Electronic tour guide system
First Claim
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1. A tour guide system for use in a building such as a museum, art gallery or the like, comprising:
- message source means having a plurality of channels of information signals comprising messages about exhibits or the like within the building;
means for multiplexing the channels of information signals and applying the information signals to one or more electrical conductors which extend throughout the building;
means located along the conductor for demultiplexing the plurality of channels of information signals and deriving a single channel of information signals in an exhibit area;
means associated with said demultiplexing means for converting said derived channel of signal information to frequency modulated infrared energy and transmitting the infrared energy into the area adjacent the exhibit;
portable receiver means being responsive to said infrared energy for converting the same to electrical signals and including means for transducing said electrical signals to sound, thereby enabling a user carrying said portable receiver means to listen to the message being received.
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Abstract
An electronic tour guide system is disclosed which provides messages about exhibits in a museum or the like to visitors carrying portable receivers. Audio sources which generate various messages are provided at a central location which are multiplexed and digitized and applied to one or more cables which extend to the covered areas. Receiver-transmitters are located along the cables and are adapted to decode one of the messages and transmit the same via infrared energy into a well defined area adjacent the exhibit, enabling a visitor having a receiver to receive the infrared radiated signal information and hear the message.
42 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A tour guide system for use in a building such as a museum, art gallery or the like, comprising:
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message source means having a plurality of channels of information signals comprising messages about exhibits or the like within the building; means for multiplexing the channels of information signals and applying the information signals to one or more electrical conductors which extend throughout the building; means located along the conductor for demultiplexing the plurality of channels of information signals and deriving a single channel of information signals in an exhibit area; means associated with said demultiplexing means for converting said derived channel of signal information to frequency modulated infrared energy and transmitting the infrared energy into the area adjacent the exhibit; portable receiver means being responsive to said infrared energy for converting the same to electrical signals and including means for transducing said electrical signals to sound, thereby enabling a user carrying said portable receiver means to listen to the message being received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification