Architectural sound enhancement with pre-filtered masking sound
US7548854B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04K2203/34
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A unique, fully integrated, fully programmable, and highly flexible sound distribution system and methodology for providing masking sound, background music, and paging capabilities in up to eight zones of a building or space is provided. The methodology embodied in the system includes internal masking sounds that are uniquely pre-filtered to provide efficient and effective masking of distracting sounds within selectable zones of the space with a minimum masking sound dB sound level and with a pleasant sounding and non-annoying masking sound. The system also incorporates the capacity to be controlled from a remote or local telephone to adjust the volume level in any zone serviced by the system by issuing appropriate DTMF codes from the telephone's keypad. Unique bi-tone diagnostic functions are provided for assuring that the entire system is correctly wired and installed and for troubleshooting operational anomalies. ⅓ octave equalization is provided to compensate for known frequency response characteristics of the flat panel radiators of the system and to compensate for varying room acoustics to provide a low special variation of sound among the various zones of the space. The resu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.