INTELLIGENT FLAT SPEAKER PANEL SYSTEM

• US 20170289661A1
• Filed: 04/24/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Soundwall, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Soundwall, Inc.
• Inventors: Hose, David, Coppom, Sven
• Application Number:
  US15/495,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20170289661A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/028 Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/04 Plane diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/045 using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/305 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic audio signals to reverberation of the listening space H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A flat panel sound system (400) includes an acoustic backing (410) and stand-offs (412) on its back side. The stand-offs (412) are interposed between a frame (406) or housing (408) and the wall on which the sound system (400) is mounted. The sound system (400) further includes an electronic housing (414) and exciters (404) mounted on the frame (406). The electronics within the electronic housing (414) receive wireless inputs from a user interface and drive the exciters (404) to produce an audio output. The stand-offs (412) inhibit transmission of vibrations to the wall and allow acoustic waves to emanate the back side of the flat panel system.

Claims

1. An intelligent audio device, comprising:

at least one flat speaker panel for producing acoustic signals;

at least one audio exciter, associated with said flat speaker panel, for driving said flat speaker panel to produce acoustic signals in response to electronic audio signals;

a sensor system for sensing stimuli in an environment of the flat speaker panel, said stimuli being free from encoded electronic signals;

processing logic, operatively associated with the sensor, for detecting one or more events based on said stimuli; and

a processor for executing one or more predefined functions responsive to said events, and for providing an audio output via said flat speaker panel;

said at least one audio exciter and said flat speaker panel being supported by a common structural unit for mounting on a wall.

2. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor system comprises a microphone and said processor logic comprises audio processing logic for processing an audio input from said microphone.

3. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said audio processing logic comprises speech recognition logic for recognizing at least one speech based command.

4. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said audio processing logic comprises ambient sound logic for recognizing an ambient condition and controlling operation of said flat speaker panel responsive to said ambient condition.

5. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said ambient condition comprises one of a conversation, a phone call, and a competing audio signal, and said controlling comprises one of reducing a volume and muting said flat speaker panel.

6. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said ambient condition comprises sensing one of a presence, an identity, a mood, and an audio preference of at least one person associated with said flat speaker panel.

7. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said step of controlling comprises controlling one of a volume and an audio content of said audio output.

8. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor system comprises one or more motion sensors.

9. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processing logic identifies a presence of a person in proximity to said sensor system and executes a function involving said flat speaker panel responsive to said presence.

10. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said processing logic identifies a gesture of a person in proximity to said sensor system and executes a function involving said flat speaker panel responsive to said gesture.

11. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor is a touch sensor for sensing a touch by a user.

12. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said sensor is a touch sensor for sensing said flat speaker panel and executes a function involving said flat speaker panel responsive to said touch.

13. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor is operative for activating an illumination system responsive to one or more of said events.

14. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a network port for connections to a communications network.

15. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications port for communicating with a wireless device.

16. An intelligent audio device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said processor is operative for executing a function based on a command received via said wireless communications port.