Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A muting circuit for amplifying and suppressing an audio signal in response to a control signal, said muting circuit comprising operational amplifier means having first and second input terminals, an output terminal, and first and second power terminals; a first capacitor coupled to receive said auido signal; a first resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said first input terminal of said operational amplifier means; a second resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said second input terminal of said operational amplifier means, biasing means coupled to said first and second power terminals and the output of said first capacitor; a second capacitor having one terminal connected to said second input terminal; and switching means coupled between the other terminal of said second capacitor and said second power terminal and controlled responsive to said control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A muting circuit for amplifying and suppressing an audio signal in response to a control signal, said muting circuit comprising operational amplifier means having first and second input terminals, an output terminal, and first and second power terminals; a first capacitor coupled to receive said auido signal; a first resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said first input terminal of said operational amplifier means; a second resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said second input terminal of said operational amplifier means, biasing means coupled to said first and second power terminals and the output of said first capacitor; a second capacitor having one terminal connected to said second input terminal; and switching means coupled between the other terminal of said second capacitor and said second power terminal and controlled responsive to said control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A muting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a third resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said first power terminal, and a fourth resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said second power terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A muting circuit according to claim 1 further includes a third resistor connected between said first input terminal and said output terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A muting circuit according to claim 3 wherein said switching means comprises transistor means having first and second electrodes coupled between the other terminal of said second capacitor and said second power terminal, and a third electrode for receiving said control signal; and a fourth resistor connected between said first and second electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A muting circuit according to claim 3 wherein said switching means is a field-effect transistor having first and second electrodes coupled between the other terminal of said second capacitor and said second power terminal, and a third electrode for receiving said control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A muting circuit according to claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a fourth resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said first power terminal, and a fifth resistor connected between the output of said first capacitor and said second power terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A muting circuit according to claim 1 further including means coupled to said first capacitor for reproducing said audio signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A muting circuit according to claim 7 further including means coupled between the output of said reproducing means and said switching means for generating said control signal corresponding to the level of noise produced at the output of said reproducing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
211 words
An FM muting circuit comprising a common input terminal, operational amplifier means having a pair of input terminals coupled to the common input terminal of the muting circuit, electronic switching means connected between ground and one of the operational amplifier input terminals, control means responsive to input signals at said common input terminal when said input signals are free of noise for developing a high-level control signal which switches the electronic switching means to a condition which grounds one of the operational amplifier input terminals, whereby the operational amplifier amplifies only the signal applied from the common input terminal of said muting circuit to the other input terminal of said amplifier means, said control means responsive to noise appearing in the input signal at said common terminal for developing a low-level control signal which switches the electronic switch to a condition which enables the signal appearing at the common input terminal of said muting circuit to appear in phase at both amplifier input terminals to cause a cancellation of an output signal from said operational amplifier, thereby effectively rejecting the signal containing noise, and means at the two input terminals of the operational amplifier for preventing any substantial change of bias potential thereat responsive to switching operations of the muting circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
An FM muting circuit comprising a common input terminal, operational amplifier means having a pair of input terminals coupled to the common input terminal of the muting circuit, electronic switching means connected between ground and one of the operational amplifier input terminals, control means responsive to input signals at said common input terminal when said input signals are free of noise for developing a high-level control signal which switches the electronic switching means to a condition which grounds one of the operational amplifier input terminals, whereby the operational amplifier amplifies only the signal applied from the common input terminal of said muting circuit to the other input terminal of said amplifier means, said control means responsive to noise appearing in the input signal at said common terminal for developing a low-level control signal which switches the electronic switch to a condition which enables the signal appearing at the common input terminal of said muting circuit to appear in phase at both amplifier input terminals to cause a cancellation of an output signal from said operational amplifier, thereby effectively rejecting the signal containing noise, and means at the two input terminals of the operational amplifier for preventing any substantial change of bias potential thereat responsive to switching operations of the muting circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The muting circuit of claim 9 wherein said means for preventing substantial potential change at said two input terminals include a resistor network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The muting circuit of claim 10 including means for feeding back a control signal from an output of said operational amplifier to said other input terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The muting circuit of claim 11 including current limiting means coupled in parallel with said electronic switching means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The muting circuit of claim 11 wherein said electronic switching means is a field effect transistor.