Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

• US 7,346,332 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: McCarty, William A., Rodriquez, Yadir
• Primary Examiner(s): Sobutka, Philip J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E.
• Application Number:
  US10/613,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 455/130, 455/132, 455/137, 455/144, 455/151.2, 455/153.2, 455/402, 381/7, 381/28, 381/89, 340/310.11, 340/538, 340/288
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/69 Optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/84 combined with power distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• 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: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for communicating audio signals between an input device and an output device via a network. The output device can include loudspeakers and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel speaker, transmits audio signals to other output devices. In some embodiments, the output device is coupled to, or combined with, a speaker stand or speaker bracket. The network can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving an audio signal via a powerline network, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a powerline module located in the housing, the power line module comprising;

a frequency converting module configured to convert a powerline signal of an intermediate frequency, received via a powerline network, into a baseband signal;

an A/D converting module configured to convert the baseband signal into a digital signal;

a signal processing module configured to convert the digital signal into a combined signal; and

a powerline magnetics module configured to provide isolation between the powerline network and the frequency converting module, the frequency converting module operating on a substantially lower voltage than the powerline network;

a receiver module located in the housing and configured to extract a control signal and an audio signal from the converted combined signal, the receiver module manipulating the audio signal based on the extracted control signal;

a plug coupled to the housing and configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle;

a power supply in the housing, coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the receiver module; and

an output wire configured to couple the housing to an output device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further incorporates an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the housing further incorporates a power switch configured to select an off state or on state for the receiver module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing further incorporates an amplifier configured to amplify the audio signal based in part upon the control signal, wherein the power supply is further configured to provide power to the amplifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing further incorporates a light emitting diode power indicator configured to emit light when the power supply is providing electrical energy to the receiver module.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the housing further incorporates a light emitting diode receiver indicator configured to emit light when the receiver module is receiving the combined signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the housing further incorporates a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) module configured to manipulate the audio signal based on the extracted control signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the amplifier is a digital amplifier configured to digitally amplify the audio signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the combined signal includes an address signal which is associated with the output device.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is analog.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the audio signal is digital.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is digital.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a volume level.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a balance level.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a fader level.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a destination source.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is an equalizer level.

20. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is an address.

21. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a power on.

22. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a power off.

23. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a time delay.

24. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is a phase delay associated with the audio signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiver module is configured to power on in response to receiving the combined signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiver module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the combined signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

28. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I²S) format.

29. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the output device is a loudspeaker.

30. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the output device is a headphone.

31. An apparatus for receiving an audio signal via a powerline network, the apparatus comprising:

a first housing comprising,

a powerline module comprising;

a frequency converting module configured to convert a powerline signal of an intermediate frequency, received via a powerline network, into a baseband signal;

an A/D converting module configured to convert the baseband signal into a digital signal;

a signal processing module configured to convert the digital signal into a combined signal; and

a powerline magnetics module configured to provide isolation between the powerline network and the frequency converting module, the frequency converting module operating on a substantially lower voltage than the powerline network;

a receiver module configured to extract a control signal and an audio signal from the converted combined signal, the receiver module manipulating the audio signal based on the extracted control signal;

a second housing comprising,

a plug configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle,

a power supply coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the receiver module;

a wire coupled between the first housing and the second housing; and

an output wire configured to couple the first housing to an output device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a power switch configured to select an off state or on state for the receiver module.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an amplifier configured to amplify the audio signal based in part upon the control signal, wherein the power supply is further configured to provide power to the amplifier.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a light emitting diode power indicator configured to emit light when the power supply is providing electrical energy to the receiver module.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a light emitting diode receiver indicator configured to emit light when the receiver module is receiving the combined signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) module configured to manipulate the audio signal based on the extracted control signal.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the amplifier is a digital amplifier configured to digitally amplify the audio signal.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the combined signal includes an address signal which is associated with the output device.

40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is analog.

41. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the audio signal is digital.

42. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is digital.

43. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a volume level.

44. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a balance level.

45. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a fader level.

46. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level.

47. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a destination source.

48. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection.

49. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is an equalizer level.

50. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is an address.

51. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a power on.

52. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a power off.

53. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a time delay.

54. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is a phase delay associated with the audio signal.

55. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the receiver module is configured to power on in response to receiving the combined signal.

56. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the receiver module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the combined signal.

57. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

58. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I2S) format.

59. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the output device is a loudspeaker.

60. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the output device is a headphone.