Patent Publication Number: US-2021168505-A1

Title: Modular speaker system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority and benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/715,750 titled “Surroundsound for Personal Electronic Device” and filed on Aug. 7, 2018, and priority to Chinese Utility Model Application No. 201821537933.4 titled “Modular Speaker Wireless Contacts Charging Unit” filed Sep. 20, 2018, Chinese Patent Application No. 201811098350.0 titled “Modular Speaker Wireless Contacts Charging Unit” filed Sep. 20, 2018, Chinese Utility Model Application No. 201821537876.X titled “Modular Stereo Speaker” filed Sep. 20, 2018, and Chinese Patent Application No. 201811098250.8 titled “Modular Stereo Speaker” filed Sep. 20, 2018, the content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to speaker systems and more particularly to modular speaker systems configured to output sound in two or more arrangements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable radio sets have been available since the 1920s, and readily carried transistor radios first became publicly available in the 1950s. These early portable entertainment systems typically include a single, i.e., monophonic speaker. In the 1970s, stereophonic “boomboxes” became popular. Some of these portable systems included more than two speakers exhibiting differential frequency response, but generally only two channels of audio information were produced. Additionally, in the 1970s, the first systems for reproducing quadraphonic (i.e., four channel) recordings became available in the consumer market. Generally speaking, these systems were not readily portable. 
     During the 1980s and 1990s, highly portable recorded music systems became available including Sony Walkman tape player and various compact disc players. These were followed in the late 1990s and early 2000s with various personal electronic devices capable of reproducing recorded music stored in integrated circuit memories. 
     SUMMARY 
     Despite the long-established demand suggested by the history of speaker systems, until the present invention, there was no effective solution providing a highly portable reconfigurable surround sound system adapted for use with personal electronic devices. The present invention provides a highly portable reconfigurable surround sound system adapted for use with portable electronic devices. An exemplary sound system includes two or more modular speakers that a user can orientate as desired. For example, in some embodiments the speaker modules can be physically connected to each other as a single compact item, facilitating easy transportation, storage, and/or display. In other embodiments, a user can physically separate the speakers in distance and arrange them in a room, in different rooms within a house, and/or in an exterior space (e.g., around a campsite, on a beach, in a backyard, etc.). By distributing the speakers around an area, the user can create an immersive surround sound effect. Advantageously, the exemplary modular speakers can be arranged and re-arranged at the user&#39;s choosing while continuously outputting sound. In other words, for example, the sound need not be interrupted while a user changes the configuration of the speakers in an area. 
     In one aspect, the disclosure features a modular speaker system including a plurality of wireless speaker modules configured to output sound in a first arrangement and in a second arrangement, in which the first arrangement is different from the second arrangement. In the first arrangement, at least one speaker module is in physical contact with at least one other speaker module, and in the second arrangement, the at least one speaker module is physically separated from the at least one other speaker module. 
     Various embodiments of the modular speaker system can include one or more of the following features. In the first arrangement, the at least one speaker module can be in electrical contact with the at least one other speaker module. In the first arrangement, the at least one speaker module can be in magnetic contact with the at least one other speaker module. Each speaker module can include a housing having at least one magnet. The at least one magnet can be configured to induce the magnetic contact between the at least one speaker module and the at least one other speaker module. The wireless speaker modules can include a primary speaker module and at least one secondary speaker module. The primary speaker module can be configured to receive audio data and wirelessly transmit the audio data to the at least one secondary speaker module, and the at least one secondary speaker module can be configured to receive the audio data from the primary speaker module and output sound corresponding to the audio data. 
     The primary speaker module can be configured to receive the audio data from a user device via a Bluetooth communication channel. The primary speaker module can be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio data to the at least one secondary module via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel or a 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel. The wireless speaker modules can include at least four wireless speaker modules. A first speaker module can be configured to provide a left-front sound channel; a second speaker module can be configured to provide a right-front sound channel; a third speaker module can be configured to provide a left-back sound channel; and a fourth speaker module is configured to provide a right-back sound channel. The audio data transmitted to the third and fourth speaker modules can have a delay in time relative to the audio data transmitted to the first and second speaker modules. The delay can be approximately 15 milliseconds. 
     In the first arrangement, the first speaker module, the second speaker module, the third speaker module, and the fourth speaker module can be configured to be arranged in any orientation with respect to each other. The modular speaker system can include a housing adapted to hold the plurality of wireless speaker modules in the first arrangement. The housing can encompass only a portion of each of the plurality of wireless speakers and leaves exposed a sound emitting portion of each of the plurality of wireless speakers. The housing can include a strap to facilitate carrying by a user. 
     In another aspect, the disclosure features a method of using a modular speaker system. The method can include the steps of providing a plurality of wireless speaker modules configured to output sound in a first arrangement and in a second arrangement, the first arrangement different from the second arrangement. The method can include arranging the wireless speaker modules in the first arrangement or in the second arrangement. In the first arrangement, at least one speaker module is in physical contact with at least one other speaker module, and in the second arrangement, the at least one speaker module is physically separated from the at least one other speaker module. 
     Various embodiments of the modular speaker system can include one or more of the following features. In the first arrangement, the at least one speaker module can be in electrical contact with the at least one other speaker module. In the first arrangement, the electrical contact can be accomplished by a magnetic contact between the at least one speaker module and the at least one other speaker module. Each speaker module can include a housing having at least one magnet. The at least one magnet can be configured to induce contact between the at least one speaker module and the at least one other speaker module. The wireless speaker modules can include a primary speaker module and at least one secondary speaker module. The method can further include receiving, by the primary speaker module, audio data; wirelessly transmitting, by the primary speaker module, the audio data to the at least one secondary speaker module; and receiving, by the at least one secondary speaker module, the audio data from the primary speaker module for outputting the sound in the first and second arrangements. 
     The receiving, by the primary speaker module, the audio data can include receiving, by the primary speaker module, the audio data from a user device via a Bluetooth communication channel. The wirelessly transmitting, by the primary speaker module, the audio data to the at least one secondary speaker module can include wirelessly transmitting, by the primary speaker module, the audio data to the at least one secondary speaker module via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel or a 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel. The wireless speaker modules can include at least four wireless speaker modules. A first speaker module can be configured to provide a left-front sound channel; a second speaker module is configured to provide a right-front sound channel; a third speaker module is configured to provide a left-back sound channel, and a fourth speaker module is configured to provide a right-back sound channel. The method can include transmitting to the third and fourth speaker modules the audio data with a delay in time relative to transmitting the audio data to the first and second speaker modules. The delay can be approximately 15 milliseconds. 
     These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, will become more apparent through reference to the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of an overview of a surround sound system configured to communicate with a personal electronic device; 
         FIG. 1B  is a diagram of a modular speaker system in which a primary module is configured to communicate with a user device (and a plurality of secondary units; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of four speaker housings, of which one speaker housing houses a primary module components while the other speaker housings house secondary module components; 
         FIG. 3A  is an enlarged view of an interior portion of an exemplary housing of a speaker module;  FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of another interior portion of an exemplary housing of a speaker module;  FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the exemplary housings of  FIG. 2  in an exemplary arrangement;  FIG. 3D  is a side view of the exemplary arrangement of  FIG. 3C ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic view of components of an exemplary primary speaker module;  FIG. 4B  is a schematic view of components of another exemplary primary speaker module;  FIG. 4C  is a schematic view of components of an exemplary secondary speaker module; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the exterior of exemplary speaker modules in “separate” mode;  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the exterior of speaker modules in “combination” mode; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary housing for speaker modules; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  are perspective views of an exemplary modular speaker system, including a subwoofer type of speaker module, in separate mode and combination mode, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein are various embodiments of highly portable reconfigurable modular speaker systems adapted for use with portable electronic devices (also referred to as user devices). In various exemplary embodiments, the system can be adapted and configured for operative communication with a personal electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, a smart watch, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, etc.). In various embodiments, the one or more modules of the modular speaker system can be in communication with the personal electronic device via a communication channel (e.g., Bluetooth communication protocol). As referred to herein, a “primary” element (e.g., a module, component, controller, etc.) may be also known as a “master” element, and a “secondary” element (e.g., a module, component, controller, etc.) may be also known as a “slave” element. 
     Modular Speaker Systems 
       FIG. 1A  shows, in schematic block diagram view, an overview of a surround sound system  100  configured to communicate with a personal electronic device  102 , e.g., a smart phone. As is typical of a modern smart phone, the illustrated smart phone  102  includes a cell phone signal antenna  104 . 
     The cell phone signal antenna  104  is signalingly coupled to a processing subsystem  106 . The processing subsystem  106  typically provides digital codec and signal processing functions, user interface control, software processing and amplification, among other features, as would be known by one of skill in the art. The processing subsystem  106  is signalingly coupled within the personal electronic device  102  to an internal memory device  108 , and to a communications subsystem  110  (e.g., a Bluetooth communication subsystem  110 , although other communication protocols are possible and contemplated). 
     The Bluetooth communication subsystem  110  can provide functionality including signal processing, amplification, and telecommunications and typically would include an antenna configured as an antenna adapted to communicate Bluetooth communication signals. 
     The exemplary surround sound system  100  includes a primary module  120  having a housing  122 . Within the housing, is disposed a Bluetooth communication subsystem  124  coupled to a processing and amplification subsystem  126 . The processing and amplification subsystem  126  is operatively coupled to an audio speaker device  128  and to a communication subsystem  130 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the communication subsystem  130  is arranged to provide a 2.4 GHz radio communication signal and can generate and modulate the carrier signal. The subsystem  130  can include an appropriate antenna device for transmitting and/or receiving communication signals. 
     The exemplary surround sound system  100  can include a plurality of secondary speaker modules, (e.g., modules  140 ,  160 , and  180 ). The speaker modules  140 ,  160 , and  180  can be disposed within respective housings  142 ,  162 , and  182 . Each secondary module includes a respective communication subsystem, e.g.,  144 ,  164 , and  184 . The modules&#39; communication subsystems  144 ,  164 , and  184  are operatively coupled to respective amplifier devices, e.g.,  146 ,  166 ,  186 . These amplifier devices are in turn coupled to respective audio speakers, e.g.,  148 ,  168 ,  188 . 
     In certain exemplary modes of operation, a personal electronic device  102  can receive electromagnetic signal  189  at antenna  104 . The electromagnetic signal will encode data representing, for example, an audio entertainment program. Processing subsystem  106  receives further data corresponding to the audio entertainment program and encode the information of that data signal in memory device  108 . 
     In other embodiments of the invention, data is encoded in memory device  108  after having been received directly by, for example, a hardwired connection, or by other programming needs during, for example, manufacturing or preprocessing of the personal electronic device  102 , or of the memory device  108 . 
     Data from the memory  108  is received at the Bluetooth communication subsystem  110  and broadcast as an electromagnetic signal  190  according to, for example, a Bluetooth protocol. 
     This broadcast signal is received by Bluetooth communication subsystem  124  which decodes the signal and provides corresponding data to the processing and amplification subsystem  126 . The processing and amplification subsystem  126  provides a digital to analog conversion based on the received data, and produces an analog electrical audio signal which drives the primary module audio speaker device  128 . 
     In addition, the processing and amplification subsystem forwards an analog electrical audio signal to the further communication subsystem  130  which produces a local analog radio signal that is received by respective communications systems, e.g.,  144 ,  164 , and  184 . 
     In other embodiments, the processing and amplification subsystem  126  forwards the digital data to the communication subsystem  130  which executes a digital radio communication protocol with communication systems, e.g.,  144 ,  164 ,  184 , configured as digital communication devices. 
     The signals received at communication systems  144 ,  164 , and  184  are amplified by respective amplifier devices, e.g.,  146 ,  166 , and  186  and transduced by audio speaker devices, e.g.,  148 ,  168 , and  188 , to provide an audible entertainment program within an environment of the system  100 . 
     It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the data underlying this audio program can be configured at the personal electronic device  102 , the primary module  120 , or at the secondary modules  140 ,  160 ,  182  produce a surround sound or quadraphonic effect. Accordingly, for example, processing and amplification system  126  can, in certain embodiments, be arranged and configured to provide individualized signals, e.g.,  191 ,  192 , and  193 , to the individual secondary modules  140 ,  160 , and/or  180 . These individualized signals may be transmitted based on a frequency division multiplexing protocol, a time division multiplexing protocol, or any other technical arrangement appropriate to achieve the surround sound effect. 
     It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the foregoing description is schematic and omits certain features including, for example, battery or other energy storage subsystems which are described, for example, below. 
     Communication Systems 
     In various embodiments, the modular speaker system can be configured with communication capability over radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connection, etc. For example, the primary module of the speaker system may communicate with one or more secondary module over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel or a 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel. For example, each module speaker of the system  100  can include a 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi chip configured to pair one module of the system to another module of the system. In a particular embodiment, the primary module is configured to communicate with each secondary module over the 5.8 GHz frequency band. In some cases, Wi-Fi communication may provide for a greater range as compared to Bluetooth communication thereby enabling greater distance between the primary module and the secondary module(s).  FIG. 1B  is a diagram illustrating a modular speaker system  101  in which a primary module  122  is configured to communicate with a user device  102  (e.g., smart phone) and a plurality of secondary units  140 ,  160 , and  180 . 
     In the exemplary configuration of  FIG. 1B , there are four (4) speaker modules (one primary and 3 secondary modules) corresponding to sound channels emulating a first left side (labeled “Left 1”), a second left side (labeled “Left 2), a first right side (labeled “Right 1”), and a second right side (labeled “Right 2”). In this example, the primary module  122  corresponds to the Left 1 sound channel; however, the primary module  122  may correspond to any of the sound channels described herein. In some embodiments, the primary module  122  transmits the audio data to the secondary modules  140 ,  160 , and  180  such that there is a fixed delay in outputting the sound. Specifically, the sound from module  160  (Left 2) and module  180  (Right 2) has a delay in time with sound from module  122  (Left 1) and module  140  (Right 1). In general, any advantageous time delay is possible, e.g., in a range from 1-100 milliseconds, in a range from 5-75 milliseconds, in a range from 7-50 milliseconds, in a range from 9-25 milliseconds, and in a range from 11-20 milliseconds). In some embodiments, the delay is approximately 15 milliseconds. 
     In some embodiments, by arranging the speaker modules around the user, the four speaker modules can create a surround sound experience for the user positioned approximately in between the four modules  122 ,  140 ,  260 , and  180  (e.g., at the relative position of the user device  102 ). 
     In various embodiments, the primary module  122  receives audio data from a user device  102  via a Bluetooth communication channel. The primary module  122  then transmits the data to each of the secondary modules  140 ,  160 , and  180  via a 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi communication channel. Advantageously, the secondary modules  140 ,  160 , and  180  can be “pre-paired” to the primary module  122  such that individual communication channels do not need to be manually established by the user to start using the speaker system. Conventionally, to set up an “ad hoc” surround sound system using individual unpaired wireless speakers, a user would manually need to establish a communication channel from (or “pair”) one speaker to another speaker. This can be a cumbersome experience because the speakers are not configured to interoperate with other speakers and because pairing between greater numbers of speakers take significant time at the beginning. Therefore, the exemplary systems and methods described herein have the benefit of saving time and effort for the user, thereby generally creating a better user experience. In some embodiments, the user can selectively turn on or off any one or more secondary modules in the modular speaker system without interrupting the sound experience from the remaining module(s) or having to manually pair the secondary module back to the remaining module(s). In other words, a secondary module can automatically connect to the one or more modules of the modular speaker system. This can further creates a more versatile and customizable experience for the user. 
     Module Housings 
     In certain embodiments, the system  100  includes a plurality of speaker modules, each having a respective housing.  FIG. 2  illustrates four speaker housings  202   a,    202   b,    202   c,  and  202   d  (collectively referred to as housing(s)  202 ), of which one speaker housing houses a primary module components while the other speaker housings house secondary module components. In some embodiments, each housing  202  can include one or more coupling devices. Examples of coupling devices can include magnets (e.g., rare earth magnets), latches, or other mechanical means of removably coupling one housing to at least one other housing. For example, housing  202   a  includes magnets  204   a  and  206   a;  housing  202   b  includes magnets  204   b  and  206   b;  housing  202   c  includes magnets  204   c  and  206   c;  and housing  202   d  includes  204   d  and  206   d.  Magnets  204   a,    204   b,    204   c,  and  204   d  are collectively referred to as magnet(s)  204 ; magnets  206   a,    206   b,    206   c,  and  206   d  are collectively referred to as magnet(s)  206 . 
       FIG. 3A  is an enlarged view of an interior portion  302   a  of an exemplary housing  202  including two coupling devices  204 .  FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of another interior portion  302   b  of an exemplary housing  202 . The exemplary housing interior portion  302   a  includes a first magnet  304   a  configured such that its North Pole is oriented inward to the interior  302   a  of the housing  202  and a second magnet configured such that its North Pole is oriented outward from of the housing. The coupling devices (e.g., magnets  204  and  206 ) are arranged and configured to enable the housings  202  to be coupled to one another.  FIG. 3C  illustrates an exemplary arrangement  306  of the housings  202 , in which two housings  202   a,    202   b  are combined with housings  202   c,    202   d  to form a rectangular shape. In some embodiments, the housings  202  are combined together via the magnets  204 ,  206 , as described herein.  FIG. 3D  is a side view of the arrangement  306 . 
     In various embodiments, the exemplary housings are arranged and configured to support respective transducers (e.g., audio speakers). In certain embodiments, the respective housings are arranged such that the sound signals can share a common phase when the housing modules are coupled to one another. In certain embodiments, speaker phase may be adjusted to different phase relationships when the housing modules are separated from one another. 
     Module Components 
     In certain embodiments, each of the four modules are identical, both in external form and in contents, to the other three modules. In other embodiments of the invention, one module is a primary module and the other modules will be secondary modules. The primary housing of the primary module may include Bluetooth circuitry arranged and configured for communication with a personal electronic device, or other audio signal source, and additional communication circuitry for wireless communication with the three secondary modules. In some embodiments, the primary module differs from the secondary modules in that it includes components for receiving a charge from an external source (e.g., a battery pack, wall outlet, etc.). 
       FIG. 4A  is a schematic view of components of an exemplary primary speaker module  400   a.  As described above, the primary module  400   a  (e.g., primary module  122 ) can include a Bluetooth module  402  for communicating with a user device  102 , a transmitting module  404  for communicating with secondary modules (e.g., module  140 ,  160 , and  180 ), and an amplifier  406  coupled to a speaker  408  for outputting sound according to the audio data. The primary module  400  can also include energy storage  410  (e.g., a battery, supercapacitor, etc.) configured to provide electrical power to components  402 ,  404 ,  406 , and/or  408 . For example, the battery  410  may be a built-in 2000 mAh Lithium ion battery having an 8-hour capacity and configured to fully charge within 2 hours. In some embodiments, the primary module  400   a  includes a charging port  412  for receiving power via an electrical outlet. The port  412  may be a USB connection (e.g., via a USB-C power cable), a customized port, etc. In the exemplary embodiment, the battery  410  is electrically coupled to connection ports  414   a  and  414   b  for electrically connecting to adjacent speaker modules (e.g., secondary modules  140 ,  160 , or  180 ) (see also discussion above under heading “Module Housings”). In some embodiments, the connection ports  414   a,    414   b  can be a conductive connection (e.g., via Pogo pins). In some embodiments, the magnet(s)  416   a,    416   b,    416   c,  and/or  416   d  (collectively referred to as  416 ) can enable adjacent modules to be combined. In this “combination” mode, the primary module  400   a  can provide an electrical pathway for the secondary modules to be charged. In some embodiments, the charging port  412  may be directly coupled (bypassing battery  410 ) to the connection ports  414   a,    414   b  for charging adjacent modules. 
       FIG. 4B  is a schematic view of components of another exemplary primary speaker module  400   b.  In this alternative configuration, the primary module  400   b  (e.g., primary module  122 ) includes communication paths from the Bluetooth module  402  separately to the transmitting module  404  and to the amplifier  406 . 
       FIG. 4C  is a schematic view of components of an exemplary secondary speaker module  400   c.  The exemplary secondary module  400   c  includes a receiving module  418  for receiving audio data from the primary module (e.g.,  400   a  or  400   b ) coupled to an amplifier  406  and speaker  408  for outputting sound according to the audio data. The receiving module  418  is coupled to a battery  410  for its power needs. The battery  410  can be coupled to each of the connection ports  414   a  and  414   b  for charging purposes. As described above, the primary module  400   a,    400   b  can be connected to an external power source via the charging port  412 . This power can be ultimately delivered to each of the secondary module(a)  400   a  via the connection ports  414   a,    414   b.  The secondary module  400   c  can include magnets  416  to enable combining with adjacent modules. 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the exterior of exemplary speaker modules in “separate” mode  500   a.  The exemplary modules  502   a,    502   b,    502   c,  and  502   d  (collectively referred to as  502 ) are distributed in space such that the speaker (not shown) under surface  504  can project sound outward  506 . However, modules  502  can be distributed in any arrangement in space. For example, the secondary modules  502   b,    502   c,    502   d  can be arranged in nearly endless configurations in space as long as they are within communication range of the primary module  502   a  (so as to continue projecting sound based on the audio data provided by the primary module). For example, each module  502  has dimensions of approximately 80 mm by approximately 80 mm by approximately 48 mm. 
       FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the exterior of modules  502  in “combination” mode  500   b.  In this mode, the modules  502  are arranged so as to contact one another. Such an arrangement can enable to modules  502  to physically operate as a single unit, which can be advantageous for transportation, storage, and/or display purposes. In some embodiments, the arrangement of the modules in combination mode  502  can be orientation agnostic; meaning that any module  502  can occupy any quadrant of the combined speaker. In various embodiments, module  502   a  can be located in the top left, bottom left, top right, or bottom right quadrant; module  502   b  can be located in the top left, bottom left, top right, or bottom right quadrant; module  502   c  can be located in the top left, bottom left, top right, or bottom right quadrant; and/or quadrant  502   d  can be located in the top left, bottom left, top right, or bottom right quadrant. In other embodiments, one or more of the modules have a predetermined orientation. As discussed above, magnets within the housings of the modules  502  can enable the physical connection between the modules  502  in combination mode  500   b.  In some instances, the magnetic coupling also enables charging; either because the magnetic connections themselves also perform a charging function or because the magnetic connections facilitate connection of a separate electrical connection. Referring to the above example, the combination of the modules  502  yields dimensions of approximately 160 mm by approximately 160 mm by approximately 48 mm. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary housing  602  for the modules  502 . The housing  602  can be used to mount and/or transport the individual modules. In certain embodiments, the housing  602  can facilitate charging of the modules by holding the modules together in combination mode  500   b.  The housing  602  can include a handle or strap  604  to facilitate carrying by a user. In some embodiments, the housing  602  has openings such that the sound emitting portions within the modules  502  can be exposed (and therefore enable sound to be better projected in the area surrounding the speaker system). 
       FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the modular speaker system, including an additional type of speaker module  702 , in separate mode  700   a  and combination mode  700   b,  respectively. The system includes modules  502  (as described above) configured to couple to a subwoofer-type module  702 . The module  702  can include components similar to those described for each of the speaker modules, including a battery, connection pins, magnets, speaker, amplifier, etc. The connection pins of the subwoofer module  702  enable electrical connection to the modules  502 . 
     Terminology 
     The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The term “approximately”, the phrase “approximately equal to”, and other similar phrases, as used in the specification and the claims (e.g., “X has a value of approximately Y” or “X is approximately equal to Y”), should be understood to mean that one value (X) is within a predetermined range of another value (Y). The predetermined range may be plus or minus 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.1%, or less than 0.1%, unless otherwise indicated. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. 
     As used in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
     As used in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. 
     The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and additional items. 
     Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term), to distinguish the claim elements.