Digital Audio Distribution
AssigneeCrestron Electronics, Inc.
InventorsMark LaBosco, Dario Pagano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A master transmitter distributes a plurality of audio channels to one or more expansion receivers as a multiplexed audio stream. Control information is also transmitted between the master transmitter and the expansion receivers. Both the control information and the multiplexed audio stream are transmitted on the same cable allowing for reduced clutter and cheaper material and installation costs.
Claims40
A system for distributing audio comprising:
- (a) a master transmitter configured for
- (i) multiplexing a plurality of audio channels as a time-division multiplexed audio stream,
- (ii) transmitting the time-division multiplexed audio stream on a first communication path, and
- (iii) transmitting control information on a second communication path;
- and
- (b) an expansion receiver configured for
- (i) receiving the time-division multiplexed audio stream and control information;
- (ii) demultiplexing the time-division multiplexed audio stream;
- and
- (iii) distributing a desired audio channel to a speaker according to the control information.
A device configured for transmitting a plurality of audio channels as a time division multiplexed audio stream, said device comprising:
- (a) an analog audio input path, the analog audio input path comprising an analog to digital converter configured for receiving two analog audio signals and outputting a digital audio stream in I2S format at twenty-four bits precision;
- (b) a digital audio input path, the digital audio input paths comprising a sample rate converter configured for receiving a two channels of audio and outputting a digital audio stream in I2S format at twenty-four bits precision synchronized and phase locked with the analog audio input path;
- (c) an address module configured for inserting a first address and a second address into unused portions of each I2S stream;
- (d) a multiplexer module configured for multiplexing the I2S streams as a time division multiplexed signal with an embedded clock;
- (e) a physical layer interface configured for transmitting the time-division multiplexed audio stream on a first communication path and control information on a second communication path.
A device for receiving a time-division multiplexed audio stream and distributing demultiplexed audio signals to one or more speakers, the device comprising:
- (a) a physical layer interface for receiving the time-division multiplexed audio stream on a first communication path and control information on a second communication path, the time-division multiplexed audio stream comprising a plurality of audio channels;
- (b) a demultiplexer module for demultiplexing the time-division multiplexed audio stream into a plurality of I2S streams, each I2S stream comprising two audio channels;
- (c) a crosspoint configured for routing a desired I2S stream to an output path according to the control information;
- and
- (d) the output path configured for transmitting the I2S stream to a speaker, the output path further comprising a digital signal processor, a digital to analog converter and an audio power amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.