Wireless audio transmission method and device

• US 20070136770A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Zhun-woo, Jang, Seong-cheol
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6162 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• 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

Abstract

A wireless audio transmission method and a device. The wireless audio transmission device includes: an audio processor that receives a digital audio signal from an external multimedia apparatus when the wireless audio transmission device is docked at the external multimedia apparatus, performing a predetermined signal processing operation of adding a sound effect to the received digital audio signal, and generating a composite signal; a wireless transmission processor to receive the composite signal generated by the audio processor and to convert the received composite signal into a wireless packet; and a wireless transmitter to modulate the wireless packet into an RF signal and to transmit the RF signal.

Claims

1. A wireless audio transmission device comprising:

an audio processor to receive a digital audio signal from an external multimedia apparatus when the wireless audio transmission device is connected to the external multimedia apparatus, to perform a predetermined signal processing operation of adding a sound effect to the received digital audio signal, and to generate a composite signal;

a wireless transmission processor to receive the composite signal generated by the audio processor and to convert the received composite signal into a wireless packet; and

a wireless transmitter to modulate the wireless packet into an RF signal and to transmit the RF signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio processor comprises:

a connector including a connection element to be docked into the external multimedia apparatus and to receive the digital audio signal from the external multimedia apparatus when the connection element is docked; and

a composite signal generator to perform the predetermined signal processing operation on the digital audio signal received by the connector and to generate the composite signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises an SPDIF terminal and receives the digital audio signal through the SPDIF terminal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio processor comprises a channel selector to select one of a plurality of channels when the external multimedia apparatus outputs digital audio signals of a plurality of broadcasting services through the plurality of channels and to receive only the digital audio signal output through the selected channel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio processor comprises a wired transmitter to have a structure connectable to an external output device and to transmit the composite signal generated by the audio processor when the audio processor is connected to the external output device through a wire.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal processing operation is a signal processing operation for headphone virtualization.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal processing operation is a signal processing operation for a 3D sound.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal processing operation is a predefined equalization process.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission processor receives the composite signal generated by the audio processor and converts the received composite signal into a Bluetooth packet by use of a Bluetooth protocol.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission processor receives the composite signal generated by the audio processor and converts the received composite signal into a WiFi packet by use of a WiFi protocol.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission processor comprises:

an RF signal generator to convert the wireless packet generated by the wireless transmission processor into an analogue signal and to modulate the converted analogue signal into an RF signal; and

an antenna to output the RF signal wirelessly.

12. A wireless audio transmission method comprising:

receiving a digital audio signal from an external multimedia apparatus connected in a docking manner;

performing a predetermined signal processing operation of adding a sound effect to the received digital audio signal and generating a composite signal;

converting the composite signal into a wireless packet; and

modulating the wireless packet into an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving of a digital audio signal comprises receiving the digital audio signal by use of an SPDIF terminal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving of a digital audio signal comprises selecting one of a plurality of channels when the external multimedia apparatus outputs digital audio signals of a plurality of broadcasting services through the plurality of channels and receiving only the digital audio signal output through the selected channel.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing of the predetermined signal processing operation is a signal processing operation for headphone virtualization.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing of the predetermined signal processing operation is a signal processing operation of generating a 3D sound.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing of the predetermined signal processing operation is a predefined equalization process.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the converting of the composite signal into a wireless packet comprises receiving the composite signal and converting the received composite signal into a Bluetooth packet by use of a Bluetooth protocol.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the converting of the composite signal into a wireless packet comprises receiving the composite signal and converting the received composite signal into a WiFi packet by use of a WiFi protocol.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the modulating of the wireless packet into an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal comprises:

converting the wireless packet into an analogue signal;

modulating the converted analogue signal into an RF signal; and

outputting the RF signal through an antenna wirelessly.

21. A wireless audio transmission device comprising:

an audio processor to receive a digital audio signal from an external multimedia apparatus when connected thereto, to add a predetermined sound effect to the received digital audio signal based on a predetermined type of sound to be realized, and to generate a composite signal; and

a wireless transmission processor to convert the composite signal into a wireless packet to be wirelessly transmitted.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the audio processor is connectable to the external multimedia apparatus by a docking operation.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the predetermined sound effect added to the digital audio signal is one which realizes a headphone virtualization.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the predetermined sound effect added to the digital audio signal is one which realizes a 3D sound.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the predetermined sound effect added to the digital audio signal is one which realizes a an effect predefined by a user.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the audio processor comprises:

a channel selector to select one of a plurality of channels and to receive the audio signal through the selected channel when the external multimedia apparatus outputs a plurality of audio signals through the plurality of channels.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the plurality of audio signals output through the plurality of channels is a plurality of digital audio signals corresponding to a plurality of broadcasting services.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the audio processor further comprises:

a connector to receive the digital audio signal and channel information of the external multimedia apparatus together with audio control information.

29. A wireless audio transmission method comprising:

receiving a digital audio signal from an external multimedia apparatus docked thereto;

adding a sound effect to the received digital audio signal and generating a composite signal; and

converting the composite signal into a wireless packet to be transmitted wirelessly.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the composite signal is generated for a headphone virtualization.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the composite signal is generated for a 3D sound.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the converting of the composite signal comprises converting the composite signal into a Bluetooth packet by using a Bluetooth protocol.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the wireless packet.

34. A readable/recordable medium containing a method of wireless audio transmission, the method comprising:

receiving a digital audio signal at a personal audio system from an external multimedia apparatus connected in a docking manner;

performing a predetermined signal processing operation of adding a sound effect to the received digital audio signal and generating a composite signal;

converting the composite signal into a wireless packet; and

modulating the wireless packet into an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal.

35. A readable/recordable medium containing a method of wireless audio transmission, the method comprising:

receiving a digital audio signal from an external multimedia apparatus docked thereto;

adding a sound effect to the received digital audio signal and generating a composite signal; and

converting the composite signal into a wireless packet to be transmitted wirelessly.