Voice-Controlled Light Switches
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- one or more wires to couple the light switch to a power source and to at least one light;
a switch configured to toggle between at least an on position and an off position, the one or more wires providing power from the power source to the at least one light when the switch is in the on position and not providing power from the power source to the at least one light when the switch is in the off position;
a faceplate;
a first microphone located on a distal end of the switch;
a second microphone located at a first position of the faceplate, the first position being near the distal end of the switch when the switch is in the on position;
a third microphone located at a second position of the faceplate, the second position being near the distal end of the switch when the switch is in the off position;
a wireless network interface;
one or more processors;
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;
receiving a first audio signal generated by at least one of the first microphone, the second microphone, or the third microphone;
performing speech recognition on the first audio signal;
determining that the first audio signal includes data representing at least one predefined word;
determining that the switch is in the off position;
performing beamforming on a second audio signal generated by the first microphone and on a third audio signal generated by the third microphone to generate one or more processed audio signals; and
sending, to a remote device and via the wireless network interface, the one or more processed audio signals.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes, in part, voice-controlled light switches that act as voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. These light switches may physically couple to a power source, as well as to one or more appliances. The light switches may include physical switches to selectively provide power to the appliances, either in a binary fashion (on or off) or along of spectrum of positions. In either instance, the appliances coupled to the light switches may include lights, electrical outlets, home appliances (e.g., dishwashers, washing machines, etc.), factory machinery, or any other device that receives electrical power.
97 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more wires to couple the light switch to a power source and to at least one light; a switch configured to toggle between at least an on position and an off position, the one or more wires providing power from the power source to the at least one light when the switch is in the on position and not providing power from the power source to the at least one light when the switch is in the off position; a faceplate; a first microphone located on a distal end of the switch; a second microphone located at a first position of the faceplate, the first position being near the distal end of the switch when the switch is in the on position; a third microphone located at a second position of the faceplate, the second position being near the distal end of the switch when the switch is in the off position; a wireless network interface; one or more processors; one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising; receiving a first audio signal generated by at least one of the first microphone, the second microphone, or the third microphone; performing speech recognition on the first audio signal; determining that the first audio signal includes data representing at least one predefined word; determining that the switch is in the off position; performing beamforming on a second audio signal generated by the first microphone and on a third audio signal generated by the third microphone to generate one or more processed audio signals; and sending, to a remote device and via the wireless network interface, the one or more processed audio signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more wires to couple the apparatus to an alternating-current (AC) power source located within a building and to at least one power load; a switch configured to move from at least a first position to a second position, when the switch is in the first position the AC power source is electrically coupled to the at least one power load and when the switch is in the second position the AC power source is decoupled from the at least one power load; a faceplate; and a microphone located on the faceplate configured to generate an second audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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receiving a first audio signal generated by a first microphone residing on a physical switch; receiving a second audio signal generated by a second microphone; receiving a third audio signal generated by a third microphone; determining that the physical switch resides in a first position; and at least partly based on the physical switch residing in the first position, selecting at least the first audio signal and the second audio signal for processing.
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15. The method as recited in claim 0, wherein the selecting the first audio signal and the second audio signal for processing comprises sending the first audio signal and the second audio signal to a remote device without sending the third audio signal to the remote device.
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16. The method as recited in claim 0, wherein the selecting the first audio signal and the second audio signal for processing comprises performing beamforming on the first audio signal and the second audio signal to generate one or more processed audio signals, and further comprising at least one of sending the one or more processed audio signals to a remote device or performing speech recognition on the one or more processed audio signals.
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17. The method as recited in claim 0, further comprising:
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performing speech recognition on at least one of the first audio signal, the second audio signal, or the third audio signal; and determining that the at least one of the first audio signal, the second audio signal, or the third audio signal includes data representing a predefined utterance; and wherein the selecting the first audio signal and the second audio signal for processing is further based at least in part on the determining that the at least one of the first audio signal, the second audio signal, or the third audio signal includes the data representing the predefined utterance.
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18. The method as recited in claim 0, further comprising:
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determining that the physical switch resides in a second position; and at least partly in response to determining that the physical switch resides in the second position, selecting at least the first audio signal and the third audio signal for processing.
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19. The method as recited in claim 0, further comprising:
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receiving a fourth audio signal generated by a fourth microphone, the fourth microphone residing substantially horizontally in-line with the second microphone; determining that a first line defined by the second microphone and the first microphone points closer to a source of audio than does a second line defined by the fourth microphone and the first microphone; and wherein the selecting the first audio signal and the second audio signal for processing is further based at least in part on the determining that the first line points closer to the source of audio than does the second line.
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20. The method as recited in claim 0, wherein:
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the receiving the first audio signal comprises receiving the first audio signal generated by the first microphone residing on a physical switch of a light switch; the receiving the second audio signal comprises receiving the second audio signal generated by the second microphone residing on a top portion of a faceplate of the light switch; and the receiving the third audio signal comprises receiving the third audio signal generated by the third microphone residing on a bottom portion of the faceplate of the light switch.
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Specification