Method and apparatus for introducing subliminal changes to audio stimuli

• US 5,215,468 A
• Filed: 03/11/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald K. Lauffer, Martha A. Lauffer
• Original Assignee: Donald K. Lauffer, Martha A. Lauffer
• Inventors: Lauffer, Martha A., Lauffer, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEUBECKER, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US07/667,490
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307, 434/319, 434/236, 434/179, 434/178, 360/74, 360/72, 360/73.8, 360/73.01, 360/73.08, 360/73.06, 84/484, 84/612, 84/636, 84/652, 84/668, 84/714, 369/189
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0073 Means for releasably holding a ball in position; Balls constrained to move around a fixed point, e.g. by tethering
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783

Abstract

A method and apparatus for introducing gradual changes to an audio signal so that the changes are subliminal. The changes can involve tempo and volume, for example, and can take the form of a gentle gradient having ever increasing/decreasing ramp-like changes over a sufficient duration, or a more complex program involving several gentle gradients. In the preferred embodiment, an enhanced audio play-back device such as a portable audio cassette recorder can be programmed to subliminally alter the characteristics of a standard pre-recorded tape containing music, for example. As a motivational tool during walking, jogging or other repetitive exercise, the tempo is gradually increased over a period of time to encourage a corresponding gradual (and subliminal) increase in physical exertion by a user whose rate of movement is proportional to the tempo of the music. The tempo can be either manually changed in conjunction with a subliminal program, or by itself in an override mode, or by itself in a version of the present-inventive audio play-back device which allows only manual tempo alternation. In an alternate embodiment, a special pre-recorded tape contains subliminal changes in tempo, for example, for play-back on a standard audio cassette recorder (which operates at one speed, only) to cause the same effect as the preferred embodiment.

Claims

1. An audio signal reproduction apparatus for producing an output aural signal related to an input audio signal comprising:

receiver means including audio play-back means for receiving said input audio signal and outputting a receiver output signal capable of allowing a suer to correspond his activity thereto, which receiver output signal is a version of said input audio signal with altered identifiable characteristics; and

control means coupled to said receiver means for programmably controlling, via control signals input by said user, at least a gradual alteration of said input audio signal over at least a portion of the duration of said input audio signal so that said alteration is subliminal.

2. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein said identifiable characteristics comprise tempo.

3. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein said identifiable characteristics comprise volume.

4. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein input audio signal is musical in nature.

5. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein input audio signal comprises cadence indicia.

6. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 further comprising:

program storage means coupled to said control means for storing said control signals in the form of one or more audio signal output programs.

7. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein said control means is a module removably coupled to said receiver means, and said audio reproduction apparatus functions without subliminal alternation of said input audio signal when said module is removed.

8. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 2 wherein said input audio signal is received by said receiver means via a pre-recorded storage medium, and wherein said receiver means comprises:

driver means for driving said receiver output signal, the speed of said driver means determining the tempo of said receiver output signal.

9. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 8 wherein said control signals comprise voltages which are proportional to the speed of said driver means.

10. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 8 wherein said control signals comprises frequencies which are proportional to the speed of said river means.

11. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein said control means is a module removably coupled to said receiver means, said audio reproduction apparatus functions without subliminal alteration of said input audio signal when said module is removed, said input audio signal is received by said receiver means via a pre-recorded storage medium, and wherein said receiver means comprises:

driver means for driving said receiver outuput signal, the speed f said river means determining the tempo of said receiver output signal.

12. The audio signal reproduction apparatus in claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises manual override means for allowing said user to manually alter said input audio signal.

14. An audio signal reproduction method for production an output aural signal related to an input audio signal comprising the steps of:

receiving said input audio signal and outputting, via audio play-back means, a receiver output signal capable of allowing a user to correspond his activity thereto, which receiver output signal is a version of said input audio signal with altered identifiable characteristics; and

programmably controlling, via control signals input by said user, at least a gradual alteration of said input audio signal over at least a portion of the duration of said input audio signal so that said laceration is subliminal.

13. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

manually overriding said programmably controlling step to allow said user to manually alter said input audio signal.

15. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 14 wherein said identifiable characteristics comprise tempo.

16. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 14 wherein said identifiable characteristics comprise volume.

17. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 14 wherein input audio signal is musical in nature.

18. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 14 wherein input audio signal comprises cadence indicia.

19. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

storing said control signals in the form of one or more audio signal output programs.

20. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 15 wherein said receiving step comprises the steps of:

receiving said input audio signal via a pre-recorded storage medium; and

driving said receiver output signal, the speed of said driving determining the tempo of said receiver output signal.

21. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 20 wherein said said control signals comprise voltages which are proportional to the speed of said driving.

22. The audio signal reproduction method in claim 20 wherein said control signals comprise frequencies which are proportional to the speed of said driving.