Vehicle audio system having portable powered speaker for connecting a portable entertainment device

A removable speaker module for a vehicle audio system, the speaker module comprising:

• a housing having a first connector that engages a corresponding connector of a vehicle audio system when the housing is positioned within an opening of an interior trim panel of the vehicle;
• at least one speaker at least partially disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the first connector for playing audio from the vehicle audio system when the housing is positioned within the opening;
• and
• a docking station secured to the housing and having a second connector connected to the at least one speaker for linking a portable electronic device to the at least one speaker to play audio from the portable electronic device when the speaker module is removed from the opening.

A method comprising:

• positioning a portable speaker module including a speaker connected to an energy storage device and a power generating device disposed within the module into a corresponding opening in an interior trim panel of a vehicle to removably electrically connect the speaker to an audio system of the vehicle to generate sound from an audio signal provided by the vehicle audio system and to secure the speaker module to the interior trim panel of the vehicle;
• linking a portable electronic device to the speaker module to play audio from the portable electronic device through the audio system of the vehicle when the speaker module is positioned within the opening in the interior trim panel and to play audio through the speaker when the speaker module is removed from the interior trim panel of the vehicle;
• charging the portable electronic device using power from the vehicle when the speaker module is positioned within the interior trim panel opening;
• and
• charging the portable electronic device using power from the speaker module when the speaker module is removed from the interior trim panel opening.