Applications for a two-way wireless speaker system

• US 9,078,058 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Jochelson, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANMAVO, KUASSI A
• Application Number:
  US12/361,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,350 Days
• Field of Search: 381/79, 381/311, 381/2, 381/3, 381/4, 381/56, 455/569, 340/539.15, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• 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

Abstract

The two-way wireless speaker system of this invention increases sound fidelity by enabling speakers to acknowledge receipt of audio data packets. This provides increased functionality because the audio hub can receive data not only from wired inputs, but also wireless transmission from computer, cell phone, and other sources. Audio hub can use information from speaker to customize/adjust audio signal for each speaker independently, giving better audio quality and synchronization among speakers.

Claims

1. A two-way wireless speaker system comprising:

an audio hub/receiver including

at least one source of multi-channel audio signals, and

a wireless transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit an audio signal to each of a plurality of speaker units and wirelessly receive data from each speaker unit;

a plurality of speaker units, each speaker unit including

a wireless transceiver operable to wirelessly receive an audio signal from said audio hub/receiver and wirelessly transmit data to said audio hub/receiver,

an amplify/process unit connected to said wireless transceiver to amplify said received audio signal,

a speaker connected to said amplify/process unit converting said amplified audio signal into a corresponding acoustic signal,

a battery and an optional AC power input, each speaker unit powered by said battery if not connected to AC power, and

a speaker information unit connected to said wireless transceiver generating speaker data corresponding to said speaker unit for transmitting said power source data to said audio hub/receiver indicating whether said corresponding speaker unit is powered by said AC power input or powered by said battery; and

at least one speaker bracket operable to accommodate one of said plurality of speaker units, said at least one speaker bracket operable to deliver AC power to said AC power input when a speaker unit is attached.

2. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein:

said wireless transceiver of said audio hub/receiver is operable to transmit an audio signal to said at least one speaker unit corresponding to said speaker data of said at least one speaker unit.

3. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 2, wherein;

said speaker data includes impedance of said at least one speaker unit.

4. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 2, wherein;

said speaker data includes power rating data of said at least one speaker unit; and

said speaker information unit further transmits said power rating data via said wireless transceiver to said audio hub/receiver.

5. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 2, wherein;

said speaker data includes frequency response of said at least one speaker unit.

6. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 2, wherein;

said speaker data includes playback latency data of said at least one speaker unit; and

said speaker information unit further transmits said playback latency data via said wireless transceiver to said audio hub/receiver.

7. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one speaker unit includes a multiple of drivers;

said speaker data is indicative of said multiple of drivers;

said wireless transceiver of said audio hub/receiver is operable to transmit an audio signal to said at least one speaker unit corresponding to said multiple of drivers of said at least one speaker unit.

8. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 7, wherein:

said wireless transceiver of said audio hub/receiver is operable to transmit an audio signal to said at least one speaker unit including digital pre-filtering corresponding to said multiple of drivers.

9. A two-way wireless speaker system comprising:

a speaker unit including;

a wireless transceiver operable to wirelessly receive an audio signal and wirelessly transmit data,

an amplify/process unit connected to said wireless transceiver to amplify said received audio signal,

a speaker connected to said amplify/process unit converting said amplified audio signal into a corresponding acoustic signal,

a battery and an optional AC power input, said speaker unit powered by said battery if not connected to AC power, and

a speaker information unit connected to said wireless transceiver generating speaker data corresponding to said speaker unit for transmitting said power source data indicating whether said speaker unit is powered by said AC power input or powered by said battery; and

a speaker bracket operable to accommodate said speaker unit, said speaker bracket operable to deliver AC power to said AC power input when said speaker unit is attached.

10. The speaker unit for a two-way wireless speaker system of claim 9, wherein;

said speaker data includes impedance of said at least one speaker unit.

11. The speaker unit for a two-way wireless speaker system of claim 9, wherein;

said speaker data includes power rating data of said at least one speaker unit; and

said speaker information unit further transmits said power rating data via said wireless transceiver.

12. The speaker unit for a two-way wireless speaker system of claim 9, wherein;

said speaker data includes frequency response of said at least one speaker unit.

13. The speaker unit for a two-way wireless speaker system of claim 9, wherein;

said speaker data includes playback latency data of said at least one speaker unit; and

said speaker information unit further transmits said playback latency data via said wireless transceiver.

14. The speaker unit for a two-way wireless speaker system of claim 9, wherein:

at speaker unit includes a multiple of drivers; and

said speaker data is indicative of said multiple of drivers.