Multimedia controller

• US 5,402,499 A
• Filed: 08/07/1992
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, David D., Wang, Edward X., Scott, Arthur, Chang, Yen C., Robison, Jerel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KUNTZ, CURTIS A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelly, Mark D.
• Application Number:
  US07/927,100
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 381/81, 381/80, 381/119, 381/120, 381/123, 381/28, 381/1
• US Class Current: 381/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/295 Spatial effects, musical uses of multiple audio channels, e.g. stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/002 Control of digital or coded signals H03G3/3089 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A multimedia controller apparatus provides for computer programmed volume control and summing of audio signals in an enhanced multimedia environment. The apparatus is capable of receiving and processing inputs from a CD-ROM FM synthesizer, general MIDI audio, microphone, PCM sampled sound, and telephony systems. From these inputs, it produces outputs for PCM sampled sound, telephony systems, and stereo line-out. Additionally, it provides for the integration of telephonic support functions into a multimedia system. The multimedia controller apparatus comprises a volume control portion for receiving and controlling the volume of a plurality of analog input signals. The volume controlled input signals are then combined by an aggregation portion. A telephony processing portion is also provided for processing the telephony input signals. Stereo outputs, mono outputs, digital samplable outputs, and telephony outputs can be formed from the combined analog and telephony signals by an output portion. To control the volume control portion, the processing portion, and the output portion, a data control portion is provided which responds to externally generated control data.

Claims

1. A multimedia controller apparatus comprising:

a digital circuit means for digitally volume controlling a plurality of analog input signals;

including

a left channel digital circuit receiving left channel input signals and producing a left channel combined signal;

a right channel digital circuit receiving right channel input signals and producing a right channel combined signal; and

a mono digital circuit receiving mono input signals and producing a mono combined signal;

wherein each of said left channel digital circuit, said right channel digital circuit and said mono digital circuit comprise;

a time multiplexed gate to sequentially permit passage of time sequenced discrete segments of each of said input signals that are produced by sampling said input signals at a rate which is sufficiently high that a human ear perceives said discrete segments as being mixed together and constituting a single analog signal;

an analog-to-digital converter to convert said discrete segments to a sequence of time sequenced binary outputs;

a multiplier/accumulator to multiply each of said binary outputs by a number corresponding with a desired degree of attenuation to produce time sequenced multiplied binary outputs;

a digital-to-analog converter to convert said multiplied binary outputs to time sequenced analog outputs; and

a control circuit maintaining synchronization of said gate, said analog-to-digital converter, said multiplier/accumulator and said digital-to-analog converter;

output means for producing stereo, mono, waveform samplable, and telephony outputs from said digitally volume controlled signals;

including

a left channel output circuit receiving said left channel combined signal and producing a left channel output signal, a right channel output circuit receiving said right channel combined signal and producing a right channel output signal, and a mono channel output circuit receiving said mono combined signal and producing a mono output signal; and

data control means for controlling said digital means and said output means;

including

a plurality of configuration data registers, one of each of said configuration data registers corresponding to said left channel output circuit, said right channel output circuit, and said mono output circuit, said configuration data registers further controlling said output circuits to provide a selectable output format; and

an index register receiving a plurality of externally generated data inputs and providing said data inputs to said configuration data registers and said multiplier/accumulator.

2. A multimedia controller apparatus comprising:

a digital circuit means for digitally volume controlling a plurality of analog input signals;

output means for producing stereo, mono, waveform samplable, and telephony outputs from said digitally volume controlled signals; and

data control means for controlling said digital means and said output means;

the digital circuit means including;

a time multiplexed gate to sequentially permit passage of discrete segments of each of said input signals that are produced by sampling said input signals at a rate which is sufficiently high that a human ear perceives said discrete segments as being mixed together add constituting a single analog signal;

an analog-to-digital converter to convert said discrete segments to a sequence of binary outputs;

a multiplexer to multiply each of said binary outputs by a number corresponding with a desired degree of attenuation to produce time sequenced multiplied binary outputs;

a left channel output register and a right channel output register to alternatingly receive and temporarily store said multiplied binary outputs;

a left channel digital-to-analog converter to convert said stored left channel multiplied binary output to a left channel analog signal;

a right channel digital-to-analog converter to convert said stored right channel multiplied binary output to a right channel analog signal; and

a synchronizing means for maintaining synchronization of said gate, said analog-to-digital converter, said multiplier, said registers, and said digital-to-analog converters.

3. The multimedia controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein said output means further comprises:

a left channel output circuit receiving said left channel analog signal and producing a left channel output signal, and a right channel output circuit receiving said right channel analog signal and producing a right channel output signal.

4. The multimedia controller apparatus of claim 3, wherein said data control means further comprises:

a plurality of configuration data registers, one of each of said configuration data registers corresponding to said left channel output circuit, said right channel output circuit, said configuration data registers further cooperating with said output circuits to provide a selective output format.

5. The multimedia controller apparatus of claim 4, wherein said data control means further comprises:

a register index receiving a plurality of externally generated data inputs and providing said data inputs to said configuration data registers and said multiplier.