WIRELESS MULTI-USER AUDIO SYSTEM

• US 20120014534A1
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Revolabs, Inc. (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Revolabs, Inc. (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Bodley, Martin Reed, Carney, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Various methods and devices are provided for a wireless audio system for a number of users. The system includes a base unit that is adapted to removably store, recharge and communicate with various communication modules, including personal microphone modules, table-top microphones, and audio adapters. The system also includes a plurality of personal microphone modules that are each adapted to be removable and coupled, for example, to a user'"'"'s clothing, and further, are adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit, and table-top microphones that are adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit.

Claims

1. A wireless audio system, comprising:

a base unit configured to removably store, recharge, and communicate with one or more communication modules, the base unit having a channel density controller configured to control audio bandwidth to adjust the number of communication modules that can communicate with the base unit;

wherein the communication module is selected from the group consisting of a personal microphone module, a table-top microphone, and an audio adapter.

2. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein the personal microphone module comprising a microphone that is adapted to be removably coupled to a user, and to communicate wirelessly with the base unit.

3. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio adapter being is configured to removably couple to a wireless microphone and to communicate wirelessly with the base unit.

4. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein each communication module further comprises a mutable microphone.

5. The wireless audio system of claim 4, wherein the mutable microphone is a directional microphone.

6. The wireless audio system of claim 4, wherein the communication module is automatically muted when the communication module is removed from the base unit.

7. The wireless audio system of claim 4, wherein each communication module further comprises a microphone mute-status indicator.

8. The wireless audio system of claim 7, wherein the microphone mute-status indicator comprises an indicator light carried by the communication module.

9. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein a wireless link is automatically established between the communication module and the base unit when the communication module is removed from the base unit.

10. The wireless audio system of claim 9, wherein the wireless link is automatically terminated when the communication module that had been removed from the base unit is returned to the base unit.

11. The wireless audio system of claim 9, wherein the base unit performs audio mixing and automatic gain control from the communication modules that are wirelessly linked to the base unit.

12. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein each communication module uniquely registers with the base unit, is inactivated, and uniquely registers with a further base unit.

13. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises a muting controller that is configured to select a muting scheme to control an audio channel to each communication module to selectively mute the communication modules.

14. The wireless audio system of claim 13, wherein the muting controller mutes one or more of the communication modules by blocking the audio signals from the communication modules.

15. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein each communication module includes a battery that can be charged wirelessly.

16. The wireless audio system of claim 15, wherein the base unit includes an inductive antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with an inductive receiver in the communication modules to allow for wireless charging of the communication modules.

17. The wireless audio system of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes an audio bandwidth controller configured to control the quality of the audio of the communication modules.

18. A wireless audio system, comprising:

a base unit that is adapted to removably store, recharge and communicate with at least one communication module, the communication module being selected from the group consisting of a personal microphone module, a table-top microphone, and an audio adapter and is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit;

wherein the base unit includes a muting controller that is configured to select a muting scheme to control an audio channel to each communication module to selectively mute the communication modules.

19. A wireless audio system, comprising:

a base unit that is adapted to removably store, recharge and communicate with at least one communication module, the communication module being selected from the group consisting of a personal microphone module, a table-top microphone, and an audio adapter and is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit;

wherein the base unit is configured to distinguish between each type of communication module, the base unit including an audio equalization controller that is configured to customize the audio quality for each type of communication module.

20. A wireless audio system of claim 19, wherein the base unit can include an audio profile for each type of communication module such that the audio quality for each type of communication module is set automatically by the base unit.