Hartwig Ruell

Microphone range finder

A microphone ranging system for providing improved reproduced speech by compensating for the position of a speaker relative to the microphone system. An omnidirectional microphone system with a range finder for determining the distance between the omnidirectional microphone and a speaker is provided. In further embodiments, there are also provided a multiplicity of spaced range finders for determining the exact position of a speaker or speakers relative to a microphone or several microphones. Highly directional microphones are used which are trained on the speaker or speakers and follow them as they move about a room. A tracking system is controlled through signals which originate in a control circuit which is controlled by the range finders.