NOTEBOOK POWER SUPPLY WITH INTEGRATED SUBWOOFER

• US 20100322441A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Weiss, Vernon, Faulk, Brett, Hua, Fang, Lam, Kean W., Teltz, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• 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 portable electrical appliance comprises an audio signal source, a power supply module having a housing external to the portable electrical appliance for providing power to the electronic appliance having, a power converter for providing DC power to at least the portable electrical appliance, a speaker for generating sound and audio processing means for manipulating audio signals from the audio signal source, wherein the power converter, audio processing means and speaker are mounted within the housing, and communication means for coupling the audio signal to the processing means. The communication means is able to be wireless or wired.

Claims

1. A power supply for an electrical appliance comprising:

a. a housing,

b. a power converter coupled to or mounted within the housing for providing power to the electrical appliance;

c. a speaker for generating sound, wherein the speaker is coupled to the housing; and

d. communication means for coupling at least one audio signal from the electrical appliance to the speaker.

2. The power supply of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional speaker.

3. The power supply of claim 1 further comprising at least one output in the housing for coupling at least one additional external speaker.

4. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the audio signal comprises digital audio data.

5. The power supply of claim 4 further comprising a decoder for decoding the digital audio data.

6. The power supply in claim 1 wherein the communication means comprises a cable that delivers electrical signals between the power converter and the electrical appliance.

7. The power supply of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier circuit for amplifying the audio signal, the driver coupled to the communication means and the speaker.

8. The power supply of claim 7 wherein the power converter provides power to the amplifier circuit.

9. The power supply of claim 7 wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a Class A/B amplification stage.

10. The power supply of claim 7 wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a Class D amplification stage.

11. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the communication means comprises at least one wire.

12. The power supply of claim 11 further comprising a connector for coupling to the electronic appliance, the connector comprising:

a. an audio jack electrically coupled to the at least one wire; and

b. a power jack coupled to a power cable.

13. The power supply of claim 12 further comprising a second power jack to receive a DC voltage.

14. The power supply of claim 12 wherein the at least one wire and the power cable are housed in a single sheath.

15. The connector of claim 12 wherein the power jack substantially circumscribes the audio jack.

16. The connector of claim 12 wherein the power jack and audio jack are integrally formed.

17. The connector of claim 12 wherein the audio jack is integral to the power jack.

18. The connector of claim 12 wherein the audio jack is adjacent to the power jack.

19. The power supply of claim 12 wherein the communication means comprises an infrared receiver.

20. The power supply of claim 12 wherein the communication means comprises a bluetooth receiver.

21. The power supply of claim 12 wherein the communication means comprises an RF receiver.

22. A system comprising:

a. an electrical appliance;

b. a power supply module having a housing external to the electrical appliance for providing power to the electronic appliance having;

1. a power converter for converting an available power to an appropriate power for the electronic appliance; and

2. a speaker for generating sound, wherein the power converter and speaker are mounted within the housing; and

c. communication means for coupling audio data from the electrical appliance to the power supply module.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the audio signal comprises digital audio data.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the power supply module further comprises a decoder for decoding the digital audio data.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the power supply module further comprises a driver for amplifying the audio signal, the driver coupled to the communication means and the speaker.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the power converter provides power to the driver.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the driver comprises a Class A/B amplification stage.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the driver comprises a Class D amplification stage.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the communication means comprises at least one wire in addition to a power cable.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the electrical appliance comprises a female connector having:

a. a receptacle for a power connector; and

b. a receptacle for an audio connector.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the receptacle for a power connector substantially circumscribes the receptacle for the audio connector.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the receptacle for a power connector is adjacent to the receptacle for the audio connector.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the power supply module comprises a connector for coupling to the electronic appliance, the connector comprising:

a. an audio jack electrically coupled to the at least one wire; and

b. a power jack coupled to a power cable.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one wire and the power cable are housed in a single sheath.

35. The connector of claim 33 wherein the power jack substantially circumscribes the audio jack.

36. The connector of claim 33 wherein the power jack and audio jack are integrally formed.

37. The connector of claim 33 wherein the audio jack is adjacent to the power jack.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein the communication means comprises:

a. a wireless transmitter mounted to the portable electronic appliance, and

b. a wireless receiver mounted to the power supply module.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver comprise an infrared wireless transmitter and wireless receiver.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver comprise a bluetooth wireless transmitter and wireless receiver.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver comprise an RF wireless transmitter and wireless receiver.

42. A portable electrical appliance comprising:

a. an audio signal source for providing an audio signal;

b. a power supply module having a housing external to the portable electrical appliance for providing power to the electronic appliance having;

1. a power converter for providing DC power to at least the portable electrical appliance;

2. a speaker for generating sound; and

3. audio processing means for manipulating audio signals from the audio signal source, wherein the power converter, audio processing means and speaker are mounted within the housing; and

c. a cable for coupling the audio signals from the audio source to the audio processing means and coupling DC power in between the portable electrical appliance and the power converter.

43. The portable electrical appliance in claim 42 wherein the a power supply module comprises at least one additional speaker mounted within the housing.

44. The portable electrical appliance in claim 42 wherein the a power supply module comprises at least one output for coupling an additional speaker.

45. The portable electrical appliance in claim 42 wherein the a power supply module comprises an amplifier circuit for amplifying the audio signals and coupling the amplified audio signals to the speaker, wherein the amplifier circuit is mounted within the housing.

46. The portable electrical appliance in claim 45 comprises any among a Class A/B and Class D circuit.

47. The portable electrical appliance in claim 42 wherein the audio processing means comprises any among a decoder, a demodulator, a mixer, a filter, a volume control, and an on/off switch.

48. The portable electrical appliance in claim 42 wherein the cable comprises at least one wire for coupling the audio signals from the audio source to the audio processing means and a separate wire for coupling DC power in between the portable electrical appliance and the power converter.

49. The portable electrical appliance in claim 42 wherein the cable comprises one wire for coupling audio signals from the audio source to the audio processing means and a separate wire for coupling DC power in between the portable electrical appliance and the power converter.

50. The portable electrical appliance in claim 49 further comprising a second wire for providing a system ground.

51. A portable electrical appliance comprising:

a. an audio signal source for providing an audio signal;

b. a power supply module having a housing external to the portable electrical appliance for providing power to the electronic appliance having;

1. a power converter for providing DC power to at least the portable electrical appliance;

2. a speaker for generating sound; and

3. audio processing means for manipulating audio signals from the audio signal source, wherein the power converter, audio processing means and speaker are mounted within the housing; and

c. a wireless transceiver for coupling the audio signals from the audio source to the audio processing means and coupling DC power in between the portable electrical appliance and the power converter.

52. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the a power supply module comprises at least one additional speaker mounted within the housing.

53. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the a power supply module comprises at least one output for coupling an additional speaker.

54. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the a power supply module comprises an amplifier circuit for amplifying the audio signals and coupling the amplified audio signals to the speaker, wherein the amplifier circuit is mounted within the housing.

55. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the amplifier circuit comprises any among a Class A/B and Class D circuit.

56. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the wireless transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver.

57. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a bluetooth transceiver.

58. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the wireless transceiver comprises an RF transceiver.

59. The portable electrical appliance in claim 51 wherein the audio processing means comprises any among a decoder, a demodulator, a mixer, a filter, a volume control, and an on/off switch.