Playback device calibration

• US 10,271,150 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheen, Timothy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamid, Ammar T
• Application Number:
  US15/909,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56, 381 59, 381122, 381 58, 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes 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 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 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Examples described herein involve calibration of a microphone. In an example implementation, while a network device is positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device, the network device detects, via a microphone of, a first audio signal. The network device also receives data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device. Based on (i) data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, the network device determines an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device and generates a microphone calibration algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device. The network device then applies the microphone calibration algorithm when performing an acoustic calibration of the playback device.

Claims

1. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a network device to perform functions comprising:

while the network device is positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device comprising one or more speakers and one or more amplifiers, detecting, by a microphone of the network device, a first audio signal;

receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device;

based on (i) data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, determining an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device;

generating a microphone calibration algorithm that offsets the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device; and

applying the microphone calibration algorithm to an acoustic calibration of the playback device, the acoustic calibration of the playback device involving the microphone of the network device detecting audio output by the one or more speakers and the one or more amplifiers while calibrated with the generated microphone calibration algorithm.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing, for storage in a database, an association between the generated microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the network device.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein the second audio signal was detected by the microphone of the playback device while the first audio signal was detected by the microphone of the network device.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

while detecting the first audio signal, causing one or more playback devices to play a third audio signal, wherein the first audio signal and the second audio signal each comprise a portion corresponding to the third audio signal.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to detecting the first audio signal, receiving an input to calibrate the microphone of the network device.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to detecting the first audio signal, providing, on a graphical interface, a graphical representation indicating that the network device is to be positioned within the predetermined physical range of the microphone of the playback device.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to detecting the first audio signal, determining that the network device is positioned within the predetermined physical range of the microphone of the playback device.

8. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1, wherein identifying a microphone calibration algorithm comprises:

transmitting, to a computing device, data indicating the first audio signal; and

receiving, from the computing device, the microphone calibration algorithm.

9. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors of a computing system to cause the computing system to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from a network device, data indicating a first audio signal detected by a microphone of the network device while the network device was positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device comprising one or more speakers and one or more amplifiers;

receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device;

based on (i) the data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, determining an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device;

generating a microphone calibration algorithm that offsets the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device; and

applying the microphone calibration algorithm when performing an acoustic calibration of the playback device in association with the network device, the acoustic calibration of the playback device involving the microphone of the network device detecting audio output by the one or more speakers and the one or more amplifiers while calibrated with the generated microphone calibration algorithm.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting to the network device, data indicating the microphone calibration algorithm.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing for storage in a database, an association between the generated microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the network device.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the network device is a first network device, wherein the microphone calibration algorithm is a first microphone calibration algorithm, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from a second network device, data indicating a third audio signal detected by a microphone of the second network device while the second network device is positioned within the predetermined physical range of the microphone of the playback device;

based on the data indicating the third audio signal and the data indicating the second audio signal, identifying a second microphone calibration algorithm; and

causing, for storage in a database, an association between the identified second microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the second network device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 12, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining that the microphone of the first network device and the microphone of the second network device are substantially the same;

responsively, determining a third microphone calibration algorithm based on the first microphone calibration algorithm and the second microphone calibration algorithm; and

causing, for storage in the database, an association between the determined third microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the first network device.

14. A computing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to perform functions comprising;

receiving, from a network device, data indicating a first audio signal detected by a microphone of the network device while the network device was positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device comprising one or more speakers and one or more amplifiers;

receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device;

based on (i) data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, determining an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device;

generating a microphone calibration algorithm that offsets the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device; and

transmitting, to the network device, data indicating the generated microphone calibration algorithm to cause application of the generated microphone calibration algorithm to an acoustic calibration of the one or more speakers and one or more amplifiers of the playback device, the acoustic calibration of the playback device involving the microphone of the network device detecting audio output by the one or more speakers and the one or more amplifiers while calibrated with the generated microphone calibration algorithm.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the functions further comprise:

storing the generated microphone calibration algorithm in association with one or more characteristics of the network device.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the network device is a first network device, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving from a second network device, data indicating one or more characteristics of the second network device;

identifying in storage, the generated microphone calibration algorithm based on the one or more characteristics of the second network device; and

transmitting to the second network device, data indicating the generated microphone calibration algorithm.

17. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the second audio signal was detected by the microphone of the playback device while the first audio signal was detected by the microphone of the network device.

18. The computing system of claim 14, wherein receiving the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device comprises:

receiving from the playback device, the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device.

19. The computing system of claim 14, wherein receiving the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device comprises:

receiving from the network device, the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device.

20. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the data indicating the first audio signal, causing one or more playback devices to play a third audio signal, wherein the first audio signal comprises a portion corresponding to the third audio signal.