MULTI-CHANNEL BROADCASTING SYSTEM USING DIGITAL MATRIX AMPLIFIER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20120300942A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&B Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: L&B Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sung Hee
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/001 Adaptation of signal processing in PA systems in dependence of presence of noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A multi-channel broadcasting system using a digital matrix amplifier performing the setting of respective equipment is provided to control the model equipment through a digital master controller. An 8-channel audio input unit 66 is electrically connected to a digital audio mixer. Sound source equipment connection terminals are electrically connected to the sound equipment. A data converter unit 46 converts each data and a contact point signal. An audio matrix IC 60 outputs an input sound source signal to an arbitrary channel. A pair of audio output terminals transmits the output signal of the audio matrix IC.

Claims

1. A multi-channel broadcasting system, comprising:

sound source equipment, which generates a sound source signal;

a digital audio mixer, wherein the digital audio mixer comprises;

a sound source input terminal having 16 channels, the sound source input terminal receiving the sound source signal from the sound source equipment,

an electronic volume integrated circuit, which identifies a volume value input from the sound source input terminal, and adjusts a volume and a tone, an audio matrix integrated circuit, which outputs the sound source signal, which is transmitted from the electronic volume integrated circuit, via an arbitrary one of channel 1 to channel 8 according to a set value, and

a main control integrated circuit, which controls an operation of the electronic volume integrated circuit and an operation of the audio matrix integrated circuit according to a set value, analyzes an operating state, and displays the analyzed operating state on a liquid crystal display window;

a digital master controller, wherein the digital master controller comprises;

an 8-channel audio input unit electrically connected to the digital audio mixer,

a sound source equipment connection terminal, which is electrically connected to the sound source equipment to control the sound source equipment,

an Ethernet connection terminal, which enables the entire system to be set and manipulated via a network, a data converter section, which converts different data and contact signals to be compliant with integrated circuit standard for equipment control,

an audio matrix integrate circuit, which outputs the sound source signal via an arbitrary one of channel 1 to channel 8 according to a set value, and

a pair of audio output terminals, each of which has 4 channels in order to transmit an output signal of the audio matrix integrated circuit;

a digital matrix amplifier, wherein the digital matrix amplifier comprises;

an 8-channel audio input unit, which receives the sound source signal output from the digital master controller, an audio matrix integrated circuit, which outputs the sound source signal, which is input via the audio input unit, via an arbitrary combination of channel 1 to channel 16 according to a set value,

a digital amplifier section having 16 channels, the digital amplifier section amplifying the sound source signal output from the audio matrix integrated circuit, a main control integrated circuit, which controls an operation of the audio matrix integrated circuit and an operation of the digital amplifier section according to a set value, analyzes an operation state, and displaying the analyzed operation state on the liquid crystal display window, and

a power amplifier, which receives the sound source signal output from the digital master controller, and amplifies power of the received sound source signal; and

a system personal computer connected with the digital master controller via a wired/wireless network, wherein the system personal computer monitors an operating state of the entire system including the digital audio mixer and the digital matrix amplifier, and controls the volume.

2. The multi-channel broadcasting system of claim 2, wherein the system personal computer checks a level of noise in a space in which a respective speaker is provided, and if noise exceeding a predetermined reference level occurs, transmits a command to the digital master controller, instructing to generate an event message using a display or a signal sound.

3. The multi-channel broadcasting system of claim 2, wherein the system personal computer controls the volume by checking the event message, checking a TCP state if it is determined that there is a data change, and then transmitting information on the data change to the digital master controller.

4. A method of controlling multi-channel broadcasting, in which a digital master controller controls a variety of sound source signals to be integrated and distributed through an audio mixer, to be amplified by a digital matrix amplifier, to be distributed and combined via 8×

16 channels, and to be output through a speaker, which is provided in an intended space, and a Window program of a system personal computer controls an entire operation of a multi-channel broadcasting system, the system personal computer being connected to the digital master controller via a wired/wireless network, the method comprising;

checking, at the Window program, an event message, checking a TCP/IP state with the digital master controller if it is determined that there is a data change;

controlling a volume by transmitting information on the data change to the digital master controller if it is determined to be connected; and

storing the information on the data change in a buffer of the system personal computer if it is determined to be disconnected as a result of the checking of the TCP/IP state.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the Window program checks whether or not there is data left in the buffer of the system personal computer, checks the TCP/IP state with the digital master controller if there is the data left, and checks the event message again if the buffer is vacant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the Window program checks an identification of corresponding equipment by analyzing data if the data is transmitted via TCP/IP, and if there is a change to the data from existing data, checks an operating state of the equipment by storing the change in a database and then visually displaying an amount of the change in the data.