Audio responsive color display system

Claim 2

In an electronically controlled audio-responsive color display system, wherein audio signals of various frequencies are utilized to effect illumination in various colors, including the steps of amplifying the signals and limiting the total audio signal strength to a desired level while substantially maintaining relative signal strength, segregating the signals into a plurality of frequency bands, then for each band detecting the signals therein, producing periodic pulses of substantially constant amplitude whose duration is dependent upon the detected signal magnitude for such band, and applying the pulses from the respective bands to effect illumination in corresponding colors, the improvement comprising: producing momentary triggering pulses of uniform duration whose position relative to an AC reference signal determines the duration of such pulses.

Claim 3

Color display system according to claim 1, including the step of coupling such momentary triggering pulses inductively to a load circuit and reproducing therein such periodic pulses of variable duration.

Claim 4

Color display system according to claim 1, including the step of providing tone control in the amplification and limitation stage so as to compensate for amplitude vs. frequency distortion from pretreatment of the input signals to accentuate signals in certain frequency ranges over others.

Claim 5

Color display system according to claim 1, including the step of cutting off such sonic-color conversion process whenever input audio signal strength falls below a predetermined level.

Claim 6

Color display system according to claim 4, including the steps of augmenting background illumination whenever the sonic-color conversion process is cut off and reducing the background illumination upon restoration of input audio signal strength above the sonic-color conversion cut-off level.

Claim 7

In an electronically controlled audio-responsive color display system, including automatic gain control means (AGC) for amplifying input audio-frequency signals from a source thereof and limiting total audio signal strength to a desired level while substantially maintaining relative signal strength, filter means interconnected thereto for segregating the signals into a plurality of frequency bands, detector means for each band connected to receive the signals therefrom, pulse means associated with the respective detector means, and connected chromophoric display means responsive to such pulse means to be illuminated in colors corresponding to the respective bands, the improvement wherein the pulse means includes triggering means adapted to produce series of momentary triggering pulses whose position relative to phasing of an AC reference signal determines the duration of such illumination.

Claim 8

In an electronically controlled audio-responsive color display system, including automatic gain control means (AGC) for amplifying input audio-frequency signals from a source thereof and limiting total audio signal strength to a desired level while substantially maintaining relative signal strength, filter means interconnected thereto for segregating the signals into a plurality of frequency bands, detector means for each band connected to receive the signals therefrom, pulse means associated with the respective detector means, and connected chromophoric display means responsive to such pulse means to be illuminated in colors corresponding to the respective bands, the improvement wherein the pulse means includes triggering means adapted to produce series of momentary triggering pulses whose position relative to phasing of an AC reference signal determines the duration of such illumination.

Claim 9

Color display means according to claim 6, wherein the AGC means comprises a mixing amplifier at the input end, a gain-controlled amplifier connected to the output of the mixing amplifier, an output amplifier connected to the output of the gain-controlled amplifier, a peak-to-reference voltage comparator connected to the rectifier output, a gain-control signal generator connected to the comparator output, the output from the gain-control signal generator being fed back to the gain-controlled amplifier so as to control the gain thereof.

Claim 10

Color display system according to claim 7, wherein the gain-control signal generator has two control signal outputs, one being produced by inverting the other, such that the inverted control signal minus a reference signal equals the reference signal minus the first control signal.

Claim 11

Color display according to claim 8, including a signal-loss sensor connected to one output of the gain-control signal generator, and background lighting means connected to the sensor output and adapted to be illuminated when the sensor determines the signal strength has fallen beLow a predetermined level.

Claim 12

Color display means according to claim 9, including a signal-overload sensor connected to the other output of the gain-control signal generator.