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US 6,814,332 B2Granted
Microphone support boom movement control apparatus and method with differential motion isolation capability
AssigneeUltimate Support Systems, Inc.
InventorDonald H. Eason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for and associated methods of controlling movement of a microphone that may be held in some manner by a microphone support boom. More specifically, the invention focuses upon novel techniques for isolating yaw of a microphone support boom from the microphone stand that may provide a majority of the height required for a desired microphone spatial positioning. The invention also focuses on apparatus that may be used achieve preferential isolation of microphone support boom yaw with respect to motion in any other microphone support boom degree of freedom. A specific type of apparatus that may be used to achieve this preferential isolation—the double conical clutch—is also an aspect of the inventive technology.
Claims59
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control microphone support boom yaw, microphone support boom pitch, microphone support boom axial translation, and microphone support boom axial rotation;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of a microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive,
- wherein said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element includes an adjustable compression application element that is operable to apply and disapply a compressive force acting along a compressive force axis, so as to deactivate and activate said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element, respectively,
- wherein said adjustable compression application element enables adjustment of said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element from a complete microphone support boom retention setting to an incomplete microphone support boom retention setting,
- wherein said microphone support boom movement control apparatus further comprises a preferential, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is adapted for a preferential isolation of yaw in which yaw of said microphone support boom is allowed before other motion of said microphone support boom is allowed, said preferential isolation of yaw provided upon activation of said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element and when said attachment element is fully engaged.
7 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising:
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive
- wherein said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element is adapted to control at least yaw and pitch of said microphone support boom,
- wherein said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element includes an adjustable compression application element that is operable to apply and disapply a compressive force acting along a compressive force axis, so as to deactivate and activate said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element. respectively, and
- wherein said microphone support boom movement control apparatus further comprises a preferential, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is adapted for a preferential isolation of yaw in which yaw of said microphone support boom is allowed before other motion of said microphone support boom is allowed, said preferential isolation of yaw provided upon activation of said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element and when said attachment element is fully engaged.
6 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising:
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element comprises a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
4 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising:
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive, and
- wherein said microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises a substantially circular recessive channel and a substantially ring-shaped key, at least part of which is configured to fit in said substantially circular recessive channel.
5 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising:
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive, and
- wherein said microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
5 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element comprises the step of establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control at least yaw and pitch of a microphone support boom,
- wherein said step of establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element includes the step of establishing an adjustable compression application element that is operable to apply and disapply a compressive force acting along a compressive force axis so as to deactivate and activate said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element, respectively, and
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom movement control apparatus further comprises the step of establishing a preferential, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is adapted to allow yaw of said microphone support boom before allowing other motion of said microphone support boom, said preferential isolation of yaw provided upon activation of said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element and when said attachment element is fully engaged.
6 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element comprises the step of establishing a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
4 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes the step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive, and
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises the step of establishing a substantially circular recessive channel and a substantially ring-shaped key, at least part of which is configured to fit in said substantially circular recessive channel.
5 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes the step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive, and
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises the step of establishing a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
5 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control usage method comprising the steps of:
- activating an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element so as to isolate yaw of a rotatable attachment element from a microphone stand,
- wherein said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element forms part of a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element that is adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least three degrees of freedom;
- and
- rotatably attaching to full engagement said rotatable attachment element to said microphone stand without rotating said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element.
1 more element
A double conical clutch usable as a preferential, microphone support boom degree of freedom motion isolation element, wherein said double conical clutch comprises:
- (a) frictive preferential motion surfaces, at least one of which is frustum-shaped, said frustum-shaped frictive preferential motion surface having a frictive preferential motion surface angle relative to a frictive preferential motion surface proximate compressive force axis, and having a frictive preferential motion surface axis that is collinear with a microphone support boom preferential motion axis;
- and
- (b) frictive deferential motion surfaces, at least one of which is frustum-shaped, said frustum-shaped frictive deferential motion surface having a frictive deferential motion surface angle relative to a frictive deferential motion surface proximate compressive force axis, and having a frictive deferential motion surface axis that is collinear with a microphone support deferential motion axis,
- wherein said frictive preferential motion surface angle is greater than said frictive deferential motion surface angle,
- wherein said double conical clutch allows motion in a preferred degree of freedom of said microphone support boom before allowing motion of said microphone support boom in any other degree of freedom;
- wherein said double conical clutch isolates said motion in a preferred degree of freedom from a microphone stand.
3 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive
- a microphone support boom pitch isolation element that comprises a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
3 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising:
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive, wherein said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element comprises said microphone support boom yaw guide element, and
- wherein said microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises a substantially circular recessive channel and a substantially ring-shaped key, at least part of which is configured to fit in said substantially circular recessive channel.
5 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control apparatus comprising:
- a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element adapted to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- an attachment element configured to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand,
- wherein said attachment element is immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand,
- an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element that is operable to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive,
- wherein said activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element comprises said microphone support boom yaw guide element, and
- wherein said microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
6 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom pitch isolation element that comprises a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
4 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes the step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element comprises said step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element, and
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises the step of establishing a substantially circular recessive channel and a substantially ring-shaped key, at least part of which is configured to fit in said substantially circular recessive channel.
6 more elements
A microphone support boom movement control method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to control motion of a microphone support boom in at least two degrees of freedom;
- configuring an attachment element to attach said microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element to a microphone stand upon engagement of said attachment element with said microphone stand;
- further configuring said attachment element to be immobile relative to said microphone stand when said attachment element is fully engaged with said microphone stand;
- establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element to isolate yaw of said microphone support boom about a microphone support boom yaw axis from said attachment element when said attachment element is in said fully engaged configuration;
- and
- establishing a microphone support boom retention element to which said microphone support boom is responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom multiple degree of freedom motion control element includes the step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element to which a microphone support boom is directionally responsive,
- wherein said step of establishing an activatable, microphone support boom yaw isolation element comprises said step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element, and
- wherein said step of establishing a microphone support boom yaw guide element comprises the step of establishing a double opposing conical element and a shell having an inner surface adapted to interface said double opposing conical element.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.