WIRED, WIRELESS, INFRARED, AND POWERLINE AUDIO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20080123868A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Yadir, McCarty, William A.
• Application Number:
  US12/020,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20080123868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/69 Optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/84 combined with power distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• 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
• 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 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for communicating audio signals between an input device and an output device via a network. The output device can include loudspeakers and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel speaker, transmits audio signals to other output devices. In some embodiments, the output device is coupled to, or combined with, a speaker stand or speaker bracket. The network can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting an audio signal via a network, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a transmitter module located in the housing and configured to receive an audio signal and a control signal, combine the audio and control signals into a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal to a receiver module via a network;

a plug coupled to the housing and configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle;

a power supply in the housing, coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the transmitter module; and

an input wire configured to couple the housing to an input device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further incorporates an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses, the selected address being associated with the receiver module and uniquely identifying the receiver module within the network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing further incorporates a power switch configured to select an off state or on state for the transmitter module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing further incorporates a light emitting diode power indicator configured to emit light when the power supply is providing electrical energy to the transmitter module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing further incorporates a light emitting diode transmitter indicator configured to emit light when the transmitter module is transmitting the combined signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is wired.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is a powerline.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is wireless.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network is RF.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network is IR.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is analog.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is digital.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is digital.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a volume level.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a balance level.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a fader level.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a destination source.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is an equalizer level.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is an address.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a power on.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a power off.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a time delay.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a phase delay.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter module is configured to power on in response to receiving the audio signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I²S) format.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is a CD player.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is an AM/FM tuner.

32. An apparatus for transmitting an audio signal via a network, the apparatus comprising:

a first housing comprising,

a transmitter module configured to receive an audio signal and a control signal, combine the audio and control signals into a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal to a receiver module via a network;

a second housing comprising,

a plug configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle, and

a power supply coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the transmitter module;

a wire coupled between the first housing and the second housing; and

an input wire configured to couple the first housing to an input device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses, the selected address being associated with the receiver module and uniquely identifying the receiver module within the network.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a power switch configured to select an off state or on state for the transmitter module.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a light emitting diode power indicator configured to emit light when the power supply is providing electrical energy to the transmitter module.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a light emitting diode transmitter indicator configured to emit light when the transmitter module is transmitting the combined signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the network is wired.

38. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the network is a powerline.

39. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the network is wireless.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the network is RF.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the network is IR.

42. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is analog.

43. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the audio signal is digital.

44. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is digital.

45. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a volume level.

46. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a balance level.

47. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a fader level.

48. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level.

49. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a destination source.

50. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection.

51. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is an equalizer level.

52. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is an address.

53. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a power on.

54. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a phase delay.

55. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the transmitter module is configured to power on in response to receiving the audio signal.

56. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the transmitter module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal.

57. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

58. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I²S) format.