Microphone Output-Level Tester

Communication systems such as public address system's often are used by a number of different operators. Misuse of the equipment such as by dropping the microphone, exposure to the elements and overdriving it can degrade performance irrespective that some microphones are predesigned to perform well under these adverse conditions. As a consequence, some of the microphones provide too low an output voltage for satisfactory operation. The microphones need to be tested periodically and, of course, when some do not meet the minimum output requirements, they are replaced.

The conventional testing procedure has been too slow and laborious and has required skilled technicians for this time consuming task. A sound level calibrator has been hand held on the microphone with connector output pins from the microphone clip-connected to a volt meter. Because minimum voltages were required at each of the various frequencies to indicate a satisfactory performance, meter readings were noted and recorded at these frequencies. Because of being hand held and the difficulties of securely affixing monitoring instrumentation, erroneous indications of malfunction could occur since variations of only a few millivolts might be produced that were due to misorientation of the microphone and the interconnected monitoring meter. This could be wasteful since slight millivolt variations could erroneously indicate a defective microphone and the time and effort taken to stabilize the test may not be cost effective.

Thus, there is a continuing need in the state of the art for an in situ microphone test instrumentation that is reliable, not unduly time consuming and may be administered by relatively unskilled technicians.

The present invention is directed to providing a work-site-portable integrated microphone output level tester. The tester precisely positions and holds a microphone in the proximity of a sound level calibrator acoustical generator. An electronic monitoring circuit fabricated from an interconnected operational amplifier network has a stability for detecting millivolt output variations of the microphone to determine its operability.

The prime object is to provide a microphone test instrument that is faster, more accurate and allows a reliable microphone testing.

Another object is to provide for an integrally connected microphone output level tester capable of in situ application without introducing ambient influences.

Still another object is to provide for a microphone output level tester that accurately reproduces testing conditions to assure uniformity and reliability.

Still another object is to provide for an integrated microphone output level tester giving a hands free operation after a microphone and sound generator are in position to improve reliable testing.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken with the drawings and in conjunction with the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a microphone being placed on an integrated microphone output level tester prior to being tested.

FIG. 2 depicts the microphone-cord-plug combination undergoing an operational test.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operational amplifier and associated circuitry of the integrated microphone output level tester.

FIG. 4 is an overall schematic depiction of the tester.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an integrated microphone output level tester 10 has a spring biased or clamp-like holder 11 mounted on an upper surface 10a. The holder is bonded or otherwise suitably affixed on the tester's upper surface and is fabricated from a spring-like material that is shaped to grip a microphone 15 at its handle portion 16. The holder thusly securely holds the microphone on the tester and a cord 17 from the microphone terminates in a male or female plug 18. This plug is fitted into a mating plug 18' provided in a sidewall 10b of the tester.

A bracket 19 is mounted on the upper surface of the tester and functions as an articulable member 20 that supports a sound generator 21. The sound generator can be a model 1562-A marketed by General Radio and has the capability for generating and projecting discretely monitorable sound levels from its projection end 21a.

FIG. 1 shows the sound generator articulated to an up position by arm portions 20a and 20b of the articulable member while the microphone is being placed in holder 11. During a subsequent test, the sound generator is moved downwardly by arms 20a and 20b to position the sound generator adjacent microphone 15 for a test. The articulable member is constructed to rotate both arms 21a and 21b to an upward position while a microphone is being placed on the tester and both arms 21a and 21b downward to a substantially colinear locked position when the microphone is properly placed. Although the placement of the sound generator in FIG. 2 is shown to be adjacent the microphone, the final test position can locate the sound generator a different measured distance from the microphone if desired. Care must be taken however, that the spacing between the microphone and the generator is the same for other microphone's to be tested. This must be to assure that the test conditions remain constant and uniform for reliable test results.

A circuit board is located under surface 10a and contains the monitoring electronics 25, see FIG. 3. Input terminals 30 receive the signals from plug 18 and 18' that come from interconnected microphone 15. The input is shunted by a 150 ohm resistor 31 which functions as a load for the microphone.

An operational amplifier 35 is used in the configuration of a low pass filter with a gain of ten at zero frequency. The low pass filter is first order. A corner frequency, 4081 Hz, is down 3 db from the maximum gain of ten. The operational amplifier chosen is a model LM208D marketed by National Semiconductor. This op amp, along with a serially connected 10K resistor 36, shunt connected 390 pF capacitor along with 100K.OMEGA. shunt resistor 39 and a 30.sub.p F shunt capacitor 39 electronically cooperate to filter out unwanted high frequency noise.

A volt meter 40 is coupled to the output of the operational amplifier to provide a digital readout which is steady and easy to ready. Volt meter 40 may be located in a front panel of the tester as 40' and is so located to give a technician an unimpeded view of signal magnitude. Optionally, the meter may be external of the tester and the reference character 40' could designate a switch to turn electronics 25 on. A Data Precision Multimeter #175 has been selected as a suitable meter to give the required readout over the frequency range of interest. The proper magnitude signals for this meter over the frequency range that the microphones are to be tested are assured by the components as indicated so that reliable, repeatable observations of microphone performance can be made.

In operation, a microphone 15 to be tested is placed in holder 11 which grasps its handle 16. The angle at which the microphone is oriented is such as to cause the voice pick-up surface of the microphone to lie in the horizontal plane, upwardly facing. Sound generator 21 is placed over the microphone with its projection surface 21a lying substantially adjacent the microphone. Arms 20a and 20b of articulable member 21 are locked in their in-line position to assure that the sound generator is securely positioned during this testing operation as well as for subsequent testing operations with other similarly configured microphones. (At the conclusion of this test cycle control arm 20a is rotated upward and raises arm 20b and sound generator 21 off the microphone to assume the position in FIG. 1). The downward rotation of arm 20a firmly places and secures sound generator 21 adjacent the microphone. Now, an operator need only observe the instructions, not shown in the drawings, for testing a microphone which may be conveniently posted on upper surface 10a of the tester at a location adjacent where microphone 15 is secured. Microphone plug 18 is put into the mating fitting on side 10b of the tester.

Sound generator 21 is turned to a battery test position for a couple of seconds and then turned to 200 Hz until a clear tone appears. It is then selectively adjusted to a desired frequency. When amplifier 35 has been actuated either before the beginning of the test or, now, by a suitable switch, not shown, the reading provided by volt meter 40 is noted. Meter readings for frequencies of interest must exceed certain predetermined magnitudes which are dependent upon the type of microphone and the signal parameters associated with it. The meter reading, for example, might be taken at 200 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz so that the microphone's performance at these audio frequencies can be noted.

At the conclusion of a test as outlined above, the microphone is removed from holder 11 and reused or discarded as the test results indicate. A subsequent testing operation for another microphone only requires the moving of tester 10 to the location of the other microphone and mounting the other microphone in place and starting the test. These tests require no special skills, are quickly performed and provide uniformity of results.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.