Integrated Vehicle Audio System

• US 20100091997A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Westley, Brandon, Tiwari, Nachiketa, Ludwig, Christopher, Nichols, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/027 for Din-sized apparatus

Abstract

A loudspeaker, amplifier, media source, user interface, and mechanical interface are all contained in a single unit. The unit has a first portion configured to mount in a vehicle radio mounting location and a second portion configured to extend significantly outside the vehicle radio mounting location.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a loudspeaker;

an amplifier coupled to the loudspeaker;

a source of media content coupled to the amplifier;

a user interface; and

a mechanical interface;

wherein the loudspeaker, amplifier, source of media content, user interface, and mechanical interface are all contained in a single unit having a first portion configured to mount in a vehicle radio mounting location and a second portion configured to extend significantly outside the vehicle radio mounting location when the first portion is so mounted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle radio mounting location is a 1 DIN or 2 DIN slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operable to playback audio from the source of media content when the single unit is mounted in the radio mounting location and is also operable to playback the audio when the single unit is not so mounted.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

equalization electronics configured to;

automatically apply a first equalization to audio signals provided by the source of media content when the first portion of the unit is mounted in the mounting location, and

automatically apply a second equalization to the audio signals when the first portion is not so mounted.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second portion is configured to extend in a direction transverse to a depth of the first portion, such that the second portion is positioned in front of a surface adjacent to the mounting location when the first portion is mounted in the mounting location.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the first portion is configured to mount in the mounting location in both of a first and a second orientation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an orientation detection switch,

wherein the user interface is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode in response to a state of the orientation detection switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the amplifier is configured to alter a signal connection between the source of media content and the loudspeaker in response to the state of the orientation detection switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the loudspeaker comprises an electroacoustic transducer located in the second portion of the unit with a first radiating surface exposed to a listening area.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the loudspeaker comprises an electroacoustic transducer located in the first portion of the unit with a first radiating surface acoustically coupled to a listening area through a passive acoustic element.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the loudspeaker comprises an electroacoustic transducer located in the first portion of the unit with a first radiating surface acoustically coupled to an opening located on a side of the first portion that is enclosed by the mounting location when the first portion is mounted in the mounting location and is exposed to a listening area when the first portion is not so mounted.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker comprises an array of electroacoustic transducers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of media content is one or more of a portable media player, an optical disc player, a radio tuner, and a data connection port.