensitivity and natural sound, but the ribbon sags under gravity and breaks easily, resulting in low output levels and limited application range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the ribbon microphone's acoustic characteristics using an array of robust condenser microphones. This copying approach allows the system to achieve the ribbon's natural sound and polar pattern without the physical limitations of a fragile ribbon, including sagging and breakage, thereby improving reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the microphone system by replacing the mechanical ribbon with electronic condenser microphones. This parameter change allows the system to maintain the desirable acoustic characteristics while achieving superior durability, output level, and versatility for various applications including live performances and loud instruments.
3Reliability
If conventional ribbon microphones are used to achieve warm natural sound for vocals and horns, then the microphone achieves desirable sonic properties, but the high cost and limited robustness restrict usage in professional and live settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an array of standard condenser microphones to copy the acoustic response of expensive ribbon microphones. This approach makes the system more affordable while achieving the same warm natural sound and polar pattern, thereby improving ease of manufacture and accessibility for professional and live performance applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive mechanical ribbon system with an array of more affordable condenser microphones and electronic signal processing. This substitution reduces manufacturing cost and improves reliability for live performance, making the microphone suitable for professional use without the high cost and fragility constraints of conventional ribbon microphones.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for a microphone that is more durable and capable of handling mechanical shock and high sound levels while maintaining the warm, natural sound characteristics of ribbon microphones, expanding their application range and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
an array of small, robust microphones is used to simulate the sound pressure differences and motion of a ribbon microphone
Implementation Method 2
emulating the voltage generated across a ribbon in a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes a basic approach to simulate the workings of a ribbon microphone based on measurements at an array of more robust small pressure microphones. Embodiments of the invention take an array of microphone elements, either very small microphones that are placed on either side of a printed circuit board or some other device to understand the sound pressure differences from front to back and use those sound pressure differences to emulate the motion of a ribbon if a ribbon were co-located with the array of microphones. The microphone array detects differential pressure, either by a set of elements that that have figure of eight polar patterns, or by having separate elements front and back.