Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

• US 20040234088A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Yadir, McCarty, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for communicating audio, video, and/or control signals within a home entertainment system. One or more signals are communicated between an input device and one or more output devices via one or more networks. The output device can include loudspeakers, display devices, and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel loudspeaker, transmits signals to other output devices. For example, the center channel loudspeaker can transmit a combined audio signal and control signal to a remote loudspeaker over a first network and transmit a video signal to a display device over a second network. The display device displays the video signal. The networks can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.

Claims

1. A home entertainment system comprising:

a left front channel loudspeaker;

a right front channel loudspeaker; and

a housing enclosing,

a device providing one or both an audio signal and a video signal,

a center channel loudspeaker coupled to receive at least a first portion of said audio signal from the device, and

a transmitter configured to receive at least a second portion of the audio signal from the device and transmit audio signals to a remote loudspeaker.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits a combined control and audio signal to the remote loudspeaker;

and

a remote loudspeaker having a receiver configured to receive the combined signal from the transmitter and extract the control signal and the audio signal from the combined signal.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device configured to display the video signal.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote loudspeaker further comprises a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) module configured to manipulate the audio signal based on the extracted control signal.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote loudspeaker further comprising a digital amplifier configured to digitally amplify the audio signal.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the combined signal includes an address signal which is associated with the remote loudspeaker.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the combined signal is transmitted to the remote loudspeaker via a network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the network is a powerline.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the network is wireless.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the network is RF.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the network is IR.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is configured to convert the audio signal from an analog form to a digital form.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is analog.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is digital.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is digital.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a volume level.

17. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a balance level.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a fader level.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level.

20. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a destination source which is associated with the remote loudspeaker.

21. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is an equalizer level.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a power on.

24. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a power off.

25. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a time delay.

26. The system of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a phase delay.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a TV.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a PC.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a MP3 player.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a DVD player.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a cable set top.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a satellite set top.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a stereo receiver.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a media center.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a DAT.

36. A loudspeaker housing comprising:

an input coupled to receive two or more signals from an input device;

a loudspeaker configured to broadcast one of the two or more received signals to a listener; and

a transmitter configured to transmit one or more signals to a remote loudspeaker.

37. The loudspeaker housing of claim 36, further comprising:

an amplifier module configured to convert one of the two or more received signals to pulse width modulation; and

a power stage module configured to amplify the pulse width modulation signal.

38. The loudspeaker housing of claim 36, wherein the remote loudspeaker is a subwoofer.

39. The loudspeaker housing of claim 36, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted using IR to the remote loudspeaker.

40. The loudspeaker housing of claim 36, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted using powerline to the satellite loudspeaker.

41. The loudspeaker housing of claim 36, wherein the second and third signals are transmitted using an RF network to the remote loudspeaker.

42. A home entertainment system comprising:

a housing comprising a transmitter module configured to receive an audio signal from an input device and wirelessly transmit the signal to at least one remote loudspeaker, wherein the audio signal comprises a plurality of different audio tracks;

a device located within the housing and configured to provide the audio signal; and

at least one loudspeaker external to said housing having a receiver configured to wirelessly receive the audio signal.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the input device is configured to provide a video signal to a display device.

44. A home entertainment system comprising:

a housing enclosing at least (1) a device providing an audio signal and a video signal, and (2) a center channel loudspeaker;

a left front channel loudspeaker coupled to receive at least a portion of said audio signal;

a right front channel loudspeaker coupled to receive at least a portion of said audio signal; and

a display device coupled to receive the video signal.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising at least one surround loudspeaker configured to receive at least a portion of said audio signal.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the housing further comprises a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the signal to the at least one surround loudspeaker.