Glass vacuum tubes have been widely used in audio applications such as amplification of musical instruments as well as hi-fidelity reproduction. Although solid-state circuit technology has also been developed for use in such audio applications, vacuum tubes are still being used in audio applications. Many modern audio applications still use vacuum tubes for their acoustic properties, as well as their esthetic appeal.
The quality control effort associated with traditional vacuum tube devices is inevitably subject to less efficient production standards as compared to a solid-state solution. Traditional vacuum tube devices include a glass surround that is vacuum-sealed to a socket base similar to a light bulb. Inside the glass surround, a complex structure of metal plates, filaments, and other metal plated material arrangements are necessary to provide the proper function of the vacuum tube. Vacuum tube devices are prone to mechanical failure similar to light bulbs, where the filament materials eventually break due to mechanical failure. Solid-state devices are significantly less expensive to manufacture, smaller in size, and less prone to mechanical anomalies.
Solid-state technology has been acknowledged for cost, performance, manufacturing, and/or other advantages over glass vacuum tubes. A variety of conventional solid-state circuits have been developed to provide pin-for-pin compatible replaceable devices. The use of these solid-state devices has been applied to signal amplification functions and related compression and/or non-linear signal limiting properties.
The disclosure described herein expands on the application of vacuum tubes and other pin-for-pin compatible vacuum tube replacement devices by incorporating indicators to enhance the user awareness, functionality, aesthetic nature, and/or safety, as well as other application of these devices. As will be further described, the indicators may also be useful in other non-vacuum tube based applications.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds