US5546273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive audio system
Assignee: Wachovia Capital Finance Corp Western
•
Filing: 1994-05-23
•
Granted: 1996-08-13
•
Expires: 2014-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A modular automotive audio system includes a controller housing and an amplifier housing to be mounted within the vehicle trunk and a remote control for use within the passenger compartment. Modular signal processing components are received within the controller housing, and modular amplifier components are received within the amplifier housing. A controller module within the controller housing provides control for all signal processing components. The controller module polls all positions within the controller housing to determine which components are installed, and then the controller module configures itself via software to provide the control functions. Optionally, non-audio electronic components can also be received within the controller housing for common control by the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:16
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/12; G11B33/125; G11B33/127; B; B60; B60R; B60R11/00; B60R11/02; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1422; H05K7/1424; H05K7/1425; B60R11/0205; B60R11/0211; B60R11/0264; B60R2011/0001; B60R2011/0003; B60R2011/0005; B60R2011/0036; B60R2011/0288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An audio amplifier system comprising: an amplifier housing, said housing including a plurality of pairs of channels opening toward one another and a plurality of sockets each associated with one of said pairs of channels, said housing further including an interior chamber, fan means for moving air through said chamber, and a plurality of air vents permitting air to flow through said chamber when said fan means is operated; and a plurality of amplifier modules within said housing, each of said modules being uniquely associated with and positioned adjacent one of said air vents, whereby air is moved individually over each of said amplifier modules from one of said air vents when said fan means is actuated, each amplifier module including a one-piece heat sink having a pair of opposed flanges, said opposed flanges on each amplifier module slidably interfitting within a pair of channels in said amplifier housing, whereby said modules may be slid into and out of said housing, each of said amplifier modules further including a circuit card supported solely by the associated heat sink, each circuit card including a plug portion connecting with the associated socket as said component is slid into said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An audio amplifier system comprising: an amplifier housing, said housing including a plurality of pairs of channels opening toward one another and a plurality of sockets each associated with one of said pairs of channels, said housing further including an interior chamber, fan means for moving air through said chamber, and a plurality of air vents permitting air to flow through said chamber when said fan means is operated; and a plurality of amplifier modules within said housing, each of said modules being uniquely associated with and positioned adjacent one of said air vents, whereby air is moved individually over each of said amplifier modules from one of said air vents when said fan means is actuated, each amplifier module including a one-piece heat sink having a pair of opposed flanges, said opposed flanges on each amplifier module slidably interfitting within a pair of channels in said amplifier housing, whereby said modules may be slid into and out of said housing, each of said amplifier modules further including a circuit card supported solely by the associated heat sink, each circuit card including a plug portion connecting with the associated socket as said component is slid into said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An audio amplifier as defined in claim 1 wherein: each heat sink defines a pair of channels opening toward one another; and each of said circuit cards includes a pair of opposed edges fitting within said heat sink channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
236 words
An audio amplifier system comprising: an amplifier housing, said housing including a plurality of pairs of channels opening toward one another and a plurality of sockets each associated with one of said pairs of channels, said housing further including an interior chamber, fan means for moving air through said chamber, and a plurality of air vents permitting air to flow through said chamber when said fan means is operated; a plurality of amplifier modules within said housing, each of said modules being uniquely associated with and positioned adjacent one of said air vents, whereby air is moved individually over each of said amplifier modules from one of said air vents when said fan means is actuated, each amplifier module including a one-piece heat sink having a pair of opposed flanges, said opposed flanges on each amplifier module slidably interfitting within a pair of channels in said amplifier housing, whereby said modules may be slid into and out of said housing, each of said amplifier modules further including a circuit card supported solely by the associated heat sink, each circuit card including a plug portion connecting with the associated socket as said component is slid into said housing; temperature sensing means for independently sensing the temperature of each amplifier module heat sink; and control means operatively connected and responsive to said temperature sensing means for actuating said fan means as a function of the warmest heat sink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
236 words
An audio amplifier system comprising: an amplifier housing, said housing including a plurality of pairs of channels opening toward one another and a plurality of sockets each associated with one of said pairs of channels, said housing further including an interior chamber, fan means for moving air through said chamber, and a plurality of air vents permitting air to flow through said chamber when said fan means is operated; a plurality of amplifier modules within said housing, each of said modules being uniquely associated with and positioned adjacent one of said air vents, whereby air is moved individually over each of said amplifier modules from one of said air vents when said fan means is actuated, each amplifier module including a one-piece heat sink having a pair of opposed flanges, said opposed flanges on each amplifier module slidably interfitting within a pair of channels in said amplifier housing, whereby said modules may be slid into and out of said housing, each of said amplifier modules further including a circuit card supported solely by the associated heat sink, each circuit card including a plug portion connecting with the associated socket as said component is slid into said housing; temperature sensing means for independently sensing the temperature of each amplifier module heat sink; and control means operatively connected and responsive to said temperature sensing means for actuating said fan means as a function of the warmest heat sink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An audio amplifier as defined in claim 3 wherein: each heat sink defines a pair of channels opening toward one another; and each of said circuit cards includes a pair of opposed edges fitting within said heat sink channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USRE25317E
Cited
US2452384A
Cited
US3036222A
Cited
US2973431A
Cited
US2926240A
Cited
US2941173A
Cited
US2876345A
Cited
US2995686A
Cited
US3054024A
Cited
US3091736A
Cited
US3531723A
Cited
US3601661A
Cited
US3770889A
Cited
US4135158A
Cited
US4177426A
Cited
US4131851A
Cited
US4124815A
Cited
US4276654A
Cited
US4122508B1
Cited
US4122508A
Cited
US4343042A
Cited
US4509190A
Cited
US4503513A
Cited
US4366526A
Cited
US4531232A
Cited
US4824106A
Cited
US4495652A
Cited
US4680787A
Cited
US4855896A
Cited
US4607751A
Cited
US4964076A
Cited
US4797949A
Cited
US4879751A
Cited
US4747018A
Cited
US4777657A
Cited
US4887311A
Cited
US4866576A
Cited
US4905304A
Cited
US4993073A
Cited
US5077638A
Cited
US5010444A
Cited
US5010450A
Cited
US5102046A
Cited
US5210680A
Cited
US5394305A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-13 | 2000-02-12 | 2000-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-13 | 2004-02-12 | 2004-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-02-12 | 2008-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |