Transducer control based on position of an apparatus

• US 10,334,364 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Chalabi, Malek Mohamad Nafez, McCoy, Gary T., Khandpur, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): Bernardi, Brenda C
• Application Number:
  US15/951,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20180234767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Techniques for transducer control based on position of an apparatus are described. In at least one implementation, the apparatus comprises a peripheral device that can be connected to a user terminal. The apparatus includes a first portion moveably coupled to a second portion such that the first portion and the second portion are positionable at different positions relative to each other. According to one or more implementations, the apparatus includes a transducer (e.g., a speaker, a microphone, and so forth) that can be selectively controlled based on different relative positions of the first portion and the second portion of the apparatus. In at least some implementations, the apparatus can include multiple transducers that can be controlled differently based on different relative positions of the first portion and the second portion of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first portion movably coupled to a second portion such that the first and second portions are positionable at a first relative position and a second relative position;

a transducer positioned in the first portion or the second portion;

a sensor for detecting whether the first and second portions are in the first relative position or the second relative position; and

control logic configured to control the transducer to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position, without turning off the transducer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a speaker configured to output an audio, and

the control logic is configured to;

apply a first audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position, and

apply a second audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a speaker configured to output an audio, and

the control logic is configured to;

apply a first gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position, and

apply a second gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a microphone configured to capture an audio, and

the control logic is configured to;

apply a first audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

apply a second audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a microphone configured to capture an audio, and

the control logic is configured to;

apply a first gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

apply a second gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a first transducer positioned in the first portion and a second transducer positioned in the second portion, and

the control logic is configured to control the first and second transducers depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a first speaker positioned in the first portion and a second speaker positioned in the second portion, and

the control logic is configured to control the first and second speakers to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the transducer comprises a first microphone positioned in the first portion and a second microphone positioned in the second portion, and

the control logic is configured to control the first and second microphones to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position.

9. A method for operating an apparatus comprising first and second portions movably coupled to each other such that the first and second portions are positionable at a first relative position and a second relative position, the method comprising:

determining whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position; and

controlling a transducer of the apparatus to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position, without turning off the transducer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the transducer comprises a speaker configured to output an audio, and

controlling the transducer comprises;

applying a first audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the transducer comprises a speaker configured to output an audio, and

controlling the transducer comprises;

applying a first gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the transducer comprises a microphone configured to capture an audio, and

controlling the transducer comprises;

applying a first audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the transducer comprises a microphone configured to capture an audio, and

controlling the transducer comprises;

applying a first gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the apparatus comprises a first transducer positioned in the first portion and a second transducer positioned in the second portion, and

controlling the transducer comprises controlling the first and second transducers to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position.

15. An apparatus system comprising:

first and second portions movably coupled to each other so as to be positionable at a first relative position and a second relative position;

a sensor configured to determine whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position;

a transducer positioned in one of the first and second portions;

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions of;

determining, using the sensor, whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position; and

controlling the transducer to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position, without turning off the transducer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the transducer comprises a speaker configured to output an audio, and

to control the transducer, the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions of;

applying a first audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the transducer comprises a speaker configured to output an audio, and

to control the transducer, the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions of;

applying a first gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the transducer comprises a microphone configured to capture an audio, and

to control the transducer, the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions of;

applying a first audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second audio filter to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the transducer comprises a microphone configured to capture an audio, and

to control the transducer, the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform functions of;

applying a first gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the first relative position; and

applying a second gain level to the audio when the first and second portions are in the second relative position.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the transducer comprises a first transducer positioned in the first portion and a second transducer position in the second portion, and

to control the transducer, the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a functions of controlling the first and second transducers to operate differently depending on whether the first and second portions are in the first or second relative position.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a first portion movably coupled to a second portion such that the first portion and the second portion are positionable at a first relative position and a second, different relative position relative to each other;

a transducer positioned in one of the first portion or the second portion;

at least one sensor for detecting whether the first portion and the second portion are in the first relative position or the second relative position; and

control logic configured to control the transducer differently based on whether the at least one sensor indicates that the first portion and the second portion are in the first relative position or the second relative position, wherein;

the transducer comprises a speaker, and

the control logic is configured to control the speaker by applying different audio filters or gain levels to audio for output from the speaker based on whether the at least one sensor indicates that the first portion and the second portion are in the first relative position or the second relative position.