US4481660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for driving one or more transducer units
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1982-11-19
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Granted: 1984-11-06
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Expires: 2002-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for driving n transducer units (n>1), each comprising one or more electro-acoustic transducers, comprises m signal inputs (m≧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≧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.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephanus H. de Koning
- 👤 Willem A. L. Smallenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:13
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F1/0205; H03F1/0277; H04; H04R; H04R3/00; H04R3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for driving n transducer units (n>1) with each transducer unit including one or more electro-acoustic transducers, said apparatus comprising m signal inputs (m≧1) for connecting m signal sources to the apparatus, means connecting each signal input to an input of an associated amplifier unit, n signal outputs to which said n transducer units may be connected, a signal input being connectable to one or more of the signal outputs via the associated amplifier unit, k auxiliary amplifier units (k≧1), and switching means for connecting one or more auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with an arbitrary amplifier unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for driving n transducer units (n>1) with each transducer unit including one or more electro-acoustic transducers, said apparatus comprising m signal inputs (m≧1) for connecting m signal sources to the apparatus, means connecting each signal input to an input of an associated amplifier unit, n signal outputs to which said n transducer units may be connected, a signal input being connectable to one or more of the signal outputs via the associated amplifier unit, k auxiliary amplifier units (k≧1), and switching means for connecting one or more auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with an arbitrary amplifier unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of the auxiliary amplifier units have substantially the same output power capability.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of the amplifier units have substantially the same output power capability.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the output power capability of the individual amplifier units is substantially equal to the output power capability of the individual auxiliary amplifier units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the output power capability of each amplifier unit is smaller than the power-handling capability of a transducer unit to be connected to its signal output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the output power capability of each of the auxiliary amplifier units is smaller than the power-handling capability of an arbitrary transducer unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a measuring unit for measuring the load on an amplifier unit and supplying control signals to the switching means, said switching means being responsive to said control signals so that, when the load on said amplifier unit increases, it connects as many auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with said amplifier unit as is necessary to supply the increased load on the amplifier unit and, when the load on said amplifier unit decreases, it disconnects as many auxiliary amplifier units from said amplifier unit as is sufficient to supply the reduced load on the amplifier unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises n transducer units (n>1), said units each comprising one or more electro-acoustic transducers, said transducer units each being connected to their associated signal outputs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein all of the amplifier units have substantially the same rated output power.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the rated output power of the individual amplifier units is substantially equal to the rated output power of the individual auxiliary amplifier units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rated output power of the individual amplifier units is substantially equal to the rated output power of the individual auxiliary amplifier units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rated output power of each amplifier unit is less than the rated power of a transducer unit to be connected to its signal output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rated output power of each amplifier unit is less than the rated power of a transducer unit to be connected to its signal output.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rated output power of each amplifier unit is less than the rated output power of a transducer unit to be connected to its signal output.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein all of the auxiliary amplifier units have substantially the same rated output power.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rated output power of each auxiliary amplifier unit is less than the rated power of an arbitrary transducer unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein all of the auxiliary amplifier units have substantially the same rated output power.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein all of the amplifier units have substantially the same rated output power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a measuring unit for measuring the load on an amplifier unit and supplying control signals to the switching means, said switching means being responsive to said control signals so that, when the load on said amplifier unit increases, it connects as many auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with said amplifier unit as is necessary to supply the increased load on the amplifier unit and, when the load on said amplifier unit decreases, it disconnects as many auxiliary amplifier units from said amplifier unit as is sufficient to supply the reduced load on the amplifier unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a measuring unit for measuring the load on an amplifier unit and supplying control signals to the switching means, said switching means being responsive to said control signals so that, when the load on said amplifier unit increases, it connects as many auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with said amplifier unit as is necessary to supply the increased load on the amplifier unit and, when the load on said amplifier unit decreases, it disconnects as many auxiliary amplifier units from said amplifier unit as is sufficient to supply the reduced load on the amplifier unit.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for driving n transducer units, where n>1, with each transducer unit including at least one electroacoustic transducer, said apparatus comprising: m signal inputs, where m≧1, for connecting m signal sources to the apparatus, n signal outputs for connecting said n transducer units to the apparatus, a plurality of amplifier units, k auxiliary amplifier units, where k≧1, switching means for connecting one or more auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with an arbitrary amplifier unit, and means connecting each signal input to an input of an associated amplifier unit independently of said switching means so that a signal input is connectable to one or more of the signal outputs via the associated amplifier unit.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for driving n transducer units, where n>1, with each transducer unit including at least one electroacoustic transducer, said apparatus comprising: m signal inputs, where m≧1, for connecting m signal sources to the apparatus, n signal outputs for connecting said n transducer units to the apparatus, a plurality of amplifier units, k auxiliary amplifier units, where k≧1, switching means for connecting one or more auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with an arbitrary amplifier unit, and means connecting each signal input to an input of an associated amplifier unit independently of said switching means so that a signal input is connectable to one or more of the signal outputs via the associated amplifier unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
An amplifier system for driving a plurality of n transducer units, where n>1, comprising: m signal inputs adapted for connection to m respective signal sources, where m ≧1, m amplifier units connected respectively to associated ones of the m signal inputs, n signal outputs adapted for connection to said n transducer units, first switching means for selectively connecting said m amplifier units to one or a plurality of said signal outputs, k auxiliary amplifier units, where k≧1, and second switching means for selectively connecting one or a plurality of the auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with a selected one of the amplifier units.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
An amplifier system for driving a plurality of n transducer units, where n>1, comprising: m signal inputs adapted for connection to m respective signal sources, where m ≧1, m amplifier units connected respectively to associated ones of the m signal inputs, n signal outputs adapted for connection to said n transducer units, first switching means for selectively connecting said m amplifier units to one or a plurality of said signal outputs, k auxiliary amplifier units, where k≧1, and second switching means for selectively connecting one or a plurality of the auxiliary amplifier units in parallel with a selected one of the amplifier units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of said signal inputs is directly connected to an input of its associated amplifier unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 22 wherein each signal input is individually connected exclusively to an input of only one amplifier unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of the auxiliary amplifier units has a power rating of Ph watts and each of the amplifier units has a power rating of P v watts, and wherein the number k of auxiliary amplifier units is chosen according to the relationship ##EQU11## where each of the transducer units has a power rating of Q watts.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the total rated power of the amplifier system is P T =nQ+P v (m-1) watts, where each transducer unit has a power rating of Q watts and each amplifier unit has a power rating of P v watts.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of the amplifier units and each of the auxiliary amplifier units have the same power rating, p, and the total number of amplifier units is ##EQU12## where each transducer unit has a power rating of Q watts.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 22 wherein all of the auxiliary amplifier units have the same rated power, all of the amplifier units have the same rated power, and wherein the rated power of each amplifier unit and each auxiliary amplifier unit is less than the rated power of a transducer unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An amplifier system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the rated power of the individual amplifier units is equal to the rated power of the individual auxiliary amplifier units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-06 | 1988-05-07 | 1988-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-06 | 1992-05-07 | 1992-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-06 | 1996-05-07 | 1996-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |