Media appliance and method for use of same
Inventors
Ogle, Vanessa • Johns, Jeff • Fang, Bill
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8755174-B2
Publication Date
2014-06-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A media appliance and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a housing is adapted to be mounted within a wall. A panel forms a front portion of the housing and the panel includes vents and the panel may be mounted substantially flush with the wall. A media player, which includes a set-top box, is disposed within the housing. A pair of ports, disposed within openings defined by the housing, are configured to receive respective optio-electric connectors. Each port includes optio-electrically conductive elements. The pair of ports are coupled to the media player and one port is configured for providing a connection to a television and the other port is configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a media appliance having a housing adapted to be mounted within a wall, where the housing includes a utility box and a panel configured to mount thereto. The panel forms a front portion of the housing, includes vents, and is configured to substantially mount flush with the wall. The panel includes mounting holes and is secured to the utility box using fastening means, while mounting means secure the utility box to the wall.
The media appliance includes set-top box functionality for processing audio-visual signals from external audio-visual sources and providing audio-visual signals to external audio-visual devices at respective ports. The set-top box functionality is disposed within the housing as part of a media player implemented using an internal processor and memory, and the circuit board is secured within the housing. First and third ports are configured for providing a connection to a television, and second and fourth ports are configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television.
The appliance also includes an arrangement of optio-electric connectors through which the first, second, third, and fourth ports receive respective optio-electric connectors. Each port includes a plurality of optio-electrically conductive elements and is coupled to the media player or circuit board. A power port is disposed within an opening defined by the housing in the utility box for receiving electrical power at the media player or circuit board, and the connector/port distribution supports an in-wall configuration with utility-box and panel openings for different connection purposes.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims, all directed to a wall-mounted, flush-mount media appliance with a vented front panel, an internal processor/circuit board executing set-top box functionality and media player functionality in one claim, multiple optio-electric ports distributed between the utility box and the panel, and a dedicated power port.
Flush vented front panel with wall-mountable housing and mounting holes
A housing adapted to be mounted within a wall, including a utility box and a panel; the panel forms a front portion including vents and configured to substantially mount flush with the wall; a plurality of mounting holes located in the panel configured to accept fasteners; mounting means for securing the utility box to the wall.
Set-top box functionality executed within an in-housing media player
A media player disposed within the housing, the media player including a set-top box functionality configured to process audio-visual signals from external audio-visual sources and to provide audio-visual signals to external audio-visual devices at respective ports.
Distributed optio-electric port arrangement between utility box and vented panel
First, second, third and fourth ports disposed within respective openings defined by the housing for receiving respective optio-electric connectors, each port including a plurality of optio-electrically conductive elements and coupled to the media player or circuit board; first and third ports configured for providing a connection to a television and located in the utility box; second and fourth ports configured for providing a connection to an external source of signal for the television and located in the panel.
Dedicated in-housing power port for the media player or circuit board
A power port disposed within an opening defined by the housing in the utility box, the power port for receiving electrical power at the media player or circuit board.
Combined set-top box and media player functionality on the internal circuit board
A circuit board secured within the housing including a processor and memory with processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to execute a set-top box functionality and cause the processor to execute media player functionality.
Multiple port roles including television, external audio-visual device, and external source connections
First and second ports for receiving optio-electric connectors where the first port provides a connection to a television and the second port provides a connection to an external source of signal for the television; third and fourth ports for receiving optio-electric connectors where the third port provides a connection to an external audio-visual device and the fourth port provides a connection to an external source of signal for the external audio-visual device; and a fifth port located on the panel for providing a connection to a device selected from the group consisting of the television and the external audio-visual device.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on an in-wall media appliance with a vented flush panel and utility-box integration, an internal processor/circuit board performing set-top box functionality and media player functionality in one claim, a distributed set of optio-electric connector ports split between the utility box and the panel for television and external signal connections, and a dedicated power port for powering the in-housing media player/circuit board.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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