Claims
- 1. An audio distribution system for communicating audio signals between an audio source and a plurality of remote speakers comprising:
at least one audio source for generating an audio signal; a plurality of amplified volume controls, each disposable remote from the audio source, for receiving and amplifying the audio signal, to provide an amplified, speaker level audio signal; a power supply, disposable remote from one or more of the volume controls, for generating a power supply signal to power the volume controls; an audio/power distribution network, connectable to the audio source; power supply and the volume controls, for communicating the audio signal and power supply signal throughout the network; a plurality of audio/power distribution nodes, connected to the audio/power distribution network for interfacing the audio source, power supply, and volume controls to the audio/power distribution network; wherein the power supply and audio source may be connected to any of the audio/power distribution nodes to provide the audio signal and power signal to each of the volume controls.
- 2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio signal is a digital signal.
- 3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio/power distribution network comprises a multiconductor connector for communicating the audio signal and power signal to each of the volume controls.
- 4. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of audio sources, each connected to a separate audio/power distributor node.
- 5. The system as recited in claims 1 wherein the audio signal comprises a multichannel audio signal.
- 6. The system as recited in claim 1 or 4 wherein the audio/power distribution network comprises a token ring adapted to selectively communicate audio signals between at least one audio source and the plurality of volume controls.
- 7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio/power distribution network includes at least one RF transmitter and RF receiver for communicating the audio signal from the audio source to the volume controls.
- 8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the power supply is connectable to the audio/power distribution network proximate the audio source.
- 9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the power supply is connectable to the audio/power distribution network proximate one of the volume controls.
- 10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the audio/power distribution network comprises CAT-5 wiring.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/972,868 entitled POWERED VOLUME CONTROL FOR DISTRIBUTED AUDIO SYSTEM filed Nov. 18, 1997, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08972868 |
Nov 1997 |
US |
Child |
10145225 |
May 2002 |
US |