Audio system for a personal computer

• US 6,501,836 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1995
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Tran, Thanh T., Bowman, Kurtis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/450,388
• Time in Patent Office: 2,777 Days
• Field of Search: 379/110.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.09, 379/202.01, 379/206.01, 379/420.01, 379/420.02, 379/420.04, 379/422, 379/433.06, 381/119
• US Class Current: 379/110.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/62 Constructional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

An audio system for multimedia computer systems and method for use are provided including an audio module having speakers, a microphone and associated circuitry. The audio module is adapted to be interposed between a monitor and a monitor pedestal such that the audio module swivels and tilts in concert with the monitor. The circuitry is adapted to drive the audio module speakers and to drive only one speaker and the microphone in a speaker phone mode.

Claims

1. An audio system for use with a personal computer having a monitor, the audio system comprising

two speakers positioned in fixed locations on opposite sides of the monitor,

a sound amplifier configured to amplify audio provided to the two speakers,

a microphone positioned in a fixed location further from one of the two speakers than from the other of the two speakers, and

a sound board configured to provide audio to each of the two speakers when the microphone is not in use, to provide audio only to the speaker positioned further away from the microphone when the microphone is in use, and to receive audio from the microphone.

2. An audio system for use with a personal computer having a monitor, the audio system comprising

a housing removably attachable to the monitor,

two speakers mounted in the housing and positioned in fixed locations on opposite sides of the monitor,

a sound amplifier mounted in the housing and configured to amplify audio provided to the two speakers,

a microphone mounted in the housing and positioned in a fixed location further from one of the two speakers than from the other of the two speakers,

a sound board mounted in the housing and configured to provide audio to each of the two speakers when the microphone is not in use, to provide audio only to the speaker positioned further away from the microphone when the microphone is in use, and to receive audio from the microphone, and

a sum circuit mounted in the housing and configured to combine audio from the sound board with audio from an external source and to provide the combined sound to the two speakers.