System with wireless acoustic speakers

• US 9,497,535 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Koss, Michael J., Pelland, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US15/082,040
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 381/398, 381/77, 381/74, 381/379, 381/381, 381/309, 381/17, 381/111, 345/8, 455/3.06, 455/436, 455/570, 455/412.2, 455/553.1, 455/569.1, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks

Abstract

Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system. Adapter is configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player. Speaker system is in communication with adapter, and comprises multiple acoustic transducers, programmable processor circuit, and wireless communication circuit. In first operational mode, processor circuit receives, via adapter, and processes digital audio content from personal digital audio player into which adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the received audio content from the personal digital audio player. In second operational mode, wireless communication circuit receives digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, processor circuit processes the digital audio content received from remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content received from the remote digital audio source.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an adapter that is configured to plug into a port of a personal digital audio player; and

a speaker system in communication with the adapter, wherein the speaker system comprises;

multiple acoustic transducers;

a programmable processor circuit that is in communication with the multiple acoustic transducers and the adapter;

a wireless communication circuit that is in communication with the processor circuit, wherein the wireless communication circuit is for communicating via one or more wireless networks; and

wherein;

in a first mode, the processor circuit is for receiving, via the adapter, and processing digital audio content from the personal digital audio player into which the adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers are for outputting the received audio content from the personal digital audio player; and

in a second mode, the wireless communication circuit is for receiving digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, the processor circuit is for processing the digital audio content received from the remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers are for outputting the audio content received from the remote digital audio source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiFi network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the WiFi network comprises an ad hoc WiFi network.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the WiFi network comprises an infrastructure WiFi network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a Bluetooth network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter is in wireless communication with the speaker system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speaker system comprises an earphone set that comprises two earphones, wherein each of the two earphones comprises at least one of the multiple acoustic speakers.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a personal digital audio player;

an adapter that is configured to plug into a port of the personal digital audio player; and

a speaker system in communication with the adapter, wherein the speaker system comprises;

multiple acoustic transducers;

a programmable processor circuit that is in communication with the multiple acoustic transducers and the adapter;

a wireless communication circuit that is in communication with the processor circuit, wherein the wireless communication circuit is for communicating via one or more wireless networks; and

wherein;

in a first mode, the processor circuit is for receiving, via the adapter, and processing digital audio content from the personal digital audio player into which the adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers are for outputting the received audio content from the personal digital audio player; and

in a second mode, the wireless communication circuit is for receiving digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, the processor circuit is for processing the digital audio content received from the remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers are for outputting the audio content received from the remote digital audio source.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the personal digital audio player is configured to store and play digital audio files.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the speaker system comprises an earphone set that comprises two earphones, wherein each of the two earphones comprises at least one of the multiple acoustic speakers.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a server;

a wireless access point that is in communication with the server via a first data communication network;

a personal digital audio player;

an adapter that is configured to plug into a port of the personal digital audio player; and

a speaker system in communication with the adapter, wherein the speaker system comprises;

multiple acoustic transducers;

a programmable processor circuit that is in communication with the multiple acoustic transducers and the adapter;

a wireless communication circuit that is in communication with the processor circuit, wherein the wireless communication circuit is for communicating via one or more wireless networks; and

wherein;

in a first mode, the processor circuit is for receiving, via the adapter, and processing digital audio content from the personal digital audio player into which the adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers are for outputting the received audio content from the personal digital audio player; and

in a second mode, the wireless communication circuit is for receiving digital audio content from the server, via the wireless access point, over a second data communication network, the processor circuit is for processing the digital audio content received from the server, and the multiple acoustic transducers are for outputting the audio content received from the server, wherein the second data communication network comprises an infrastructure wireless network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the infrastructure wireless network comprises a WiFi infrastructure wireless network.