Amplifier system having prioritized connections between inputs and outputs

• US 5,774,016 A
• Filed: 04/09/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bogen Corporation (Bogen Communications International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bogen Corporation (Bogen Communications International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ketterer, Ernest R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, James B.
• Application Number:
  US08/633,837
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/124 R, 330/144, 330/145, 330/284, 330/295, 381/80, 381/81, 381/85
• US Class Current: 330/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/006 in which a plurality of audio signals are transformed in a combination of audio signals and modulated signals, e.g. CD-4 systems

Abstract

An amplifier system is disclosed. The amplifier system includes a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of amplifier channels. It further discloses switching means for selectably connecting each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels when the input terminal is active, prioritizing means for prioritizing the connection of each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels and control means for controlling the switching means in accordance with the means for prioritizing the connection so that for each amplifier channel, the active input terminal with the highest priority is connected to the amplifier channel. Also disclosed are means for limiting the output level of each amplifier channel in accordance with the input terminal that is connected to the amplifier channel.

Claims

1. An amplifier system, comprising:

a plurality of input terminals;

a plurality of amplifier channels;

switching means for selectably connecting each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels when the input terminal is active;

means for prioritizing the connection of each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels; and

control means for controlling the switching means in accordance with the means for prioritizing the connection so that for each amplifier channel, the active input terminal with the highest priority is connected to the amplifier channel.

2. The claim of claim 1, further comprising:

means for limiting the output level of each amplifier channel in accordance with the input terminal that is connected to the amplifier channel.

3. A method of providing audio signals through an amplifier system having a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of amplifier channels, comprising the steps of:

prioritizing the connection of each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels;

controlling the connection of each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels in accordance with the priority from the previous step, so that for each amplifier channel, the active input terminal with the highest priority is connected to the amplifier channel.

4. The claim of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

limiting the output level of each amplifier channel in accordance with the input terminal that is connected to the amplifier channel.

5. An amplifier system, comprising:

a plurality of input terminals;

a plurality of amplifier channels;

switching means for selectably connecting each of the plurality of input terminals to each of the plurality of amplifier channels; and

control means for controlling the output level of each of the amplifier channels in accordance with the input terminal that is connected to the amplifier channel.

6. An amplifier circuit, comprising:

a plurality of input terminals;

a crosspoint switch having a plurality of inputs and outputs, each of the input terminals being connected to an input on the crosspoint switch, the crosspoint switch being able to connect each of its inputs to each of its outputs;

an attenuator connected to each output of the crosspoint switch;

an amplifier circuit connected to an output of each attenuator;

a microcontroller that controls the operation of the crosspoint switch wherein the microcontroller receives inputs from the plurality of input terminals so that it can determine which input terminals have an active audio signal, wherein the microcontroller maintains a table indicative of the priority each input terminal has on each amplifier circuit and wherein the microcontroller connects input terminals with active audio signals to the amplifier circuits in accordance with the priority table.

7. The claim of claim 6, further comprising:

the microcontroller controls the attenuation in the attenuators and the connections made by the crosspoint switch.

8. The claim of claim 7, wherein the attenuation in each attenuator is assigned by the microcontroller in accordance with the input terminal that is being connected through the crosspoint switch to the attenuator.