Lifetime of an audio playback device with changed signal processing settings

• US 9,883,304 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Little, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US15/224,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00

Abstract

A first lifetime estimate is determined for a first acoustic component of a first audio playback device configured with first signal processing settings. A second audio playback device is configured with second signal processing settings. A second lifetime estimate is determined for a second acoustic component of the second audio playback device configured with the second signal processing settings, where the second lifetime estimate is determined based on first lifetime estimate and where the first acoustic component is substantially similar to the second acoustic component.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first lifetime estimate for a first acoustic component comprising a first transducer of a first playback device configured to play back audio content with first signal processing settings,

wherein the first lifetime estimate is determined by mechanically stressing the first acoustic component to failure by operating the first audio playback device at a predetermined volume until the first transducer fails;

configuring a second playback device to play back audio content with second signal processing settings, wherein the second playback device has a second acoustic component;

receiving one or more statistics associated with movement of the second acoustic component while playing back the audio with the second signal processing settings;

determining a second lifetime estimate for the second acoustic component configured with the second signal processing settings without mechanically stressing the second acoustic component to failure,

wherein the second lifetime estimate is determined based on (i) applying a lifetime acceleration factor to the first lifetime estimate, wherein the lifetime acceleration factor is based on an indication of cyclic movement of the first acoustic component, (ii) an indication of usage of the second audio playback device, and (iii) the one or more statistics, and wherein the first acoustic component is substantially similar to the second acoustic component, and wherein the second lifetime estimate is greater than the first lifetime estimate;

receiving an indication of usage of a third playback device;

determining that the indication of usage of the third playback device exceeds a threshold amount; and

based on the determination that the indication of usage of the third playback device exceeds the threshold amount, sending the second signal processing settings to the third playback device to cause the third playback device to play back audio based on the second signal processing settings, thereby increasing a lifetime of the third playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first lifetime estimate for a first acoustic component of a first audio playback device configured with first signal processing settings comprises receiving the first lifetime estimate from memory.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second acoustic component is a transducer, the method further comprising determining a maximum displacement of a diaphragm of the transducer and wherein determining a second lifetime estimate for the second audio playback device comprises comparing the maximum displacement to a threshold amount;

and determining the second lifetime estimate in response to the maximum displacement not exceeding the threshold amount.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the second lifetime estimate comprises comparing the second lifetime estimate to an indication of an acceptable lifetime for the first and second audio playback device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a second lifetime estimate comprises calculating an average cycle time and an average cyclic stress amplitude associated with cyclic movement of the first acoustic component and second acoustic component.

6. A network device comprising:

at least one processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;

comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising;

receiving a first lifetime estimate for a first acoustic component comprising a first transducer of a first playback device configured to play back audio content with first signal processing settings,

wherein the first lifetime estimate is determined by mechanically stressing the first acoustic component to failure by operating the first audio playback device at a predetermined volume until the first transducer fails;

configuring a second playback device to play back audio content with second signal processing settings, wherein the second playback device has a second acoustic component;

receiving one or more statistics associated with movement of the second acoustic component while playing back the audio with the second signal processing settings;

determining a second lifetime estimate for the second acoustic component of the second audio playback device configured with the second signal processing settings without mechanically stressing the second acoustic component to failure,

wherein the second lifetime estimate is determined based on (i) applying a lifetime acceleration factor to the first lifetime estimate, wherein the lifetime acceleration factor is based on an indication of cyclic movement of the first acoustic component and second acoustic component, (ii) an indication of usage of the second audio playback device, and (iii) the one or more statistics, and wherein the first acoustic component is substantially similar to the second acoustic component, and wherein the second lifetime estimate is greater than the first lifetime estimate; and

receiving an indication of usage of a third playback device;

determining that the indication of usage of the third playback device exceeds a threshold amount; and

based on the determination that the indication of usage of the third playback device exceeds the threshold amount, sending the second signal processing settings to the third playback device to cause the third playback device to play back audio based on the second signal processing settings, thereby increasing a lifetime of the third playback device.

7. The network device of claim 6, wherein the first lifetime estimate is based on a shape of a continuous probability distribution that characterizes a failure rate of the first acoustic component of the first audio playback device.

8. The network device of claim 6, wherein the second acoustic component is a transducer, the network device further comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform the functions of:

determining a maximum displacement of a diaphragm of the transducer and wherein determining a second lifetime estimate for the second audio playback device comprises comparing the maximum displacement to a threshold amount; and

determining the second lifetime estimate in response to the maximum displacement not exceeding the threshold amount.

9. The network device of claim 6, wherein the first audio playback device configured with first signal processing settings and the second audio playback device configured with second signal processing settings is a same physical device.

10. The network device of claim 6, wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one the processor to perform the functions comprising determining a second lifetime estimate comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising calculating an average cycle time and an average cyclic stress amplitude associated with cyclic movement of the first acoustic component and second acoustic component.

11. A Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a first lifetime estimate for a first acoustic component comprising a first transducer of a first playback device configured to play back audio content with first signal processing settings,

wherein the first lifetime estimate is determined by mechanically stressing the first acoustic component to failure by operating the first audio playback device at a predetermined volume until the first transducer fails;

configuring a second playback device to play back audio content with second signal processing settings, wherein the second playback device has a second acoustic component;

receiving one or more statistics associated with movement of the second acoustic component while playing back the audio with the second signal processing settings;

determining a second lifetime estimate for the second acoustic component of the second audio playback device configured with the second signal processing settings without mechanically stressing the second acoustic component to failure,

wherein the second lifetime estimate is determined based on (i) applying a lifetime acceleration factor to the first lifetime estimate, wherein the lifetime acceleration factor is based on an indication of cyclic movement of the first acoustic component and second acoustic component, (ii) an indication of usage of the second audio playback device, and (iii) the one or more statistics, and wherein the first acoustic component is substantially similar to the second acoustic component, and wherein the second lifetime estimate is greater than the first lifetime estimate;

receiving an indication of usage of a third playback device;

determining that the indication of usage of the third playback device exceeds a threshold amount; and

based on the determination that the indication of usage of the third playback device exceeds the threshold amount, sending the second signal processing settings to the third playback device to cause the third playback device to play back audio based on the second signal processing settings, thereby increasing a lifetime of the third playback device.