1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for outputting an audio signal of a laptop computer coupled with a docking station, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for improving quality of an output audio signal using a system speaker installed in a laptop computer and a speaker of a docking station.
2. Description of the Related Art
Audio systems have been used in the past for outputting audio signals of a laptop computer. Typically, main speakers installed in the computer are used and auxiliary speakers are often used to output audio signals. With these conventional audio systems, all speakers cannot be used efficiently. Furthermore, speakers installed in the computer are useless since the auxiliary speaker system is connected to the laptop computer and audio signals are outputted to auxiliary speakers of the auxiliary system. I have therefore found that it is impossible to correct or otherwise improve the conventional apparatus in order to get a more efficient and useful audio system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,663 for a Portable Computer Docking Station Having a Rotatable Member and Audio Speakers Mounted on the Rotatable Member, issued to Shin et al., discloses a portable computer and a docking station including a base, a rotatable member rotatably attaching to a front side of the base, and an electrical connector. I have noticed that this portable computer with the docking station does not use the speakers efficiently.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,814 for a Audio System for a Personal Computer, issued to Tran et al., discloses an audio circuit for driving audio module speakers together or individually and driving only one speaker or a microphone in a speaker phone mode. In my opinion, this reference shows the limited use of speakers in modes for being driven individually or together.
In the above conventional audio signal output circuit, the amplifiers and speakers of the laptop computer are turned off while the docking station is coupled to the laptop computer, thereby lowering efficiency in use. That is, the speakers of the laptop computer or the speakers of the docking station are selectively used. Therefore, quality of an audio signal of a low frequency band or high frequency band is deteriorated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved audio system for output of an audio signal in a laptop computer and a docking station.
It is another object to provide an audio system with main speakers in the laptop computer and auxiliary speakers in the docking station.
It is yet another object to provide an audio system for outputting an audio signal to speakers of both the computer and the docking station.
It is still another object to provide an audio system for selecting a speaker and an amplifier process in the laptop computer when the computer is coupled to the docking station.
It is still another object to provide an audio system for selecting a speaker and an amplifier process in the docking station when the computer is coupled to the docking station.
It is also an object to provide an audio system for selecting speakers and amplifiers in both the laptop computer and the docking station when the laptop computer is coupled to the docking station.
It is a further object to provide an audio system for outputting an audio signal of a low frequency band component to the amplifier process and the speaker of the docking station.
It is another object to provide an audio system for outputting an audio signal of high frequency band component to the amplifier process and the speakers of the laptop computer.