Methods and apparatus for automatically synchronizing and regulating volume in audio component systems

A method for regulating an auxiliary signal based upon a primary signal scaled by an audio amplifier, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the primary signal with a level;
• monitoring the level of the primary signal;
• defining said monitored level as a unscaled level of the primary signal;
• providing the primary signal to the amplifier;
• receiving the primary signal with a scaled level from the amplifier;
• monitoring the scaled level of the primary signal;
• generating a gain factor based on the unscaled level and the scaled level of the primary signal, said gain factor representing the amount of gain effected in the amplifier on said primary signal;
• receiving the auxiliary signal;
• adjusting a level of the auxiliary signal proportional to said gain factor;
• and
• providing the auxiliary signal with said adjusted level.

A surround-sound audio system with automatic volume control of the volume of a plurality of surround-sound channels, said audio system comprising:

• a receiver including an amplifier, a volume control, front channel inputs, and front channel outputs;
• an electronic component for providing a source signal;
• a volume-tracking system including:
• a source signal input connected to said electronic component for receiving the source signal;
• processing circuitry connected to said source signal input for decoding the source signal into front channel signals and surround-sound signals, for monitoring a level of the front channel signals, and for defining a unscaled level of the front channel signals based on said monitored level;
• front channel signal outputs connected to said front channel inputs of said receiver for providing the front channel signals to the amplifier, said receiver for scaling the level of the front channel signals with said amplifier based on said volume control and for providing the front channel signals with a scaled level to said front channel outputs thereof;
• scaled front channel signal inputs connected to said front channel outputs of said receiver for receiving the front channel signals with the scaled level, said scaled front channel signal inputs being connected to said processing circuitry;
• said processing circuitry for:
• monitoring the scaled level of the front channel signals, and
• generating a gain factor based upon the unscaled level and the scaled level of the front channel signals;
• adjusting circuitry connected to said processing circuitry for:
• receiving said gain factor;
• adjusting a level of the surround-sound signals based upon said gain factor;
• and
• providing the surround-sound signals with an adjusted level;
• surround-sound signal outputs connected to said adjusting circuitry for providing the surround-sound signals with the adjusted level;
• and
• front channel signal outputs connected to said scaled front channel signal inputs for providing the front channel signals with the scaled level;
• front channel speakers connected to said front channel signal outputs of said volume-tracking system for receiving the front channel signals with the scaled level;
• and
• surround-sound speakers connected to said surround-sound signal outputs of said volume-tracking system for receiving the surround-sound signals with the adjusted level.

A system for determining a gain factor that is indicative of the amount an audio amplifier scales a primary signal, said system comprising:

• a primary signal input for receiving the primary signal with a level;
• processing circuitry connected to said primary signal input for determining an unscaled level of the primary signal;
• a primary signal output connected to said processing circuitry for providing the primary signal to the amplifier, the amplifier for scaling the level of the primary signal and for providing the primary signal with a scaled level;
• a scaled primary signal input for receiving the primary signal with the scaled level from the amplifier, said scaled primary signal input being connected to said processing circuitry;
• said processing circuitry for generating a gain factor based upon the unscaled level and the scaled level of the primary signal only, said gain factor representing the amount of gain effected in the amplifier on said primary signal;
• an auxiliary signal input for receiving an auxiliary signal;
• adjusting circuitry connected to said auxiliary signal input and to said processing circuitry, said adjusting circuitry for:
• receiving said gain factor;
• adjusting a level of the auxiliary signal based upon said gain factor;
• and
• providing the auxiliary signal with an adjusted level;
• and
• an auxiliary signal output connected to said adjusting circuitry for providing the auxiliary signal with the adjusted level.

A method for determining a gain factor that is indicative of the amount an audio amplifier scales a primary signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining an unscaled level of a primary signal provided to the amplifier;
• determining a scaled level of the primary signal received from the amplifier;
• generating a gain factor based on the unscaled level and the scaled level of the primary signal only, said gain factor representing the amount of gain effected in the amplifier on said primary signal;
• receiving an auxiliary signal;
• and
• adjusting a level of the auxiliary signal based upon said gain factor.