Acoustic optimization

• US 8,965,033 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Wiggins, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): EASON, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US13/601,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 381/160, 381/354, 381/391, 381/337, 381345-347, 181/175
• US Class Current: 381/391
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/20 Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for stereophonic purpose H04R5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/24 Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/26 Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/34 Directing or guiding sound by means of a phase plug
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for acoustic optimization. An example playback device includes a first transducer to at least one of output sound waves and receive sound waves, a second transducer to at least one of output sound waves and receive sound waves, and an acoustic grille positioned in relation to the first transducer, where the acoustic grille is to reflect sound waves received at a first angle of incidence.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a first transducer mounted in a first baffle, the first transducer arranged to at least one of output sound waves and receive sound waves;

a second transducer mounted in a second baffle, the second transducer arranged to at least one of output sound waves and receive sound waves, the second transducer positioned adjacent to the first transducer; and

an acoustic grille positioned on top of the first baffle to cover the first transducer and positioned substantially flush with the second baffle, the acoustic grille positioned to substantially constrain sound wave interference between the first transducer and the second transducer, wherein the acoustic grille is to reflect sound waves received at a first angle of incidence.

2. A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein the acoustic grille is to pass through sound waves that are received at a second angle of incidence.

3. A playback device as defined in claim 2, wherein the acoustic grille is to include a threshold angle of incidence, and wherein the first angle of incidence is less than the threshold angle.

4. A playback device as defined in claim 3, wherein the second angle of incidence is greater than the threshold angle.

5. A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein the acoustic grille is positioned between the first transducer and the second transducer.

6. A playback device as defined in claim 5, wherein the position of the acoustic grille is arranged to improve sound wave separation between the first transducer and the second transducer.

7. A playback device as defined in claim 1, wherein if the first transducer receives sound waves and the second transducer at least outputs sound waves, the acoustic grille arranged to reflect the output sound waves from being received by the first transducer.

16. A playback device as defined in claim 4, wherein the second angle of incidence is indicative of a sound wave source location.

8. A method of adjusting a sound wave having at least a first wave component and a second wave component comprising:

receiving the first wave component at an acoustic grille at a first angle of incidence, the acoustic grille positioned in relation to a plurality of transducers;

receiving the second wave component at the acoustic grille at a second angle of incidence;

reflecting the first wave component based on the first angle of incidence;

passing through the second wave component to a portion of the plurality of transducers based on the second angle of incidence, the first angle of incidence less than a threshold angle; and

identifying a sound wave source location based on the portion of the plurality of transducers.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the second angle of incidence is greater than the threshold angle.

10. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the acoustic grille is positioned on top of the plurality of transducers.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the acoustic grille reduces sound wave interference between the plurality of transducers.

12. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the acoustic grille is positioned between one or more of the plurality of transducers.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the acoustic grille improves sound wave separation between the one or more of the plurality of transducers.

17. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein identifying the sound wave source location comprises:

monitoring level measurements of the portion of the plurality of transducers; and

identifying the second angle of incidence.

14. A playback device comprising:

a first baffle including a first transducer and a first surface opposite a second surface, wherein the first transducer is mounted in the first surface;

a second baffle positioned adjacent the first baffle, the second baffle including a second transducer and a third surface opposite a fourth surface, wherein the second transducer is mounted in the third surface, and wherein a distance between the third surface and the fourth surface is different than a distance between the first surface and the second surface; and

an acoustic grille positioned on top of the first baffle and positioned substantially flush to the second baffle, the acoustic grille arranged to reflect sound waves received at a first angle of incidence and to pass through sound waves received at a second angle of incidence, wherein the position of the acoustic grille is to substantially constrain sound wave interference between the first transducer and the second transducer.

15. A playback device as defined in claim 14, wherein the position of the acoustic grille arranged to improve sound wave separation between the first transducer and the second transducer.

18. A playback device as defined in claim 14, wherein the second angle of incidence is indicative of a sound wave source location.