Network speaker for an audio network distribution system

• US 8,131,390 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NetStreams LLC (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Braithwaite, Michael, Cardenas, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Ping
• Application Number:
  US11/467,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/77, 381 80- 82, 381/85, 381/55
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• 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 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 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

The present invention is a network speaker 100 for an audio network distribution system 20. The present invention includes a network interface 110 that couples the network controller 120 to the audio network distribution system 20. The present invention additionally includes an audio format converter 121, a digital to analog converter (DAC) 122, a pre-amplifier 123, an amplifier 125, and may also include an analog to digital converter (ADC) 128. Additionally, the present invention includes speaker sensors 124 and a speaker/microphone driver 126.

Claims

1. A network speaker node for an audio distribution system that uses a local area network where the speaker node converts a digital audio signal to and from an analog audio signal and provides an external connection between the audio system and one or more speaker/microphone components, comprising:

a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network, said network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a network interface that couples said network controller to the LAN network;

an audio format converter that couples to said network controller and converts and formats the digital audio signal, said audio format converter is updated through the LAN network;

a digital to analog converter that couples to said audio format converter and converts the digital audio signal to the analog audio signal;

a pre-amplifier that couples to said digital to analog converter and adjusts and filters the analog audio signal and an amplifier that couples to said pre-amplifier and amplifies the analog audio signal, said pre-amplifier further comprises an electronic crossover for frequency division;

speaker sensors that couple to said pre-amplifier and provide feedback that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in the LAN network; and

a speaker/microphone driver that couples to said amplifier and provides the external connection to the speaker/microphone components for the analog audio signal.

2. The claim according to claim 1 further comprising a digital signal processor that comprises one or more of the following:

said audio format converter, said digital to analog converter, said pre-amplifier, or said amplifier.

3. The claim according to claim 1 further comprising an analog to digital converter that couples to said pre-amplifier and said audio format converter and converts the analog audio signal to the digital audio signal.

4. The claim according to claim 1 further comprising an RF sensor/receiver that couples to said network controller and that receives RF information from RF remotes.

5. The claim according to claim 1 further comprising an IR sensor and an IR receiver that couples to said network controller and that receives IR information from IR devices.

6. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said speaker sensors further comprise one or more of the following:

temperature sensors, SPL that further includes a baffle microphone, ambient and noise floor sensors, pressure sensors, or voltage sensors.

7. A method to use a network speaker node for an audio distribution system that uses a local area network where the speaker node converts a digital audio signal to and from an analog audio signal and provides an external connection between the audio system and one or more speaker/microphone components, comprising:

processing the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network with a network controller, said network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server, said network controller couples a network interface to the LAN network;

converting and formatting the digital audio signal with an audio format converter that couples to said network controller, said audio format converter is updated through the LAN network;

converting the digital audio signal to the analog audio signal with a digital to analog converter that couples to said audio format converter;

adjusting and filtering the analog audio signal with a pre-amplifier that couples to said digital to analog converter and amplifying the analog audio signal with an amplifier that couples to said pre-amplifier, said pre-amplifier further comprises an electronic crossover for frequency division;

providing feedback with speaker sensors that couple to said pre-amplifier that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in the LAN network; and

providing the external connection to the speaker/microphone components for the analog audio signal with a speaker/microphone driver that couples to said amplifier.

8. The claim according to claim 7 further comprising a digital signal processor that comprises one or more of the following:

said audio format converter, said digital to analog converter, said pre-amplifier, or said amplifier.

9. The claim according to claim 7 further comprising an analog to digital converter that couples to said pre-amplifier and said audio format converter and converts the analog audio signal to the digital audio signal.

10. The claim according to claim 7 further comprising an RF sensor/receiver that couples to said network controller and that receives RF information from RF remotes.

11. The claim according to claim 7 further comprising an IR sensor and an IR receiver that couples to said network controller and that receives IR information from IR devices.

12. The claim according to claim 7 wherein said speaker sensors further comprise one or more of the following:

temperature sensors, SPL that further includes a baffle microphone, ambient and noise floor sensors, pressure sensors, or voltage sensors.

13. A method to make network speaker node for an audio distribution system that uses a local area network where the speaker node converts a digital audio signal to and from an analog audio signal and provides an external connection between the audio system and one or more speaker/microphone components, comprising:

providing a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network, said network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server, said network controller couples a network interface to the LAN network;

coupling an audio format converter to said network controller that converts and formats the digital audio signal, said audio format converter is updated through the LAN network;

coupling said audio format converter to a digital to analog converter that converts the digital audio signal to the analog audio signal;

coupling said digital to analog converter to a pre-amplifier that adjusts and filters the analog audio signal and an amplifier that couples to said pre-amplifier and amplifies the analog audio signal, said pre-amplifier further comprises an electronic crossover for frequency division;

coupling said pre-amplifier to speaker sensors that provide feedback that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in the LAN network; and

coupling said amplifier to a speaker/microphone driver that provides the external connection to the speaker/microphone components for the analog audio signal.

14. The claim according to claim 13 further comprising a digital signal processor that comprises one or more of the following:

said audio format converter, said digital to analog converter, said pre-amplifier, or said amplifier.

15. The claim according to claim 13 further comprising an analog to digital converter that couples to said pre-amplifier and said audio format converter and converts the analog audio signal to the digital audio signal.

16. The claim according to claim 13 further comprising an RF sensor/receiver that couples to said network controller and that receives RF information from RF remotes.

17. The claim according to claim 13 further comprising an IR sensor and an IR receiver that couples to said network controller and that receives IR information from IR devices.

18. The claim according to claim 13 wherein said speaker sensors further comprise one or more of the following:

temperature sensors, SPL that further includes a baffle microphone, ambient and noise floor sensors, pressure sensors, or voltage sensors.