Applications for a Two-Way Wireless Speaker System

• US 20100188212A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Jochelson, Daniel S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• 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; and

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, and

a speaker information unit connected to said wireless transceiver generating speaker data corresponding to said speaker unit for transmitting said speaker data to said audio hub/receiver.

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

said speaker information unit of at least one speaker unit includes

a microphone for converting acoustic energy into electrical energy, and

a receive/process unit connected to said microphone and said wireless transceiver to transmit acoustic energy received by said microphone.

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

said audio hub/receiver is further operable to transmit an audio signal received by said microphone in a first speaker unit to a second speaker unit.

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

said audio hub/receiver is further operable to transmit an audio signal to said speaker units having a volume level corresponding to an acoustic energy level detected by said microphone of at least one speaker unit.

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

said audio hub/receiver is further operable to perform home security monitoring.

6. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 5, further comprising:

a security camera; and

wherein said home security monitoring of said audio hub/receiver includes activation of said security camera upon detection of a predetermined level of acoustic energy at said microphone of a speaker system.

7. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 5, wherein:

said home security monitoring of said audio hub/receiver includes recording said audio signal upon detection of a predetermined level of acoustic energy at said microphone of a speaker system.

8. The two-way wireless speaker system of claim 5, wherein:

said home security monitoring of said audio hub/receiver includes triggering an alarm upon detection of a predetermined level of acoustic energy at said microphone of a speaker system.