Intelligent audio speakers

• US 8,275,144 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Logvinov, Oleg, Ebert, Brion John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US11/692,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20080056507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/82, 381/105, 362/86, 340/310.11
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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

Abstract

An intelligent audio speaker that uses a power line communication element to provide audio distribution within homes, businesses, apartment complexes, and other buildings. Multiple intelligent audio speakers may be networked together, with common control. The intelligent audio speaker may, in some embodiments of the present invention, contain enhanced ambient backlight effects to further enhance the listener'"'"'s experience. In some embodiments of the present invention, an existing audio speaker is retrofitted to an intelligent audio speaker using a retrofit kit.

Claims

1. An intelligent audio system comprising:

a unit comprising;

a processing element for processing digital data and controlling functions within the intelligent audio system;

a power line communications element operatively coupled to the processing element, wherein the power line communications element has a digital output;

a digital to analog conversion element operatively coupled to the digital output of the power line communications element for converting a digital audio signal to an analog audio signal;

an audio amplification element operatively coupled to the digital to analog conversion element; and

an audio speaker driven by the audio amplification element; and

an ambient light emitter element configured to provide ambiance enhancing lighting for a surrounding area, wherein the ambient light emitter element is mounted to the unit.

2. The intelligent audio system of claim 1 further comprising of a remote control element configured to communicate to the power line communications element, wherein the communication controls the ambient light emitter element.

3. The intelligent audio system of claim 1 further comprising:

an audio management engine; and

an audio rendering engine.

4. The intelligent audio system of claim 3 further comprising a digital rights management element configured to enforce usage restrictions of the digital audio signal.

5. The intelligent audio system of claim 3 further comprising storage of one or more user profiles, wherein a user profile comprises of records of parameters of the digital audio signal requested by a user.

6. The intelligent audio system of claim 5, wherein the system is configured to suggest future selections of digital audio data based on the user profile.

7. The intelligent audio system of claim 1 further comprising a box surrounding the unit.

8. The intelligent audio system of claim 7, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to a top surface of the box.

9. The intelligent audio system of claim 7, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to a back surface of the box.

10. The intelligent audio system of claim 7, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to a bottom surface of the box.

11. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the processing element comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions.

12. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the output from the audio amplification element.

13. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the power line communications element.

14. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by spectral information of the digital audio signal.

15. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by spectral information of the analog audio signal.

16. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by user input.

17. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element comprises light emitting diodes.

18. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element comprises filament lamps.

19. The intelligent audio system of claim 1, wherein the ambient light emitter element comprises gas discharge lamps.

20. A intelligent audio system speaker comprising:

a retrofit kit enclosure configured to be mounted to a conventional audio speaker enclosure, the retrofit kit enclosure comprising;

a processing element for processing digital data and controlling functions within the intelligent audio system;

a power line communications element operatively coupled to the processing element, wherein the power line communications element has a digital output;

a digital to analog conversion element operatively coupled to the digital output of the power line communications element for converting a digital audio signal to an analog audio signal;

an audio amplification element having an input and an output, the input being operatively coupled to said digital to analog conversion element and the output being electrically connected to the conventional audio speaker; and

an ambient light emitter element configured to provide ambiance enhancing lighting for a surrounding area, wherein the ambient light emitter element is mounted to the retrofit kit enclosure.

21. The intelligent audio system of claim 20 further comprising of a remote control element configured to communicate to the power line communications element, wherein the communication controls the ambient light emitter element.

22. The intelligent audio system of claim 20 further comprising the conventional audio speaker enclosure.

23. The intelligent audio system of claim 20 further comprising:

an audio management engine; and

an audio rendering engine.

24. The intelligent audio system of claim 23 further comprising a digital rights management element configured to enforce usage restrictions of the digital audio signal.

25. The intelligent audio system of claim 23 further comprising storage of one or more user profiles, wherein a user profile comprises of records of parameters of the digital audio signal requested by a user.

26. The intelligent audio system of claim 25, wherein the system is configured to suggest future selections of digital audio data based on the user profile.

27. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the processing element comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions.

28. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the output from the audio amplification element.

29. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by the power line communications element.

30. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by spectral information of the digital audio signal.

31. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by spectral information of the analog audio signal.

32. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element is controlled by user input.

33. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element comprises light emitting diodes.

34. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element comprises filament lamps.

35. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter element comprises gas discharge lamps.

36. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to a top surface of the retrofit kit enclosure.

37. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to a back surface of the retrofit kit enclosure.

38. The intelligent audio system of claim 20, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to a bottom surface of the retrofit kit enclosure.

39. An audio system comprising:

a first enclosure comprising;

a power line communication module configured to receive digital audio data;

a processing module communicably coupled to the power line communication module;

a digital to analog converter communicably coupled to the power line communication module;

an audio amplifier communicably coupled to the digital to analog converter element;

an audio output port communicably coupled to the audio amplifier; and

an ambient light emitter module configured to provide aesthetic lighting in a surrounding area of the first enclosure, wherein the ambient light emitter is mounted to an exterior surface of the first enclosure.

40. The audio system of claim 39 further comprising:

a second enclosure comprising;

an audio input port, wherein the audio input port is communicably coupled to the audio output port; and

one or more audio speakers, wherein the audio speakers are communicably coupled to the audio input port.

41. The audio system of claim 39 further comprising of a remote control module configured to communicate to the power line communications module, wherein the communication controls the ambient light emitter module.

42. The audio system of claim 39 further comprising:

an audio management engine; and

an audio rendering engine.

43. The audio system of claim 39 further comprising a digital rights management element configured to enforce usage restrictions of the digital audio data.

44. The audio system of claim 39 further comprising storage of one or more user profiles, wherein a user profile comprises of records of parameters of the digital audio data requested by a user.

45. The audio system of claim 44, wherein the system is configured suggest future selections of digital audio data base on the user profile.

46. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the processing module comprises one or more processors configured to execute instructions.

47. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module is controlled by the output from the audio amplifier.

48. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module is controlled by the power line communications module.

49. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module is controlled by spectral information of the digital audio data.

50. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module is controlled by user input.

51. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module comprises light emitting diodes.

52. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module comprises filament lamps.

53. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module comprises gas discharge lamps.

54. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module is mounted to a top surface of the first enclosure.

55. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light emitter module is mounted to a back surface of the first enclosure.

56. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the ambient light module is mounted to a bottom surface of the first enclosure.