Patents Assigned to Rockford Corporation
  • Patent number: 6768805
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to adjustably accommodate, align and reinforce an audio speaker's installation within a speaker enclosure irrespective of said speaker's diameter, the enclosure having an external mounting surface and a speaker aperture opening which abuts horizontal and vertical plane mounting surfaces for an enclosure ring, the speaker being insertable into and through said aperture from a front direction comprising an enclosure ring section having a hollow center portion, a surface mount portion and an insertion collar portion, said insertion collar portion extending perpendicularly from said surface mount portion; a mounting ring adjustably and removably mountable to the speaker and enclosure ring by fastening means with the mounting ring having a hollow center portion dimensioned to adjustably accommodate a speaker diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: William Tracy Basore
  • Patent number: 6577741
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to adjustably accommodate, align and reinforce an audio speaker's installation within a speaker enclosure irrespective of said speaker's diameter, the enclosure having an external mounting surface and a speaker aperture opening which abuts horizontal and vertical plane mounting surfaces for an enclosure ring, the speaker being insertable into and through said aperture from a front direction comprising an enclosure ring section having a hollow center portion, a surface mount portion and an insertion collar portion, said insertion collar portion extending perpendicularly from said surface mount portion; a mounting ring adjustably and removably mountable to the speaker and enclosure ring by fastening means with the mounting ring having a hollow center portion dimensioned to adjustably accommodate a speaker diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: William Tracy Basore
  • Patent number: 6097249
    Abstract: An improved Class BD amplifier provides an amplified output signal by pulse width modulation techniques by sampling a carrier wave, usually a triangular or saw tooth waveform, according to an input signal to be amplified, as in a conventional class D amplifier. The resulting sampling waveform controls the connectivity of the potential supplies 34, 36 to the power rails 14, 18 via the first switch 12 so that a first potential and a second potential are alternately supplied to the first power rail 14 and so that a third potential and fourth potential are alternately supplied to the second power rail 18. As shown in FIG. 8, the first potential is positive, the second and third potentials are at ground, and the fourth potential is negative. In addition, a constant potential difference is maintained between the first and second power rails 14, 18. The power rails are alternately connected to a Class AD output stage 26 by another switch 30, the connectivity of which is controlled by a second sampling waveform, PWM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Strickland, Carlos A. Castrejon
  • Patent number: 5936467
    Abstract: An amplifier providing the linear output of a Class A amplifier and the expanded peak current output and efficiency of a Class AB amplifier. The amplifier includes an input amplifier, a voltage regulator network, a cascode stage, and an output amplifier. The input amplifier amplifies a signal current into two outputs. The cascode stage and the output stage each contain two paths for the amplified outputs. The voltage regulator network interconnects the two paths between the input amplifier and the cascode stage. The voltage regulator network bypasses a high percentage of the quiescent current that is normally contained in the two paths of the cascode stage and the output amplifier stage, thus improving the peak-to-quiescent current output ratio beyond the 2:1 value of traditional Class A amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Strickland
  • Patent number: 5751823
    Abstract: An audio amplifier, particularly suited for automotive applications, providing improved isolation between the preamplifier section and the power amplifier section. The preamplifier section ground is isolated from the power amplifier section ground. The amplifier includes a voltage regulator with output feedback for supplying a regulated voltage to the preamplifier section. The voltage regulator is referenced to the preamplifier section ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Strickland, Mark D. Albers
  • Patent number: 5673000
    Abstract: An amplifier providing the linear output of a Class A amplifier and the expanded peak current output and efficiency of a Class AB amplifier. The amplifier includes an input amplifier, a voltage regulator network, a cascode stage, and an output amplifier. The input amplifier amplifies a signal current into two outputs. The cascode stage and the output stage each contain two paths for the amplified outputs. The voltage regulator network interconnects the two paths between the input amplifier and the cascode stage. The voltage regulator network bypasses a high percentage of the quiescent current that is normally contained in the two paths of the cascode stage and the output amplifier stage, thus improving the peak-to-quiescent current output ratio beyond the 2:1 value of traditional Class A amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Strickland
  • Patent number: 5546273
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Harris
  • Patent number: 5339362
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Harris
  • Patent number: 4905291
    Abstract: The specification discloses an audio signal level control system including a center-tapped photocell incorporated into an attenuator bridge. The cell elements are monitored while processing the audio signal, and a control circuit regulates the light-emitting device in the cell in response to the monitored bridge values. Preferably, log compression and filtering are performed within the control means. Also preferably, a tracking subtraction principle is used in both the audio and control paths to expand the control dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Strickland
  • Patent number: D484494
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: Siegfried Adam Feil, Lothar Karl Staudt
  • Patent number: D315832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Rocheleau, Michael C. Graves, John France
  • Patent number: D368253
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventor: Clane Graves
  • Patent number: D401225
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Maack, J. Carroll Mays, David Serpell-Morris, Bob Duane Wake
  • Patent number: D402989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: Gary E. Church, Randall J. Lezman, Lee Victor Barker
  • Patent number: D403666
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Rockford Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Maack, David Serpell-Morris, J. Carroll Mays, Bob Duane Wake