Stereo pairing with device base

• US 10,735,878 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2019
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Rappoport, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bernardi, Brenda C
• Application Number:
  US16/367,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20190222948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

Example techniques may involve a first playback device forming a stereo pair with a second playback device while the first playback device is placed onto a device base, and conversely, playing in mono while the first playback device is removed from the device base. In an example implementation, while a first playback device is placed onto a device base, the first playback device plays back audio content as a stereo pair with a second playback device. The first playback device detects, via a sensor, removal of the first playback device from the device base. When the first playback device is removed from the device base, the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in mono. Configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono removes the first playback device from the stereo pair with the second playback device.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

one or more speakers;

one or more amplifiers configured to drive the one or more speakers;

a sensor;

one or more processors;

a housing carrying the one or more speakers, the one or more amplifiers, the sensor, the one or more processors, and data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

while the first playback device is placed onto a device base, playing back audio content as a stereo pair with a second playback device;

detecting, via the sensor, removal of the first playback device from the device base; and

when the first playback device is removed from the device base, configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono removes the first playback device from the stereo pair with the second playback device.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the data storage further has stored therein one or more state variables that control operation of the first playback device, and wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises assigning one or more first properties to the one or more state variables that configure the first playback device to play back audio content in mono.

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

detecting, via the sensor, placement of the first playback device on the device base; and

when the first playback device is placed onto the device base, configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in the stereo pair with the second playback device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises configuring the first playback device to play back audio content from a first playback queue, wherein the first playback device is configured to play back a second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device as the stereo pair.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises removing the first playback device from a first zone of a media playback system, wherein the first zone includes the second playback device.

6. The first playback device of claim 5, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises joining the first playback device to a second zone of the media playback system, wherein the second zone consists of the first playback device.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device draws current from a battery of the first playback device when the first playback device is removed from the device base, and wherein the first playback device charges the battery of the first playback device when the first playback device is placed onto the device base.

8. A method to be performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:

while the first playback device is placed onto a device base, playing back audio content as a stereo pair with a second playback device;

detecting, via a sensor of the first playback device, removal of the first playback device from the device base; and

when the first playback device is removed from the device base, configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono removes the first playback device from the stereo pair with the second playback device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first playback device comprises data storage having stored therein one or more state variables that control operation of the first playback device, and wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises assigning one or more first properties to the one or more state variables that configure the first playback device to play back audio content in mono.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting, via the sensor, placement of the first playback device on the device base; and

when the first playback device is placed onto the device base, configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in the stereo pair with the second playback device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises configuring the first playback device to play back audio content from a first playback queue, wherein the first playback device is configured to play back a second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device as the stereo pair.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises removing the first playback device from a first zone of a media playback system, wherein the first zone includes the second playback device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises joining the first playback device to a second zone of the media playback system, wherein the second zone consists of the first playback device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first playback device draws current from a battery of the first playback device when the first playback device is removed from the device base, and wherein the first playback device charges the battery of the first playback device when the first playback device is placed onto the device base.

15. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a first playback device to cause the first playback device to perform a method comprising:

while the first playback device is placed onto a device base, playing back audio content as a stereo pair with a second playback device;

detecting, via a sensor of the first playback device, removal of the first playback device from the device base; and

when the first playback device is removed from the device base, configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono removes the first playback device from the stereo pair with the second playback device.

16. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first playback device comprises data storage having stored therein one or more state variables that control operation of the first playback device, and wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises assigning one or more first properties to the one or more state variables that configure the first playback device to play back audio content in mono.

17. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting, via the sensor, placement of the first playback device on the device base; and

when the first playback device is placed onto the device base, configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in the stereo pair with the second playback device.

18. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises configuring the first playback device to play back audio content from a first playback queue, wherein the first playback device is configured to play back a second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device as the stereo pair.

19. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises removing the first playback device from a first zone of a media playback system, wherein the first zone includes the second playback device.

20. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein configuring the first playback device to play back audio content in mono comprises joining the first playback device to a second zone of the media playback system, wherein the second zone consists of the first playback device.