Motion detection of audio sources to facilitate reproduction of spatial audio spaces
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- generating unique ultrasonic signals, at least a unique ultrasonic signal being generated by emission from a corresponding acoustic probe transducer;
emitting the unique ultrasonic signal in a direction associated with the acoustic probe transducer;
sensing reflected ultrasonic signals from one or more surfaces, a subset of surfaces being associated with an object;
identifying a position of the object relative to a point in space as a function of characteristics of the reflected ultrasonic signals;
mapping an environment to detect relatively immobile surfaces within the environment in which the object is substantially positioned to modify a power level associated with the unique ultrasonic signal using a power adjuster in an audio device configured to emit the unique ultrasonic signal, the power adjuster being configured to modify the power level based on a temperature associated with ambient air in the environment using a temperature sensor in the audio device;
determining a displacement of at least a portion of the object;
identifying an action responsive to the displacement; and
performing the action to modify operation of the audio system.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable/mobile computing devices configured to facilitate production and/or reproduction of spatial audio and/or one or more audio spaces. More specifically, disclosed are systems, components and methods to acoustically determine displacements of audios sources (or portions thereof), such as a subset of speaking users, for providing audio spaces and spatial sound field reproduction, for example, for a remote listener. In one embodiment, a media device includes transducers to emit audible acoustic signals into a region including one or more audio sources, acoustic probe transducers configured to emit ultrasonic signals and acoustic sensors configured to sense received ultrasonic signals reflected from an audio source. A controller can determine a displacement of the audio source. Examples of displacement include locomotion, gesture-related motion and orientation changes.
8 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating unique ultrasonic signals, at least a unique ultrasonic signal being generated by emission from a corresponding acoustic probe transducer; emitting the unique ultrasonic signal in a direction associated with the acoustic probe transducer; sensing reflected ultrasonic signals from one or more surfaces, a subset of surfaces being associated with an object; identifying a position of the object relative to a point in space as a function of characteristics of the reflected ultrasonic signals; mapping an environment to detect relatively immobile surfaces within the environment in which the object is substantially positioned to modify a power level associated with the unique ultrasonic signal using a power adjuster in an audio device configured to emit the unique ultrasonic signal, the power adjuster being configured to modify the power level based on a temperature associated with ambient air in the environment using a temperature sensor in the audio device; determining a displacement of at least a portion of the object; identifying an action responsive to the displacement; and performing the action to modify operation of the audio system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of transducers configured to emit audible acoustic signals into a region including one or more audio sources; a plurality of acoustic probe transducers configured to emit ultrasonic signals, at least a subset of the acoustic probe transducers each is configured to emit a unique ultrasonic signal; a power adjuster configured to modify a power level of the unique ultrasonic signal based on a temperature associated with ambient air in an environment in which the one or more audio sources are substantially positioned; a temperature sensor coupled with the power adjuster and configured to generate a signal indicative of the temperature; a plurality of acoustic sensors configured to sense received ultrasonic signals reflected from the one or more audio sources; a controller configured to determine a displacement of at least a portion of an audio source of the one or more audio sources; and an environmental mapper configured to determine spatial characteristics of relatively immobile surfaces within the environment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification