Automatic detection of loudspeaker characteristics
First Claim
1. A multimedia device, comprising:
- a media interface for connecting to an audio output device via a communication path;
an amplifier for driving the audio output device; and
a processor, the processor configured to;
retrieve in a first communication signal, via the communication path, an identifier of the audio output device;
determine, based on the retrieved identifier, that the audio output device has not been previously connected to the multimedia device;
request, in response to determining that the audio output device has not been previously connected, characteristic information from the audio output device; and
receive, from a second communication signal actively sent by the audio output device and via the communication path, the requested characteristic information of the audio output device; and
determine an output setting for the audio output device based on the characteristic information, wherein the communication path comprises speaker wire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is subject matter that proposes a system and method for a media device to automatically detect the characteristics of an attached speaker. Speakers have many different characteristics, for example, power, impedance, frequency response, etc. With knowledge of the speaker characteristics, audio output can be equalized appropriately, and an amplifier of the media device, for example, can prevent exceeding the maximum power handling capability of the speaker. Described is a device and method for retrieving information about the speaker from a memory that is coupled to the speaker. A media device can read the data from the memory over existing speaker wires. Software and/or hardware in the media device can optimize the output to the attached speaker. Accordingly, the media device can interrogate the speaker directly over speaker wire to obtain the characteristics of the speaker.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A multimedia device, comprising:
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a media interface for connecting to an audio output device via a communication path; an amplifier for driving the audio output device; and a processor, the processor configured to; retrieve in a first communication signal, via the communication path, an identifier of the audio output device; determine, based on the retrieved identifier, that the audio output device has not been previously connected to the multimedia device; request, in response to determining that the audio output device has not been previously connected, characteristic information from the audio output device; and receive, from a second communication signal actively sent by the audio output device and via the communication path, the requested characteristic information of the audio output device; and determine an output setting for the audio output device based on the characteristic information, wherein the communication path comprises speaker wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of detecting characteristics of an audio output device, comprising:
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establishing a communication path to the audio output device; retrieving in a first communication signal, via the communication path, an identifier of the audio output device; determining, based on the retrieved identifier, that the audio output device has not been previously connected to the multimedia device; requesting, in response to determining that the audio output device has not been previously connected, characteristic information from the audio output device; and receiving, from a second communication signal actively sent by the audio output device and via the communication path, the requested characteristic information of the audio output device; and determining an output setting for the audio output device based on the characteristic information, wherein the communication path comprises speaker wire. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A multimedia system, comprising:
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an audio output device including a speaker and a memory; and a media device including a media interface for connecting to the audio output device via a speaker wire, an amplifier for driving the speaker, and a processor, the processor configured to; retrieve in a first communication signal, via the speaker wire, an identifier from the memory of the audio output device; determine, based on the retrieved identifier, that the audio output device has not been previously connected to the multimedia device; request, in response to determining that the audio output device has not been previously connected, characteristic information from the audio output device; and receive, from a second communication signal actively sent by the audio output device and via the speaker wire, the requested characteristic information of the audio output device; and determine an output setting for the amplifier based on the characteristic information. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification