Docking Station Audio Mixer Controller

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio systems with multiple docking stations for portable devices are inefficient in terms of space and power usage due to the need for each docking station to have its own integrated audio mixer, leading to increased system power consumption and footprint.

Innovation Solution

A controller in each docking station detects the presence of activated mixers in other stations, allowing for the activation and deactivation of mixers based on need, with communication between stations to transfer mixing responsibilities, thereby optimizing power usage and reducing the number of active mixers needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each docking station includes its own integrated audio mixer circuitry, then audio mixing functionality is available at each station, but the system power budget increases and space footprint expands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio mixing functionalityVSAvoidsystem power budget

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple docking stations share a single audio mixer instance through a master-slave architecture. One docking station acts as the master mixer while others function as slave stations that route audio signals to the master mixer's output. This merging eliminates redundant mixer circuitry across multiple stations, significantly reducing the overall power budget while preserving audio mixing functionality throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single audio mixer in the master docking station serves multiple functions by accepting audio inputs from multiple portable devices simultaneously and providing mixed output to multiple audio systems. This universal mixer design allows any docking station to fulfill the role of audio mixing, eliminating the need for each station to have dedicated mixer hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If each docking station includes its own integrated audio mixer circuitry, then audio mixing functionality is available at each station, but the physical footprint of the audio system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio mixing functionalityVSAvoidsystem footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple docking stations share a single audio mixer instance through a master-slave architecture. One docking station acts as the master mixer while others function as slave stations that route audio signals to the master mixer's output. This merging eliminates redundant mixer circuitry across multiple stations, significantly reducing the overall power budget while preserving audio mixing functionality throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single audio mixer in the master docking station serves multiple functions by accepting audio inputs from multiple portable devices simultaneously and providing mixed output to multiple audio systems. This universal mixer design allows any docking station to fulfill the role of audio mixing, eliminating the need for each station to have dedicated mixer hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate docking stations are used with their own audio mixers, then each station can independently mix audio signals, but system efficiency decreases due to redundant components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent audio mixingVSAvoidsystem efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple docking stations share a single audio mixerinstance through a master-slave architecture. One docking station acts as the master mixer while others function as slave stations that route audio signals to the master mixer's output. This merging eliminates redundant mixer circuitry across multiple stations, significantly reducing the overall power budget while preserving audio mixing functionality throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The master-slave architecture introduces a coordination mechanism where the master docking station manages audio mixing while slave stations communicate with it via audio signals. This intermediary structure enables distributed audio mixing capability without requiring each station to have full mixer functionality, thereby improving system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9686030B2Method and apparatus for configuration and control of mixer for audio system using wireless docking system

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

Efficiency for mixing audio signals from one or more portable user devices in an audio system employing a number of docking station is achieved by a docking station that includes a controller for detecting the presence of an activated mixer associated with another docking station in the system. The controller activates its associated mixer when no activated mixer associated with another docking host in the system is detected. When its associated mixer is activated, the controller in the one docking station causes its associated mixer to be connected both to the audio sound system for supplying an input signal thereto and indirectly to the output(s) of the one or more portable devices. Transfer of mixing from one docking station to another in the same system upon the occurrence of a particularly defined event is also described.