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US4048442A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Stereophonic sound adaptor for simulating sound movement

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-05-22
•
Granted: 1977-09-13
•
Expires: 1995-05-22
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Abstract

Abstract A stereophonic sound adaptor for producing the illusion of moving sound is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of output speakers in conjunction with a stereo amp output and an electro-mechanical transfer station. Through the electro-mechanical transfer station, signals from the stereo amp output are sequentially switched to various combinations of speakers so as to produce the illusion of sound movement in a room.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard S. Mannila
  • 👤 Fred E. Mannila
  • 👤 Donald A. Mannila

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 13:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04S; H04S5/00; H04S5/005; H04R; H04R3/00; H04R3/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 338 words
A stereophonic sound system comprising: electronic signal input means having first and second separate channels; an electro-mechanical transfer station including an elongate rotatable shaft driven by a variable speed motor, the transfer station having a first and second separate junction block therein, each junction block connected to a separate channel; a plurality of individual switches within each separate junction block, the switches all operatively connected to the channel associated with the junction block, the junction block associated with the first channel further including a plurality of resistors, one resistor interposed between each switch within the junction block associated with the first channel; a first set of individual cams mounted eccentrically on the rotatable shaft, each cam operable to open and close a separate switch within the first junction block; a second set of individual cams eccentrically mounted on the rotatable shaft separate from the first set of cams, each cam operable to open and close a separate switch within the second junction block; a speaker network including a plurality of speakers, the network including a speaker terminal block which includes an individual terminal operatively connected to one speaker in the network, each speaker in the network being operatively connected through a terminal to one switch in the first junction block and to one switch in the second junction block; and a plurality of resistors within the speaker terminal block, one resistor interposed between each of the individual terminals within the terminal block; the cams within the first and second junction blocks operable to simultaneously connect pairs of speakers within the speaker network in a predetermined sequence to produce the illusion of moving sound within a room, one speaker of the pair being connected to the first channel while the second speaker of the pair is simultaneously connected to the second channel, the resistors within the first junction block and the resistors within the speaker terminal block operable so that smooth uninterrupted transition of sound through the speaker network is effected when the cams open and close the switches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 338 words
A stereophonic sound system comprising: electronic signal input means having first and second separate channels; an electro-mechanical transfer station including an elongate rotatable shaft driven by a variable speed motor, the transfer station having a first and second separate junction block therein, each junction block connected to a separate channel; a plurality of individual switches within each separate junction block, the switches all operatively connected to the channel associated with the junction block, the junction block associated with the first channel further including a plurality of resistors, one resistor interposed between each switch within the junction block associated with the first channel; a first set of individual cams mounted eccentrically on the rotatable shaft, each cam operable to open and close a separate switch within the first junction block; a second set of individual cams eccentrically mounted on the rotatable shaft separate from the first set of cams, each cam operable to open and close a separate switch within the second junction block; a speaker network including a plurality of speakers, the network including a speaker terminal block which includes an individual terminal operatively connected to one speaker in the network, each speaker in the network being operatively connected through a terminal to one switch in the first junction block and to one switch in the second junction block; and a plurality of resistors within the speaker terminal block, one resistor interposed between each of the individual terminals within the terminal block; the cams within the first and second junction blocks operable to simultaneously connect pairs of speakers within the speaker network in a predetermined sequence to produce the illusion of moving sound within a room, one speaker of the pair being connected to the first channel while the second speaker of the pair is simultaneously connected to the second channel, the resistors within the first junction block and the resistors within the speaker terminal block operable so that smooth uninterrupted transition of sound through the speaker network is effected when the cams open and close the switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein all the switches have at least two electrical contacts, one electrical contact of each switch being connected to a common wiring terminal within the junction block, the other electrical contact of the switch being operatively connected to a speaker within the speaker network.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3026378A Cited
US3156770A Cited
US3374315A Cited
US3665105A Cited
US3757046A Cited
US3873779A Cited
US3848092A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-09-12 1981-03-14 1981-09-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-09-12 1985-03-14 1985-09-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-09-12 1989-03-14 1989-09-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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