Patent ID: 7579958
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. An audio power meter connectable to a musical instrument generating an audio signal, an audio power amplifier generating an amplified audio signal and a speaker being responsive to the amplified audio signal provided thereto by the audio power amplifier, which comprises: a current sense resistor, the current sense resistor being interposed between the audio power amplifier and the speaker and having the amplified audio signal pass therethrough and generating a voltage thereacross in response to the amplified audio signal passing therethrough; a current sense amplifier being responsive to the voltage across the sense resistor and generating an amplified current sense signal in response thereto; a voltage sense amplifier being responsive to the voltage of the amplified audio signal provided to the speaker and generating an amplified voltage sense signal in response thereto; a first analog to digital converter, the first analog to digital converter being responsive to the amplified voltage sense signal and generating a digital voltage data signal in response thereto; a second analog to digital converter, the second analog to digital converter being responsive to the amplified current sense signal and generating a digital current data signal in response thereto; a microcontroller, the microcontroller being responsive to the digital voltage data signal and the digital current data signal and generating a power level signal and a control signal in response thereto; a first bar display, the first bar display including a plurality of separately illuminatable segments arranged sequentially to reside along a first axis, the first axis being one of linear and curvilinear, each segment of the plurality of separately illuminatable segments being responsive to the power level signal of the microcontroller and being selectively illuminated in response thereto, the segments being illuminated defining a portion of the first bar display, the portion of the first bar display defined by the illuminated segments having a length, the length of the portion being proportional to the average power of the amplified audio signal outputted by the audio power amplifier; and an attenuator circuit, the attenuator circuit being connectable to the musical instrument and the audio power amplifier and having the audio signal pass therethrough, the attenuator circuit being responsive to the control signal and selectively attenuating the audio signal provided to the audio power amplifier in response thereto.