Portable audio reproduction system

• US 20050244025A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altec Lansing LLC (Infinity Group Holding Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Altec Lansing Technologies (Infinity Group Holding Co. LLC)
• Inventors: Langberg, Eric Aaron, Burke, David, Schul, Eran
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/334
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A portable system capable of receiving audio signals from one or more sources and reproducing the signals via speakers contained therein. The portable audio reproduction system can include a docking station or similar means for communicatively coupling an audio device to the portable audio reproduction system, thereby reducing desktop clutter and simplifying connecting the portable audio reproduction system with the audio device. The speakers of the portable audio reproduction system can preferably be received within a base portion of the system, thereby protecting the speakers during transport and reducing the overall size of the system for improved portability. External connections may also be provided, thereby enabling the portable audio reproduction system to receive audio signals from additional sources, and a mixer allows the system to reproduce signals from a portable audio device and an auxiliary source, such as a computer.

Claims

1. A portable audio reproduction system, comprising:

a speaker housing including at least one speaker driver for reproducing sound;

a deck for providing a protective surface, the deck being connected to the speaker housing by at least one hinge;

the deck being rotatable about the hinge between first and second positions, the first position providing an open mode in which the speaker driver is exposed and the second position providing a closed mode in which the speaker driver is covered by the protective surface of the deck; and

,

at least one audio adapter, operably connected to the speaker driver, for receiving audio signals from an audio device for reproduction by the speaker driver.

2. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the hinge articulates through approximately 285 degrees as the portable audio reproduction system is transformed from the open mode to the closed mode.

3. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising a bar for preventing the portable audio reproduction system from closing while the portable audio reproduction system is open and the audio device is attached thereto.

4. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of detents, through which the angle of the speakers with respect to the protective surface can be controlled.

5. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge is a barrel hinge.

6. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the hinge allows the portable audio reproduction system to be opened and closed in a clamshell-like manner.

7. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the at least one speaker driver comprises a plurality of speaker drivers.

8. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the protective surface completely covers the plurality of speaker driver when the portable audio reproduction system is closed.

9. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 7, further comprising a second protective surface, wherein the second protective surface is connected to the first protective surface by at least one hinge, and wherein the first and second protective surfaces at least partially encase the plurality of speakers when the portable audio system is closed.

10. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier, communicatively coupled between the audio adapter and the speakers.

11. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 10, wherein the amplifier is a Class D amplifier.

12. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising a volume control.

13. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 10, further comprising at least one power source, for powering the amplifier.

14. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 13, wherein the at least one power source is at least one battery.

15. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 14, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable.

16. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 13, wherein the at least one power source is a DC power source.

17. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 13, wherein the at least one power source is an AC power source.

18. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 13, wherein the at least one power source further provides power to the audio device.

19. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 18, wherein the at least one power source provides power to the audio device regardless of whether the portable audio reproduction system is open or closed.

20. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 13, wherein the portable audio reproduction system automatically powers down when closed.

21. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising a cable port.

22. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 21, wherein the cable port allows the portable audio reproduction system to be connected to at least one external device.

23. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 22, wherein the external device is a subwoofer.

24. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 22, wherein the external device is a computer.

25. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 21, wherein the cable port is at the bottom of the portable audio reproduction system, thereby allowing the portable audio reproductions system to dock with external equipment.

26. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising a headset jack.

27. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary input jack.

28. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 27, further comprising a Class D amplifier.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the Class D amplifier combines audio signals from the auxiliary input jack and the at least one audio adapter to create the audio signal to be reproduced by the system.

30. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 29, further comprising a headset jack, wherein the audio signal to be reproduced by the system is also sent to the headset jack.

31. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 5, further comprising a rubber grommet around the barrel hinge.

32. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 7, wherein the speaker enclosure comprises first and second speaker enclosures.

33. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 32, further comprising at least one second protective surface between the plurality of speaker enclosures.

34. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 33, wherein the at least one second protective surface impedes closing the portable audio reproduction system when an audio device is connected to the at least one audio adapter.

35. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 1, wherein the incline of the speaker enclosure when the system is in the open mode is selected so as to provide optimum sound when the speaker enclosure is at an arm'"'"'s length distance from a user'"'"'s ears.

36. A portable audio reproduction system comprising:

at least one first protective surface;

a plurality of speakers, wherein each of the plurality of speakers is connected to a first protective surface by at least one hinge, and wherein the at least one hinge is a barrel hinge;

a rubber grommet arranged around the barrel hinge, wherein the rubber grommet isolates the plurality of speakers from the first protective surface.

at least one audio adapter, connected to the speakers, for receiving audio signals from an audio device which are to be reproduced by the portable audio reproduction system;

at least one auxiliary input jack;

at least one headset jack;

at least one power adapter; and

,

at least one cable port.

37. A portable audio reproduction system, comprising:

first and second speaker housings, each including at least one speaker driver for reproducing sound;

a deck for providing a protective surface, the deck being connected to the first and second speaker housings;

the deck being movable between first and second positions, the first position providing an open mode in which the speaker driver is exposed and the second position providing a closed mode in which the speaker driver is covered by the protective surface of the deck; and

,

a docking cradle for receiving an audio device.

38. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 37, further comprising a bar extending between the first and second speaker housings for preventing the portable audio reproduction system from closing while the portable audio reproduction system is open and the audio device is attached thereto.

39. A portable audio reproduction system, comprising:

a speaker housing including at least one speaker driver for reproducing sound;

a docking cradle for receiving an audio device;

an auxiliary input jack; and

,

an audio adapter, operably connected to the speaker driver, for receiving audio a first audio signal from the audio device and a second audio signal from the auxiliary input jack for reproduction by the speaker driver, the at least one audio adapter having a mixer for combining the first audio signal with the second audio signal into a combined signal.

40. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 39, further comprising a headset jack.

41. The portable audio reproduction system of claim 40, wherein the mixer is operably connected to both the headset jack and the speaker driver such that the combined signal can be directed to both the headset jack and the speaker driver.