Modular Vehicle Sound System
AssigneeMetra Electronics Corporation
InventorsJason Anderson, William H. Jones, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular vehicle sound system that can be upgraded or reconfigured by changing a plug-in module. In the advanced-capability embodiments the invention combines the functions of a vehicle data bus interface, a digital signal processor, and an amplifier. In the advanced-capability embodiments the invention provides a wireless interface with a separate digital device that can be used to control the inventive amplifier.
Claims20
In a vehicle sound system having a head unit outputting an audio signal and a plurality of speakers for transmitting sound, a modular amplifier comprising:
- (a) a chassis including,
- (i) a receiver,
- (ii) a processor,
- (iii) a memory,
- (iv) a power amplifier,
- (v) a data link to an external vehicle data bus;
- (b) a plug-in module configured to plug into said receiver in said chassis, including a plug-in module memory;
- and
- (c) wherein said plug-in module is configured to add a wireless interface to said modular amplifier, with said wireless interface allowing control of said modular amplifier by an external digital device.
The modular amplifier as recited in claim I, wherein said head unit is an aftermarket head unit.
In a vehicle sound system installed in a particular make of vehicle, said vehicle sound system having a head unit outputting an audio signal and a plurality of speakers for transmitting sound, a modular amplifier comprising:
- (a) a chassis including,
- (i) a receiver,
- (ii) a processor,
- (iii) a memory,
- (iv) a power amplifier,
- (v) a data link to an external vehicle data bus;
- (b) a plug-in module configured to plug into said receiver in said chassis, including a plug-in module memory;
- and
- (c) wherein said plug-in module is configured to add a make-specific interface allowing said modular amplifier to decode signals received over said data link to said external vehicle data bus wireless interface to said modular amplifier, with said wireless interface allowing control of said modular amplifier by an external digital
In a vehicle sound system having a head unit outputting an audio signal and a plurality of speakers for transmitting sound, a modular amplifier comprising:
- (a) a chassis including,
- (i) a receiver,
- (ii) a processor,
- (iii) a memory,
- (iv) a power amplifier,
- (v) a data link to an external vehicle data bus;
- (b) a plug-in module configured to plug into said receiver in said chassis, including a plug-in module memory;
- and
- (c) wherein said plug-in module is configured to add a digital signal processor to said modular amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.