Playback based on received sound waves

• US 9,525,931 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/584,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20150110293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 transducer;

an acoustic grille;

a speaker;

a network interface;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to at least;

receive, via the transducer, a sound wave passed through the acoustic grille, wherein the received sound wave is output by an audio source outside of the playback device;

determine an angle of incidence of the sound wave that passes through the acoustic grille, wherein the angle of incidence is determined based on an angle of reflection of the acoustic grille;

adjust an output characteristic of the speaker based on the determined angle of incidence;

receive, via the network interface, an audio signal; and

play back, via the speaker, the audio signal according to the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is mounted in a baffle, and wherein the acoustic grille is positioned substantially flush with the baffle.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein the speaker is mounted in the baffle.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to determine the angle of incidence of the sound wave based on a level of the received sound wave.

5. The playback device of claim 4, wherein the level of the received sound wave comprises at least a sound pressure level or a level of an electrical signal output by the transducer.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to determine, based on the angle of incidence of the received sound wave, a location of a source of the sound wave.

7. The playback device of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to adjust the output characteristic of the speaker based on the location of the source of the sound wave.

8. The playback device of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to determine the location of the source of the sound wave by determining a location of a user relative to the playback device.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to adjust the output characteristic of the speaker to direct the play back of the audio signal towards the location of the user.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker comprises a sound output level.

11. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker comprises an equalization setting.

12. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is mounted in a baffle, the acoustic grille is positioned substantially flush with the baffle, and the speaker is positioned outside of the baffle.

13. The playback device of claim 12, wherein the acoustic grille is to reflect sound waves output by the speaker and the reflected sound waves are not received by the transducer.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, via a transducer of a playback device, a sound wave passed through an acoustic grille of the playback device, wherein the received sound wave is output by an audio source outside of the playback device;

determining an angle of incidence of the sound wave that passes through the acoustic grille, wherein the angle of incidence is determined based on an angle of reflection of the acoustic grille;

adjusting an output characteristic of the speaker based on the determined angle of incidence;

receiving, via a network interface of the playback device, an audio signal; and

playing back, via a speaker of the playback device, the audio signal according to the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the angle of incidence of the sound wave comprises determining a level of the received sound wave.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining a location of a source of the sound wave based on the angle of incidence, the location of the source of the sound wave relative to the playback device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising adjusting the output characteristic of the speaker based on the determined location of the source of the received sound wave relative to the playback device.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising directing the play back of the audio signal towards a user by:

determining a location of the user relative to the playback device; and

directing the play back of the audio signal towards the location of the user by adjusting the output characteristic of the speaker.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker comprises at least a sound output level or an equalization setting.

20. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

receive, via a transducer of a playback device, a sound wave passed through an acoustic grille of the playback device, wherein the received sound wave is output by an audio source outside of the playback device;

determine an angle of incidence of the sound wave that passes through the acoustic grille, wherein the angle of incidence is determined based on an angle of reflection of the acoustic grille;

adjust an output characteristic of the speaker based on the angle of incidence, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker comprises at least a sound output level or an equalization setting;

receive, via a network interface of the playback device, an audio signal; and

play back, via a speaker of the playback device, the audio signal according to the adjusted output characteristic of the speaker.