System and method for extracting and conveying modulated AC signal information

• US 20060262529A1
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cepia LLC
• Original Assignee: Cepia LLC
• Inventors: Hornsby, James Russell, Hornsby, Ashley B., McGowan, Joseph Lee, Keefe, James Augustus III, Benson, Marcellus Rambo
• Granted Patent: US 7,825,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/005 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/1045 shaped as, combined with, or convertible into other articles, e.g. dolls, sound equipments, bags or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0024 Household or table equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 : by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An economical system and method for extracting amplitude and frequency information from a modulated AC signal are provided. In one embodiment, the invention includes a circuitry implementing op amps, a dual diode, a filter, and a comparator to receive and manipulate the modulated AC signal. The dual diode receives and splits the AC signal into two separate paths, including a baseline path and a filtering path. The AC signal passing through the baseline path remains substantially unchanged, and the AC signal passing through the filtering path passes through a low-pass filter. The signal is then sent through a comparator for comparing amplitudes of the AC signal from the two paths, and the comparator output is received by a microprocessor for controlling a display that generates a visual indicia responsive to the comparator output.

Claims

1. An apparatus for extracting and interpreting information from an AC signal, comprising:

a signal input for receiving at least one AC signal;

an operational amplifier for receiving and outputting the AC signal;

a dual diode configured to receive the AC signal and split the AC signal into two separate paths, the two separate paths including a baseline path and a filtering path, wherein the AC signal passing through the baseline path remains substantially unchanged and the AC signal passing through the filtering path passes through a low-pass filter;

a comparator for comparing amplitudes of the AC signal from the baseline path and the AC signal from the filtering path, the comparator yielding a comparator output that is a binary state; and

a microprocessor for receiving the comparator output and controlling a display, the display being configured to generate a visual indicia responsive to the comparator output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual indicia includes a lighting apparatus, comprising

a plurality of light modules, each light module comprising at least three lights, each light comprising a different color, wherein the plurality of light modules are driven by the microprocessor, and

a housing for containing the plurality of light modules.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is a substantially elongated compartment configured to encase the plurality of light modules, wherein the plurality of light modules are arranged substantially linearly within the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the AC signal is an audio signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the amplitude is a volume of the audio signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the signal input is a microphone or an audio jack.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the AC signal is a video signal,

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the amplitude is a luminance of the video signal.

9. A method of extracting and interpreting information from an AC signal, comprising:

receiving at least one AC signal;

modifying the AC signal through an operational amplifier;

splitting the AC signal into two separate paths, the two separate paths including a baseline path and a filtering path, wherein the AC signal passing through the baseline path remains substantially unchanged and the AC signal passing through the filtering path passes through a low-pass filter;

comparing amplitudes of the AC signal from the baseline path and the AC signal from the filtering path, thereby yielding a comparator output that is a binary state; and

outputting the comparator output to a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is arranged to control a display, the display being configured to generate a visual indicia responsive to the comparator output.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the display includes a plurality of light modules, each light module comprising at least three lights; and

the microprocessor controls the plurality of light modules to exhibit predetermined colors responsive to the comparator output.