Patent · US Expired

Two-channel programmable sound generator with volume control

US5802187A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
6References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 26, 1996
Grant dateSep 1, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K15/02
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Disclosed is a programmable sound generator for generating digital outputs of tone and noise signals used for producing computer sound effects. The programmable sound generator includes at least two channels generating digital output serving as either tone signal or noise signal. A mixer is used to process the outputs of the channels in a digital, time-sharing manner. A volume controller coupled to the mixer is used to control the volume of the sound in a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) manner. Also, the volume controller allows its output to become floating when the programmable sound generator is not in use so as to allow another sound generating means to share the same sound transducing means. In the programmable sound generator, the tone generation and the noise generation share the same hardware, which allows low-cost production of the programmable sound generator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.