Modular removable speaker system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237659-A1
Application number	US-202117161533-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2021
Priority date	Jan 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a portable speaker arranged in a vehicle. In one example, a system comprises a speaker configured to dock mechanically to a docking station in an area of a vehicle, wherein the speaker further comprises a removable battery.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
a speaker configured to dock mechanically to a docking station in an area of a vehicle, wherein the speaker further comprises a removable battery.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the removable battery comprises an electronics package comprising an amplifier, Bluetooth, and a transducer.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the speaker further comprises an electronics package separate from the removable battery.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station further comprises an electrical connection between the speaker and a vehicle battery of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle battery is different than the removable battery.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the speaker is configured to dock when the removable battery is removed from or coupled to the speaker.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the speaker is one of a subwoofer, a mid-range speaker, or a tweeter.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the speaker is configured to play audio when undocked from the docking station when the removable battery is coupled to the speaker.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the area is selected from one of a passenger door, an instrument panel, a dashboard, a trunk, a head rest, and an arm rest.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to intrusively activate portions of a cooling system corresponding to the area of the speaker in response to a speaker temperature exceeding a threshold temperature.

10 . A vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of docking stations arranged in different areas of the vehicle, wherein each docking station of the plurality of docking stations is configured to receive a portable speaker operable when docked to a docking station and when not docked to the docking station, wherein the portable speaker comprises a removable battery.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the removable battery comprises an electronics package comprising an amplifier, Bluetooth, and a transducer.

12 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein all speakers of the vehicle are configured to be portable.

13 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein different areas include a passenger door, an instrument panel, a dashboard, a trunk, a head rest, and an arm rest.

14 . The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to intrusively activate portions of a cooling system corresponding to an area of the portable speaker in response to a speaker temperature exceeding a threshold temperature.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the speaker temperature is estimated based on one or more of a speaker location, a cabin temperature, and an ambient weather

16 . A method, comprising:
intrusively activating one or more vents to provide zonal cooling to one or more portable speakers of a plurality of portable speakers docked in a vehicle in response a speaker temperature exceeding a threshold temperature.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the speaker temperature is estimated based on one or more of a speaker location, a cabin temperature, and an ambient weather.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising where the vehicle is off.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining a speaker location, wherein the speaker location is determined in response to feedback from Bluetooth, feedback from a connection between a portable speaker and a docking station, or a position sensor.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of portable speakers includes a subwoofer, a mid-range speaker, and a tweeter

Assignees

• Harman Int Ind

Inventors

• Ludwig Chris
• Goller Lars

Classifications

• H04R1/1025

  Accumulators specially adapted for earpieces; Arrangements specially adapted for charging thereof · CPC title

• H04R1/02 Primary

  Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) · CPC title

• H04R2499/13

  Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles · CPC title

• B60R16/033

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title