Patent US3848092A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3848092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for electronic modification of sound
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-07-02
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1993-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An audio amplifier provides an output signal to drive a pair of spaced loudspeakers. A signal distributor is connected between the amplifier output and the loudspeakers and distributes the amplified audio signal in different, varying proportions to the two speakers in accordance with a control signal at a frequency which is above the audio range and which is superimposed on the audio signal recorded on the recording medium. The apparent sound source is shifted back and forth between the speakers according to the preselected pattern of the control signal to create a pleasurable listening experience for the listener. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the overall gain of the audio amplifier is also varied in accordance with a second control signal superimposed on the audio signal at a frequency above the audio range to create a still different and pleasurable listening effect to the listener.
Inventors
- 👤 R Shamma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04S; H04S5/00; G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0091; G10H3/00; G10H3/12; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H04R; H04R3/00; H04R3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
368 words
A system for modifying a sound program comprising means for providing an audio signal; means for amplifying said audio signal and presenting the same as an output signal; signal distributing means connected to said amplifying means for dividing said output signal into two parts; a first speaker connected to said signal distributing means for receiving one of said output signal parts; a second speaker spaced from said first speaker and connected to said signal distributing means for receiving the other of said output signal parts, said signal distributing means including means for increasing the relative amplitude of one of said parts while decreasing the relative amplitude of the other of said parts; said audio signal providing means comprising a recording medium having a program signal within the audio frequency range and a first control signal having a first frequency outside of the audio frequency range and having a first preselected and varying amplitude pattern corresponding to a first desired relative distribution of said output signal between said speakers, and a second control signal at a second frequency outside the audio frequency range and different than said first frequency and having a second preselected and varying amplitude pattern different than that of said first control signal and corresponding to a second desired relative distribution of said output signal between said speakers, said first and second control signals beinG superimposed on said program signal and recorded on a common recording path on said recording medium as said program signal; and means operatively interposed between said recording medium and said signal distributing means for separating said first and second control signals from said program signal and for coupling said control signals to said signal distributing means, said signal distributing means further including means for selectively applying only one of said first and second control signals to said amplitude decreasing and increasing means, said signal distributing means being responsive to the amplitude of said one of said control signals to vary the relative amplitudes of said parts of said output signal in accordance with the varying amplitude patterns of said one of said control signals, whereby a controlled shifting movement of the apparent sound between said first and second speakers is created.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
368 words
A system for modifying a sound program comprising means for providing an audio signal; means for amplifying said audio signal and presenting the same as an output signal; signal distributing means connected to said amplifying means for dividing said output signal into two parts; a first speaker connected to said signal distributing means for receiving one of said output signal parts; a second speaker spaced from said first speaker and connected to said signal distributing means for receiving the other of said output signal parts, said signal distributing means including means for increasing the relative amplitude of one of said parts while decreasing the relative amplitude of the other of said parts; said audio signal providing means comprising a recording medium having a program signal within the audio frequency range and a first control signal having a first frequency outside of the audio frequency range and having a first preselected and varying amplitude pattern corresponding to a first desired relative distribution of said output signal between said speakers, and a second control signal at a second frequency outside the audio frequency range and different than said first frequency and having a second preselected and varying amplitude pattern different than that of said first control signal and corresponding to a second desired relative distribution of said output signal between said speakers, said first and second control signals beinG superimposed on said program signal and recorded on a common recording path on said recording medium as said program signal; and means operatively interposed between said recording medium and said signal distributing means for separating said first and second control signals from said program signal and for coupling said control signals to said signal distributing means, said signal distributing means further including means for selectively applying only one of said first and second control signals to said amplitude decreasing and increasing means, said signal distributing means being responsive to the amplitude of said one of said control signals to vary the relative amplitudes of said parts of said output signal in accordance with the varying amplitude patterns of said one of said control signals, whereby a controlled shifting movement of the apparent sound between said first and second speakers is created.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 1, in which said actuating means includes a coil coupled to the output of said control amplifier, and said signal increasing means comprises a resistor coupled in series between said first and second speakers, and a slide arm magnetically coupled to said coil and electrically connected to the output of said audio signal amplifying means for movement along said resistor in response to the amplitude of said first control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
A sound reproduction system comprising a program source for providing an audio signal and first and second control signals at first and second frequencies above the audio range and superimposed on said signal, an audio amplifier operatively connected to said source, first and second sound transducers, signal distributing means operatively connected to said audio amplifier and to said first and second transducers for selectively providing first and second portions of said audio signal to said first and second transducers respectively, means operatively connected to said source and said audio amplifier for varying the gain of said audio amplifier in accordance with one of said control signals, and means coupled to said source and said signal distributing means for varying the relative amplitude of said first and second portions of said audio signal in accordance with the other of said control signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
A sound reproduction system comprising a program source for providing an audio signal and first and second control signals at first and second frequencies above the audio range and superimposed on said signal, an audio amplifier operatively connected to said source, first and second sound transducers, signal distributing means operatively connected to said audio amplifier and to said first and second transducers for selectively providing first and second portions of said audio signal to said first and second transducers respectively, means operatively connected to said source and said audio amplifier for varying the gain of said audio amplifier in accordance with one of said control signals, and means coupled to said source and said signal distributing means for varying the relative amplitude of said first and second portions of said audio signal in accordance with the other of said control signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The sound reproduction system of claim 3, in which said source further includes third and fourth signals at frequencies above the audio range superimposed on said audio signals, first select means for applying one of said first and third control signals to said audio amplifier to vary the gain thereof, and second select means for applying one of said second and fourth control signals to said signal distributing means to vary the relative amplitudes of said first and second audio signal portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
The sound reproduction system of claim 4, in which said first select means comprises first and second filters for passing signals at the frequencies of said first and third control signals respectively, and first switch means operatively connected between the outputs of said first and second filters and said audio amplifier, said second select means including third and fourth filters for passing signals at the frequencies of said second and fourth control signals respectively, and further comprising second switch means operatively connected between the output of said third and fourth filters and said signal distributing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The sound reproduction system of claim 5, further comprising a first control signal amplifier operatively connected between said first switch means and said audio amplifier and comprising first manual gain control means, and a second control signal amplifier operatively connected between said second switch means and said signal distributing means and including second manual gain control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sound reproduction system of claim 6, in which said signal distributing means includes manually controlled balance control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sound reproduction system of claim 3, in which Said signal distributing means includes manual balance control means, and said audio amplifier includes manual gain control means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |