US3881185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic multi-media programmer
Assignee: Columbia Scientific Industries Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract An electronic multi-media programmer system for providing control signals responsive to specifically related tone signals introduced to the programmer system in the form of electrical signals provided by an input amplifier. The programmer system includes a plurality of tone channels each being connected in parallel with the input amplifier and being preset to provide a control signal responsive to detection of the particular audio tone for which the channel is programmed. Each of the tone channels may include a filter-oscillator circuit that may be selectively controlled between playback and record modes. In the playback mode, audio tone signals, received and introduced into the programmer system through the input amplifier, may be discriminated by the various tone channels for selective operation of remotely located devices responsive to the control signals of the various channels. In the record mode, the filteroscillator circuit will be caused to oscillate and may transmit audio frequency signals through an output amplifier to a tone output in order that the audio signals may be recorded by suitable recording means. The tone input may be generated by and the tone output may be received by any suitable recording means such as a tape recorder, for example.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Nicholas Broline
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:23
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/12; G05B19/16; G08; G08C; G08C19/00; G08C19/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A multi-media programmer system comprising: record and playback means capable of recording and playing back audio tone signals; an electronic input amplifier circuit providing gain for said audio tone signals and attenuating out of band signals; a pluality of tone filter-oscillator circuits each having an electronic operational amplifier circuit and an electronic feedback network, means selectively connecting said feedback network to the input of said amplifier circuit in a filter mode and disconnecting said feedback network from said amplifier circuit during an oscillator mode, said filter-oscillator means passing only a narrow band of tone frequency signals and thereby providing a decoding function in the filter mode for decoding audio tones received from said record and playback means and generating a tone frequency signal within said narrow band of tone frequency signals to provide an encoding funcion in the oscillator mode, said tone frequency signals being received by said record and playback means; threshold detector circuit means for each of said tone filteroscillator circuits receiving the output signals fo said filter-oscillator means and including comparator circuit means comparing the output signals to a preset threshold, said threshold detector means generating a detector output only when output signal levels exceed said preset thershold; means connecting said tone filter-oscillator circuits between the output of said input amplifier means and the input of said threshold detector means; an output amplifier-mixer circuit having an amplifying mode for amplifying tone signals to be recorded and a mixing mode, said output amplifier-mixer means providing a voltage level monitoring function in said amplifying mode and functioning as a mixer and impedance connector for said tone filter-oscillator means in said mixing mode, said output amplifier circuit having an operational amplifier circuit; and means selectively connecting said input amplifier circuit and said output amplifier circuit with said tone filter-oscillator circuits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
A multi-media programmer system comprising: record and playback means capable of recording and playing back audio tone signals; an electronic input amplifier circuit providing gain for said audio tone signals and attenuating out of band signals; a pluality of tone filter-oscillator circuits each having an electronic operational amplifier circuit and an electronic feedback network, means selectively connecting said feedback network to the input of said amplifier circuit in a filter mode and disconnecting said feedback network from said amplifier circuit during an oscillator mode, said filter-oscillator means passing only a narrow band of tone frequency signals and thereby providing a decoding function in the filter mode for decoding audio tones received from said record and playback means and generating a tone frequency signal within said narrow band of tone frequency signals to provide an encoding funcion in the oscillator mode, said tone frequency signals being received by said record and playback means; threshold detector circuit means for each of said tone filteroscillator circuits receiving the output signals fo said filter-oscillator means and including comparator circuit means comparing the output signals to a preset threshold, said threshold detector means generating a detector output only when output signal levels exceed said preset thershold; means connecting said tone filter-oscillator circuits between the output of said input amplifier means and the input of said threshold detector means; an output amplifier-mixer circuit having an amplifying mode for amplifying tone signals to be recorded and a mixing mode, said output amplifier-mixer means providing a voltage level monitoring function in said amplifying mode and functioning as a mixer and impedance connector for said tone filter-oscillator means in said mixing mode, said output amplifier circuit having an operational amplifier circuit; and means selectively connecting said input amplifier circuit and said output amplifier circuit with said tone filter-oscillator circuits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 1, wherein: each of said filter-oscillator circuits is preset to a different octavely related audio frequency as compared to others of said filter-oscillator circuits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A multi-mdeia programmer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said threshold detector means comprises: means converting said dc signals of said filter-oscillator means to dc; means comparing said dc signals to a preset threshold and producing output signals only when the dc is above the preset threshold; and output driver means receiving the output of said comparing means and becoming conductive only when output signals are received from said comparing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 1, wherein; each of said plurality of tone amplifier circuits is preset to detect and amplify audio signals at a predetermined frequency range; and said feedback network is selectively controlled to feed a portion of the amplifier output back into the input of the amplifier circuit, causing said amplifier circuit to oscillate and generate a tone frequency that is substantially the same frequency range said amplifier circuit is preset to detect and amplify.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
A multi-media programmer system having tone encoder-decoder capability, said system comprising: tone input means capable of selectively and simultaneously providing tone signals; eleCtronic input amplifier means having means fo connection to tone input means, said input amplifier means amplifying audio in put signals received from said tone input means; a plurality of tone filter-oscillator circuits for receiving all of the audio signals from said input amplifier means, said tone filter-oscillator circuits having a filter mode and an oscillator mode passing only a norrow band of frequency signals and thereby providing a decoding function in said filter mode for decoding audio tones received from said tone input means, said filter-oscillator circuit having an oscillator mode and generating a tone frequency signal within said narrow band of tone frequency signals to provide an encoding function in said oscillator mode, each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits amplifying signals in a predetermined frequency range and rejecting the tones that lie outside of the predetermined frequency range; threshold detector means being connected to the output of said tone filter means, said threshold detector means comparing output signals to a preset threshold and generating a detector output only when signal levels are above the preset threshold; and output driver means receiving passed output signals from said threshold detector means and upon being triggered by said passed output signals, transmitting a control signal for operation of a remote device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
232 words
A multi-media programmer system having tone encoder-decoder capability, said system comprising: tone input means capable of selectively and simultaneously providing tone signals; eleCtronic input amplifier means having means fo connection to tone input means, said input amplifier means amplifying audio in put signals received from said tone input means; a plurality of tone filter-oscillator circuits for receiving all of the audio signals from said input amplifier means, said tone filter-oscillator circuits having a filter mode and an oscillator mode passing only a norrow band of frequency signals and thereby providing a decoding function in said filter mode for decoding audio tones received from said tone input means, said filter-oscillator circuit having an oscillator mode and generating a tone frequency signal within said narrow band of tone frequency signals to provide an encoding function in said oscillator mode, each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits amplifying signals in a predetermined frequency range and rejecting the tones that lie outside of the predetermined frequency range; threshold detector means being connected to the output of said tone filter means, said threshold detector means comparing output signals to a preset threshold and generating a detector output only when signal levels are above the preset threshold; and output driver means receiving passed output signals from said threshold detector means and upon being triggered by said passed output signals, transmitting a control signal for operation of a remote device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits are specifically related to the other in such manner as to eliminate the possibility of false triggering of any of said circuits by distortion products developed by tone signal combinations; and said threshold detector means comprises separate threshold detector circuits provided one for each of said tone channel circuits and each being preset at a particular threshold level, preventing tone signals below the preset threshold level from passing and causing a control signal to be generated responsive to passed tone signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits are specifically related to the other in such manner as to eliminate the possibility of false triggering of any of said circuits by distortion products developed by tone signal combinations; and said threshold detector means comprises separate threshold detector circuits provided one for each of said tone channel circuits and each being preset at a particular threshold level, preventing tone signals below the preset threshold level from passing and causing a control signal to be generated responsive to passed tone signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 6, including: a plurality of output driver circuits being connected one to each of said threshold detector circuits to receive passed signals from said threshold detector circuits and being operative to generate said control signal upon receiving said passed signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 5, wherein: said tone filter-oscillator circuits each includes an amplifier circuit; a plurality of feedback circuits being connected to respective ones of said amplifier circuits and causing said amplifier circits to oscillate and generate audio frequency tones in said oscillator mode; and said input means selectively receiving and recording said audio frequency tones of said amplifier circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 8, wherein: said tone channel circuits are octavely related, thereby insuring that significant odd-order harmonics of the fundamental frequency of any tone channel circuit are not sufficiently close to the fundamental frequency of other tone channel circuits as to cause said false triggering of other tone channel circuits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 8, wherein: said input means comprises recording apparatus having record and playback modes and, during said recording mode, said input means receives tone signals generated by said amplifier-oscillator circuits of said tone channel circuits and, during said playback mode, said input means transmits said recorded audio frequency tones to said tone channel circuits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
306 words
A multi-media programmer system comprising: tone input and recording means providing specifically related audio tone signals in a playback mode thereof and recording audio tone signals in a record mode thereof; mode selector means for selectively disposing said tone input and recording means in said playback and record modes; input amplifier means receiving said audIo tone signals, providing gain for said audio tone signals and attenuating out-of-band signals, said input amplifier providing an impedance conversion matching the impedance tone of said tone input and recording means with the driving impedance of active tone filter-oscillator means; a plurality of tone filter-oscillator circuits receiving converted tone signals from said input amplifier means and selecting and amplifying only tone signals of preselected frequency range each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits having a filter mode and an oscillator mode passing only a narrow band of frequency signals and thereby providing a decoding function in said filter mode for decoding audio tones received from said tone input means, said filter-oscillator circuit generating a tone frequency signal within said narrow band of tone frequency signals to provided an encoding function in said oscillator mode; mode selector means causing said filter-oscillator means to be operative in a playback mode to detect and amplify a preset range of tone frequency signals and in a record mode to generate tone frequency signals at said preset range of tone frequency signals; threshold detector means receiving the output signals of said filter-oscillator means, comparing the output signals to a preset threshold and generating a detector output signal only when said output signals of said filter means exceed said threshold of said threshold detector means; and output driver means receiving the output of said threshold detector means and generating a control signal for operation of a remote device responsive to being triggered by signals passing said threshold detector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
306 words
A multi-media programmer system comprising: tone input and recording means providing specifically related audio tone signals in a playback mode thereof and recording audio tone signals in a record mode thereof; mode selector means for selectively disposing said tone input and recording means in said playback and record modes; input amplifier means receiving said audIo tone signals, providing gain for said audio tone signals and attenuating out-of-band signals, said input amplifier providing an impedance conversion matching the impedance tone of said tone input and recording means with the driving impedance of active tone filter-oscillator means; a plurality of tone filter-oscillator circuits receiving converted tone signals from said input amplifier means and selecting and amplifying only tone signals of preselected frequency range each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits having a filter mode and an oscillator mode passing only a narrow band of frequency signals and thereby providing a decoding function in said filter mode for decoding audio tones received from said tone input means, said filter-oscillator circuit generating a tone frequency signal within said narrow band of tone frequency signals to provided an encoding function in said oscillator mode; mode selector means causing said filter-oscillator means to be operative in a playback mode to detect and amplify a preset range of tone frequency signals and in a record mode to generate tone frequency signals at said preset range of tone frequency signals; threshold detector means receiving the output signals of said filter-oscillator means, comparing the output signals to a preset threshold and generating a detector output signal only when said output signals of said filter means exceed said threshold of said threshold detector means; and output driver means receiving the output of said threshold detector means and generating a control signal for operation of a remote device responsive to being triggered by signals passing said threshold detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 11, including: output amplifier circuit means being controlled by said mode selector means enabling said output amplifier to function as a mixer and impedance converter for said tone filter means in a first mode and to function as a voltage level monitor for said tone filter means in a second mode; and said tone input and recording means being switched between input and recording modes by said mode selector means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said tone filter-oscillator circuits comprise: amplifier circuit means; feedback circuit means bieng operative to feed a portion of the output of the amplifier means causing said amplifier means to oscillate and generate a tone signal; said input and recording means being operative to receive and record the tone signal of said amplifier means upon oscillation of the same; and mode selector means for selectively controlling the operative condition of said feedback circuit means and said input and recording means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A multi-media programmer system as recited in claim 11, wherein: said output signals of the respective output driver means each representing a bit of a binary word, said output signals being utilized in combination to develop a binary control signal.
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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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |