Dual mono center channel

• US 6,918,461 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artison LLC
• Original Assignee: Cary L. Christie
• Inventors: Christie, Cary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAN MARTIN, EDGARDO
• Application Number:
  US10/371,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 181/148, 181/150, 181/199, 381/300, 381/301, 381/305, 381/306, 381/307, 381/27
• US Class Current: 181/148
• 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

Abstract

A pair of matched monaural speakers are added inside conventional left and right stereo speaker housings so that the left, right and flat panel monitor appear joined in a seamless aesthetic effect. The added speakers are provided with center channel monaural sound, making it appear as though such sound emanates from the center of the monitor, thereby enhancing home theater impact to provide stereo and center channel sound from each left and right speaker housing.

Claims

1. In combination, a flat panel monitor for displaying visual images, said flat panel monitor of the type mounted in a housing and having a center location thereof, a pair of matched speaker housings, each of said speaker housings comprising at least left and right stereo speakers, each of said speaker housings further comprising a separate center channel speaker, such that said center channel speaker is housed in the same speaker housing as respective left and right stereo speakers, said center channel speakers located substantially equidistant from the center of said monitor, each of said center channel speakers having frequency ranges which are standard for both Dolby, AC3, DTS and the DVDA and SACD audio formats, means to provide a center channel signal, said center channel signal being connected to each of said center channel speakers so as to receive the same center channel monaural signal thereby projecting aural sound therefrom which appears to come from the center of said flat panel monitor while the stereo speakers project left and right stereo sound, said center channel signal supplied only to said center channel speakers located substantially equidistant from the center of said monitor and to no other speaker unless located on opposite sides of said monitor, and to no speaker located between the sides of said monitor.

2. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein the depth of each of said speaker housings is substantially identical to the depth of the housing for said flat panel monitor.

3. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein each speaker housing has matched finishes.

4. The combination as described in claim 3, wherein the finishes of said speaker housings match the finish of the front of housing for the flat panel monitor.

5. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein the width of each speaker housing is substantially identical.

6. The combination as described in claim 5, wherein the width of each speaker housing is no larger than one quarter the width of said flat panel monitor.

7. The combination as described in claim 6, wherein the width of each speaker housing is no larger than one sixth the width of said flat panel monitor.

8. The combination as described in claim 6, wherein the width of each speaker housing is no larger than one eighth the width of said flat panel monitor.

9. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein said speaker housings are mounted to be adjacent to said flat panel monitor.

10. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein said speaker housings are mounted to be flush with the housing for said flat panel monitor.

11. The combination as described in claim 2, wherein the height of each of said speaker housings is substantially equal to the height of said housing for said flat panel display.

12. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein said housing for said flat panel monitor comprises means to mount said flat panel monitor on a wall, said speaker housings being mounted so that the front planes of said speakers are substantially in the same plane as the front of said flat panel monitor.

13. The combination as described in claim 12, wherein the height of each of said speaker housings is substantially identical to the height of the housing for said flat panel monitor.

14. The combination as described in claim 12, wherein each speaker housing has matched finishes.

15. The combination as described in claim 14, wherein the finishes of said speaker housings match the finish of the front of housing for the flat panel monitor.

16. The combination as described in claim 12, wherein the width of each speaker housing is substantially identical.

17. The combination as described in claim 16, wherein the width of each speaker housing is no larger than one quarter the width of said flat panel monitor.

18. The combination as described in claim 17, wherein the width of each speaker housing is no larger than one sixth the width of said flat panel monitor.

19. The combination as described in claim 12, wherein the width of each speaker housing is no larger than one eighth the width of said flat panel monitor.

20. The combination as described in claim 12, wherein said speaker housings are mounted to be adjacent to said flat panel monitor.

21. The combination as described in claim 12, wherein said speaker housings are mounted to be flush with the housing for said flat panel monitor.

23. The combination as described in claim 20, wherein each of said speaker housings is located with respect to a wall to project substantially identical depths for said speaker housings with respect to said wall.

24. The combination as described in claim 20, wherein said monitor comprises a flat panel monitor.

25. The combination as described in claim 1 wherein said pair of matched speaker housings are substantially of identical dimensions to each other.

22. In combination, a monitor for displaying visual images, a pair of speaker housings, each of said speaker housings having a left and a right stereo speaker, each of said speaker housings further comprising a center channel speaker, each of said speaker housings located on opposite sides of said monitor, each of said center channel speakers having frequency ranges which are standard for both Dolby, AC3, DTS and the DVDA and SACD audio formats, each of said center channel speakers receiving the same center channel monaural signal thereby projecting aural sound therefrom which appears to come from the center of said monitor while the stereo speakers project left and right stereo sound, wherein the center channel monaural signal being supplied only to said center channel speakers located on opposite sides of said monitor and to no other speaker unless located on opposite sides of said monitor, and to no speaker located between the sides of said monitor.