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Portable audio devicesRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems And Devices, Having Non-electrical Feature (e.g., Mounting), And Loudspeaker, Portable Or For Use In Diverse EnvironmentPortable audio devices description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060239486, Portable audio devices. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to portable electronic devices and systems and in particular, although not exclusively, to personal audio systems and telecommunications devices. The invention further relates to garments provided with means for receiving a plurality of such, suitably interconnected, electronic devices. [0002] Recent years have seen a great increase in the availability and functionality of portable audio devices, coupled with a reduction in size and weight. Such audio devices may be divided generally into two categories, namely those replaying locally stored audio, and those relaying audio signals received from remote sources. Examples of the former are personal cassette or compact disc (CD) players, having a separate storage medium for holding the audio data, or integral memory and player devices such as MP3 players. Examples of the latter are mobile telephone and radio. [0003] With no single standard or format prevailing, a user may find themselves carrying a number of such audio source devices. As has been recognised, this can be wasteful in so far as a number of device components (audio output devices, displays, power supplies) are repeated, and efforts have been made to provide integrated portable systems where such components may be shared between a number of applications. An example of an integrated but portable system is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,002 (Kuo et al) which describes a multi-functional garment comprised of an outer shell garment hosting a number of interconnected electronic modules, including heating, communications and display devices. [0004] A further example of an integrated system is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,700 (Sato) which describes a personal portable audio device in the form of a garment having a number of pockets for receiving components of the system, with a pair of speakers for reproduction of the audio being provided in the left and right shoulder portions of the garment: the wiring from the audio signal source component to the speakers is hidden within the garment construction, including connectors within the pockets for establishing electrical connection to a device placed therein. [0005] The Sato patent illustrates one means for responding to a problem of system integration and particularly device interconnection--namely the wearer of the garment becoming entangled in the wiring interconnecting the various modules or components. However, it fails to address usability issues arising from the integration, namely what happens where two or more devices are connectable, or are requiring connection, to a single device or attribute of the system. [0006] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a portable integrated system having means whereby connection between differing devices and components, particularly those in competition for a particular system resource, is facilitated. [0007] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable personal audio system comprising first and second audio signal source devices linked via a control and switching stage to left and right audio output devices, the control and switching stage being user operable to selectively direct audio signals from one or both of the signal source devices to a selected one or ones of the left and right audio output devices. The provision of user operable means to selectively direct audio to a users chosen output gives improved flexibility of operation for a user. [0008] Where one of the audio signal source devices outputs a stereo pair of signals, the control and switching stage is preferably user operable to direct respective ones of the stereo pair of signals to respective ones of the left and right audio output devices. Additionally, the control and switching stage may be user operable to combine the stereo pair of signals to a mono signal and output the same to a selected one or ones of the left and right audio output devices. In this way, the user can keep one ear on the ambient or environmental sounds, whilst not losing half the audio signal component through simply not wearing one earphone or other audio output device. [0009] In a preferred embodiment, one of the audio signal source devices comprises a portable telecommunications apparatus. In such a case, the control and switching stage may be configured to identify when this portable telecommunications apparatus receives an incoming call and, in response, to set up a predetermined pattern of audio signal directions to selected one or ones of the left and right audio output devices. [0010] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment comprising a portable audio system as recited above. Such a garment may suitably comprise a fabric shell hosting one or more electrical conductors the or each of which is connectable to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices, including the first and second audio signal source devices, housed in respective pockets of said fabric shell. For ease of use, such a garment may have externally mounted user-operable control devices connected to and controlling operation of the said control and switching means. [0011] In a garment embodying the invention, the left and right audio output devices are suitably respective earphones, the connecting wire to which is preferably at least partially concealed within the fabric construction of the garment. As to the devices themselves, the or each is preferably removably attached to said fabric shell such as to permit removal for ease of cleaning for the garment, and ease of upgrade for the device. [0012] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from reading of the following description of preferred embodiments, and are defined in the attached claims, to which reference should now be made, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. [0013] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0014] FIGS. 1 to 4 schematically represent different interconnect arrangements for four audio system components; [0015] FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically represent garments having integral portable audio systems distributed amongst a plurality of devices housed in respective removable pockets; and [0016] FIGS. 7 and 8 represent a garment collar with integral audio output components. [0017] Starting with FIGS. 1 to 4, the components of a portable personal audio system are illustrated. The components include first and second audio signal source devices, in this instance an MP3 player 14 and telephone 16. These are connected via respective leads 12 to a control and switching stage 22, and from there to left and right audio output devices 26, in this case respective ones of a pair of earphones. User input to effect operation of the control and switching stage 22 is indicated by arrow 9. [0018] The user input to control and switching stage 22 selectively directs audio signals from one or both of the signal source devices 14, 16 to a selected one or ones of the left and right earphones 26. In the example of FIG. 1, the MP3 device outputs a stereo (left/right) pair of signals, with the control and switching stage 22 connecting respective ones of the stereo pair of signals to respective ones of the left and right earphones 26: the telephone 16 is assumed to have no current incoming message and is not connected to the earphones 26. [0019] In the example of FIG. 2, just the telephone 16 is in use, with the control and switching stage 22 connecting the telephone audio to the left earphone 26L only: as will be recognised, the telephone audio could equally be connected to the right earphone 26R only, or the signal could be fed to both. [0020] In FIG. 3, just the MP3 player 14 is in use; unlike the FIG. 1 case however, the stereo signal from the source is combined in control and switching stage 22 to provide a mono signal to just one of the earphones (26R as shown, or 26L). This arrangement has particular use where the user wishes to hear the supplied audio, but also hear sounds from the environment. [0021] In FIG. 4, both sources 14, 16 and both earphones 26 L/R are in use, with the stereo MP3 audio again reduced to mono and fed to a single earphone 26L; this time the telephone audio fed to the other earphone 26R. In this arrangement, where the different audio streams compete for the users attention, the telephone audio is suitably given primacy, with the MP3 muted when a call comes in. General and individual volume adjustment for the various streams is preferably provided to the user by the stage 22. [0022] Preferably, the control and switching stage 22 is configured to identify when the telephone 16 receives an incoming call--an indicator signal may be sent from the telephone to stage 22 for this purpose: in response, stage 22 may be constructed to automatically set up a predetermined pattern of audio signal connections to a selected one or ones of the left and right earphones 26. For example, the stage 22 may automatically switch from the arrangement of FIGS. 1 or 3 to that of FIGS. 2 or 4 on detection of an incoming telephone call. Such switching can also be made when the user selects to make an outgoing call. [0023] Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, schematic representations of garments (for upper and lower body respectively) are shown hosting a plurality of interconnected electrical devices, including the audio sources from FIGS. 1 to 4. It will be recognised that the form, function and style of the garment will generally have no bearing on the operation of the present invention other than requiring a capability to support two or more electrical devices (which may be in the form of separate components of a single device distributed around the garment). [0024] Each garment comprises a fabric shell 10 hosting one or more electrical conductors 12, which may range in configuration from a single conductor between a pair of devices to a full wiring loom (as shown) interconnecting a number of devices, to be described: further details of a suitable wiring loom for use with such devices are given in our co-pending concurrently filed application entitled "Garment Component". Continue reading about Portable audio devices... Full patent description for Portable audio devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable audio devices patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Portable audio devices or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Hearing device with ear canal microphone Next Patent Application: Simulated rock speaker assembly Industry Class: Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Portable audio devices patent info. 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