Control system for audio amplifying system having multiple microphones

Claim 2

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) means for supplying a reference signal to each of said control means for establishing the threshold level at which said control means enables the corresponding switching means, (d) and modulating means connected to said control means and responsive to the output signals from said control means connected to the microphones that are turned on for modulating said reference signal in accordance with the amplitude of the output signals of the microphones that are turned on, thereby automatically varying the threshold levels of said control means to avoid the enabling of said switching means in response to undesirable audio signals.

Claim 3

An audio control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said modulating means modulates said reference signal in direct proportion to the amplitudes of the envelopes of the output signals of the microphones that are turned on so that the thresholds of said control means are raised in direct proportion to the amplitudes of said envelopes, thereby varying the sensitivities of the microphones in inverse proportion to the amplitudes of said envelopes.

Claim 4

An audio control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said modulating means includes a monostable multivibrator for producing constant width pulses at intervals which vary in accordance with the amplitude of the envelope of the microphone output signal, signal generating means responsive to each of said pulses for generating a modulating signal that increases during the presence of each pulse and decreases in the variable intervals between successive pulses, said modulating signal being applied to said reference signal to vary the magnitude of said reference signal in accordance with the variations in the intervals between said pulses.

Claim 5

An audio control system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said monostable multivibrator produces pulses at intervals that increase with decreasing amplitude of the envelope of the microphone output signal whereby the magnitude of said modulating signal decreases with decreasing amplitudes of said envelope and increases with increasing amplitudes of said envelope.

Claim 6

An audio control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said monostable multivibrator is triggered to produce a constant width pulse by the output signal from said control means, and said modulating signal decreases the threshold of said control means to the amplitude of the envelope of the microphone output signal in the intervals between successive pulses from said multivibrator, whereby said multivibrator is triggered to initiate an increase in said modulating signal each time the threshold of said control means decreases to the amplitude of said envelope so that said threshold is never reduced below the amplitude of said envelope.

Claim 7

An audio control system as set forth in claim 1 which includes a plurality of feedback means each of which is responsive to an output signal from one of said control means for adjusting the reference signals supplied to said control means to reduce the threshold level of any control means that is enabling a corresponding switching means.

Claim 8

An audio control system as set forth in claim 1 which includes a plurality of delay means each of which is responsive to a termination of the output signal from one of said control means for enabling the corresponding switching means for a predetermined time interval after the corresponding microphone output signal drops below said threshold level, thereby keeping said microphone turned on during normal pauses in the audio input to the microphone.

Claim 9

An audio control system as set forth in claim 1 which includes amplifying means connected to said microphones for amplifying the signals from the microphones that are turned on with a substantially constant gain.

Claim 10

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected between one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, said control means permitting a plurality of said switching means to enabled at the same time so that a plurality of said microphones can be turned on at the same time, (c) a plurality of delay means each of which is connected to one of said control means and is responsive to termination of the output signal from one of said control means for enabling the corresponding switching means, without disabling any of the other switching means, for a predetermined time interval after the corresponding microphone output signal drops below said threshold level, thereby keeping said microphone turned on during normal pauses in the audio input to the microphone.

Claim 11

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected between one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, said control means permitting a plurality of said switching means to enabled at the same time so that a plurality of said microphones can be turned on at the same time, (c) a plurality of delay means each of which is connected to one of said control means and is responsive to termination of the output signal from one of said control means for enabling the corresponding switching means, without disabling any of the other switching means, for a predetermined time interval after the corresponding microphone output signal drops below said threshold level, thereby keeping said microphone turned on during normal pauses in the audio input to the microphone.

Claim 12

An audio control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said delay means comprises an RC circuit between said control means and the corresponding switching means for generating a signal to enable said switching means for a predetermined time interval after the control means ceases to supply such an enabling signal.

Claim 13

An audio control system as set forth in claim 9 which includes means for adjusting the discharge time of the capacitor in said RC circuit to adjust said time interval during which said switching means is enabled by said RC circuit following termination of the output signal from said control means.

Claim 14

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) and disabling means responsive to simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means for disabling all said switching means in the system to prevent the transmission of the audio signal that caused said simultaneous initiation of output signals.

Claim 15

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) and disabling means responsive to simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means for disabling all said switching means in the system to prevent the transmission of the audio signal that caused said simultaneous initiation of output signals.

Claim 16

An audio control system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said disabling means includes a controlled gate between said control means and said switching means, and means for disabling said gate in response to simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means.

Claim 17

An audio control system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said disabling means disables all of said switching means for only a predetermined time interval to permit dissipation of the audio signal that caused said simultaneous initiation of signals.

Claim 18

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) and reset means responsive to simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means for disabling all said switching means in the system for a predetermined reset interval to prevent the transmission of the audio signal that caused said simultaneous initiation of output signals and to permit said audio signal to dissipate.

Claim 19

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) and reset means responsive to simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means for disabling all said switching means in the system for a predetermined reset interval to prevent the transmission of the audio signal that caused said simultaneous initiation of output signals and to permit said audio signal to dissipate.

Claim 20

An audio control system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said reset means includes a controlled gate between said control means and said switching means, and means for disabling said gate in response to simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means.

Claim 21

An audio control system as set forth in claim 15 which includes a plurality of delay means each of which is responsive to termination of the output signal from one of said control means for enabling the corresponding switching means for a predetermined time interval after the corresponding microphone output signal drops below said threshold level, thereby keeping said microphone turned on during normal pauses in the audio input to the microphone, and wherein said reset means resets said delay means in response to said simultaneous initiation of output signals from at least two of said control means to prevent said delay means from enabling said switching means in the absence of a desirable audio signal at the end of the reset interval.

Claim 22

An audio control system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said disabling means also resets the entire system.

Claim 23

An audio control system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said limiting means includes means for enabling the switching means associated with said n control means only when said n control means produce enabling output signals that are spaced apart by predetermined time intervals.

Claim 24

A control system for audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off. (b) reset means responsive to the number of microphones turned on for producing a reset signal to disable all said switching means when two or more microphones are turned on simultaneously, (c) limit means responsive to the number of microphones turned on for producing an inhibit signal to disable all remaining microphones when the number of microphones turned on reaches a preselected limit represented by a reference signal supplied to said limit means, said inhibit signal produced by said limit means being delayed by a predetermined time interval to permit said reset means to respond to the simultaneous turning on of two or more microphones before the remaining microphones are disabled when said preselected limit is reached, and (d) detecting means responsive to the turning on of each microphone for increasing the reference signal to said limit means to permit an additional microphone to be turned on, until the number of on microphones has reached the preselected limit.

Claim 25

A control system for audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off. (b) reset means responsive to the number of microphones turned on for producing a reset signal to disable all said switching means when two or more microphones are turned on simultaneously, (c) limit means responsive to the number of microphones turned on for producing an inhibit signal to disable all remaining microphones when the number of microphones turned on reaches a preselected limit represented by a reference signal supplied to said limit means, said inhibit signal produced by said limit means being delayed by a predetermined time interval to permit said reset means to respond to the simultaneous turning on of two or more microphones before the remaining microphones are disabled when said preselected limit is reached, and (d) detecting means responsive to the turning on of each microphone for increasing the reference signal to said limit means to permit an additional microphone to be turned on, until the number of on microphones has reached the preselected limit.

Claim 26

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) a plurality of manually operated switch means each of which is connected to one of said switching means for enabling and disabling the respective switching means to turn the corresponding microphones on and off, and a plurality of disabling means each of which is connected to one of said control means for rendering the respective control means operative and inoperative, said manually operated switch means also being connected to said disabling means for rendering inoperative the corresponding control means whenever the corresponding switching means is enabled by said manually operated switch means.

Claim 27

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is connected to one of said microphones and is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) a plurality of manually operated switch means each of which is connected to one of said switching means for enabling and disabling the respective switching means to turn the corresponding microphones on and off, and a plurality of disabling means each of which is connected to one of said control means for rendering the respective control means operative and inoperative, said manually operated switch means also being connected to said disabling means for rendering inoperative the corresponding control means whenever the corresponding switching means is enabled by said manually operated switch means.

Claim 28

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) and limiting means responsive to nonsimultaneous enabling output signals from n (wherein n is any whole integer) of said control means for disabling all the other switching means in said system so that the number of microphones that can be turned on at any given time is limited to a maximum of n.

Claim 29

A control system for an audio amplifying system having a plurality of microphones producing individual output signals, said control system comprising the combination of (a) a plurality of switching means each of which is connected to one of said microphones for turning the respective microphones on and off, (b) a plurality of control means each of which is responsive to the individual output signal from one of said microphones for enabling the corresponding switching means to turn that microphone on in response to a microphone output signal above a predetermined threshold level, (c) and limiting means responsive to nonsimultaneous enabling output signals from n (wherein n is any whole integer) of said control means for disabling all the other switching means in said system so that the number of microphones that can be turned on at any given time is limited to a maximum of n.