Motorized microphone rails
AssigneeRandall May International Incorporated
InventorRandall L. May
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improvements in a motorized microphone rail system for a musical instrument and more particularly for a percussion instrument such as a drum, marimba or similar musical instrument. The microphone system includes a vibration isolation system. A vertical or horizontal tracking system bridges across supports of a drum or marimba in a vertical or horizontal tracking system. One or more microphones are supported on the first bridging structure. The microphone(s) are positional with a drive screw that is powered by a motor. The microphone can be moved along the supporting rail to alter the sound based upon the phasing of the sound wave between the drum heads or the sound producing elements. Electronic drive and control for operating a motor that positions the microphone is also disclosed.
Claims10
A motorized microphone rail system comprising:
- a drive circuit comprising a motor powered by a power supply to drive a drive screw that is internal to an elongating supporting rail, wherein the drive circuit is electronically coupled to a limit structure mounted on an exterior of the elongated supporting rail;
- a microphone suspension structure mounted on the exterior of the elongated supporting rail, the microphone suspension structure configured to:
- mount a microphone thereon, and
- couple to the drive screw through the exterior of the elongated supporting rail such that driving of the drive screw via the motor repositions the microphone suspension structure along the exterior of the elongated supporting rail,
- wherein the limit structure physically obstructs the repositioning of the microphone suspension structure along the exterior of the elongated supporting rail, and
- wherein contact with the limit structure by the microphone suspension structure causes the drive circuit to cut power to the motor so as to stop the driving of the drive screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.