Sound emphasizer

• US 4,753,148 A
• Filed: 12/01/1986
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tom A. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Tom A. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Tom A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/936,634
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 84/464
• US Class Current: 84/464.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 17/00 Apparatus for performing colour-music

Abstract

A media loaded computerized sound emphasizer device for synchronizing a light show performance to music based upon active computer control instead of conventional passive sound control or inaccurate manual comprising a computer and media playback unit controlled by the computer, a power distribution unit, and one or more light units, wherein each song used with this apparatus cooperates with an individualized program thereby allowing the audience to experience the audio detail through the visual sense.

Claims

1. Apparatus for emphasizing music of a light show with lights and other devices comprising:

computer means;

media playback means controlled by said computer;

one or more music emphasizing means, further comprising a multiplicity of colored lights, one or more sirens, one or more rotating light fixtures, one or more police type rotating beacon lights, one or more slow rotation sweep lights, one or more reflection means with associated lights, and more or more low power laser lights with associated reflection means, further provided that each of said colored lights emit a green, red, blue or amber light and said colored lights are mounted upon one or more elongated light bars, all of which are controlled by said computer;

power distribution means in communication with said computer means and with said music emphasizing means for distributing power to said music emphasizing means at the direction of said computer;

access means for entering data into said computer further comprising a keyboard having a multiplicity of entry keys for entering data into said computer to control each of said emphasizing means, and a light emitting diode associated with each key to indicate the operation of the emphasizing means controlled by the associated key, further provided that each light emitting diode associated with a key for controlling a colored light is color coded to match the color of the colored light and said keyboard has one or more key banks having a physical layout of keys corresponding to the physical layout of colored lights on said light bars; and

a sound system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising one or more function keys adapted to latch a variety of individual keys of said keyboard into a single function such that the activation of a function key will cause all other selected individual keys and emphasizing means associated therewith to activate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein there are four separate function keys and wherein each function is programmed by use of a program function key.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising one of more group keys, each of which controls a multiplicity of keys and corresponding emphasizing means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a group key controls all colored light of a similar color.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a group key controls all colored lights on a light bar.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 comprising an automatic beat circuit for causing one or more emphasizing means to activate in time with beat of the music.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising:

an auto key for activating the automatic beat circuit;

a beat circuit light emitting diode for indicating the beat; and

a variable beat switch for regulating the speed of said beat.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said automatic beat circuit controls emphasizing means selected with a function key.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a cue key for activating and de-activating a pause mode during which operation of the system ceases;

a play key for selecting a particular song and a corresponding program for operation of said emphasizing means; and

a digital visual display means for indicating which song and corresponding program is played.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for keeping time;

means for receiving data;

means for storage of data;

means for retrieving data;

disc drive means for driving an emphasizer program disc;

a format key for formatting a new disc placed in said disc drive, and a format light emitting diode associated with said format key to prompt the format process;

digital visual display means for indication of specific identification numbers associated with the disc; and

a fast increase switch for increasing the number displayed by said visual display means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising a fast decrease switch for decreasing the number displayed by said visual display means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 comprising means for programming said disc with one or more separate program levels of emphasizing means control.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 comprising a program level key for programming one of four separate levels of emphasizing means control programming and a specific level key for selection of the specific level to be programmed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein conflicts between various levels concerning the control of an identical emphasizing means is resolved in favor activation of said emphasizing means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 comprising a run key for viewing operation of said emphasizing means at the direction of one or more levels of said programs.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 comprising a compile key for compiling all levels into a single program to be stored on said disc.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 comprising a record data key for recording said single program on said disc.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 comprising a run key for viewing one or more levels of operation of emphasizing means at the direction of said program.