Audio system for a personal computer

• US 5,701,347 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Halseth, Thor R., Daniels, George R., Vehse, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/723,281
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 381/24, 381/88, 381/90, 381/188, 381/205, 381/120, 248/346.03, 248/676, 248/678, 248/917-918, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 312/7.2
• US Class Current: 381/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

An audio system for multimedia computer systems and method for use are provided including an audio module having speakers, a microphone and associated circuitry. The audio module is adapted to be interposed between a monitor and a monitor pedestal such that the audio module swivels and tilts in concert with the monitor. The circuitry is adapted to drive the audio module speakers and to drive only one speaker and the microphone in a speaker phone mode.

Claims

1. An audio module for use with a monitor that is supported by a pedestal at a mechanical interface and is removable from the pedestal at the interface, the interface including an element on the monitor that mates removably with an element on the pedestal, the audio module comprising:

a base that includes two mating devices, one configured to mate with the interface element on the monitor, the other configured to mate with the interface element of the pedestal so that the module may be interposed between the monitor and the pedestal; and

a speaker mounted on the base.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein each said mating device comprises a mating surface.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein said module is adapted to be held in a fixed position relative to the monitor regardless of reorientation of the monitor relative to the pedestal.

4. The module of claim 1 further comprising a second speaker.

5. The module of claim 4 wherein the base is generally planar in shape and the speakers are essentially in the same plane as the base.

6. The module of claim 4 wherein the base is generally planar in shape and the speakers are not in the same plane as the base.

7. The module of claim 1 further comprising a headphone jack mounted on the base.

8. The module of claim 1 further comprising a speaker mute switch mounted on the base.

9. The module of claim 1 further comprising a microphone mounted on the base.

10. The module of claim 9 wherein the microphone is mounted at one end of the base and the speaker is mounted at another end of the base.

11. The module of claim 1 wherein the speaker is reorientable relative to the base.

12. A method of upgrading a computer monitor attached to a supporting pedestal and that is capable of being swiveled and tilted, comprising the steps of:

detaching the monitor from the pedestal;

attaching an audio module to the monitor at the place where the monitor was detached from the pedestal so that the audio module moves with the monitor when the monitor is swiveled and tilted; and

attaching the module to the pedestal at the place where the pedestal was detached from the monitor.

13. An audio module, comprising:

a base portion;

a speaker portion adjacent said base portion, said speaker portion housing a speaker;

a first surface of said base portion adapted to removably engage a pedestal mating surface on a monitor;

a second surface of said base portion adapted to removably engage a monitor pedestal such that said audio module can be removably interposed between said pedestal and said monitor; and

said audio module coupled to said monitor such that said module and said monitor move in concert relative to said pedestal.

14. The audio module of claim 13 wherein said speaker portion is disposed adjacent a first end of said base portion and further comprising a second speaker portion disposed adjacent a second end of said base portion.

15. The audio module of claim 14, wherein said speaker portions are substantially coplanar with said base portions.

16. The audio module of claim 14, wherein said speaker portions are substantially non-coplanar with said base portions.

17. The audio module of claim 13, wherein said speaker is a self-contained speaker unit and is removable from said speaker portion.