US2488508A - Radio centercasting selection apparatus - Google Patents

Description

A. N. GOLDSMITH RADIO CENTERCASTING SELECTION APPARATUS Nov. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1942 QQ QKGMMGM INVENTOR M Lm o Nwm D E, mm

' No`v. 15,' 1949 A. N. GoLDsMn'H 2,483,508

- f RADIO CENTERCASTING SELECTION APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BROADCAST Recs/VER Feci/VER INVEN-roR LFRED /V QoLsM/rf/ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1.5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (2,483,568 Ramo CENTERCASTYING SLECTION APPARATUS Alfred N. Goldsmith, New llim'labl. Y. nimliea'tnuunes; 1942, 'sensi-N0. 445x59- cil-aims; (ci. 23a- 5inl i This 'invention'relatesingeneralf to'a centercasting `system for effecting auti:nnat'ically an 'audit 'of listenerV station-selection, or, in other words; the summation 'and registrationfor record'- ing of signal indications` corresponding' to radio broadcasting stations tuned-in by listeners at their receiving stations. -B-ycenterdasting is niean't the art/of radio polling. It involves the transmission from a 'groupof respondent transmitting stations in the homesiotindividualvoters-to a central receiving station; of their opinions lor reactions to questions which have reached them, generally by radio broadcasting.` Center'casting is not recording/at thelistenrs-vhme; tlieI particular station to which he y'is 'listening "It involves necessarily securing his specific answersfinappropriate form to 'particular questions;

Y 'InA my copendingapplication for fRadiocentercasting'systemr Serial No.421;898-:, :ledDecember 4(i, 19.41; nov/'Patent 'N 0.2",42'11570,1grant'edfSeptember 23', 1947,.`of which the present application 'is a continuation part, there isV described. and claimed a `system of communication between 4a; central stationand a. multiplicity of remote or respondent ystations whereby, for' the purpose of gatheringiniormationfsuch as public opinions, the systemfisi operable to transmit from the central station to the'. various remote- Arespondent sta.-v tions a query upon which ansexprssion 'of public opinionisldesired,,andthereaftereachzrespondent registers his individual opinion tat. his vpolling stationv by means cfa: clioice'of. anyone of a number of,v votes, such votes being automatically transmittedrfromeaclr respondent lstation to the 4centrai station, at which latter point they are accumulated and classiem According to my present 'invention I propose to adapt the system ofthe aforesaidapplication.with slight modification to enable' it to function as a. system Afor securinga'n automatic audit of the station-selection by broadcast listeners when it is desired to make'arsurvey of ther-program prefer-- ences of a` cross-section of tl'iefradio publicl Some of the'objects of theinvention are to de.- termineby centercasting means, automatically, the -particular broadcasting station rto which` each centercasting respondent has ,tuned his ordinary radio receiver elf/.that time: .t0 accomplish; the above resillt regardless Qf whether push-button 0r single rotary knowunmgpf ine. respondents bloafat TCG-GW?? 15.11.5.64? 'Prpl out Suh an automatic audit otxthe selection. of stations by the new @spenen alle. .time @entre klnowledgeof the respondent thus avoidingany ls'yciigiogicai infnen'cje whgreyer gr the respondthe use ofthe broadcast receiver by the respond'- ent Vvshall pla-'ce his c'entercasting equipment into condition for disclosure of his station selection, by Aautomatic means which may or may not be known to the respondent; and to control the auditing v(initiation and termination) or other functions from the central station of the centercasting system. U

In vcarrying out my invention there is provided an adjunct `device which is associated with the tuning selector of a-v conventional radio receiver whereby theY selection o f one of a predetermined gi'o'up of'stations causes a corresponding indication atfa central receiving point whereat a multi'- plicity of such individual indications are substani',`lallyI-simulftaneously collected and recorded or registered in a :systematic manner. n It is first assu-med that the respondent has in his liornftlie following; a 'complete centercasting respondent installation as shown in Figure 2 of the aforesaid* c'opending application, and also a conventional broadcast receiver separate therefrom. The-method of carrying out the invention involves 'substituting for vthe voting keys in Figure 2-ofs`aid application another set of keys or knobcontiolled switches placed over or cooperating withthetuning pushr buttons or tuning knob of the broadcast receiver. In order to do this a. switch `mechanism 'isprovided at the centercastngtransceiver whereby the Vpush-button voting keysand their `contacts are thrown out of circuit,.

being' replaced by a Vnew set of push buttons or contacts associated with. the tuning means at the broadcast receiving set.

ent during me auditing penes; to arrange that 6t- The novel features characteristic of my invention arfset Aforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, boti'as to its yorganization*and mode of operation togtlrrerv with` further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to theY following description taken in connection with the-,accompanying drawing in which Figs. la. and 1b show diagrammatically the system as a whole,l Fig. 1a representing a respondents centercast-ingv transceiverjand the apparatus associated therewith and Fig. ib" represents theV central station; Fig. 2 isa view partly in section showing the push-buttons of a conventional broadcast receiver and the adjunct applied thereto; Fig. 3 is aview takenvon line` 3--3` of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a View partly section of a modification showing the invention applied to a Vreceiver of the type provided withasingle rotary control knob; and Fig. 5 i"sfa view takenon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

MRle'irring now to Figla the block R represents the repondents centercasting transceiver as 'shown in my aforesaid application, except for the voting keys and switch contacts which are included within the block K, marked Centercasting keys. The six leads, I, 2, 3, 4, and 6 from the tone generators 228-233 are connected to the switch biades of a six-pole double throw switch one set of contacts, to the left of the switch blades, being connected to the contacts with which the centercasting keys cooperate, and the other set of contacts, to the right of the switch blades, being connected by way of the six-conductor cable C to respondents conventional broadcast receiver B. The manner of connecting the several conductors of the cable to the actuating keys of the receiver will be described hereinafter. The several blades or poles of the switch 'I are interconnected to move in unison, a spring S being provided to normally urge the switch to the left or centercasting position. There is also provided an electromagnetic relay L which upon being energized is adapted to actuate the switch to the right or Station audit position. At the receiver the customary on-oi switch cooperates with a pair of contacts one of which is connected directly to one terminal of the preferably silently operating relay L, the other contact being connected to the other terminal of the relay through the power supply source for the receiver. With the switch of the receiver B in the off position, the switch l' will assume its normal position and the apparatus will be set to provide operation for centercasting. Upon turning on the receiver by the actuation of the switch to its on position the energizing circuit will be completed to cause the relay L to be energized with the result that the switch 'l is actuated to the right to condition the apparatus for station audit operation. At the same time a second relay M which is connected in parallel to the relay L will become energized to connect the transceiver to its power supply. The relay M may comprise the relay identied as 223 in Fig. 2 of my aforesaid application.

The energization of relay L is also under the control of a centercasting control unit T. This unit is connected for deenergizing relay L to establish centercasting conditions in response to suitable actuation such as the reception of a designated signal transmitted by the central station when a centercasting vote is to be registered.

The operation of the system for eiecting a station audit is the same as that for oentercasting which is fully described in my copending application, except that the operation of the present system is initiated by the selective actuation of the station selector of the conventional broadcasting receiver instead of the centercasting keys. In other words preparation for audit operation is made by depression of a push-button station selector including selector keys I9 to 23 (Figure 2), or tuning knob 5| (Fig. 4) either of which conditions one of the tone generators 223 to 233 for modulating the respondent station transmitter.

Y The central station of the system shown in Fig. 1 oi my earlier application is represented diagrammatically in Fig. lb of the present application, it being noted that the vote counters are identified in this application by the call-letters, WEAFJ WOR, etc., of the broadcasting stations, whereas for centercasting the vote counters are utilized to indicate the nature or character of the vote.

The manner of connecting the receiver into the system will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The front panel of a push-buttontuning broadcast receiver is designated by Il. The buttons I2 to I6 control or select the ve generally preferred stations in the locality. These buttons are moved in the direction shown by arrow II to pick any particular station and are usually interlocked so that only one may be pressed down and remain down at a time. To adapt this broadcast receiver to automatic auditing by centercasting means, as regards the selected station at any time, the casing I8 is placed over the push-button section. This casing may either be attached to the receiver front by some such means as screw 39 or may be held in place by the multiplicity of strong U-spring grips 25, 26, and so on, which snap over the free edges of the tuning push-buttons. The spring grips such as 25 are connected to shafts such as 21 which pass through the casing I8 and are terminated in the substitute push-buttons I9 to 23 which are likewise reciprocable and which replace in their functioning the original push-buttons I2 to I6 of the broadcast receiver. It will be understood throughout that the mechanical details of this arrangement are not essential to the invention. The essential feature is that the original pushbuttons of the broadcast receiver are substituted for by a new set of push-buttons mechanically associated therewith or connected thereto in such fashion that only the substitute set of pushbuttons I9 to 23 operate the tuning mechanism of the broadcast receiver. The substitute buttons in turn also actuate what would otherwise be the voting contacts of the centercasting respondent station, which voting contacts have been transferred from the centercasting respondent station to a location within the casing I8 and associated, Ifor each contact, with the corresponding tuning buttons I9 to 23. A conductor 28 common to all the voting (station-selecting) contacts, completes the return circuit for the several vote-discriminative tone generators 228 to 233, and is connected to each voting contact by the connection 33 and 29 to 32. The other and individual contacts of the tuning buttons I9 to 23 are connected to 3A to 38, the leads wherefrom are formed into the cable C. Of course, conductor 28 can also be placed within the then 6-conductor cable C although it has been shown separately in the attached gures.

Figure 3 is a view at right angles, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, and shows the switching arrangements of a single tuning button. Like parts in the several gures having been given like numerals, they need not be again described. However, it will be seen that the additional elements are the spring contacts 4D, 4I associated with key I9. Also shown are the spring grips 25 and their stops 25' which abut against the front of the tuning button of the broadcast receiver.

It will be understood that the common conductor 28 may be merely a metallic connection between the shafts of the individual push-buttons and the casing I8 if the latter were made of conducting material; alternatively, a separate metallic connecting circuit may be provided. Means may be required whereby the arrangements of Figure 2 can be adapted to a broadcast receiver wherein the push buttons are of various dimensions. This will require that the substitute buttons I9 to 23 shall be Slidable in a groove longitudinally parallel to the line of push buttons of the broadcast receiver so that each substitute button is brought into alignment with the corresponding original receiver tuning button and then locked into place in proper position on the igrooves It: also be;v riecess-,airyv toI provi-de adi'ustxirnts for the throw of the substitute; `but.;l tons to 23. of Figui-e` 2, this canY generally bei provided by having an excess throw available indi then limiting theI throat .by thaty ofi* the orig-K irial: buttons. t2 to" t6; y

It' knob or continuous tuning is: used in the broadcast receiver, analogous oi' equivalent means'. are emplyedrais shown. in Figures. and 5 for controlling the tuning; by ai device which listener` (respondent) automaticallyV at the.` c'e'ritertasti-ng-y equipmnt. and thusienahlesi. the auto-2 InFigure' 4; l Ii is thipanel of the receiver through which extends the rotary tuning shaft @gigli-WZ .Shf'ilft;.z Sixt-911.91% .-121.1 @gli @Sie .Wu tof the casing IB, one end of said tbef ggprovidecl. ---.illtaiuls lslleblflnrlslthe other end having ailibied thereto' th' strong s'p'ring grips @eerst 'gasses 43...@2? te uhmm-.relied 406;A is. rotated by the subs tutet ng knob Fili of circular `slot early .5- iesisfian nett' 'C assassinated. .The-.ssc it 48. Wil.. i0 Shar.. liv suitable means 41, are a plurality of switch conductors 34 to 38 of the cable C are connected. These contacts 59 to 63 are adjustably set withwith the remaining switch contact 59 to which conductor 2B is connected. The contact 50 is individual blades 59 to 63 at certain predetermined positions of the tuning knob 6l and shaft to the ve stations most commonly selected for the purpose. It will also be understood that five In Figure 5 the insulating disc 48 and its arcuate slot 51 are again shown, together with the contact at the corresponding positions of the knob 5I and shaft 46. The iiexible leads from conductor 28 can also be included. The individual leads 34 to 38 extend to the centercasting redescribed, connected to the right hand contacts of the transfer switch 1.

knob (continuous) tuning can be handled by the automatic-audit adjunct illustrated in the two be understood that it is also possible to combine in the same auditing adjunct, push-button and sponding group of contactors in parallel, and providing a six-pole double-throw switch genfrom one group of parallel conductors to the other.

vided a connection between a conventional broadcast receiver and the centercasting respondent ceiver automatically turns on the centercasting equipment and switches the control of the votregistersf the preference or selection of the matic audit.

42 which terminates tii knob 4a. An

with the subs 44, 4.5rwliich engage over-the rim of knob-, 43v

the auditing. ailfiii H fifsl 46 isi-'mtriny equlyalentmechan- 1 questidn is of insulating material.

tacts 59 to 63, to which the respective flexible conin the arcuate slot 51 and are adapted to coact xed in position and will make contact with the 46, these predetermined positions corresponding stations have been chosen as illustrative only.

five blades 59 to 63 which coact with the iixed the blade contactors are cabled into C, in which spondent equipment where they are, as before It is thus evident that either push-button or embodiments described above. It will of course knob tuning by merely connecting the correerally similar to switch 'I of Fig. 1a, for changing It will be clear from the above that I have proequipment whereby turning on the broadcast reing buttons away from the centercasting equipnient and overfto the .tuning buttons of" theautoniaticf-audit adjunct. at the broadcast. receiver:

, While-I have shown-anddescribed; certa-imprefeired embodiments: of theA invention, it. be understood that; m'odlcations. and changes niayl be; made without departing from thaspirit and scope. oi the'- inventiml as. will: be: understood by those. s'killedfin thelart.

I. In an adjunct device. for. externally` fitting. onto a radio signal receiverA having: exposed. ma.- nipulatable tuning str lrcture:V tunable tocause re.- ccptiontof any one of: a; plurality of radio. signa-ls. transmitted indiilerent. frequency channels, arret y automatically indicating which radio signals are being received: signal selector mechanism includ-.- ingr supporting structure. having securing .means ontting the supportingfstructure externally over` the: exposed tuningstructuref to; cover the: tuning stru'cturev and provide. art internal space bounded by externally available.- portions; saidi selector rrieciianisni also including manipula-table controi structure` held onA said supporting structure' and operable, from; said: externally available portions; to'y any or a plurality of' positions correspori'diri'gl tou the tuning to'. said plurality o'f radio.x signals; saidl selector mechanfs'n'iz also including: actuable 1in-inns elements' heidtne internal space or therlsupporting structure forconnectien tov tli tuning structure, and connected for movement' by contrai strutture te transmit tuning nis: rripulations Y from the' control structu'r'el to'- th' tuning structure; and indicator signal control elements also held in the internal space of the supporting structure for operation by the tuning manipulations to cause the generation of one of a plurality of different indicator signals indicative of the specic one of the diierent radio signals to which the receiver is tuned.

2. A combined voting and station audit system, comprising: a central radio station for selectably receiving and registering voting signals and signals corresponding to station selection preferences, a plurality of respondent radio stations each provided with a radio receiver having selector structure connected for tuning in programs from different broadcast stations, and provided with signal means for transmitting a plurality of voting and station selection signals to said central station; said signal means including a group of different signal-generating elements connected for selectable operation to individually generate signals selected from a predetermined group of diiferent signals, voting structure connected for selectable actuation to individually energize the operation of said elements to generate a voting signal selected from said predetermined group of signals for indicating a reaction to a received program, selected from a group of voting reactions corresponding to said group of signals, and automatic switch structure connected to operate, upon suitable energization of the receiver, for automatically connecting said signal-generating elements to the station selector structure for indicating, by generating signals automatically selected by said selector structure from said group of signals, which one of a corresponding group of broadcast stations is being tuned in by the station selector structure.

3. In a system for electing the automatic audit of the various radio broadcasting stations tuned in by a multiplicity of radio receivers each having manipulatable external tuning selector structure for selecting radio signals from one 0f said stations, an adjunct device at each receiver covering the receiver's tuning selector and providing externally manipulatable control elements linked to the tuning selector structure as the only external means for operating said structure, indicating apparatus connected to said adjunct device for automatically producing diierent individual indications .corresponding to the individual station being selected, said indicating apparatus including transmitting structure connected for automatically transmitting said produced indications, a central audit station including recording structure connected for collecting and recording said individual indications from the multiplicity of receivers in a systematic manner.

4. In an adjunct device for externally fitting onto a radio signal receiver having exposed manipulatable tuning structure to automatically indicate which of a plurality of different radio signals are being tuned in: cover structure having securing means for fitting the cover structure externally over the exposed tuning structure to cover the tuning structure; manipulatable control elements externally held on said cover structure and externally operable to any of a plurality of positions corresponding to the tuning to said plurality of radio signals; linking elements secured to said control elements and extending within said cover structure for connection to the covered tuning structure, and providing the sole means for manipulation of the covered tuning structure from the exterior; and indicator signal control elements also held on said cover structure for operation by the tuning manipulations to cause the generation of one of a plurality of different indicator signals indicative of the specific one of the different radio signals to which the tuning structure of the receiver is tuned.

5. The combination as dened by claim 4 in which the manipulatable control elements include an interconnected set of selectable pushbutton controls for individual connection to a tuning selector of the selectable push-button type.

ALFRED N. GOLDSMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,005,555 Kettering Oct. 10, 1911 1,990,489 Hopkins Feb. 12, 1935 2,092,120 Hopkins Sept. 7, 1937 2,096,109 Hopkins Oct. 19, 1937 2,188,165 Thomas Jan. 23, 1940 2,206,702 La Pierre July 2, 1940 2,249,324 Potter July 15, 1941 2,354,836 Rusch Aug. 1, 1944 2,427,670 Goldsmith Sept. 23, 1947

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