NL2026883B1 - Device and method for selectively connecting input and output connectors. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is related to a device for selectively connecting at least one audio input connector with at least one audio output connector, comprising, a number of (N) audio input connections, each for receiving an audio signal, a number of (M) audio output connections, each for outputting an audio signal, a number of N x M switches, each for controllably electrically connecting a unique combination of an input connection with an output connection, a controller, for controlling the N x M switches; Wherein the audio input and output connections and the switches are dimensioned for connecting respectively an amplified audio signal of at least 90 W and preferably at least 100 W, the switches are formed by MOSFETs; and the controller is configured to control the MOSFETs based on control data. The invention is further related to a method for selectively connecting at least one audio input connector with at least one audio output connector.

Description

Device and method for selectively connecting input and output connectors. The present invention is related to a device and a method for selectively connecting at least one audio input connector with at least one audio output connector.

The invention is more in particular related to selectively connecting audio input connectors that receive amplified analog signals, to audio output connectors that are either directly or indirectly connected to speakers.

In the state of the art amplifiers comprise typically a solid connection between the amplifier output and the speaker input. Hence, one has to physically adapt if a change is required. In these systems a digital audio signal is converted into analog signal by means of a signal converter. The analog signal can subsequently be amplified by the amplifier, which increases the amplitude of the signal to a predefined value that corresponds with a manually and/or digitally set desired amplification value. The amplified signal then has to be distributed towards, in most cases, a speaker. In general it is known to directly couple a single speaker to an amplifier. However, one can also connect a plurality of speakers to an amplifier. Moreover, it would even be possible to connect a plurality of speakers to a plurality of amplifiers. Such connections are in general predefined, and made up manually during the set-up. This is often the case in concert halls, or festival venues. The speakers are installed before the event, are all connected to amplifiers according to the wishes of an audio specialist who determines which amplifier should be connected to which one or more speakers. After installing, the connections are solid, that is, in the light of the invention, predefined and non-adaptable. However, such solid connections between amplifier outputs and speaker inputs are undesirable because of multiple reasons. First of a the usage of the amplifiers is very limited. If a signal is directed to an amplifier, this implicitly means the signal is directed towards a predefined speaker to which said amplifier is connected.

Moreover, if an amplifier should break down, an entire portion of the venue will loose its speaker output due to the solid connection between the broken amplifier and the connected speakers. Also, since all connections are placed manually, errors are easily introduced given the complex electronic lay-outs on festival venues. This might lead to unpleasant sounds in the music for the people visiting the festival.

It is therefore a goal of the present invention to allows for a more modular and reliable connection between input connectors and output connectors, or at least provide an alternative.

The present invention achieves this goal by providing a device for selectively connecting at least one audio input connector with at least one audio output connector, comprising a number of (N) audio input connections, each for receiving an audio signal, a number of (M) audio output connections, each for outputting an audio signal, a number of N x M switches, each for controllably electrically connecting a unique combination of an input connection with an output connection, a controller, for controlling the N x M switches, wherein the audio input and output connections and the switches are dimensioned for connecting respectively an amplified audio signal of at least 90 W and preferably at least 100W, the switches are formed by MOSFETs, and the controller is configured to control the MOSFETs based on control data. The power of the amplified audio signal is however not limited, and the device according to the present invention is capable of handling a power of up to, but not limited to, 240 kW, wherein each switch can handle a power up to, but not limited to, around 60 kW.

The device according to the present invention allows for a quickly adaptable connection between input connectors and output connectors. The input connectors of the device are in general connected to one or more amplifiers. The output connectors of the device are in general connected to one or more speakers.

However, the device is also suitable for use in any situation where input connectors should be connected to output connectors. The invention is in particular related to situations wherein there are a plurality of input connectors and a plurality of output connectors, wherein there shall be made an electronic connection between at least one input connector and at least one output connector. Said electronic connection is made by a controller, which is able to selectively electronically connect one input connector and one output connector. This electronic connection is established by using a plurality of switches. Each of said switches can establish a connection between one input connector and one output connector. In particular, each switch establishes a unique connection, wherein the number of switches is preferable at least equal to the amount of unique combinations of connections between the input connectors and the output connectors.

The present invention is related to switching audio signals, in particular amplified audio signals.

These signals tend to be high power, demanding high-end quality of the components used.

Therefore, all components used for creating the device according to the invention should be rated to withstand, preferably with a predefined margin, the power.

The controller is configured to control the switches based on control data, which control data may comprise any information required to effectively connect the correct input connector with the correct output connector.

Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) are suitable switches for the current application.

Any electronic component that is able to withstand the power of the signals used in the present application and is able to selectively form or release an electronic connection could be used.

Examples of such switches are bipolar transistors, both N-type and P- type, MOSFETs, both N-type and P-type.

Complementary pairs of MOSFETs could be used to create a switching circuit which consumes only a very low power, called

Complementary MOS (CMOS) logic.

Any switch could be used as long as the specifications are comparable to that of a MOSFET.

It should be understood that, where a device is claimed, the components of said device could be placed inside a bigger device, such as for example an amplifier system.

The device does therefore not necessarily have to be stand alone and could be part of a larger whole.

For example MOSFETs can be used having a capacity of 650 V and 90 A.

According to another embodiment of the present invention at least the input connections and/or the output connections are housed in one connector.

By using a single connector for housing at least the input connections and/or the output connections an easy connection can be made between the device according to the present invention and the amplifiers and/or speakers to which the device is to be connected.

It is furthermore conceivable that the device according to the present invention comprises a common connection board, which board is provided with the connector.

The device could as such be insertable into a larger device such as an amplifier system.

By sliding in the device it is connected to the amplifier assembly and can effectively connect the amplifiers to speakers easily.

In a different embodiment the controller is configured to receive the control data, either wired or wireless, and/or from a file and/or a memory and/or manual input by a user.

Control data in the present application should be understood broadly.

This could be any data that provides the controller enough information to establish a correct connection. The control data can be received by wire, for example by means of an additional connector for receiving control data. However the controller might also be configured to receive the control data wirelessly, by means of any wireless communication technology. Moreover, a user could provide a control file which comprises all required data to the controller using a manual input. This manual input could be in any form, such as a screen and keyboard or a touchscreen. However, the data might as well be provided automatically, based on information present in the system. Yet, it is also conceivable that any combination thereof is used. The controller could by default be configured in an automatic mode wherein the controller automatically controls the switches based on the control data. If also a touchscreen or memory location is available the user could, by means of manual input of control data, opt to overrule the automatic mode and take over the control by providing the required control data.

In a different embodiment at least one switch, preferably all switches are positioned on a common switchboard. By forming a common board all components can be easily mutually connected. The switchboard might in particular be formed by a printed circuit board, wherein all connections between the input connectors and the output connectors are embedded in the circuit board, the switches are configured for switching between the plurality of unique connections. It is also conceivable that the switchboard is a flexible electronic board, wherein the board is flexible moving, such that it is allowed to be positioned in tight spaces.

In a different embodiment the control data comprises at least a predetermined output connection related to the at least one audio signal received by at least one input connection, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the MOSFETs such that the at least one input connection receiving the at least one audio signal is electrically connected to the predetermined output connection. Using a predetermined output as control data the controller is able to timely and selectively establish the desired connection between the desired input and output connectors. The predetermined output connections should therefore however be related to a certain input audio signal, such that the controller can control the MOSFETs such that the correct MOSFET is provided with a power in order to make a connection between the input connector where said audio input signal arrives, and the predetermined audio output connector.

In again a different embodiment the electrical pathlength between each input 5 connection and output connection are substantially equal in length, such that mutual delays in signals are prevented.

Doing so prevents that the time a signal has to travel from an input connector to an output connector will always be substantially identical.

Timing delays between audio signals can result in very unpleasant situations, very much so in high volume venues.

One can also realize this effect by means of software delays for certain signals which travel a shorter electronic distance, however ensuring substantially equal electronic pathways is easier.

To this end the device may comprise a common hardware clock, such that in the case one signal still arrives marginally earlier or later with respect to a predetermined timing, software delays can be employed to said signal to counteract for the delay.

Pathlengths of the connections between the input and output can be either manually computed or by the use of one of many circuit board design software packages.

In yet another embodiment the device is adapted for simultaneously electrically connecting at least two input connections with at least two output connections, for connecting at least two input audio signals.

It is beneficial when the device is adapted to arrange multiple signals selectively at once.

The device is thus configured to simultaneously establish an electrical connection between a first input connector and a first output connector and between a second signal input connector and a second signal output connector.

The device is however not limited to this number, and can in fact simultaneously arrange an arbitrary number of input signals.

In a different embodiment the device further comprises a cooling system, for cooling the switches.

The switches, in particular MOSFETs tend to heat up due to internal inefficiencies.

These inefficiencies are caused by parasitic capacitances.

The parasitic capacitances can be contemplated as a parameter that limits the frequency at which the MOSFET can operate and limit the switching speed.

The drain and source of a MOSFET are typically insulated from the gate through a so called gate oxide film.

In general three parameters relate to the parasitic capacitances, being the input capacitance, output capacitance and the feedback capacitance.

The input capacitance is equal to the gate source capacitance and the gate drain capacitance together.

The output capacitance is equal to the drain source capacitance and gate drain together, whereas the feedback capacitance is equal to the gate drain capacitance.

These parameters depend typically on the drain source voltage.

Generally the feedback capacity has the biggest influence on the switching speed of the MOSFET.

If the MOSFET switches relatively slow, or there is a significant voltage drop over the MOSFET they heat up.

This heat has to be removed since it could potentially do damage.

Therefore a cooling system is used to cool down the MOSFETs.

The cooling system could be of any kind, such as liquid cooling or gaseous cooling.

In a different embodiment the device further comprises a cooling system, for cooling the connector.

Since a lot of high power connectors are positioned closed to one another, heat tends to build up in this region.

A cooling system is applied to cool down the connector such that it operates at an allowable temperature.

In yet again a different further embodiment the cooling system is a common cooling system, for cooling the switches and the connector simultaneously.

A common cooling system could cool both the connector as well as the MOSFETs using custom circuitry of coolant.

In a different embodiment the number of N x M switches are in particular 32 x 32 switches, more in particular 64 x 64. The number of switches is chosen based on the number of in and output connectors that have to be mutually connected.

However, the number of switches is not limited to this number, when a Field Programmable Gate Array is used, the numbers N and M can be arbitrarily chosen according to the desired amount of connections and possibilities.

Therefore, the amount of switches depend on the technique used and the requirements of the system.

The present invention is further related to a method for selectively connecting at least one audio input connector with at least one audio output connector, comprising the steps of a) receiving at least one audio signal, wherein the at least one audio signal is received on at least one of (N) audio input connections, b)

determining at least one output connection out of a number of (M) audio output connections, to which the at least one audio signal is to be connected, ¢) using a combination of N x M switches, said switches for controllably electrically connecting a unique combination of an input connection with an output connection, d) controlling, based on an input signal, the switches for selectively establishing a connection between the at least one input connection that received an audio signa and the at least one determined output connection. Using the method according to the present invention yields the same benefits as those gained from the device according to the invention. The benefits related to the device according to the present invention are therefore incorporated by reference with respect to the method.

In a different embodiment of the method according to the invention the switches are formed by MOSFETs, and wherein step d) comprises controlling the MOSFETs.

MOSFETs are suitable since they are compatible with high power signals and switch at a high frequency. In a different embodiment according to the method use is in particular made from the device according to any embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (14)

Conclusions Connection device, for selectively connecting at least one audio input coupler to at least one audio output coupler, comprising: - a plurality of (N) audio input connections, each for receiving an audio signal; - a plurality of (M) audio output connections, each for supplying an audio signal; - an N x M number of switches, each for uniquely controlled electrically connecting an input connection to an output connection; - a controller, for controlling the N x M switches; wherein, - the audio input and output connection and the switches are dimensioned for connecting an amplified audio signal of at least 90 W and preferably at least 100 W; the switches are formed by MOSFETs; and the controller is configured to control the MOSFETs based on control data. 2. Connecting device according to claim 1, wherein at least the input connection and/or the output connection are connected in one coupling A connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to receive control data, via wire or wireless, and/or from a file and/or a memory and/or manual input by a user. Connecting device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least one switch, preferably all switches, are placed on a common switch plate. A connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control data is at least one predetermined output connection related to the at least one audio signal received by at least one audio input connection, the controller is further configured for; - controlling the MOSFETs such that the at least one input connection receiving the at least one audio signal is electrically connected to the predetermined output connection. A connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical path lengths between each input connection and output connection are of substantially equal length such that mutual delay between signals is prevented. A connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is adapted to simultaneously electrically connect at least two input connections to at least two output connections, for connecting at least two input signals. A connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises a cooling system for cooling the switches. 9. Connecting device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a cooling system for cooling the coupling The connecting device according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the cooling system is a joint cooling system for cooling the switches and the clutch simultaneously. Connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of switches is in particular 32 x 32, more in particular 64 x 64. A method of connecting at least one audio input connection to at least one audio output connection, comprising the steps of: a) receiving at least one audio signal, the at least one audio signal being received by at least one of the plurality of (N) audio input connections; b) determining at least one of the plurality (M) output connections to which output connection the at least one audio signal is to be connected, c) using a combination of N x M switches, which switches serve for controlled electronic connection of an input connection to an output connection, d) controlling, based on an input signal, the switches to selectively establish a connection between the at least one input connection and the at least one particular output connection. The method of claim 12, wherein the switches are formed by MOSFETs, and wherein step d) comprises in particular controlling the MOSFETs. A method according to any one of claims 12-13, wherein in particular use is made of a device according to any one of claims 1-11.