Auditory subliminal programming system

• US 4,777,529 A
• Filed: 07/21/1987
• Issued: 10/11/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RM Schultz & Associates
• Original Assignee: R. M. Schultz & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Dolejs, Raymond, Schultz, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US07/076,113
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/143, 358/341, 380/23, 381/73.1, 381/105, 381/124, 434/307, 434/319
• US Class Current: 348/484
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0011 in a subliminal way, i.e. below the threshold of sensation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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

Abstract

An auditory subliminal programming system includes a subliminal message encoder that generates fixed frequency security tones and combines them with a subliminal message signal to produce an encoded subliminal message signal which is recorded on audio tape or the like. A corresponding subliminal decoder/mixer is connected as part of a user'"'"'s conventional stereo system and receives as inputs an audio program selected by the user and the encoded subliminal message. The decoder/mixer filters the security tones, if present, from the subliminal message and combines the message signals with selected low frequency signals associated with enhanced relaxation and concentration to produce a composite auditory subliminal signal. The decoder/mixer combines the composite subliminal signal with the selected audio program signals to form composite signals only if it detects the presence of the security tones in the subliminal message signal. The decoder/mixer outputs the composite signal to the audio inputs of a conventional audio amplifier where it is amplified and broadcast by conventional audio speakers.

Claims

1. A subliminal decoder/mixer for use in an auditory subliminal programming system, comprising:

means for receiving at least one audio program signal and at least one subliminal message signal;

means responsive to the instantaneous amplitude of said audio program signal for rapidly varying the amplitude of said subliminal message signal;

to maintain said signal at a selected consciously inaudible level relative to the level of said audio program signal; and

means for combining said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal to produce at least one composite signal having an audio program component and a subliminal message component.

2. The subliminal decoder/mixer of claim 1 wherein said means for varying the amplitude of said subliminal message signal comprises:

rectifier means for generating a control signal indicative of the instantaneous absolute amplitude of said audio program signal; and

amplifier means responsive to said control signal for amplifying said subliminal message signal with gain that varies as a function of said control signal.

3. The subliminal decoder/mixer of claim 1 further comprising:

signal generator means for generating at least one signal having a selected frequency; and

means for combining said signal with said subliminal message signal to form a composite subliminal message signal.

4. The auditory subliminal programming system of claim 1 wherein said subliminal decoder/mixer means further comprises:

signal generator means for generating selected subsonic frequency signals; and

means for combining said signals with said subliminal message signal to form a composite subliminal message signal.

5. A subliminal decoder/mixer for use in an auditory subliminal programming system, comprising:

means for receiving at least one audio program signal and at least one subliminal message signal;

means for combining said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal to produce at least one composite signal having an audio program component and a subliminal message component, the amplitude of the subliminal message component relative to the amplitude of the audio program component being such that only the audio program component is consciously audible;

means for detecting at least one predetermined security code in said subliminal message signal; and

means responsive to said means for detecting for preventing said subliminal message signals from being combined with said audio program signal unless said at least one predetermined security code is detected.

6. The subliminal decoder/mixer of claim 5 wherein said at least one security code comprises at least one tone signal having selected frequency.

7. The subliminal decoder/mixer of claim 5 further comprising:

signal generator means for generating at least one signal having a selected frequency; and

means for combining said signal with said subliminal message signal to form a composite subliminal message signal.

8. An auditory subliminal programming system, comprising:

audio program source means for generating at least one audio program signal;

subliminal message source means for generating at least one subliminal message signal;

subliminal decoder/mixer means for procesing said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal, said decoder/mixer means comprising;

means for receiving said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal;

means responsive to the instantaneous amplitude of said audio program signal for rapidly varying the amplitude of said subliminal message signal to maintain said signal at a selected consciously inaudible level relative to the level of said audio program signal; and

means for combining said audio program and subliminal message signals to produce at least one composite signal having an audio program component and a subliminal message component;

audio amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said at least one composite signal; and

audio speaker means for broadcasting said at least one composite signal.

9. The auditory subliminal programming system of claim 8 wherein said means for varying the amplitude of said subliminal message signal comprises:

rectifier means for generating a control signal indicative of the instantaneous absolute amplitude of said audio program signal; and

amplifier means responsive to said control signal for amplifying said subliminal message signal with gain that varies as a function of said control signal.

10. An auditory subliminal programming system, comprising:

audio program source means for generating at least one audio program signal;

subliminal message source means for generating at least one subliminal message signal;

subliminal decoder/mixer means for processing said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal, said decoder/mixer means comprising;

means for receiving said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal;

means for combining said audio program and subliminal message signals to produce at least one composite signal having an audio program component and a subliminal message component, the amplitude of the subliminal message component relative to the amplitude of the audio program component being such that only the audio program component is consciously audible;

means for detecting at least one predetermined security code in said subliminal message signal; and

means responsive to said means for detecting for preventing said subliminal message signal from being combined with said audio program signal unless said at least one predetermined security code is detected;

audio amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said at least one composite signal; and

audio speaker means for broadcasting said at least one composite signal.

11. The auditory subliminal programming system of claim 10 wherein said subliminal decoder/mixer means further comprises:

signal generator means for generating at least one signal having selected frequency; and

means for combining said signal with said subliminal message signal to form a composite subliminal message signal.

12. The auditory subliminal programming system of claim 10 wherein said at least one predetermined security code comprises at least one tone signal having selected frequency.

13. An auditory subliminal programming system, comprising:

subliminal message encoder means for combining a subliminal message with at least one predetermined security code to produce an encoded subliminal message; and

subliminal decoder/mixer means for receiving a subliminal message and an audio program, said decoder/mixer comprising decoding means for detecting whether said subliminal message is encoded with said predetermined security code, and mixing means responsive to said decoding means for combining said subliminal message with said audio program to produce at least one composite signal having a consciously audible audio program component and a subconsciously audible subliminal message component only if said decoding means detects said security code.

14. The auditory subliminal programming system of claim 13 wherein said subliminal encoder means comprises at least one oscillator means for generating at least one said security code comprising a tone signal haveing selected frequency.

15. A subliminal message encoder system for use in an auditory subliminal programming system, comprising:

means for generating at least one subliminal message signal;

means for generating at least one security code;

combining means for combining said at least one security code and said subliminal message signal to produce an encoded subliminal message signal; and

recording means for recording said encoded subliminal message signal.

16. An audio-video subliminal programming system, comprising:

audio-video program source means for generating audio and video program signals;

subliminal message source means for generating at least one auditory subliminal message signal;

subliminal decoder/mixer means for processing said audio and video program signals and said subliminal message signal, said decoder/mixer means comprising;

means for receiving said audio and video program signals and said subliminal message signal;

means responsive to the instantaneous amplitude of said audio program signal for rapidly varying the amplitude of said subliminal message signal to maintain said signal at a selected consciously inaudible level relative to the level of said audio program signal;

means for combining said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal to produce at least one composite signal having an audio program component and a subliminal message component; and

modulator means for modulating said video program signal for reception by a television video display means;

audio amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said at least one composite signal;

audio speaker means for broadcasting said at least one composite signal; and

television video display means for receiving and displaying the modulated video program signal.

17. The audio-video subliminal programming system of claim 16 wherein said means for varying the amplitude of said subliminal message signal comprises:

rectifier means for generating control signals indicative of the instantaneous absolute amplitude of said audio program signal; and

amplifier means responsive to said control signal for amplifying said subliminal message signal with gain that varies as a function of said control signal.

18. The audio-video subliminal programming system of claim 16 wherein said subliminal decoder/mixer means further comprises:

signal generator means for generating at least one signal having selected frequency; and

means for combining said signal with said subliminal message signal to form a composite subliminal message signal.

19. An audio-video subliminal programming system, comprising:

audio-video program source means for generating audio and video program signals;

subliminal message source means for generating at least one auditory subliminal message signal;

subliminal decoder/mixer means for processing said audio and video program signals and said subliminal message signal, said decoder/mixer means comprising;

means for receiving said audio and video program signals and said subliminal message signal;

means for combining said audio program signal and said subliminal message signal to produce at least one composite signal having an audio program component and a subliminal message component, the amplitude of the subliminal message component relative to the amplitude of the audio program component being such that only the audio program component is consciously audible;

means for detecting at least one predetermined security code in said subliminal message signal;

means responsive to said means for detecting for preventing said subliminal message signal from being combined with said audio program signal unless said at least one predetermined security code is detected; and

modulator means for modulating said video program signal for reception and display by a television video display means;

audio amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said at least one composite signal;

audio speaker means for broadcasting said at least one composite signal; and

television video display means for receiving and displaying the modulated video program signal.

20. The audio-video subliminal programming system of claim 19 wherein said at least one predetermined security code comprises at least one tone signal having selected frequency.

21. The audio-video subliminal programming system of claim 19 wherein said subliminal decoder/mixer means further comprises:

signal generator means for generating at least one signal having selected frequency; and

means for combining said signal with said subliminal message signal to form a composite subliminal message signal.