United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

W a tts
[ 5 4 ] ADJUS TING THE LEVEL OF AN AUDIO
S IGNAL
[ 7 5 ] I Inv ento r : Gr a ha m W a tts , Gl o u c es ter s hir e,
Eng l a nd
[ 7 3 ]
As s ig nee: S o l id S ta te Lo g ic Limited,
Ox f o r ds hir e, Gr ea t B r ita in
[ 2 1 ] Ap p l . No . : 9 3 0 , 6 6 1
[ 2 2 ] PCT Fil ed: Ja n. 3 0 , 1 9 9 2
[ 8 6 ] PCT No . :
3 7 1 Da te:
1 0 2 ( e) Da te:
PCI/GB 9 2 /0 0 1 7 4
Oc t. 2 , 1 9 9 2
Oc t. 2 , 1 9 9 2
[ 8 7 ] PCT Pu b . No . : wo w/0 1 7 2 5
PCT Pu b . Da te: Feb . 2 3 , 1 9 8 9
l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l j l l l l l l Il l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l
S O0 5 2 6 8 9 6 4 A
[ 1 1 ] Pa tent Nu mb er :
[ 4 5 ] Da te o f Pa tent:
5 , 2 6 8 , 9 6 4
Dec . 7 , 1 9 9 3
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
8 9 0 1 7 2 5 2 /1 9 8 9 Eu r o p ea n Pa t. Of f . .
2 5 8 9 6 6 4 1 0 /1 9 8 5 Fr a nc e .
OTHER PUB LICATIONS
Pa tent Ab s tr a c ts o f Ja p a n, v o l . 0 0 6 , No . 9 9 , 8 Ju n. 1 9 8 2 ,
& JP, A, 5 7 0 3 1 2 6 9 1 9 Feb . 1 9 8 2 ( Ab s tr a c t) .
Fer ns eh Und K ino Tec hnik , v o l . 3 7 , No . 3 , Ma r . 1 9 8 3 ,
p p . 1 0 9 - 1 1 2 , Pic k l a p p : K o mmer z iel l es dig ita l es T0
nims c hp u l t , p . 1 1 0 , r ig ht c o l u mn, l a s t p a r a g r a p h.
Pr ima r y Ex a miner - Fo r es ter W . Is en
Atto r ney , Ag ent, o r Fir mNix o n & Va nder hy e
[ 5 7 ] AB S TRACT
A s y s tem is dis c l o s ed f o r c o ntr o l l ing the o u tp u t l ev el o f
a n a u dio s ig na l , in whic h a v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er
( 1 8 ) is p r o v ided in a dditio n to a hig h f idel ity mo to r iz ed
f a der ( 1 7 ) . Du r ing no r ma l ( ? r s t mo de) o p er a tio n, the
l ev el o f the a u dio s ig na l is c o ntr o l l ed dir ec tl y b y s a id
f a der , whic h ma y b e a dj u s ted in r es p o ns e to da ta f r o m a
[ 3 0 ] Fo r eig n Ap p l ic a tio n Pr io r ity Da ta s to r a g e dev ic el ( 2 3 1 ) . f On s el ec ting a s ec o nd mo de o f
. . o p er a tio n, the ev e o the a u dio s ig na l is c o ntr o l l ed b y
Feb . 2 , 1 9 9 1 [ GB ] United K ing do m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1 0 2 2 6 3 mea ns o f the v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er , a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e s a id s to r ed da ta . In a dditio n, s a id a mp l i? er a l s o
c l Cl s I . ' i l l I ' ' ' ' ~ r ec eiv es tr immin' g s ig na l s f r o m s a id ma nu a l l y a dj u s ta b l e
[ 5 8 ] F. l a o f S """ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' " 3 8 1 /1 0 4 1 0 7 1 1 9 f a der a nd mo v ements o f s a id f a der in this mo de a r e a l s o
' 1 e """"""""""" " s to r ed, s o tha t s a id mo di? ed da ta ma y b e c o mb ined with
. the o r ig ina l da ta , to p r o du c e new da ta f o r u s e in s a id
[ 5 6 ] Ref er enc es Cl ted ? r s t mo de o f o p er a tio n. The inv entio n p r o v ides tr im
U- S - PATENT DOCUMENTS mo de whil e p r o v iding a hig h ? del ity r es is tiv e f a der f o r
4 , 4 0 2 , 2 4 6 9 /1 9 8 3 S ek ig u c hi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 /3 4 5 no r ma l OPemtl On
4 , 7 9 2 , 9 7 4 1 2 /1 9 8 8 Cha c e . . . . . . . . 3 8 1 /1 7
5 , 0 5 4 , 0 7 7 1 0 /1 9 9 1 S u z u k i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 1 /1 1 9 1 2 Cl a ims , 2 Dr a wing S heets
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1
ADJUS TING THE LEVEL OF AN AUDIO S IGNAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The p r es ent inv entio n r el a tes to a metho d a nd a n 5
a p p a r a tu s f o r a dj u s ting the l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l . In
p a r tic u l a r , the inv entio n r el a tes to a metho d a nd a p p a r a ~
tu s f o r a dj u s ting s a id l ev el b y mea ns o f a r es is tiv e c o n
tr o l el ement.
B ACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION
The a dj u s tment o f the l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l is o ne
o f the mo s t f u nda menta l o p er a tio ns p er f o r med b y a u dio
s ig na l p r o c es s ing eq u ip ment. In p r o f es s io na l a u dio mix
1 0
ing eq u ip ment, f o r ex a mp l e, a dj u s tments to s ig na l l ev el 1 5
a r e ma de p r io r to a n a u dio ev ent a nd s a id a dj u s tments
a r e a l s o imp l emented du r ing the a u dio ev ent its el f , c o n
s eq u entl y , the p r o c es s o f mix ing a u dio s ig na l s ha s b e
c o me a s p ec ia l is ed o c c u p a tio n in its el f .
In a v er y b a s ic mix ing a p p a r a tu s , a mix ing des k o p er
a to r ma y p r ep a r e a s c hedu l e o f mix ing o p er a tio ns r e
q u ir ed du r ing the a u dio ev ent f r o m whic h he, p o s s ib l y
with hel p f r o m a s s is ta nts , f o l l o ws du r ing the ev ent,
ma k ing ma nu a l a dj u s tments wher e nec es s a r y . Au dio
mix ing inv o l v es the p r o c es s o f ta k ing a p l u r a l ity o f 2 5
a u dio inp u t s ig na l s , p r o c es s ing ea c h s ig na l indiv idu a l l y ,
whic h ma y inv o l v e ? l ter ing o r o ther p r o c es s ing , to
o b ta in the r eq u ir ed to na l ity a nd mix ing the s ig na l s to
g ether to c r ea te o ne o r mo r e o u tp u ts , s u c h a s a p a ir o f
s ter eo o u tp u ts .
The p r o c es s ing c ir c u itr y p r es ent f o r ea c h a u dio inp u t
s ig na l is c o mmo nl y r ef er r ed to a s a c ha nnel a nd in r e
c ent y ea r s the nu mb er o f c ha nnel s p r o v ided b y mix ing
c o ns o l es ha s inc r ea s ed s ig ni? c a ntl y , it no t b eing u nc o m
mo n to ? nd c o ns o l es with c a p a c ity f o r s ix ty f o u r c ha n- 3 5
nel s .
As f a r a s a n o p er a to r is c o nc er ned, a dj u s tments to
a u dio l ev el a r e ef f ec ted b y the ma nu a l o p er a tio n o f a
l inea r l y mo v ea b l e dev ic e, k no wn in the a r t a s a f a der . In
k no wn a u dio mix ing s y s tems , the f a der mo v es a n el ec
tr ic a l c o nta c t o v er a r es is tiv e tr a c k , ther eb y v a r ia b l y
a ttenu a ting the a u dio s ig na l . Fu r ther mo r e, f a der s a r e
k no wn in whic h a n a dditio na l tr a c k is p r o v ided f r o m
whic h da ta ma y b e o b ta ined de? ning the p o s itio n o f the
f a der du r ing a n a u dio ev ent. This da ta ma y b e r ec o r ded
a nd then u s ed to a u to ma tic a l l y c o ntr o l the p o s itio n o f
the f a der du r ing a n a u to ma ted p l a y b a c k . Thu s , f a der s
a r r a ng ed to o p er a te in this ma nner a r e a l s o p r o v ided
with a mo to r f o r ef f ec ting a u to ma ted mo v ement o f the
f a der a nd a r e g ener a l l y r ef er r ed to a s mo to r is ed f a der s .
_ The a v a il a b il ity o f imp r o v ed a na l o g u e integ r a ted
c ir c u itr y l ed to the dev el o p ment o f mix ing eq u ip ment in
whic h the l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l c o u l d b e c o ntr o l l ed in
r es p o ns e to s to r ed da ta b y mea ns o f a v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed
a mp l i? er . Fu r ther mo r e, the p r o v is io n o f s u c h dev ic es 5 5
ma de the ma nu a l o p er a tio n o f the f a der r edu nda nt, o nc e
g a in c o ntr o l ha d b een ta k en o v er b y the a f o r es a id v a r i
a b l e g a in dev ic e, o p er a ting u nder the c o ntr o l o f a c o m
p u ter . Thu s , u nder c o mp u ter c o ntr o l , a u dio l ev el c o u l d
b e a dj u s ted a u to ma tic a l l y in r es p o ns e to the s to r ed da ta ,
ir r es p ec tiv e o f the p o s itio n o f the ma nu a l l y a dj u s ta b l e
f a der , whic h wo u l d r ema in s ta tio ner y . The a v a il a b il ity
o f the f a der du r ing a u to ma ted p l a y b a c k l ed to the dev el
o p ment o f a s y s tem in whic h the f a der c o u l d b e u s ed to
ma k e mino r a dj u s tments to the c ha nnel l ev el du r ing 6 5
a u to ma ted p l a y b a c k , thu s a l l o wing the o p er a to r to im
p r o v e the q u a l ity o f the s to r ed da ta . This f a c il ity wa s
p r o v ided o n eq u ip ment ma nu f a c tu r ed b y the p r es ent
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 5
5 0
6 0
2
a p p l ic a nt a nd ha s b een identi? ed b y the tr a de ma r k
tr im mo de .
Al tho u g h p r o v iding a dditio na l f a c il ities to the eng i
neer , the intr o du c tio n o f a u to ma ted c o ntr o l v ia v a r ia b l e
g a in dev ic es a l s o intr o du c ed dis a dv a nta g es , when c o m
p a r ed with the p r ev io u s l y k no wn a p p r o a c h o f u s ing the
f a der its el f to ma nu a l l y a dj u s t a u dio l ev el s . Pr ima r il y ,
ther e ha s b een a mo v e to r edu c e s ig na l deg r a da tio n
intr o du c ed b y the a u dio s ig na l p a th, whic h in tu r n ha s
l ed to a mo v ement a wa y f r o m a c tiv e g a in c o ntr o l de~
v ic es , s u c h a s v o l ta g e c o ntr o l a mp l i? er s a nd a r etu r n to
the mo r e tr a ditio na l tec hniq u es u s ing s imp l e v a r ia b l e
r es is tiv e el ements . In a dditio n, o p er a to r s p r ef er to s ee
the l ink b etween f a der mo v ement a nd a u dio l ev el ma in
ta ined, s u c h tha t a v a r ia tio n in a u dio l ev el is a l wa y s
a s s o c ia ted with a mo v ement o f its r es p ec tiv e f a der .
Thu s , this mo v ement ma y b e a c hiev ed b y initia l ma nu a l
o p er a tio n o f the f a der o r b y a u to ma ted c o ntr o l o f the
f a der v ia its mo to r is ed el ements .
Thu s , to a c hiev e a u to ma ted a u dio l ev el v a r ia tio ns in
a s y s tem u s ing the r es is tiv e el ements , it is nec es s a r y to
a u to ma tic a l l y mo v e the f a der du r ing a u to ma ted p l a y
b a c k . Ho wev er , g iv en tha t the f a der is b eing dr iv en b y
s to r ed da ta a nd the a u dio s ig na l its el f c o ntinu es to p a s s
thr o u g h the a u dio tr a c k a s s o c ia ted with the f a der , a l l
g a in v a r ia tio ns mu s t b e ef f ec ted b y the f a der a nd, c o ns e
q u entl y , the f a der is no l o ng er a v a il a b l e to ef f ec t tr im
mo de . S u c h a r es tr a int is c o mmo nl y identif ied b y r e
f er r ing to the l o s s in the f a der , tha t is the a ttenu a tio n
a p p l ied to the a u dio s ig na l p a s s ing ther ethr o u g h, a s
b eing a b s o l u te.
An imp r o v ed s y s tem is s ho wn in Ja p a nes e p a tent
JP- A- 6 0 0 6 1 9 0 2 in whic h a n a u to ma tic a l l y c o ntr o l l ed
mo to r is ed f a der is dr iv en in r es p o ns e to s to r ed da ta .
Du r ing the o p er a tio n o f the f a der in this mo de, f u r ther
ma nu a l a dj u s tment ma y b e ef f ec ted b ec a u s e, o n to u c h
ing the f a der , the f a der its el f dis c o nnec ts the mo to r a nd
a ny f u r ther mo v ements ma de ma nu a l l y b y the f a der
r es u l t in new da ta b eing r ec o r ded. Thu s , o n the nex t
c y c l e, the new da ta is u s ed to c o ntr o l the a u to ma tic
mo v ement o f the f a der . Ho wev er , in s u c h a s y s tem, the
r el a tio ns hip b etween f a der mo v ement a nd a u dio a ttenu
a tio n s til l r ema ins a b s o l u te a nd the s y s tem is no t a s
v er s a til e a s the p r ev io u s l y u s ed s y s tems with v a r ia b l e
g a in c o ntr o l .
S UMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a n o b j ec t o f the p r es ent inv entio n to p r o v ide a n
imp r o v ed metho d a nd a p p a r a tu s f o r c o ntr o l l ing the
l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l . In p a r tic u l a r , it is a n o b j ec t o f
the p r es ent inv entio n to p r o v ide tr im mo de o p er a tio n
in a n a u dio s y s tem emp l o y ing mo to r is ed f a der s to ef f ec t
c o ntr o l o f the a u dio l ev el s .
Ac c o r ding to a ? r s t a s p ec t o f the p r es ent inv entio n,
ther e is p r o v ided a metho d o f c o ntr o l l ing the o u tp u t
l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l c o mp r is ing the s tep s o f : s u p p l y
ing a n a u dio inp u t s ig na l thr o u g h a r es is tiv e c o ntr o l
el ement; ma nu a l l y a dj u s ting the r es is ta nc e o f s a id c o n
tr o l el ement o v er the du r a tio n o f a n a u dio ev ent; r e
c o r ding da ta indic a tiv e o f s a id a dj u s tment; r ep ea ting
s a id a u dio ev ent, whil e a u to ma tic a l l y a dj u s ting the r e
s is ta nc e o f s a id c o ntr o l el ement in r es p o ns e to s a id da ta ;
s el ec ting a n a l ter na tiv e mo de o f o p er a tio n, in whic h
s a id inp u t s ig na l is s u p p l ied to a v a r ia b l e g a in dev ic e;
a dj u s ting the g a in o f s a id dev ic e in r es p o ns e to s a id da ta
a nd, s imu l ta neo u s l y , a dj u s ting the g a in o f s a id dev ic e in
r es p o ns e to ma nu a l a dj u s tments o f s a id c o ntr o l el ement.
5 , 2 6 8 , 9 6 4
3
In a p r ef er r ed emb o diment, v a r ia tio ns in the g a in o f
s a id v a r ia b l e g a in dev ic e in s a id s ec o nd mo de a r e a r
r a ng ed to p r o v ide a s u b s ta ntia l l y s imil a r r es p o ns e to
r es is ta nc e a dj u s tments in s a id ? r s t mo de. Thu s , in s a id
s ec o nd mo de the r el a tio ns hip b etween f a der mo v ement
a nd s ig na l a ttentu a tio n ma y r ema in a b s o l u te. In a n a l ter
na tiv e emb o diment, v a r ia tio ns in the g a in o f s a id v a r i
a b l e g a in dev ic e in s a id s ec o nd mo de p r o v ide a dif f er ent
r es p o ns e to r es is tiv e a dj u s tments in s a id ? r s t mo de.
Pr ef er a b l y , v a r ia tio ns in g a in du r ing the s ec o nd mo de
f a c il ita te inc r ementa l a dj u s tment in whic h the f u l l
mo v ement o f s a id c o ntr o l el ement in the s ec o nd mo de is
eq u iv a l ent to o nl y a p o r tio n o f ir s mo v ement in the ? r s t
mo de o f o p er a tio n. Thu s , whil e p r o v iding the a dv a n
ta g e o f l o w no is e p er f o r ma nc e du r ing the ? r s t mo de o f
o p er a tio n, the inc r ementa l mo de o f o p er a tio n is a v a il
a b l e in s a id s ec o nd mo de, in whic h the r el a tio ns hip
b etween ma nu a l o p er a tio n o f the f a der in the s ec o nd
mo de is no l o ng er a b s o l u te in r el a tio n to the l ev el o f
s ig na l deg r eda tio n p r o v ided in the ? r s t mo de. Thu s , ? ne
tr imming o f the f a der p o s itio n ma y b e a c hiev ed du r
ing the s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n, in s u c h a wa y tha t the
? ne a dj u s tments r es u l t in 0 da ta whic h is s to r ed f o r l a ter
r ep r o du c tio n in the hig h ? del ity ? r s t mo de o f o p er a tio n.
Ac c o r ding to a s ec o nd a s p ec t o f the p r es ent inv en
tio n, ther e is p r o v ided a n a p p a r a tu s f o r c o ntr o l l ing the
o u tp u t l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l , c o mp r is ing : a r es is tiv e
c o ntr o l el ement; mea ns f o r ma nu a l l y a dj u s ting s a id
c o ntr o l el ement' a nd dr iv en mea ns f o r a dj u s ting s a id
el ement; mea ns f o r r ec o r ding p o s itio n da ta indic a tiv e o f
ma nu a l l y s el ec ted p o s itio ns o f s a id el ement; v a r ia b l e
g a in mea ns f o r c o ntr o l l ing the o u tp u t l ev el o f the a u dio
s ig na l , o n s el ec tio n o f a s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n, in
r es p o ns e to s a id p o s itio n da ta ; mea ns f o r s imu l ta neo u s l y
c o ntr o l l ing s a id v a r ia b l e g a in mea ns in r es p o ns e to ma n
u a l o p er a tio n o f s a id el ement; a nd mea ns f o r r ec o r ding
p o s itio n da ta indic a tiv e o f the p o s itio n o f s a id ma nu a l
el ement du r ing s a id s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n.
B RIEF DES CRIPTION OF THE DRAW INGS
FIG. 1 is a c ir c u it dia g r a m o f a n o u tp u t c o ntr o l a p p a
r a tu s , with s witc ha b l e mea ns f o r o p er a ting b etween a
? r s t mo de o f o p er a tio n a nd a s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n
a nd mea ns f o r s to r ing da ta indic a tiv e o f s a id mo v ements
o f s a id ma nu a l l y o p er a b l e el ement o v er the du r a tio n o f
the a u dio ev ent; a nd,
FIG. 2 s ho ws a g r a p h o f f a der a ttenu a tio n a g a ins t
time o v er the du r a tio n o f a n a u dio ev ent.
DETAILED DES CRIPTION OF THE
' PREFERRED EMB ODIMENT
The c ir c u it s ho wn a t FIG. 1 inc l u des two s witc hes ,
identi? ed b y the r ef er enc es 1 5 a nd 1 6 , whic h a r e o p er
a ted s imu l ta neo u s l y , p r ef er a b l y u nder the c o ntr o l o f a
c o mp u ter , to ef f ec t c ha ng es b etween o p er a tio n in a ? r s t
mo de a nd o p er a tio n in a s ec o nd mo de. In the ? r s t mo de
o f o p er a tio n, the l ev el o f a n a u dio s ig na l is c o ntr o l l ed
v ia a r es is tiv e el ement c o n? g u r ed a s a p o tentio nmeter
1 7 a nd in s a id s ec o nd mo de the o u tp u t l ev el is c o n
tr o l l ed b y mea ns o f a v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er 1 8 .
The ? r s t mo de o f o p er a tio n is the no r ma l mo de,
whic h ens u r es tha t the s ig na l u nder g o es minimu m dis
to r tio n b ec a u s e the l ev el is c o ntr o l l ed b y mea ns o f the
r es is tiv e el ement 1 7 . The ? r s t mo de o f o p er a tio n is
s el ec ted b y p l a c ing s witc hes 1 5 a nd 1 6 into the a l ter na
tiv e p o s itio n to tha t s ho wn in FIG. 1 , tha t is into the
do wn p o s itio n. An a u dio inp u t s ig na l is s u p p l ied to the
p o tentio meter 1 7 v ia a inp u t p o r t 1 9 a nd a ta p f r o m s a id
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
4 5
5 5
6 0
6 5
4
p o tentio meter 1 7 s u p p l ies the a ttenu a ted a u dio s ig na l to
a n o u tp u t p o r t 2 0 v ia s witc h 1 5 . The p o tentio meter 1 7
f o r ms p a r t o f a s u b - a s s emb l y , c o mp r is ing , in a dditio n to
s a id p o tentio meter 1 7 , a nd a dditio na l p o tentio meter 2 1
a nd a mo to r dr iv e 2 2 f o r ef f ec ting mo v ement o f s a id
p o tentio meter s in r es p o ns e to a c o ntr o l s ig na l . S a id
s u b - a s s emb l y is c o mmo nl y r ef er r ed to a s a mo to r is ed
f a der , in whic h ma nu a l a dj u s tment is ma de b y mea ns o f
a f a der c o ntr o l , a r r a ng ed to mo v e in a l inea r f a s hio n.
The a dditio na l p o tentio meter 2 1 , g a ng ed with p o ten
tio meter 1 7 , is c o nnec ted to a c o ntr o l v o l ta g e, s u c h tha t
a p r o p o r tio n o f s a id v o l ta g e is s u p p l ied to a c o ntr o l u nit
2 3 , whic h v a r ies with the ma nu a l a dj u s tments o f p o ten
tio meter 1 7 . The v o l ta g e s u p p l ied to c o ntr o l u nit 2 3 is
dig itis ed a nd s to r ed in s a id u nit 2 3 , s u c h tha t, o v er the
du r a tio n o f a n a u dio ev ent, da ta , indic a tiv e o f a l l ma nu a l
mo v ements ma de b y the f a der , ma y b e r ec o r ded. On
r ep ea ting s a id a u dio ev ent, the r ec o r ded da ta ma y b e
r ea d f r o m the c o ntr o l u nit 2 3 , c o nv er ted to p r o v ide a
mo to r dr iv e s ig na l a nd s u p p l ied to s a id mo to r dr iv e 2 2
v ia s witc h 1 6 . Thu s , in r es p o ns e to the r ec o r ded da ta ,
p o tentio meter 1 7 ma y b e a dj u s ted a u to ma tic a l l y o v er
the a u dio ev ent, f o l l o wing the p r ev io u s l y r ec o r ded
mo tio ns o f the s y s tem o p er a to r .
Va r ia tio ns in a ttenu a tio n, a s s el ec ted b y a n o p er a ting
eng ineer , a r e s ho wn g r a p hic a l l y in FIG. 2 , f o r the du r a
tio n o f a n a u dio ev ent o v er the p er io d to to t7 . At time
t1 , the a ttenu a tio n is inc r ea s ed a nd then a t time t; it is
dec r ea s ed, s o tha t b y time t3 it ha s r etu r ned to its o r ig i
na l p o s itio n. At time t4 the a ttentu a tio n is dec r ea s ed
u ntil time t5 , wher ea f ter it r ema ins c o ns ta nt u ntil time t6 ,
a nd then it is inc r ea s ed to the ma x imu m deg r ee o f a tten
u a tio n a t time t7 . The da ta , il l u s tr a ted g r a p hic a l l y in
FIG. 2 , is s to r ed dig ita l l y b y the c o ntr o l u nit 2 3 , du r ing
o p er a tio n o f the c ir c u it s ho wn in FIG. 1 in s a id ? r s t
mo de. The a u dio ev ent ma y no w b e r ep ea ted, to a l l o w
the o p er a to r to r ev iew the v a r ia tio ns in a ttenu a tio n tha t
he ha s r ec o r ded a nd the o u tp u t l ev el wil l b e c o ntr o l l ed
a u to ma tic a l l y b y the p o tentio meter 1 8 , u nder the c o n
tr o l o f the mo to r dr iv e 2 2 .
Fo r the p u r p o s es o f this il l u s tr a tio n, it wil l no w b e
a s s u med tha t the o p er a to r is no t entir el y c o ntent with
. the r es p o ns e r ec o r ded o v er the p er io d t5 to t6 a nd tha t
he wo u l d l ik e to ex p er iment with inc r ea s ing a nd de
c r ea s ing the l ev el o f the s ig na l o v er this p er io d, p o s s ib l y
with the intentio n o f a c hiev ing a mo r e dr a ma tic ef f ec t,
whil e, a t the s a me time, no t wis hing to intr o du c e dis to r
tio n, s a y , b y o v er l o a ding the o v er a l l o u tp u t l ev el . Fir s t
o f a l l , he dec ides to inc r ea s e the l ev el tha t is r edu c e
a ttenu a tio n, o v er the p er io d t5 to t6 a nd, b y mea ns o f a
s u ita b l e ins tr u c tio n, s witc hes 1 5 a nd 1 6 a r e p l a c ed into I
the o r ienta tio n s ho wn in FIG. 1 ; thu s s el ec ting the s ec
o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n.
In the s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n, the a u dio inp u t
s ig na l is s u p p l ied to the inp u t o f a v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed
a mp l i? er 1 8 v ia inp u t p o r t 1 9 . The l ev el o f the s ig na l
s u p p l ied to the o u tp u t p o r t 2 0 , v ia s witc h 1 5 , is a dj u s ted
b y the v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er 1 8 , in r es p o ns e to a
c o ntr o l s ig na l r ec eiv ed f r o m a c o mb iner 2 4 . The c o m
b iner 2 4 r ec eiv es a n a na l o g r ep r es enta tio n o f the s to r ed
p o s itio n da ta - f r o m the c o ntr o l u nit 2 3 v ia s witc h 1 6 , s a id
s witc h ens u r ing tha t s a id s ig na l is no t s u p p l ied to the
mo to r dr iv e 2 2 . Thu s , s ig na l l ev el is c o ntr o l l ed in r e
s p o ns e to the s to r ed da ta , in a s imil a r wa y to whic h it is
c o ntr o l l ed v ia p o tentio meter 1 7 , u nder the ? r s t mo de o f
o p er a tio n. Ho wev er , in the s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n,
ma nu a l a dj u s tments to the f a der ma y b e ma de g iv en
tha t, in a dditio n to p r o v iding a _ s ig na l to the c o ntr o l u nit
5 , 2 6 8 , 9 6 4
5
' 2 3 , the a dditio na l p o tentio meter 2 1 a l s o p r o v ides a s ig
na l , indic a tiv e o f the p o s itio n o f the f a der 1 7 , to the
c o mb iner 2 4 . Thu s , o n r ep ea ting the a u dio ev ent, the
eng ineer ma y a dj u s t the f a der a t time t4 , s u c h tha t the
v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er 1 8 r ec eiv es a c o ntr o l s ig na l
whic h der iv es a c o ntr ib u tio n f r o m b o th the p o tentio me
ter 2 1 a nd the c o ntr o l u nit 2 3 ; a n ef f ec t whic h is il l u s
tr a ted b y a do tted l ine 3 1 in FIG. 2 . Thu s , the o f f s et
v o l ta g e s u p p l ied to the c o mb iner 2 4 a l l o ws the s y s tem
to o p er a te in the a f o r es a id tr im mo de whil e, a t the
s a me time, the v o l ta g e g ener a ted b y the a dditio na l p o
tentio meter 2 1 is a l s o s u p p l ied to the c o ntr o l u nit, s o
tha t it ma y b e c o mb ined with the o r ig ina l l y g ener a ted
da ta .
Fo r the p u r p o s es o f this il l u s tr a tio n, it is no w a s s u med
tha t the o p er a to r ha s dec ided tha t his mo di? c a tio n a c tu
a l l y ma k es the ? na l p r o du c tio n wo r s e, r a ther tha n b et
ter , a nd he ha s , ther ef o r e, dec ided to inc r ea s e the a tten
u a tio n o v er the p er io d t4 to t6 , a s il l u s tr a ted b y the do t
ted r es p o ns e 3 2 . Ag a in, the eng ineer enter s the s ec o nd
mo de o f o p er a tio n a nd a ma nu a l a dj u s tment is ma de to
the f a der , this time inc r ea s ing a ttenu a tio n, o v er the
p er io d t5 to t6 . Ag a in, the newl y c r ea ted da ta , g ener a ted
b y mo v ement o f f a der l 7 , c o mb ine with the o r ig ina l l y
r ec o r ded da ta a nd, o n enter ing the ? r s t mo de o f o p er a
tio n, the l ev el is a dj u s ted in a c c o r da nc e with r es p o ns e
3 2 .
The c ir c u it s ho wn in FIG. 1 a l l o ws tr im mo de
o p er a tio n to b e ef f ec ted, whil e emp l o y ing hig h ? del ity
r es is tiv e c o ntr o l mea ns , b y ma k ing temp o r a r y u s e o f a
v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er whil e p er f o r ming the tr im
ming o p er a ito n. In this wa y , the o p er a to r c a n hea r the
ef f ec t o f a tr im whil e he is a c tu a l l y do ing it, ther eb y
ena b l ing s a id o p er a to r to a c hiev e the des ir ed r es u l t with
the minimu m nu mb er o f r ep etitio ns . Onc e the dif f er en
tia l da ta g ener a ted b y the tr imming o p er a tio n ha s b een
der iv ed, s a id da ta is c o mb ined with the o r ig ina l da ta ,
a l l o wing f u r ther o p er a tio ns to b e ef f ec ted witho u t the
v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er . It s ho u l d b e no ted tha t the
mo to r is ed f a der is a hig hl y eng ineer ed p iec e o f eq u ip
ment a nd c o mp r is es a ma j o r p r o p o r tio n o f the to ta l c o s t
o f the s y s tem. Co ns eq u entl y , the p r o v is io n o f c ir c u itr y
to p r o v ide the tr im f u nc tio n do es no t a dd, s ig nif ic a ntl y ,
to the o v er a l l c o s t o f the s y s tem whil e, in a c c o r da nc e
with the p r es ent inv entio n, it p r o v ides s u b s ta ntia l a d
v a nta g es to a p r o f es s io na l o p er a to r .
In a mo dif ied emb o diment inc r emented tr imming
ma y b e p er f o r med in whic h, o n enter ing the s ec o nd
mo de, the s ens itiv ity o f the r es is tiv e f a der is c ha ng ed.
Thu s , f u l l mo v ement o f the f a der in the f ir s t mo de ma y
r ep r es ent a g a in o f b etween minu s 6 0 to p l u s 1 0 , p o s itiv e
g a in b eing p r o v ided b y a mp l i? c a tio n dev ic es no t s ho wn
in FIG. 1 . Ho wev er , o n enter ing tr im mo de, the f u l l
r a ng e o f the ma nu a l f a der 1 7 ma y p r o v ide a 1 0 dB tr im
windo w o n either s ide o f the p r ev io u s l y s to r ed v a l u e.
Thu s , inc r ementa l tr imming a l l o ws v er y p r ec is e a dj u s t
ments to b e ma de to the r ec o r da l v a l u es . The s ens itiv ity
o f the v o l ta g e c o ntr o l l ed a mp l i? er 1 8 to ma nu a l o p er a
tio n o f the f a der 1 7 ma y b e c o ntr o l l ed b y the c o ntr o l
u nit 2 3 a nd a dj u s ted in r es p o ns e to ma nu a l c o mma nds
f r o m the o p er a to r .
W ha t we c l a im is :
1 . A metho d o f c o ntr o l l ing the o u tp u t l ev el o f a n
a u dio s ig na l c o mp r is ing the s tep s o f :
1 5
2 0
2 5
4 0
6
s u p p l y ing a n a u dio inp u t s ig na l thr o u g h a r es is tiv e
c o ntr o l el ement ( 1 8 ) ;
ma nu a l l y a dj u s ting the r es is ta nc e o f s a id c o ntr o l el e
ment o v er the du r a tio n o f a n a u dio ev ent;
r ec o r ding da ta indic a tiv e o f s a id a dj u s tment;
r ep ea ting s a id a u dio ev ent, whil e a u to ma tic a l l y a d
j u s ting the r es is ta nc e o f s a id c o ntr o l el ement in
r es p o ns e to s a id da ta ;
s el ec ting a n a l ter na tiv e mo de o f o p er a tio n in whic h
s a id inp u t s ig na l is s u p p l ied to a v a r ia b l e g a in de
v ic e;
a dj u s ting the g a in o f s a id dev ic e in r es p o ns e to s a id
da ta ; a nd,
s imu l ta neo u s l y , a dj u s ting the g a in o f s a id dev ic e in
r es p o ns e to ma nu a l a dj u s tments to s a id c o ntr o l
el ement.
2 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 , wher ein v a r ia tio ns
in the g a in o f s a id v a r ia b l e g a in dev ic e in s a id s ec o nd
mo de o f o p er tio n a r e a r r a ng ed to p r o v ide a s u b s ta ntia l l y
s imil a r r es p o ns e to r es is ta nc e a dj u s tments in s a id ? r s t
mo de.
3 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 , wher ein v a r ia tio ns
in the g a in o f s a id v a r ia b l e g a in dev ic e in s a id s ec o nd
mo de p r o v ide a dif f er ent r es p o ns e to r es is tiv e a dj u s t
ments in s a id ? r s t mo de.
4 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 3 , wher ein v a r ia tio ns
in g a in du r ing the s ec o nd mo de f a c il ita te inc r ementa l
a dj u s tment in whic h the f u l l mo v ement o f s a id c o ntr o l
el ement in the s ec o nd mo de is eq u iv a l ent to o nl y a
p o r tio n o f its mo v ement in the ? r s t mo de o f o p er a tio n.
5 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 , inc l u ding r ec o r d
ing da ta indic a tiv e o f s a id a dj u s tments dig ita l l y .
6 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 , inc l u ding a u to ma t
ic a l l y a dj u s ting s a id c o ntr o l el ement v ia a mo to r is ed
dev ic e.
7 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 , inc l u ding s to r ing
a n indic a tio n o f s a id ma nu a l a dj u s tments du r ing s a id
s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n.
8 . A metho d a c c o r ding to c l a im 1 , inc l u ding c o mb in
ing o r ig ina l da ta with s a id mo di? ed da ta to p r o du c e
new da ta .
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
9 . Ap p a r a tu s f o r c o ntr o l l ing the o u tp u t l ev el o f a n
a u dio s ig na l , c o mp r is ing :
a r es is tiv e c o ntr o l el ement;
mea ns f o r ma nu a l l y a dj u s ting s a id c o ntr o l el ement
a nd dr iv en mea ns f o r a dj u s ting s a id el ement;
mea ns f o r r ec o r ding p o s itio n da ta indic a tiv e o f ma nu
a l l y s el ec ted p o s itio ns o f s a id el ement;
v a r ia b l e g a in mea ns f o r c o ntr o l l ing the o u tp u t l ev el o f
the a u dio s ig na l , o n s el ec tio n o f a s ec o nd mo de o f
o p er a tio n, in r es p o ns e to s a id p o s itio n da ta ;
mea ns f o r s imu l ta neo u s l y c o ntr o l l ing s a id v a r ia b l e
g a in mea ns in r es p o ns e to ma nu a l o p er a tio n o f s a id
el ement; a nd,
mea ns f o r r ec o r ding p o s itio n da ta indic a tiv e o f the
p o s itio n o f s a id ma nu a l el ement du r ing s a id s ec o nd
mo de o f o p er a tio n.
1 0 . Ap p a r a tu s a c c o r ding to c l a im 9 , wher ein s a id
r es is tiv e c o ntr o l el ement is a mo to r is ed f a der .
1 1 . Ap p a r a tu s a c c o r ding to c l a im 9 , wher ein s a id
mea ns f o r r ec o r ding p o s itio n- da ta is a dig ita l p r o c es s ing
a nd s to r a g e dev ic e.
1 2 . Ap p a r a tu s a c c o r ding to c l a im 9 , inc l u ding mea ns
f o r a dj u s ting the s ens itiv ity o f s a id v a r ia b l e g a in mea ns ,
to p r o v ide inc r ementa l a dj u s tment o f the r ec o r ded da ta
du r ing s a id s ec o nd mo de o f o p er a tio n.
a a t a , e