System for allowing selective listening on multiple televisions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for transmitting audio from a plurality of televisions to a plurality of viewers, comprising:
- A plurality of audio transmitters each configured to couple to an associated one of the televisions, each audio transmitter having;
an input audio port configured to receive an audio signal only from an output audio port of the associated television;
a transmission channel switch having a plurality of transmission settings selectable in a setup operation, wherein each of the plurality of transmission settings corresponds to a different predefined frequency, and wherein the transmission channel switch is set to one of the different predefined frequencies to define the associated television;
transmission circuitry coupled to the transmission channel switch and input audio port, the transmission circuitry being configured to generate a frequency modulated signal representing the audio signal, wherein a frequency used to modulate the frequency modulated signal corresponds to the selected transmission setting of the transmission channel switch selected; and
an optical transmitter coupled to the transmission circuitry and positioned to transmit the generated frequency modulated signal as light out of the optical transmitter; and
an audio receiver controlled by one of the viewers for interfacing with an audio transmitter associated with a viewed one of the televisions and having;
a plurality of optical receivers configured to receive the generated frequency modulated signal transmitted as light by the audio transmitter associated with the viewed one of the televisions and to convert the received signal into an electrical current;
a reception channel switch having a plurality of reception settings selectable by the viewer, wherein each of the plurality of reception settings corresponds to one of the transmission settings, and wherein the reception settings are each associated with the frequency of the corresponding transmission setting such that the viewer can select the one of the reception settings associated with the viewed television;
reception circuitry coupled to the optical receivers and the reception channel switch, wherein the reception circuitry is configured to recover the audio signal from the electrical current based on a reception setting selected by the viewer; and
an output port configured to provide the recovered audio to the viewer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is an audio transmission system for use in environments having multiple televisions. An audio transmitter couples to a television via the television'"'"'s audio output jack and frequency modulates the audio signal for transmission on a user selected channel. An audio receiver receives the frequency modulated audio signal and extracts the audio signal. The audio receiver may be charged in a charging station.
24 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting audio from a plurality of televisions to a plurality of viewers, comprising:
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A plurality of audio transmitters each configured to couple to an associated one of the televisions, each audio transmitter having; an input audio port configured to receive an audio signal only from an output audio port of the associated television; a transmission channel switch having a plurality of transmission settings selectable in a setup operation, wherein each of the plurality of transmission settings corresponds to a different predefined frequency, and wherein the transmission channel switch is set to one of the different predefined frequencies to define the associated television; transmission circuitry coupled to the transmission channel switch and input audio port, the transmission circuitry being configured to generate a frequency modulated signal representing the audio signal, wherein a frequency used to modulate the frequency modulated signal corresponds to the selected transmission setting of the transmission channel switch selected; and an optical transmitter coupled to the transmission circuitry and positioned to transmit the generated frequency modulated signal as light out of the optical transmitter; and an audio receiver controlled by one of the viewers for interfacing with an audio transmitter associated with a viewed one of the televisions and having; a plurality of optical receivers configured to receive the generated frequency modulated signal transmitted as light by the audio transmitter associated with the viewed one of the televisions and to convert the received signal into an electrical current; a reception channel switch having a plurality of reception settings selectable by the viewer, wherein each of the plurality of reception settings corresponds to one of the transmission settings, and wherein the reception settings are each associated with the frequency of the corresponding transmission setting such that the viewer can select the one of the reception settings associated with the viewed television; reception circuitry coupled to the optical receivers and the reception channel switch, wherein the reception circuitry is configured to recover the audio signal from the electrical current based on a reception setting selected by the viewer; and an output port configured to provide the recovered audio to the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An audio transmission system for interfacing between at least two televisions and two viewers, comprising:
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a first audio transmitter having; a first audio input jack coupled to a first audio output jack of a first television for receiving a first audio signal from the first television; a first transmission circuit configured to transmit the first audio signal as a first frequency modulated signal that is modulated with the first audio signal at a first frequency; and a plurality of first infrared emitters configured to broadcast the first frequency modulated signal by amplitude modulating the first infrared emitters; a second audio transmitter having; a second audio input jack coupled to a second audio output jack of a second television for receiving a second audio signal from the second television; a second transmission circuit configured to transmit the second audio signal as a second frequency modulated signal that is modulated with the second audio signal at a second frequency that is different than the first frequency; and a plurality of second infrared emitters configured to broadcast the second frequency modulated signal amplitude modulating the second infrared emitters; a first receiver operated by a first viewer viewing the first television having; a plurality of first infrared detectors configured to receive and amplitude demodulate the first frequency modulated signal and to convert the first frequency modulated signal to an electrical current; a first reception circuit that is viewer configured to retrieve the first audio signal from the electrical current representing the first frequency modulated signal based on a setting selected by the first viewer; and a first audio output port configured to provide the first audio signal to the first viewer; and a second receiver operated by a second viewer viewing the second television having; a plurality of second infrared detectors configured to receive the second frequency modulated signal and to convert the second frequency modulated signal to the electrical current; a second reception circuit viewer configured to retrieve the second audio signal from the electrical current representing the second frequency modulated signal based on a setting selected by the second viewer; and a second audio output port configured to provide the second audio signal to the second viewer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An audio transmission system for interfacing between at least two televisions and two viewers, comprising:
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a first audio transmitter having; a first audio input jack coupled to a first audio output jack of a first television having a first display for receiving a first audio signal from the first television; a first transmission circuit configured to transmit the first audio signal as a first frequency modulated signal that is frequency modulated with the first audio signal at a first frequency; and a plurality of first emitters configured to be amplitude modulated with the first frequency modulated signal and broadcast directionally outward from the first display directed towards a viewer of the first display; a second audio transmitter having; a second audio input jack coupled to a second audio output jack of a second television having a second display for receiving a second audio signal from the second television; a second transmission circuit configured to transmit the second audio signal as a second frequency modulated signal that is frequency modulated with the second audio signal at a second frequency that is different than the first frequency; and a plurality of second emitters configured to be amplitude modulated with the second frequency modulated signal and broadcast directionally outward from the second display directed towards a viewer of the second display; and a receiver having; a plurality of directionally oriented detectors configured to receive the broadcast from either of the plurality of first or second emitters from the associated respective first or second audio transmitters associated with the first or second display to which the detectors are directionally oriented; an amplitude demodulator for extracting the one of the first and second frequency modulated signals associated with the received broadcast; a frequency demodulator to frequency demodulate the extracted one of the first or second frequency modulated signals to provide the respective first or second audio signal; and an audio output port configured to provide the demodulated first or second audio signal to an external audio device.
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Specification