Sound imager

• US 5,774,558 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RSQ LLC
• Original Assignee: RSQ LLC
• Inventors: Drucker, Doris
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Application Number:
  US08/736,197
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 381/56, 381/58, 381/77, 381/104, 381/82, 340/529, 340/540, 340/573, 340/326
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30

Abstract

An apparatus for the representation of the sound of the human voice as an image in which individual colors correspond to distinct loudness levels. Sound received by a transducer is converted into electric signals, amplified, processed and transmitted to light emitting diodes which are arrayed in groups according to the color of the light they are emitting. Different groups are programmed to emit light when they are energized by signals reflecting different loudness levels. The display in which the colors change as the loudness varies provides a continuous feedback in real time by showing a speaker instantaneously how loud he speaks.

Claims

1. A sound imager for visually displaying the volume of acoustic signals comprising a power supply;

transducer means connected to said power supply for receiving said signals and converting them into a voltage which corresponds to the level of sound of said signals;

amplifying means connected to said transducer means for amplifying said voltage;

signal processing means connected to said amplifying means;

a display driver connected to said signal processing means; and

display means adapted to receive voltage from said display driver to display a spectrographic image in which diverse colors correspond to predetermined levels of sound;

said signal processing means including capacitance means connected to receive the output of said amplifying means such that in the absence of said acoustic signals, said display means have no output.

2. A sound imager as claimed in claim 1 in which said amplifying means comprise a first amplifier, a second amplifier connected to said first amplifier for further amplifying said voltage, said signal processing means includes a voltage regulator connected to said second amplifier and a display driver interposed between said voltage regulator and said display means for establishing a threshold signal for said display means.

3. A sound imager as claimed in claim 1 in which said display means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arrayed as a series of light bars for the progressive display of a spectrographic image.

4. A sound imager as claimed in claim 3 in which said light bars and said display driver are detachably connected to said signal processing means and said amplifying means.

5. A sound imager as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprise a first microphone and a second microphone, wherein said second microphone is detachably connectible to said power supply, and wherein the connection between said first microphone and said power supply is broken off upon connection of said second microphone to said power supply.

6. A sound imager as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal processing means includes a potentiometer operable as a gain control for said display means.

7. A sound imager as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal processing means includes a potentiometer operable as a gain control for said display means.

8. A sound imager as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display driver receives analog voltage level signals and provides a plurality of output signals representing a logarithmic 3 dB per step variation in volume of said acoustic signals.

9. A sound imager for displaying the volume of acoustic signals comprising

transducer means for receiving said acoustic signals and converting them into a voltage varying with the sound level of said acoustic signals;

said transducer means comprising a first microphone and a second microphone, said second microphone being detachably connectible to said power supply such that said first microphone is disconnected from said power supply upon connection of said second microphone to said power supply;

amplifier means connected to receive said voltage including a first amplifier and a second amplifier connected to said first amplifier for amplifying said voltage;

signal processing means including a voltage regulator connected to said second amplifier;

a display driver connected to receive the output of said signal processing means and to produce a plurality of output signals depending upon the magnitude of said voltage; and

display means adapted to receive output signals from said display driver to display a spectrographic image in which diverse colors correspond to predetermined sound levels.

10. A sound imager as claimed in claim 9 wherein said display means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes connected to said display driver and arrayed for the progressive display of a spectrographic image.

11. A sound imager as claimed in claim 9 wherein said signal processing means includes a feedback loop around said second amplifier, said loop including a potentiometer operative as a gain control for said display means.

12. A sound imager as claimed in claim 9 wherein said signal processing means include capacitance means connected to receive the output of said amplifier means such that in the absence of said acoustic signals, said display means have no output.