Proximity detection using audio pulse

• US 9,439,021 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Oishi, Tetsuro, Bush, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/921,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 381/303
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/001 Adaptation of signal processing in PA systems in dependence of presence of noise
• 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 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• 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 29/002 Loudspeaker arrays
• 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: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/07 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments described herein involve configuring a playback device based on the detection of a barrier in proximity to the playback device. One embodiment may involve receiving proximity data that includes an indication of a barrier that is proximate to a playback device; detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to a first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device; in response to the detecting, setting a playback configuration of the playback device; and causing the playback device to play an audio content according to the playback configuration.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more speakers;

one or more microphones; and

tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform a method comprising

outputting, via at least one of the one or more speakers, an audio pulse;

receiving proximity data that includes an indication of a barrier that is proximate to the playback device, wherein receiving the proximity data comprises;

receiving data indicative of a reflected audio pulse via at least one of the one or more microphones, and wherein the reflected audio pulse corresponds to the outputted audio pulse;

detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to a first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device;

based on the detecting, setting a playback configuration of the playback device; and

causing the playback device to play an audio content according to the playback configuration.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein setting a playback configuration of the playback device comprises:

causing the first speaker of the playback device to be deactivated.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein the first speaker of the playback device is configured to play a component of the audio content, the method further comprising:

after causing the first speaker to be deactivated, causing a second speaker of the playback device to play at least a portion of the component of the audio content.

4. The playback device of claim 3, wherein the first speaker has a first output direction, wherein the second speaker has a second output direction that is different from the first output direction of the first speaker, and wherein causing a second speaker to play at least a portion of the component of the audio content further comprises:

modifying the at least a portion of the component of the audio content based on at least the second output direction.

5. The playback device of claim 3, wherein the audio content is a stereo recording, and wherein the component of the audio content is one of:

(i) a right channel component of the stereo recording or (ii) a left channel component of the stereo recording.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first speaker is configured to play a component of the audio content, and wherein setting a playback configuration of the playback device comprises:

adjusting the component of the audio content based on the received proximity data.

7. The playback device of claim 6, wherein adjusting the component of the audio content based on the received proximity data comprises:

adjusting one or more frequency components of the component of the audio content.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device has a frequency response, and wherein detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to the first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device comprises:

determining a frequency response of a system, wherein the system comprises the playback device and the barrier; and

determining whether a difference between the frequency response of the playback device and the frequency response of the system is greater than a first distortion threshold.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the playback device further operates according to a second distortion threshold that is of a higher distortion than the first distortion threshold, the method further comprising:

adjusting a component of the audio content to be played by the first speaker based on the received proximity data when the frequency response of the playback device is distorted above the first distortion threshold by the barrier; and

causing the first speaker to be deactivated when the frequency response of the playback device is distorted above the second distortion threshold by the barrier.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device is a component of a media playback system, and wherein the media playback system comprises the playback device and a controller, the method further comprising:

in response to setting the playback configuration of the playback device, sending an indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device to the controller of the media playback system.

11. A method comprising:

outputting, via at least one speaker of a playback device, an audio pulse;

receiving proximity data that includes an indication of a barrier that is proximate to the playback device, wherein receiving the proximity data comprises;

receiving data indicative of a reflected audio pulse via at least one microphone, and wherein the reflected audio pulse corresponds to the outputted audio pulse;

detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to a first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device, wherein the first speaker is configured to play a component of an audio content; and

based on the detecting, (i) causing the first speaker to be deactivated and (ii) causing a second speaker of the playback device to play the component of the audio content.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first speaker has a first output direction, wherein the second speaker has a second output direction that is different from the first output direction of the first speaker, and wherein causing a second speaker to play at least a portion of the component of the audio content further comprises:

modifying the at least a portion of the component of the audio content based on at least the second output direction.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio content is a stereo recording, and wherein the component of the audio content is one of:

(i) a right channel component of the stereo recording or (ii) a left channel component of the stereo recording.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting the component of the audio content based on the received proximity data.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the playback device has a frequency response, and wherein detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to the first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device comprises:

determining a frequency response of a system, wherein the system comprises the playback device and the barrier; and

determining whether a difference between the frequency response of the playback device and the frequency response of the system is greater than a first distortion threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the playback device further operates according to a second distortion threshold that is of a higher distortion than the first distortion threshold, the method further comprising:

adjusting a component of the audio content to be played by the first speaker based on the received proximity data when the frequency response of the playback device is distorted above the first distortion threshold by the barrier; and

causing the first speaker to be deactivated when the frequency response of the playback device is distorted above the second distortion threshold by the barrier.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, cause a playback device to perform operations comprising:

outputting, via at least one of speaker, an audio pulse;

receiving proximity data that includes an indication of a barrier that is proximate to the playback device, wherein receiving the proximity data comprises;

receiving data indicative of a reflected audio pulse via at least one microphone, and wherein the reflected audio pulse corresponds to the outputted audio pulse;

detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to a first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device;

based on the detecting, setting a playback configuration of the playback device; and

causing the playback device to play an audio content according to the playback configuration.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein setting a playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing the first speaker of the playback device to be deactivated, wherein the first speaker of the playback device was configured to play a component of the audio content;

and wherein the operations further comprise;

after causing the first speaker to be deactivated, causing a second speaker of the playback device to play at least a portion of the component of the audio content.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the first speaker has a first output direction, wherein the second speaker has a second output direction that is different from the first output direction of the first speaker, and wherein causing a second speaker to play at least a portion of the component of the audio content further comprises:

modifying the at least a portion of the component of the audio content based on at least the second output direction.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the audio content is a stereo recording, and wherein the component of the audio content is one of:

(i) a right channel component of the stereo recording or (ii) a left channel component of the stereo recording.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first speaker is configured to play a component of the audio content, and wherein setting a playback configuration of the playback device comprises:

adjusting one or more frequency components of the component of the audio content.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the playback device has a frequency response, and wherein detecting that the barrier is within a threshold proximity to the first speaker of the playback device based on the indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device comprises:

determining a frequency response of a system, wherein the system comprises the playback device and the barrier; and

determining whether a difference between the frequency response of the playback device and the frequency response of the system is greater than a first distortion threshold.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the playback device further operates according to a second distortion threshold that is of a higher distortion than the first distortion threshold, the operations further comprising:

adjusting a component of the audio content to be played by the first speaker based on the received proximity data when the frequency response of the playback device is distorted above the first distortion threshold by the barrier; and

causing the first speaker to be deactivated when the frequency response of the playback device is distorted above the second distortion threshold by the barrier.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the playback device is a component of a media playback system, and wherein the media playback system comprises the playback device and a controller, the operations further comprising:

in response to setting the playback configuration of the playback device, sending an indication of the barrier that is proximate to the playback device to the controller of the media playback system.