Light emitting loudspeaker cover

• US 6,978,030 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald S. Reich
• Original Assignee: Ronald S. Reich
• Inventors: Reich, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US09/950,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 381/87, 381/172, 381/124, 381/386, 381/394, 381/395, 362/84, 362/85, 362/86, 359/285, 398/133, 398/134, 181/148, 181/150, 181/179, 181/180, 181/198, 181/199, D14/221, D14/224, D14/204, D14/210, 385/147
• US Class Current: 381/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a loudspeaker located inside a housing and a loudspeaker cover is disclosed. An audio signal source supplies an audio signal to the loudspeaker within the housing. The loudspeaker cover includes one or more light sources and is porous to allow sound waves generated by the loudspeaker to be emitted from within the housing through loudspeaker cover. The loudspeaker cover may be comprised of a plurality of optical fibers which may be arranged in any pattern. A user input device may be provided which allows a user to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of procedures to drive the light sources based on frequency and amplitude. The apparatus may further include a control device which may determine frequency and amplitude data for the audio signal and control one or more of the light sources based on the frequency and amplitude data. A method is further disclosed comprising constructing a porous cover having a plurality of light sources for a loudspeaker.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a loudspeaker located within the housing;

a loudspeaker cover, wherein the loudspeaker cover has a length, a width, and a center;

an audio signal source which supplies an audio electrical signal to the loudspeaker;

and wherein the loudspeaker cover includes a first light source and the loudspeaker cover is porous to allow sound waves generated within the housing by the loudspeaker to be emitted from within the housing through the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the loudspeaker cover includes a first optical fiber;

wherein the first optical spans substantially the entire width of the loudspeaker cover and the first optical fiber passes approximately through the center of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the first light source supplies light to the first optical fiber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a control device which receives the audio electrical signal and drives the first light source of the loudspeaker cover.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is comprised of a plurality of further optical fibers;

wherein each of the plurality of further optical fibers spans substantially the entire width of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers are spaced apart from one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is comprised of a porous cloth;

and wherein the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers are woven into the porous cloth.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is comprised of a grid comprised of the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is comprised of a grid comprised of the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers;

wherein the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers are substantially parallel to each other;

wherein the grid is further comprised of a plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers which are substantially perpendicular to the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers;

wherein the plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers are spaced apart from one another; and

wherein the first optical fiber, the plurality of further optical fibers, and the plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers together define a plurality of openings in the grid through which sound can pass from within the housing through the loudspeaker cover.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising

a plurality of further light sources;

wherein each of the plurality of further light sources supplies light to one of the plurality of further optical fibers and the plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers, so that each of the plurality of further optical fibers and the plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers is supplied with light by one of the plurality of further light sources.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

each of the plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers spans substantially the entire length of the loudspeaker cover.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the loudspeaker cover includes a plurality of light sources;

and

wherein each of the plurality of further light source supplies light to one of the plurality of further optical fibers, so that each of the plurality of further optical fibers is supplied with light from one of the plurality of further light sources.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising

a user input device which allows a user to selectively activate one or more of the first light source and any the plurality of further light sources according to pre-set procedures.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising

a control device which determines frequency and amplitude data for the audio signal;

and wherein

the control device controls the first light source and the plurality of further light sources based on the frequency and amplitude data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising

a user input device which allows an operator to selectively activate one or more of the first light source and the plurality of further light sources according to pre-set procedures.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a control device which determines frequency and amplitude data for the audio signal and controls the first light source based on the frequency and amplitude data.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the loudspeaker cover includes a second tight source and a second optical fiber;

wherein the second optical fiber spans substantially the entire length of the loudspeaker cover, and the second optical fiber passes approximately through the center of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the second light source supplies light to the second optical fiber.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first optical fiber has a first score;

and

wherein light from the first light source passes into the first optical fiber in a first direction and is emitted from the first optical fiber through the first score in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

16. A method comprising the steps of:

placing a loudspeaker within a housing;

constructing a loudspeaker cover and attaching it to the housing;

wherein the loudspeaker cover is contructed to have a length, a width, and a center, and the loudspeaker cover is constructed to be comprised of a first light source and the loudspeaker cover is constructed to be porous so that sound waves can be emitted from within the housing through the cover;

and wherein the loudspeaker cover is constructed to include a first optical fiber;

wherein the first optical fiber spans substantially the entire width of the loudspeaker cover and the first optical fiber passes approximately through the center of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the first light source supplies light to the first optical fiber.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is constructed to include a plurality of further optical fibers.

wherein each of the plurality of further optical fibers spans substantially the entire width of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers are spaced apart from one another.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is constructed to be a grid comprised of the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein

the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers are substantially parallel to each other;

and

wherein the grid is further comprised of a plurality of substantially perpendicular optical fibers which are substantially perpendicular to the first optical fibers and the plurality of further optical fibers.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is constructed to include a plurality of further light sources;

and

wherein each of the plurality of further light source supplies light to one of the plurality of further optical fibers, so that each of the plurality of further optical fibers is supplied with light from one of the plurality of further light sources.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising

selectively activating one or more of first light source and the plurality of further light sources according to pre-set procedures of the loudspeaker cover.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising

determining frequency and amplitude data for an audio signal generated within the housing;

and

controlling the first light source and the plurality of further light sources based on the frequency and amplitude data.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a loudspeaker located within the housing;

a loudspeaker cover, wherein the loudspeaker cover has a length, a width, and a center,

an audio signal source which supplies an audio electrical signal to the loudspeaker;

and wherein the loudspeaker cover includes a first light source and the loudspeaker cover is porous to allow sound waves generated within the housing by the loudspeaker to be emitted from within the housing through the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the loudspeaker cover includes a first optical fiber;

wherein the first optical fiber spans substantially the entire length of the loudspeaker cover, and the first optical fiber passes approximately through the center of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the first light source supplies light to the first optical fiber.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein

the loudspeaker cover is comprised of a plurality of further optical fibers;

wherein each of the plurality of further optical fibers spans substantially the entire length of the loudspeaker cover;

and wherein the first optical fiber and the plurality of further optical fibers are spaced apart from one another.