Distributed and upgradable audio system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- an interior of the vehicle; and
a modular audio system provided in the interior of the vehicle, the audio system comprising;
an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle;
a digital audio controller (DAC) connected to the single strand of cable; and
two or more digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) modules connected to the single strand of cable at different locations in the interior of the vehicle, wherein each of the two or more DAS modules are in communication with the DAC via the connection to the single strand of cable, wherein each DAS module of the two or more DAS modules receives a digital sound signal from the DAC and converts the digital sound signal into sound through the corresponding speaker, and wherein the DAC identifies each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The systems and methods described herein provide an audio system and modules that include speakers that can be packaged in new locations, and/or that can be driven by a local amplifier (amp). The new audio system can be easily upgraded with more modules inserted into the speaker network. For example, the custom system can increase capacity by replacing a trim panel with a new integrated trim panel having a module with one or more smaller speakers and the local amp. A control processor can detect the modules, which may include a digital signal processor (DSP), an amp, and/or at least one speaker.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vehicle, comprising:
-
an interior of the vehicle; and a modular audio system provided in the interior of the vehicle, the audio system comprising; an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle; a digital audio controller (DAC) connected to the single strand of cable; and two or more digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) modules connected to the single strand of cable at different locations in the interior of the vehicle, wherein each of the two or more DAS modules are in communication with the DAC via the connection to the single strand of cable, wherein each DAS module of the two or more DAS modules receives a digital sound signal from the DAC and converts the digital sound signal into sound through the corresponding speaker, and wherein the DAC identifies each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
creating a modular audio network comprising an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of a vehicle, a digital audio controller (DAC) connected to the audio network backbone, and two or more digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) modules connected to the single strand of cable at different locations in the interior of the vehicle, wherein each of the two or more DAS modules are in communication with the DAC via the connection to the single strand of cable, wherein each DAS module of the two or more DAS modules receives a digital sound signal from the DAC and converts the digital sound signal into sound through the corresponding speaker; the DAC identifying each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules; the DAC determining a configuration for the two or more DAS modules; the DAC receiving an audio input signal; the DAC configuring the received audio input signal; the DAC addressing the configured audio input signal for at least one DAS module of the two or more DAS modules; and the DAC sending the addressed audio input signal to the at least one DAS module of the two or more DAS modules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A non-transitory information storage media having stored thereon one or more instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause an audio system in a vehicle to perform a method, the method comprising:
-
receiving a digital audio signal from a digital audio controller (DAC) over an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle at a digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) module, wherein the DAC sends the digital audio signal to two or more DAS modules connected at distinct locations along the single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle, and wherein the DAC identifies each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules; the DAS module configuring the digital audio signal; the DAS module converting the digital audio signal into an analog signal; and the DAS module outputting the analog signal to the speaker associated with the DAS module, wherein the speaker outputs sound based on the analog signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification