Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

• US 7,751,795 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: McCarty, William A., Rodriguez, Yadir
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US12/050,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 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 network, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

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

a powerline magnetics module configured to provide isolation between a powerline physical layer (PHY) module and a high voltage powerline, the powerline magnetics module coupling a powerline signal onto the powerline PHY module, and

a signal processing module configured to demodulate a received signal in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) format into a combined signal;

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

a power supply configured to distribute electrical energy to the receiver module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an A/D converting module, wherein the received signal is analog, and wherein the A/D converting module is configured to convert the received signal from analog to digital form.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power switch configured to select an off state or on state for the receiver module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is analog.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is digital.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a volume level.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a fader level.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a destination source.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is an address.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high voltage powerline is 120 volts.

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

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

a powerline magnetics module configured to provide isolation between a powerline physical layer (PHY) module and a high voltage powerline, the powerline magnetics module coupling a powerline signal onto the powerline PHY module,

an A/D converting module configured to convert the powerline signal into a digital signal in OFDM format, and

a signal processing module configured to demodulate the digital signal in OFDM format into a combined signal;

and

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.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the combined signal includes an address signal which is associated with the output device.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control signal is a destination source.

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

a powerline magnetics module configured to provide isolation between a powerline physical layer (PHY) module and a high voltage powerline, the powerline magnetics module coupling a powerline signal onto the powerline PHY module;

a signal processing module configured to demodulate a digital signal received in OFDM format into a combined signal; and

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.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a frequency converting module configured to change a frequency of the powerline signal.