Audio distribution system

• US 8,422,692 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Core Brands, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Core Brands, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Dygert, Timothy W., Dunaway, Jason, Farinelli, Robert P. Jr., Suchora, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): MONIKANG, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US11/716,402
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 381 77- 79, 381 58- 59, 381/80, 381/82, 381/85, 381/104, 381/105, 381/107
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/10 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Speaker control systems are implemented using a variety of systems and methods. In one such system, an audio signal is distributed to at least one speaker selected from a set of speakers. The system includes a set of audio-distribution circuits for distributing the audio signal to the set of speakers. Logic circuitry is used to automatically determine an impedance-based parameter for use in distributing the audio signal to the at least one selected speaker based at least partly on a load-tolerance parameter for an audio source and on an impedance of the at least one selected speaker. The logic circuitry controls distribution of the audio signal to the selected speakers based at least partly on the impedance-based parameter. One or more of the set of audio-distribution circuits are used by the logic circuitry to distribute the audio signal to the at least one selected speaker.

Claims

1. A speaker control system for distribution of an audio signal to at least one speaker selected from a set of speakers, the system comprising:

a set of audio-distribution circuits for distributing the audio signal to the set of speakers; and

logic circuitry configured and arranged to

receive a signal indicating a selection of the at least one speaker;

determine automatically an impedance-based parameter for use in distributing the audio to the at least one selected speaker based at least partly on a load-tolerance parameter for an audio source, volume settings of other speakers in the set of speakers, and on an impedance of the at least one selected speaker, and

control distribution of the audio signal to the at least one selected speaker and therein adjust the impedance, at the audio source, of the at least one selected speaker based, at least partly, on the impedance-based parameter, wherein the audio signal is distributed using one or more of the set of audio-distribution circuits.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic circuitry includes a programmable processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the impedance-based parameter is stored in a look-up table that is accessed by the logic circuitry.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic circuitry includes a programmable processor that automatically determines the impedance-based parameter by executing an algorithm.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of audio-distribution circuits includes a selectable-tap transformer, and wherein the logic circuitry controls distribution of the audio signal by automatically selecting a tap on the selectable-tap transformer based at least partly on the impedance-based parameter.

6. The system of claim 1, further including at least one user volume input indicative of an adjustable volume level, wherein the audio-distribution circuit includes a selectable-tap transformer that is used by the logic circuitry, along with the user volume input and the impedance-based parameter, to control distribution of the audio signal.

7. The system of claim 1, further including an input circuit for receiving a user input indicative of the selection of the at least one speaker.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the set of speakers includes the at least one selected speaker and other speakers, and where the logic circuitry distributes the audio signal only to the at least one selected speaker.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the input circuit includes an infrared receiver for receiving the user input.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the input circuit is adapted to receive the user input from a remote location.

11. For use with a speaker control system, a method of distributing an audio signal to at least one speaker selected from a set of speakers, where each speaker can receive the audio signal from an associated audio-distribution circuit, the method comprising:

in response to the selection of the at least one speaker from the set of speakers;

automatically determining, using logic circuitry, based at least partly on the selection, volume settings of other speakers in the set of speakers, a load-tolerance parameter for an audio source and on an impedance of the at least one selected speaker, an impedance-based parameter for use in distributing the audio signal to the at least one selected speaker; and

controlling distribution of the audio signal to the at least one selected speaker based at least partly on the impedance-based parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of automatically determining includes accessing a look-up table based upon the impedance of the at least one selected speaker.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of controlling the audio signal includes controlling an effective impedance of the at least one selected speaker.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of automatically determining includes performing a calculation that is based upon the impedance of the at least one selected speaker.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of automatically determining is performed dynamically in response to a change in a volume setting for the set of speakers.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the effective impedance is controlled by selecting a tap setting of a selectable-tap transformer.

17. The method of claim 11, further including the step of adjusting a tap setting in response to at least one user volume input indicative of an adjustable volume level.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the selection of the at least one speaker provides an indication of whether speakers receive the audio signal.

19. A speaker control system for distribution of an audio signal to a subset of speakers selected from a set of speakers, the system comprising:

a set of user volume inputs indicative of adjustable volume levels for the set of speakers;

a set of audio-distribution circuits, including

selectable-tap transformers for the set of speakers, the selectable-tap transformers configured to control the volume levels of corresponding speakers using current tap settings that correspond to the set of user volume inputs;

logic circuitry configured to determine automatically a tap setting limit for a particular selectable-tap transformer based upon current tap selections of other selectable-tap transformers and impedance values of speakers corresponding to the other selectable-tap transformers; and

control circuitry configured to limit the tap setting of the particular selectable-tap transformer in response to the tap setting limit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to determine automatically tap setting limits for the other selectable-tap transformers.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to perform the determination in response to an adjustment of a current tap setting for a volume-adjusted selectable-tap transformer and therein limit an impedance at an audio amplifier to a target impedance value while reallocating power of the amplifier such that additional power is available to drive the selected subset of speakers.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the determination is performed for each selectable-tap transformer other than the volume-adjusted selectable-tap transformer.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to determine automatically the tap setting limit using a lookup table.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to determine automatically the tap setting limit by executing an algorithm.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to determine automatically the tap setting limit dynamically in response to a change in a volume setting for the set of speakers.