Ambient light proximity sensing configuration

• US 9,223,353 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Calatayud, Thomas, Reilly, Jonathon
• Primary Examiner(s): Legasse, Jr., Francis M
• Application Number:
  US14/041,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• 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 2217/94106 Passive activation of light sensor, e.g. by ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for intelligently revealing selectable icons on a control panel of a playback device based on proximity detection. In one example, an ambient light level may be determined based on a detection of ambient light by a light sensor of a control area for a playback device. Based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor and a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor may be adjusted. The IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor may each be configured to detect a physical movement. Based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device may be determined, and a control area of the playback device may be illuminated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an ambient light level of a control area for a playback device based on a detection by a light sensor;

adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor, wherein the IR proximity sensor is configured to detect physical movement;

adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect a physical movement;

determining a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor; and

responsively causing the control area of the playback device to be illuminated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the sensitivity of the IR proximity sensor comprises:

adjusting a pulse width of the IR proximity sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the sensitivity of the capacitive proximity sensor comprises:

adjusting a gain level of the capacitive proximity sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control area of the playback device is a control strip comprising capacitive buttons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna fill.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RF antenna ground plane comprises a copper pour in a printed circuit board.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the playback device is not rendering audio content; and

responsively, causing a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to a metal speaker grille of the playback device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the playback device is rendering audio content; and

responsively, causing the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be decoupled from the metal speaker grille of the playback device.

9. A playback device comprising:

a processor,

an infrared (IR) proximity sensor;

a capacitive proximity sensor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

determining an ambient light level of a control area for a playback device based on a detection by a light sensor;

adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor, wherein the IR proximity sensor is configured to detect physical movement;

adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect a physical movement;

determining a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor; and

responsively causing the control area of the playback device to be illuminated.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the IR proximity sensor comprises instructions to cause the playback device to perform functions including:

adjusting a pulse width of the IR proximity sensor.

11. The playback device of claim 9, wherein instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the capacitive proximity sensor comprises instructions to cause the playback device to perform functions including:

adjusting a gain level of the capacitive proximity sensor.

12. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the control area of the audio playback device is a control strip comprising capacitive buttons.

13. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane.

14. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is couple to a metallic speaker grille of the playback device, and wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the device to perform functions further comprising:

determining that the audio playback device is rendering audio content; and

responsively, causing a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be decoupled from the metal speaker grille of the playback device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:

determining an ambient light level of a control area for a playback device based on a detection by a light sensor;

adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor, wherein the IR proximity sensor is configured to detect physical movement;

adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect a physical movement;

determining a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor; and

responsively causing the control area of the playback device to be illuminated.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the IR proximity sensor comprises instructions to cause the computing device to perform functions including:

adjusting a pulse width of the IR proximity sensor.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein instructions for adjusting the sensitivity of the capacitive proximity sensor comprises instructions to cause the computing device to perform functions including:

adjusting a gain level of the capacitive proximity sensor.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the control area of the audio playback device is a control strip comprising capacitive buttons.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna fill.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions further comprising:

determining that the audio playback device is not rendering audio content; and

responsively, causing a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to a metal speaker grille of the audio playback device.