Audio filters based on configuration

• US 9,906,886 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• 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:
  US15/247,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20160373878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 381 1, 381300, 381303, 381304, 381305, 381306, 381307, 381311, 381 12, 381 80, 381 81, 381 85, 381332, 381333, 381334, 381 91, 381123, 381122, 381335, 381336, 381386-388, 381 37, 381103, 381111, 381116, 381117, 381118, 381 86, 381302, 348794, 348480, 348482, 348484, 348 E5122, 348 E5123, 348 E5125, 348 E513, 341 20- 26, 361681, 361683, 345156, 345169, 345173, 345158, 353 15, 353 19, 700 94
• 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

A playback device identifies a first audio filter and a second audio filter. The first audio filter is configured to have a first frequency response and the second audio filter is configured to have a second frequency response. The audio input is processed according to the first audio filter and the second audio filter to produce respective first audio output and second audio output. The first audio speaker renders the first audio output and the second audio speaker renders the second audio output, where the second frequency response of the second audio filter compensates for interference between the first audio output rendered by the first audio speaker and the second audio output rendered by the second audio speaker.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a first audio speaker having a first center portion;

a second audio speaker having a second center portion, wherein the second center portion is spaced apart from the first center portion by a first distance;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

based on a playback configuration of the playback device, identifying a first audio filter and a second audio filter, wherein the first audio filter is configured to have a first frequency response, wherein the second audio filter is configured to have a second frequency response;

processing audio content according to the first audio filter to produce a first audio output, wherein the first audio filter comprises a low-pass filter having a first cutoff frequency less than a center frequency of the first audio filter, and wherein the center frequency has a wavelength that is approximately twice the first distance;

processing the audio content according to the second audio filter to produce a second audio output, wherein the second audio filter comprises a low-pass filter having a second cutoff frequency that is greater than the first cutoff frequency and the center frequency; and

causing (i) the first audio speaker to render the first audio output and (ii) the second audio speaker to render the second audio output;

wherein the second frequency response of the second audio filter compensates for interference between the first audio output rendered by the first audio speaker and the second audio output rendered by the second audio speaker.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio speaker and the second audio speaker are mid-range speakers having a same audio characteristic.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second frequency response compensates for the interference by dominating the first frequency response.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining an orientation of the playback device, and wherein identifying the first audio filter and the second audio filter further comprises identifying the first audio filter and the second audio filter based on the orientation of the playback device.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback configuration comprises one of:

an individual configuration, a stereo pair configuration, and a consolidated configuration.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second audio filter comprises a high frequency shelf filter that provides a gain above a the first cutoff frequency of the first audio filter.

7. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising a third audio speaker positioned between the first audio speaker and the second audio speaker.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device including first and second audio speakers having respective first and second center portions that are separated by a first distance, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

based on a playback configuration of the playback device, identifying a first audio filter and a second audio filter, wherein the first audio filter is configured to have a first frequency response, wherein the second audio filter is configured to have a second frequency response, wherein the first audio filter comprises a low-pass filter having a first cutoff frequency less than a center frequency of the first audio filter, wherein the center frequency has a wavelength that is approximately twice the first distance, and wherein the second audio filter comprises a low-pass filter having a second cutoff frequency that is greater than the first cutoff frequency and the center frequency;

processing audio content according to the first audio filter to produce a first audio output;

processing the audio content according to the second audio filter to produce a second audio output; and

causing (i) the first audio speaker to render the first audio output and (ii) the second audio speaker to render the second audio output;

wherein the second frequency response of the second audio filter compensates for interference between the first audio output rendered by the first audio speaker and the second audio output rendered by the second audio speaker.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first audio speaker and the second audio speaker are mid-range speakers having a same audio characteristic.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second frequency response compensates for the interference by dominating the first frequency response.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining an orientation of the playback device, and wherein identifying the first audio filter and the second audio filter comprises identifying the first audio filter and the second audio filter further based on the orientation of the playback device.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the playback configuration comprises one of:

an individual configuration, a stereo pair configuration, and a consolidated configuration.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the playback device further comprises a third audio speaker positioned between the first audio speaker and the second audio speaker.

14. A method comprising:

based on a playback configuration of a playback device, identifying by the playback device, a first audio filter and a second audio filter, wherein the first audio filter is configured to have a first frequency response, wherein the second audio filter is configured to have a second frequency response, wherein the playback device includes a first audio speaker having a first center portion, and further includes a second audio speaker having a second center portion, and wherein the second center portion is spaced apart from the first center portion by a first distance;

processing by the playback device, audio content according to the first audio filter to produce a first audio output, wherein the first audio filter comprises a low-pass filter having a first cutoff frequency less than a center frequency of the first audio filter, and wherein the center frequency has a wavelength that is approximately twice the first distance;

processing by the playback device, the audio content according to the second audio filter to produce a second audio output, wherein the second audio filter comprises a low-pass filter having a second cutoff frequency that is greater than the first cutoff frequency and the center frequency; and

causing by the playback device, (i) the first audio speaker to render the first audio output and (ii) the second audio speaker to render the second audio output;

wherein the second frequency response of the second audio filter compensates for interference between the first audio output rendered by the first audio speaker and the second audio output rendered by the second audio speaker.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first audio speaker and the second audio speaker are mid-range speakers having a same audio characteristic.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second frequency response compensates for the interference by dominating the first frequency response.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device, and wherein identifying the first audio filter and the second audio filter comprises identifying by the playback device, the first audio filter and the second audio filter further based on the orientation of the playback device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the playback configuration comprises one of:

an individual configuration, a stereo pair configuration, and a consolidated configuration.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the playback device further comprises a third audio speaker positioned between the first audio speaker and the second audio speaker.