Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

• US 9,462,386 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: McCarty, William A., Rodriguez, Yadir
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US13/356,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20120121104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56- 58, 381 1- 4, 381/27, 381/11, 381/81, 381/77, 381/105, 381/307, 381/300, 381/306, 381/113, 700/94, 455/73, 455/3.06, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• 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: 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 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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 configured to transmit an audio signal and a control signal associated with the audio signal via a network, the apparatus comprising:

an audio input module having a first receptacle and a second receptacle, both configured to attach to an input device;

an input selector module configured to select the first receptacle and the second receptacle;

a signal processing module configured to receive the audio signal associated with the selected receptacle and combine the audio signal with a control signal to form a combined signal, the control signal including a volume level extracted from only the audio signal; and

a network module configured to format and transmit the combined signal which includes the volume level via the network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combined signal includes an address signal which is associated with a loudspeaker.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is wired.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the network is a powerline.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is wireless.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the network is RF.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the network is IR.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal processing module is configured to convert the audio signal from an analog form to a digital form.

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

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

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is digital.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a balance level.

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

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level.

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

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

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is an equalizer level.

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

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a power on.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a power off.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a time delay.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a phase delay.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input selector module is configured to power on in response to receiving the audio signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input selector module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal for a period of time.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signal is in an I²C format.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I²S) format.