Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

• US 8,103,009 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: McCarty, William A., Rodriguez, Yadir
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lao, Lun See
• Application Number:
  US10/353,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,284 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/27, 381 1- 4, 381/111, 381/81, 381/77, 381/11, 381/105, 381/307, 381/300, 381/306, 381/113, 700/94, 455/73, 455/3.06, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• 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 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• 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 5/04 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for communicating audio signals between an input device and an output device via a network. The output device can include loudspeakers and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel speaker, transmits audio signals to other output devices. In some embodiments, the output device is coupled to, or combined with, a speaker stand or speaker bracket. The network can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.

Claims

1. A method for providing an audio signal and a control signal that is generated by an input device to a remote loudspeaker via a network, the method comprising:

receiving an analog audio signal from the input device, the analog audio signal having a time-varying amplitude level;

extracting the time-varying amplitude level from the received audio signal;

coding the time-varying amplitude level into a control signal;

combining the audio signal with the control signal to form a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal to a loudspeaker via the network, wherein the time-varying amplitude level is extracted and coded into the control signal prior to the combined signal being transmitted to the loudspeaker via the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decoding the control signal at the loudspeaker;

manipulating the audio signal based on the decoded control signal; and

providing the manipulated audio signal to the loudspeaker for broadcast.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising digitally amplifying the audio signal.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an address signal which is associated with the loudspeaker, the audio signal, and the control signal;

coding the address signal;

transmitting the address signal via the network to the loudspeaker and to a next loudspeaker;

decoding the address signal at the loudspeaker;

decoding the address at the next loudspeaker; and

broadcasting the audio signal at the loudspeaker if the address signal is associated with the loudspeaker; and

broadcasting the audio signal at the next loudspeaker if the address signal is associated with the next loudspeaker.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the network is wired.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a powerline.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the network is wireless.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network is RF.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the network is IR.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising converting the audio signal from an analog form to a digital form prior to transmitting the audio signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the detected control signal is analog.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically powering a transmitter in response to receiving the audio signal from the input device.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically powering a receiver in response to receiving the audio signal and the control signal via the network.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically powering off the transmitter in response to not receiving the audio signal from the input device for a period of time.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically powering off the receiver in response to not receiving the audio signal and the control signal via the network.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I²S) format.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the loudspeaker is a headphone.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio and control signal are transmitted to a controller connected to the loudspeaker.

20. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising creating or receiving a second control signal independent of the received audio signal, wherein the control signal generated by coding the characteristic is a first control signal, and wherein the second control signal is transmitted to the loudspeaker with the audio signal and the first control signal.

21. A communication system configured to provide an audio signal and a control signal to a remote loudspeaker, the system comprising:

a transmitter module configured to receive an analog audio signal having a time-varying amplitude level, extract the time-varying amplitude level from the received audio signal, code the time-varying amplitude level into a control signal, combine the received audio signal with the control signal to form a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal via a network, wherein the time-varying amplitude level is extracted and coded into the control signal prior to the combined signal being transmitted via the network; and

a receiver module configured to receive the combined signal via the network and extract the control signal and the audio signal from the combined signal.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) module configured to manipulate the audio signal based on the extracted control signal.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a digital amplifier configured to digitally amplify the audio signal.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the combined signal includes an address signal which is associated with a loudspeaker.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the network is wired.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the network is a powerline.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the network is wireless.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the network is RF.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the network is IR.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmitter is configured to convert the audio signal from an analog form to a digital form.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmitter is configured to power on in response to receiving the audio signal.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the receiver is configured to power on in response to receiving the combined signal.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the transmitter is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal for a period of time.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the receiver is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I²S) format.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein the loudspeaker is a headphone.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmitter module is further configured to create or receive a second control signal independent of the received audio signal, wherein the control signal generated by coding the characteristic is a first control signal, and wherein the second control signal is transmitted to the loudspeaker with the audio signal and the first control signal.

39. The system of claim 38, the wherein the second control signal comprises an address of the speaker to which the audio signal is sent.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the second control signal is received from the loudspeaker.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the second control signal is received from the loudspeaker.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the second control signal is received from a device different from the input device.