Lectrosonics UM190 - Manual (Page 3)

GENERAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The UM190 transmitter is comprised of a number of functional sub-systems as shown in the block diagram below.
The 190 system uses 15kHz deviation. The transmitter circuits are all regulated to allow full output power from the
beginning (9 Volts) to the end (7 Volts) of battery life. The oscillator crystal is shock mounted to provide
ruggedness. The input amplifier uses a Motorola 33078 op amp for ultra low noise operation. It is gain controlled
with a wide range input compressor which cleanly limits input signal peaks over 30dB above full modulation.
Traditionally, compandors have been a source of distortion in wireless microphone systems. The basic problem
with conventional systems is that the attack and decay times are always a compromise. If the time constants are
fast, high frequency transients will not be distorted, but this will cause low frequency distortion. If the time
constants are slower, low frequency audio distortion will be low, but high frequency transients will then be distorted.
The 190 system introduces an entirely new approach to solving this basic problem, called "dual-band companding."
There are actually two separate compandors in the 190 system, one for high frequencies and one for low
frequencies. A crossover network separates the frequency bands at 1kHz with a 6dB per octave slope, followed by
separate high and low frequency compandors. The attack and release times in the high frequency compandor are
fast enough to keep high frequency transient distortion at a low level, and the low frequency compandor uses
slower time constants, reducing low frequency distortion to well below that of a conventional compandor.
MIC +5V BIAS
JACK
Vref
BASS
TREBLE
LP FILTER
HP FILTER
SET
LED
LIMIT
LED
COMPANDOR
Vreg
Vreg
+5VDC
+3.6VDC
COMPANDED
AUDIO
XTAL OSC
X4 X2 X2 X2
UHF TRANSMITTER
+9VDC
PWR
LED
SHUNT
LIMITER
-9V
ON MUTE OFF
SUPPLY
INPUT
AMP
AUDIO
LEVEL
LP
FILTER
PEAK AUDIO
INDICATOR &
LIMITER
DRIVER
X2
Figure 1 - UM190 Block Diagram
High efficiency circuits throughout the design allow over 7 hours of operation using a single 9 Volt alkaline battery.
The battery compartment is a unique mechanical design which automatically adjusts to fit any brand alkaline
battery. The battery contacts are spring loaded to prevent "rattle" as the unit is handled.
The UHF transmitter section uses a crystal stabilized main oscillator followed by a quadrupler and three doubler
stages. The crystal controlled frequency is extremely stable over a wide temperature range and over time. Double
tuning used in the multiplier stages provides higher attenuation of spurious emissions which, in turn, minimizes the
possibility that the transmitter RF output would interfere with another transmitter/receiver system operating in the
same vicinity.
At UHF frequencies, where wavelengths and antennas are shorter than VHF, a resonant dangling wire is preferred.
The antenna on the UHF version of the UM190 consists of a flexible ¼ wavelength wire, detachable via a twist lock
connector. The impedance of this connector is 50 Ohms at UHF frequencies.
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