Patent pending Speaker Reactance Thru (S.R.T.) attenuation technology used by Aracom

[mimungr]

If you're curious: Patent US20110317854 - Speaker voume control with inidividual input and output impedance converters - Google Patents

[loudthud]

First question: What is voume and why do we need to control it?

[Enzo]

I think it sound that go with toy cars and toy airplanes.

[Steve Conner]

Renault cars have Va va voume.

Interesting to see this, as I remember there was a big fight recently over the details of how the Aracom attenuator worked. It really does have two big transformers in it. I still can't believe someone would try to patent it, though.

[nickb]

Dunno. My method of putting the speaker in the next room and closing the door seems to work pretty well. Maybe I should patent it?

Improvement on prior art:
(1) Costs a lot less
(2) Continuously variable volume by adjusting size of door opening
(3) No limit on power handling (within reason )
(4) Speaker performance is unchanged
(5) Amplifier sees an exact replica of a real speaker
(6) It's way more fun
(7) Drowns out wife, partner, annoying neighbor, barking dogs etc...

[R.G.]

Advertising?

I wasn't curious. Still not so much.

[mimungr]

Advertising?

Is that question directed at me? No, I'm not advertising. I have no affiliation with Aracom, and I've never used their products. I came across the earlier thread and was curious how the attenuator worked, so I looked up the patent. I thought I'd share the link here in case anyone else was interested.

[R.G.]

Sorry if I impugned your integrity. However, it's an odd first post for a new member that's not intended to be "viral" advertising. If I have wrongfully impugned you, I apologize.

I did go look a the patent. The patent researchers have done a execrable job for the last few decades. Patents that are laughably obvious to "one skilled in the art" as prior art have been awarded. It's difficult for me to believe that given the - what, century old now? - idea of using transformers to transform impedances, the idea of using two of them, one on each side of a variable resistor, would be patentable. However, I'm regularly surprised how low the standards of the patent examiners can be.

[Enzo]

Oh my, I also thought you were advertising for the product. My apology as well.

Welcome to the forum though.

[Steve A.]

If you're curious: Patent US20110317854 - Speaker voume control with inidividual input and output impedance converters - Google Patents

Thanks! We had looked for this patent application 2 months ago when there was a very heated discussion about the Aracom attenuator.

http://music-electronics-forum.com/t32668/

I don't like the Google Patent viewer so here is a link to the attached PDF file for the patent application.

US20110317854A1.pdf

Steve Ahola

P.S. I think that it is particularly slimy for Google to present only its own patent page when you type in a patent number, with the message "In order to show you the most relevant results, we have omitted some entries very similar to the 1 already displayed." Gee whiz, thanks a whole bunch for making my search more relevant!

[Steve A.]

It's difficult for me to believe that given the - what, century old now? - idea of using transformers to transform impedances, the idea of using two of them, one on each side of a variable resistor, would be patentable.

I like to read patent applications just to see what makes things tick. With patent applications the inventor could be sharing some of his tricks with us. Like the Chiliachki patent which introduced a whole new way of designing dummy coils for single coil pickups that offers much more transparency than "old school" dummy coils.

http://www.blueguitar.org/new/misc/p...chiliachki.pdf

Steve Ahola

[jazbo8]

DIY Speaker Matching Transformer

Can you really get a patent for some transformers, resistors and switches in this day and age?! I'd be surprise if it will be granted... Anyway, Mr. Turner just published an article for the more ambitious DIY'er among us. Also note his comment wrt to the auto-transformer - unless it's wound properly, it could effect the HF response (perhaps not so much of an issue for guitar amp)...

[Chuck H]

The Marshall Power Brake uses a big multi tapped inductor in a similar way. Similar enough that it may qualify as prior art.

[R.G.]

P.S. I think that it is particularly slimy for Google to present only its own patent page when you type in a patent number, with the message "In order to show you the most relevant results, we have omitted some entries very similar to the 1 already displayed."

... and NOT saying "Oh, yeah. We also recorded what you looked for just in case it's ever useful to the government."

[Chuck H]

... and NOT saying "Oh, yeah. We also recorded what you looked for just in case it's ever useful to the government."

Well, I don't DIS-believe that the government can and does track and monitor such things. But I would sooner think that the action is initially greed driven for commerce. The government just piggybacks their agenda on the available information. Al Capone (a fairly successful and intelligent man) once said: "Just because you think they're all out to get you doesn't mean they aren't."