Movable Audio-Visual Component System and Method

• US 20080107284A1
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arie, Isamu, Matsuoka, Fumiya
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/87
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/02 with automatic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/12 Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules

Abstract

An audio-visual (“A/V”) system includes one or more A/V components, each one of which can be attached to a wall using a bracket or support bar. Each support bar enables the transfer of power signals and control signals (including media data) to each of the A/V components. Instead of wires, each A/V component includes one or more contact or conductive surfaces that abut corresponding surfaces on the support bar in order to receive power and transfer control signals among other A/V components.

Claims

1. An audio-visual (“

A/V”

) component for use with A/V content and for use with a support bar having a support bar conductive surface, wherein the support bar defines a channel and is adapted for attachment to a structure surface, the A/V component comprising;

a housing having a hook-shaped portion adapted to mate with the channel, wherein the housing is configured to be supported by the support bar when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the channel and when the support bar is attached to the structure surface;

a component first conductive surface disposed on the housing and adapted to abut the support bar conductive surface when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the channel; and

electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the component first conductive surface, wherein the electronic circuitry is for processing a control signal for using the A/V content,

wherein the component first conductive surface and the support bar conductive surface are adapted to transmit one of a power signal and the control signal.

2. The A/V component of claim 1 wherein the A/V component is one of a digital video recorder, a DVD player, an amplifier, a speaker, a television tuner, an A/V controller, and a CD player.

3. The A/V component of claim 1 wherein the support bar is a first support bar, wherein the A/V component is further for use with a second support bar having a second support bar conductive surface,

wherein the second support bar defines a second channel and is adapted for attachment to the structure surface,

wherein the first and second support bars are adapted to transmit the one of the power signal and the control signal between one another when the first and second support bars are attached to the structure surface and disposed adjacent to one another,

wherein the hook-shaped portion of the housing is adapted to mate with the second channel, and the housing is configured to be supported by the second support bar when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the second channel and when the second support bar is attached to the structure surface,

wherein the component first conductive surface is adapted to abut the second support bar conductive surface when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the second channel, and

wherein the component first conductive surface and the second support bar conductive surface are adapted to transmit the one of the power signal and the control signal.

4. The A/V component of claim 1 wherein the housing has an exterior and an interior, and wherein no electrical cable extends from the housing exterior when the housing is supported by the support bar and when the electronic circuitry is processing the control signal.

5. The A/V component of claim 1 wherein the support bar conductive surface is a support bar first conductive surface, wherein the support bar further has a support bar second conductive surface, the A/V component further comprising:

a component second conductive surface disposed on the housing and adapted to abut the support bar second conductive surface when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the channel,

wherein the electronic circuitry is further connected to the component second conductive surface, and

wherein the component second conductive surface and the support bar second conductive surface are adapted to transmit the other one of the power signal and the control signal.

6. A system for using audio-visual (“

A/V”

) content and for use with a plurality of support bars, wherein each of the plurality of support bars has a support bar first conductive surface, wherein each of the plurality of support bars defines a support bar channel and is adapted for attachment to a structure surface, the system comprising;

a plurality of A/V components wherein each of the plurality of A/V components is adapted to perform a generally different function than any other of the plurality of A/V components, and wherein each of the plurality of A/V components comprises;

a housing having a hook-shaped portion adapted to mate with each of the plurality of support bar channels, wherein the housing is configured to be supported by any one of the plurality of support bars when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the corresponding one of the plurality of support bar channels and when the one of the plurality of support bars is attached to the structure surface;

a component first conductive surface disposed on the housing and adapted to abut any one of the plurality of support bar first conductive surfaces when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the corresponding one of the plurality of support bar channels; and

electronic circuitry disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the component first conductive surface, wherein the electronic circuitry is for processing a control signal for using the A/V content,

wherein the component first conductive surface and each of the plurality of support bar first conductive surfaces are adapted to transmit one of a power signal and the control signal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of support bars includes a first support bar and a second support bar, wherein the plurality of A/V components includes a first A/V component and a second A/V component,

wherein the one of the power signal and the control signal is the control signal,

wherein the first support bar is adapted to transmit the control signal to the second support bar when the first and second support bars are attached to the structure surface and disposed adjacent to one another,

wherein the first A/V component is adapted to transmit the control signal to the second A/V component via the first and second support bars when the hook-shaped portion of the first A/V component housing is mated with the first support bar channel and when the hook-shaped portion of the second A/V component housing is mated with the second support bar channel, and

wherein the first A/V component is adapted to transmit the control signal to the second A/V component via the first and second support bars when the hook-shaped portion of the first A/V component housing is mated with the second support bar channel and when the hook-shaped portion of the second A/V component housing is mated with the first support bar channel.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of support bars further has a support bar second conductive surface, and wherein each of the plurality of A/V components further comprises:

a component second conductive surface disposed on the housing and adapted to abut any one of the plurality of support bar second conductive surfaces when the hook-shaped portion is mated with the corresponding one of the plurality of support bar channels,

wherein the component second conductive surface and each of the plurality of support bar second conductive surfaces are adapted to transmit the other one of the power signal and the control signal.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of support bars includes a first support bar and a second support bar, wherein the plurality of A/V components includes a first A/V component and a second A/V component,

wherein the first and second support bars are adapted to transmit the control signal and the power signal between one another when the first and second support bars are attached to the structure surface and disposed adjacent to one another,

wherein the first A/V component is adapted to receive the power signal from at least one of the first and second support bars and further is adapted to transmit the control signal to the second A/V component via the first and second support bars when the hook-shaped portion of the first A/V component housing is mated with the first support bar channel and when the hook-shaped portion of the second A/V component housing is mated with the second support bar channel, and

wherein the first A/V component is adapted to receive the power signal from at least the other one of the first and second support bars and further is adapted to transmit the control signal to the second A/V component via the first and second support bars when the hook-shaped portion of the first A/V component housing is mated with the second support bar channel and when the hook-shaped portion of the second A/V component housing is mated with the first support bar channel.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the housing has a front face and a rear face, wherein the rear face includes the hook-shaped portion of the housing, and wherein the front face has a concave shape.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the concave-shaped front face is formed by an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the upper surface and the lower surface each has cross section that defines an approximately 90-degree arc of an imaginary circle.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of A/V components further comprises a removable cover configured to be secured to at least a portion of the front face of the housing and to conform to the shape of the at least a portion of the front face.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the support bar channel extends in a generally longitudinal direction, wherein the housing defines a housing channel having a channel wall, wherein the hook-shaped portion of the housing defines at least a portion of the channel wall, and wherein the hook-shaped portion and the housing channel are configured to form a handle for carrying the A/V component.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein a first one of the plurality of the A/V components is a first one of a digital video recorder, a DVD player, an amplifier, a speaker, a television tuner, an A/V controller, and a CD player, and wherein a second one of the plurality of the A/V components is a second one of the digital video recorder, the DVD player, the amplifier, the speaker, the television tuner, the A/V controller, and the CD player.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein one of the plurality of the A/V components is a controller with a retractable display screen for displaying a user interface, and wherein the user interface includes a playlist for management of the A/V content.

16. The system of claim 6 wherein one of the plurality of the A/V components is a hard disk drive recorder with a retractable display screen for displaying a user interface, and wherein the user interface includes a playlist for management of the A/V content.

17. The system of claim 6 further comprising a remote controller for wirelessly transmitting commands for operating the plurality of A/V components.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the remote controller has a display screen for displaying a user interface.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the A/V component housing has a front face and a rear face, wherein the rear face includes the hook-shaped portion of the housing, wherein the front face has a concave shape, and wherein the remote controller is configured to be secured to the front face.

20. A method comprising:

attaching a plurality of support bars to a structure surface, wherein each of the plurality of support bars defines a support bar channel and has a support bar first conductive surface;

mounting a plurality of audio-visual (“

A/V”

) components onto the plurality of support bars, wherein each of the plurality of A/V components has a hook-shaped portion adapted to mate with the support bar channel of any one of the plurality of support bars;

wherein each of the plurality of A/V components has a component first conductive surface disposed on the A/V component and adapted to abut the support bar first conductive surface of any one of the plurality of support bars when the A/V component is mounted on the one of the plurality of support bars, and

wherein each of the plurality of A/V components further has electronic circuitry electrically connected to the component first conductive surface, wherein the electronic circuitry is for processing a control signal for using A/V content; and

transmitting one of a power signal and the control signal between the component first conductive surface of one of the plurality of A/V components and the support bar first conductive surface of one of the plurality of support bars.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of A/V components includes a first A/V component and a second A/V component, wherein the plurality of support bars includes a first support bar defining a first support bar channel and a second support bar defining a second support bar channel, and wherein mounting the plurality of A/V components includes mounting the first A/V component onto the first support bar and mounting the second A/V component onto the second support bar, the method further comprising:

removing the first A/V component from the first support bar;

removing the second A/V component from the second support bar;

mounting the first A/V component onto the second support bar;

mounting the second A/V component onto the first support bar; and

transmitting the control signal between the first A/V component and the second A/V component via the first and second support bars when the first A/V component is mounted on the second support bar and the second A/V component is mounted on the first support bar.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of support bars further has a support bar second conductive surface, wherein each of the plurality of A/V components further has a component second conductive surface disposed on the A/V component and adapted to abut the support bar second conductive surface of any one of the plurality of support bars when the A/V component is mounted on the one of the plurality of support bars, the method further comprising:

transmitting another one of the power signal and the control signal between the component second conductive surface of the one of the plurality of A/V components and the support bar second conductive surface of the one of the plurality of support bars.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the plurality of A/V components includes a first A/V component and a second A/V component, wherein the plurality of support bars includes a first support bar defining a first support bar channel and a second support bar defining a second support bar channel, and wherein mounting the plurality of A/V components includes mounting the first A/V component onto the first support bar and mounting the second A/V component onto the second support bar, the method further comprising:

removing the first A/V component from the first support bar;

removing the second A/V component from the second support bar;

mounting the first A/V component onto the second support bar;

mounting the second A/V component onto the first support bar;

transmitting the control signal between the first A/V component and the second A/V component via the first and second support bars when the first A/V component is mounted on the second support bar and the second A/V component is mounted on the first support bar; and

transmitting the power signal to the first and second A/V components when the first A/V component is mounted on the second support bar and the second A/V component is mounted on the first support bar,

wherein the first and second support bars are adapted to transmit the control signal and the power signal between one another.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein a first one of the plurality of the A/V components is a first one of a digital video recorder, a DVD player, an amplifier, a speaker, a television tuner, an A/V controller, and a CD player, and wherein a second one of the plurality of the A/V components is a second one of the digital video recorder, the DVD player, the amplifier, the speaker, the television tuner, the A/V controller, and the CD player.

25. A system for using audio-visual (“

A/V”

) content and for use with a plurality of support bars adapted for attachment to a structure surface, the system comprising;

a plurality of A/V components, wherein each of the plurality of A/V components includes;

means for interchangeably supporting the plurality of A/V components with the plurality of support bars so that any one of the plurality of A/V components is operationally supported by any one of the plurality of support bars;

means for transferring a control signal between two of the plurality of A/V components via the plurality of support bars, wherein the control signal is for using the A/V content; and

means for supplying a power signal to the plurality of A/V components via the plurality of support bars.