Antenna selection

• US 9,917,364 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: van Erven, Niels, van Niekerk, Carlo, Frey, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Norman
• Application Number:
  US14/696,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20160315384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 343893, 343844, 370252, 455522, 455 15, 455 301, 455 411, 455 412, 455 634, 455 68, 455 73, 342368, 342372
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0834 based on external parameters, e.g. subscriber speed or location
• 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 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 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A network device communicates with one or another set of antennas depending on an orientation of the network device. The network device includes a first set of one or more antennas, a second set of one or more antennas, a processor, and memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to perform functions. The functions include (1) determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation; (2) if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas; and (3) if the determined the orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of one or more antennas.

Claims

1. A network device having a longitudinal axis, the network device comprising:

a first set of antennas comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna, wherein each of the first, second, and third antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of at least the third antenna is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the network device;

a second set of antennas comprising the first antenna, the second antenna, and a fourth antenna, wherein the fourth antenna comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the fourth antenna is substantially perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis of the third antenna and the network device;

a processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising;

determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation;

if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas; and

if the determined orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of antennas.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the respective longitudinal axis of each of the first and second antennas is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the network device.

3. The network device of claim 2, wherein the respective longitudinal axis of each of the first, second, and fourth antennas are parallel to one another.

4. The network device of claim 1, further comprising one or more transducers, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

if the determination is that the orientation is the first orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a first equalization setting; and

if the determination is that the orientation is the second orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a second equalization setting.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas comprises causing the network device to receive at least one of control information and audio information via the first set of antennas.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas comprises causing the network device to send at least one of control information and audio information via the first set of antennas.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas comprises enabling the first set of antennas.

8. The network device of claim 1, wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas comprises causing the network device to disable the fourth antenna.

9. The network device of claim 1, further comprising a third set of antennas comprising the fourth antenna and a fifth antenna, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

further determining that an orientation of the network device is one of the first orientation, the second orientation, and a third orientation; and

if the further determined orientation is the third orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the third set of antennas.

10. A network device having a longitudinal axis, the network device comprising:

a first set of antennas comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna, wherein each of the first, second, and third antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the respective longitudinal axis of at least the first and second antennas is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the network device;

a second set of antennas comprising the first antenna, the second antenna, and a fourth antenna, wherein the fourth antenna comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the fourth antenna is substantially perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis of the first and second antennas and the network device;

a processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising;

determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation;

if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas; and

if the determined the orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of antennas.

11. The network device of claim 10, further comprising one or more transducers, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

if the determination is that the orientation is the first orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a first equalization setting; and

if the determination is that the orientation is the second orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a second equalization setting.

12. The network device of claim 10, wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas comprises causing the network device to disable the fourth antenna.

13. The network device of claim 10, further comprising a third set of antennas comprising the fourth antenna and a fifth antenna, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

further determining that an orientation of the network device is one of the first orientation, the second orientation, and a third orientation; and

if the further determined orientation is the third orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the third set of antennas.

14. A network device having a longitudinal axis, the network device comprising:

a first set of antennas comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna;

a second set of antennas comprising the first and second antennas and a fourth antenna;

a third set of antennas comprising the first antenna and the fourth antenna, wherein each antenna in each of set of antennas has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the antennas in each of the first, second, and third sets of antennas is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the network device, and wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the antennas in each of the first, second, and third set of antennas is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the network device;

a processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising;

determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation, a second orientation, and a third orientation;

if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of antennas;

if the determined orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of antennas; and

if the determined orientation is the third orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the third set of antennas.

15. The network device of claim 14, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first antenna is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the network device.

16. The network device of claim 14, wherein the longitudinal axis of the second antenna is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the network device.

17. The network device of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal axis of the fourth antenna is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the network device.

18. The network device of claim 14, further comprising one or more transducers, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

if the determination is that the orientation is the first orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a first equalization setting;

if the determination is that the orientation is the second orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a second equalization setting; and

if the determination is that the orientation is the third orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound via the one or more transducers according to a third equalization setting.