Remote speaker for surround-sound applications

• US 5,666,422 A
• Filed: 05/18/1994
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan Whitney, Robert Wayne Harrison
• Original Assignee: Alan Whitney, Robert Wayne Harrison
• Inventors: Harrison, Robert W., Whitney, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, MINSUN OH
• Application Number:
  US08/245,624
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 381/24, 381/27, 381/18, 381/1, 381/86, 381/77, 381/19, 381/20, 381/21, 381/22, 381/28, 381/120
• US Class Current: 381/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless 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 surround-sound system for use with conventional TV sets, using a wireless remote bipolar rear speaker (or two conventional speakers fed out of phase) for the surround (difference) channels. The use of the rear speaker(s) and the mono (left plus right) front speaker on the TV set creates "phantom" left and right front speakers, and allows full surround sound without modification to the TV set or additional amplifiers or speakers.

Claims

1. A remote wireless surround sound speaker for use with audio sources having left and right audio signals, comprising:

a) a difference signal transmitter unit comprising decoder means for generating a difference signal representing the difference between the right and left audio signals and transmitter means for transmitting the difference signal to a remote location, wherein the decoder means of the difference signal transmitter unit is a transformer having a primary winding having inputs at each end of the winding and a secondary winding having an output at one end of the winding and a grounded center tap, wherein the left and right audio signals are connected to the inputs at the ends of the primary winding, and the difference signal is output from the output at the end of the secondary winding, and

b) a remote receiver unit comprising

i) receiver means for receiving and detecting the difference signal transmitted by the difference signal transmitter unit, having an input for accepting the signal from the transmitter unit, and a difference signal output comprising the received audio difference signal,

ii) amplifier means for amplifying an audio signal, having an input connected to the difference signal output of the receiver means, and an output for driving speakers with the difference signal, and

iii) speaker means connected to the output of the amplifier means, such that the speaker means reproduces a signal representing the difference between the left and right audio signals of the audio source.

2. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 1, in which the audio source is the audio portion of a television signal.

3. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 2, in which the audio source is generated by an IF receiver means for receiving leaked IF signals from a TV set and decoding the left and right audio signals from the leaked IF signals.

4. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 2, in which the audio source is generated by a television tuner.

5. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 2, in which the audio source is generated by a playback means for playing recorded television signals.

6. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 5, in which the playback means is a VCR.

7. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 5, in which the playback means is a laserdisc player.

8. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 1, in which the transmitter means of the transmitter unit transmits an infrared signal, and the receiver means of the remote receiver unit receives the infrared signal transmitted by the transmitter unit.

9. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 1, in which the transmitter means of the transmitter unit transmits a radio frequency signal, and the receiver means of the remote receiver unit receives the radio frequency signal transmitted by the transmitter unit.

10. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 1, in which the transmitter means of the transmitter unit transmits a low-frequency radio signal coupled to an AC power line, and the receiver means of the remote receiver unit receives the low-frequency radio signal transmitted by the transmitter unit from the AC power line.

11. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 1, in which the speaker means of the remote receiver unit is a bipolar speaker.

12. The remote wireless surround sound speaker of claim 1, in which the speaker means of the remote receiver unit is a pair of speakers connected out of phase relative to each other.