ClearOne Beamforming Microphone Array, DOC-0095-001 Installation Manual

Beamforming Microphone Array

Group Microphone for Professional Conferencing

InstallatIon GuIde

ClearOne
5225 Wiley Post Way
Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Telephone [phone]

1.800.945.7730

Sales 1.800.707.6694

FAX [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]
[e-mail]

On the Web www.clearone.com

Beamforming microphone array
installation guide

clearone document

DOC-0095-001 Rev 3.1 - December, 2014 © 2014 ClearOne

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced
in any form or by any means without written permission from
ClearOne. Printed in the United States of America. ClearOne
reserves specific privileges.

Information in this document is subject to change without
notice.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Getting Started ........................................................................................................1

SKU’s Used .......................................................................................................................................................................1

Connections ......................................................................................................................................................................2

Powering the Beamforming Microphone Array ..........................................................................................................2

E-bus Connections .....................................................................................................................................................2

Chapter 2: Ceiling Mount Installation .......................................................................................5

Parts Received...................................................................................................................................................................5

Tools Required ...................................................................................................................................................................6

Mounting Preparations ......................................................................................................................................................7

Mounting to a Solid Ceiling or Flush Mounted Junction Box ............................................................................................8

Mounting to a Suspended Ceiling ...................................................................................................................................12

Additional Safety .......................................................................................................................................................18

Chapter 3: Wall Mount Installation .........................................................................................19

Parts Received.................................................................................................................................................................19

Tools Required .................................................................................................................................................................19

Wall Mounting Procedure ................................................................................................................................................20

Muting .......................................................................................................................................................................24

Chapter 4: Table Top Installation ............................................................................................25

Parts Required .................................................................................................................................................................25

Tools Required .................................................................................................................................................................25

Table Top Procedure ........................................................................................................................................................25

Connections ..............................................................................................................................................................25

Usage .......................................................................................................................................................................26

Muting .......................................................................................................................................................................26

Chapter 5: Change History......................................................................................................27

Service and Support ................................................................................................................28

Chapter 1: Getting Started

Congratulations on purchasing your Beamforming Microphone Array. The Beamforming
Microphone Array is a 24-microphone device with beamforming and adaptive steering technology
designed specifically for use with the CONVERGE® Pro products: 880, 840T, 880T, 880TA, and the
COLLABORATE Room Pro media appliances.

The Beamforming Microphone Array connects with the CONVERGE Pro through an Expansion
Bus (E-bus) port: 3 arrays per supported CONVERGE Pro and up to 16 Beamforming Microphone
Arrays can be daisy-chained in the site. The power for the Beamforming Microphone Array is
supplied through a Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) connection.

The Beamforming Microphone Array supports use in ceiling-mounted and wall mounted modes,
leaving the conference room table area free of clutter, as well as a standard table-top mode.

» IMPORTANT: The Beamforming Microphone Array only can be used with CONVERGE

Pro systems operating at version 4.X software and firmware.

Instructions for updating CONVERGE Pro firmware and Beamforming Microphone Array firmware
are included in the Beamforming Microphone Array Quick-Start Guide which is found on the
ClearOne website at:

http://www.clearone.com/resources#professional_microphones

This guide covers the steps followed to mount the Beamforming Microphone Array in a solid ceiling,
drop-ceiling and wall mount. This guide can also be downloaded from the ClearOne website at:

http://www.clearone.com/resources#professional_microphones

SKU’S USED

The following assemblies or kits may be used in the Beamforming Microphone Array installation:

• 910-001-003 (white) or 910-001-003-B (black) Beamforming Microphone Array for CONVERGE
Pro or COLLABORATE Room Pro.

• 910-001-004 PoE Power Supply and Cable Kit for Beamforming Microphone Array. Contains
power supply, one AC power cable and two 25-foot CAT5E RJ45 plenum cables. (One used as
the PoE cable and the other as an E-bus cable) If a PoE kit is not obtained, installers will need
to provide their own PoE unit and all cables.

• 910-001-005-12 (white) or 910-001-005-12-B (black) Ceiling Mounting Kit with 12” Suspension
Column for Beamforming Microphone Array

or

910-001-005-24 (white) or 910-001-005-24-B (black) Ceiling Mounting Kit with 24” Suspension
Column for Beamforming Microphone Array

• 910-001-006 (white) or 910-001-006-B (black) Wall Mounting Kit for Beamforming Microphone
Array

Chapter 1: Getting Started 1

CONNECTIONS

The following section illustrates the connections made in a sample Beamforming Microphone Array
installation on a site.

powering the Beamforming microphone array

Powering the Beamforming Microphone Array can be through a standard Power-over-Ethernet
(PoE) switch or through an external PoE power supply. Use the appropriate AC cord to connect the
PoE power supply to the AC power. Then plug the PoE cable into the LAN+DC connection on the
power supply. Route the PoE cable where it can be fed through the ceiling mount assembly, wall
mount or to the conference table with the Beamforming Microphone Array. The following illustration
shows the cable connections with the PoE Power Supply.

Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Power Supply
(Front and Back Views)

Power Cord
to AC Power

PoE Ethernet Cable to
Beamforming Microphone Array

» NOTE: The PoE connection is only for power, not control. Power must be supplied to

individual units; no daisy-chain power is allowed.

e-Bus connections

The Beamforming Microphone Array units are connected to the CONVERGE Pro stack via the LINK
IN and LINK OUT E-bus connections using CAT5E RJ45 cables.

» NOTE: Firmware upgrades and Beamforming Microphone Array operation are

performed via the E-bus connection. Plugging the PoE cable into the E-bus
connections may cause damage to the Beamforming Microphone Array.

2 Beamforming Microphone Array

» NOTE: One or two E-bus connections are required depending on where in the stack

the Beamforming Microphone Array is placed. Only one E-bus,cable, LINK IN, is
required if the array is the end of the stack; two are needed if the stack continues to
another array or CONVERGE Pro unit (LINK IN and LINK OUT).

The Beamforming Microphone Array is connected to the CONVERGE Pro and to other Beamforming
Microphone Array units via the E-bus in the same way as multiple CONVERGE Pro units are
connected together. Each unit has a LINK IN and LINK OUT connection which allows the units to
be “chained” together with the LINK OUT of one unit connecting to the LINK IN of the next unit.

The steps in connecting the Beamforming Microphone Array are covered in the Beamforming
Microphone Array Quick-Start Guide. Instructions for configuring the Beamforming Microphone
Array are included in the CONVERGE Console version 4.X online help.

Chapter 1: Getting Started 3

4 Beamforming Microphone Array

Chapter 2: Ceiling Mount Installation

HD

QTY 4

HC

QTY 4

E

QTY 2

Position Clamp

F

QTY 2

Support Rails

G

QTY 2

Locking Plate

HE

QTY 1

HA

QTY 2

#6-32 x 1/2”

Phillips Oval Head

HB

QTY 8

A

QTY 1

Ceiling/Wall Mounting Plate

B

QTY 1

Suspension Column

C

QTY 1

Trim Plate

D

QTY 1

Mic Mounting Plate

Suspended Ceiling

Trim Lock Plate

H

QTY 1

#4-40 x 3/8”

Phillips Flat Head

#8-32 x 1/2”

Socket Head Cap Screw

#M3 x 6mm

Phillips Pan Head

9/64” hex key

Once you have verified all the firmware updates and necessary connections made while executing
the tasks outlined in the Beamforming Microphone Array Quick-Start Guide, you can proceed to the
actual installation of the Beamforming Microphone Array using the Ceiling Mounting Kit.

This section details two types of ceiling mounts:

• Mounting to Solid Ceiling or Flush Mounted Junction Box

• Mounting to Suspended Ceiling

PARTS RECEIVED

The following parts are delivered with the Ceiling Mounting Kit and will be used for installation of the
Beamforming Microphone Array.

The parts received include parts for mounting in either a solid or drop-ceiling with or without a
junction box. Verify that you have all the parts required to complete your installation.

When you open the shipping package(s) for the first time, please check that all items purchased
are included. If any of the items (according to your customer order) are missing or damaged,
contact your ClearOne distributor immediately.

Chapter 2: Ceiling Mount Installation 5

TOOLS REQUIRED

The following tools are required for installation of the Beamforming Microphone Array.

Razor knife for cutting

Drywall saw for cutting

hole in solid ceiling,

#1 Phillips

screwdriver.

Electric or

portable drill

hole in suspended

ceiling tile.

Level

Wall fasteners are

not provided and

must be appropriate

to the wall material

6 Beamforming Microphone Array

Drill bits

appropriate to

fastener type