Patent US3585307A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3585307A
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US
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Self-test arrangement for an entertainment-service system
Assignee: Griffon Corp
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Filing: 1969-02-20
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1989-02-20
Abstract
Abstract In an entertainment-service system for permitting each of a plurality of local stations to select one or more of a plurality of channels of audio signals and to control one or more utilization circuits associated with each local station or group of such stations through the application of multiplexing techniques, the improvement consisting of a self-test arrangement whereby a test signal of predetermined characteristics is applied to each input channel of the multiplexing means and a self-test circuit means is provided at each station to detect said test signal and to override the control for said utilization circuit to activate said utilization circuit in a unique mode.
Inventors
- 👤 David R Greenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:45
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08C; G08C15/00; G08C15/06; G08C15/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
327 words
In an entertainment-service system for a plurality of discrete stations including multiplexing means normally connected to a multichanneled source of audio input and adapted to sequentially sample each of said channels and transmit the content of said channels as a single signal; a plurality of remotely located demultiplexer means for receiving said single multiplexed signal; at least one control means disposed at each of said stations and associated with one of said demultiplexer means including channel selector means and utilization control means; at least one transducer means for converting an audio electrical signal to sound disposed at each station, said demultiplexer means each being adapted to reconstruct from the multiplexed signal the contents of the input channels selected by the channel selector means associated therewith and transmit same through an output to the correSponding transducer means; a plurality of remotely located utilization circuits, at least one of said utilization control means being associated with each of said utilization circuits; a plurality of coder means for detecting the state of the utilization control means associated therewith and for transmitting a signal representative of said state; and decoder means associated with each coder means for receiving said signal representative of the state of the corresponding utilization control means for controlling the state of the corresponding utilization circuits, whereby each of said utilization circuits is placed in a state responsive to the state of its corresponding utilization control means, the improvement which comprises, a multichannel test signal generator connected to said multiplexing means to apply a test signal of a predetermined characteristic to each input channel; and at least one self-test circuit means connected to the output of each demultiplexer means to detect the presence of said test signal and adapted to override, in response to said detected test signal, at least one utilization control means to produce a predetermined state indication for detection by the corresponding coder means, whereby the corresponding utilization circuits are disposed in said predetermined state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
327 words
In an entertainment-service system for a plurality of discrete stations including multiplexing means normally connected to a multichanneled source of audio input and adapted to sequentially sample each of said channels and transmit the content of said channels as a single signal; a plurality of remotely located demultiplexer means for receiving said single multiplexed signal; at least one control means disposed at each of said stations and associated with one of said demultiplexer means including channel selector means and utilization control means; at least one transducer means for converting an audio electrical signal to sound disposed at each station, said demultiplexer means each being adapted to reconstruct from the multiplexed signal the contents of the input channels selected by the channel selector means associated therewith and transmit same through an output to the correSponding transducer means; a plurality of remotely located utilization circuits, at least one of said utilization control means being associated with each of said utilization circuits; a plurality of coder means for detecting the state of the utilization control means associated therewith and for transmitting a signal representative of said state; and decoder means associated with each coder means for receiving said signal representative of the state of the corresponding utilization control means for controlling the state of the corresponding utilization circuits, whereby each of said utilization circuits is placed in a state responsive to the state of its corresponding utilization control means, the improvement which comprises, a multichannel test signal generator connected to said multiplexing means to apply a test signal of a predetermined characteristic to each input channel; and at least one self-test circuit means connected to the output of each demultiplexer means to detect the presence of said test signal and adapted to override, in response to said detected test signal, at least one utilization control means to produce a predetermined state indication for detection by the corresponding coder means, whereby the corresponding utilization circuits are disposed in said predetermined state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said self-test circuit means is provided for each of said control means, each of said self-test circuit means being connected to the output of the demultiplexer means associated with its control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said channel selector means is set to select each of said input channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said test signal is of a predetermined frequency, said self-test circuit means including filter means adapted to pass a signal substantially of said test signal frequency, and switch means responsive to said passed signal for overriding a corresponding utilization control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 4, wherein said switch means is adapted to override said corresponding utilization control means only after a predetermined period during which said test signal is passed thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said test signal is of a predetermined frequency, each demultiplexer means output including first and second audio output lines for each transducer means, said self-test circuit means including first and second filter means connected respectively to said first and second audio output lines and adapted to pass a signal substantially of said test signal frequency, an ''''AND'''' gate connected to said first and second filter means to receive the passed signals thereof, and switch means connected to the output of said ''''AND'''' gate for overriding a corresponding utilization control means in response to an output signal from said ''''AND'''' gate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 6, wherein said switch means includes first and second transistors each having an emitter, a collector and a base, astable multivibrator means having an input and an output, and an output line for connection to the corresponding coder means, said utilization control means being in series connection with the emitter-collector path of said first transistor and said output line, said first transistor being normally conducting and having its base connected to receive the signal of said ''''AND'''' gate for biasing off in response to said signal, the emitter-collector path of said second transistor being in series connection with said output line in parallel to the series connection of said utilization control means and the emitter-collector path of said first transistor, said second transistor being normally off and having its base connected to the output of said astable multivibrator means, the input of said astable multivibrator means being connected to receive the signal of said ''''AND'''' gate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the corresponding transducer means are provided with first and second coils each adapted for separate sound transmission, said self-test circuit means being further adapted to produce a further signal if both of said coils are whole, and to override the corresponding utilization control means only upon detection of both the test signal at the demultiplexer output and said further signal representative of the condition of said transducer coils.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said demultiplexer means output is provided with first and second audio output lines for each transducer means, the corresponding transducer means being provided with first and second coils adapted for separate sound transmission for connection to said first and second audio output lines respectively, said test signal being of a predetermined frequency, said self-test circuit means including first and second filter means connected respectively to said first and second audio output lines and adapted to pass only a signal substantially of said test signal frequency, first and second transducer sense means being connected respectively to said first and second transducer coils and adapted to procure a signal if said transducer coils are whole, an ''''AND'''' gate for receiving the passed signal of said first and second filter means and the signal of said first and second transducer sense means, and switch means responsive to the output of said ''''AND'''' gate for overriding a corresponding utilization control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said transducer sense means includes a transistor having an emitter, collector and base, said transistor being normally biased off, an input to said ''''AND'''' gate being in series connection with the emitter-collector path of said transistor and ground, said base being connected to said transducer coil for biasing of said transistor on and bringing said gate input to ground, if said transducer coil is broken.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said self-test circuit means is adapted to produce a unique state indication for detection by the corresponding coder means, whereby the corresponding utilization circuits are disposed in said unique state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 11, wherein said unique state indication corresponds to the state indication which would be produced if said utilization control means were alternately turned on and off, whereby the corresponding utilization circuits are alternately rendered operative and inoperative when said test signal is detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
An arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said entertainment-service system includes means for selectively activating one of said input channels and means, responsive to said channel activation means, for applying to all of said transducer means the contents of said one channel without regard to the setting of said channel selection means, said test signal generator being adapted to selectively apply to said one channel a second test signal of characteristics different from said predetermined test signal, whereby said utilization circuits are disposed in other than said predetermined state upon the application of said second test signal to said one channel while said first-mentioned test signal is applied to the remaining of said input channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |