Alan A Hoover

US Patent:

6735314, May 11, 2004

Filed:

May 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/144495

Inventors:

Alan Henderson Hoover - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne

International Classification:

H04R 500

US Classification:

381 1, 381 17

Abstract:

A stereophonic processing system provided with spatial expansion of the stereophonic sound so that a pair of spaced-apart loudspeakers will acoustically appear to be spaced apart further then they actually are. The spatial expansion circuit includes tonal compensation.

US Patent:

6823072, Nov 23, 2004

Filed:

Nov 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/581147

Inventors:

Alan Anderson Hoover - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne-Billancourt

International Classification:

H04H 500

US Classification:

381 7

Abstract:

A peak to peak detector circuit for use in an audio system comprises a first amplifier having an input terminal for receiving an L+R AC audio signal and an output terminal which is serially coupled to a resistor in series with a capacitor for generating a variable dc voltage having a time vs. amplitude relationship corresponding to the input L+R AC audio signal. A clamping diode having a cathode electrode coupled to a reference potential and having an anode electrode coupled to the capacitor operates to limit negative amplitude excursions associated with the variable dc voltage to a predetermined minimal value. A rectifying diode having a cathode electrode coupled to the anode electrode of the clamping diode, and an anode electrode coupled to a second capacitor to charge the second capacitor responsive to the amplitude of said variable dc voltage operates to produce a dc output signal proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of said L+R audio signal.

US Patent:

6947564, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Dec 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/869493

Inventors:

Alan Anderson Hoover - Indianapolis IN, US

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing - Boulogne-Billancourt

International Classification:

H04R005/00

US Classification:

381 1, 381 2, 381 17

Abstract:

In a stereophonic expansion circuit, the (L+R) sum signal is spectrally modified by increasing the bass and treble frequencies relative to the midrange so as to compensate for a midrange frequency boost in the (L−R) difference signal. The stereophonic expansion effect and manipulation of the signal parameters are produced by active matrixing amplifiers.

US Patent:

20020069749, Jun 13, 2002

Filed:

Dec 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/819047

Inventors:

Alan Hoover - Indianapolis IN, US
Gary Osborne - Indianapolis IN, US

International Classification:

G10H003/26

US Classification:

084/738000

Abstract:

A sustainer for a musical instrument has at least one vibratory element arranged in a longitudinal direction. The sustainer provides a drive signal to a sustainer driver. The driver has a plurality of flux emitters disposed in an end-to-end relation perpendicular to the vibratory element. The driver emits a magnetic field to apply drive forces to the vibratory element in response to the drive signal. At least two of the flux emitters are magnetized by oppositely polarized permanent magnets. The flux emitters are arranged to narrow a magnetic gap between at least two of the flux emitters having oppositely polarized permanent magnets. The flux emitters are arranged such that they overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in order to improve magnetic drive of the vibratory element when the vibratory element is located near the magnetic gap.

US Patent:

20020131611, Sep 19, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/805342

Inventors:

Alan Hoover - Indianapolis IN, US
Mark Anderson - Indianapolis IN, US

International Classification:

H04H005/00
H03F021/00
H02B001/00

US Classification:

381/123000, 381/120000, 381/011000

Abstract:

An audio system has multiple amplifiers, each with power supply inputs and audio inputs and outputs, for driving audio speakers according to a selected one of at least two modes of operation in which a selection of the audio speakers and/or a required power output of the audio speakers differ between the modes. The invention is operable, for example, to an entertainment system that has internal and external speakers and associated amplifiers for switching between stereo and surround sound modes. At least two distinct power supply voltage sources are provided for the amplifiers, and a switching element operates upon switching between the modes to couple one or another of the distinct power supply voltage sources to the power supply inputs of respective ones of the at least two amplifiers. This the total audio output of the system from increasing, for example, when switching from two stereo outputs to five surround sound outputs.

US Patent:

20030197811, Oct 23, 2003

Filed:

Apr 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/126746

Inventors:

Alan Hoover - Indianapolis IN, US
Robert Morris - Indianapolis IN, US
Mark Simpson - Fishers IN, US

International Classification:

H04N005/60

US Classification:

348/738000

Abstract:

There is provided an acoustic sound reproducing apparatus for a first audio signal and having an input terminal for receiving a second audio signal, a selector switch and at least one loudspeaker. The at least one loudspeaker is driven by an output signal from one of the first or second audio signal through the selector switch. As a result, the acoustic sound reproducing apparatus, and the apparatus providing the second audio signal, can commonly use a single loudspeaker or set of loudspeakers. When the external audio signal is selected, the internal loudspeaker(s) becomes part of the external loudspeaker arrangement for a surround sound system. When more than one loudspeaker is used, the loudspeakers are connected to each other in series when they are connected to be driven by the external second audio input signal instead of each being driven by their respective amplifiers. This permits the loudspeakers to be driven by an external amplifier having a higher power output than the internal power amplifier so that the loudspeakers will not be damaged when driven by a higher power external amplifier.

US Patent:

20030198358, Oct 23, 2003

Filed:

Apr 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/126743

Inventors:

Alan Hoover - Indianapolis IN, US
Robert Morris - Indianapolis IN, US
Mark Simpson - Fishers IN, US

International Classification:

H02B001/00
H03F021/00

US Classification:

381/123000, 381/120000, 381/059000

Abstract:

There is provided an acoustic sound reproducing apparatus for a first audio signal and having an input terminal for receiving a second audio signal, a selector switch and at least one loudspeaker. The at least one loudspeaker is driven by an output signal from one of the first or second audio signal through the selector switch. As a result, the acoustic sound reproducing apparatus, and the apparatus providing the second audio signal, can commonly use a single loudspeaker or set of loudspeakers. When the external audio signal is selected, the internal loudspeaker(s) becomes part of the external loudspeaker arrangement for a surround sound system. When more than one loudspeaker is used, the loudspeakers are connected to each other in series when they are connected to be driven by the external second audio input signal instead of each being driven by their respective amplifiers. This permits the loudspeakers to be driven by an external amplifier having a higher power output than the internal power amplifier so that the loudspeakers will not be damaged when driven by a higher power external amplifier.

US Patent:

20050081703, Apr 21, 2005

Filed:

Oct 16, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/686745

Inventors:

Alan Hoover - Indianapolis IN, US

International Classification:

G10H003/18

US Classification:

084726000

Abstract:

An electroacoustic-type sustainer is provided for prolonging the vibrations of strings of a stringed musical instrument. The instrument has at least one magnetic pickup means responsive to the vibrations of the strings. The instrument pickup produces an output signal in response to the vibrations of the instrument strings. The sustainer comprises a string driver transducer capable of inducing vibrations in the strings, a sustainer amplifier having an input which accepts the pickup output signal, a control circuit to modify the pickup output signal, and an amplifier circuit which amplifies the pickup output signal to produce a drive signal. The sustainer amplifier has an output, from which the drive signal transfers sufficient energy to the string driver transducer to sustain the vibrations of the strings. The transducer has magnetic symmetry, providing less magnetic radiation than previous designs. The transducer is simple in construction. The transducer has an improved mounting design, for attachment to a musical instrument, and which efficiently coupled transducer vibrations to the instrument body. The transducer has an improved cord routing system. The sustainer has an improved automatic harmonic mode control for changing the harmonic vibration mode of the sustained string vibrations.