Multi-channel audio switch

• US 20060222186A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Regal CineMedia Corporation (Cineworld Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Regal CineMedia Corporation (Cineworld Group PLC)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Tom, Paige, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US11/099,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20060222186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

An audio switch for theatre environments comprising a plurality of analog audio inputs such as 5.1 or 6.1 multi-channel analog audio inputs. An audio output is provided as well as means for selectively coupling any one of the audio inputs to the audio output. The audio switch includes a control interface configured to couple to an external control system. The means for selectively coupling operates in response to control signals received over the control interface

Claims

1. An audio switch comprising:

a plurality of analog audio inputs;

an audio output;

a control interface configured to couple to an external control system; and

means for selectively coupling any one of the audio inputs to the audio output in response to control signals received over the control interface.

2. The audio switch of claim 1 wherein at least some of the analog audio inputs comprise multi-channel analog audio inputs.

3. The audio switch of claim 2 wherein the analog audio inputs comprise 5.1 audio inputs.

4. The audio switch of claim 2 wherein the analog audio inputs comprise 6.1 audio inputs.

5. The audio switch of claim 1 wherein the means for selectively coupling further comprises:

a relay coupled to a selected one of the audio inputs and coupled to the audio output, wherein the relay has an un-powered state in which the selected audio input is coupled by the relay to the audio output and the remaining audio inputs are decoupled from the audio output.

6. The audio switch of claim 1 further comprising a pre-amplifier component coupled to at least one of the audio inputs.

7. The audio switch of claim 6 wherein the pre-amplifier is externally controllable to provide a level of pre-amplification determined by an external control signal.

8. The audio switch of claim 6 further comprising an audio balancing component coupled to at least one of the audio inputs and operable to eliminate hum caused by inadequate grounding

9. The audio switch of claim 1 further comprising a pre-amplifier component coupled to between an output side of the relay and the audio output.

10. The audio switch of claim 9 wherein the pre-amplifier is externally controllable to provide a level of pre-amplification determined by an external control signal.

11. The audio switch of claim 1 wherein the means for selectively coupling is externally controllable to allow an external control component to couple a selected one of the plurality of audio inputs to the audio output.

12. The audio switch of claim 1 further comprising an audio mixer component coupled to the means for selectively coupling, wherein the audio mixer components is configured to couple to an external local audio source.

13. The audio switch of claim 12 wherein the external local audio source comprises a microphone.

14. The audio switch of claim 12 wherein the external local audio source comprises a DVD player.

15. A cinema audio system comprising:

a projector operable to display media in a theatre auditorium;

a sound processor operable to generate a multi-channel analog audio signal synchronized with the displayed media;

at least one other device producing a multi-channel analog audio signal;

a switch having a plurality of analog audio inputs, wherein a first of the plurality of analog inputs is coupled to the sound processor to receive the multi-channel analog audio signal of the sound processor, and a second of the plurality of analog inputs is coupled to the at least one other device, wherein the switch comprises an audio output; and

means for selectively coupling any one of the plurality of the switch'"'"'s audio inputs to the audio output.

16. The cinema audio system of claim 15 further comprising a back-end cinema audio system driving speakers in the theatre auditorium, wherein the back-end cinema audio system comprises fewer multi-channel analog audio signal inputs than are provided by the switch and the audio output of the switch is coupled to one of the multi-channel analog audio signal inputs of the back-end cinema audio system.

17. The cinema audio system of claim 15 wherein the projector comprises a film projector operable to display film-based media and the sound processor comprises:

a reader coupled to read audio information encoded on the film-based media;

a decoder coupled to the reader and operable to decode the audio information and generate a multi-channel analog audio signal.

18. The cinema audio system of claim 15 wherein the projector comprises a film projector operable to display film-based media and wherein the sound processor comprises:

a player coupled to read audio information from a media source separate from the film-based media;

a synchronization component coupled to the player and to the film projector and operable to synchronize the audio information with the display of the film-based media.

19. The cinema audio system of claim 16 wherein the at least one other device comprises a digital media adapter comprising a plurality of digital audio signal inputs.

20. The cinema audio system of claim 16 wherein the at least one other device comprises a microphone.

21. The cinema audio system of claim 16 wherein the at least one other device comprises a computer playing a multimedia file.

22. The cinema audio system of claim 15 wherein the projector comprises a digital cinema projector.