Powered subwoofer/speaker remote turn-on function

• US 8,238,581 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Hofrichter
• Original Assignee: Richard Hofrichter
• Inventors: Hofrichter, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Faulk, Devona
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/251,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,486 Days
• Field of Search: 381/111, 381/116, 381/55, 381/59, 381/120, 381/123, 381/300, 381/386, 381/394
• US Class Current: 381/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/028 Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

The present invention provides a powered speaker, such as a subwoofer that may be turned on and off remotely by energizing the auxiliary AC power supply provided with an audio device or other source unit. The main power of the powered subwoofer is provided via a wall outlet or suitable power supply that may adequately supply the necessary power.

Claims

1. A powered speaker comprising:

a speaker body;

an electrical relay that is selectively actuated based on the power status of an audio source unit, the relay being located within the speaker body and having an actuation circuit an actuation input in electrical communication with the actuation circuit, wherein the actuation input is connectable to an output power-line from the audio source unit, the actuation circuit being energized when the audio source unit is turned on and de-energized when the audio source unit is turned off;

a manual switch that selectively opens and closes the electrical relay;

a continuous power input in electrical communication with an amplifier circuit, wherein the electrical relay selectively opens and closes the amplifier circuit based on the ON/OFF power status of the audio source unit, the electrical relay being energized when the audio source unit is turned ON and de-energized when the audio source unit is turned OFF; and

an integral audio transducer in electrical communication with the amplifier circuit.

2. The powered speaker of claim 1, wherein the output is a standard power outlet that selectively supplies an alternating current voltage of about 110 volts to the actuation input.

3. The powered speaker of claim 2, further comprising a transformer for converting the alternating current voltage to a direct current voltage of about 12 volts.

4. The powered speaker of claim 3, further comprising an alternate actuation input that is connectable to a turn-on lead associated with the audio source unit;

wherein the turn-on lead supplies a direct current voltage of about 12 volts; and

wherein the alternate actuation input is in electrical communication with the actuation circuit.

5. The powered speaker of claim 1, wherein the output is a turn-on lead that supplies a direct current voltage of about 12 volts to the actuation input.

6. The powered speaker of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier in electrical communication with the amplifier circuit, the audio transducer, and an audio source signal.

7. The powered speaker of claim 1, wherein the continuous power input is in electrical communication with an actuation bypass circuit;

wherein an electromagnet of the relay is in electrical communication with the actuation bypass circuit; and

wherein the manual switch further selectively opens and closes the actuation bypass circuit.

8. The powered speaker of claim 7, wherein the continuous power input is in communication with a household wall outlet that supplies an alternating current voltage of about 110 volts.

9. The powered speaker of claim 8, further comprising a transformer that converts the alternating current voltage supplied to the actuation bypass circuit to a direct current voltage of about 12 volts.

10. A powered speaker comprising:

an integral relay for turning the powered speaker on and off by selectively actuating based on the ON/OFF power status of an audio source unit, the relay being energized when the audio source unit is turned ON and de-energized when the audio source unit is turned OFF;

said integral relay device having an output and an input;

said output provides a device power needed to energize the speaker when the relay is actuated via the relay output;

said input provides the actuation power to actuate the relay; and

said actuation power is provided via an auxiliary power output from an audio source unit, the auxiliary power output being either a 120 V output or a 12 V output.

11. The powered speaker of claim 10 wherein said relay device is integral with said powered speaker.

12. The powered device of claim 10 wherein said device power is received from an AC wall outlet.

13. The powered device of claim 10 wherein said output further comprises an electrical plug.

14. The powered device of claim 10 wherein said input further comprises an electrical plug.

15. A powered speaker comprising:

a speaker body;

an electrical relay that is selectively actuated based on an audio source unit power status, the relay being located within the speaker body and having an actuation circuit;

an actuation input in electrical communication with the actuation circuit, wherein the actuation input is connectable to an output power-line from the audio source unit, the power-line being either a 12 V power-line or a 110 V power-line;

a manual switch that selectively opens and closes the actuation circuit; and

a continuous power input in electrical communication with an amplifier circuit, wherein the electrical relay selectively opens and closes the amplifier circuit based on the ON/OFF power status of the audio source unit, the electrical relay being energized when the audio source unit is turned ON and de-energized when the audio source unit is turned OFF, the power signal being a 12 V power signal or a 110 V power signal, the power signal being received through the actuation input.