US3702901A - Volume, balance and fader control for four channel sound system - Google Patents

Volume, balance and fader control for four channel sound system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3702901A
US3702901A US100579A US3702901DA US3702901A US 3702901 A US3702901 A US 3702901A US 100579 A US100579 A US 100579A US 3702901D A US3702901D A US 3702901DA US 3702901 A US3702901 A US 3702901A
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United States
Prior art keywords
balance
volume
sound
fader
control
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US100579A
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English (en)
Inventor
James R Cherry
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Motorola Solutions Inc
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Motorola Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03G—CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
    • H03G1/00—Details of arrangements for controlling amplification
    • H03G1/0005—Circuits characterised by the type of controlling devices operated by a controlling current or voltage signal
    • H03G1/0035—Circuits characterised by the type of controlling devices operated by a controlling current or voltage signal using continuously variable impedance elements
    • H03G1/0082—Circuits characterised by the type of controlling devices operated by a controlling current or voltage signal using continuously variable impedance elements using bipolar transistor-type devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03G—CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
    • H03G3/00—Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
    • H03G3/02—Manually-operated control
    • H03G3/04—Manually-operated control in untuned amplifiers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S7/00—Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
    • H04S7/30—Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
    • H04S7/302—Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2499/00—Aspects covered by H04R or H04S not otherwise provided for in their subgroups
    • H04R2499/10—General applications
    • H04R2499/13—Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S2400/00—Details of stereophonic systems covered by H04S but not provided for in its groups
    • H04S2400/13—Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S3/00—Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A volume, balance and fader control circuit is provided to control the translation of audio signals.
  • a single potentiometer is usedfor the left to right balance control and a second single potentiometer is used for the front to back fader control.
  • the balance and fader potentiometers are operated to place the listener in the center of a surrounding field of sound without changing the total volume level of the four speakers.
  • FIGZ I FIGB CHANNEL 38 22 B-IN 5+ 35 LF -66 BALANCE 42 26 CHANNEL INVENTOR JAMES R. CHERRY ATTORNEYS VOLUME, BALANCE AND FADER CONTROL FOR FOUR CHANNEL SOUND SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates generally to four channel sound systems and more particularly, to a volume
  • Audio reproducing systems such as multi-track tape players of the four track and eight track type are wellknown in the art for reproducing either monaural or stereophonic sound, whichever of these is desired by the user thereof.
  • Recently a new development in four channel sound systems has made it possible for the listener to surround himself or herself within a field of sound emanating from four different speaker systems. Adjusting the volume or balance condition of such multi-channel sound systems is a rather difficult and tiresome task as it requires the adjustment of four independent sound channels.
  • Cartridge type tape players of this general charac teristic may include switch means which instantaneously actuate the tape reproducing mechanism upon complete insertion of the cartridge to effect operation of the system.
  • the operator merely pulls out the cartridge, either partially, or all the way, and in some instances, completion of the playing of all tracks on the tape within the cartridge will automatically eject the cartridge from the player and turn off the system.
  • the listening quality of monaural or stereophonic reproductions from corresponding channels or pairs of channels on the tape has provided only a limited increased listening pleasure as compared to an actual orchestra.
  • four channels of sound each independent of the other, substantially increase the listening pleasure as compared to monaural and stereophonic sound systems.
  • the four channel sound arrangement allows the listener to feel that he is in the center of the field of sound, i.e. surrounded completely by sound and he can position himself accoustically to any desired location within the sound radiating pattern. But, as mentioned above, this is a relatively difficult process requiring the adjustment of many different control knobs.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a simplified control arrangement whereby left and right balance control is obtained by moving a first control knob left to right or right to left, and forward and back fader control is obtained by moving a second knob in a plane perpendicular to said balance control knob, it being moved up and down or front to back.
  • a feature of this invention is the provision of a pair of variable resistance elements each having the movable contact thereof connected together and connected to a single volume control element which supplies DC power for setting the overall volume of the entire system. Adjusting the balance or fader control merely changes the division of DC power used to control the gain of the respective channels but does not appreciably change the sum or total gain of these channels.
  • a four channel sound reproducing system is provided with an independent signal translating and amplifier stage for each channel and having an input terminal for receiving a discrete input signal from one of a plurality of transducer devices such as a pick-up element or portion on a four channel magnetic pick-up head.
  • the output of each channel is connected to its respective speaker or sound reproducing means in any suitable manner.
  • the amplitude of the sound translated through the respective channels is controlled by the signal gain within that particular channel.
  • This is illustrated herein by a transistor connected in circuit with the respective channels'and ground potential and the transistors act as variable gain control devices.
  • Each of listener can position himself in the center of the field of sound but the total sum of the gain of all four channels remains substantially constant. Therefore, not only is the user able to quickly and easily balance or locate himself in the center of sound within the area defined by the four speakers, but the relative total volume emanating from the four speakers remains substantially constant at all times while he is actually balancing a system.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a four channel eight track tape player wherein the volume, balance and fader control circuit of this invention can be used;
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an automobile illustrating four speakers in four quadrants of its interior thus showing one advantageous use of the volume, balance and fader control circuit of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the volume, balance and fader control circuit of this invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is seen a diagrammatic representation of a multi-track magnetic tape player designated generally by reference numeral 10.
  • the tape player may include any suitable mounting brackets to permit mounting the player to the interior of an automobile, as seen in FIG. 2, in a conventional location to be easily reached and used by the operator of the automobile.
  • the tape player 10 may include a tone control knob 12 and a volume control knob 14, or vice versa.
  • An entryway 16 is provided to receive a cartridge 18 such that the insertion of the cartridge into the player 10 will cause automatic turn-on of the same and removal of the cartridge 18, at least to an unlocked condition, will cause automatic tum-off of the tape player 10.
  • the cartridge 18 preferably contains an eight track tape wherein two programs are recorded and each program contains four independent channels of audio signal information.
  • each program contains four independent channels of audio signal information.
  • the cartridge may be identified by a notch 180, or the like, and the volume, balance and fader control system of this invention is then utilized to best advantage to control the four independent channels of sound.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the automobile 15 as having the top thereof removed to more clearly show the location and arrangement of the speakers therein, it being understood that the automobile may be a sedan, hardtop or convertible, as desired, and the four speakers may be located in positions other than those shown in FIG. 2.
  • the volume control knob 14 will function to set the overall volume emanating from the four speakers, this being the sum of the independent outputs of the speakers.
  • a second control lever 30, which is a fader control for front to back balancing, extends through a vertical elongated slot within the tape player 10 and is attached to a potentiometer to cause balancing of the speakers 22 and 26 with respect to the speakers 20 and 24. They being at the front and rear of the operator respectively.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of a volume, balance and fader control circuit which can be used in a four channel sound system.
  • the volume, balance and fader control circuit is designated generally by reference numeral 35 and is used'to control the relative output volume levels of the four channels driving the four speakers 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  • Connected to each of these speakers is a corresponding, independent audio signal translating channel, 36, 38, 40 and 42, respectively, each having an independent and isolated input terminal.
  • the input terminal of each of these signal translating channels may be connected to a magnetic pick-up device, not shown, to extract audio signal information from discrete tracks of the magnetic tape within the cartridge 18. There is no intercoupling of audio signal information from one signal translating channel to the other and the only audio mixing that takes place will occur in the air space substantially centrally of the four speakers so that the listener is surrounded or substantially surrounded by sound.
  • each of the signal translating channels 36, 38, 40 and 42 Connected in circuit with each of the signal translating channels 36, 38, 40 and 42 is a corresponding transistor 44, 46, 48 and 50, respectively, each of which act as a variable impedance device in the circuit to control the gain of the audio signal passing therethrough.
  • the transistors 44, 46, 48 and 50 are here illustrated as NPN transistors with the collector electrode thereof connected to the signal translating channel and the emitter electrode thereof connected to ground potential. However, it will be understood that a PNP type transistor may be used and the opposite electrode connection can be effected in either case.
  • a first variable impedance element is provided by a potentiometer 52 which acts as a balance control and has one end thereof connected to the first and second channels 36 and 38 and the other end thereof connected to the third and fourth channels 40 and 42.
  • a movable contactor 52a of the potentiometer 52 is readily adjustable between the ends of the potentiometer to effect a variable voltage divider network between the respective pairs of channels connected at the ends thereof. By so adjusting the position of the movable contactor 52a, the amount of DC voltage delivered to the respective pairs of channels, at the base of their associated transistor, is thus varied-but the total sum of such DC voltage remains the same. This causes balancing of the respective pairs of channelswhile at the same time maintaining a constant volume with respect to the total output of the pairs of channels because potentiometer 52 is connected only as a voltage divider and not as a limiting element or shunting device.
  • a second variable resistance element is provided by a potentiometer 62 and this potentiometer then acts as a fader control for balancing the audio condition between the forward and back sets of speakers 22, 26 and 20, 24 respectively.
  • the potentiometer 62 has one end thereof connected to the first and third signal translating channels 36 and 40 and the other end thereof connected to the second and fourth signal translating channels 38 and 42.
  • the potentiometer 62 is, in similar manner, connected as a voltage divider element with the movable contactor 62a thereof dividing a fixed amount of DC voltage between the respective forward and rear sets of channels.
  • a fixed valued, series connected resistor is connected between the base electrode of the respective transistors 44, 46, 48 and 50 to serve as bias current limiting devices in the circuit.
  • these resistors in some instances, may be eliminated.
  • the top end of potentiometer 52 is connected to a pair of fixed valued resistors 70 and 72 while the bottom end of the potentiometer 52 is connected to a pair of fixed value resistors 74 and 76.
  • the top end of potentiometer 62 is connected to a pair of fixed valued resistors 78 and 80 and the bottom end of potentiometer is connected to a pair of fixed value resistors 82 and 84.
  • a volume potentiometer 64 has the movable contactor 64a thereof electrically connected directly to the movable contactors 52a and 62a of potentiometers 52 and 62, respectively.
  • the potentiometer 64 is connected to a 8+ supply through a terminal 66 in any suitable and well known manner.
  • the listener can adjust the levers 28 and 30 to effect movement of the contactors 52a and 62a, respectively, to center himself within the field of sound. After this adjustment is finished, he can then set the desired volume by adjusting the knob 14, which effects movement of the contactor 64a and such volume change will not upset the balance condition previously set by the balance and fader controls.
  • a volume balance and fader control circuit for a four channel sound translating and reproducing system including in combination, first, second,third and fourth sound signal translating channels, each for translating a different sound signal, each sound signal translating channel including a gain control device for varying the gain therein in response to a direct current potential applied thereto, and output speaker means for reproducing the sound, a volume control including variable resistance means for providing a selected direct current controlpotential, a balance control including a first tentiqmeter having an input and first and second outg l its, said mput being connected to said variable resistance means, said first output being connected to respective gain control devices in said first and second signal n'anslating channels, and said second output being connected to respective gain control devices in said third and fourth sound signal translating channels, a fader control including a second potentiometer having an input and first and second outputs, said input being connected to said variable resistance means, said first output being connected to respective gain control devices in said first and third sound signal translating channels and said second output being connected to respective gain control devices in said second and fourth
  • the volume balance and fader control circuit of claim 1 further including a transistor connected in circuit with each of said first, second, third and fourth sound signal translating channels, each transistor having the collector-emitter junction thereof connected in series with respective signal translating channel and ground potential and the base electrode of said transistors being coupled to said first and second potentiometer means.
  • the volume balance and fader control circuit of claim 2 further including a fixed resistor connected in series between said first and second potentiometer means and the base electrodes of the transistors connected thereto.
  • the volume balance and fader control circuit of claim 1 further including a first lever connected to said first potentiometer means, said first lever being movable back and forth in a first plane, and a second lever connected to said second potentiometer means said second lever being movable back and forth in a plane perpendicular to said first plane, said first and second levers being adjusted to effect a desired balancing condition of said first, second, third and fourth sound signal translating channels.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Stereophonic System (AREA)
  • Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Stereo-Broadcasting Methods (AREA)
  • Signal Processing Not Specific To The Method Of Recording And Reproducing (AREA)
US100579A 1970-12-22 1970-12-22 Volume, balance and fader control for four channel sound system Expired - Lifetime US3702901A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10057970A 1970-12-22 1970-12-22

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US3702901A true US3702901A (en) 1972-11-14

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US100579A Expired - Lifetime US3702901A (en) 1970-12-22 1970-12-22 Volume, balance and fader control for four channel sound system

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US (1) US3702901A (it)
JP (1) JPS512585Y2 (it)
CA (1) CA941310A (it)
DE (1) DE2161474A1 (it)
GB (1) GB1317530A (it)
IT (1) IT953204B (it)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3879747A (en) * 1968-12-04 1975-04-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Remote control device
DE2613199A1 (de) * 1975-08-22 1977-02-24 Shin Shirasuna Electric Corp Automatische verstaerkungssteuerschaltung
US4021610A (en) * 1974-09-06 1977-05-03 Motorola, Inc. Control circuit for a matrixed four channel audio reproducing system
US4113984A (en) * 1976-09-17 1978-09-12 General Motors Corporation Voltage translating circuit for volume and balance control of a four-channel audio system
US4245136A (en) * 1980-08-08 1981-01-13 Krauel Jr Robert W Monitor ampliphones
FR2505595A1 (fr) * 1981-05-07 1982-11-12 Rca Corp Dispositif pour faire correspondre les caracteristiques de reglage du volume en courant continu de deux canaux audio
US4404527A (en) * 1980-11-03 1983-09-13 General Motors Corporation Bridge audio amplifier including low level fade control
JPS59182700A (ja) * 1983-03-28 1984-10-17 レオナ−ド・ア−ル・カ−ン スピーカ装置
EP0166543A3 (en) * 1984-05-31 1986-12-17 Pioneer Electronic Corporation Mobile sound field correcting device
US4682364A (en) * 1984-07-21 1987-07-21 U.S. Philips Corporation Fader circuit arrangement in electrical reproducing apparatus and fader control for such an arrangement
US5073944A (en) * 1988-07-26 1991-12-17 Mazda Motor Corporation Audio system for automotive vehicles
US5122720A (en) * 1989-12-01 1992-06-16 Martinsound Technologies, Inc. Automated fader system
US20020076065A1 (en) * 2000-11-09 2002-06-20 Pioneer Corporation Volume controller
US20040161126A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2004-08-19 Rosen Michael D. Controlling fading and surround signal level
US20050185806A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2005-08-25 Salvador Eduardo T. Controlling fading and surround signal level
US20060280316A1 (en) * 2005-06-09 2006-12-14 Lear Corporation Audio system and method for controlling an audio system
WO2008006376A1 (en) * 2006-07-13 2008-01-17 Bang & Olufsen A/S A method, apparatus, and system for spatial redistribution of direct and ambient sound.

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2148030A (en) * 1936-07-25 1939-02-21 Rca Corp Automatic tone control system
US2474191A (en) * 1947-06-06 1949-06-21 Avco Mfg Corp Tone control
US2488410A (en) * 1945-01-26 1949-11-15 Rca Corp Control circuits for alternating current transmission networks
US2899505A (en) * 1959-08-11 Re-recording mixer for multi-sound track records
US3397286A (en) * 1964-09-17 1968-08-13 Gen Motors Corp Four-speaker adjustable stereo sound system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2899505A (en) * 1959-08-11 Re-recording mixer for multi-sound track records
US2148030A (en) * 1936-07-25 1939-02-21 Rca Corp Automatic tone control system
US2488410A (en) * 1945-01-26 1949-11-15 Rca Corp Control circuits for alternating current transmission networks
US2474191A (en) * 1947-06-06 1949-06-21 Avco Mfg Corp Tone control
US3397286A (en) * 1964-09-17 1968-08-13 Gen Motors Corp Four-speaker adjustable stereo sound system

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3879747A (en) * 1968-12-04 1975-04-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd Remote control device
US4021610A (en) * 1974-09-06 1977-05-03 Motorola, Inc. Control circuit for a matrixed four channel audio reproducing system
DE2613199A1 (de) * 1975-08-22 1977-02-24 Shin Shirasuna Electric Corp Automatische verstaerkungssteuerschaltung
US4113984A (en) * 1976-09-17 1978-09-12 General Motors Corporation Voltage translating circuit for volume and balance control of a four-channel audio system
US4245136A (en) * 1980-08-08 1981-01-13 Krauel Jr Robert W Monitor ampliphones
US4404527A (en) * 1980-11-03 1983-09-13 General Motors Corporation Bridge audio amplifier including low level fade control
DE3217231A1 (de) * 1981-05-07 1982-11-25 RCA Corp., 10020 New York, N.Y. Anordnung zur angepassten steuerung der lautstaerke zweier tonkanaele
US4404429A (en) * 1981-05-07 1983-09-13 Rca Corporation Matching volume control characteristics for two channels
FR2505595A1 (fr) * 1981-05-07 1982-11-12 Rca Corp Dispositif pour faire correspondre les caracteristiques de reglage du volume en courant continu de deux canaux audio
JPH0732519B2 (ja) 1983-03-28 1995-04-10 レオナ−ド・ア−ル・カ−ン スピーカ装置
JPS59182700A (ja) * 1983-03-28 1984-10-17 レオナ−ド・ア−ル・カ−ン スピーカ装置
EP0120126A3 (en) * 1983-03-28 1985-09-18 Leonard Richard Kahn Systems of speaker arrangements
EP0166543A3 (en) * 1984-05-31 1986-12-17 Pioneer Electronic Corporation Mobile sound field correcting device
US4682364A (en) * 1984-07-21 1987-07-21 U.S. Philips Corporation Fader circuit arrangement in electrical reproducing apparatus and fader control for such an arrangement
US5073944A (en) * 1988-07-26 1991-12-17 Mazda Motor Corporation Audio system for automotive vehicles
US5122720A (en) * 1989-12-01 1992-06-16 Martinsound Technologies, Inc. Automated fader system
US5293102A (en) * 1989-12-01 1994-03-08 Martinsound Technologies, Inc. Automated fader system
US20020076065A1 (en) * 2000-11-09 2002-06-20 Pioneer Corporation Volume controller
US7184558B2 (en) * 2000-11-09 2007-02-27 Pioneer Corporation Volume controller
US20040161126A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2004-08-19 Rosen Michael D. Controlling fading and surround signal level
US20050185806A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2005-08-25 Salvador Eduardo T. Controlling fading and surround signal level
US7305097B2 (en) * 2003-02-14 2007-12-04 Bose Corporation Controlling fading and surround signal level
US20080107293A1 (en) * 2003-02-14 2008-05-08 Bose Corporation Controlling Fading And Surround Signal Level
US8073169B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2011-12-06 Bose Corporation Controlling fading and surround signal level
US20060280316A1 (en) * 2005-06-09 2006-12-14 Lear Corporation Audio system and method for controlling an audio system
WO2008006376A1 (en) * 2006-07-13 2008-01-17 Bang & Olufsen A/S A method, apparatus, and system for spatial redistribution of direct and ambient sound.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1317530A (en) 1973-05-23
CA941310A (en) 1974-02-05
DE2161474A1 (de) 1972-07-13
IT953204B (it) 1973-08-10
JPS512585Y2 (it) 1976-01-26
JPS471120U (it) 1972-08-11

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