Playback device configuration according to distortion threshold

• US 10,051,399 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Oishi, Tetsuro, Bush, William H
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/681,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20170353808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/001 Adaptation of signal processing in PA systems in dependence of presence of noise
• 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 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• 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 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/002 Loudspeaker arrays
• 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: 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 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/07 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration;

determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system;

determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold;

if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then

(i) changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to an updated playback configuration of the playback device; and

(ii) causing the playback device to play audio content according to the updated playback configuration; and

if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is not greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then

(i) foregoing changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device; and

(ii) causing the playback device to continue to play audio content according to the existing playback configuration.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to be deactivated.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to play a component of the audio content.

4. The playback device of claim 3, wherein the component of the audio content comprises a specific frequency range.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises changing a volume level of a given speaker of the playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises adjusting one or more frequency components of the audio content.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined frequency response for the playback device comprises an ideal frequency response for the playback device.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined frequency response for the playback device comprises a measured frequency response for the playback device.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distortion threshold comprises a particular predetermined percentage value.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distortion threshold comprises a particular absolute difference value.

11. Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration;

determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system;

determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold;

if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then

(i) changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to an updated playback configuration of the playback device; and

(ii) causing the playback device to play audio content according to the updated playback configuration; and

if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is not greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then

(i) foregoing changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device; and

(ii) causing the playback device to continue to play audio content according to the existing playback configuration.

12. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to be deactivated.

13. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to play a component of the audio content.

14. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the component of the audio content comprises a specific frequency range.

15. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises changing a volume level of a given speaker of the playback device.

16. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises adjusting one or more frequency components of the audio content.

17. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the predetermined frequency response for the playback device comprises a measured frequency response for the playback device.

18. A method comprising:

causing a playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration;

determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system;

determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold;

if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then

(i) changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to an updated playback configuration of the playback device; and

(ii) causing the playback device to play audio content according to the updated playback configuration; and

if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is not greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then

(i) foregoing changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device; and

(ii) causing the playback device to continue to play audio content according to the existing playback configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises changing a volume level of a given speaker of the playback device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises adjusting one or more frequency components of the audio content.