PRESENTATION AUDIO SYSTEM

• US 20100226512A1
• Filed: 03/07/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MITEK CORPORATION (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MITEK CORPORATION (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Murphy, Dan, Hensley, Mitch, Sykes, Kevin, Marlin, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US12/718,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100226512A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/111
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor

Abstract

A presentation audio system with two dual-mode, dual-channel, wireless IR microphone/controllers that concurrently transmit multiplexed audio and command IR signals to IR sensors communicating to an amplifier that sends amplified audio to one or more speakers, responsive to the received commands. Each wireless IR microphone/controller includes a microphone and controller in a housing with manual controls and separate redundant groups of transmitting IR LEDs. The amplifier is controlled as to volume, audio sources selected, and control closure operation. First mode controls the audio of the IR microphone/controller that is set in the first mode and second mode controls all audio sources in the system. One manual control is a control closure that may be used to initiate a building alarm or for other purposes. A headset microphone jack enables use of the IR microphone/controller as an IR transmitter. A dual recharger usable vertically or horizontally is included.

Claims

1. A presentation audio system comprising:

a. at least one IR microphone/controller wherein said IR microphone of said at least one IR microphone/controller is operable to transduce sound into audio signals and said IR controller of said at least one IR microphone/controller is operable to transduce manual control manipulations into commands, and wherein said audio signals and said commands are multiplexed for wireless IR transmission from said at least one IR microphone/controller; and

b. multiple separate redundant pluralities of IR transmission LEDs operable to concurrently wirelessly transmit said multiplexed audio signals and commands from said at least one IR microphone/controller.

2. The presentation audio system of claim 1, comprising a control circuit closure responsive to a command from said at least one IR microphone/controller to close a circuit that is not within said at least one IR microphone/controller.

3. The presentation audio system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of devices for assisting in operating said at least one IR microphone/controller while attached to one of the person of and the clothing of a user, said plurality of devices comprising;

a. an ergonomically shaped housing for hand-held operation of said at least one IR microphone controller as such;

b. a spring clip rotationally coupled to said housing and biased to a closed position, for attachment to clothing of a user, and a microphone jack in said housing for connecting a headset microphone for operation of said IR microphone/controller as an IR transmitter;

c. a keyhole in said spring clip and a lanyard for wearing about the neck of a user for supporting said at least one IR microphone/controller for operation as such, comprising a spring-tensioned adjustment mechanism on said lanyard coupled to a key for coupling said lanyard to said keyhole.

4. The presentation audio system of claim 1, wherein said at least one IR microphone controller is capable of operation in one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein:

a. said first mode enables volume control of a particular IR microphone/controller that is operated in said first mode when said particular IR microphone/controller is operated in said first mode; and

b. said second mode enables volume control of the entire said audio presentation system from said particular IR microphone/controller when said particular IR microphone/controller is operated in said second mode.

5. The presentation audio system of claim 4, wherein said IR microphone/controller further comprises a plurality of visible-light LEDs mounted to a housing, including:

a. a visible-light LED mounted partially exterior to said housing of said at least one IR microphone/controller operable to illuminate to indicate that an ON/OFF switch has been switched to ON and operable to blink to indicate a low battery condition;

b. first and second mode indicator visible-light LEDs, comprising;

i. said first mode visible-light indicator LED illuminatable to indicate first and second modes of operation;

ii. said second mode visible-light indicator LED illuminatable to indicate said second mode of operation; and

iii. both said first and second mode visible-light indicator LEDs not illuminatable responsive to a lock-out switch being activated, when said lock-out switch is activated;

c. a third front-firing visible-light LED, illuminatable to indicate that said lock-out switch has been activated.

6. The presentation audio system of claim 1, comprising:

a. an ergonomic housing enclosing said at least one IR microphone/controller;

b. a first plurality of said IR transmission LEDs of said multiple separate redundant pluralities of IR transmission LEDs, fixed proximate a bottom of said housing;

c. a second plurality of said IR transmission LEDs of said multiple separate redundant pluralities of IR transmission LEDs, fixed proximate a top of said housing; and

d. a third plurality of said IR transmission LEDs of said multiple separate redundant pluralities of said IR transmission LEDs, fixed proximate a front of said housing.

7. The presentation audio system of claim 6, wherein one said plurality of IR transmission LEDs of said multiple redundant pluralities of IR transmission LEDs is operable to transmit in a 360 angular degree arc normal to a longitudinal axis of said housing.

8. The presentation audio system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of IR sensors operable to receive said multiplexed IR signals from said at least one IR microphone/controller and to demultiplex said multiplexed IR signals from said at least one IR microphone/controller into electronic audio signals and into electronic commands, respectively.

9. The presentation audio system of claim 1, comprising at least one amplifier operable to:

a. receive said electronic audio signals and electronic commands from said plurality of IR sensors; and

b. house and operate, responsive to said received electronic commands, said control circuit closure.

10. The presentation audio system of claim 9, wherein said amplifier is further operable to:

a. control amplification responsive to said received electronic commands;

b. receive said electronic audio signals from a plurality of additional audio sources; and

c. supply amplified audio signals to at least one audio speaker.

11. The presentation audio system of claim 9, wherein said amplifier is further operable to:

a. be installed on an appliance support pole; and

b. be installed on an industry-standard electronics rack.

12. The presentation audio system of claim 9, comprising a plurality of additional audio sources operable to supply audio signals to said amplifier.

13. The presentation audio system of claim 1, further comprising said at least one audio speaker operable to receive amplified audio signals from said amplifier.

14. The presentation audio system of claim 1, further comprising a recharging station operable to recharge first and second said IR microphone/controllers concurrently in one of a free-standing vertical orientation, a wall-mounted vertical orientation, and a horizontal orientation.

15. The presentation audio system of claim 1, wherein said at least one IR microphone/controller further comprises a plurality of manual controls that have differentiated tactility and are mounted proximate to and at least partially exterior to said housing, further comprising:

a. a mode button operable as a toggle through said first and said second modes;

b. a control closure button operable to be manually depressed and, in conjunction with manual depression of said mode button, is operable to send an IR command to initiate a control closure in an amplifier;

c. a mute button, operable;

i. in said first mode to mute said at least one IR microphone while leaving said IR controller enabled; and

ii. in said second mode to mute a second IR microphone in a second said at least one microphone/controller.

18. The presentation audio system of claim 1, wherein said at least one IR microphone controller is capable of operation in one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein:

a. said first mode enables volume control of a particular IR microphone/controller that is operated in said first mode when said particular IR microphone/controller is operated in said first mode; and

b. said second mode enables volume control of the entire said audio presentation system from said particular IR microphone/controller when said particular IR microphone/controller is operated in said second mode.

16. A presentation audio system comprising:

a. at least one IR microphone/controller wherein said IR microphone of said at least one IR microphone/controller is operable to transduce sound into audio signals and said IR controller of said at least one IR microphone/controller is operable to transduce manual control manipulations into commands, wherein said audio signals and said commands are multiplexed for wireless IR transmission from said at least one IR microphone/controller;

b. multiple separate redundant pluralities of IR transmission LEDs operable to concurrently wirelessly transmit said multiplexed audio signals and commands from said IR microphone/controller; and

c. a control circuit closure responsive to a command from said at least one IR microphone/controller to close a circuit that is not within said at least one IR microphone/controller.

17. The presentation audio system of claim 16, comprising a plurality of devices for assisting in operating said at least one IR microphone/controller while attached to one of the person of and the clothing of a user, said plurality of devices comprising;

a. an ergonomically shaped housing enabling hand-held operation of said at least one IR microphone/controller as such;

b. a spring clip coupled to said housing operable to attach said at least one IR microphone/controller to clothing of a user, and a microphone jack in said housing operable to connect a headset microphone for operation of said IR microphone/controller as an IR transmitter;

c. a keyhole in said spring clip and a lanyard for wearing about the neck of a user for supporting said at least one IR microphone/controller for operation as such, said lanyard comprising a spring-tensioned adjustment mechanism coupled to a key operable to couple said lanyard to said keyhole.

19. A presentation audio system comprising:

a. at least one IR microphone/controller wherein said IR microphone of said at least one IR microphone/controller is operable to transduce sound into audio signals and said IR controller of said at least one IR microphone/controller is operable to transduce manual control manipulations into commands, wherein said audio signals and said commands are multiplexed for wireless IR transmission from said at least one IR microphone/controller;

b. multiple separate redundant pluralities of IR transmission LEDs operable to concurrently transmit said multiplexed audio signals and commands from said IR microphone/controller;

c. a control circuit closure responsive to a command from said at least one IR microphone/controller to close a circuit that is not within said at least one IR microphone/controller;

d. a plurality of devices for assisting in operating said at least one IR microphone/controller while attached to one of the person of and the clothing of a user, said plurality of devices comprising;

i. an ergonomically shaped housing for hand-held operation of said at least one IR microphone/controller as such;

ii. a spring clip rotationally coupled to said housing and biased to a closed position, for attachment to clothing of a user, and a microphone jack in said housing for connecting a headset microphone for operation of said IR microphone/controller as an IR transmitter;

iii. a keyhole in said spring clip and a lanyard for wearing about the neck of a user for supporting said at least one IR microphone/controller for operation as such, comprising a spring-tensioned adjustment mechanism on said lanyard coupled to a key for coupling said lanyard to said keyhole;

e. wherein said at least one IR microphone controller is capable of operation in either of first and second modes, wherein;

i. said first mode enables volume control of the particular IR microphone/controller that is in said first mode; and

ii. said second mode enables volume control of the entire said audio presentation system.

20. The presentation audio system of claim 19, comprising:

a. a plurality of IR sensors operable to receive said multiplexed IR signals from said at least one IR microphone/controller and to demultiplex said multiplexed IR signals into electronic audio signals and into electronic commands, respectively;

b. an amplifier, operable to receive said electronic audio signals and said electronic commands from said plurality of IR sensors and further operable to;

i. house and operate, responsive to said received electronic commands, said control circuit closure;

ii. control amplification responsive to said received electronic commands;

iii. receive said electronic audio signals from a plurality of additional audio sources;

iv. supply amplified audio signals to at least one audio speaker;

v. control amplification responsive to said received electronic commands;

vi. receive said electronic audio signals from a plurality of additional audio sources;

vii. supply amplified audio signals to at least one audio speaker;

viii. be installed on an appliance support pole; and

ix. be installed on an industry-standard electronics rack; and

c. at least one audio speaker operable to receive said amplified audio signals from said amplifier.