Abstract:
A battery powered, portable multi-channel audio mixing console is disclosed. The mixing console is configured to be easily held in a user&#39;s hand like a remote control. The console is configured to wirelessly receive, via separate channels, two or more independent stereo input audio signals from separate audio sources such as cellular phones, iPads, iPods, or other computing or media player devices, independently equalize the frequencies of those input signals, independently adjust the volume of those input signals, and then mix those audio signals into a combined output signal. The console further includes user controls that can vary the relative magnitude of the first and second input signals in the combined output signal. The console is further adapted to transmit the combined output signal to one or more speakers via independent channels.

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional Patent Application No. 62/172,031, titled “Multi-Channel Mixing Console” and filed Jun. 5, 2015. The above application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is to be considered a part of this specification. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This patent application generally relates to an audio mixer, and more specifically to portable multi-channel mixing console. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    Audio mixers are electronic device for combining (or “mixing”), routing, or changing the loudness, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals. The modified signals (voltages or digital samples) are summed to produce a combined output signal. 
         [0004]    Conventional mixers are typically bulky, require external power, and are not readily portable. Moreover, they are often not capable of receiving, processing, and transmitting multiple wireless audio signals. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need is recognized here for a compact and easily portable wireless audio mixing console that is particularly adapted for friend and family gatherings, travel, and leisure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The subject matter of this disclosure is generally directed to multi-channel audio mixing consoles and more specifically discloses a portable, hand-held, battery powered, wireless, stereo multi-channel audio mixing console and various aspects or features thereof. 
         [0007]    The mixing console comprises a housing that is configured to be easily held in a user&#39;s hand, like a remote control. It is configured to wirelessly receive two or more independent stereo input audio signals from separate audio sources (i.e., separate channels) such as cellular phones, iPads, iPods, or other computing or media player devices, independently tune the frequencies of those input signals, independently adjust the relative volume of those input signals, and then mix those audio signals into left and right mixed output signals. The console further includes user controls that can vary the relative magnitude of the left and right output signals. The console is further adapted to transmit the mixed signals to one or more speakers via independent channels. 
         [0008]    Each of the foregoing various aspects, together with those set forth in the claims, described in the drawings and written description provided or otherwise disclosed in this patent document may be combined to form claims for a device, apparatus, system, methods of manufacture and/or use in any way disclosed herein without limitation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects and advantages, as structure, operation, and manufacture are described below with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. Though components in the figures are often illustrated to scale, emphasis of these drawings instead should be placed upon illustrating the principles of the various inventive aspects disclosed herein. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a representative multi-channel mixing console in accordance with the teachings herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a front plan view of the multi-channel mixing console illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a compilation of perspective and plan views of the multi-channel mixing console illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating the Bluetooth communication connections between the multi-channel mixing console illustrated in  FIG. 1A  and the input sources (depicted on the right and left) and the output sources (e.g., the speakers depicted on the top). Also depicted is a headphone and jack that can be connected directly to the console to allow the user to monitor the output of each channel. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating representative electronic circuitry components housed within the internal enclosure of the multi-channel mixing console depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a representative electronic circuitry corresponding to the block diagram of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-3 , the representative multi-channel audio mixing console  100  includes top, bottom, left, right, front, and rear sides  110 ,  112 ,  106 ,  108 ,  102 ,  104 , respectively, and is comprised of a relatively rigid housing or enclosure  120  that contains the electronics, rechargeable battery, wireless modules and various interfaces. In the illustrated embodiment the housing is sized so that it can be easily held in one or two hands of the user. 
         [0017]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the audio mixing console  100  includes multiple Bluetooth® interfaces configured to receive audio signals from multiple audio sources,  202 ,  204  and transmit audio signals to multiple receivers such as Bluetooth® speakers or amplifiers  212 ,  214 . In one embodiment, the audio mixing console  100  is configured to receive two separate Bluetooth input signals  402 ,  404  as well as transmit two independent Bluetooth signals  412 ,  414 . Therefore, audio information can be received from two separate sources and can be streamed to or played on two separate audio receiving devices (e.g., speakers). 
         [0018]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the audio mixing console  100  is configured to receive two Bluetooth input audio signals  402 ,  404  from audio sources  202 ,  204 , respectively, and transmit two Bluetooth output audio signals  412 ,  414  to speakers  212 ,  214 , respectively. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the audio sources  202 ,  204  are cellular phones, however they can be any device capable of transmitting audio signals such as an iPad® or other tablet, iPod® or other digital media player or gaming device. The speakers  212 ,  214  can be any wireless speakers whether part of a larger component system or a stand-alone speaker, such as for example Braven® 570 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. One or more of the receivers may alternatively be a Bluetooth enabled amplifier that is in turn connected to another speaker or audio output system. While the system here illustrated includes two Bluetooth inputs and two Bluetooth outputs, it should also be understood that the system or console  100  can readily be scaled to allow for any number (e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.) of Bluetooth inputs and outputs. 
         [0019]    Buttons  315 ,  316 ,  317 ,  318  (best illustrated in  FIG. 1B ) are provided to initiate pairing of the Bluetooth interfaces of the audio mixing console  100  with the Bluetooth interfaces of the external devices  202 ,  204 ,  212 ,  214 , respectively, to establish a Bluetooth connection. 
         [0020]    Each of the Bluetooth input audio signals  402 ,  404  may be tuned with a set of frequency tuners located on the top side  110  of the audio mixing console  100 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1B , Bluetooth input audio signal  402  may be tuned by using a first equalizer  307  having low, mid, and high frequency tuners  342 ,  344 ,  346 , while Bluetooth input audio signal  404  may be tuned by using a second equalizer  308  having low, mid, and high frequency tuners  352 ,  354 ,  356 . An equalizer by-pass button  305  is provided that when depressed by the user routes the audio input signals around the frequency tuners. 
         [0021]    The audio mixing console  100  also has individual volume controls  334 ,  336 , which can adjust the volume of each signal prior to mixing by the mixer  309 . In the present embodiment, the audio mixing console  100  is configured to have the volume control  334  on the left side of the top side corresponding to the volume control of a first Bluetooth audio signal  402  and the volume control  336  on the right side corresponding to the volume control of a second Bluetooth audio signal  404 . 
         [0022]    A sliding adjustable resistor mixer  309 , which has a user control, is also provided to mix or mash the audio signals into left and right output signals that are then independently transmitted to one or more speaker outputs via the Bluetooth transmitters  310 ,  312  or transmitted directly to a standard output jack. The user control for the mixer  309 , which is positioned on the top face  110  near the front side  102 , allows the user to vary the output magnitude of the mixed signals relative to the left and right audio lines. Sliding the mixer  309  control toward the left side  106  will increase the relative magnitude of the mixed signal being outputted to the left line and sliding the mixer  309  output control to the right side  108  will increase the relative magnitude of the mixed signal to the right line. Positioning the mixer  309  output control in the middle will not bias the outputted signals, but rather transmit the mixed output signals in equal magnitude to both the left and right lines. The speaker receiving the left and right line signals will then generate stereo sound in accordance with the magnitude of the left and right line audio signals outputted from the mixer  309  and fed into the left and right individual speakers contained in the speaker unit  212  and/or  214 . In this way the user can selectively control the relative volume or output of the left and right speaker of a stereo speaker unit  212  and/or  214 . 
         [0023]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in another embodiment, sliding adjustable resistor mixer  309  may be configured to adjust volume between two input signals (e.g., the first input signal received from first audio source  402  and the second input signal received from second audio source  404 ) and mix the two input signals into a single Bluetooth signal that can be sent to one or more separate speakers via the Bluetooth transmitters  310 ,  312  or transmitted directly to a monitor output  360 . The mixer  309  allows the user to vary the output magnitude of the first and second input signals relative to each other. Sliding the mixer  309  control toward the left side  106  will increase the relative magnitude of the first input signal and sliding the mixer  309  control to the right side  108  will increase the relative magnitude of the second input signal. Positioning the mixer  309  output control in the middle will not bias the outputted signals, but rather transmit the first and second input signals in equal magnitude. The speaker or speakers receiving the Bluetooth signal(s) will then generate sound in accordance with the relative magnitude of the first and second input signals as outputted from the mixer  309 . In this way the user can crossfade between two input signals with one or more speaker units  212  and/or  214 . Users can play audio from multiple audio sources  402 ,  404  through a single speaker  212  without needing to repeatedly pair and unpair devices. 
         [0024]    As best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in another embodiment, the multi-channel audio mixing console may process the first signal received from first external audio device  202  entirely separately from the second signal received from second external audio device  204  until the two signals are combined by the mixer  309 . The first signal received at the first Bluetooth input received  301  from first external audio device  202  (either through Bluetooth input signal  402  or analog input signal  313 ) is modified by first equalizer  307  and first volume control  334 . The second signal received at the second Bluetooth input received  303  from first external audio device  204  (either through Bluetooth input signal  404  or analog input signal  314 ) is modified by second equalizer  308  and second volume control  336 . After the first and second signal are independently equalized and volume adjusted, the first signal from the first external audio device  202  and the second signal from the second external audio device  204  are combined by mixer  309 , producing a combined audio signal. The same combined audio signal may then be routed to Bluetooth transmitter A  310 , Bluetooth transmitter B  312 , and line output  311 . In this embodiment, first speaker  212  and second speaker  214  both generate audio based on the same combined audio signal. 
         [0025]    A headphone-out switch button  304  is provided for listening between audio sources  202 ,  204 . In another embodiment, as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , headphone-out switch  304  may switch the signal to monitor output  360  between audio source  202  and audio source  204 . 
         [0026]    Referring in more detail to  FIGS. 4-5  for further descriptions of the audio mixing console  100 . Specifically,  FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a representative circuit  300  housed within the internal enclosure of the audio mixing console  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1B .  FIG. 5  is a representative circuit schematic diagram corresponding to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0027]    The audio mixing console  100  has two audio input receivers  301 ,  303 . Each of the audio input channels has two input sources. The first audio input receiver  301  can receive audio input from a first Bluetooth source  402  or a first analog line input source  313 . The second audio input receiver  303  can receive audio input from a second Bluetooth source  404  or a second analog line input source  314 . 
         [0028]    In order for the audio input receivers  301 ,  303  to receive audio inputs from Bluetooth sources  402 ,  404 , the audio input receivers  301 ,  303  have to be paired with external devices  202 ,  204  with Bluetooth communication capability. The user can press the pair button  315  to pair the external audio device  202  with the first audio input receiver  301 . Similarly, the user can press the pair button  316  to pair the external audio device  204  with the second audio input receiver  303 . 
         [0029]    In the present embodiment, an analog source present on any of the line inputs  313 ,  314  has priority over the Bluetooth sources  402 ,  404  connected to the same receiver. It should be understood however that the circuitry could be configured to prioritize the Bluetooth sources  402 ,  404 . 
         [0030]    The monitor output  360  is configured to allow the user to monitor the outputs from audio input receivers  301 ,  303  (i.e., each of the channels). Button  304  selects which channel is being monitored. The outputs from audio input receivers  301 ,  303  can be monitored from monitor output  360  and be heard by a user through a suitable speaker device such as a headphone  220 . The volume of monitor output  360  can be controlled by volume buttons  319 . 
         [0031]    Two equalizers  307 ,  308  are configured to allow the user to apply individual equalization effects to the output of each of the receivers  301 ,  303 . In the present embodiment, analog knobs  342 ,  344 ,  346  are used to tune the low, middle and high frequencies, respectively, for the output of the first audio input receiver  301 . Similarly, analog knobs  352 ,  354 ,  356  are used to tune the low, middle and high frequencies, respectively, for the output of the second audio input receiver  303 . The outputs from equalizers  307 ,  308  become the inputs to the mixer  309 . 
         [0032]    The equalization effects can be bypassed if desired by depressing button  305 , which routes the outputs of receivers  301 ,  303  around their respective equalizers  307 ,  308  and directly to their respective volume control  334 ,  336 . For example, when the EQ button  305  is released, the user set equalization effects will be applied to the signals, while when the EQ button  305  is pressed, the output of each of the receivers  301 ,  303  will bypass the equalizers  307 ,  308  and be sent directly to respective volume controls  334 ,  336  that feed and then passed to mixer  309 . The volume controls  334 ,  336  independently adjust the volume of each source channel before the source channels are mixed. 
         [0033]    The EQ button  305  can be made of transparent or semi-transparent material so that when the button  305  is released, it can also trigger a light source (e.g., LED) under the button to illuminate the button  305  for indication purpose. 
         [0034]    The first volume control  334  is configured to control the volume of the output audio signals (left and right) from the first equalizer  307  (or from the first receiver  301  if the equalization effect is cancelled) while the second volume control  336  is configured to control the volume of the output audio signals (left and right) from the second equalizer  308  (or from the second receiver  303  if the equalization effect is cancelled).
   Output signals from the first volume control  334  and the second volume control  336  can be mixed by the mixer  309 . The mixed signals are then routed to the first and second transmitters  310 ,  312 . The mixed signal can also be sent to a line output  311 . The user control in the form of a slider, allows the user to control the relative magnitude of the left and right lines of the mixed signals as previously described above. The slider mixer  309  may instead allow a user to control the relative magnitude of the first input and second input as previously described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 .   
 
         [0036]    In order for the transmitters  310 ,  312  to transmit Bluetooth signals  412 ,  414  to external Bluetooth audio receivers (e.g., speakers  212 ,  214 ), the transmitter  310 ,  312  have to be paired with the external audio sinks with Bluetooth communication capability. The user can press the pair button  317  to pair the external audio device  212  with the first transmitter  310 . Similarly, the user can press the pair button  318  to pair the external audio device  214  with the second transmitter  312 . 
         [0037]    The system can have the option of being powered by a USB 5V input  350  or for greater portability it may be powered by the internal rechargeable battery  351  contained within the Power System  306 . System power can be turned on and off via an external user accessible Power Switch  320 . 
         [0038]    The diagrams in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are only representative of an implementing circuit. Other circuits may also be designed to effectuate the same or similar user functionality. 
         [0039]    The audio mixing console  100  described herein can also be hard-wired to non-Bluetooth speakers or audio sources using multiple line-in and line-out jacks. In one embodiment, when Bluetooth is not available, there are two audio inputs as well as an audio output to a speaker, or an output to headphones. 
         [0040]    While the disclosure has been described in connection with specific examples and various embodiments, it should be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and adaptations of the invention described herein are possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. Thus, it is to be clearly understood that this application is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention claimed below. The description is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.