Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display
First Claim
1. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for producing audio signals;
(b) filter means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones;
(c) pulse forming means connected to said filter means and responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for producing pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones;
(d) visual means; and
(e) circuit means responsive to said pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones and counting said pulse signals within timing periods, the respective counts of the number of pulse signals counted within the respective timing periods producing output voltage levels which are proportional to the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in rhythm with said rhythmic tones.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display comprising means for producing audio signals. The audio signals are advanced over a plurality of paths. Over one path, the audio signals are detected for voltage amplitude. Should the voltage amplitude fall within a predetermined range, a valve is operated to control the flow of liquid from a pump to a set of nozzles. Over another path, the audio signals are detected by tone detectors for dominant notes falling within various frequency bands representative of the melody of the audio signals. A resultant voltage is a function of the band of frequencies over which the dominant notes are detected. The flow of liquid from a set of nozzles is proportional to the amplitude of the voltage resulting from the band of frequencies over which the dominant notes are detected. Lamps of various colors are selectively illuminated in accordance with the band of frequencies over which the dominant notes are detected. Lastly, audio signals are advanced through a band pass filter for the detection of bass tones. A pulse or spike signal is formed from the audio signals passing through the band pass filter each time a beat is detected. Each time a pulse or spike signal is formed, a suitable valve is activated so that nozzles discharge liquid in a pulsating manner in rhythm with a beat of the audio signals. The pulse or spike signals are fed to a counter and a voltage output network to control the speed of a motor so that the movement of the nozzles is in rhythm with the audio signals.
126 Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) filter means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones; (c) pulse forming means connected to said filter means and responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for producing pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (d) visual means; and (e) circuit means responsive to said pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones and counting said pulse signals within timing periods, the respective counts of the number of pulse signals counted within the respective timing periods producing output voltage levels which are proportional to the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in rhythm with said rhythmic tones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones; (c) means responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for producing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (d) visual means; and (e) circuit means responsive to said signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in rhythm with said rhythmic tones, (f) said circuit means comprising a first circuit responsive to said signals representing the beat of the rhythmic tones for operating said visual means in rhythm with said rhythmic tones, said circuit means comprising a second circuit responsive to said signals representing the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in a pulsating manner in rhythm with said rhythmic tones; (g) said second circuit comprising counters to count said signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones, a clock pulse timing circuit connected to said counters whereby said counters count the number of signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones within each timing period, a circuit connected to said counters and said clock pulse timing circuit for storing the signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for each timing period, and activating means interconnecting said circuit for storing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for each timing period, and said visual means for varying said visual means in a manner proportional to the count during each timing period. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a range of frequencies over which appear melody notes, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) a plurality of tone detectors receiving said audio signals, each of said tone detectors being arranged to pass frequencies within a discrete band of frequencies within said range, each of said band of frequencies covering a discrete portion of said range with respect to the remaining bands of frequencies, each of said tone detectors producing an output voltage in response to the detection of a dominant note within its band of frequencies; (c) a logic circuit responsive to the voltages produced by said one detectors, said logic circuit including a plurality of devices selectively operated in accordance with the voltages produced by said tone detectors; (d) means connected to said devices for producing a voltage of a magnitude associated with the operation of one of said devices, said means connected to said devices include a summing circuit, whereby the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices is a function of the band of frequencies of the tone detector operating one of said devices so that the higher the frequency of the tone detector operating one of said devices, the greater the amplitude of the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices; and (e) means operated in accordance with the magnitude of the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices to visually display a representation of the melody of said audio signals.
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16. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a range of frequencies over which appears melody notes, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) a plurality of tone detectors receiving said audio signals, each of said tone detectors being arranged to pass frequencies within a discrete band of frequencies within said range with respect to the remaining bands of frequencies, each of said tone detectors producing an output voltage in response to the detection of a dominant note within its band of frequencies; (c) a logic circuit responsive to the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including a plurality of devices selectively operated in accordance with the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including circuit means for giving priority to the tone detector of a higher frequency band in selectively operating one of said devices; (d) means connected to said devices for producing a voltage of a magnitude associated with the operation of one of said devices, said means connected to said devices including a summing circuit, whereby the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices is a function of the band of frequencies of the tone detector operating one of said devices so that the higher the frequency of the tone detector operating one of said devices, the greater the amplitude of voltage produced by said means connected to said devices; and (e) means operated in accordance with the magnitude of the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices to visually display a representation of the melody of said audio signals.
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17. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a range of frequencies over which appears melody notes, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) a plurality of tone detectors receiving said audio signals, each of said tone detectors being arranged to pass frequencies within a discrete band of frequencies within said range, each of said band of frequencies covering a discrete portion of said range with respect to the remaining bands of frequencies, each of said tone detectors producing an output voltage in response to the detection of a dominant note within its band of frequencies; (c) a logic circuit responsive to the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including a plurality of devices selectively operated in accordance with the voltages produced by said tone detectors; (d) means connected to said devices for producing a voltage of a magnitude associated with the operation of one of said devices; (e) means operated in accordance with the magnitude of the voltages produced by said means connected to said devices to visually display a representation of the melody of said audio signals, said means operated in accordance with the magnitude of the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices includes nozzles for spraying a liquid so that the extent of the spray is representative of the melody of said audio signals; (f) a plurality of lamps selectively operated in accordance with the selective operation of said devices for visually displaying a representation of the melody of said audio signals; and (g) means interconnecting said lamps with said means for producing audio signals for controlling the intensity of illumination of the selectively operated lamps in accordance with the amplitude of said audio signals.
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18. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones; (c) means responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for producing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (d) visual means; and (e) circuit means responsive to said signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in rhythm with said rhythmic tones, said circuit means comprising counters to count said signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones, a clock pulse timing circuit connected to said counters whereby said counters count the number of signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones within each timing period, a circuit connected to said counters and said clock pulse timing circuit for storing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for each timing period, and activating means interconnecting said circuit for storing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones and said visual means for varying said visual means in a manner proportional to the count during each timing period.
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19. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones, said sound also comprises a range of frequencies over which appear melody notes, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) filter means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones; (c) pulse forming means connected to said filter means and responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for producing pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (d) visual means; (e) circuit means responsive to said pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for producing pulse signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (f) a plurality of tone detectors receiving said audio signals, each of said tone detectors being arranged to pass frequencies within a discrete band of frequencies within said range, each of said band of frequencies covering a discrete portion of said range with respect to the remaining band of frequencies, each of said tone detectors producing an output voltage in response to the detection of a dominant note within its band of frequencies; (g) a logic circuit responsive to the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including a plurality of devices selectively operated in accordance with the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including circuit means for giving priority to the tone detector of a higher frequency band in selectively operating one of said devices; (h) means connected to said devices for producing a voltage of a magnitude associated with the operation of one of said devices; and (i) means operated in accordance with the magnitude of the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices to visually display a representation of the melody of said audio signals.
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20. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones and said sound comprising a range of frequencies over which appear melody notes, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones; (c) means responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for producing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (d) visual means; (e) circuit means responsive to said signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in rhythm with said rhythmic tones; (f) a plurality of tone detectors receiving said audio signals, each of said tone detectors being arranged to pass frequencies within a discrete band of frequencies within said range, each of said band of frequencies covering a discrete portion of said range with respect to the remaining bands of frequencies, each of said tone detectors producing an output voltage in response to the detection of a dominant note within its band of frequencies; (g) a logic circuit responsive to the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including a plurality of devices selectively operated in accordance with the voltages produced by said tone detectors, said logic circuit including circuit means for giving priority to the tone detector of a higher frequency band in selectively operating one of said devices; (h) means connected to said devices for producing a voltage of a magnitude associated with the operation of one of said devices, said means connected to said devices including a summing circuit, whereby the voltage produced by said means connected to said devices is a function of the band of frequencies of the tone detector operating one of said devices so that the higher the frequency of the tone detector operating one of said devices, the greater the amplitude of voltage produced by said means connected to said devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. Apparatus for translating sound into a visual display, said sound comprising a band of frequencies over which appear the rhythmic tones, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for producing audio signals; (b) filter means responsive to said audio signals for advancing signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones; (c) first circuit means responsive to said signals of the frequencies of the band over which appear the rhythmic tones for setting during a period of time a threshold voltage from peak signal amplitudes proportionate in amplitude to the peak signal amplitudes detected during the period of time, said first circuit means establishes a threshold voltage successively commencing with each successive period of time, each threshold voltage is established independently of the magnitude of any preceding threshold voltage, said first circuit means being responsive to signals within each period of time respectively of the frequencies of the band, over which appear the rhythmic tones, having an amplitude greater than the threshold voltage established during the immediately preceding period of time for producing signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones; (d) visual means; and (e) second circuit means responsive to said signals representative of the beat of the rhythmic tones for varying said visual means in rhythm with rhythmic tones. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification