# US 2008/0187155 A1 · Surround sound system in a tower enclosure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187155 A1 - Document ID: US20080187155A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/012,104 - Filed: 2008-01-31 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-01 - Inventors: Jason Hou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187155A1 ## CPC - H04S 3/008: {in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels (data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02)} - 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}) - H04R 1/24: Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 2205/021: Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04S 7/40: {Visual indication of stereophonic sound image} - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS - 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) ## Abstract A surround sound system includes a vertically elongated housing, a plurality of speakers arranged substantially vertically inside the housing, and one or more audio signal sources for outputting audio signals in multiple channels to the plurality of speakers. The multiple channels and speakers can be configured as a 5.1 system. The one or more audio signal sources may include a fixed media player embedded substantially within the housing, and a portable media player removably docked to the housing. A radio signal tuner and antenna are also included in the surround sound system and enclosed in the housing. The surround sound system may further include a Karaoke mixer and be used as a Karaoke performance machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surround sound system, comprising: a vertically elongated housing; a plurality of speakers arranged substantially vertically inside the housing; and one or more audio signal sources for outputting audio signals in multiple channels to the plurality of speakers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the vertically elongated housing has a ratio between its height and width in the range of 2 to 10. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the ratio is in the range of 4 to 6. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of speakers include: a left surround speaker; a right surround speaker; a first left front speaker; a first right front speaker; a center speaker; and a subwoofer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, further comprising a second left front speaker, wherein the second left front speaker and the first left front speaker receive audio signals from the same channel, and wherein the second left front speaker and the first left front speaker are disposed at substantially orthogonal directions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising a second right front speaker, wherein the second right front speaker and the first right front speaker receive audio signals from the same channel, and wherein the second right front speaker and the first right front speaker are disposed at substantially orthogonal directions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of speakers are arranged in a plurality of vertical levels at different height, including a first level that includes a left surround sound speaker and a right surround sound speaker facing substantially opposing to each other, a second level that includes a first left front speaker and a first right front speaker facing substantially opposing to each other, a third level that includes a center speaker facing substantially orthogonal to the first left front speaker, the first right front speaker, the left surround speaker, and the right surround sound speaker, and a fourth level that includes a subwoofer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of vertical levels further include a fifth level that includes a second right front speaker, wherein the second right front speaker and the first right front speaker receive audio signals from the same channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of vertical levels further include a sixth level that includes a second left front speaker, wherein the second left front speaker and the first left front speaker receive audio signals from the same channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio signal sources comprise a portable media player removably coupled to the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a slanted top surface having one or more docking stations thereon, and wherein the portable media player is removably docked to one of the docking stations. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more audio signal sources further comprise a fixed media player embedded substantially within the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of speakers are fixedly coupled to the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for receiving radio signals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the antenna is elongated substantially along the vertically elongated housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one microphone input and a Karaoke mixer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of speakers are configured into a 5.1 system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a cooling unit including a plurality of air channels arranged substantially vertically along the housing, thereby allowing cooling of the system through air convection. ### Claim 19 A surround sound system, comprising: a vertically elongated housing with a height-to-width ratio in the range of 4 to 6; a plurality of speakers arranged substantially vertically inside the housing; and one or more audio signal sources for outputting audio signals in multiple channels to the plurality of speakers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the system is configured as part of a home entertainment system in connection with at least a partial reflective environment having one or more reflective surfaces, and wherein the one or more reflective surfaces reflect sound waves from a substantial portion of sound from at least one of the plurality of speakers before the substantial portion of sound reaches a listening position in the home entertainment system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one reflective surfaces comprise a wall of a room. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one reflective surfaces comprise at least one reflective panels disposed in a room. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising an elongated antenna for receiving radio signals, wherein the elongated antenna is disposed substantially along the vertically elongated housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a cooling unit including a plurality of air channels arranged substantially vertically along the housing, thereby allowing cooling of the system through air convection. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a portable media player removably coupled to the housing. ### Claim 26 A method for generating a surround sound in connection with at least a partial reflective environment, comprising: providing an elongated enclosure; providing a plurality of speakers; arranging the plurality of speakers substantially vertically in the elongated enclosure; making electrical connections within the elongated enclosure; and positioning the elongated enclosure with a front surface substantially toward a listening position and with at least two speakers pointing substantially toward two respective partial reflective surfaces of the partial reflective environment. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein arranging the plurality of speakers comprises arranging the plurality of speakers in at least four levels, each level having at least one speaker. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising docking a portable media player to a docking station on the elongated enclosure. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising disposing a reflective panel in the partial reflective environment to adjust the sound wave reflection.