Playback based on received sound waves

• US 9,736,572 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• 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:
  US15/341,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• 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;

a second transducer;

an acoustic grille;

a network interface;

a processor; and

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

receive, via the first transducer, a sound wave passed through the acoustic grille;

determine an angle of incidence of the sound wave based on a level of the received sound wave and an angle of reflection of the acoustic grille;

adjust an output characteristic of the second transducer based on the angle of incidence;

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

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

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first 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 second transducer is mounted in the baffle.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the level of the sound wave comprises at least a sound pressure level or a level of an electrical signal output by the first transducer.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include instructions that, 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.

6. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to adjust the output characteristic of the second transducer based on the location of the source of the sound wave.

7. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the instructions further include instructions that, 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.

8. The playback device of claim 7, wherein the instructions further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to adjust the output characteristic of the second transducer to direct the play back of the audio signal towards the location of the user.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the second transducer comprises a sound output level.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the second transducer comprises an equalization setting.

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

12. The playback device of claim 11, wherein the acoustic grille is configured to reflect sound waves output by the second transducer and the reflected sound waves are not received by the first transducer.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, via a first transducer of a playback device, a sound wave passed through an acoustic grille of the playback device;

determining an angle of incidence of the sound wave based on a level of the sound wave, wherein determining the angle of incidence of the sound wave comprises determining the level of the received sound wave and determining an angle of reflection of the acoustic grille;

adjusting an output characteristic of a second transducer of the playback device based on the angle of incidence;

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

playing back, via the second transducer, the audio signal according to the adjusted output characteristic of the second transducer.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, based on the angle of incidence, a location of a source of the sound wave relative to the playback device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the output characteristic of the second transducer based on the determined location of the source of the received sound wave relative to the playback device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

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

directing the play back of the audio signal toward the location of the user by adjusting the output characteristic of the second transducer.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the second transducer comprises at least a sound output level or an equalization setting.

18. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receive, via a first transducer of a playback device, a sound wave passed through an acoustic grille of the playback device;

determine an angle of incidence of the sound wave based on a level of the sound wave, wherein determining the angle of incidence of the sound wave comprises determining the level of the received sound wave and determining an angle of reflection of the acoustic grille;

adjust an output characteristic of a second transducer of the playback device based on the angle of incidence, wherein the adjusted output characteristic of the second transducer 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 the second transducer, the audio signal according to the adjusted output characteristic of the second transducer.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, the instructions further include instructions for determining, based on the angle of incidence, a location of a source of the sound wave relative to the playback device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

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

adjusting the output characteristic of the second transducer such that at least a portion of the played back audio signal is directed toward the location of the user.