Abstract:
A speaker assembly is provided with a housing, a first speaker and a second speaker both supported by the housing, and a controller. The controller is programmed to determine a location of the housing relative to a docking station. The controller is further programmed to disable the second speaker and control the first speaker to play a low-frequency component of an audio signal in response to the housing being located proximate to the docking station.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/238,991 filed Oct. 8, 2015, now abandoned, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    One or more embodiments relate to a speaker system that is operable with a vehicle audio system and also operable independent of the vehicle audio system as a portable speaker. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Portable speaker systems that are operable with multiple audio systems are known. For example, the Voyager by JBL® is an integrated home audio system with a portable wireless speaker that is detachable from a dock and communicates with other media devices as a portable speaker. 
         [0004]    Vehicle audio systems typically include speakers that are distributed around the vehicle interior to provide sound. Premium vehicle audio systems often include large subwoofers with dedicated amplifiers. Due to their size, these large subwoofers are often mounted in the rear portion of a vehicle, e.g., in the trunk or in the rear storage compartment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, a speaker system is provided with a first speaker, a second speaker and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first audio signal having at least one of a low-frequency component, a mid-range-frequency component and a high-frequency component from a vehicle audio system, determine the location of the speaker system relative to a vehicle and to disable the second speaker and control the first speaker to play the low-frequency component of the first audio signal in response to the speaker system being located within a vehicle. The controller is also configured to receive a second audio signal including a low-frequency component, a mid-range-frequency component and a high-frequency component from a media device. The controller is further configured to control the first speaker to play the low-frequency component of the second audio signal and the second speaker to play at least one of the mid-range-frequency component and the high-frequency component of the second audio signal in response to the speaker system being located outside of the vehicle. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a speaker assembly is provided with a housing, a first speaker and a second speaker both supported by the housing and a controller. The controller is programmed to determine a location of the housing relative to a docking station, and to disable the second speaker and control the first speaker to play a low-frequency component of an audio signal in response to the housing being located proximate to the docking station. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, a speaker assembly is provided with a housing, a first speaker and a second speaker both supported by the housing and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a location of the housing relative to a docking station and to disable the second speaker and provide a low-frequency component of an audio signal to the first speaker in response to the housing being located proximate to the docking station. The controller is further configured to provide the low-frequency component of the audio signal to the first speaker, and to provide at least one of a mid-range-frequency component and a high-frequency component of the audio signal to the second speaker in response to the housing being located remote from the docking station. 
         [0008]    In still yet another embodiment, a method for controlling a speaker system is provided. An audio signal having at least one of a low-frequency component, a mid-range-frequency component and a high-frequency component is received. A location of a speaker system relative to a docking station is determined. A second speaker of the speaker system is disabled; and the low-frequency component of the audio signal is provided to a first speaker of the speaker system in response to the speaker system being located proximate to the docking station. The low-frequency component of the audio signal is provided to the first speaker; and at least one of the mid-range-frequency component and the high-frequency component of the audio signal is provided to the second speaker in response to the speaker system being located remote from the docking station. 
         [0009]    As such the speaker system provides a portable wireless speaker that is recharged while docked in the vehicle and available wherever the user travels with their vehicle. Thus eliminating the need to purchase a separate portable wireless speaker. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a speaker system according to one or more embodiments, illustrated remote from a vehicle; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the speaker system of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment, illustrated adjacent to a docking station within the vehicle; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is another side view of the speaker system of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment, illustrated mounted to the docking station; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the speaker system of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a system diagram of a vehicle audio system including the speaker system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling the speaker system according to one or more embodiments; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the speaker system of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment and illustrated mounted to the docking station; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the speaker system of  FIG. 1  according to yet another embodiment and illustrated mounted to the docking station; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the speaker system of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment and illustrated adjacent to a docking station according to another embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is another front perspective view of the speaker system of  FIG. 9  illustrated mounted to the docking station; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the speaker system of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a front fragmented partial section view of the speaker system of  FIG. 10 , taken along section line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a speaker system is illustrated in accordance with one or more embodiments and generally illustrated by numeral  100 . The speaker system  100  may be mounted to a vehicle  102  and operable as a component of a vehicle audio system  104  (shown in  FIG. 4 .) For example, the speaker system  100  may be mounted within a rear storage compartment  105  of the vehicle  102 . The speaker system  100  may also be removed from the vehicle  102  and function as a portable speaker system, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The speaker system  100  includes a housing  106  that supports at least three speakers, a low-frequency speaker  108  (e.g., a subwoofer), a mid-range speaker  110  and a high-frequency speaker  112  (e.g., a tweeter). 
         [0024]    The speaker system  100  also includes a controller  114  for controlling the speakers  108 ,  110  and  112  based on their location relative to the vehicle  102 . In one embodiment, the controller  114  disables the mid-range speaker  110  and the tweeter  112  when the speaker system  100  is mounted within the vehicle  102 , and allows only the subwoofer  108  to function as part of the vehicle audio system  104 . The controller  114  enables all speakers (i.e., the subwoofer  108  the mid-range speaker  110  and the tweeter  112 ) to provide a full range of sound when the speaker system  100  is located outside of the vehicle  102 . 
         [0025]    When located outside of the vehicle  102 , the controller  114  of the speaker system  100  communicates with a media device  116  for receiving audio signals. The controller  114  includes one or more drivers, amplifiers and crossovers (not shown). The crossover separates the audio signal by frequency into a low-frequency component, a medium frequency component and a high frequency component and sends the audio signal components to the appropriate speakers. According to the illustrated embodiment, the speaker system  100  communicates wirelessly with a mobile phone (media device)  116  for receiving audio input. In other embodiments the speaker system  100  communicates with a media device through wired communication, or wirelessly with the vehicle audio system  104  when located outside of the vehicle  102  for receiving analog and/or digital audio input (not shown). 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the speaker system  100  mounts to a docking station  118 . The speaker system  100  and docking station  118  are collectively referred to as a speaker assembly  119  herein. The docking station  118  includes a recess  120  that is formed into a panel  122  of the vehicle  102 . The recess  120  defines a cavity  124  that is sized for receiving the speaker system  100 . The docking station  118  includes a base  126  for supporting the speaker system  100  and a projection  128  that extends transversely from an inner end of the base  126 . The panel  122  is offset at an angle (a) from a vertical axis (a) according to the illustrated embodiment. The angle a of the panel  122  biases the center of mass (m) of the speaker system  100  towards the panel  122 ; and the projection  128  engages a lower end  129  of the speaker system  100  to help retain the speaker system  100  within the recess  120 . 
         [0027]    The docking station  118  includes an electrical connector  130  that mates with a corresponding speaker connector  132  of the speaker system  100 . The electrical connector  130  is connected to a vehicle battery  134  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) by a vehicle harness  136 ; and the speaker connector  132  is connected to a speaker battery  138  by speaker wires  140  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) to collectively form a charging circuit  142  for charging the speaker battery  138 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2-3  illustrate a process for mounting the speaker system  100  to the docking station  118 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the speaker system  100  is rotated clockwise about an imaginary horizontal axis B, and the lower end  129  is inserted into the recess  120 . Then, the speaker system  100  is rotated counter-clockwise about the B-axis until the speaker connector  132  mates with the electrical connector  130 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , to remove the speaker system  100  from the docking station  118 , a user pulls a handle  150  that extends from an upper end of the speaker system  100 , which rotates the speaker system  100  clockwise about the B-axis, and then lifts the speaker system  100  out of the recess  120 . The speaker system  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  depicts a “retro” 1980&#39;s styled speaker system with a rectangular shaped front facie  152 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a system diagram illustrating electrical communication within the vehicle audio system  104 . The vehicle audio system  104  includes a vehicle controller  154 , or “vehicle head unit” and the speaker system  100  while it is mounted within the vehicle  102 . The vehicle audio system  104  also includes at least one vehicle mid-range speaker  160  and at least one vehicle tweeter  162 . The vehicle controller  154  and the controller  114  each include one or more transceivers (not shown) for communicating with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller  114  and the vehicle controller  154  communicate wirelessly with each other, as depicted by dashed signal line  164 . However, in other embodiments, the controllers  114 ,  154  are connected by audio wires (not shown) for providing wired communication. 
         [0030]    Vehicle audio systems typically include speakers that are distributed around the vehicle interior to provide stereo sound. High-end audio systems often include large subwoofers with dedicated amplifiers. Due to their size, these large subwoofers are often mounted in the rear portion of a vehicle, e.g., in the trunk or in the rear storage compartment  105 . Since the speaker system  100  is mounted in the rear storage compartment  105  of the vehicle  102 , the vehicle audio system  104  utilizes the subwoofer  108 . The vehicle audio system  104  includes a vehicle mid-range speaker  160  and a vehicle tweeter  162 , and therefore does not utilize the additional mid-range speaker  110  or tweeter  112  of the speaker system  100 . Therefore the mid-range speaker  110  and the tweeter  112  are disabled, when located in the rear storage compartment  105  of the vehicle  102 , as depicted by the “x”s disposed over them in  FIG. 4 . The controller  114  disables the mid-range speaker  110  and the tweeter  112  by disconnecting power to them in one embodiment, or by not providing them with an audio signal in other embodiments. 
         [0031]    The vehicle controller  154  includes one or more receivers (not shown) for receiving analog and digital audio signals from an external source (e.g., AM, FM, satellite and HD signals). The vehicle controller  154  may also be connected to a peripheral device e.g., a disk drive, a portable device (through wired or wireless connection) (not shown). The vehicle controller  154  includes one or more drivers, amplifiers and crossovers (not shown). The crossover separates the audio signal by frequency bands into a low-frequency component, a medium frequency component and a high frequency component and sends the audio signal components to the appropriate speakers. For example, the vehicle controller  154  provides the medium-frequency component of the audio signal to the vehicle mid-range speaker  160  and the high-frequency component to the vehicle tweeter  162 . The vehicle controller  154  provides the audio signal to the controller  114  of the speaker system  100 , which includes a driver to separate the low-frequency component and provide it to the subwoofer  108 . In other embodiments, the vehicle controller  154  provides the low-frequency component to the controller  114 , which in turn provides it to the subwoofer  108 . The speakers  108 ,  160  and  162  collectively provide the full-range sound within the vehicle  102 . 
         [0032]    It is recognized that any controller, circuit or other electrical device disclosed herein may include any number of microprocessors, integrated circuits, memory devices (e.g., FLASH, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or other suitable variants thereof) and software which co-act with one another to perform any number of the operation(s) as disclosed herein. In addition, any one or more of the controllers may be configured to execute a computer-program that is embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that is programmed to perform any number of the functions as disclosed. 
         [0033]    The speaker system  100  receives electrical energy from the vehicle battery  134  for charging the speaker battery  138 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , the speaker connector  132  mates with the electrical connector  130  of the docking station. The electrical connector  130  is connected to the vehicle battery  134  by the vehicle harness  136  and the speaker connector  132  is connected to the speaker battery  138  by speaker wires  140  to collectively form the charging circuit  142  for charging the speaker battery  138 . The vehicle controller  154  is also electrically connected to the vehicle battery  134 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In one or more embodiments, the speaker system  100  is configured to disconnect the speaker battery  138  from the vehicle battery  134  when a vehicle ignition key (not shown) is turned to the “off” position, to avoid discharging the vehicle battery  134 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates a method for controlling the speakers of the speaker system  100  according to one or more embodiments, and is represented by numeral  200 . The method is implemented using software code contained within the controller  114 , according to one or more embodiments. In other embodiments the software code is shared between multiple controllers (e.g., the controller  114  and the vehicle controller  154 ). 
         [0035]    At operation  202 , the controller  114  receives an “on” command. The on command is transmitted to the controller  114  in response to a user pressing a button on the speaker system  100  itself, or by the user sending the command wirelessly, e.g., from a media device  116 . Alternatively, the controller  114  may turn on automatically in response to receiving electrical energy through the charging circuit  142  when mounted to the docking station  118  in the vehicle  102 . 
         [0036]    At operation  204 , the controller  114  receives an audio signal. The audio signal may be transmitted by the controller  154  of the vehicle audio system  104  or by a media device  116 . 
         [0037]    At operation  206 , the controller  114  determines whether or not the speaker system  100  is mounted to the docking station, i.e., “docked”. In one embodiment, the controller  114  determines that the speaker system  100  is docked in response to receiving electrical energy from the vehicle battery  134  through the charging circuit  142 . In other embodiments, the controller determines the location of the speaker system  100  relative to the vehicle using a known localization method. If the controller  114  determines that the speaker system  100  is docked within the vehicle  102 , it proceeds to operation  208 . 
         [0038]    At operation  208 , the controller  114  disables the mid-range speaker  110  and the tweeter  112 , e.g., by not providing electrical power to the speakers  110 ,  112 . Then at operation  210 , the controller  114  enables the subwoofer  108 , e.g., by providing power to it. 
         [0039]    At operation  212 , the controller  114  provides the low-frequency component of the audio signal to the subwoofer  108 . And the subwoofer  108  provides low-frequency sound corresponding to the low-frequency component of the audio signal, as part of the vehicle audio system  104 . Then the controller  114  proceeds to operation  214  and returns to operation  204 . 
         [0040]    If the controller  114  determines that the speaker system  100  is not docked in operation  206 , then it proceeds to operation  216 . At operation  216 , the controller  114  enables the subwoofer  108 , the mid-range speaker  110  and the tweeter  112 , e.g., by providing power to them. 
         [0041]    At operation  218 , the controller  114  separates the audio signal by frequency and provides the low-frequency component of the audio signal to the subwoofer  108 , the medium-frequency component to the mid-range speaker  110  and the high-frequency component to the tweeter  112 . The speakers  108 ,  110  and  112  provide sound corresponding to their received component of the audio signal and collectively provide full-range sound. Then the controller  114  proceeds to operation  214  and returns to operation  204 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 7-12  illustrate alternate embodiments of the speaker system.  FIG. 7  illustrates a speaker system  300  having a rectangular shaped front facie  302  with a common baffle  304  disposed over the speakers, i.e., a subwoofer  308 , a mid-range speaker  310  and a tweeter  312 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a speaker system  400  having a circular shaped front facie  402  that is detachable from a rectangular housing  406 . A subwoofer  408  is supported by the housing  406 . A mid-range speaker  410  and a tweeter  412  are supported by the detachable front facie  402 . 
         [0043]    With reference to  FIGS. 9-12 , a speaker system is illustrated according to an embodiment and referenced generally by numeral  500 . The speaker system  500  may be mounted to the vehicle  102  ( FIG. 1 ) and operable as a component of a vehicle audio system  104  (shown in  FIG. 4 .) The speaker system  500  may also be removed from the vehicle  102  and function as a portable speaker system, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The speaker system  500  includes a housing  506  that supports at least three speakers, a low-frequency speaker  508  (e.g., a subwoofer), a mid-range speaker  510  and a high-frequency speaker  512  (e.g., a tweeter). 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-10 , the speaker system  500  mounts to a docking station  518 , and both are collectively referred to as a speaker assembly  519 . The docking station  518  is mounted within the rear storage compartment  105  ( FIG. 1 ), according to one or more embodiments. The docking station  518  includes a recess  520  that defines a cavity that is sized for receiving the speaker system  500 . The docking station  118  includes a base  526  for supporting the speaker system  500  and a series of projections that extend transversely from the base  526 . The series of projections include fixed projections  528  and locking projections  530 . Each projection  528 ,  530  includes an upright portion  532  that extends from the base  526 ; and a distal end  534  that extends transversely from the upright portion  532 . The distal ends  534  of the projections  528 ,  530  engage a lower end  536  of the speaker system  100  to help retain the speaker system  100  within the recess  520 . 
         [0045]    The docking station  518  includes an electrical connector  538  that mates with a corresponding speaker connector (not shown) of the speaker system  100 . The electrical connector  538  is connected to the vehicle battery  134  by a vehicle harness  136  (shown in  FIG. 4 ); and the speaker connector is connected to a speaker battery by speaker wires to collectively form a charging circuit for charging the speaker battery (not shown). 
         [0046]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate a process for mounting the speaker system  500  to the docking station  518 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the speaker system  500  includes a series of channels  540  that are formed into the lower end  536  of the housing  506 . Each channel  540  is sized to receive the distal end  534  of one of the projections  528 ,  530  as the speaker system  500  is translated transversely, as depicted by arrow  542  ( FIG. 9 ).  FIG. 10  illustrates the speaker system  500  mounted to the docking station  518 . 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIGS. 11-12 , the speaker system  500  and the docking station  518  each include features for locking the speaker system  500  to the docking station  518 , according to one or more embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 11 , each channel  540  is formed with a narrow passage  544  extending from the lower end  536  of the housing  506  that is sized for receiving the upright portion  532  of the corresponding projection. Each channel  540  is also formed with an enlarged opening  546  that is sized for receiving the distal end  534  of the corresponding projection. The central channels  540  also include an intermediate opening  548  that extends from the lower end  536  to the enlarged opening  546  of the corresponding channel. The locking projections  530  are spring-biased in a longitudinal direction to engage the lower end  536  of the housing  506  within the corresponding intermediate opening  548  to lock the speaker system  500  to the docking station  518 . 
         [0048]    According to the illustrated embodiment, the locking projections  530  are connected to each other by a movable base  550 , and the docking station  518  includes a compression spring  552  that engages a lower portion of the movable base  550  to bias the locking projections  530  longitudinally (to the left in  FIG. 12 ) to the locked position. The docking station  518  includes a lever  554  that extends from the movable base  550  that allows for manual translation of the locking projections  530 . A user may manually translate the lever  554  to the right in  FIG. 12  to compress the spring  552 , which translates the locking projections  530  out of the intermediate openings  548  to unlock the speaker system  500  from the docking station  518 . Once unlocked, the user may remove the speaker system  500  by translating it transversely away from the docking station  518 . In one embodiment, the docking station  518  includes informational indicia  556  on the base  526  and adjacent to the lever indicating which position the lever  554  is in, e.g., “locked” or “unlocked.” 
         [0049]    Other embodiments of the speaker assembly  519  contemplate projections extending from the housing of the speaker system  500  to engage the docking station  518  for retaining the speaker system to the docking station (not shown). Another embodiment of the speaker assembly  519  includes a magnetic interface for retaining the speaker system to the docking station (not shown). 
         [0050]    While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.