Unitary Audio Bus for Immersive Speaker and Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cinema sound systems face challenges in upgrading to immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos, requiring significant investment for new hardware and cabling, and lack efficient power and data transmission solutions for synchronized audio and lighting controls.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a unitary transmission bus to transmit power, digital audio data, and light control data over a common conductor, allowing for efficient distribution of power and data to speakers and lights, with integrated power supply stages and monitoring components to adjust gains dynamically based on environmental and operational conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional separate power amplifiers are used for each speaker channel, then reliable audio power delivery is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate power amplifiers into a single integrated power amplifier unit that can deliver power to multiple speaker channels simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the number of individual amplifier components while maintaining the reliability of audio power delivery across all channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated power amplifier is designed to serve multiple functions by providing power to various speaker channels (front, center, surround, height) through a single device. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate amplifiers for each channel, reducing overall system complexity.
2Power
If multiple separate amplifiers are deployed to support immersive audio formats, then adequate power distribution is achieved, but heating and power consumption issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple amplifier functions into a single integrated unit, the patent reduces the total number of power conversion stages and associated losses. The unified power supply and output stages operate more efficiently, generating less heat compared to multiple separate amplifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic gain control and power management that adjusts operational parameters based on real-time audio content and environmental conditions. This optimization reduces unnecessary power consumption and heat generation while maintaining adequate power distribution to all speaker channels.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing speaker wiring is used for immersive audio upgrade, then installation cost is reduced, but signal transmission quality and synchronization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage that conditions and prepares audio signals before transmission over the existing speaker wiring. This intermediary equipment compensates for potential signal degradation, ensuring transmission quality while utilizing the existing wiring infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary signal processing and synchronization preparation before audio transmission, ensuring that signals are optimized for transmission over the existing wiring. This preliminary action prevents signal quality deterioration during transmission.
4Device complexity
If traditional amplification systems are used, then simple system architecture is maintained, but adaptability to immersive audio formats and lighting control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated power amplifier incorporates multiple functions including audio amplification, immersive audio format support, and lighting control capabilities within a single device. This multi-functionality provides adaptability to various audio formats and control applications without significantly increasing system architectural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic configuration capabilities that allow it to adapt to different immersive audio formats and lighting control schemes through software or firmware settings rather than requiring physical reconfiguration. This dynamic adaptability maintains architectural simplicity while expanding functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a power source outputting power to drive speakers and lights in a venue; a control unit coupled to the power source and outputting multi-channel digital audio data to the speakers and light control data to the lights; and a unitary transmission bus coupling the output of the power source to the speakers and the lights and transmitting the power, the digital audio data, and the light control data to the speakers and the lights. The lighting control data comprises metadata superimposed over the digital audio data and power. Other actuators besides lights may also be used such as e.g. steam/water generators, smell/aroma generators, prop movements, LCD displays, hologram generators, and the like.