Patent US3869699A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3869699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Audio responsive apparatus for creating lighting effects
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-05-16
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1993-05-16
Abstract
Abstract An electronic lighting control system for creating various automatic lighting effects, which include automatic fading, sequencing, and sound to light conversion. The apparatus allows simple programming of the desired lighting effects and is designed in simple modular form for easy expansion.
Inventors
- 👤 John Jacob Haller
- 👤 Lawrence Silverman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:42
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63J; A63J17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for creating lighting effects comprising: a. means for generating a first plurality of low power electrical signals, includlng at least: i. means for supplying audio signals; and first means responsive to said audio signals and having at least three output terminals, for generating first, second, and third low power electrical d-c signals at each of said terminals, respectively, in a predetermined sequence, and at a predetermined rate, said rate being controlled by the amplitude of said audio signals; and ii. means for generating at least one low power electrical signal having a triangular waveform; b. means for electrically coupling said low power electrical signals to said next-mentioned programable swItching means; c. programable switching means comprising in combination: i. a plurality of input terminals corresponding on a one to one basis with said plurality of low power electrical signals electrically coupled from said generating means; ii. a plurality of output terminals corresponding on a one to one basis with the below-mentioned plurality of lamp intensity control means; and iii. means for electrically intercoupling said input terminals and said output terminals in a predetermined order; d. a second plurality of lamp intensity control means, each having input terminal means, responsive solely to said low power electrical signals intercoupled to said output terminals; and e. means for electrically coupling said output terminals to said input terminal means of said plurality of lamp intensity control means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for creating lighting effects comprising: a. means for generating a first plurality of low power electrical signals, includlng at least: i. means for supplying audio signals; and first means responsive to said audio signals and having at least three output terminals, for generating first, second, and third low power electrical d-c signals at each of said terminals, respectively, in a predetermined sequence, and at a predetermined rate, said rate being controlled by the amplitude of said audio signals; and ii. means for generating at least one low power electrical signal having a triangular waveform; b. means for electrically coupling said low power electrical signals to said next-mentioned programable swItching means; c. programable switching means comprising in combination: i. a plurality of input terminals corresponding on a one to one basis with said plurality of low power electrical signals electrically coupled from said generating means; ii. a plurality of output terminals corresponding on a one to one basis with the below-mentioned plurality of lamp intensity control means; and iii. means for electrically intercoupling said input terminals and said output terminals in a predetermined order; d. a second plurality of lamp intensity control means, each having input terminal means, responsive solely to said low power electrical signals intercoupled to said output terminals; and e. means for electrically coupling said output terminals to said input terminal means of said plurality of lamp intensity control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said generating means further includes second means also responsive to said supplied audio signals for converting said signals into at least one d-c low power electrical signal, having an amplitude proportional to the amplitude of said supplied audio signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
256 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said second plurality of lamp intensity control means has a pair of output terminals for connection to a lamp, and comprises: a. integrating summation means for generating a first signal; b. means for generating a second signal having a sawtooth waveform; c. means for supplying a d-c signal to said integrating means; d. electronic switch means for supplying a third signal to said integrating means, said electronic switch means being gated by the output signal of the next-mentioned comparator means, to produce said third signal; e. comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating an output signal, said output signal having a first voltage level when the magnitude of the first input signal exceeds the magnitude of the second, and having a second voltage level when the magnitude of the second input signal exceeds the magnitude of the first; f. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to said electronic switch means; g. means for generating a negative fullwave rectified sine wave; and coupling said sine wave generating means to the input of said electronic switch means; h. means for supplying time-varying voltage to said pair of output terminals; i. means for controlling the waveform of said time-varying voltage comprising controlled rectifier means; j. means for generating and coupling a firing signal to said controlled rectifier means; and k. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to the input of said firing signal generating means, comprising an optical coupled switch means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein first means responsive to said audio signals comprises: a. means for generating a first signal having a sawtooth waveform; b. means for supplying a second signal having a fixed voltage; c. means for supplying a third signal having a fixed voltage; d. first comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating a first output signal, having a first d-c voltage level when the instantaneous amplitude of the first signal exceeds the magnitude of the said second signal; e. second comparator means responsive to said first and third signals for generating a second output signal, having a predetermined d-c voltage level when the magnitude of the third signal exceeds the instantaneous amplitude of the first signal; f. means responsive to the output signals of said first and second comparator means, said means including an outupt port and potentiometer means for varying the signal level at said output port for generating a third output signal having a first voltage level when there exists a d-c voltage level at either output of said first and second comparators, and for generating an output signal having a second vOltage level, when a d-c voltage is absent from both outputs of said first and second comparator means; g. means for controlling the period of said first signal having a sawtooth waveform, in response to the amplitude of the said audio signals; and h. potentiometer means for varying the maximum level of the output signals of said first and second comparator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
258 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein first means responsive to said audio signals comprises: a. means for generating a first signal having a sawtooth waveform; b. a means for supplying a second signal having a fixed voltage; c. a means for supplying a third signal having a fixed voltage; d. first comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating a first output signal, having a first d-c voltage level when the instantaneous amplitude of the first signal exceeds the magnitude of the said second signal; e. second comparator means responsive to said first and third signals for generating a second output signal, having a predetermined d-c voltage level when the magnitude of the third signal exceeds the instantaneous amplitude of the first signal; f. means responsive to the output signals of said first and second comparator means, said means including an output port and potentiometer means for varying the signal level at said output port for generating a third output signal having a first voltage level when there exists a d-c voltage level at either output of said first and second comparators, and for generating an outupt signal having a second voltage level, when a d-c voltage is absent from both outputs of said first and second comparator means; g. variable resistance means for controlling the period of said first signal having a sawtooth waveform, in response to the amplitude of the said audio signals; and h. potentiometer means for varying the maximum level of the output signals of said first and second comparator means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
293 words
An apparatus for creating lighting effects comprising: a. means for generating a first plurality of electrical signals; b. a second plurality of lamp intensity control means wherein each of said second plurality of control means has a pair of output terminals for connection to a lamp, and comprises: i. integrating summation means for generating a first signal; ii. means for generating a second signal having a sawtooth waveform; iii. means for supplying a d-c signal to said integrating means; iv. electronic switch means for supplying a third signal to said integrating means, said electronic switch means being gated by the output signal of the next-mentioned comparator means, to produce said third signal; v. comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating an output signal, said output signal having a first voltage level when the magnitude of the first input signal exceeds the magnitude of the second, and having a second voltage level when the magnitude of the second input signal exceeds the magnitude of the first; vi. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to said electronic switch means; vii. means for generating a negative fullwave rectified sine wave; and coupling said sine wave generating means to the input of said electronic switch means; viii. means for supplying time-varying voltage to said pair of output terminals; ix. means for controlling the waveform of said time-varying voltage comprising controlled rectifier means; x. means for generating and coupling a firing signal to said controlled rectifier means; and xi. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to the input of said firing signal generating means, comprising an optical coupled switch means; and c. means for selectively switching said plurality of electrical signals to said plurality of intensity control means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
293 words
An apparatus for creating lighting effects comprising: a. means for generating a first plurality of electrical signals; b. a second plurality of lamp intensity control means wherein each of said second plurality of control means has a pair of output terminals for connection to a lamp, and comprises: i. integrating summation means for generating a first signal; ii. means for generating a second signal having a sawtooth waveform; iii. means for supplying a d-c signal to said integrating means; iv. electronic switch means for supplying a third signal to said integrating means, said electronic switch means being gated by the output signal of the next-mentioned comparator means, to produce said third signal; v. comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating an output signal, said output signal having a first voltage level when the magnitude of the first input signal exceeds the magnitude of the second, and having a second voltage level when the magnitude of the second input signal exceeds the magnitude of the first; vi. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to said electronic switch means; vii. means for generating a negative fullwave rectified sine wave; and coupling said sine wave generating means to the input of said electronic switch means; viii. means for supplying time-varying voltage to said pair of output terminals; ix. means for controlling the waveform of said time-varying voltage comprising controlled rectifier means; x. means for generating and coupling a firing signal to said controlled rectifier means; and xi. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to the input of said firing signal generating means, comprising an optical coupled switch means; and c. means for selectively switching said plurality of electrical signals to said plurality of intensity control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for controlling the period of said first signal compriSes a variable resistance means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, further including means, electrically connected between said output terminals of said programable switching means and said plurality of lamp intensity control means, for inverting said first plurality of low power electrical signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
242 words
Apparatus having a pair of output terminals, for controlling the intensity of a lamp comprising: a. integrating summation means for generating a first signal; b. means for generating a second signal having a sawtooth waveform; c. means for supplying a d-c signal to said integrating means; d. electronic switch means for supplying a third signal to said integrating means, said electronic switch means being gated by the output signal of the next-mentioned comparator means, to produce said third signal; e. comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating an output signal, said output signal having a first voltage level when the magnitude of the first input signal exceeds the magnitude of the second, and having a second voltage level when the magnitude of the second input signal exceeds the magnitude of the first; f. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to said electronic switch means; g. means for generating a negative fullwave rectified sine wave; and coupling said sine wave generating means to the input of said electronic switch means; h. means for supplying time-varying voltage to said pair of output terminals; i. means for controlling the waveform of said time-varying voltage comprising controlled rectifier means; j. means for generating and coupling a firing signal to said controlled rectifier means; and k. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to the input of said firing signal generating means, comprising an optical coupled switch means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
242 words
Apparatus having a pair of output terminals, for controlling the intensity of a lamp comprising: a. integrating summation means for generating a first signal; b. means for generating a second signal having a sawtooth waveform; c. means for supplying a d-c signal to said integrating means; d. electronic switch means for supplying a third signal to said integrating means, said electronic switch means being gated by the output signal of the next-mentioned comparator means, to produce said third signal; e. comparator means responsive to said first and second signals for generating an output signal, said output signal having a first voltage level when the magnitude of the first input signal exceeds the magnitude of the second, and having a second voltage level when the magnitude of the second input signal exceeds the magnitude of the first; f. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to said electronic switch means; g. means for generating a negative fullwave rectified sine wave; and coupling said sine wave generating means to the input of said electronic switch means; h. means for supplying time-varying voltage to said pair of output terminals; i. means for controlling the waveform of said time-varying voltage comprising controlled rectifier means; j. means for generating and coupling a firing signal to said controlled rectifier means; and k. means for coupling the output of said comparator means to the input of said firing signal generating means, comprising an optical coupled switch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3636515A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |