Concurrent multi-loudspeaker calibration

• US 10,390,159 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheen, Timothy, Ramos, Aurelio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thang V
• Application Number:
  US16/181,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20190075413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/005 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/16 Automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/22 for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only circuit for combining transducers having different responses H04R3/00; for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone

Abstract

Examples involve calibration of two synchronous playback groups. In an example implementation, a first playback device forms a first group with a second playback device. While formed into the first group, the first playback device plays back a first calibration sound contemporaneously with the second playback device. The first playback device forms a second group with a third playback device. While formed into the second group, the first playback device repeatedly plays back a second calibration sound contemporaneously with the third playback device. The first playback device receives data representing (i) first audio processing coefficients and (ii) second audio processing coefficients. The first playback devices applies the first audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the first group and the second audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the second group.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors;

a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform a method comprising;

forming a first synchronous playback group with one or more second playback devices;

while formed into the first synchronous playback group, repeatedly playing back a first calibration sound according to a first sequence contemporaneously with playback of the first calibration sound by the one or more second playback devices, wherein the first sequence comprises the first calibration sound cycling through frequencies of a calibration frequency range, and wherein playback devices of the first synchronous playback group stagger playback of the first calibration sound;

forming a second synchronous playback group with one or more third playback devices, wherein at least one of the third playback devices is different from at least one of the second playback devices;

while formed into the second synchronous playback group, repeatedly playing back a second calibration sound according to a second sequence contemporaneously with playback of the second calibration sound by the one or more third playback devices, wherein the second sequence comprises the second calibration sound cycling through frequencies of the calibration frequency range, and wherein playback devices of the second synchronous playback group stagger playback of the second calibration sound;

receiving data representing audio processing coefficients, the audio processing coefficients comprising (i) first audio processing coefficients that are based on playback of the first calibration sound while formed into the first synchronous playback group and (ii) second audio processing coefficients that are based on playback of the second calibration sound while formed into the first synchronous playback group;

applying the first audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the first synchronous playback group; and

applying the second audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the second synchronous playback group.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group play back the first calibration sound according to the first sequence for a first duration of time that is proportional to a number of the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group, and wherein the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group play back the second calibration sound according to the first sequence for a second duration of time that is proportional to a number of the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise (i) a first component that includes noise frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise a baseline tone that covers frequencies of the calibration frequency range within a given duration, and wherein the method further comprises:

selecting the first calibration sound from among multiple calibration sounds, the selected first calibration sound being substantially proportional in duration to a product of the given duration of the baseline tone and a number of playback devices in the first synchronous playback group; and

selecting the second calibration sound from among the multiple calibration sounds, the selected second calibration sound being substantially proportional in duration to a product of the given duration of the baseline tone and a number of playback devices in the second synchronous playback group.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise a baseline tone that covers frequencies of the calibration frequency range within a given duration, wherein the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group stagger playback of the first calibration sound by a delay that is based on the given duration of the baseline tone, and wherein the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group stagger playback of the second calibration sound by the delay that is based on the given duration of the baseline tone.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via a network interface from a mobile device, data representing one or more first commands to repeatedly play back the first calibration sound according to the first sequence contemporaneously with playback of the first calibration sound by the one or more second playback devices, wherein the playback devices of the first synchrony group repeatedly play back the first calibration sound according to the second sequence in response to the data representing the one or more first commands; and

receiving, via the network interface from the mobile device, data representing one or more second commands to repeatedly play back the second calibration sound according to the second sequence contemporaneously with playback of the second calibration sound by the one or more third playback devices, wherein the playback devices of the second synchrony group repeatedly play back the second calibration sound according to the second sequence in response to the data representing the one or more second commands.

7. The first playback device of claim 6, wherein receiving data representing audio processing coefficients comprising receiving, via the network interface from the mobile device, the data representing the audio processing coefficients.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first playback device to perform a method comprising:

forming a first synchronous playback group with one or more second playback devices;

while formed into the first synchronous playback group, repeatedly playing back a first calibration sound according to a first sequence contemporaneously with playback of the first calibration sound by the one or more second playback devices, wherein the first sequence comprises the first calibration sound cycling through frequencies of a calibration frequency range, and wherein playback devices of the first synchronous playback group stagger playback of the first calibration sound;

forming a second synchronous playback group with one or more third playback devices, wherein at least one of the third playback devices is different from at least one of the second playback devices;

while formed into the second synchronous playback group, repeatedly playing back a second calibration sound according to a second sequence contemporaneously with playback of the second calibration sound by the one or more third playback devices, wherein the second sequence comprises the second calibration sound cycling through frequencies of the calibration frequency range, and wherein playback devices of the second synchronous playback group stagger playback of the second calibration sound;

receiving data representing audio processing coefficients, the audio processing coefficients comprising (i) first audio processing coefficients that are based on playback of the first calibration sound while formed into the first synchronous playback group and (ii) second audio processing coefficients that are based on playback of the second calibration sound while formed into the first synchronous playback group;

applying the first audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the first synchronous playback group; and

applying the second audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the second synchronous playback group.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group play back the first calibration sound according to the first sequence for a first duration of time that is proportional to a number of the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group, and wherein the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group play back the second calibration sound according to the first sequence for a second duration of time that is proportional to a number of the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise (i) a first component that includes noise frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise a baseline tone that covers frequencies of the calibration frequency range within a given duration, and wherein the method further comprises:

selecting the first calibration sound from among multiple calibration sounds, the selected first calibration sound being substantially proportional in duration to a product of the given duration of the baseline tone and a number of playback devices in the first synchronous playback group; and

selecting the second calibration sound from among the multiple calibration sounds, the selected second calibration sound being substantially proportional in duration to a product of the given duration of the baseline tone and a number of playback devices in the second synchronous playback group.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise a baseline tone that covers frequencies of the calibration frequency range within a given duration, wherein the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group stagger playback of the first calibration sound by a delay that is based on the given duration of the baseline tone, and wherein the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group stagger playback of the second calibration sound by the delay that is based on the given duration of the baseline tone.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via a network interface from a mobile device, data representing one or more first commands to repeatedly play back the first calibration sound according to the first sequence contemporaneously with playback of the first calibration sound by the one or more second playback devices, wherein the playback devices of the first synchrony group repeatedly play back the first calibration sound according to the second sequence in response to the data representing the one or more first commands; and

receiving, via the network interface from the mobile device, data representing one or more second commands to repeatedly play back the second calibration sound according to the second sequence contemporaneously with playback of the second calibration sound by the one or more third playback devices, wherein the playback devices of the second synchrony group repeatedly play back the second calibration sound according to the second sequence in response to the data representing the one or more second commands.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein receiving data representing audio processing coefficients comprising receiving, via the network interface from the mobile device, the data representing the audio processing coefficients.

15. A method to be performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:

forming a first synchronous playback group with one or more second playback devices;

while formed into the first synchronous playback group, repeatedly playing back a first calibration sound according to a first sequence contemporaneously with playback of the first calibration sound by the one or more second playback devices, wherein the first sequence comprises the first calibration sound cycling through frequencies of a calibration frequency range, and wherein playback devices of the first synchronous playback group stagger playback of the first calibration sound;

forming a second synchronous playback group with one or more third playback devices, wherein at least one of the third playback devices is different from at least one of the second playback devices;

while formed into the second synchronous playback group, repeatedly playing back a second calibration sound according to a second sequence contemporaneously with playback of the second calibration sound by the one or more third playback devices, wherein the second sequence comprises the second calibration sound cycling through frequencies of the calibration frequency range, and wherein playback devices of the second synchronous playback group stagger playback of the second calibration sound;

receiving data representing audio processing coefficients, the audio processing coefficients comprising (i) first audio processing coefficients that are based on playback of the first calibration sound while formed into the first synchronous playback group and (ii) second audio processing coefficients that are based on playback of the second calibration sound while formed into the first synchronous playback group;

applying the first audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the first synchronous playback group; and

applying the second audio processing coefficients to playback of audio content when formed into the second synchronous playback group.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group play back the first calibration sound according to the first sequence for a first duration of time that is proportional to a number of the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group, and wherein the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group play back the second calibration sound according to the first sequence for a second duration of time that is proportional to a number of the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise (i) a first component that includes noise frequencies between a minimum of the calibration frequency range and a first threshold frequency, and (ii) a second component that sweeps through frequencies between a second threshold frequency and a maximum of the calibration frequency range.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise a baseline tone that covers frequencies of the calibration frequency range within a given duration, and wherein the method further comprises:

selecting the first calibration sound from among multiple calibration sounds, the selected first calibration sound being substantially proportional in duration to a product of the given duration of the baseline tone and a number of playback devices in the first synchronous playback group; and

selecting the second calibration sound from among the multiple calibration sounds, the selected second calibration sound being substantially proportional in duration to a product of the given duration of the baseline tone and a number of playback devices in the second synchronous playback group.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first calibration sound and the second calibration sound comprise a baseline tone that covers frequencies of the calibration frequency range within a given duration, wherein the playback devices of the first synchronous playback group stagger playback of the first calibration sound by a delay that is based on the given duration of the baseline tone, and wherein the playback devices of the second synchronous playback group stagger playback of the second calibration sound by the delay that is based on the given duration of the baseline tone.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via a network interface from a mobile device, data representing one or more first commands to repeatedly play back the first calibration sound according to the first sequence contemporaneously with playback of the first calibration sound by the one or more second playback devices, wherein the playback devices of the first synchrony group repeatedly play back the first calibration sound according to the second sequence in response to the data representing the one or more first commands; and

receiving, via the network interface from the mobile device, data representing one or more second commands to repeatedly play back the second calibration sound according to the second sequence contemporaneously with playback of the second calibration sound by the one or more third playback devices, wherein the playback devices of the second synchrony group repeatedly play back the second calibration sound according to the second sequence in response to the data representing the one or more second commands.