Modular quick-connect A/V system and methods thereof

• US 10,034,079 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonic Blocks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonic Blocks, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilker, Scott D., Wilker, Jordan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan D
• Application Number:
  US15/160,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20160269819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2803 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/028 Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

A modular speaker system, comprising an exoskeleton, configured to mechanically support and quick attach and release at least one functional panel and an electrical interface provided within the exoskeleton, configured to mate with a corresponding electrical connector of the functional panel. An optional endoskeleton is provided to support internal components. The system preferably provides a digital electronic controller, and the electrical interface is a digital data and power bus, with multiplexed communications between the elements of the system. The elements of the system preferably include at least one speaker, and other audiovisual and communications components. Multiple modules may be interconnected, communicating through the electrical interface. A base module may be provided to provide power and typical control, user and audiovisual interface connectors.

Claims

1. A method for operating a speaker system having a plurality of acoustic speaker elements, comprising:

reading, with an automated digital processor, a profile representing characteristics of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements from a memory;

receiving an input from a microphone array in an environment;

performing echo cancellation of acoustic reflections within the environment and speech recognition of the received input with the automated digital processor;

selectively generating a plurality of respective acoustic speaker element control signals for the plurality of acoustic speaker elements by the automated digital processor while monitoring the received input, selectively in dependence on the profile representing characteristics of each acoustic speaker element, the speech recognition, and acoustic source data, said selectively generating comprising adaptively compensating the acoustic source data for acoustic emission properties of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements based on at least the received input from the microphone array, selected from the group consisting of frequency response and directionality characteristics, for each acoustic speaker element of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements; and

communicating the received input over a wireless digital communication network,

wherein said generated plurality of acoustic speaker element control signals, for a single acoustic speaker element, is defined by the automated digital processor selectively in dependence on the profile representing characteristics of each of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements and the acoustic source data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acoustic speaker elements comprises at least two interchangeable acoustic speaker elements having differing frequency response, and wherein the automated digital processor selectively controls the at least two interchangeable acoustic speaker elements to provide an equalized composite frequency response.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acoustic speaker elements comprises at least two acoustic speaker elements each having a respective profile representing differing directional acoustic emissions, and wherein the automated digital processor selectively controls the at least two acoustic speaker elements to provide an optimized composite acoustic emission in dependence on at least the respective profiles.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automated digital processor adaptively produces the plurality of acoustic speaker element control signals based on at least sounds emitted through the plurality of acoustic speaker elements corresponding to the acoustic source data, and detected by the microphone array.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating digital electrical signals from an acoustic speaker element, through a corresponding electrical interface, to a digital information electrical bus, to the automated digital processor.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing regulated electrical power through an electrical interface to operate each acoustic speaker element.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising equalizing a frequency response of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements based on at least the read profile.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising optimally controlling each of the plurality of the acoustic speaker elements in dependence on at least the acoustic source data, the received input from the microphone array, and a respective audio configuration profile provided for each acoustic speaker element.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automated digital processor is configured to communicate through the Internet.

10. A method reproducing sounds represented in acoustic source data, comprising:

providing a speaker system having a plurality of acoustic speaker elements configured to emit sound into an environment, comprising;

determining respective characteristics of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements by reading at least one memory;

receiving an input from a microphone array within the environment;

processing the determined respective characteristics of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements by an automated digital processor;

performing echo cancellation on the received input from the microphone array with the automated digital processor;

selectively generating a set of respective acoustic speaker element control signals by the automated digital processor while monitoring the received input, selectively in dependence on the acoustic source data, the received input from the microphone array, a voice command present in the received input, and the processed determined respective characteristics of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements, said selectively generating comprising adaptively compensating the acoustic source data for acoustic emission properties of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements based on at least the received input from the microphone array, selected from the group consisting of frequency response and directionality characteristics, for each respective acoustic speaker element of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements; and

communicating the received input over a wireless digital communication network,

wherein said generated set of respective acoustic speaker element control signals, for a single acoustic speaker element, is defined by the automated digital processor selectively in dependence on the respective characteristics of each of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements read from the memory, and the acoustic source data.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least two of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements are interchangeable and have respectively different acoustic emission properties.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the automated digital processor generates the set of respective acoustic speaker element control signals based on a psychoacoustic model to optimize the sound produced by the speaker system within a room.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the automated digital processor controls at least a time delay and frequency equalization for each respective acoustic speaker element of the plurality of speaker elements.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein each acoustic speaker element of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements receives a digital communication signal through an electrical bus and a respective electrical connector from the automated digital processor, dependent on at least the determined respective characteristics of another of the plurality of acoustic speaker elements.

15. A speaker system, comprising:

a plurality of speaker elements, each speaker element having respective acoustic emission properties selected from the group consisting of frequency response and directionality characteristics;

at least one memory configured to store parameters of the respective acoustic emission properties;

a microphone, within a sound field of the plurality of speaker elements; and

at least one automated digital processor, configured to;

read the stored parameters from the at least one memory,

receive an acoustic source signal,

control the plurality of speaker elements to reproduce the acoustic source signal selectively in dependence on the read parameters and an output of the microphone, wherein for a single speaker element, a control signal from the at least one automated digital processor is defined selectively in dependence on the stored parameters of the respective acoustic emission properties representing characteristics of each of the plurality of speaker elements, and the acoustic source signal,

adaptively compensating the acoustic source signal for the acoustic emission properties of the plurality of speaker elements determined based on at least the output of the microphone, selected from the group consisting of frequency response and directionality characteristics, for each respective speaker element of the plurality of speaker elements,

receive speech data from the microphone,

perform echo cancellation, and

communicate received speech data over a wireless digital communication network, and

interpret the received speech data as at least one voice command for voice control of the at least one automated digital processor.

16. The speaker system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of speaker elements comprise interchangeable acoustic speaker elements, each having an associated memory storing the parameters for a respective interchangeable acoustic speaker element, further comprising communicating the stored parameters through a separable electrical connector to the at least one automated processor.

17. The speaker system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one automated digital processor controls the plurality of speaker elements to reproduce the acoustic source signal based on a psychoacoustic model to optimize the sound produced by the speaker system within a room.

18. The speaker system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one automated digital processor is further configured to implement noise cancellation.