PORTABLE MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20070230723A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tiscareno, Victor, Krueger, Scott, Dorogusker, Jesse, Howarth, Richard, Lin, Wey-Jiun, Terlizzi, Jeffrey, Filson, John, Novotney, Donald, Hobson, Phil, Lo, Ida, Martinez, Jose, Greene, Eric, Hammerstrom, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,477,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/300
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/66 with pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• 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 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• 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 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

An improved media delivery apparatus is disclosed. The media delivery apparatus can, for example, be a portable speaker system. In one embodiment, the media delivery apparatus is used with a portable media player. According to one aspect, audio output characteristics of a media delivery apparatus can be controlled based on whether a removable component is attached or detached. Another aspect pertains to improved techniques to attach a removable component to a media delivery apparatus. According to still another aspect a portion of a housing of an electrical device, such as a media delivery apparatus, can be utilized as part of a connector or plug.

Claims

1. A media delivery apparatus, comprising

an audio output subsystem that produces audio signals;

at least one speaker operatively connect to receive the audio signals from said audio output circuit;

a removable cover for said at least one speaker; and

a cover detection circuit operatively connected to provide a cover detection signal to said audio output subsystem based on whether or not said removable cover is attached or not,

wherein the audio signals supplied to said at least one speaker have at least one audio characteristic that varies depending on the cover detection signal.

2. A media delivery apparatus, comprising

a controller for controlling output of media data;

an audio output circuit operatively connected to said controller for receiving the media data and producing audio signals;

at least one speaker operatively connect to receive the audio signals from said audio output circuit;

a removable grill to cover said at least one speaker; and

a grill detection circuit operatively connected to provide a grill detection signal to at least one of said controller and said audio output circuit,

wherein at least one of said controller and said audio output circuit alters audio characteristics of the resulting audio output from said at least one speaker dependent on the grill detection signal.

3. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said media delivery apparatus is associated with a housing, and wherein said controller, said audio output circuit, said at least one speaker and said grill detection circuit are provided internal to the housing.

4. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the audio characteristics pertain to equalization settings.

5. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said removable grill attaches to the housing in a removable manner.

6. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the grill detection signal provided by said grill detection circuit indicates whether said removable grill is attached to or removed from the housing.

7. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said grill detection signal indicates whether said removable grill is attached or removed.

8. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein when altering the audio characteristics of the resulting audio, a first predetermined set of equalization levels are used when said removable grill is determined to be attached, and a second predetermined set of equalization levels are used when said removable grill is determined to be removed.

9. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said media delivery apparatus is a portable media player box.

10. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said media delivery apparatus includes a plurality of speakers, and wherein said removable grill serves to cover the plurality of speakers.

11. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein, when attached, said removable grill imposes a fabric in front of said at least one speaker.

12. A media delivery apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said grill detection circuit includes at least a switch.

13. A method for modifying audio output by a media delivery apparatus, the media delivery apparatus having a housing including audio output circuitry and one or more speakers, and the media delivery apparatus having a removable cover to cover at least the one or more speakers, said method comprising:

determining whether the removable cover is attach or removed from the housing; and

altering equalization characteristics imposed by the audio output circuitry dependent on whether the removable cover is determined to be attached or removed.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the equalization characteristics include or are associated with a plurality of equalization settings corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the equalization characteristics are predetermined.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said altering comprises:

setting the equalization characteristics to a first predetermined set of equalization levels when the removable cover is determined to be attached, and

setting the equalization characteristics to a second predetermined set of equalization levels when the removable cover is determined to be removed.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

producing audio signals by the audio output circuitry based on the equalization characteristics.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

outputting audio sounds in accordance with the audio signals via the one or more speakers.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the media delivery apparatus is a portable music delivery device.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the media delivery apparatus is a portable media player box.

21. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the removable cover is a grill.

22. A mounting arrangement for detachably coupling a speaker grill to a housing of a sound system, the mounting arrangement comprising:

a housing-side mount attached to the housing of the sound system, the housing-side mount including a receptacle and a holding detect mechanism within the receptacle; and

a grill-side mount attached to the speaker grill, the grill-side mount including a post that when inserted into the receptacle is held in the receptacle by the holding detent mechanism, thereby removably attaching the speaker grill to the housing of the sound system.

23. A mounting arrangement as recited in claim 22, wherein said mounting arrangement further comprises:

a dampening mechanism disposed between the speaker grill and the housing.

24. A mounting arrangement as recited in claim 22, wherein the holding detent mechanism includes one or more holding flexures and wherein the post includes a recess for receiving the holding flexures, the holding flexures being biased inwardly towards a centerline of the receptacle, wherein during insertion the end of the post causes the holding flexures to bend outwardly and wherein upon further insertion the flexures resume there inwardly biased state inside the recess thereby holding the post within the receptacle.

25. A mounting arrangement as recited in claim 22,

wherein the post includes a base, a ball and a neck disposed between the base and the ball,

wherein the housing-side mount includes a cap having an opening for receiving the ball therethrough so that the ball can be placed within a void of the receptacle, and

wherein the holding detent mechanism is a retainer ring that is trapped between the opening in the cap and the void of the receptacle, the retainer ring bending outwardly away from its axis when the ball is pushed or pulled between the opening and the void, the retainer ring capturing the ball when the ball is pushed therethrough and releasing the ball when the ball is pulled therethrough.

26. A mounting arrangement as recited in claim 25, wherein said mounting arrangement further comprises:

a dampening ring that is trapped between the speaker grill and the post, the dampening ring including a tube portion that extends along the neck of the post, the ends of the dampening ring being configured to come in contact with the housing-side mount when the grill-side mount is fully engaged with the housing-side mount.

27. A mounting arrangement as recited in claim 22, wherein said mounting arrangement further comprises:

a dampening device that is trapped between the speaker grill and the post.

28. A mounting arrangement as recited in claim 27, wherein the dampening device is configured to come in contact with the housing-side mount when the grill-side mount is fully engaged with the housing-side mount.

29. A portable sound system for docking a handheld media player, comprising:

a housing forming at least partially a speaker box;

one or more speaker drivers mounted to a front wall of the housing, the speaker drivers being configured to output sound based on audio signals generated at the media player;

a removable speaker grill that is detachably coupled to the front wall of the housing via a mounting arrangement, the speaker grill having a shape that coincides with the shape of the front wall of the housing, the mounting arrangement minimizing the gap found between the speaker grill and the housing wall; and

a docking station integrated within a top wall of the housing of the sound system, the docking station allowing the handheld media player to interact with the portable sound system, the docking station including a media bay capable of physically receiving the handheld media player and a connector arrangement disposed within the media bay for operatively coupling the handheld media player to the operational components of the portable sound system.

30. A portable sound system as recited in claim 29, wherein said portable sound system further comprises:

one or more input mechanisms for controlling some aspect of the handheld media player when the handheld media player is docked within the docking station.

31. A portable sound system as recited in claim 29, wherein said portable sound system further comprises:

at least one dampening device disposed between the speaker grill and the housing wall.

32. A portable sound system as recited in claim 29, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises:

a housing-side mount attached to the housing of the sound system, the housing-side mount including a receptacle and a holding detect mechanism within the receptacle; and

a grill-side mount attached to the speaker grill, the grill-side mount including a post that is inserted into the receptacle and held in the receptacle by the holding detent mechanism.

33. A portable sound system as recited in claim 29, wherein said portable sound system further comprises:

a removable access door that covers and seals a battery cavity of the portable sound system, the removable access door including a retention plate that slides in and out of an opening in the removable access door, the retention plate sliding between a disengaged position where the retention plate is contained within the perimeter of the removable access door, and an engaged position where the retention plate extends out of and past the perimeter of the removable access door in order to mate with a slot disposed within the battery cavity thereby securing the removable access door in front of the battery cavity.

34. A portable sound system as recited in claim 29, wherein said portable sound system further comprises:

a power socket formed by a portion of a wall of the housing so that the wall of the housing can maintain a continuous appearance without gaps, lines or breaks.

35. A sound system, comprising:

a housing having a housing wall with an access opening and a slot disposed within the access opening; and

a removable access door for placement inside the access opening, the removable access door including a retention plate that slides in and out of an opening in the removable access door, the retention plate sliding between a disengaged position where the retention plate is contained within the perimeter of the removable access door, and an engaged position where the retention plate extends out of and past the perimeter of the removable access door in order to mate with the slot disposed within the access opening thereby securing the removable access door within the access opening of the housing wall.

36. A sound system as recited in claim 35, wherein the access opening includes a recessed portion disposed around the perimeter of the access opening, the recessed portion receiving a back side of the removable access door, the recessed portion placing the outer surface of the removable access door substantially flush with the outer surface of the housing wall adjacent the access opening when the removable access door is disposed within the access opening and abutting against the recess portion.

37. A sound system as recited in claim 35, wherein the removable access door includes a rotating member on its exposed side for driving the retention plate between the engaged and disengaged positions.

38. A sound system as recited in claim 35, wherein the housing includes a second slot within the access opening, the second slot being positioned opposite the first slot, and wherein the removable access door includes a lip for placement within the second slot, the lip being positioned opposite the retention plate.

39. A sound system as recited in claim 35, wherein the removable access door comprises an outer shell and an inner shell that form an enclosure that slidably retains the retention plate therein, the outer and inner shell defining an opening that allows the retention plate to slide in and out of the enclosure between the engaged and disengaged positions.

40. A sound system as recited in claim 35,

wherein the outer shell comprises:

a body having a front wall and side walls that form a pocket, a top side wall including a recess that forms a portion of the opening for slidably receiving the retention plate, the front wall containing a rotating disk having a drive post that extends into the pocket;

a stiffening plate attached to the body at least partially over the rotating disk thereby retaining the rotating disk within the outer shell, the stiffening plate including a channel that receives the drive post of the rotating disk therethrough, and a plurality of threads;

wherein the inner shell comprises;

a body that is dimensioned to fit within the pocket within the side walls thereby trapping the retention plate therein, the top edge of the body including a recess that cooperates with the recess of the body of the outer shell to form the opening for slidably receiving the retention plate, the body including a plurality of guide posts that guide the sliding movement of the retention plate; and

wherein the retention plate comprises;

a top portion that is seated within the opening formed by the recess of the inner and outer shells, a plurality of channels that receive the guide posts thereby allowing the retention plate to be slidably retained within the inner and outer shells, and a cam groove that receives the drive post of the rotating disk, the drive post driving the retention plate between the engaged and disengaged positions via a cam action.

41. A power plug system for an electronic device, comprising:

a portion of a housing wall of the electronic device, the housing wall including an opening for receiving a connector therethrough; and

a fixture mounted to an inner surface of the housing wall so that an outer surface of the housing wall is continuous, the fixture including a body having a void for receiving the connector therein, and one or more electrical contacts disposed inside and extending outside the void, the void cooperating with the opening of the housing wall to form the interior space that receives the connector, the one or more electrical contacts extending partially into the opening in the housing wall.

42. A power plug system as recited in claim 41, wherein the inner surface of the housing wall includes a recessed portion surrounding the opening, the recessed portion receiving therein an end portion of the body of the fixture.

43. A power plug system as recited in claim 42, wherein the housing wall includes posts and the fixture includes tabs that rest on the posts.

44. A power plug system as recited in claim 41, wherein the one or more electrical contacts includes at least one ground contact.