TELEVISION WITH INTEGRATED SURROUND SOUND

Background

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to home theater systems and more particularly to a television with integrated surround sound. The invention is a television with detachable front-center, front-left and front-right speakers. Back-left, back-right and a subwoofer are also included. Preferably, no wiring is used to transmit the sound information to any of the speakers. In one embodiment, sound data is transmitted via wires to the front speakers while transmitted wirelessly to the back speakers. In another embodiment, sound information is transmitted to the speakers utilizing the existing electrical wiring of the home or other building. The amplifier and transmitter for the speakers are fully incorporated into the television .

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] As the concept of the home theater has evolved, so to has its complexity. A modern home theater can utilize a bewildering array of devices, each of which can support multiple standards of audio or visual transmission. Properly connecting all of the devices used in a home theater is often a challenging

task, due to the confusing array of inputs, outputs, and cable types. Additionally, each device typically requires multiple wires to connect it to the other devices. Even a modest home theater typically produces a mass of cables which frequently tangles, is difficult to clean, and is visually unsightly.

[0003] The problem presented by this plethora of cords, cables and wires is exacerbated with regard to speakers for surround sound. To ach:ieve surround sound, a number of speakers must be placed throughout the home theater. Consequently, cables must; run throughout the room to connect the television to the speakers. The speakers must be properly connected, usually to a second piece of hardware designed for "driving" and powering the surround sound speakers adding further complication .

[0004] in the event the user desires to move the television or speakers (for example, to change orientation in the room or to move to another room altogether) disconnecting and then reconnecting the speakers composes a substantial portion of the work required, causing significant inconvenience. Many partial solutions to the problem presented by speaker cords have been presented in the prior art, but all are inferior to the present invention, because the present invention completely eliminates the need co connect the speakers to the television with audio transmission wires.

[0005] In the prior art, surround sound capable speaker systems have been connected with wires and wirelessly. If wires are used, there are many potential problems: the cables are unsightly, present a tripping hazard to someone traversing the room, and can become inadvertently unplugged. Typical solutions to the problems inherent in a wired surround sound system have included running cables underneath carpets or through ceilings or walls. This solution increases both the cost and time of installation. In addition, this solution increases the difficulty of repairing, modifying or moving the system in the event it becomes damaged, the user upgrades a component, or the user desires to move the system. Furthermore, successfully connecting the speakers to all. of the equipment necessary is often a confusing and chaJ le;nging process.

[0006] In general, the prior art imperfectly addresses these problems by providing systems that are partially wireless. That is, the prior art of wireless speakers and home theater systems utilizes an amplifier or driver to which some or all of the speakers are wirel.essly connected. However, the amplifier or driver must itself be connected via wires to other equipment. The present invention further perfects the partial solutions of the prior art, by eliminating ail wires to remote speakers and by incorporating the amplifier and transmitter within the body of the television.

[0007] Jt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a surround sound capable television and speaker system that is easy to configure and move, eliminates the hazard and inconvenience posed by speaker wires passing through the room, and eliminates unsightly cables.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[0008] λ television with incorporated surround sound capability includes detachable front-center, front-left and front-right speakers. The television further includes back-left and back-right speakers, as well as an optiona.1 back-center speaker. The television also includes a wireless transmitter coupled to at least one wireless speaker such that the television includes surround sound without the need to set up, connect or otherwise assemble the speaker system.

[0009] The television includes integrated center, front- left, and front-right speakers. These integrated speakers are detachable, and therefore may be spread out for optimal surround sound. Additional, non-integrated speakers are provided for the back-left and back-right, and, optionally, center-back speaker or subwoofer. In one embodiment, all provided speakers, both integrated and non-integrated, are wirelessly connected to the television. In an alternative embodiment, the speakers are connected to the television utilizing the home's (or other

space's) existing electrical wiring. In yet another alternative embodiment , the front-left and front-right speakers are attached via wires, while the remaining speakers are connected wirelessly. The transmitter and amplifier for the speakers are contained wholly in the body of the television.

[0010] The invention is an improvement on the prior art by providing a television with surround sound that requires no setup and little or no wiring of the surround sound speakers. Additionally, this television improves on the prior art by eliminating the unsightly and hazardous cables inherent in the wired surround sound speaker systems of the past. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the further description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Figure 1 is a depiction of the television from the front with the detachable front speakers attached, and the free-standing rear speakers.

[0012] Figure 2 is a depiction of the television with all speakers detached.

[0013] Figure 3 is a depiction of the speakers arrayed in a home theater for optimal surround sound.

[0014] Figure 4 is a block diagram of the circuitry in the television and speakers that is responsible for driving the speakers and transmitting the audio data wirelessly to the speakers.

[0015] Figure 5 is a block diagram of the circuitry in the television and speakers that is responsible for transmitting the audio data to the speakers through existing electrical wiring .

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] Referring first to Figure 1, a front view of a television 100 is shown. Shown attached to the television 100 in this view are the left speaker 102, center speaker 104, and right speaker 106. Each of these speakers 102, 104, and 106 may be detached from the celevision 100 and placed further away for improved stereo or surround sound. Also shown in Figure 1 are the left rear speaker 108, subwoofer 110 and right rear speaker 112. It is to be understood that the subwoofer 110 may be replaced by a back-center channel speaker instead. Rear speakers 108, 110, and 112 are free standing, and are not attached to the television.

[0017] Referring next to Figure 2, the television of the present invention is shown with speakers 102, 104 and 106 detached from the television 100. It is to be understood that in one embodiment, each of the speakers 102, 104 and 106 are equipped with wireless reception apparatus, such as wireless internet, infrared, Bluetooth®, radio frequency or other similar wireless connection. In this way, each of the speakers 102, 104 and 106 may communicate with the television 100 to thereby receive electrical signals indicating the various sounds which each speaker muse produce. In this embodiment, the television 100 includes apparatus suitable for communicating sound data to each of the wireless speakers.

[0018] In another embodiment, the speakers 102, 104 and 106 may be connected to the television 100 by means of a single wire connected to center speaker 104. Speaker 102 and speaker 106 may be connected by means of a wire to speaker 104. Alternatively, each of the speakers 102, 104 and 106 may be connected to an electrical outlet to thereby power each of the speakers. The sound data may be transmitted to each of the speakers 102, 104 and 106 by means of the electrical wiring in a home .

[0019] The sound data may also be transmitted to each of the rear speakers 108, 110 and 112 by wireless means, by a single wire, such as an electrical power cord, connected to subwoofer 110 or wirelessly to a single speaker, such as subwoofer 110 and then using short-range wires to power and supply sound data to each of the speakers 108 and 112. In one embodiment, the subwoofer 110 (or center speaker) is wirelessly connected to the television 100, while the speakers 108 and 112 are connected by means of wires between the subwoofer 110 and speakers 108 and 112.

[0020] Figure 3 is an example schematic of one arrangement of: the television 100 and associated speakers 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 and 112 for use in generating surround sound. Notably, speakers 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, and 112 are spread around the perimeter of the room. In Figure 3, center speaker

104 placed at the same point as the television 100. Speakers 102 and 106 may remain attached to the television 100, or placed immediately -below or next to the television 100 for optimal surround sound.

[0021] λs can be seen there is a table 114 upon which the television is sitting. There are cables 116, 118 and 120 connecting speaker 102, speaker 104 and speaker ]06, respectively, to the television 100. These cables 116, 118 and 120 are shown as dotted lines. This is intended to represent that these cables may or may not be present in one or more embodiments .

[0022] In one embodiment, each speaker 102, 104 and 106 is connected to c'ne television, for purposes of receiving sound data, by means of; a wireless connection, such as radio frequency. In another embodiment, however, one or more of the speakers 102, 104 or 106 is connected by means of a cable, such as cables 118, 120 and 122.

[0023] Similarly, there is an electrical outlet 122 to which the television i00 is connected. As is common in the prior art, the television 100 must be powered in order to operate. However, as is not common in the prior art, in at least one embodiment the televi.sion 100 may use the electrical outlet 122 Lo provide sound data to remote speakers. The

electrical cord 124 is also shown connecting the television 100 to the outlet 122.

[0024] On the other side of the room, there is another electrical outlet 126. This electrical outlet 126 provides power through the electrical cord 128 to the subwoofer 110. In one embodiment, the sound data or sound signals are transmitted via the electrical wires of the home running from the electrical outlet 122 to the electrical outlet 126. In this embodiment, the electrical outlet: 126 provides power to the subwoofer 110 and to the speakers 108 and ]12. Simultaneously, the electrical outlet 126 provides the sound data necessary for driving the speakers 108 and 112 and the subwoofer 110.

[0025] In another embodiment, there is a wireless transmitter 130 embedded into the television 100. The wireless used in this embod i.mem: is radio frequency, however other wireless protocols may be used such as 802. lla/b/g/n, infrared, Bluetooth® and other similar protocols. The wireless transmitter 130 transmits the sound data necessary to drive one or more speakers. In this embodiment, the subwoofer 110 is equipped with a wireless receiver 132. The subwoofer 110 receives the sound data and may provide the data to speakers 108 and 112 via cables 131 and 136, respectively.

[0026] In some embodiments, each speaker 102, 104, 106, 108, 112 and subwoofer 110 may be equipped with wireless _,

receivers, such as wireless receiver 132. In these embodiments, no sound data is transmitted to any speaker by any means other than wireless! y . Tn yet another embodiment, the sound data is transmitted to each or most speakers through power outlets, such as power outlet 126, to which each speaker is connected for power. Tn embodiments utilizing only wireless connections, the speakers 102, 104, 106, 108, 112 and subwoofer 110 may be powered by batteries.

[0027] Referring now to Figure 4, a block diagram of the internal circuitry used in one embodiment to provide sound data to drive the remote speakers is shown. The first element is the television signal 137. This is the signal sent over the air through broadcast or received by the television 138 through cable or satellite connection to a television service provider. Also shown are the wireless speakers 140. The television 138 receives the signal 137 in a television signal receiver 142. This receiver may be an antennae, satellite, cable connection or internet protocol celevjsion (IPTV) among other means.

[0028] The signal 137 is then provided by the receiver 142 to a television signal, processor 144 for conversion into usable video data and audio daca to be displayed by the television 138. The video daca is provided to video generating circuitry 146 and this circuitry 146 generated video data suitable for display on the television screen 148.

[0029] The processor 144 provides audio data to the audio generating circuitry 150 which may provide for wired audio output 152 to one or more speakers. This is shown as a dashed line in order to demonstrate that the wired audio output 152 may or may not be provided. In the case that wired audio output is used, wired speaker (s) 154 are connected to the output which thereby generate sound.

[0030] The audio generating circuitry 150 is also connected in this embodiment to a wireless transmitter 156. The wireless transmitter 156, as has been previously discussed, may use radio frequency, wireless 802. lla/b/g/n, Bluetooth®, infrared or other types of wireless connection. The wireless transmitter 156 accepts audio data generated by the audio generating circuitry 150 and transmits it wirelessly to the wireless receiver 158 within the wireless speakers 140.

[0031] The wireless receiver 158 receives the wireless audio data and provides it to audio output 160. The audio output 160 and wireless receiver 158 are internal to the wireless speakers 140. The audio output 160 then outputs data to one or more speakers. As shown, the audio output 160 at least provides output to wireless speaker (s) 162.

[0032] As described above, the speaker may be connected by means of wires to wj red speaker (s) 164. If so, the audio output 160 is also provided to the wired speaker (s) 164. The

speaker (s) 162 and speaker (s) 164 provide audio for the television ]38.

[0033] Referring now to Figure 5, an alternative embodiment; utilizing a different means of delivery for the audio data to one or more speakers is shown. Many elements are similar and function, similarly to those shown in Figure 4. For example, there is a television signal 137, received by a television signal receiver 142 in the television 140. Also present are the television signal processor 144, the video generating circuitry 146 and the television screen 148, each functioning according co the description of Figure 4.

[0034] The audio generating circuitry 150 generates audio data. The wired audio output 152, which is, again, optional as shown by the dashed connector lines, provides audio to any wired speaker (s) 154 which are also optional.

[0035] However, in this embodiment, there is an electrical circuit transmitter 166 provided instead of or in addition to the wireless transmitter 156 (see Figure 4). The electrical circuit transmitter 166 is capable, through means known in the art, to transmit data over electrical circuits, for example, those circuits present in a home. The television 138 is connected by a power cord 168 to an electrical outlet 170. The electrical outlet 170 is connected by means of an electrical circuit 172, present in a home or apartment, to another

electrical outlet UA. The electrical outlet 174 provides power to the wireless speakers η0 by means of a power cord 176.

[0036] The wire.less speakers 140 receive the electrical current from the power cord 176 along with sound data. The sound data is received by an electrical circuit receiver 178. The electrical circuit receiver 178 translates the data transmitted by the electrical circuit transmitter 166 into audio data suitable for use by the audio output 160. The audio output 160 then, provides audio to wireless speaker (s) 162 and, optionally, to wired speaker (s) 164 as well.