Patents by Inventor Rodger Cloud

Rodger Cloud has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11856358
    Abstract: A novel phantom-powered FET (field effect transistor) circuit for audio application is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered FET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of a ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, LLC.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 11201597
    Abstract: A novel phantom-powered inline preamplifier is configured to provide selective processing of a sound source signal by intelligently determining the need for a low or high impedance matching and transformer coupling, based on high fidelity requirements of a particular sound source signal. For example, the phantom-powered inline preamplifier can intelligently detect a microphone-originating sound source signal and automatically route the microphone-originating sound source signal to a low impedance matching circuit pathway that leads to a phantom-powered output terminal for an optimal hi-fidelity processing specific to the microphone-originating sound source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, LLC.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Brad Sconzert
  • Patent number: 11190869
    Abstract: A novel phantom-powered FET (field effect transistor) circuit for audio application is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered FET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of a ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 10721552
    Abstract: A novel phantom-powered FET (field effect transistor) circuit for audio application is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered FET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of a ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, LLC
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 10374562
    Abstract: A novel phantom-powered inline preamplifier is configured to provide selective processing of a sound source signal by intelligently determining the need for a low or high impedance matching and transformer coupling, based on high fidelity requirements of a particular sound source signal. For example, the phantom-powered inline preamplifier can intelligently detect a microphone-originating sound source signal and automatically route the microphone-originating sound source signal to a low impedance matching circuit pathway that leads to a phantom-powered output terminal for an optimal hi-fidelity processing specific to the microphone-originating sound source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, LLC.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Brad Sconzert
  • Patent number: 10356507
    Abstract: A novel microphone incorporates a phantom-powered JFET circuit for audio application. In one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered JFET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of a ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, LLC.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 9948257
    Abstract: Phantom-powered inline preamplifiers capable of variable impedance loading are disclosed with unique adjustable interfaces. By enabling a user to adjust impedance loading from an actively-powered audio preamplifier which takes a microphone electrical signal or another sound source signal as an input, this unique audio preamplifier design with various adjustable impedance loading interface configurations can change sound characteristics according to the user's preference in a recording, production, or live concert environment. In addition, a high pass filter incorporated in a preamplifier with the variable impedance loading feature allows the user to further customize sound characteristics in the recording environment. This novel inline preamplifier, which may be standalone or integrated into a microphone casing, is powered via a microphone cable from a component (e.g. another preamplifier) providing the phantom power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Rodger Cloud
  • Patent number: 9888315
    Abstract: A novel ribbon microphone incorporates rounded-edge magnet motor assembly, a backwave chamber, and a phantom-powered JFET circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of the ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered JFET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, LLC.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 9813791
    Abstract: Novel active phantom-powered ribbon microphones that provide switchable proximity effect response filtering for voice and music applications are disclosed with unique adjustable interfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, a slider-based full frequency response vs. low frequency response and high pass filtering adjustment interface on a surface of a microphone casing provides a convenient switching between a “Music” mode and a “Voice” mode, wherein the “Voice” mode reduces the undesirable proximity effect in an active phantom-powered ribbon microphone, when a sound source is situated overly close to the active phantom-powered ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a slider-based or a knob-based variable voice mode adjustment interface can also be integrated on a surface of a microphone casing to provide various preset levels of low frequency reduction and/or proximity effect response filtering when the “Voice” mode is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Rodger Cloud
  • Patent number: 9668045
    Abstract: A novel phantom-powered JFET gain circuit that improves audio clarity and linearity, while reducing a high-gain burden, noise, and distortion from a sole usage of a conventional preamplifier, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the novel phantom-powered JFET gain circuit is encased as a standalone box that connects to a microphone on one end and a conventional preamplifier unit or another conventional audio processing unit on another end. In another embodiment, the novel phantom-powered JFET gain circuit is integrated into a portable electronic device or another consumer electronic device with a microphone to provide an earliest-stage gain in a microphone-captured audio signal processing pathway. Yet in another embodiment, the novel phantom-powered JFET gain circuit is integrated into a preamplifier unit and provides the earliest-stage gain in a microphone-captured audio signal processing pathway, prior to additional and conventional signal amplification by the preamplifier unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Rodger Cloud
  • Patent number: 9306519
    Abstract: Phantom-powered inline preamplifiers capable of variable impedance loading are disclosed with unique adjustable interfaces. By enabling a user to adjust impedance loading from an actively-powered audio preamplifier which takes a microphone electrical signal or another sound source signal as an input, this unique audio preamplifier design with various adjustable impedance loading interface configurations can change sound characteristics according to the user's preference in a recording, production, or live concert environment. In addition, a high pass filter incorporated in a preamplifier with the variable impedance loading feature allows the user to further customize sound characteristics in the recording environment. This novel inline preamplifier, which may be standalone or integrated into a microphone casing, is powered via a microphone cable from a component (e.g. another preamplifier) providing the phantom power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Rodger Cloud
  • Patent number: 9210508
    Abstract: Novel active phantom-powered ribbon microphones that provide switchable proximity effect response filtering for voice and music applications are disclosed with unique adjustable interfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, a slider-based full frequency response vs. low frequency response and high pass filtering adjustment interface on a surface of a microphone casing provides a convenient switching between a “Music” mode and a “Voice” mode, wherein the “Voice” mode reduces the undesirable proximity effect in an active phantom-powered ribbon microphone, when a sound source is situated overly close to the active phantom-powered ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a slider-based or a knob-based variable voice mode adjustment interface can also be integrated on a surface of a microphone casing to provide various preset levels of low frequency reduction and/or proximity effect response filtering when the “Voice” mode is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Rodger Cloud
  • Patent number: 9167327
    Abstract: A novel ribbon microphone incorporates rounded-edge magnet motor assembly, a backwave chamber, and a phantom-powered JFET circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of the ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered JFET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 8948422
    Abstract: A novel ribbon microphone incorporates rounded-edge magnet motor assembly, a backwave chamber, and a phantom-powered JFET circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of the ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered JFET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank
  • Patent number: 8433090
    Abstract: A novel ribbon microphone incorporates rounded-edge magnet motor assembly, a backwave chamber, and a phantom-powered JFET circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more novel rounded-edge magnets may be placed close to a ribbon of the ribbon microphone, wherein the one or more novel rounded-edge magnets reduce or minimize reflected sound wave interferences with the vibration of the ribbon during an operation of the ribbon microphone. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel backwave chamber operatively connected to a backside of the ribbon can minimize acoustic pressure, anomalies in frequency responses, and undesirable phase cancellation and doubling effects. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, a novel phantom-powered JFET preamplifier gain circuit can minimize undesirable sound distortions and reduce the cost of producing a conventional preamplifier gain circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cloud Microphones, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodger Cloud, Stephen Sank