Wooden or other dielectric capacitive touch interface and loudspeaker having same

• US 9,628,880 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Koss, Michael J., Pelland, Michael J., Blair, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sing, Simon
• Application Number:
  US14/094,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 345174, 345178, 381109, 381334, 381 77
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• 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: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless-enabled loudspeaker includes a wooden capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer, a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and a wooden exterior surface comprising a capacitive touch user interface that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker. The wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise a wireless transceiver circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive wirelessly audio content from streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet. The capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of user control icons etched in the wooden exterior surface, and a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes located under the wooden exterior surface.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker comprising:

at least one electroacoustic transducer for producing audible sound;

a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer;

a wireless transceiver circuit in communication with the processor, wherein the wireless transceiver circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network, wherein the wireless communication signals comprise audio content received wirelessly, from one or more streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet, for playing by the loudspeaker via the wireless network, wherein the processor is for processing the audio content, and wherein the at least one electroacoustic transducer is for audibly outputting the audio content;

an enclosure that encloses the at least one electroacoustic transducer and the processor, wherein the enclosure comprises a wooden exterior surface;

a circuit board inside the enclosure and having a first surface adjacent to and facing an interior side of the wooden exterior surface; and

at least one capacitive sense electrode on the first surface of the circuit board such that the at least one capacitive sense electrode is between the circuit board and the wooden exterior surface, wherein;

the at least one capacitive sense electrode forms part of a capacitive touch user interface for the loudspeaker that allows a user of the loudspeaker to control operation of the loudspeaker, wherein the capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of user control icons etched in the wooden exterior surface, wherein there is a user control icon for each user control, wherein the plurality of user control icons comprise at least one user control icon that, when activated by the user, causes the wireless transceiver circuit to transmit an indication for a track being played by the loudspeaker to be transmitted to a remote server system that is connected to the Internet;

the at least one capacitive sense electrode is in communication with the processor; and

the wooden exterior surface is a dielectric for the at least one capacitive sense electrode of the capacitive touch user interface.

2. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the wooden exterior surface is a top wooden surface of the loudspeaker.

3. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiFi wireless network.

4. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch user interface comprises:

a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes located on the first surface of the circuit board such that the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes are between the circuit board and the wooden exterior surface, wherein each of the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes is in communication with the processor, and wherein there is at least one capacitive sense electrode for each one of the plurality of user control icons.

5. The loudspeaker of claim 4, wherein the plurality of user control icons comprises:

a volume control to control the volume of the sound output by the loudspeaker; and

an on/off control for the loudspeaker.

6. The loudspeaker of claim 5, wherein the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes comprises a plurality of side-by-side capacitive sense electrodes associated with the volume control icon, the plurality of side-by-side capacitive sense electrodes forming a slider capacitive sensor.

7. The loudspeaker of claim 4, wherein the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes comprise one or more interdigitated electrodes.

8. The loudspeaker of claim 1, further comprising a memory unit in communication with the processor.

9. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user control icons further comprises a next stream control that, when activated by the user, causes the wireless transceiver circuit to switch from receiving streaming audio from a first streaming audio content server to receiving streaming audio from a second streaming audio content server, wherein addresses for the first and second streaming audio content servers are stored in the memory unit.

10. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the indication for the track transmitted to the remote server system is an indication of approval by the user for the track.

11. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the remote server system comprises a social media website server system.

12. The loudspeaker of claim 1, further comprising a capacitive sense controller connected between the at least one capacitive sense electrode and the processor, wherein the capacitive sense controller is mounted on a second side of the circuit board that is opposite the first side of the circuit board.

13. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein:

the loudspeaker further comprises an interior shelf that is inside the enclosure;

the at least one electroacoustic transducer is below the interior shelf;

the circuit board is on top of shelf; and

the capacitive touch user interface for the loudspeaker is on a top surface of the loudspeaker.

14. The loudspeaker of claim 13, further comprising caulk for securing the interior shelf to interior surfaces of the enclosure.

15. A loudspeaker comprising:

at least one electroacoustic transducer for producing audible sound;

a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer;

a wireless transceiver circuit in communication with the processor, wherein the wireless transceiver circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network, wherein the wireless communication signals comprise audio content received wirelessly, from one or more streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet, for playing by the loudspeaker via the wireless network, wherein the processor is for processing the audio content, and wherein the at least one electroacoustic transducer is for audibly outputting the audio content;

an enclosure that encloses the at least one electroacoustic transducer and the processor, wherein the enclosure comprises;

a dielectric exterior surface; and

a plurality of user control icons etched on an exterior side of the dielectric exterior surface that provides a capacitive touch user interface on an exterior surface of the loudspeaker that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker, wherein the capacitive touch user interface comprises the etched plurality of user control icons, wherein there is a user control icon for each user control, wherein the plurality of user control icons comprise at least one user control icon that, when activated by the user, causes the wireless transceiver circuit to transmit an indication for a track being played by the loudspeaker to be transmitted to a remote server system that is connected to the Internet;

a circuit board enclosed by the enclosure and having a first surface that faces an interior side of the dielectric exterior surface;

a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes on the first surface of the circuit board, such that the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes are between the circuit board and the dielectric exterior surface, wherein;

each of the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes is in communication with the processor;

there is at least one capacitive sense electrode for each of the user control icons etched the exterior side of the dielectric exterior surface; and

the dielectric exterior surface is a dielectric for the plurality of capacitive sense electrodes of the touch user interface.

16. The loudspeaker of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) located inside the enclosure and adjacent to the interior side of the dielectric exterior surface; and

a plurality of LED pipes for carrying light energy from the LEDs to the exterior side of the dielectric exterior surface.

17. The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the wireless transceiver is enclosed by the enclosure.