Playback device calibration

• US 10,771,911 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2018
• Issued: 09/08/2020
• 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:
  US16/154,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20190098428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 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 network interface;

a processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

while paired with a second playback device for playback of audio content, receiving an indication that an orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed;

based on receiving the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed, caused a mobile controller device to display a selectable indication that, when selected, initiates calibration of the paired first and second playback devices;

based on receiving an indication that the selectable indication has been selected;

determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, with the second playback device, at least a first tone set and a second tone set, wherein the first tone set is the same as the second tone set, wherein each of the first tone set and the second tone set comprises at least one fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic tone of the fundamental frequency, and wherein the first tone set is output in phase with the second playback device whereas the second tone set is not output in phase with the second playback device;

after outputting the first tone set and the second tone set, receiving, from the controller device, an indication of a selected one of the first tone set or the second tone set; and

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

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed is received from one of (i) the second playback device or (ii) a sensor of the first playback device.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from the controller device, a level setting for the first playback device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein each of the first tone set and the second tone set comprises eight fundamental frequencies and at least one harmonic tone of each of the eight fundamental frequencies, and wherein at least one of the eight fundamental frequencies is above the crossover frequency and at least one of the eight fundamental frequencies is below the crossover frequency.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the second tone set is output by the first playback device 180 degrees offset in phase from the second tone set output by the second playback device.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device outputs the first tone set at a first time and the second tone set at a second time.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device is a subwoofer.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein after adjusting the phase setting of the first playback device, the phase setting of the first playback device is different than a phase setting of the second playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein each of the first tone set and the second tone set comprises two or more fundamental frequencies and at least one harmonic tone of each of the two or more fundamental frequencies, and wherein at least one of the two or more fundamental frequencies is above the crossover frequency and at least one of the two or more fundamental frequencies is below the crossover frequency.

10. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to receive the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed comprise program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to detect, via the at least one sensor, that the orientation of the first playback device has changed.

11. The first playback device of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.

12. A method implemented by a first playback device, the method comprising:

while paired with a second playback device for playback of audio content, receiving an indication that an orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed;

based on receiving the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed, causing a mobile controller device to display a selectable indication that, when selected, initiates calibration of the paired first and second playback devices;

based on receiving an indication that the selectable indication that has been selected;

determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, with the second playback device, at least a first tone set and a second tone set, wherein the first tone set is the same as the second tone set, wherein each of the first tone set and the second tone set comprises at least one fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic tone of the fundamental frequency, and wherein the first tone set is output in phase with the second playback device whereas the second tone set is not output in phase with the second playback device;

after outputting the first tone set and the second tone set, receiving, from the controller device, an indication of a selected one of the first tone set or the second tone set; and

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

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the indication that the orientation of the first playback device or the second playback device has changed comprises receiving the indication from one of (i) the second playback device or (ii) a of the first playback device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second tone set is output by the first playback device 180 degrees offset in phase from the second tone set output by the second playback device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first playback device comprises at least one sensor wherein receiving the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed comprises detecting, via the at least one sensor, that the orientation of the first playback device has changed.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

while paired with a second playback device for playback of audio content, receiving an indication that an orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed;

based on receiving the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed, causing a mobile controller device to display a selectable indication that, when selected, initiates calibration of the paired first and second playback devices;

based on receiving an indication that the selectable indication has been selected;

determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, with the second playback device, at least a first tone set and a second tone set, wherein the first tone set is the same as the second tone set, wherein each of the first tone set and the second tone set comprises at least one fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic tone of the fundamental frequency, and wherein the first tone set is output in phase with the second playback device whereas the second tone set is not output in phase with the second playback device;

after outputting the first tone set and the second tone set, receiving, from the controller device, an indication of a selected one of the first tone set or the second tone set; and

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

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the indication that the orientation of the first or the second playback device has changed is received from one of (i) the second playback device or (ii) a sensor of the first playback device.