Audio console with integral video monitor

• US 7,391,874 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GLW Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GLW Incorporated
• Inventors: Semmes, Alphonso Thomas Jr., Ives, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faulk; Devona E.
• Application Number:
  US10/624,009
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 381/119, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.05, 348/588, 348/589, 700/94, 715/716, 715/771, 715/763
• US Class Current: 381/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

An audio mixing console that comprises at least one input connector for receiving a video signal for broadcast; at least one input connector for receiving an audio signal; a control panel that includes a plurality of user operable audio channel controls; a signal processing unit for generating an audio output signal; and at least one display monitor integral to the audio console for displaying a video signal for broadcast.

Claims

1. An audio mixing console, comprising:

a plurality of connectors for receiving a plurality of video signals for broadcast;

a plurality of input connectors for receiving a plurality of audio signals for broadcast;

a control panel that includes a plurality of user operable audio channel controls, wherein each of said user operable audio channel controls is operable to select a predetermined audio processing function for a respective one of said audio signals for broadcast;

a plurality of discrete display monitors that are integral to the audio mixing console, each monitor for displaying a discrete one of said plurality of video signals for broadcast, a signal processing unit operably connected to said control panel for generating an audio output signal, and

three tallies associated with each display monitor and integral to the audio mixing console, wherein a first tally functions as an indicator that the associated monitor is currently a program preview display, a second tally functions as an indicator that the associated monitor is currently a program out display, and a third tally functions as an indicator that an audio channel linked to the associated display is the audio output signal.

2. The audio mixing console of claim 1, further comprising a meter bridge that includes an indicator corresponding to a channel control function.

3. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein said audio mixing console generates a real-time audio signal that corresponds to a real-time video signal generated from a television camera and displayed on one of said plurality of discrete monitors that are integral to the audio console.

4. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein said plurality of discrete display monitors are liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.

5. The audio mixing console of claim 2, wherein said plurality of discrete display monitors are integral to the meter bridge.

6. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein said video signals are generated from video recordings with accompanying audio.

7. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein said video signals are generated from video recordings without accompanying audio.

8. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein said video signals are live signals generated from video cameras.

9. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein said audio output signal corresponds with one of said plurality of video signals.

10. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein a display monitor is a program out monitor that displays an output video signal.

11. The audio mixing console of claim 1, wherein a display monitor is a program preview monitor that displays a possible next video selection.

12. The audio mixing console of claim 1, comprising at least 6 display monitors integral to the audio console.

13. The audio mixing console of claim 12, further comprising

a meter bridge that includes an indicator corresponding to a channel control function, and wherein each of said at least 6 display monitors are integral to the mixing bridge.

14. The audio mixing console of claim 1, comprising at least 10 display monitors integral to the audio console.

15. The audio mixing console of claim 13, wherein each of said at least 6 display monitors are integral to the mixing bridge.

16. The audio console of claim 1, wherein the first tally is a green LED indicator identifying the program preview display, the second tally is a yellow LED indicator identifying the program out display, and the third tally is a red LED indicator identifying the audio channel linked to the associated display is the audio output signal.

17. The audio console of claim 1, wherein the control panel function comprises a control switch to allow a predetermined audio signal to be selected based on a corresponding video signal.

18. An audio mixing console for mixing sounds associated with video sources, said console comprising:

a console layout with a series of controls for controlling audio channel modules;

a meter bridge that includes an indicator corresponding to a channel control function; and

a plurality of discrete display monitors integral to the meter bridge, each monitor for displaying a discrete broadcast video signal; and

three tallies per display monitor and integral to the audio mixing console, wherein a first tally is an indicator for identifying that the associated monitor is currently a program preview display, a second tally is an indicator for identifying that the associated monitor is currently a program out display, and a third tally is an indicator for identifying that an audio channel linked to the associated monitor is the audio output signal.

19. The audio mixing console of claim 18, wherein the audio mixing console generates a real-time audio signal that corresponds to a real-time video signal generated from a television camera.

20. The audio mixing console of claim 18, wherein the display monitors are liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.

21. The audio mixing console of claim 18, comprising at least 6 display monitors integral to the meter bridge for displaying a video signal for broadcast.