Frequency Routing Based on Orientation

• US 20150341737A1
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew, Lang, Jonathan P., Wisneski, Craig, Reilly, Jonathon, Daly, Seamus, Mansfield, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 9,748,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0834 based on external parameters, e.g. subscriber speed or location
• 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for frequency routing based on orientation are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream. The example method includes determining, by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor;

a plurality of speaker drivers; and

memory including instructions stored therein executable by the processor to perform functions comprising;

receiving an audio data stream;

determining an orientation of the playback device;

routing a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation; and

routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first set of frequencies is below a threshold frequency and the second set of frequencies is above the threshold frequency.

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

playing back the audio data stream via the plurality of speaker drivers.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation comprises routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation and a given second state of the playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the given second state comprises any of:

not paired, not grouped, not consolidated, a pairing between the playback device and an additional playback device, a grouping of the playback device with an additional playback device, and a consolidation of the playback device with an additional playback device.

7. The playback device of claim 5, the functions further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication of the given second state.

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

receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication of the orientation of the playback device.

2. The playback device of claim 2, the functions further comprising:

reproducing a stereophonic sound using the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation and the audio data stream; and

reproducing a monaural sound using the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation and the audio data stream.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream;

determining, by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device;

routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation; and

routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reproducing a stereophonic sound using the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation and the audio data stream; and

reproducing a monaural sound using the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation and the audio data stream.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of frequencies is below a threshold frequency and the second set of frequencies is above the threshold frequency.

12. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

playing back the audio data stream via the plurality of speaker drivers.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation comprises routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation and a given second state of the playback device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the given second state comprises any of:

not paired, not grouped, not consolidated, a pairing between the playback device and an additional playback device, a grouping of the playback device with an additional playback device, and a consolidation of the playback device with an additional playback device.

15. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication of the given second state.

16. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication of the orientation of the playback device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by a processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream;

determining, by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device;

routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation; and

routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, the functions further comprising:

reproducing a stereophonic sound using the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation and the audio data stream; and

reproducing a monaural sound using the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation and the audio data stream.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first set of frequencies is below a threshold frequency and the second set of frequencies is above the threshold frequency.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation comprises routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation and a given second state of the playback device.