# US 12,010,471 B2 · Wooden or other dielectric capacitive touch interface and loudspeaker having same

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- Number: US 12,010,471 B2
- Document ID: US12010471B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/712,278
- Filed: 2022-04-04
- Published: 2022-07-14
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-02
- Assignees: Koss Corporation
- Applicants: Koss Corporation
- Inventors: Michael J. Koss; Michael J. Pelland; Nicholas Blair
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010471B2

## CPC

- H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075})
- H03G 3/02: Manually-operated control {(H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence)}
- H03K 17/9622: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard}
- H04H 20/95: characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
- H04M 1/0254: {comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules}
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)}
- H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083}
- H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F)
- H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)}
- H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)}
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point
- G06F 3/0443: {using a single layer of sensing electrodes}
- H03K 2217/960785: with illumination
- H04L 2101/668: Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
- H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils}
- H04R 2201/103: Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
- H04R 2201/107: Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
- H04R 2225/55: Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Wireless-enabled loudspeaker includes a capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer, a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and an exterior surface comprising a capacitive touch user interface that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker. The exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise a wireless transceiver circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive wirelessly audio content from streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet. The capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a computing device of a user;
a remote server configured to store credential data for a pre-specified infrastructure wireless network, wherein the credential data are pre-specified by the user; and
a loudspeaker comprising:
an enclosure comprising a base surface, at least one sidewall, and a smooth top surface that collectively define a volume, wherein the smooth top surface comprises a dielectric material coupled to a capacitive touch user interface comprising at least one capacitive sense electrode, wherein the capacitive touch user interface is configured such that the user can control the loudspeaker by touching the smooth top surface of the loudspeaker;
one or more speakers disposed within the volume; and
a wireless communication circuit disposed within the volume, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to:
receive, via an ad hoc wireless communication link, the credential data for the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network from the computing device, wherein the credential data comprises a network ID and a password for the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network;
connect to the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network; and
receive, via the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network, an audio stream from an audio content server, wherein the one or more speakers are configured to play the audio stream.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the remote server is communicably coupled to the computing device, and wherein the computing device is configured to receive an input comprising the credential data for the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network for storage on the remote server.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more speakers comprise:
a low-frequency speaker; and
a high-frequency speaker.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein:
the enclosure has rounded edges;
the enclosure is between 6″ and 24″ in height when sitting on the base surface;
the low-frequency speaker comprises at least one sub-woofer; and
the high-frequency speaker comprises at least one tweeter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker further comprises:
a plurality of LEDs; and
an LED driver coupled to the plurality of LEDs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the LED driver is configured to activate at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs, and wherein illumination of the at least one LED corresponds to a particular control of the loudspeaker.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the corresponding control comprises decreasing a volume output of the one or more speakers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the corresponding control comprises increasing a volume output of the one or more speakers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising at least one LED indicator that comprises an LED pipe configured to pipe light energy from at least one LED of the plurality LEDs to the a surface of the enclosure of the loudspeaker.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker further comprises a memory, configured to store the network ID and the password for the infrastructure wireless network.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises plastic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises wood.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises fiberglass.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises glass.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises glass.

### Claim 16

A loudspeaker comprising:
an enclosure comprising a base surface, at least one sidewall, and a smooth top surface that collectively define a volume, wherein the smooth top surface comprises a dielectric material coupled to a capacitive touch user interface comprising at least one capacitive sense electrode, wherein the capacitive touch user interface is configured such that a user can control the loudspeaker by touching the smooth top surface of the loudspeaker;
one or more speakers disposed within the volume;
a plurality of LEDs;
an LED driver coupled to the plurality of LEDs; and
a wireless communication circuit disposed within the volume, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to:
receive, via an ad hoc wireless communication link, credential data for a pre-specified infrastructure wireless network from a computing device of the user, wherein the credential data comprises a network ID and a password for the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network;
connect to the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network; and
receive, via the pre-specified infrastructure wireless network, an audio stream from an audio content server, wherein the one or more speakers are configured to play the audio stream.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the credential data are pre-specified by the user by being stored on a remote server, wherein the remote is in communication with the computing device of the user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the LED driver is configured to activate at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs, and wherein illumination of the at least one LED corresponds to a particular control of the loudspeaker.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The loudspeaker of claim 18, wherein the corresponding control comprises decreasing a volume of the audio stream outputted by the one or more speakers.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The loudspeaker of claim 18, wherein the corresponding control comprises increasing a volume of the audio stream outputted by the one or more speakers.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the dielectric material comprises glass.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the dielectric material comprises plastic.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, further comprising a memory the configured to store the network ID and the password for the infrastructure wireless network.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the one or more speakers comprise:
a low-frequency speaker; and
a high-frequency speaker.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the LED driver is configured to activate at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs, and wherein illumination of the at least one LED corresponds to a particular control of the loudspeaker.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The loudspeaker of claim 25, wherein the corresponding control comprises decreasing a volume output of the one or more speakers.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The loudspeaker of claim 25, wherein the corresponding control comprises increasing a volume output of the one or more speakers.

### Claim 28 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, further comprising at least one LED indicator that comprises an LED pipe configured to pipe light energy from at least one LED of the plurality LEDs to the a surface of the enclosure of the loudspeaker.

### Claim 29 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the dielectric material comprises thermoplastic.

### Claim 30 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the at least one sidewall is rounded.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The loudspeaker of claim 30, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a perforated acoustical grate.

### Claim 32 (depends on 16)

The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a perforated acoustical grate.