US 5,313,524 AGranted

Self-contained active sound reproducer with switchable control unit master/slave

AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation

InventorsSteven T. F. Van Hulle, Rudi R. F. De Laet, Omer C. J. Vanvuchelen

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Abstract

An active sound reproducer (76, 78) receives an audio signal and setting signals (volume settings, filter coefficients) via a digital bus (75) for processing the audio signal. Normally, the setting signals are applied by a suitable ("compatible") control unit (74). If this unit is not present, this task is taken over by one sound reproducer operating as a "master". In a setup procedure, it is determined which one of the sound reproducers operates as a master. Each sound reproducer is adapted to receive remote control signals and to transmit these signals to the master reproducer via the digital bus. This master reproducer then distributes the setting signals to the relevant sound reproducers via the digital bus. The control unit or the reproducer operating as a master may be located in another space.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An active sound reproducer, comprising:

an audio input for receiving an audio signal;
a signal processing circuit for processing the audio signal in response to applied setting signals;
a control input for receiving control signals including said setting signals;
a control circuit, coupled to the control input, for applying the setting signals to the signal processing circuit, characterized in that the sound reproducer has a control output for transmitting control signals and means for receiving remote control signals, and in that the control circuit is switchable in a "master mode" in which said control circuit is adapted to generate the setting signals and to apply said setting signals to the control output when remote control signals are received, and in a "slave mode" in which said control circuit is adapted to apply received remote control signals to said control output. said slave mode being effected even if the received remote control signals result in setting signals for controlling the active sound reproducer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.