Abstract: An acoustic sound-masking system carried in a core module provides conversational privacy for workers in an open-plan office space. The core module is movable to a desired location on the open floor and has at least three substantially like height side-panel portions providing a movable tubular enclosure. This module has a top member configured to provide a closure of the top end of the tubular enclosure and at least one through aperture is formed and in which is mounted a loudspeaker. This loudspeaker is adapted to produce sound and direct this sound upwardly and outwardly. Each loudspeaker is mounted so as to not protrude excessively above the top surface of the top member. At least one divider is attached or has one end substantially contiguous to the tubular enclosure. A plurality of desks or work areas is arrayed between the dividers, with a pair of desks or work areas between each divider.

Abstract: An apparatus and circuit is disclosed for the generation of a masking sound noise by which unwanted noise may be overcome without undue and unwanted sound levels. The apparatus and circuits have at least two multi-stage shift registers in which the last register sends an input signal to a first exclusive OR gate and to this same OR gate an intermediate connection to the shift register is made. The output from this first OR gate is sent to the first stage of the register and this same signal is sent as an output to a second exclusive OR gate. Each shift of each register is pulsed by an asynchronous clock. A second exclusive OR gate receives the output signals from each of the first OR gates and sends the output signal to a divide-by-counter and the output therefrom is sent to amplifying means and one or more speakers.