Wireless speaker system

• US 6,212,282 B1
• Filed: 10/31/1997
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stuart Mershon
• Original Assignee: Stuart Mershon
• Inventors: Mershon, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US08/962,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 381/3, 381/311, 381/77, 381/6, 381/74, 381/79, 381/2, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.3, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 379/102.01
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A wireless speaker system includes a remote speaker device cooperating with a transmission unit. The remote speaker device includes a remote wireless communication device connected to a speaker via a digital to analog converter. The remote speaker device also includes a keypad. The transmission unit comprises an analog to digital converter and a source wireless communication device. The transmission unit may be connected to a home audio source such as a stereo. The transmission unit may also include a control device for controlling the home audio source via the keypad. The wireless speaker system allows access to a home audio system from virtually any location.

Claims

1. A wireless speaker system, comprising:

a transmission unit, the transmission unit including;

an analog to digital converter adapted for connection to an output of a home audio source; and

a source wireless communication device connected to the analog to digital converter; and

a remote speaker device, the remote speaker device including;

a remote wireless communication device;

a digital to analog converter connected to the remote wireless communication device;

a speaker connected to the digital to analog converter; and

a keypad connected to the remote wireless communication device;

wherein the home audio source transmits audio signals to the remote speaker device via the transmission unit, the signals being transmitted at least in part via a wireless telephone network; and

wherein the keypad sends command signals to the home audio source via the remote wireless communication device and the transmission unit, the command signals being transmitted at least in part via the wireless telephone network.

2. The wireless speaker system according to claim 1, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

3. The wireless speaker system according to claim 1, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.

4. The wireless speaker system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit further comprises a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to the source wireless communication device, and wherein the control unit receives the command signals from the keypad via the remote wireless communication device and the source communication device and relays the command signals to the home audio source.

5. The wireless speaker system according to claim 4, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

6. The wireless speaker system according to claim 4, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.

7. The wireless speaker system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit further includes a source modem connected to the source wireless communication device and wherein the remote speaker device further includes a remote modem connected to the remote wireless communication device.

8. The wireless speaker system according to claim 7, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

9. The wireless speaker system according to claim 7, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.

10. A wireless speaker system, comprising:

a home audio source having an output;

a transmission unit, the transmission unit including;

an analog to digital converter connected to the output of the home audio source; and

a source wireless communication device connected to the analog to digital converter; and

a remote speaker device, the remote speaker device including;

a remote wireless communication device;

a digital to analog converter connected to the remote wireless communication device;

a speaker connected to the digital to analog converter; and

a keypad connected to the remote wireless communication device;

wherein the home audio source transmits audio signals to the remote speaker device via the transmission unit, the audio signals being transmitted at least in part via a wireless telephone network; and

wherein the keypad sends command signals to the home audio source via the remote wireless communication device and the transmission unit, the command signals being transmitted at least in part via the wireless telephone network.

11. The wireless speaker system according to claim 10, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

12. The wireless speaker system according to claim 10, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.

13. The wireless speaker system according to claim 10, wherein the transmission unit further comprises a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to the source wireless communication device, and wherein the control unit receives the command signals from the keypad via the remote wireless communication device and the source communication device and relays the command signals to the home audio source.

14. The wireless speaker system according to claim 13, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

15. The wireless speaker system according to claim 13, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.

16. The wireless speaker system according to claim 10, wherein the transmission unit further includes a source modem connected to the source wireless communication device and wherein the remote speaker device further includes a remote modem connected to the remote wireless communication device.

17. The wireless speaker system according to claim 16, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

18. The wireless speaker system according to claim 16, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.

19. A wireless speaker system, comprising:

a home audio source having a transmission unit, the transmission unit including;

an analog to digital converter; and

a source wireless communication device connected to the analog to digital converter; and

a remote speaker device, the remote speaker device including;

a remote wireless communication device;

a digital to analog converter connected to the remote wireless communication device;

a speaker connected to the digital to analog converter; and

a keypad connected to the remote wireless communication device;

wherein the home audio source transmits audio signals to the remote speaker device via the transmission unit, the audio signals being transmitted at least in part via a wireless telephone network; and

wherein the keypad sends command signals to the home audio source via the remote wireless communication device and the transmission unit, the command signals being transmitted at least in part via the wireless telephone network.

20. The wireless speaker system according to claim 19, wherein the remote speaker device is arranged as headphones, and wherein the remote wireless communication device, the digital to analog converter, and the keypad are disposed in a headband of the headphones.

21. The wireless speaker system according to claim 19, wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of an automobile, the remote wireless communication device and the digital to analog converter are disposed inside a car radio of the automobile, and the keypad is disposed on a face of the car radio.