Audio system with removable, active faceplate
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorWilliam C. DeLeeuw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An audio system with a removable faceplate. The system may include a base unit including at least one source of audio input and at least one speaker operable to provide audio output. In addition the system may include a removable faceplate that is an active device, and a connector allowing connection between the removable faceplate to the base unit. The faceplate may include an internal power source to provide power to the faceplate when removed from the base unit, a memory for storing data representative of audio signals, and a connector allowing connection to an output device.
Claims18
An audio system, comprising:
- a base unit including at least one source of audio input;
- at least one speaker operable to provide audio output;
- a removable faceplate, wherein the removable faceplate is an active device when removed from the base unit, the removable face plate having a host connector to allow the faceplate to connect to a host;
- and
- a base connector operable to connect the removable faceplate to the base unit.
A faceplate, comprising:
- a base connector operable to allow the faceplate to be connected to a base system;
- an audio connector operable to allow the faceplate to connect to at least one audio output;
- a host connector operable to allow the faceplate to connect to a host;
- a power source operable to provide the faceplate to operate independent of any base system;
- and
- a memory operable to store signals representative of audio signals.
A method of providing a music library, the method comprising:
- connecting a faceplate from a base audio system to a host;
- downloading music files from the host system to the faceplate;
- reconnecting the faceplate to the base audio system;
- and
- transferring files from the faceplate to a music library in the base audio system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.