Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of audio-visual systems. More specifically, the invention comprises a display mount incorporating an integrated audio system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Throughout this disclosure the terms “television” and “video display” are used synonymously. While some persons previously drew a distinction between these two terms on the basis of whether the particular unit included a tuner, this distinction no longer makes sense as most displays now have the ability to serve multiple purposes (such as the ability to serve as a computer monitor and a display of cable television programming). In any event, the integrated display and audio system disclosed in the present invention functions equally well for any of these units.
Video displays are now commonly used for both residential and commercial purposes. The technology underlying these displays has changed dramatically over the past several years. Picture-tube based displays were previously the standard. Such displays were inherently bulky, with the depth of the unit being comparable to its other dimensions. While the bulk made the units visually unappealing, space within the cabinetry did provide ample volume for the inclusion of integrated audio systems. A picture-tube television having a diagonal frontal dimension of 40 inches (about 100 centimeters) typically had a cabinet depth of about 30 inches (about 75 centimeters).
With the advent of modern electronics and their inherent space efficiency, much of the cabinet space available in picture-tube televisions was left vacant. A television manufacturer could easily place relatively large speakers (such as 4 inches by 6 inches) in the vacant space within the cabinet. Speakers of this size provided a rich tonal quality to the sound produced.
The prior art changed dramatically when tube-less designs appeared. These are generally referred to as “flat screen” televisions. Examples include liquid crystal displays (“LCD's”) and plasma displays. Flat screen televisions are typically very thin. In fact, limiting the depth of a flat screen television has become a styling goal for most manufacturers. A flat screen television with a diagonal frontal dimension of 40 inches (100 centimeters) may have a depth of less than two inches (5 centimeters). The television's perimeter is typically made even thinner. The perimeter is often less than one inch (2.5 centimeters) thick.
The visual performance of modern flat screen televisions is a significantly better than picture-tube based televisions. However, the limited space within the “cabinet” of a flat screen (to the extent one can even call such a thin structure a cabinet) leaves very little room for audio components. The lack of space has forced flat screen manufacturers to use increasingly smaller audio transducers.
Another styling goal of the flat screen manufacturers has been to occupy as much of the forward-facing surface as possible with the video display itself. Thus, the audio transducers which are present are often now in a sub-optimal orientation; that is, the speaker cones face to the side or even to the rear of the television and do not direct the sound energy toward the user. The result is that—while the video performance of these devices has progressed markedly—the audio performance has at best remained stagnant and has in most instances deteriorated.
A consumer buying a high-performance flat screen television often desires a “home theater” experience in which the sound quality is comparable in volume and range to the sound heard in a movie theater. Such a consumer will not be satisfied with the limited acoustic performance of a modern flat screen television. The consumer must therefore bring in additional components to solve this problem.
Audio solutions for home theater systems are widely varied and complex.
Cables run between rack 24 and flat screen display 10. In this example, a two channel audio cable 14 is run from the television to amplifier 12. In other examples, a single HDMI cable may be connected from the cable box to the amplifier, with a second HDMI cable running from the amplifier to the television. These represent a hard-wired connection between the amplifier and the television.
The speakers are also connected to the amplifier. Left channel speaker 22 is connected via speaker cable 26. Center channel speaker 16 is connected via its own cable (not visible in the view). Right channel speaker 20 and subwoofer 18 are also connected to the amplifier via speaker cables 26.
The system shown in
The present invention seeks to resolve this dilemma by integrating an external audio system into the television's mount. The reader will benefit from an understanding of existing mounting technology. Modern television mounts attach to the rear of the television or the base of the television. The volume immediately behind the television is typically not used.
Many other mounting systems exist. The TV bracket in some of these other systems attaches to the wall bracket by pivoting into position rather than sliding. The general concept of having a first portion attached to the wall and a second portion attached to the television is used in nearly every prior art mounting system, and it is in fact preferable to use this approach for the present invention as well.
A significant gap typically remains between the rear of the television and the wall itself. This gap is mostly occupied by the mount itself. The present invention seeks to take advantage of this potentially available space by creating a mounting system with at least a portion of an integrated high-fidelity audio system in this space.
The present invention comprises a video display mount incorporating an integrated audio system. The mount attaches the display to a wall. Alternatively, the mount incorporates a pedestal so that the display and associated audio devices may be placed upon a flat surface. A main bracket and display bracket of suitable design are included. As for the prior art, the main bracket may be attached to the wall and the television bracket attached to the video display. The two components are preferably designed to easily engage so that the user may hang the television on the wall without the need for complex operations.
The main bracket mounts an electronics/subwoofer assembly. This assembly houses an audio amplifier (which may be a sophisticated frequency splitting device such as a PRO/LOGIC system) and a low-range speaker or speakers. A resonance chamber and bass port are preferably included in the electronics/subwoofer assembly so that the low-range speaker can accurately project the low-frequency portion of the audio spectrum.
One or more external speaker supports are included in the mount—preferably by attaching the supports to the electronics/subwoofer assembly. The speaker supports are preferably made adjustable so that the degree of extension from the mount may be adjusted by the user.
In the preferred embodiment a single speaker support is provided for an integrated assembly containing a left speaker, a center speaker, and a right speaker. In some embodiments the lateral location of the speakers is made adjustable. The speakers may be wired to the electronics housed within the electronics/subwoofer assembly. The signal to each speaker may also be transmitted wirelessly if desired. The result is an integrated audio/video system in which all components are located together in one aesthetically clean package.
The present invention integrates a flat screen display and an external audio system into a unified assembly.
Enclosure mounting holes 48 are provided so that an electronics enclosure may be attached to main bracket 38. One or more openings are preferably provided through the main bracket so that audio and/or video cables may be easily passed through the bracket. In the embodiment shown in
In
A speaker support is provided for an external speaker. In the embodiment of
The speaker support is preferably adjustable in terms of extension. It can slide in and out of the integration assembly in order to raise or lower the speaker assembly. The speaker support may also be pivotally adjustable.
Multi-channel speaker assembly 122 is attached to center support 62. The multi-channel speaker assembly preferably includes three main speakers. These are: left channel speaker 22, center channel speaker 16, and right channel speaker 20. Tweeter 130 may also be provided. Electronics/subwoofer assembly 50 contains (or is connected to) another speaker intended to handle low frequencies.
The electronic devices within electronics/subwoofer assembly 50 preferably divide the available audio signals into the left, center, and right channels. The low frequency speaker (“subwoofer”) preferably transmits the low frequency audio for all the channels—since low frequency audio does not tend to be directionally specific.
Multi-channel speaker assembly 122 preferably contains additional elements as well. Receiver/display 132 is a small video display (such as a back lit color LCD) which provides information as to the status of electronics/subwoofer assembly 50. For example, the display can inform the user of the current Bass and Treble settings, as well as the active mode. The receiver/display preferably also includes a remote control receiver for receiving signals sent by a remote control. Electronics/subwoofer assembly 50 will be concealed behind a flat screen television when the device is in operation. Receiver/display 132 is located below the bottom of the television so that it will be accessible to remote control signals intended for the electronics/subwoofer assembly. The receiver/display is electrically connected to the electronics/subwoofer assembly so that data may be freely exchanged between the two.
It is preferable to provide an electronics/subwoofer assembly which may be attached to the main bracket before the main bracket is attached to the wall or a pedestal.
Once the main bracket is in position, the user will wish to attach the flat screen display.
The rear of the television typically also includes A/V connection block 70 and power connection 68. The power connection allows a power cord to be plugged in. The A/V connection block typically provides for the connection of multiple cables of multiple types, including: HDMI, DVI, component video, S-video, composite video, RGB/VGA, and digital optical. The mounting system should provide access to the A/V connection block and the power connection.
The physical connection made between the television and the main bracket can assume a virtually endless variety of forms. Thus, the embodiment shown in
In
The reader will thereby appreciate that each gripping bracket 76 may be pivoted with respect to its connected TV bracket 72. The desired pivot position may then be secured by tightening the appropriate locking screw 82. The design shown allows the reader to adjust the tilt of the television after it is attached to the main bracket—as will be explained subsequently.
The two gripping brackets 76 are provided with features allowing them to be fastened to main bracket 38. The reader will note that the upper portion of each gripping bracket has an extension extending toward the rear. This extension includes an upper notch 78. The lower portion of each gripping bracket likewise includes a lower notch 80. The upper notches are sized and positioned to slip over and engage upper flange 40 on main bracket 38 while the lower notches are sized and positioned to slip over and engage lower flange 42 on main bracket 38. The notches preferably have a tapered entry, fillets, or other similar features to help the user engage the gripping brackets with the main brackets.
Turning now to
The specific design of the mounting bracketry is not significant to the present invention. Thus, the reader should bear in mind that the invention includes many different types of mounting arrangements that may appear and function in different ways from the illustrated embodiments.
Likewise, the design of the electronics enclosure may assume many forms. However, as it may aid the reader's understanding, a detailed description of one embodiment will be provided.
The chassis includes other features as well. In the embodiment shown, the speaker support (center support 62)) is attached to the electronics/subwoofer assembly itself. This need not always be the case as it could be attached directly to main bracket 38 or some other component. However—in the embodiment shown—center support 62 is slidably and pivotally received within center receiver 110.
As stated previously, the receiver is preferably equipped with frictional features which allow adjustment but tend to retain the speaker assembly in position once the user releases it. One example of a frictional fit is to make the speaker support tubular and provide the receivers with NYLON bushings which fit tightly around the tubes.
Other components may be contained within the chassis. Power supply 112 provides power to amplifier 116. R/F module 114 may be provided to supply wireless outputs to some or all of the speakers. The connections between the audio amplifier and the left, right, and center speaker assemblies may be hard-wired, wireless, or a mixture of the two.
Amplifier 116 may assume many forms. In some instances it may be a pass-through device which simply passes through the channel-specific signals received from an external surround-sound amplifier. In other instances it may itself be a sophisticated surround sound amplifier which receives an input signal from a cable or satellite feed and splits that signal into the appropriate channels, including, left, right, center, and rear.
In some versions the amplifier may receive its input from the flat screen display. In other versions the amplifier will receive its input from an external cable or satellite decoder (or other video/audio data source) with no connection being made between the amplifier and the TV itself.
Other features may be added to the integrated system.
The specific speaker configurations and positions shown in the invention should not be viewed as limiting. In some embodiments the speaker assembly could be placed above the flat screen display or even to one side.
As disclosed previously, main bracket 38 may be configured to mount to a wall or to a pedestal. It is even possible to provide a main bracket which can be optionally attached to either a wall or a pedestal.
As stated previously, the electronics/subwoofer assembly can be configured to support a wide variety of connections to other components. While these are well known in the art,
A typical output of such devices is a five cable array. Two of these cables carry audio while three carry video. The two audio cables are a left audio channel and a right audio channel. The three video cables carry separate red, blue, and green signals. Two audio cables 14 are connected to audio output 154. In the example of
Thus—in the example of FIG. 16—electronics/subwoofer assembly 50 receives only the audio signal and does not receive the video signal. It may, however, be deemed more convenient to pass all five connections through the electronics/subwoofer assembly. This is particularly true where a single cable having all five connections is used (a ribbon cable in which five coaxial cables are linked laterally). In such an embodiment the electronics/subwoofer assembly would have input jacks for all five cables and output jacks for all five cables. The video signal would simply be passed through.
HDMI cables provide a unified connection for all the video and audio components of a high definition signal.
The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, although the illustrated embodiments show a design wherein the bass speaker is mounted within the electronics/subwoofer enclosure, the bass speaker could actually be mounted adjacent to the electronics enclosure in a completely separate enclosure. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/955,180, which was filed on Nov. 29, 2010. The parent application listed the same inventors.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12955180 | Nov 2010 | US |
Child | 13276794 | US |