Systems, methods, and apparatus to filter audio

• US 9,456,277 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Burlingame, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Leshui
• Application Number:
  US14/329,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20140321669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 381/1, 381/300, 381/303, 381/304, 381/305, 381/306, 381/307, 381/311, 381/12, 381/80, 381/81, 381/85, 381/332, 381/333, 381/334, 381/91, 381/123, 381/122, 381/335, 381/336, 381386-388, 381/37, 381/103, 381/111, 381/116, 381/117, 381/118, 381/86, 381/302, 348/794, 348/480, 348/482, 348/484, 348/E5.122, 348/E5.123, 348/E5.125, 348/E5.13, 341 20- 26, 361/681, 361/683, 345/156, 345/169, 345/173, 345/158, 353/15, 353/19, 700/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/005 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 9/025 frequency-dependent volume compression or expansion, e.g. multiple-band systems H03G9/10, H03G9/18 take precedence
• 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to filter audio are disclosed. An example method includes determining that an orientation of a playback device is one of (a) a first orientation and (b) a second orientation, the playback device including a first speaker and a second speaker and configuring the first speaker and the second speaker. In the example, configuring the first and second speakers includes, when the determined orientation is the first orientation, configuring a first audio filter to be applied to a first audio signal for the first speaker and configuring a second audio filter to be applied to a second audio signal for the second speaker. However, when the determined orientation is the second orientation, configuring the first and second speakers includes configuring a third audio filter to be applied to the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a playback device, that a physical orientation of a playback device is one of (a) a first physical orientation and (b) a second physical orientation, the playback device including a first speaker and a second speaker;

configuring, by the playback device, the first speaker and the second speaker, wherein configuring the first and second speakers comprises;

when the determined physical orientation is the first physical orientation, configuring, by the playback device, a first audio filter to be applied to a first audio signal for the first speaker and configuring a second audio filter to be applied to a second audio signal for the second speaker, wherein the first audio filter and the second audio filter cause a first frequency response of the first speaker to dominate a second frequency response of the second speaker in a frequency range, wherein a third speaker is in between the first speaker and the second speaker, and wherein the frequency range is based on a distance between the first speaker and the second speaker; and

,

when the determined physical orientation is the second physical orientation, configuring, by the playback device, a third audio filter to be applied to the first audio signal and the second audio signal; and

facilitating playback of audio via the playback device according to the filtered first audio signal and the filtered second audio signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first physical orientation comprises a horizontal physical orientation and wherein the second physical orientation comprises a vertical physical orientation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying, by the playback device, a high-range filter to a third audio signal for the third speaker, wherein the third speaker is a high-range speaker, wherein the first speaker comprises a first mid-range speaker and the second speaker comprises a second mid-range speaker, and wherein the distance is between the first mid-range speaker and the second mid-range speaker.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein first mid-range speaker and the second mid-range speaker have same audio characteristics.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first mid-range speaker, the high-range speaker, and the second mid-range speaker are arranged in a mid-tweeter-mid speaker arrangement in the playback device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first audio filter comprises a first crossover frequency with the high-range filter and a first cutoff frequency and the second audio filter comprises a second crossover frequency with the high-range filter and a second cutoff frequency;

wherein the first frequency response of the first speaker dominates the second frequency response of the second audio speaker between the second cutoff frequency and the second crossover frequency.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a cutoff frequency of the second audio filter is less than a center frequency, the center frequency being based on the distance between the first speaker and the second speaker;

and wherein the frequency range is based on the center frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second audio filter comprises a low-frequency shelf filter, a bandpass shelf filter, and a low-pass filter having a second cutoff frequency, and wherein the first audio filter comprises a low-frequency shelf filter, a bandpass shelf filter, a low-pass filter having a first cutoff frequency, an allpass filter, and a high-frequency shelf filter, wherein the first cutoff frequency of the low pass filter of the first audio filter is higher than the second cutoff frequency of the low pass filter of the second audio filter, and wherein the high-frequency shelf filter provides a gain above a cutoff frequency of the second audio filter.

9. A playback device comprising:

a first speaker, a second speaker, and a third speaker;

a physical orientation detector to determine that a physical orientation of the playback device is one of (a) a first physical orientation and (b) a second physical orientation; and

a processor and memory including instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to;

configure the first speaker and the second speaker, wherein configuring the first and second speakers comprises;

when the determined physical orientation is the first physical orientation, the processor is to configure a first audio filter to be applied to a first audio signal for the first speaker and configure a second audio filter to be applied to a second audio signal for the second speaker, wherein the first audio filter and the second audio filter cause a first frequency response of the first speaker to dominate a second frequency response of the second speaker in a frequency range, wherein the third speaker is in between the first speaker and the second speaker, and wherein the frequency range is based on a distance between the first speaker and the second speaker; and

,

when the physical orientation is the second physical orientation, the processor is to configure a third audio filter to be applied to the first audio signal and the second audio signal; and

facilitate playback of audio via the playback device according to the filtered first audio signal and the filtered second audio signal.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the first physical orientation comprises a horizontal physical orientation and wherein the second physical orientation comprises a vertical physical orientation.

11. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the third speaker is a high-range speaker, the high-range speaker to be configured by applying a high-range filter to a third audio signal for the high-range speaker, wherein the first speaker comprises a first mid-range speaker and the second speaker comprises a second mid-range speaker, and wherein the distance is between the first mid-range speaker and the second mid-range speaker.

12. The playback device of claim 11, wherein first mid-range speaker and the second mid-range speaker have same audio characteristics.

13. The playback device of claim 11, wherein the first mid-range speaker, the high-range speaker, and the second mid-range speaker are arranged in a mid-tweeter-mid speaker arrangement in the playback device.

14. The playback device of claim 11, wherein the first audio filter comprises a first crossover frequency with the high-range filter and a first cutoff frequency and the second audio filter comprises a second crossover frequency with the high-range filter and a second cutoff frequency;

wherein the first frequency response of the first speaker dominates the second frequency response of the second speaker between the second cutoff frequency and the second crossover frequency.

15. The playback device of claim 9, wherein a cutoff frequency of the second audio filter is less than a center frequency, the center frequency being based on the distance between the first speaker and the second speaker;

and wherein the frequency range is based on the center frequency.

16. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the second audio filter comprises a low-frequency shelf filter, a bandpass shelf filter, and a low-pass filter having a second cutoff frequency, and wherein the first audio filter comprises a low-frequency shelf filter, a bandpass shelf filter, a low-pass filter having a first cutoff frequency, an allpass filter, and a high-frequency shelf filter, wherein the first cutoff frequency of the low pass filter of the first audio filter is higher than the second cutoff frequency of the low pass filter of the second audio filter, and wherein the high-frequency shelf filter provides a gain above a cutoff frequency of the second audio filter.

17. A non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium including computer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method, the method comprising:

determining that a physical orientation of a playback device is one of (a) a first physical orientation and (b) a second physical orientation, the playback device including a first speaker and a second speaker;

configuring the first speaker and the second speaker, wherein configuring the first and second speakers comprises;

when the determined physical orientation is the first physical orientation, configuring a first audio filter to be applied to a first audio signal for the first speaker and configuring a second audio filter to be applied to a second audio signal for the second speaker, wherein the first audio filter and the second audio filter cause a first frequency response of the first speaker to dominate a second frequency response of the second speaker in a frequency range, wherein a third speaker is in between the first speaker and the second speaker, and wherein the frequency range is based on a distance between the first speaker and the second speaker; and

,

when the physical orientation is the second physical orientation, configuring a third audio filter to be applied to the first audio signal and the second audio signal; and

facilitating playback of audio via the playback device according to the filtered first audio signal and the filtered second audio signal.

18. The non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first physical orientation comprises a horizontal physical orientation and wherein the second physical orientation comprises a vertical physical orientation.

19. The non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the third speaker is a high-range speaker, the high-range speaker to be configured by applying a high-range filter to a third audio signal for the high-range speaker, wherein the first speaker comprises a first mid-range speaker and the second speaker comprises a second mid-range speaker, and wherein the distance is between the first mid-range speaker and the second mid-range speaker.

20. The non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first mid-range speaker, the high-range speaker, and the second mid-range speaker are arranged in a mid-tweeter-mid speaker arrangement in the playback device.

21. The non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first audio filter comprises a first crossover frequency with the high-range filter and a first cutoff frequency and the second audio filter comprises a second crossover frequency with the high-range filter and a second cutoff frequency;

wherein the first frequency response of the first speaker dominates the second frequency response of the second speaker between the second cutoff frequency and the second crossover frequency.

22. The non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein a cutoff frequency of the second audio filter is less than a center frequency, the center frequency being based on the distance between the first speaker and the second speaker;

and wherein the frequency range is based on the center frequency.