US2008123868A1PendingUtilityA1

Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

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Assignee: KSC IND INCPriority: Jan 25, 2002Filed: Jan 25, 2008Published: May 29, 2008
Est. expiryJan 25, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:William A. MccartyYadir Rodriguez
H04B 2203/545H04R 2205/022H04R 27/00H04S 3/00H04R 2499/15H04H 20/69H04H 20/84H04H 20/63H04R 5/04H04B 3/54H04R 2420/07H04H 20/76H04R 2205/024
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Claims

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

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus for transmitting an audio signal via a network, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a transmitter module located in the housing and configured to receive an audio signal and a control signal, combine the audio and control signals into a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal to a receiver module via a network;   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 transmitter module; and   an input wire configured to couple the housing to an input 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, the selected address being associated with the receiver module and uniquely identifying the receiver module within the network. 
   
   
       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 transmitter module. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , 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 transmitter module. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the housing further incorporates a light emitting diode transmitter indicator configured to emit light when the transmitter module is transmitting the combined signal. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the network is wired. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the network is a powerline. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the network is wireless. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the network is RF. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the network is IR. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is analog. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio signal is digital. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is digital. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a volume level. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a balance level. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a fader level. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a destination source. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is an equalizer level. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is an address. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a power on. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a power off. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a time delay. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a phase delay. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter module is configured to power on in response to receiving the audio signal. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is in an I 2 C format. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I 2 S) format. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a CD player. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is an AM/FM tuner. 
   
   
       32 . An apparatus for transmitting an audio signal via a network, the apparatus comprising:
 a first housing comprising,
 a transmitter module configured to receive an audio signal and a control signal, combine the audio and control signals into a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal to a receiver module via a network; 
   a second housing comprising,
 a plug configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle, and 
 a power supply coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the transmitter module; 
   a wire coupled between the first housing and the second housing; and   an input wire configured to couple the first housing to an input device.   
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising an address switch configured for selecting an address from a plurality of addresses, the selected address being associated with the receiver module and uniquely identifying the receiver module within the network. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising a power switch configured to select an off state or on state for the transmitter module. 
   
   
       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 transmitter module. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising a light emitting diode transmitter indicator configured to emit light when the transmitter module is transmitting the combined signal. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the network is wired. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the network is a powerline. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the network is wireless. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the network is RF. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the network is IR. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is analog. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the audio signal is digital. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is digital. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a volume level. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a balance level. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a fader level. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a sub-bass level. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a destination source. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a sound processing selection. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is an equalizer level. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is an address. 
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a power on. 
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is a phase delay. 
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the transmitter module is configured to power on in response to receiving the audio signal. 
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the transmitter module is configured to power off in response to not receiving the audio signal. 
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the control signal is in an I 2 C format. 
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the audio signal is in an inter IC sound (I 2 S) format.

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