Audio power monitoring system

• US 8,401,197 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monster LLC (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monster LLC (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Noel, Martin, Demian
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US10/655,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20050047605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,485 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/119, 381 56- 57, 381104-109, 700/94, 345 87- 88, 345/33, 345/39, 345/46
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40

Abstract

An audio power display provides a signal and an update rate. An audio power monitoring system comprises a digital display unit including at least one light-emitting display element and a rapid update rate. The digital display unit displays signal levels at the rapid update rate to emphasize the dynamic nature of music. In one embodiment, the display update rate is varied to increase proportionally to increases in signal level, and decrease proportionally to decreases in signal level to further represent the dynamic nature of music.

Claims

1. An audio signal monitoring system for improving readability of a numerical signal level display, comprising:

a. a first unit for continuously computing the current signal level of an audio signal as the signal level changes; and

b. a numerical display unit that displays the current signal level of the audio signal, the numerical display unit;

i. having a variable display update rate for continuously displaying the updated power level of the audio signal;

ii. wherein the signal level of the numerical display unit is updated at a first display update rate and a second display update rate;

iii. the first display update rate indicates signal increases;

iv. the second display update rate indicates signal decreases; and

v. the first display update rate, showing signal increases, is greater than the second signal update rate, indicating signal decreases, such that as the signal level increases, the numerical signal level is updated at a higher rate than when the signal level decreases.

2. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second display update rates are functionally proportional to discrete audio signal sample points as the audio signal level changes.

3. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display update rate increases proportionately as the audio signal power level increases, and decreases proportionately as the audio signal power level decreases.

4. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the digital display unit includes a numerical light-emitting display element.

5. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the light-emitting display element is one selected from a group consisting of a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a 7 segment LED, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), a Nixie Tube, and a laser diode.

6. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the color of light-emitting display element is selected from a group consisting of blue, green, red and a combination of blue and green.

7. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the light-emitting display element is oval shaped.

8. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said numerical display unit includes a plurality of light-emitting display elements wherein the display update rate of each of said plurality of light-emitting display elements is independently controlled.

9. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said display update rate is proportional to a difference between the present audio signal level and a prior audio signal level.

10. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the displayed audio signal level is selected from a group consisting of right, left, center, rear, average of right and left, and an average of multiple channels, and wherein said numerical display unit includes a plurality of separately user selectable oval shaped, light-emitting numerical display elements.

11. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the displayed audio signal level is the maximum instantaneous power that may be transferred to a load.

12. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the displayed audio signal level is a load and an envelope of a nominal peak level.

13. An audio power monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the update rate of the numerical display unit is adapted to instantaneously and continuously respond to a nominal peak audio signal level and to display an envelope of nominal peak audio signal level.