Capacitive proximity sensor configuration including a conductive speaker grille

• US 10,761,801 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Calatayud, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/269,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 340 44
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/02 manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03 Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94036 Multiple detection, i.e. where different switching signals are generated after operation of the user is detected at different time instants at different locations during the actuation movement by two or more sensors of the same or different kinds
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 : Screens for loudspeakers
• 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: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Example techniques involve a speaker grille of a playback device that is connectable to a capacitive proximity sensor, which may increase the area over which an object'"'"'s proximity to the sensor can be sensed. An example implementation includes a playback device that includes an enclosure comprising a first surface and a second surface, one or more speakers mounted on the first surface, a conductive speaker grille covering the one or more speakers, one or more playback controls mounted on the second surface, and a capacitive proximity sensor oriented away from the second surface. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a grounding plane that is connectable to the conductive speaker grille.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

an enclosure comprising a front surface and a second surface;

one or more speakers mounted on the front surface;

a conductive speaker grille covering the one or more speakers;

one or more playback controls mounted on the second surface; and

a capacitive proximity sensor oriented away from the front surface, the capacitive proximity sensor comprising a first grounding plane that is selectively connectable electrically to the conductive speaker grille responsive to an operating state of the playback device,

wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect in proximity to the first grounding plane in a first direction away from the second surface, and

wherein, when the first grounding plane is electrically connected to the conductive speaker grille, the conductive speaker grille forms a second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor that configures the capacitive proximity sensor to additionally detect in proximity to the conductive speaker grille in a second direction away from the front surface.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the front surface is orthogonal to the second surface.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein the second surface is a top surface of the playback device when the enclosure is in a horizontal orientation and the second surface is a side surface of the playback device when the enclosure is in a vertical orientation.

4. The playback device of claim 3, wherein a front portion of the second surface is adjacent to the front surface, and wherein the one or more playback controls are mounted in the front portion of the second surface.

5. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising data storage having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

while playback of audio content via the one or more speakers is stopped, coupling the conductive speaker grille to the first grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to form an electrical connection between the conductive speaker grille and the first grounding plane.

6. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise:

while playing back audio content via the one or more speakers, decoupling the conductive speaker grille from the first grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor,

wherein, when the first grounding plane is decoupled from the conductive speaker grille, the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect in the first direction.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device further comprises a network interface,

wherein the network interface of the playback device comprises a RF antenna mounted underneath the front surface,

wherein the first grounding plane is connectable to the RF antenna, and

wherein, when the first grounding plane is connected to the RF antenna, the RF antenna forms a third grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor that configures the capacitive proximity sensor to additionally detect in proximity to the RF antenna.

8. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising data storage having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, an object in proximity to the playback device.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, the object in proximity to the playback device, causing at least one of the one or more playback controls to be illuminated via one or more backlights.

10. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the playback device further comprises an audio stage comprising an amplifier component, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, the object in proximity to the playback device, enabling the audio stage of the playback device such that the amplifier component of the audio stage is configured to produce amplified audio signals.

11. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the playback device further comprises a network interface, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, the object in proximity to the playback device, pre-caching audio content in the data storage, wherein pre-caching the audio content in the data storage comprises streaming at least a portion of the audio content via the network interface.

12. A playback device comprising:

an enclosure;

one or more speakers mounted in the enclosure;

a conductive speaker grille covering the one or more speakers;

one or more playback controls mounted on the enclosure; and

a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a first grounding plane proximate to the one or more playback controls, the first grounding plane selectively connectable electrically to the conductive speaker grille responsive to an operating state of the playback device,

wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect in proximity to the first grounding plane, and

wherein, when the first grounding plane is electrically connected to the conductive speaker grille, the conductive speaker grille forms a second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor that configures the capacitive proximity sensor to detect in physical proximity to the conductive speaker grille in addition to in physical proximity to the first grounding plane.

13. The playback device of claim 12, further comprising data storage having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

while playback of audio content via the one or more speakers is stopped, coupling the conductive speaker grille to the first grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor.

14. The playback device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

while playing back audio content via the one or more speakers, decoupling the conductive speaker grille from the first grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, wherein, when the first grounding plane is decoupled from the conductive speaker grille, the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect in proximity to the first grounding plane only.

15. The playback device of claim 12, wherein the playback device further comprises a network interface,

wherein the network interface of the playback device comprises a RF antenna,

wherein the first grounding plane is connectable to the RF antenna, and

wherein, when the first grounding plane is connected to the RF antenna, the RF antenna forms a third grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor that configures the capacitive proximity sensor to additionally detect in proximity to the RF antenna.

16. The playback device of claim 12, further comprising data storage having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, an object in proximity to the playback device.

17. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, the object in proximity to the playback device, causing at least one of the one or more playback controls to be illuminated via one or more backlights.

18. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the playback device further comprises an audio stage comprising an amplifier component, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, the object in proximity to the playback device, enabling the audio stage of the playback device such that the amplifier component of the audio stage is configured to produce amplified audio signals.

19. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the playback device further comprises a network interface, and wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting, via either the first grounding plane or the second grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor, the object in proximity to the playback device, pre-caching audio content in the data storage, wherein pre-caching the audio content in the data storage comprises streaming at least a portion of the audio content via the network interface.

20. The playback device of claim 16, wherein a front portion of a second surface of the enclosure is adjacent to a front surface of the enclosure, and wherein the one or more playback controls are mounted in the front portion of the second surface.