# US 5,349,639 A · Automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device and method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,639 A - Document ID: US5349639A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/054,436 - Filed: 1993-04-30 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1993-04-30 - Inventors: Patrick Goodrich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349639A ## CPC - H04R 5/04: 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)} - H03G 1/02: Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth (combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J) - H03G 3/342: {Muting when some special characteristic of the signal is sensed which distinguishes it from noise, e.g. using speech detector (H03G3/344, H03G3/345 take precedence)} - H04M 1/82: Line monitoring circuits for call progress or status discrimination {(for detecting caller identity H04M1/573)} - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A combined audio system and automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device is disclosed which provides an audio system combined with an automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device comprising an audio attenuation portion for attenuating audio signals and a plurality of network interface portions for controlling the audio attenuation portion in response to changes in telephone system inputs to the network interfaces. In addition, the audio attenuation portion is provided with at least two separate audio input/output connections to provide a plurality of configurations of the attenuating portion to yield different degrees of audio signal attenuation. The combined audio system and automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device can accommodate plurality of telephones in addition to a plurality of audio signal channels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combined audio system and automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device, comprising, in combination: audio system means having a plurality of components for transforming audio signals to audible signals; an automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device comprising: audio attenuating means having at least first audio input/output connection means and second audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals, said audio attenuating means having at least a first and a second configuration together providing a plurality of degrees of audio signal attenuation; a plurality of network interface means each having at least one input from a telephone system and at least one connection to said audio attenuating means for controlling said audio attenuating means in response to changes to said at least one input from said telephone system; and plurality of signal means each providing a voltage difference between two inputs from said telephone system of each of said plurality of network interface means coupled to a base junction of each of a plurality of transistors for controlling said transistors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said audio signals are applied as inputs to said first audio input/output connection means and outputted through said second audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals by approximately 20 decibels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said audio signals are applied as inputs to said second audio input/output connection means and outputted through said first audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals by approximately 30 decibels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said audio attenuating means comprising a plurality of transistor means connected together for attenuating said audio signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said audio attenuating means is provided with audio attenuation smoothing means for minimizing the occurrence of audible clicking type transients when each of said audio signals is attenuated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said input from said telephone system of each of said plurality of network interface means supplies power to operate said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 including overload protection means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a resistor for protecting said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high positive voltage surges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein said overload protection means protects said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high negative voltage surges. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 including audio fluttering prevention means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a diode for preventing audio signal fluttering. ### Claim 10 A method of operating a combined audio system and automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device comprising the steps of: providing audio system means having a plurality of components for transforming audio signals to audible signals; providing an automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device comprising the steps of: providing audio attenuating means having at least first audio input/output connection means and second audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals, said audio attenuating means having at least a first and a second configuration together providing a plurality of degrees of audio signal attenuation; providing a plurality of network interface means each having at least one input from a telephone system and at least one connection to said audio attenuating means for controlling said audio attenuating means in response to changes to said at least one input from said telephone system; and providing a plurality of signal means each having a voltage difference between two inputs from said telephone system of each of said plurality of network interface means coupled to a base junction of each of a plurality of transistors for controlling said transistors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said audio signals are applied as inputs to said first audio input/output connection means and outputted through said second audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals by approximately 20 decibels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said audio signals are applied as inputs to said second audio input/output connection means and outputted through said first audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals by approximately 30 decibels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said audio attenuating means comprising a plurality of transistor means connected together for attenuating said audio signals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said audio attenuating means is provided with audio attenuation smoothing means for minimizing the occurrence of audible clicking type transients when each of said audio signals is attenuated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said input from said telephone system of each of said plurality of network interface means supplies power to operate said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 including the step of providing overload protection means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a resistor for protecting said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high positive voltage surges. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said overload protection means protects said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high negative voltage surges. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 including the step of providing audio fluttering prevention means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a diode for preventing audio signal fluttering. ### Claim 19 A combined audio system and automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device, comprising, in combination: audio system means having a plurality of components for transforming audio signals to audible signals; an automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device comprising: audio attenuating means having at least first audio input/output connection means and second audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals, said audio attenuating means having at least a first and a second configuration together providing a plurality of degrees of audio signal attenuation; and network interface means having at least one direct electrical conduit input from a telephone system and at least one connection to said audio attenuating means for controlling said audio attenuating means in response to changes of signals on said at least one direct electrical conduit input from said telephone system, said at least one direct electrical conduit input from said telephone system providing all power necessary to operate said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from said telephone system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19 wherein said audio attenuating means is provided with audio attenuation smoothing means for minimizing the occurrence of audible clicking type transients when each of said audio signals is attenuated. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19 including overload protection means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a resistor for protecting said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high positive voltage surges. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21 wherein said overload protection means protects said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high negative voltage surges. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19 including audio fluttering prevention means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a diode for preventing audio signal fluttering. ### Claim 24 A method of operating a combined audio system and automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device, comprising the steps of: providing audio system means having a plurality of components for transforming audio signals to audible signals; operating an automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device comprising the steps of : providing audio attenuating means having at least first audio input/output connection means and second audio input/output connection means for attenuating said audio signals, said audio attenuating means having at least a first and a second configuration together providing a plurality of degrees of audio signal attenuation; and providing network interface means having at least one direct electrical conduit input from a telephone system and at least one connection to said audio attenuating means for controlling said audio attenuating means in response to changes of signals on said at least one direct electrical conduit input from said telephone system, said at least one direct electrical conduit input from said telephone system providing all power necessary to operate said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from said telephone system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein said audio attenuating means is provided with audio attenuation smoothing means for minimizing the occurrence of audible clicking type transients when each of said audio signals is attenuated. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 including the step of providing overload protection means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a resistor for protecting said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high positive voltage surges. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26 wherein said overload protection means protects said automatic electronic audio signal attenuating device from high negative voltage surges. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 including the step of providing audio fluttering prevention means coupled to said audio attenuating means and having at least a diode for preventing audio signal fluttering.