DE20310083U1 - Arrangement consisting of a wireless microphone and a receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A microphone with radio communication with telephone and other equipment has switch or keyboard or electronic switching system and includes a receiver. The system may be designed to avoid leaving the microphone switched on. The radio transmitter for the microphone may send low-frequency signals to control TV cameras etc.

Description

Arrangement consisting of a wireless microphone and a receiver Description

The invention relates to an arrangement consisting of a wireless microphone and
a recipient.

Such arrangements are already known and in operation. The receiver has a
Low frequency output, which on the one hand, while the wireless microphone on
broadcast is switched on, emits the broadcast sound (program sound) and on the other hand,
While the wireless microphone is not on air, consultations with the director are permitted.

Because the noise from the wireless microphone is constantly present in the control room, the ambient noise disturbs the control staff.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid this disadvantage.

This task is solved by the fact that the microphone contains a remote control function in the form of a switching device, the receiver contains an electrical switch and the switch carries out an adjustable signal assignment of the transmitted audio signal on the low-frequency outputs integrated in the receiver, and makes the switching signal available for further use, such as for remote control of devices and the low-frequency outputs can be switched alternately, in parallel, actively and inactively with the switching function.

One low frequency output is intended for the program sound or broadcast sound, while the other low frequency outputs are used for discussions with the director

are provided. Because the switching function allows contact with the control room to be kept short, namely only when consultation is necessary, the ambient noise from the microphone is not constantly on the control room. This means that the control room staff is not further disturbed.

Preferably, the switching function is controlled by a button, switch or an additional electrical device.

Many technical developments have made the work of television producers easier in recent years. We are introducing a new generation of wireless handheld microphones that have an intercom function and thus solve known problems.

In recent years, sporting events have become mass events and are broadcast on television with corresponding effort. Unusual camera settings and interview positions are just as popular as conference calls between several sporting events. Perfect communication is therefore essential and expensive digital matrix intercom systems with digital intercom stations are now indispensable. Systems from Riedel, IBT and Drake are widely used.

The buttons on the digital intercoms can be assigned different speaking targets, so that targeted communication between different people can also take place in parallel. In hectic situations, several people can be addressed at the same time or groups of people can be combined by creating groups or conferences.

Not everyone in a production can be equipped with a microphone station. Wireless systems are therefore used to connect production managers or set technicians with the control rooms.

However, communication is particularly important for the actors in front of the camera. Editorial and directing instructions provide reporters and presenters with the latest information or changes in the program schedule.

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Program sound is an important guide for picking up on comments from the previous speaker or for referring to an introduction. Therefore, almost all moderators work with wireless reception.
The moderators can be addressed individually via programmed buttons and can also be contacted during their moderation. Only the protagonists' ability to speak back is limited. If all other participants have microphones or at least wireless radio systems with a talk button, the actors use their microphones to speak back to the director or editor. Of course, this communication does not take place during the moderation, but shortly before and after the

&iacgr;&ogr; Red light usually requires a lot of discussion and clarification. The choice of interview partners and the selection of scenes to be included must be coordinated, and these can usually only be decided shortly beforehand.

The microphone signals are fed into the intercom independently of the controller so that they can be listened to at all times at the appropriate positions, such as the director or the editor of the program. If several reporters are involved in the program, communication must of course be available to all of them. For large broadcasts, four or more signals from microphones are therefore available at one intercom station.

The disadvantage of this permanent connection is the fact that ambient noise is continuously transmitted via the microphones. If you think of football matches or ice hockey broadcasts with large audiences, you can certainly understand that the "background sound" on the headsets of the intercoms is perceived as annoying in the long run. It is even more problematic when commands become incomprehensible because they are drowned out by a cheering crowd of fans.

Until now, there was no switching function that could have been used to temporarily switch on the microphones. Demand-based communication creates peace and quiet and ensures that no one has to turn down the volume of the microphone signals on the intercoms so that other commands are not drowned out by the noise of the microphone signals.

An important step towards solving this problem is a product innovation from Wisycom. The manufacturer of wireless products is internationally known and specializes in practical RF technology.

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The new generation of wireless microphones has an integrated push button that triggers a switch in the receiver. The receiver unit is equipped with 2 audio outputs that are alternately connected depending on the button press. The first output provides the signal in idle mode and is connected to the input of the audio mixer. The second output is only connected when the button is pressed and can be connected directly to the intercom.
If the reporter wants to speak on the intercom, he presses the button and the audio signal is switched from output 1 to output 2. The first output is muted for the duration of the button press. If the button is released, the second (intercom) output is muted and the signal is again available on the mixer via the first output. The annoying background noise is only transmitted for the duration of the conversation and is no longer present permanently due to the switchover. This ensures that no commands are accidentally sent over the transmission line because the microphone was already open for the next presentation.

In addition to the quietness on the intercom, which promotes concentration, there is another advantage. The call signaling of the talk buttons on the intercom panels when a command is present could not previously be used for externally fed continuous signals.

All intercom manufacturers use a threshold circuit to control the signaling of external signals. If a certain signal level is exceeded, a light function is activated on the corresponding button. The person being addressed then knows immediately who wants to speak to them and where they can answer.

However, if there is ambient noise, as in the case described above, the level will never fall below this level. The result is that the button lights up permanently, even if no one is speaking through the microphone.

Only when the switched output is used can the signaling be used again. The threshold value of the intercom is permanently undercut by the muted second receiver output. Only the switched audio, triggered by pressing a button on the handheld transmitter, exceeds the threshold value and the signaling is activated. If the actors had to

Previously, calls were recognized by their voice, but now the flashing of the button shows who spoke and which button can be used to respond.

The switching function opens up even more applications.

Communication between the control rooms and the branch offices for news or election broadcasts, for example, is usually carried out via 4-wire voice connections. Telephone hybrids, GSM interfaces or ISDN codecs are usually used. These lines are used to make technical and content-related agreements between

&iacgr;&ogr; production and local control room. So that the reporters or presenters in front of the camera can follow the current program, an additional N-1 line is usually set up. The local OB van switches the signal to a receiver and the actors can listen in via an ear plug and can be contacted by the production control room via the N-1. If a reporter wants to contact the production control room, he can speak via his hand microphone over the transmission line. However, for this to happen, the fader must be open, the transmission line must already be available, the line must be switched through to the control room and listened to there. Alternatively, the local technician can contact the control room via the 4-wire and pass on the desired message.

With the intercom function, the switched output of the receiver can now be summed up to the 4-wire. The reporter can thus communicate with the control room at the touch of a button, independent of the transmission line. The talk-back path from the control room is already available in the form of the N-1.

Functional description

A switching device in the receiver unit is remotely controlled by a wireless microphone via a button. The switching device switches the transmitted audio signal in such a way that the main output of the receiver is muted for the duration of the button press on the handheld transmitter and instead the audio signal is emitted via the now active, switched output. Nothing changes in the actual audio transmission from the handheld transmitter to the receiver station during the switching processes. The trigger for switching by pressing a button

on the handheld transmitter serves to interrupt a digital signature that is constantly transmitted from the handheld microphone to the receiving station. The missing signature triggers an electrical redirection of the already demodulated audio signal to the switched output mentioned above in the receiver. The transmission of the switching signal does not require any additional bandwidth. In the following, reference is made to the main output with state 1 and to the "switching output" with state 2.

Purpose

&iacgr;&ogr; The variable switching of the transmitted audio signal allows the signal to be used in different ways in certain situations of an application (production, broadcast, transmission). In state 1, the transmitted audio signal is used in the same way as it has been used to date with wireless microphone systems. In state 2, the signal can be used for further applications that only allow a temporary signal connection, such as communication. For state-dependent further use, the signal is made available via two independent outputs that are alternately muted.

Examples of applications:

The technology gives protagonists the opportunity to independently trigger a switching function using their handheld microphone. Depending on the wiring, this enables the microphone signal to be muted, switched on or switched over, which can be distributed to two independent positions via the two separate outputs. The following examples are intended to explain the function of the technology for applications in television and radio productions and are examples of other applications:

- A reporter interviews selected players before and after a football match, as well as during half-time. During his interview, his signal should either be broadcast live or recorded on tape. This corresponds to the previously described condition 1. During the match, editorial

Agreements must be made with the director or a colleague from the editorial team. To do this, the signal must be made audible via intercoms. However, these should only reproduce the microphone signal during the communication phase. This is where state 2 comes into play, the reporter can initiate a need-based connection of his microphone to the intercom.

- A reporter is reporting on a state election and is on site with a local Cl car. The main control room is in a central broadcasting center

Â&iacgr;&ogr;. Via an auxiliary line N-1 (telephone), the reporter can

Hear a real-time signal from the central broadcast control room, which the main director in the central control room can also use to contact him at the touch of a button. The reporter cannot, however, respond directly to the director. The classic signal path only takes the signal as far as the audio mixer. As a rule, only the OB van crew has the option of speaking to the main control room. A voice connection is maintained between the main control room and the OB van via a so-called 4-wire connection. These connections are made via telephone, GSM or ISDN lines, which are switched to appropriate hybrids to adapt to existing technology. Due to the low costs, the connections remain established for the entire duration of the operation. However, permanently connecting the reporter's microphone to the 4-wire is not practical due to the background noise. Too much noise in the central control room would seriously disrupt operations. A temporary connection controlled by the reporter can, however, be achieved with state 2. The signal from the switched output is added to the existing 4-wire connection, enabling direct communication to the main control room. A quick response from the reporter to a question from the director simplifies processes considerably and prevents misinterpretation. Short-term changes can thus be discussed and clarified with all those involved in a reliable manner.

One of the main goals of the technology is to optimize processes and avoid misunderstandings and operating errors. The best possible communication significantly improves the agreements between those responsible, so that

In the future, uncertainties that were directly related to previous technology can be avoided.

Claims (2)

1. Arrangement consisting of a wireless microphone and a receiver, wherein the microphone contains a remote control function in the form of a switching device, the receiver contains an electrical switch and the switch carries out an adjustable signal assignment of the transmitted audio signal on the low-frequency outputs integrated in the receiver, and makes the switching signal available for further use, such as the remote control of devices, and the low-frequency outputs can be switched alternately, in parallel, actively and inactively with the switching function. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the switching function is controlled by a button, switch or an additional electrical device.