Audio distribution system having programmable zoning features

• US 5,761,320 A
• Filed: 06/26/1995
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Core Brands, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: ELAN Home Systems, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Farinelli, Robert, Carrin, Thomas Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Application Number:
  US08/494,655
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102, 379/101, 379/104, 379/105, 379/355, 381/77, 381/80, 381/81, 381/85
• US Class Current: 381/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/00 Arrangements for interconnection not involving centralised switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/08 Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A signal distribution and communication arrangement includes an electronic processor-based master control unit which controls the broadcast of different types of signals through speakers located in various zones. The system includes a telephone interfaced with a door speaker controller to allow communication between the telephone and a door speaker. A page may now be broadcast over selected speakers and zones selectively muted to allow private communication when the page is answered. Also included is a doorbell interface circuit that responds to a doorbell source. The doorbell source may be activated by any one of a plurality of doorbell switches. An additional aspect of the present invention includes grouping zones together so that all source selection works concurrently, and each subzone in the group retains independent volume control, bass and treble. Further, a new sub-set of zone programming allows the installer to label a zone as any alpha-numeric seven-digit name.

Claims

1. An electronically controlled signal routing network as part of an audio intercom system having a door-speaker zone and designated signal zones in a facility, each zone representing an area in the facility in which audio signals are broadcasted, the network comprising:

a plurality of signal generating devices, each said signal generating device generating a signal for broadcast over the intercom system independently of the other signal generating devices;

a door-speaker arrangement located in the door-speaker zone and configured to couple control signals and audio signals within the intercom system between the door-speaker zone and the plurality of signal generating devices;

a receiving circuit, arranged to operate independently with respect to the plurality of signal generating devices, receiving user input information to designate a plurality of zones in which to route at least one of said respectively generated signals between the door-speaker zone and the plurality of signal generating devices for broadcast over the intercom system; and

an electronic control circuit including

a routing circuit for routing the signals respectively generated by said signal generating devices between a plurality of the signal zones and the door-speaker zone, and

a programmable controller, responsive to the user input information received by the receiving circuit, for establishing and storing a routing path through the routing circuit;

said electronic control circuit routing at least one of the plurality of signals to the plurality of zones and the door-speaker arrangement as designated by the user for broadcast therein over the intercom system according to the established and stored routing path.

2. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller includes a microcomputer and the electronic control circuit further includes input keys and a display for respectively inputting and displaying the names of the zones.

3. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 2, wherein the microcomputer is programmed to receive and display customized names for the zones from the user.

4. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller responds to the input information received by the receiving circuit by routing said at least one of the plurality of signals to the plurality of zones designated by the user.

5. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 4, wherein the input information to which the programmable controller responds indicates a particular zone to which said at least one of the plurality of signals is to be routed.

6. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller responds to the input information by blocking said at least one of the plurality of signals from reaching the selected zones designated by the user.

7. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 6, wherein the input information to which the programmable controller responds indicates a particular zone in which said at least one of the plurality of signals is not to be routed.

8. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the input information to which the programmable controller responds indicates to the programmable controller which of the zones are to be grouped together for said routing of said at least one of the plurality of signals.

15. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the receiving circuit is not part of a telephone set.

17. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the door-speaker arrangement includes a door microphone and door speaker.

18. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 1, wherein the door-speaker arrangement includes a door latch configured for remote release by the user.

9. An electronically controlled signal routing network as part of an audio intercom system having a door speaker zone and designated signal zones in a facility, each zone representing an area in the facility in which audio signals are broadcasted, the network comprising:

a plurality of signal generating devices, each said signal generating device generating a signal for broadcast over the intercom system independently of the other signal generating devices;

a door-speaker arrangement located in the door-speaker zone and configured to couple control signals and audio signals within the intercom system between the door-speaker zone and the plurality of signal generating devices;

a receiving circuit, arranged to operate independently with respect to the plurality of signal generating devices, receiving user input information to designate selected zones in which to route at least one of said respectively generated signals between the door speaker zone and the plurality of signal generating devices for broadcast over the intercom system; and

an electronic control circuit including

a routing circuit for routing the signals respectively generated by said signal generating devices between a plurality of the signal zones and the door speaker zone,

input keys for inputting custom names of the zones,

a display for displaying the custom names of the zones, and

a programmable controller including a microcomputer, programmed to receive and display customized names for the zones from the user, responsive to the user information received by the receiving circuit, for establishing and storing a routing path through the routing circuit and for routing said at least one of the plurality of signals to the selected zones designated by the user;

said electronic control circuit routing or blocking at least one of the plurality of signals according to the selected zones and the door-speaker arrangement as designated by the user via the established and stored routing path.

10. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 9, wherein the microcomputer is programmed to receive and display customized names for the zones from the user.

11. An electronically controlled signal routing network, according to claim 9, wherein the input information to which the programmable controller responds indicates to the programmable controller which of the zones are to be grouped together for said routing of said at least one of the plurality of signals.

12. For use in an electronically controlled signal routing network as part of an audio intercom system having designated signal zones in a facility, a door speaker zone, and a plurality of signal paths, each zone representing a room of a residence in which audio signals are broadcasted, a method for routing signals in the signal paths to the designed zones comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of signal generators;

using the plurality of signal generators, generating a plurality of signals, each said signal generated independently of the other signal generating devices;

providing a door-sneaker arrangement located in the door-speaker zone;

using the door-speaker arrangement, coupling control signals and audio signals within the intercom system between the door-speaker zone and the plurality of signal generating devices;

providing a receiving circuit constructed and arranged to operate independently of the plurality of signal generators;

using the receiving circuit, receiving user input information to designate a selected zone to which to route at least one of said respectively generated signals;

providing programmable electronic control to route the generated signals for establishing and storing a routing path to the designated zone; and

in response to the stored user input information, routing said at least one of said respectively generated signals over the intercom system to the designated zone.

13. A method, according to claim 12, further including the steps of receiving from the user and displaying customized names for the zones.

14. A method, according to claim 12, further including the step of inputting information to group the zones together so that said at least one of the plurality of signals is automatically routed to a group of selected zones.

16. An electronically controlled signal routing network as part of an audio intercom system having a door-speaker zone and designated signal zones in a facility, each zone representing a room in a residence in which audio signals are broadcasted, the network comprising:

a plurality of signal generating devices, each said signal generating device generating a signal for broadcast over the intercom system independently of the other signal generating devices;

a door-speaker arrangement located in the door-speaker zone and configured to couple control signals and audio signals within the intercom system between the door-speaker zone and the plurality of signal generating devices;

a receiving circuit, arranged to operate independently with respect to the plurality of signal generating devices, receiving user input information to designate selected zones in which to route at least one of said respectively generated signals for broadcast over the intercom system; and

an electronic control circuit including

a routing circuit for routing the signals respectively generated by said signal generating devices between a plurality of the signal zones, and

a programmable controller, responsive to the user input information received by the receiving circuit, for establishing and storing a routing path through the routing circuit;

said electronic control circuit routing at least one of the plurality of signals to the selected zones for broadcast therein over the intercom system according to the established and stored routing path.