...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
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AbstractAn apparatus is disclosed for displaying two-channel audio input signals in a three-color visual pattern. In general, the visual pattern may be formed on a viewing screen by an apparently moving spot having three color components. Phase shifting means is employed to phase shift one of the two audio input signals, and both audio input signals are subsequently processed by low pass filters to produce positioning signals in X-Y coordinates for the spot which forms the visual pattern. In addition, the two audio input signals are also mixed and separately processed by a high pass filter, a band pass filter and a low pass filter to produce frequency separated signals for controlling the intensity of each of three color components of the spot forming the visual pattern. Automatic color balance means utilizing negative feedback is employed to control the amplitude of the separate frequency-discriminated audio signals. In a preferred embodiment, the display unit employs a color cathode ray tube and may comprise equipment of the type normally found in video games or in a color television receiver altered to accept X-Y position and color information. | InventorApplicationNo. 07/051925 filed on 05/19/1987US Classes:381/56, MONITORING OF SOUND340/815.46, Audio responsive lamp340/815.65, Multiple colors345/690, Intensity or color driving control (e.g., gray scale)362/811, Psychedelic lighting84/464RProducing color or light effectsExaminersPrimary: Groody, James J.Assistant: Svihla, Randall S. Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References2804500, 2910681, 3163077, 3476974, 3604852, 3627912, 3662374, 3668686, 3675231, 3723652, 3940789, Multicolor display for the visual-aesthetic portrayal of electric signalsIssued on: 02/24/1976 Inventor: Kratz , et al.3969972, Music activated chromatic roulette generator Issued on: 07/20/1976 Inventor: Bryant4001880, Audio to video translator Issued on: 01/04/1977 Inventor: Delikat4056805, Programmable electronic visual display systems Issued on: 11/01/1977 Inventor: Brady4068262, Auxiliary variable coordinate sonic display system Issued on: 01/10/1978 Inventor: Sandler , et al.4081829, Audio activated video display Issued on: 03/28/1978 Inventor: Brown4128846, Production of modulation signals from audio frequency sources to control color contributions to visual displays Issued on: 12/05/1978 Inventor: Robinson, Jr.4135203, Method and apparatus for generating complex visual patterns Issued on: 01/16/1979 Inventor: Friedman4167752, Color video display for audio signals Issued on: 09/11/1979 Inventor: Liebler , et al.4168508, Audio-to-video converter-modulator Issued on: 09/18/1979 Inventor: Gilbert4176375, Apparatus for video display of audio frequency patterns Issued on: 11/27/1979 Inventor: Scarpelli4205585, Audio/visual conversion system Issued on: 06/03/1980 Inventor: Hornick4237482, Display system for achieving aesthetically pleasing lissajous patterns from a single source of signals Issued on: 12/02/1980 Inventor: Brentlinger4238827, Interferogram synthesization method and apparatus Issued on: 12/09/1980 Inventor: Geary , et al.4267561, Color video display for audio signals Issued on: 05/12/1981 Inventor: Karpinsky , et al.4378466, Conversion of acoustic signals into visual signals Issued on: 03/29/1983 Inventor: Esser4384286, High speed graphics Issued on: 05/17/1983 Inventor: DiToro4394656, Sound display apparatus having separation control Issued on: 07/19/1983 Inventor: Goettsche4614942, Visual sound device Issued on: 09/30/1986 Inventor: Molinaro4627092Sound display systems Issued on: 12/02/1986 Inventor: New International ClassA63J 17/00 (20060101) |