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.

Abstract: A remote simultaneous interpretation system particularly suitable for oral communication between a doctor and patient who do not speak a common language includes a user station equipped with a first and second headsets and microphones, a remote simultaneous interpretation system also equipped with a headset and a microphone and an audio link operatively interconnecting the stations. The simultaneous interpreter station includes controls for routing incoming and outgoing signals from and to separate portions of the user station, thereby allowing the remotely located interpreter to listen to either the doctor, the patient or both and to route voiced interpreter signals to the doctor, the patient or both. The use of simultaneous interpretation reduces the language barrier between a doctor and a patient, thereby improving rapport and overcoming social and/or cultural barriers to providing medical care.

Abstract: A signal distribution and communication arrangement 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 be broadcast over the speakers and subsequently 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.

Abstract: In a mixer there is a plurality of preamplifiers followed by a plurality of tone control groups connected to a plurality of voltage followers to which a series of active filters is connected, for selecting frequency bands of signals. Then a plurality of adders is connected to the seried of filters for mixing the signals in each frequency band selected by the filters and for sending the mixed signal to a plurality of line amplifiers and final amplifiers, with which loudspeakers are connected. The preamplifiers, the tone control groups, the voltage followers, the series of filters, the adders, the line and power amplifiers and the loudspeakers are connected so as to form a plurality of circuits, all of them equal to each other.

Abstract: An audio mixer system for use with a parallel editor interface is disclosed. Use of a configuration selector to select a desired configuration of a plurality of multichannel devices is disclosed in order to enable such various configurations and reconfigurations. In one embodiment, the output of the configuration selector is provided to a memory to select prestored commands to be provided to appropriate channels. According to another embodiment, the configuration selection signals are decoded and supplied to multiplexers in combination with editor control signals to enable the editor control signals to be routed to appropriate channels.

Abstract: A surround system comprising front, center, and rear amplifiers which respectively drive front, center and rear speaker units. The system operates in a surround sound environment with low impedance (4.OMEGA.) speaker units. When high impedance speaker units are connected, the system automatically cuts the center and rear speaker units and operates in a non-surround sound environment by the front amplifier only. Accordingly, the system does not require a excessive large power supply unit.

Abstract: An audio system for use with a mobile radio. More particularly, a microprocessor controlled audio system capable accepting multiple audio input signals and providing an amplified audio signal to a local speaker and a remote speaker without the use of transformers or relays, and capable of driving the speakers either individually or simultaneously. The system provides for increased versatility in output configurations, and allows for microprocessor-controlled muting and power output level switching.

Abstract: In a sound system having a sound source for generating sound signals, a low-impedance amplifier for amplifying the generated sound signals, and high-impedance loudspeakers for reproducing audible sound from the amplified sound signals, an impedance conversion device having a step-up transformer section is disconnectably connected between the amplifier and the high-impedance speakers. The output side of the low-impedance amplifier is also connected directly to low-impedance loudspeakers. Thus the sound system can be operated to selectively broadcast either monaural sound or binaural stereo music of high quality.

Abstract: A signal distribution and communication arrangement controls the broadcast of different types of signals through speakers located in various zones. The arrangement includes an audio receiver circuit which responds to a music signal from an external music source, and an associated threshold detection circuit which provides a music mute function. Further, a page interface circuit, responds to a page signal generated from a telephone handset, which generates a paging control signal and serves as a power source to the telephone handset; and a doorbell interface circuit responds to any of a plurality of doorbell signal sources at differing locations by generating a doorbell control signal and activating a corresponding door bell tone sequence which identifies the location of the doorbell signal source. Finally, a control circuit, responds to these various circuits by selecting which of the corresponding signals should be broadcast by the speakers.

Abstract: A video and audio signal control and distribution system for mobile use includes an audio select logic controller for selection and distribution of one of an AM/FM radio signal, a video tape audio track signal and a microphone signal based on a hierarchical signal arrangement. The system further includes video signal transmission circuitry and video monitors which are triggered to an on state whenever the video tape audio track signal is selected by the audio select logic controller.

Abstract: A sound system for use in government council chambers, corporate board rooms, and the like employs low level switching of the audio signal to selectively attenuate the audio output of a given speaker or group of speakers as a function of the source of that audio signal.

Abstract: A self-contained remote control unit for use on electronic equipment processing on audio output such as home entertainment equipment (i.e. a television receiver, whether black and white or color, an AM radio, an FM radio, an AM/FM radio, or an audio magnetic tape player) comprises an externally mounted remote control receiver which connects to the home entertainment equipment through the earphone connector of said equipment and thereby disables the speakers of said equipment. The remote control receiver unit includes its own speaker which replaces the disabled internal speaker of the equipment to be controlled, a programmable audio power amplifier for driving its speaker, and an on/off triac which supplies AC power to the equipment to be controlled when said equipment's AC power cable is connected to an AC receptacle on the receiver. A battery-operated, hand-held, hand-operated remote control transmitter is used to send wireless information to the remote control receiver.

Abstract: A system for a telephone answering machine for recording new announcements on the announcement tape, for dictating notes or other material on the message tape, and for reproducing messages recorded on the message tape, all by means of a single transducer, so that the need for a separate microphone for dictation purposes and for recording new announcements on the announcement tape is obviated.

Abstract: A method and a system of organizing, arranging and rearranging, the number and sequential order of audio effects circuit modules, by the changing, including inserting, removing, exchanging and interchanging, of said modules, providing noiseless, uninterrupted signal flow through a system during each of said changing operations. A preferred embodiment of the method comprises an audio signal processing system which includes a main housing, containing a main circuit apparatus, module-receiving recesses, and modules, fabricated to be received in the recesses, each module having an electronic circuit which affects the signal in a unique way to provide a different sound output. A plurality of switches and potentiometers lie on the main housing, and each module has markings indicating which controls on the main housing are to serve its operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving n transducer units (n>1), each comprising one or more electro-acoustic transducers, comprises m signal inputs (m.gtoreq.1) for connecting m signal sources to the apparatus. Each signal input is connected to an associated amplifier unit and there are n signal outputs to which said transducer units may be connected. A signal input is connectable to one or more of the signal outputs via the associated amplifier unit. The apparatus further comprises k auxiliary amplifier units (k.gtoreq.1) with one or more of said auxiliary amplifier units being connectable in parallel with an arbitrary amplifier unit so that the total power of the apparatus may be reduced substantially.

Abstract: A stereo speaker mixer is disclosed for coupling a plurality of pairs of stereo speakers to the output of an amplifier. A plurality of manually operable selection switches is provided for selecting and coupling in parallel a particular number of speaker pairs. The position of the these switches is detected and decoded by digital logic circuitry which is utilized to couple an appropriate value impedance matching device between the amplifier and the selected number of speaker pairs in response to the actual number of speaker pairs selected. A safety circuit is provided which ensures that at least one pair of speakers is always coupled to the amplifier output without regard to the position of the selection switches, thereby preventing the sudden and unexpected application of amplifier output to a speaker pair.