Playback device calibration

• US 10,097,942 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffiths, Neil, Chamness, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): MOONEY, JAMES K
• Application Number:
  US15/342,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20170070836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• 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 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

An indication of an acoustic characteristic of a playback device may comprise an orientation of the playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the playback device. After receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, a crossover frequency of the playback device may be determined and a series of tones may be output. A phase may be set based at least in part on a received indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

a speaker driver;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to perform a method comprising;

receiving, from a second playback device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of an acoustic characteristic of the second playback device that comprises an orientation of the second playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the second playback device;

after receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, in synchronization with the second playback device via the speaker driver, a series of tones;

after outputting the series of tones, receiving, from a controller device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones; and

setting a phase of the first playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the selected tone set.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to pair with the second playback device.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to calibrate the first playback device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising:

sending, to the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a prompt to recalibrate the first playback device.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein determining the crossover frequency comprises calculating the crossover frequency based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the series of tones includes a first tone set and a second tone set, the second tone set output 180 degrees offset in phase from the first tone set.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein setting the phase comprises storing, in the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory, configuration data.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a level setting for the first playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the series of tones comprises spectral content comprising harmonics of a fundamental frequency that span frequencies above the crossover frequency and below the crossover frequency.

10. The playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising:

playing audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device from a second playback device via a wireless communication interface, an indication of an acoustic characteristic of the second playback device that comprises an orientation of the second playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the second playback device;

after receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, in synchronization with the second playback device via a speaker driver, a series of tones;

after outputting the series of tones, receiving, from a controller device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones; and

setting a phase of the first playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the selected tone set.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to calibrate the first playback device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the crossover frequency comprises calculating the crossover frequency based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a level setting for the first playback device.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

playing audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device from a second playback device via a wireless communication interface, an indication of an acoustic characteristic of the second playback device that comprises an orientation of the second playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the second playback device;

after receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, in synchronization with the second playback device via a speaker driver, a series of tones;

after outputting the series of tones, receiving, from a controller device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones; and

setting a phase of the first playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the selected tone set.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to calibrate the first playback device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method for determining the crossover frequency comprises calculating the crossover frequency based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a level setting for the first playback device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

playing audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.