US1209636A - Sound-operated circuit-controller. - Google Patents

Description

SEARCH ROOM Bef-@9s C. BERGER.

souNn OPERMED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

R X G W S M Dn O` LI E T U W T S B U S APPLICATION flLED MAY I9. 19H3.

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, To all whom t may concern: j Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN-BERGER,

UNITED sEA'rEs gPATENT oEEicE.

c HRIs'rIAN EERGER, or NEW YoRiz, N. Y., AssIGNoR .To SUEMARINE WIRELESS COMPANY,k 0E NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0E NEW YORK.

SOUND-OPERATED CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

I i I Speciiication of Letters Patenti y `Pateljjgyd1)(5@ 19, 1916,

Application iiieii mafie, iaie. seri a1No`.`e8,52o. H

heretofore a subject of the King of Hun ary and having taken out vmy first natura ization papers for United States citizenship, re,

siding at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Operated Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac' companying drawing -v This invention relates to a novel sound operated circuit controller adapted, for example, to the purpose of acoustically con trolling, from a distant point, the operation of various mechanisms or instruments.

The main object of the present'improve- ,ment is to afford a practical and advantageous means for controlling a mechanism or instrument -possessing characteristics adapting it tothe faithful transmission of speech by converting the graduated sound variationsinto corresponding electric impulses, which, at a distantpoint, may be reconverted to reproduce, with all its variations, the original sounds. Although the characteristics of the microphone are valuable and essential in speech transmission, these very characteristics render the device not entirely practical, because extremely unreliable, for 'thepurposes of the present invention. This statement I found to be true in practising the invention covered in my prior Patents Nos. 1,055,985 and 1,116,870, wherein I employed microphones for the purpose of controlling from a distant point the operation of some mechanical contrivance or other mechanism or instrument. 'y

According tothe present invention I coin-4 pletely discard the microphone and the characteristics essential thereto, and substitute a sound responsive instrument operating upon contrary principles, which are indicated by the designation sound operated circuit maker and breaker the microphone being f an instrument which does not land cannot interrupt or restore the circuit containing it `because comprising two elements, for eX- "arnplefcarbon and metal,'which are necessarily in 'constant contact, and operate merely by varying the electric resistance and, therefore, the current in the circuit through lchanges of pressure and conductivity between the members, produced by the action Vof sound waves. a

In order to at the same time explain the principles of the sound operated circuit controller of this invention and to point out thev vradical distinctions between the same and the microphone, I will first compare or contrast the two instruments while explaining the modeof operationand advantages of the present invention, and will thereafter illustrate the present invention by means of speciic embodiments which will suice to enable those skilled in this general'subject tofunderstand and practise the same.

First. The novel instrument of the present invention'operates to actually breakthe lcircuit so as to interrupt the current or reduce it to Zero, this action precluding the transmission of speech; whereas the microphone never interrupts the current but causes its intensity to oscillate in amount `between positive but variable limits.

Second. The present .invention operates by the relative throwing apart, by the energy of the sound waves, of two contacting members, the first of which may -be the diaphragm member responsive to sound waves, and the second member bodily 'relatively movable, it comprising, for example, a pen- .dulum or analogous pendulous member ca pable of bodily vibration from and to the diaphragm member, the two 4membersbeing normally in contact under such light pressure that the energy of the sound waves is able to effect separation; whereas,in a micro- Third. In the present invention the pen dulous member is bodily vibratable from and to the`diaphragm member with a frequency which doesnot correspond with but is only a small fraction of the frequency --of the sound vibration of the diaphragm member;

whereas in the microphone the material contacting the diaphragm -merely follows the diaphragm movements and, therefore, possesses the same frequency.

Fourth. Another important point is that, with the present invention, after the sound operation ceases the normal contact and pressure prevail so that normal conductivity results and the current resumes its normal strength; whereas, in the microphone, the cessation of sound may leave the instrument in a condition of conductivity which will vary greatlyv at diiferent times.

Fifth. he instrument of the present invention, therefore, may be employed with reliable results in circuit with a relay or other magnet, the armature of which is acted on by a constant counter-force or spring, since the arrangement can be calculated so that when the magnet is excited its pull (will invariably exceed the counter-force by asafe margin, whereas the action of sound on the diaphragm will cause an actual interruption so that the magnet will invariably release the armature to the counter-force; whereas in the microphone lthe current is neither reduced to zero nor restored to a constant maximum, but oscillates between variable limits, rendering it impractical to so adjust the counter-force as to give invariablv reliable action.

ixth. With the present invention advantage is taken of the fact that there is a critical contact pressure for any given contacting metals, above which increased pressure affords no increased conductivity. The total pressure is necessarily extremely light, so that the sound energy can separate the mem# bers and, -according to the law of the relation between contact area, pressure and current, the area must be correspondingly reduced and, therefore, aminute contact area is an .important characteristic of the present invention. This area will be made so small, having in mind the contact pressure, thatthe latter will exceed the critical pressure by a suitable margin. By this arrangement the re-contacting of the members after sound has ceased invariably restores the conductivity to the constant maximum. This, in turn, insures a constant normal flow of current. [This is totally di'erent frointhe microphone, wherein a large contact area between the carbon mass and the metal is employed, the requirement being, in fact, that fthe area shall be so large that the contact tion in the microphone that permits both increase and decrease of conductivity and flow as the diaphragm vibration-:increases and decreases thepressure.

As stated, the main objectl of this' invention is to afford a sound sensitive instrument possessing the above recited advantages and points of distinction and contrast over the so-called microphone.

Another object is to so combine such a sound sensitiveV instrument with a magnet or relay, the armature of which will be actuated or detached by its counter-force or spring' when the sound waves strike the diaphragm of the instrument, such armature movement to el'fectthe desired control, whether mechanical, or electrical, or otherwise; the magnet being either capable or incapable of drawing the armature back into original position after the sound influence ceases according to whether the armature is -permitted to be moved by its counter-force beparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings forming a i part hereof, Figure l 1s a diagrammatic view of a'sound operated circuit controller embodying the present invention, the same shown connected in circuit with an electromagnet to adapt it to afford control from a distant point of the operation of a mechanism or instrument such. as a magnetic vibrator. In this diagram the sound sensitive instrument at the left may be considered as shown in vertical section, since gravity 'is there relied on to create Contact pressure between the diaphragm and pendulous member. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View similar to Fig. l, showing a modificationA wherein the magnet armature, instead of closing a relay circuit on each actuation, serves to reverse a relay switch so that one sound operation closes and the next opens the switch. Fig. 3, in the same sort of diagram, shows a modified embodiment in which, unlike Figs. l and 2, the armature, when released from the magnet, moves beyond the power of the magnet to recall it, a second armaturebeing attracted in itsy stead; so .that each operation causes a reversal of armatures to close one or the other v The two principal elements comprised in the present invention are the diaphragm member, by which-I mean'any suitablevibratable part responsive to sound vibration, and the pendulous member opposed thereto, by which `I. mean any suitable member capable of bodily swaying like the bob of a pendulum, so as to be capable of being kicked or bounced by the diaphragm so as to separate therefromand return thereto. A'Since the separationof the members is one of relative movement, the diaphragm, in addition to its vibration', might have abodily movement from the opposing member, and I intend to cover such a mere reversal, although it is preferred to mount` the diaphragm for sound. responsive vibrations onlyand to provide that thependulous member be thrown oil' for the purpose of interrupting the circuit. Also I prefer that the diaphragm member,`or, at least the vibratable portion thereof, which is contacted by the pendulous member, shall be composed of metal and that the circuit to be interrupted shall pass in series through the two members so that the breaking of the circuit takes place at the point of contact and separation. The pendulous member, however, may otherwise obviously eti'ect the breaking and making of the circuit, since the actual electrical contacts could be at some other point, but operated by the pendulous member. Bearing these characteristics inmind, it will be seen that the present invention substantially comprises the combination with an acoustically vibratable diaphragm member of an opposed pendulous contact member adapted and arranged to be bodily thrown o by the vibrations of the diaphragm member so as to interruptan electric circuit. v

Referring to the diagram, F1g. 5., the horizontal line may represent a condltion of rest of both members. At a certain polntof time, represented at 10, a suitable sound may be supposed to commence and to continue,

until the point of time represented at 11 is reached, when silence ensues, accompanied by a condition of rest of the two members. During the period of sound vibration the rapid diaphragm vibrations may be represented by the curve 12. The vibrations are of small amplitude. The pendulous member is capable of making only one vibration for a large number of vibrations of the diaphragm. When. the sound influence commences at the point 10, the diaphragm will kick off the endulum, which may thereafter move as indicated by the curve 13. It swings an appreciable distance from the diaphragm and returns by gravity. In the interim the members are out of contact and the circuit is broken. The pendulum strikes the diaphragm, but the contact is inappreciable in time, as the pendulm will be instantaneously again projected. This operation continues throughout the continuance 'of thel sound. During this entire period there is no contact excepting the inappre- 'ciable and inoperatively brief impacting contacts at comparatively far apart intervals. As a result electrical current, which is ofl full strength up to the point 10, is interrupted or brought to zero throughout the periodlO to 11,after which it resumes Afull force.

Fig. 6 shows the curve 23-27 of current changes, the height of the curve indicating the strength of the current. Normally the current is of full strength,as` indicated at 24:. At the point when the sound commences the members are thrown apart and the cur- 'rent rapidly decreases to zero in a welll known manner indicated by the curve 25. The current remains at zero throughout the curve portions 26, with the exception that, at the times of theinstantaneous periodical impacts, the current is inefectively established but immediately broken before attaining substantial strength. After the sound ceases the current resumes the full strength indicated at 27 by reason of the fact that the diaphragm and pendulum are brought into contact with a pressure exceedthough slight, exceeds the critical pressure of conductivity, and we have an arrangement wherein normally the maximum and hence constant current may How, whereas suitable sound vibration effects ay complete interruption of the circuit. The diaphragm 30 is shown supported in a simple frame or supporting wall 32. -A bracket 33 is' provided, having a pivot at 34 from which the pendulum 3l swings. The parts are so designed or arranged that gravity holds the pendulum in light Contact with the diaphragm. One way to secure this resultis to incline the diaphragm, and the degree of inclination may be altered to control the pressure of contact. Instead of this inclined arrangement, an extension 35 could be provided on the pendulum, as shownin Fig. 4, whereby gravity affords the proper pressure.'

Assuming that the circuit passes 1n series through the pendulum 31 and the diaphragm- 30, a conductor 36 from the diaphragm is shown and a conductor 37 from th'e pendulum, theseconductors constituting a circuit in which also may be included a battery 41 and an electro-magnet 42 having an armafollowing explanation of what is believed to be the correct theory and operation of the device will enable those skilled in the art to properly understand and practise the invention.

The invention maybe said to be based on the discovery that it is possible to employ a pair of contacts which, in a position of rest, always assumes a perfect and, therefore, normal and constant conductivity, while, at the same time being capable of being separated to interrupt the circuit by means of the comparatively slight dynamic force produced by sound Waves generated ata distant point. sound waves generally available, such as whistling, hand clapping,A calling, etc. I have determined that, while the use of contacts under a pressure equal to or exceeding what I have termed the critical pressure, yields always a constant or normal conductivity, kit is nevertheless possible to so calculate and design the parts that such sound waves as those mentioned may be caused to overcome the contact pressure and throw the contacts bodily apart, thereby not merely,-

t'erminating the condition of normal conductivity and current, but, in fact breaking the circuit and interrupting the current. This discovery and invention, therefore, make it practical to oppose 'the magnet to some suitablecounter-force, such as the armature spring, in such way that, under normal conditions, the pull of the magnet will invariably overcome the spring, whereas, upon the sonorous disturbance of the instrument, the current and the magnetic strength will invariably decrease to an adequate extent' or to nothingl so as to reliably release the armature, permitting the spring tooperate and thus perform the desired actuation or control. It will be obvious that unless the upper and lower limits of conductivity and magnet strength are widely separated a con-l stant readjustment would be necessary, and thishasbeen found to be the case with the use of the microphone, the variations of which are enhanced by changes .of climate and season. By the present invention all ordinarv-variations in the magneticaction and in'the strength of the spring will be insufficient to interfere with the perfect reliability of the instrume The actual contact points of the diaphragm and pendulum may be surfaced with gold, platinum, or the like; or they may be The critical pressure of dry copper bearing against copper is about 25 pounds per square inch. lfVhen two pieces of contacting copper are put under such I refer, for example, to ordinaryv nferent metals.

pressure the conductivity is perfect because at its "maximum, and it cannot be improved by increase ofpressure. Assuming, therefore, the use of copper contacts, it is only necessary to employ a degree of pressure between the contacts which exceeds this critical volume. `The dynamic force of the sound waves striking the diaphragm, while exceedingly small, isof known quantity. The total Contact pressure, therefore, must be beneath a certain limit so that sound waves of the nature before referred to may be able to overcome the contact pressure and 'throw 'or bounce the pendulum from the diaphragm.

The maximum contact pressure being thus determined, and the critical pressure of copper being known, the proper contact area is easily determined by calculation. It must be not above the calculated area. This I find to be very small and to differ with dif- I prefer to make the contact area somewhat smaller than the calculations indicated in order to insure that there will be a ,safe excess of specific pressure, that is pressure in pounds per square inch, so as to give a margin of safety and' insure that the desired normal conductivity and current will invariably be restored. On the other hand the contact area may not be too small. For example, the area of a needle point contact would be too small because insuliicient to carry the necessary normal current for properly energizing the magnet, especially when we consider the inuences of Contact deterioration, and the like. To give a specific example, a few inchesr` of small diameter wirefsomewhat pointed at its contact portion, and resting by its own gravity against a suitable diaphragm, would serve, involving no' difficulty in determining by trial the proper de ree of pressure to give successful results with the nature of sounds already mentioned.

The above explanation shows that the sound operated circuit interrupter of`this be 1n one aspect described as involving the physical arrangement of a pair of contacts, suchas those already described, such that the specific pressure between the contacts under normal conditions is substantially as large as, or preferably exceeds, the critical pressure, or pressure atlwhich a maximum conductivity is secured and cannot be improved by increase of pressure. In other words, the relation is such that under normal conditions of silence the conductivity between the parts is substantially at its maxmum and incapable of substantial increase by any pressure increase. contrary to all telephonie microphones whose ability to transmit speechY depends upon a capability of varying the conductivity and current by both increases and decreases from the normal so as to electrically simulate thekprecise characteristics of the sonorous vibrations to be transmitted.

may be variously usefully employed, it is shown as having an armature 43, adapted, when released, to strike a stop or contact 50 and thereby close a relay circuit which includes also a battery 51 and some electri cally operated device, such as vibrator or electric bell 52.

The magnet and armature device con` stitutes a sort of relay. `The primary circuit, which includes the magnet coil, also contains the sound operated controller. The secondary circuit is opened andr closed by the armature. A peculiarity of the illustrated relay is that the counter-force tending to pull the armature from the magnet is less than the normal magnetic pull, to which the magnet is always restored when the cessa-- tion of sound restores normal contact conditions in the controller. Obviously, the movements of the armature from and to the magnet could be used for other purposes than to open and close a secondary circuit; as before stated various mechanisms or instruments may beloperated, such as the toy of Fig. 4, later to be described. In the first illustratedvembodiment, Fig. 1, the arma? ture movement is insuiicient in extent to carry'it beyond the operative influence of the magnet, whereas in Fig. 4 the contrary ductor 66 from the armature 61 to the motor.

is the case. l

The operation of the Fig. l-apparatus is that normally, during silence, the armature 43 is held to the magnet by a preponderating force, whereas, upon producmg the proper sound, the vibration of diaphragm 30 throws oifthe light contact pendulum 31, thus interrupting the circuit and denergizing the magnet and permitting the armature spring 44 to assert itself. This brings the armature 43 into contact with the stop 50 and closes the relay circuit. Upon the cessation of the controlling sound the contact between diaphragm and pendulum is restored and the magnet 42 resumes its maximum or nor-` mal strength. and, 'in this embodiment, the

Amagnet recalls the armature, attracting it from the contact 50 against the pressure of the spring 44. Thus the relay circuit is closed during the continuance of the sound and opened in periods of silence.

In the different arrangements shown in Fig. 2 the armature 43 comes up against a back stop 53 when released. Sound is sup- This is the posed be operating on the diaphragm and the armature spring has drawnthe armature v from the magnet. The armature operates a armature, this engaging a ratchet 55 having alternately long and short arms, there being a locking pawl 56 to prevent reverse rota-4 Y tion of the ratchet. When the sound ceases, the magnet42 will attract the armature and the pawl 54 will rotate the ratchet bythe lVhile the electro-magnet 42, in Fig. 1,.l

space of one tooth. The short arms of the ratchet are too short to close the relay circuit, but each long arm, as it is brought into position, contacts a spring 57 and swings it downwardly to close the relay circuit which passes through the batteryland a suitable device, such as an electromotor 58, which may be used to drive any desired apparatus. The operation of the Fig. 2 apparatus is, that whenever the proper sound is produced the magnet operates to advance the ratchet by a single tooth, thus closing the relay circuit and actuating the motor, While, after a silence and another production of sound, the ratchet will be again advanced to cause the opening of the relay circuit and the stopping of the motor. l

In the Fig. 3 form there are two armatures, 60 and 61, mounted on a disk 59, which can swing somewhat as a pendulum so as to bring either armature into contact with the magnet. Armatures 60 and 6l serve also as electric contacts when coming into engagement with the magnet core. A double relay circuit is shown. A conductor 62 fromA the magnet core extends to the relay battery 5l and thence to an electric bell 63 and an electric motor 64, these being arranged in parallel. A conductor 65 extends from the armature 60 to the electric bell, and con- The operation of Fig. 3 is as follows: The circuit is closed through the contact 60 and the electric bell 63. Upon the production of sound contact 60, is released from the magnet andthe disk 59 swings. Upon a cessation of sound the magnet is renergized and tends to draw and hold the contact 61 so that the motor 64 is then operated. Another sound operation will again reverse the appa.- ratus.

Referring to the Fig. 4 modification, we

have the several members 30 to 37 in substantially the same arrangement as in Fig. 1. The support 32 for the diaphragm 30 is the front wall of a box or frame 40. The box or frame 40 may take dierent shapes according to its use. For example, it may be in the form of a dog kennel, as shown. The conductors 36 and 37 from the diaphragm 30 and the pendulum 31 are'extended into a complete circuit which includes also a battery 41 and an electro-magnet 42. An armature at 43 is shown as held. by the magnet,

6 neoese and the circuit is closed so that current flows and the magnet is energized to its normal strength. The pull of the magnet upon the armature is opposed by a spring 44, which is under strain, but incapable of overcoming the normal magnetic pull. With this arrangement the impact of sound waves from the voice or a whistle against the diaphragm 30 causesa current break, as already explained, such as to destroy the magnetic pull, so that the spring 44 is able to assert itself and cause the spring 43 to jump from the magnet. .Thisocontrolled mechanical action may be put to various uses. The figure of a dog 45 is shown as located directly in front of the spring 43 and in front of the dog is a doorway 46, so that, upon release of the spring, the dog is caused to slide or roll through' the doorway from the interior of the kennel'. By this amusing application of the invention one need only to whistle with suitable loudness at a point several feet or yards distant in front of the kennel, whereupon the dog will automatically respond to the call and come into view.

If desired, the electric circuit may be made to pass through the armature 43 as shown. The circuit 36, 37 will then be automatically broken upon the operation of the device by reason `of the armature breaking contact with a leaf spring 38, so that, when the apparatus is out of use, there will be no wasteful flow of current. Any suitable re-- setting device may be employed, such as a cord 47 extending through the rear wall of the box 40 and connected to the armature 43, whereby the user may restore the armature to the position shown, and atthe same time closethe circuit, then replacing the toy dog within the kennel. t.

While in the figures I have shown the diaphragm 30 as an attached or separate memer from the wall 32, it is obvious that the wall of the apparatus itself, if of suitable structure, would serve as a vibratable diaphragm. Thus if the toy indicated in Fig. 4 were constructed with a housing of thin sheet material, the pendulous member could be mounted to coperate directly with that. By this arrangement the housing could be constructed with pendulous members at its several walls responsive to vibrations' of various kinds of frequencies, so as to. increase the responsiveness-of the toy to various sounds.

It will thus be seen that I have describedv i ment and other details may be modified without departing from the principles involved, it is not intended to limit the inbratable diaphragm member,

vention to such details, excepting so far as specified in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1,. A sound operated circuit controller comprising in combination, an acoustically vibrat'able diaphragm member, and an opposed pendulous contact A member arranged to normally bear against said diaphragm member and tombe bodily thrown ff by the vibrations of the''diaphragiumember',so as to interrupt an electric circuit, the normal contact pressure of said Contact member being at least as great as the critical pressure of conductivity for such a contact, whereby resumption. of continuous normal contact restores the maximum and therefore a substantially constant conductivity and current.

2. In combination with an electromagnetic relay, a sound operated controllertherefor in the primary relay circuit, the same comprising an acoustically vibratable diaphragm member, and an opposed pendulous contact member arranged to normally bear against said diaphragm member and to be bodily thrown off by the vibrations of the diaphragm member so as to interrupt the primary circuit, the normal contact preure of said contact member being at least as great as the critical pressure of conductivity for such a contact, whereby resumption of continuous normal contact restores the maximum and therefore a substantially constant conductivity and current in the primary circuit.

3. In combination with anelectromagnet and its armature adapted for the control 0f various mechanisms or instruments, a sound operated controller in circuit with said magnet, the saine comprising an` acoustically viand an opposed pendulous contact member arranged to AKnormally bear against said diaphragm member and to be bodily thrown oft' by the vibrations of the diaphragm member so as to interrupt the circuit, the normal contact pressure of said- Contact member being at least as great as the critical pressure of conductivity for such a contact, whereby resumption of continuous normal contact restores the maximum and therefore a substantially constant normal conductivity, current and magnet pull; and said armature having a clolunterorce less than such normal magnet pu 4. In combination with an electromagnet and its armature adapted for the control of various mechanisms or instruments, a sound,

operated controller in circuit with'said magnet, the same comprising an acoustically vibratable diaphragm member, and an opposed pendulous contact member arranged to normally bear against said dia hragm member and to be bodily thrown ofip vibrations of the diaphragm member so as to by the:

interrupt the circuit, the normal contact pressure of said Contact member being at least as great as the critical pressure of conductivity for such a Contact, whereby re- 5 sumpton of continuous normal contact restores the maximum and therefore a substantially constant normal conductivity,

current and magnet pull; and said armature CHRi-STIAN BERGER.

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