Portable Multi-Functional Audio Sound System and Method Therefor

• US 20100180756A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
• Inventors: Fliegler, Richard H., Nicholas, Shane A., Chapman, Keith L., Green, Shawn R., Adams, Charles C., Curtis, Dale V.
• Application Number:
  US12/749,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180756A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/723
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/641 Waveform sampler, i.e. music samplers; Sampled music loop processing, wherein a loop is a sample of a performance that has been edited to repeat seamlessly without clicks or artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A portable multi-functional audio sound system has an enclosure and control panel with an optional display on a front portion of the enclosure. The control panel provides for selection among menu options which are presented on the display. An audio input is coupled for receiving a live audio signal. An electronic circuit receives user commands from the control panel and displays configuration information on the display. The electronic circuit has an amplifier for amplifying the live audio signal, and a synthesizer for generating programmable audio signal in response to a MIDI data stream. The MIDI data stream is routed to the digital signal processor or to the synthesizer. A digital signal processor controls the menu options on the display. A speaker is mounted within the enclosure and coupled for receiving a combined signal of the live audio signal and the programmable audio signal.

Claims

1. An audio sound system, comprising:

an enclosure for providing structural support, the enclosure including,

(a) a folded chassis,

(b) a cabinet formed around the folded chassis,

(c) a vinyl covering over a portion of the cabinet,

(d) a control panel with a display mounted to the folded chassis, the control panel having programmable buttons and data wheel capable of bi-directional rotation for dynamic assignment of audio sound system features,

(e) a speaker mounted within the cabinet, and

(f) a cloth grille over the speaker;

an audio input coupled for receiving a live audio signal from a musical instrument or microphone;

a digital input coupled for receiving musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display, the electronic circuit including,

(g) a microcontroller coupled for receiving the MIDI data and controlling routing of the MIDI data,

(h) a synthesizer coupled to the microcontroller for receiving the MIDI data and generating a synthesized audio signal from the MIDI data, and

(i) a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled for receiving the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal and generating an audio output signal by digital signal processing of the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal, the audio output signal being routed to the speaker.

2. The audio sound system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has dimensions of 13 inches high, 15 inches wide, and 7 inches deep.

3. The audio sound system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a weight of 16 pounds.

4. The audio sound system of claim 1, wherein the display presents bar meters, alphanumeric data for the musical instrument, graphic information for frequency response, and numbers for volume levels.

5. The audio sound system of claim 1, wherein the display presents indicators to the programmable buttons for user assignment of the audio sound system functions selected from the group consisting of select keys, sample stop key, sample play key, sample record key, utility key, tuner key, sync/tap key, effects key, amp key, tempo key, drums key, auxiliary key, save key, exit key, digital guitar effects, equalization, filters, phrase training, phrase recording, phrase sampler, chromatic tuner, play loops, variable speed playback, sound selection, style selection, MIDI control, and restore factory settings.

6. The audio sound system of claim 1, further including a memory coupled to the DSP, the memory storing the live audio signal and MIDI data.

7. The audio sound system of claim 6, wherein the memory further stores a sampled audio signal.

8. The audio sound system of claim 7, wherein the DSP generates the audio output signal based on the sampled audio signal.

9. The audio sound system of claim 1, wherein the musical instrument is selected from a group consisting of a string instrument, brass, woodwind, percussions, or keyboard.

10. An audio sound system, comprising:

an enclosure for providing structural support, the enclosure including,

(a) a chassis,

(b) a cabinet formed around the chassis,

(c) a vinyl covering over a portion of the cabinet,

(d) a control panel with a display mounted to the chassis, the control panel having programmable buttons and data wheel capable of bi-directional rotation for dynamic assignment of audio sound system features,

(e) a speaker mounted within the cabinet, and

(f) a cloth grille over the speaker;

an audio input coupled for receiving a live audio signal from a musical instrument or microphone;

a digital input coupled for receiving musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data;

an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display, the electronic circuit including,

(g) a microcontroller coupled for receiving the MIDI data and controlling routing of the MIDI data,

(h) a synthesizer coupled to the microcontroller for receiving the MIDI data and generating a synthesized audio signal,

(i) a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled for receiving the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal and generating an audio output signal by digital signal processing of the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal, the audio output signal being routed to the speaker.

11. The audio sound system of claim 10, wherein the enclosure has dimensions of 13 inches high, 15 inches wide, and 7 inches deep.

12. The audio sound system of claim 10, wherein the enclosure has a weight of 16 pounds.

13. The audio sound system of claim 10, wherein the enclosure further includes a carry handle or strap for portability and ease of transport.

14. The audio sound system of claim 10, wherein the display presents bar meters, alphanumeric data for the musical instrument, graphic information for frequency response, and numbers for volume levels.

15. The audio sound system of claim 10, wherein the display presents indicators to the programmable buttons for user assignment of the audio sound system functions selected from the group consisting of select keys, sample stop key, sample play key, sample record key, utility key, tuner key, sync/tap key, effects key, amp key, tempo key, drums key, auxiliary key, save key, exit key, digital guitar effects, equalization, filters, phrase training, phrase recording, phrase sampler, chromatic tuner, play loops, variable speed playback, sound selection, style selection, MIDI control, and restore factory settings.

16. The audio sound system of claim 10, further including a memory coupled to the DSP, the memory storing the live audio signal and MIDI data.

17. The audio sound system of claim 16, wherein the memory further stores a sampled audio signal.

18. The audio sound system of claim 17, wherein the DSP generates the audio output signal based on the sampled audio signal.

19. The audio sound system of claim 10, wherein the musical instrument is selected from a group consisting of a string instrument, brass, woodwind, percussions, or keyboard.

20. An audio sound system, comprising:

an enclosure for providing structural support, the enclosure including,

(a) a chassis,

(b) a cabinet formed around the chassis,

(c) a control panel with a display mounted to the chassis,

(d) a speaker mounted within the cabinet, and

(e) a grille over the speaker;

an audio input coupled for receiving a live audio signal from a musical instrument or microphone;

a digital input coupled for receiving musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data;

an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display, the electronic circuit including,

(f) a synthesizer coupled for receiving the MIDI data and generating a synthesized audio signal,

(g) a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled for receiving the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal and generating an audio output signal by digital signal processing of the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal, the audio output signal being routed to the speaker.

21. The audio sound system of claim 20, wherein the enclosure has dimensions of 13 inches high, 15 inches wide, and 7 inches deep.

22. The audio sound system of claim 20, wherein the enclosure has a weight of 16 pounds.

23. The audio sound system of claim 20, wherein the enclosure further includes a carry handle or strap for portability and ease of transport.

24. The audio sound system of claim 20, wherein the display presents bar meters, alphanumeric data for the musical instrument, graphic information for frequency response, and numbers for volume levels.

25. The audio sound system of claim 20, wherein the display presents indicators to the programmable buttons for user assignment of the audio sound system functions selected from the group consisting of select keys, sample stop key, sample play key, sample record key, utility key, tuner key, sync/tap key, effects key, amp key, tempo key, drums key, auxiliary key, save key, exit key, digital guitar effects, equalization, filters, phrase training, phrase recording, phrase sampler, chromatic tuner, play loops, variable speed playback, sound selection, style selection, MIDI control, and restore factory settings.

26. The audio sound system of claim 20, further including a memory coupled to the DSP, the memory storing the audio signal and MIDI data.

27. The audio sound system of claim 26, wherein the memory further stores a sampled audio signal.

28. The audio sound system of claim 27, wherein the DSP generates the audio output signal based on the sampled audio signal.

29. The audio sound system of claim 20, wherein the musical instrument is selected from a group consisting of a string instrument, brass, woodwind, percussions, or keyboard.

30. A method of providing signal processing features for an audio sound system, comprising:

providing an enclosure having a digital input coupled for receiving musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data and live audio input coupled for receiving a live audio signal from a musical instrument or microphone, the enclosure including,

(a) a chassis,

(b) a cabinet formed around the chassis,

(c) a control panel with a display mounted to the chassis,

(d) a speaker mounted within the cabinet, and

(e) a grille over the speaker;

synthesizing the MIDI data to generate a synthesized audio signal;

signal processing the live audio signal and synthesized audio signal to generate an audio output signal; and

routing the audio output signal to the speaker.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the display presents bar meters, alphanumeric data for the musical instrument, graphic information for frequency response, and numbers for volume levels.

32. The method of claim 30, further including attaching a carry handle or strap to the enclosure for portability and ease of transport.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the display presents indicators to the programmable buttons for user assignment of the audio sound system functions selected from the group consisting of select keys, sample stop key, sample play key, sample record key, utility key, tuner key, sync/tap key, effects key, amp key, tempo key, drums key, auxiliary key, save key, exit key, digital guitar effects, equalization, filters, phrase training, phrase recording, phrase sampler, chromatic tuner, play loops, variable speed playback, sound selection, style selection, MIDI control, and restore factory settings.

34. The method of claim 30, further including storing the live audio signal and MIDI data in memory

35. The method of claim 30, further including storing a sampled audio signal in memory.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the musical instrument is selected from a group consisting of a string instrument, brass, woodwind, percussions, or keyboard.