Electronic sound distribution system

Claim 2

A sound distribution system for cyclically distributing sound radiation in a plurality of different directions comprising: a plurality of speakers located so as to define the perimeter of a listening area; an input for receiving an electrical input signal corresponding to a sound signal; means for connecting said input in parallel with said plurality of speakers; a plurality of switch means, individual to said speakers, for selectively actuating a corresponding said speaker responsive to a switching control signal; means connected to said switch means for generating a plurality of trains of said switching control signals, equal in number to the number of said speakers, which differ in phase such that the switching control signals from the individual trains are presented sequentially to individUal of said switch means so that said switch means are cyclically actuated to cause sequential actuating of said speakers and hence produce a cyclical distribution of sound radiation from said plurality of speakers; and control means individual to said switch means and coupled to said generating means for selectively coupling one of said trains of switching signals to a corresponding said switch means, said control means being operably responsive to switching signals from a further of said trains of switching signals generated by said generating means.

Claim 3

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 1 and further including preventing means connected in series between each said input and the corresponding said speaker for preventing the grounding of the corresponding said speaker upon the grounding of any other said speaker; and wherein each said switch means comprises a field effect transistor electrically connected in parallel across said speaker, said field effect transistor having a source electrically connected between said preventing means and said speaker, a drain electrically connected to ground and a gate for receiving a corresponding said switching control signal, said field effect transistor, when conducting thereby grounding said speaker.

Claim 4

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switching control signals are substantially square waves and said switching control signal generating means comprises: pulse responsive means responsive to a train of pulses applied thereto for sequentially generating first and second subtrains of pulses from alternate pulses in said train; and square wave generating means responsive to said subtrains of pulses for generating said plurality of trains of switching signals.

Claim 5

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said switching control signal generating means further comprises oscillator means connectable to the input of said pulse responsive means for generating a train of timed pulses, said oscillator means comprising a variable frequency oscillator which is adjustable to provide a variable cycle frequency.

Claim 6

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 4 which is completely electronic and further comprising means for continuously varying the output frequency of said variable frequency oscillator.

Claim 7

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said switching signal generating means further comprises a frequency dividing means for dividing the frequency of said train of timed pulses in half such that one pulse is generated for every two pulses in said train of timed pulses, and means for selectively connecting said dividing means between said oscillator and said signal generating means.

Claim 8

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 3 wherein each said control means comprises an electronic switch having a conducting and non-conducting state for, in the conducting state, selectively coupling said one signal train to said corresponding switch means, each said electronic switch being turned on by the leading edge of the switching signal signal in said further signal train, said further signal train containing the next switching control signal in sequence so as to provide a phase delay in the switching signal equal to the phase difference between successive signal trains.

Claim 9

A sound distribution system in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising wave shaping means for rounding off the leading and trailing edges of said phase delayed square waves thereby permitting a gradual operation of each of said switch means and consequently a gradual actuation of the corresponding said speaker.

Claim 10

An electronic system for cyclically distributing a sound input signal to a plurality of outputs, said system comprising: an input for receiving the sound input signal; a plurality of output terminals; means for connecting said sound receiving input in parallel to each of said oUtput terminals, including means for preventing the grounding of each output terminal upon the grounding of any other said output terminal; a plurality of switch means individual to said output terminals, each switch means connected in parallel across said output terminal and between said preventing means and said output terminals for normally grounding said terminal and, in response to a switching control signal for undergrounding said terminal; and means connected to said switch means for generating a plurality of trains of said switching control signals, equal in number to the number of said output terminals which differ in phase such that the switching control signals from the individual trains are presented sequentially to individual of said switch means so that said switch means are cyclically actuated to cause sequential undergrounding of said output terminals.

Claim 11

An electronic system for cyclically distributing a sound input signal to a plurality of outputs, said system comprising: an input for receiving the sound input signal; a plurality of output terminals; means for connecting said sound receiving input in parallel to each of said oUtput terminals, including means for preventing the grounding of each output terminal upon the grounding of any other said output terminal; a plurality of switch means individual to said output terminals, each switch means connected in parallel across said output terminal and between said preventing means and said output terminals for normally grounding said terminal and, in response to a switching control signal for undergrounding said terminal; and means connected to said switch means for generating a plurality of trains of said switching control signals, equal in number to the number of said output terminals which differ in phase such that the switching control signals from the individual trains are presented sequentially to individual of said switch means so that said switch means are cyclically actuated to cause sequential undergrounding of said output terminals.

Claim 12

An electronic system in accordance with claim 9 wherein each said switch means comprises a field effect transistor electrically connected in parallel across said output terminal, said field effect transistor having a source electrically connected between said preventing means and said output terminal, a drain electrically connected to ground and a gate for receiving a corresponding said switching control signal, said field effect transistor when conducting thereby grounding said output terminal and, when actuated in response to said switching control signal, ungrounding said output terminal.

Claim 13

An electronic system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said switching control signals are substantially square waves and said switching control signal generating means comprises: pulse responsive means responsive to a train of pulses applied thereto for sequentially generating first and second subtrains of pulses from alternate pulses in said train; and square wave generating means responsive to said subtrains of pulses for generating said plurality of trains of switching signals.

Claim 14

An electronic system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said switching control signal generating means further comprises oscillator means connectable to the input of said pulse responsive means for generating a train of timed pulses, said oscillator means comprising a variable frequency oscillator which is adjustable to provide a variable cycle frequency.

Claim 15

An electronic system in accordance with claim 12 which is completely electronic and further comprising means for continuously varying the output frequency of said variable frequency oscillator.

Claim 16

An electronic system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said switching signal generating means further comprises frequency dividing means for dividing the frequency of said train of timed pulses in half such that one pulse is generated for every two pulses in said train of timed pulses, and means for selectively connecting said dividing means between said oscillator and said signal generating means.

Claim 17

An electronic system in accordance with claim 11 wherein each said control means comprises an electronic switch having a conducting and non-conducting state for, in the conducting state, selectively coupling said one signal train to said corresponding switch means, each said electronic switch being turned on by the leading edge of the switching signal signal in said further signal train, said further signal train containing the next switching control signal in sequence so as to provide a phase delay in the switching signal equal to the phase difference between successive signal trains.

Claim 18

An electronic system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising wave shaping means for rounding off the leading and trailing edges of said phase delayed square waves thereby permitting a gradual operation of each of said switch means and consequently a gradual grounding of the said corresponding speaker.

Claim 19

An electronic apparatus for cyclically distributing a plurality of sound input signals to a plurality of sound outputs, said Apparatus comprising: a plurality of sound distributions devices, each sound distribution device comprising: means for receiving a sound input signal; a plurality of sound output terminals; first means for connecting said sound input means in parallel to each of said sound output terminals, including means for preventing the grounding of each sound output terminal when any other sound output terminal is grounded; a plurality of signal responsive switch means equal in number to the number of said output terminals and connected in parallel between said preventing means and said sound output terminal, for normally grounding a corresponding output terminal, each switch means responsive to a signal for undergrounding a corresponding said sound output terminal; means for generating a plurality of trains of switching signals differing in phase, whereby the generation of a first signal to the generation of a second signal within any signal train defines a cycle and the signal trains are generated such that the switching signals from the individual signal trains are presented sequentially within one cycle to a corresponding said switch means, the number of signal trains being equal to the number of sound output terminals; and second means for connecting each said switching signal generating means to said corresponding switch means such that said switching signals sequentially actuate said corresponding switch means thereby producing the cyclic distribution of the sound input signal to said plurality of sound output terminals; said apparatus further comprising a mixer means for mixing a plurality of sound input signals and for providing a plurality of sound output signals, said mixer means comprising a plurality of channels whereby each channel mixes a plurality of input signals and provides one output channel; and further means for connecting at least one of said sound output terminals of each said sound distribution device to the same one of said channels in said mixer means.

Claim 20

An electronic apparatus for cyclically distributing a plurality of sound input signals to a plurality of sound outputs, said Apparatus comprising: a plurality of sound distributions devices, each sound distribution device comprising: means for receiving a sound input signal; a plurality of sound output terminals; first means for connecting said sound input means in parallel to each of said sound output terminals, including means for preventing the grounding of each sound output terminal when any other sound output terminal is grounded; a plurality of signal responsive switch means equal in number to the number of said output terminals and connected in parallel between said preventing means and said sound output terminal, for normally grounding a corresponding output terminal, each switch means responsive to a signal for undergrounding a corresponding said sound output terminal; means for generating a plurality of trains of switching signals differing in phase, whereby the generation of a first signal to the generation of a second signal within any signal train defines a cycle and the signal trains are generated such that the switching signals from the individual signal trains are presented sequentially within one cycle to a corresponding said switch means, the number of signal trains being equal to the number of sound output terminals; and second means for connecting each said switching signal generating means to said corresponding switch means such that said switching signals sequentially actuate said corresponding switch means thereby producing the cyclic distribution of the sound input signal to said plurality of sound output terminals; said apparatus further comprising a mixer means for mixing a plurality of sound input signals and for providing a plurality of sound output signals, said mixer means comprising a plurality of channels whereby each channel mixes a plurality of input signals and provides one output channel; and further means for connecting at least one of said sound output terminals of each said sound distribution device to the same one of said channels in said mixer means.

Claim 21

An electronic apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein each said sound distribution device further comprises means for synchronizing the generation of said plurality of signal trains with the generation of said plurality of signal trains of at least one other sound distribution device, said further connecting means comprises a plurality of sets of conductors, each conductor set connecting a corresponding said sound distribution device to said mixer means such that each sound output terminal corresponding to the same phase signal train is connected to the same one of said channels of said mixer means.