Title: Balance control system for multichannel audio apparatus

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. A balance control system for multichannel audio apparatus wherein stereophonic signals are transmitted through at least two audio channels of said audio apparatus, comprising:

adjustable balance control means connected to said audio channels for selectively controlling the relative amplitudes of the respective stereophonic signals transmitted therethrough with respect to each other; and

adjustable signal delay means included in at least one of said audio channels, said signal delay means being adjustable simultaneously with said balance control means for selectively delaying the stereophonic signal transmitted through said one audio channel with respect to the remaining stereophonic signals.

2. The balance control system of claim 1 wherein said multichannel audio apparatus includes two audio channels and wherein said signal delay means comprises a signal delay circuit in each of said audio channels.

3. The balance control system of claim 2 wherein each of said signal delay circuits comprises a variable delay circuit connected in series with one of said audio channels and responsive to a control signal applied thereto for establishing a corresponding delay; and control signal generating means adjustable simultaneously with said balance control means and connected to said variable delay circuit for generating a control signal determinative of said delay.

4. The balance control system of claim 3 wherein each of said variable delay circuits comprises a frequency dependent delay circuit for establishing said delay in accordance with the frequency of said control signal applied thereto; and said control signal generating means comprises variable frequency signal generating means.

5. The balance control system of claim 4 wherein each of said frequency dependent delay circuits comprises charge transfer means.

6. The balance control system of claim 2 wherein said signal delay circuits comprise variable delay circuits for establishing respective delays in accordance with respective control signals applied thereto; and control signal generating circuits coupled to said respective variable delay circuits and adjustable simultaneously with said balance control means for generating respective control signals having an inverse relationship to each other such that the delay established by the variable delay circuit in one of said two audio channels is decreased when the delay established by the variable delay circuit in the other of said two audio channels is increased.

7. The balance control system of claim 6 wherein said variable delay circuits are frequency dependent delay circuits; and wherein said control signal generating circuits comprise first and second variable oscillators coupled to respective ones of said frequency dependent delay circuits, said variable oscillators being coupled to adjustable biasing means for supplying first and second bias potentials thereto to determine the oscillating frequencies of said first and second variable oscillators, respectively, said adjustable biasing means being adjusted simultaneously with said balance control means, whereby said first and second bias potentials are inversely adjustable with respect to each other.

8. The balance control system of claim 7 wherein said balance control means comprises a balancing potentiometer coupled between said audio channels; and said adjustable biasing means comprises a further potentiometer coupled between said variable oscillators; said balancing potentiometer and said variable potentiometer being ganged for simultaneous adjustment.

9. The balance control system of claim 6 wherein said multichannel audio apparatus includes two additional audio channels, each including variable delay circuits for establishing respective delays in accordance with respective control signals applied thereto.

10. The balance control system of claim 9 further including additional control signal generating circuits adjustable simultaneously with said balance control means and coupled to the respective additional variable delay circuits for generating said respective control signals.

11. The balance control system of claim 10 wherein said balance control means comprises a plurality of balancing potentiometers coupled between respective ones of said audio channels and wherein pairs of said balancing potentiometers are ganged for simultaneous adjustment and pairs of said control signal generating means are adjustable simultaneously with associated pairs of said balancing potentiometers.

12. A balance control system for multichannel audio apparatus wherein stereophonic signals are transmitted through four audio channels of said audio apparatus, comprising:

balance control means connected to said audio channels including a first balance control circuit coupled to first and second audio channels for selectively adjusting the relative amplitudes of first and second stereophonic signals with respect to each other; a second balance control circuit coupled to third and fourth audio channels for selectively adjusting the relative amplitudes of third and fourth stereophonic signals with respect to each other; a third balance control circuit coupled to said first and third audio channels for selectively adjusting the relative amplitudes of said first and third stereophonic signals with respect to each other; and a fourth balance control circuit coupled to said second and fourth audio channels for selectively adjusting the relative amplitudes of said second and fourth stereophonic signals with respect to each other;

a variable delay circuit included in each of said audio channels and responsive to a control signal applied thereto for imparting a corresponding delay to the stereophonic signal transmitted through said audio channel; and

control signal generating circuits coupled to respective ones of said variable delay circuits and operable in respective pairs simultaneously with at least one of said balance control circuits for generating control signals determinative of said corresponding delays.

13. The balance control system of claim 12 wherein each of said balance control circuits comprises a balancing potentiometer connected across associated audio channels; and wherein first and second ones of said control signal generating circuits are adjustable simultaneously with said first balancing potentiometer for adjusting the control signals generated thereby in an inverse relationship with respect to each other, third and fourth ones of said control signal generating circuits are adjustable simultaneously with said second balancing potentiometer for adjusting the control signals generated thereby in an inverse relationship with respect to each other, said first and third control signal generating circuits are adjustable simultaneously with said third balancing potentiometer for adjusting the control signals generated thereby in an inverse relationship with respect to each other, and said second and fourth control signal generating circuits are adjustable simultaneously with said fourth balancing potentiometer for adjusting the control signals generated thereby in an inverse relationship with respect to each other.

Other info:

Inventors: Osakabe, Yoshio (Yokohama, JA)
Ishizaka, Koichi (Tokyo, JA)
Satoh, Sumio (Yokohama, JA)

Application Number: 534302
Filing Date: 1974-12-19
Publication_date: 1976-05-11
Assignee: Sony Corporation (Tokyo, JA)
Primary Class(es): 330/124R 330/295, 381/19, 381/28
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3835237

Sep, 1974

Adachi

84/1.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Mullins, James B.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Eslinger; Lewis H., Sinderbrand; Alvin