Arrangement of audio devices, configuration apparatus, method and computer program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12106010-B2
Application number	US-202017617283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2020
Priority date	Jun 11, 2019
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (4) of audio devices for the purpose of a public address system, comprising an audio-signal processing apparatus (5) and a configuration apparatus (6), wherein: the audio-signal processing apparatus (5) comprises a first plurality of audio-signal inputs (10), a second plurality of signal outputs (11) and a third plurality of signal paths (9); the signal paths (9) connect audio-signal inputs (10) to signal outputs (11); the audio-signal inputs (10) are designed to pick up a provided audio signal; the configuration apparatus (6) is designed for open-loop control, closed-loop control and/or configuration of the audio-signal processing apparatus (5); the configuration apparatus (6) is designed to switch off signal paths (9), in particular unused and/or undesired signal paths.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices for a public address system, the arrangement comprising:
an audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ), a measurement unit, and a configuration apparatus ( 6 ), wherein the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) has a first plurality of audio signal inputs ( 10 ), a second plurality of signal outputs ( 11 ) and a third plurality of signal paths ( 9 ), wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) connect audio signal inputs ( 10 ) to signal outputs ( 11 ),
wherein the audio signal outputs ( 10 ) are configured to pick up a provided audio signal, wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to control, adjust and/or configure the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ),
wherein the measurement unit is configured to detect whether an audio signal is present on at least one selected from the group consisting of one of the signal paths ( 9 ), one of the audio signal inputs, and one of the signal outputs and to provide it as a measurement signal to the configuration apparatus ( 6 ),
wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to automatically switch off one or more of the signal paths ( 9 ) that are unused based on the measurement signal.

2. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to perform the automatic switch-off of the signal paths ( 9 ) following at least one selected from the group consisting of a start of the configuration apparatus ( 6 ), an initialization of the configuration apparatus ( 6 ), and a configuration change.

3. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to activate switched-off signal paths ( 9 ) that are wanted, required, or both.

4. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) has an input unit ( 14 ) for setting configuration profiles, selecting configuration profiles, or both wherein the configuration profiles comprise information relating to signal paths ( 9 ) that are at least one selected from the group consisting of used, unused, to be switched off, switched off, and active, wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to switch off the signal paths ( 9 ), activate the signal paths ( 9 ), or both based on the configuration profiles.

5. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one configuration profile is configured as time-dependent, wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) stored and/or specified in the time-dependent configuration profile as used and/or unused are configured as time-dependent.

6. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) comprises a computer unit.

7. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) have current-operated circuit components ( 12 ).

8. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 7 , wherein at least one of the circuit components ( 12 ) comprises a microcontroller or audio signal processor.

9. The arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) comprises a mixing console, an audio matrix and a multichannel loudspeaker processor.

10. A configuration apparatus ( 6 ) for an arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to automatically switch off at least one signal path ( 9 ).

11. A method for configuring an arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices, wherein the arrangement ( 4 ) includes
an audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ), a measurement unit, and a configuration apparatus ( 6 ),

wherein the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) has a first plurality of audio signal inputs ( 10 ), a second plurality of signal outputs ( 11 ) and a third plurality of signal paths ( 9 ), wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) connect audio signal inputs ( 10 ) to signal outputs ( 11 ),
wherein the audio signal outputs ( 10 ) are configured to pick up a provided audio signal, wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to control, adjust and/or configure the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ),
wherein the measurement unit is configured to detect whether an audio signal is present on at least one selected from the group consisting of one of the signal paths ( 9 ), one of the audio signal inputs, and one of the signal outputs and to provide it as a measurement signal to the configuration apparatus ( 6 ),

wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to automatically switch off one or more of the signal paths ( 9 ) that are unused based on the measurement signal,
the method comprising automatically switching off at least one unused signal path ( 9 ) of the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) between a first plurality of audio signal inputs ( 10 ) and a second plurality of signal outputs ( 11 ) based on the measurement signal.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, containing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to control an arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices to automatically switch off at least one unused signal path of a plurality of signal paths ( 9 ) of an audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) between a first plurality of audio signal inputs ( 10 ) and a second plurality of signal outputs ( 11 ) based on a measurement signal, wherein the arrangement ( 4 ) includes
the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ), a measurement unit, and a configuration apparatus ( 6 ),

wherein the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) has the first plurality of audio signal inputs ( 10 ), the second plurality of signal outputs ( 11 ) and the plurality of signal paths ( 9 ), wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) connect audio signal inputs ( 10 ) to signal outputs ( 11 ),
wherein the audio signal outputs ( 10 ) are configured to pick up a provided audio signal, wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to control, adjust and/or configure the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ), and
wherein the measurement unit is configured to detect whether an audio signal is present on at least one selected from the group consisting of one of the signal paths ( 9 ), one of the audio signal inputs, and one of the signal outputs and to provide it as the measurement signal to the configuration apparatus ( 6 ).

13. An arrangement ( 4 ) of audio devices for a public address system, the arrangement comprising:
an audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) and a configuration apparatus ( 6 ),
wherein the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ) has a first plurality of audio signal inputs ( 10 ), a second plurality of signal outputs ( 11 ) and a third plurality of signal paths ( 9 ), wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) connect audio signal inputs ( 10 ) to signal outputs ( 11 ),
wherein the audio signal outputs ( 10 ) are configured to pick up a provided audio signal, wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to control, adjust and/or configure the audio signal processing apparatus ( 5 ),
wherein the configuration apparatus ( 6 ) is configured to switch off one or more of the signal paths ( 9 ),
wherein the signal paths ( 9 ) have current-operated circuit components ( 12 ) and the current-operated circuit components ( 12 ) are voltage-free and/or current-free in a switched-off signal path ( 9 ).

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Lermer Franz
• Huber Christian
• Reislhuber Peter

Classifications

• H04R2420/03

  Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers · CPC title

• H04R5/04

  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)} · CPC title

• H04H60/09

  Arrangements for device control with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for control of broadcast-related services · CPC title

• H04H20/61

  for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast · CPC title

• G06F3/165 Primary

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title