Intelligent Audio Speakers

• US 20080056507A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: Arkados Incorporated (Iota Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ebert, Brion John, Logvinov, Oleg
• Granted Patent: US 8,275,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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

Abstract

An intelligent audio speaker that uses a power line communication element to provide audio distribution within homes, businesses, apartment complexes, and other buildings. Multiple intelligent audio speakers may be networked together, with common control. The intelligent audio speaker may, in some embodiments of the present invention, contain enhanced ambient backlight effects to further enhance the listener'"'"'s experience. In some embodiments of the present invention, an existing audio speaker is retrofitted to an intelligent audio speaker using a retrofit kit.

Claims

1. An intelligent audio speaker comprising:

A power line communication element having a digital output;

a digital to analog conversion element operatively coupled to the digital output of the power line communication element for converting a digital audio signal to an analog audio signal;

an audio amplification element operatively coupled to said digital to analog conversion element; and

an audio speaker driven by said audio amplification element.

2. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 1, wherein the power line communication element is a system on a chip.

3. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processing element.

4. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 3, wherein the processing element is contained on a system on a chip.

5. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 1, further comprising an ambient light emitter element.

6. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element is driven by the power line communication element.

7. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element is driven by the analog audio signal.

8. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element contains light emitting diodes.

9. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element contains filament lamps.

10. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element contains gas discharge lamps.

11. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element can be adjusted by user input.

12. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element is automatically adjusted based on spectral information of the digital audio signal.

13. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 5, wherein the ambient light emitter element is automatically adjusted based on spectral information of the analog audio signal.

14. A retrofit kit for converting a conventional audio speaker to an intelligent audio speaker, the retrofit kit comprising:

a power line communication element having a digital output;

a digital to analog conversion element operatively coupled to the digital output of the power line communication element for converting a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal; and

an audio amplification element having an input and an output, the input being operatively coupled to said digital to analog conversion element and the output being electrically connected to a conventional audio speaker.

15. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the power line communication element is a system on a chip.

16. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 14, further comprising a processing element.

17. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 16, wherein the processing element is contained on a system on a chip.

18. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 14, further comprising an ambient light emitter element.

19. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light, emitter element is driven by the power line communication element.

20. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element is driven by the analog audio signal.

21. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element contains light emitting diodes.

22. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element contains filament lamps.

23. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element contains gas discharge lamps.

24. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element can be adjusted by user input.

25. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element is automatically adjusted based on spectral information of the digital audio signal.

26. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 18, wherein the ambient light emitter element is automatically adjusted based on spectral information of the analog audio signal.

27. A system for distributing audio signals using power lines, the system comprising:

a source of audio content in communication with a power line communication element, the power line communication element being operatively connected to said power lines; and

an intelligent audio speaker having a power line communication element, the power line communication element being operatively connected to said power lines.

28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the power line communication element is a system on a chip.

29. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a remote control for modifying the audio content.

30. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a device for automatic assignment of channels among the source of audio content and the intelligent audio speaker.

31. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a device for user controlled assignment of channels among the source of audio content and the intelligent audio speaker.

32. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising an ambient light emitter element.

33. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a processing element.

34. An intelligent audio speaker comprising:

a power line communication element for transmitting and receiving audio signals over conventional electrical wiring;

an audio amplification element opera lively coupled to said power line communication element; and

an audio speaker driven by said audio amplification element.

35. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34, wherein the power line communication element is a system on a chip.

36. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34, further comprising a digital to analog conversion element operatively coupled to a digital output of the power line communication element for converting a digital audio signal to an analog audio signal and an audio amplification element operatively coupled to the digital to analog conversion element.

37. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34, further comprising an audio amplification element operatively coupled to an analog output of the power line communication element and an audio speaker driven by the audio amplification element.

38. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34, further comprising an audio amplification element having a digital input operatively coupled to a digital output of the power line communication element and an audio speaker driven by the audio amplification element.

39. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34 wherein the audio amplification element is an analog amplifier.

40. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34 wherein the audio amplification element is a digital amplifier.

41. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 34 further comprising an ambient light emitter element.

42. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 41 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

43. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 41 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the power line communications element using signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

44. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 41 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the digital to analog conversion element using signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

45. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 41 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the audio amplification element using signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

46. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 42 wherein the audio signal is a digital signal.

47. The intelligent audio speaker as recited in claim 42 wherein the audio signal is an analog signal.

48. A retrofit kit for converting a conventional audio speaker to an intelligent audio speaker, the retrofit kit comprising:

a power line communication element for transmitting and receiving audio signals over conventional electrical wiring;

an audio amplification element operatively coupled to said power line communication element; and

an audio speaker driven by said audio amplification element.

49. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48, wherein the power line communication element is a system on a chip.

50. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48, further comprising a digital to analog conversion element operatively coupled to a digital output of the power line communication element for converting a digital audio signal to an analog audio signal and an audio amplification element operatively coupled to the digital to analog conversion element.

51. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48, further comprising an audio amplification element operatively coupled to an analog output of the power line communication element and an audio speaker driven by the audio amplification element.

52. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48, further comprising an audio amplification element having a digital input operatively coupled to a digital output of the power line communication element and an audio speaker driven by the audio amplification element.

53. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48 wherein the audio amplification element is an analog amplifier.

54. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48 wherein the audio amplification element is a digital amplifier.

55. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 48 further comprising an ambient light emitter element.

56. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 55 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

57. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 55 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the power line communications element using signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

58. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 55 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the digital to analog conversion element using signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

59. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 55 wherein light emitted by the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the audio amplification element using signal level and spectral content of said audio signal.

60. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 55 wherein the audio signal is a digital signal.

61. The retrofit kit as recited in claim 55 wherein the audio signal is an analog signal.

62. An intelligent audio speaker comprising:

a system on a chip having a power line communication element;

an audio amplification element operatively coupled to said system on a chip; and

an audio speaker driven by the audio amplification element.

63. The intelligent audio speaker of claim 62 wherein said audio amplification element is contained on a system on a chip.

64. The intelligent audio speaker of claim 62 further comprising a digital to analog conversion element contained on said system on a chip.

65. The intelligent audio speaker of claim 62 further comprising an ambient light emitter element contained on said system on a chip.

66. The intelligent audio speaker of claim 62 further comprising a processing element contained on said system on a chip.