Intelligently modifying the gain parameter of a playback device

• US 10,720,896 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Chamness, Mike, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mooney, James K
• Application Number:
  US16/113,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20180367112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/10 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

Techniques for optimizing a player based on the addition of a second player are disclosed. In an embodiment, when a first player no longer needs to play certain audio frequencies due to the addition of a second player, the gain of the first player is automatically increased as part of the setup process. In another embodiment, when a first player needs to play certain audio frequencies, for example due to the removal of a second player, the gain of the first player is automatically decreased. Many other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

entering into a playback group with a second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

while playing back given audio content in synchrony with the second playback device as part of the playback group, receiving a command to become ungrouped from the second playback device such that the first playback device is no longer configured to play back the given audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

based on the received command to become ungrouped from the second playback device;

determining that a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) capability of the first playback device will decrease from a first maximum SPL while the first playback device was in the playback group to a second maximum SPL after the first playback device becomes ungrouped from the second playback device, wherein the second maximum SPL is based on one or more characteristics of the first playback device; and

based on determining that the maximum SPL capability of the first playback device will decrease from the first maximum SPL to the second maximum SPL, determining an update to an amplifier gain parameter of the first playback device to be applied after the first playback device becomes ungrouped from the second playback device, wherein the update to the amplifier gain parameter comprises decreasing the amplifier gain parameter from a first amplifier gain parameter that was applied while the first playback device was in the playback group to a second amplifier gain parameter, wherein the second amplifier gain parameter is predefined and based on the configuration of the playback group; and

after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device, applying the second amplifier gain parameter to one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by first playback device.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback group comprises a bonded group in which the first playback device is configured to play back a first audio frequency channel of a received audio signal and the second playback device is configured to play back a second audio frequency channel of the received audio signal.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device is a full-range playback device and the second playback device is a subwoofer device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first maximum SPL is based on (i) one or more characteristics of the first playback device and (ii) one or more characteristics of the second playback device.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device comprises a plurality of transducers, and wherein the second maximum SPL is based on at least one characteristic of each of the plurality of transducers.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first amplifier gain parameter is determined based on the first maximum SPL and the second amplifier gain parameter is determined based on the second maximum SPL.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the first playback device comprise one or more of (i) a cone area of a speaker of the first playback device, (ii) an excursion limit of one or more components of the speaker of the first playback device, or (iii) power available to an amplifier of the first playback device.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by the first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprise one or more audio signals retrieved from a network address that is indicated in control data received from a controller device.

9. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

before becoming ungrouped from the second playback device, receiving, via a wireless connection from a controller device, a command to become ungrouped from the second playback device,

wherein becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprises becoming ungrouped from the second playback device in response to receiving the command.

10. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by the first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprise at least two audio frequency channels, and wherein applying the second amplifier gain parameter to the one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprises applying the second amplifier gain parameter to each of the at least two audio frequency channels.

11. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

storing the second amplifier gain parameter on the non-transitory computer-readable medium.

12. A method implemented by a first playback device, the method comprising:

entering into a playback group with a second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

while playing back given audio content in synchrony with the second playback device as part of the playback group, receiving a command to become ungrouped from the second playback device such that the first playback device is no longer configured to play back the given audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

based on the received command to become ungrouped from the second playback device;

determining that a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) capability of the first playback device will decrease from a first maximum SPL while the first playback device was in the playback group to a second maximum SPL after the first playback device becomes ungrouped from the second playback device, wherein the second maximum SPL is based on one or more characteristics of the first playback device; and

based on determining that the maximum SPL capability of the first playback device will decrease from the first maximum SPL to the second maximum SPL, determining an update to an amplifier gain parameter of the first playback device to be applied after the first playback device becomes ungrouped from the second playback device, wherein the update to the amplifier gain parameter comprises decreasing the amplifier gain parameter from a first amplifier gain parameter that was applied while the first playback device was in the playback group to a second amplifier gain parameter, wherein the second amplifier gain parameter is predefined and based on the configuration of the playback group; and

after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device, applying the second amplifier gain parameter to one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by first playback device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the playback group comprises a bonded group in which the first playback device is configured to play back a first audio frequency channel of a received audio signal and the second playback device is configured to play back a second audio frequency channel of the received audio signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first maximum SPL is based on (i) one or more characteristics of the first playback device and (ii) one or more characteristics of the second playback device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first amplifier gain parameter is determined based on the first maximum SPL and the second amplifier gain parameter is determined based on the second maximum SPL.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more characteristics of the first playback device comprise one or more of (i) a cone area of a speaker of the first playback device, (ii) an excursion limit of one or more components of the speaker of the first playback device, or (iii) power available to an amplifier of the first playback device.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

before becoming ungrouped from the second playback device, receiving, by the first playback device via a wireless connection from a controller device, a command to become ungrouped from the second playback device, and

wherein becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprises becoming ungrouped from the second playback device in response to receiving the command.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by the first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprise at least two audio frequency channels, and wherein applying the second amplifier gain parameter to the one or more audio signals that are to be played back by first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprises applying the second amplifier gain parameter to each of the at least two audio frequency channels.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by a processor, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

entering into a playback group with a second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

while playing back given audio content in synchrony with the second playback device as part of the playback group, receiving a command to become ungrouped from the second playback device such that the first playback device is no longer configured to play back the given audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

based the received command to become ungrouped from the second playback device;

determining that a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) capability of the first playback device will decrease from a first maximum SPL while the first playback device was in the playback group to a second maximum SPL after the first playback device becomes ungrouped from the second playback device, wherein the second maximum SPL is based on one or more characteristics of the first playback device; and

based on determining that the maximum SPL capability of the first playback device will decrease from the first maximum SPL to the second maximum SPL, determining an update to an amplifier gain parameter of the first playback device to be applied after the first playback device becomes ungrouped from the second playback device, wherein the update to the amplifier gain parameter comprises decreasing the amplifier gain parameter from a first amplifier gain parameter that was applied while the first playback device was in the playback group to a second amplifier gain parameter, wherein the second amplifier gain parameter is predefined and based on the configuration of the playback group; and

after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device, applying the second amplifier gain parameter to one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by first playback device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more audio signals corresponding to the given audio content that are played back by the first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprise at least two audio frequency channels, and wherein applying the second amplifier gain parameter to the one or more audio signals that are to be played back by first playback device after becoming ungrouped from the second playback device comprises applying the second amplifier gain parameter to each of the at least two audio frequency channels.