Calibration adjustment based on barrier

• US 9,521,487 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Bush, William H, Oishi, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUIN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US15/066,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 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. An example implementation may involve configuring the playback device for audio output in a given environment by calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment. After the playback device is configured for audio output, the playback device may detect a barrier within proximity of the playback device by detecting a change in the acoustic effects of the given environment. In response to detecting the barrier within proximity of the playback device, the playback device may adjust the calibration.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, 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;

configuring the playback device for audio output in a given environment, wherein configuring the playback device for audio output comprises calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment;

after configuring the playback device for audio output, detecting a barrier within proximity of the playback device, wherein detecting the barrier comprises detecting a change in the acoustic effects of the given environment; and

in response to detecting the barrier within proximity of the playback device, adjusting the calibration of the playback device.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment comprises:

causing, at a first instance, one or more speakers to output a first audio pulse; and

receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse, wherein the received audio data indicates acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein detecting the change in the acoustic effects of the given environment:

causing, at a second instance that is after the first instance, the one or more speakers to output a second audio pulse;

receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse, wherein the received audio data indicates acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance; and

determining that the acoustic effects of the given environment have changed between the first instance and the second instance.

4. The playback device of claim 3, wherein receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises causing a microphone to record samples of the first audio pulse, the recorded samples of the first audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, and wherein receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises causing the microphone to record samples of the second audio pulse, the recorded samples of the second audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance.

5. The playback device of claim 3, wherein receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises receiving, via a network interface from a recording device, samples of the first audio pulse, the recorded samples of the first audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, and wherein receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises receiving, via the network interface from the recording device, samples of the second audio pulse, the recorded samples of the second audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance.

6. The playback device of claim 3, wherein the audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises a first frequency response indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, wherein the audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises a second frequency response indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance, and wherein determining that the acoustic effects of the given environment have changed between the first instance and the second instance comprises determining that a change between the first frequency response and the second frequency response is greater than a distortion threshold.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device comprises a first speaker and a second speaker, wherein calibrating the playback device comprises determining respective calibrations for the first speaker and the second speaker, wherein detecting the barrier comprises detecting that the barrier is within proximity of the first speaker, and wherein adjusting the calibration of the playback device comprises adjusting the calibration of the first speaker.

8. A method comprising:

configuring, via a playback device, the playback device for audio output in a given environment, wherein configuring the playback device for audio output comprises calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment

after configuring the playback device for audio output, detecting, via the playback device, a barrier within proximity of the playback device, wherein detecting the barrier comprises detecting a change in the acoustic effects of the given environment; and

in response to detecting the barrier within proximity of the playback device, adjusting the calibration of the playback device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment comprises:

causing, at a first instance, one or more speakers to output a first audio pulse; and

receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse, wherein the received audio data indicates acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the change in the acoustic effects of the given environment:

causing, at a second instance that is after the first instance, the one or more speakers to output a second audio pulse;

receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse, wherein the received audio data indicates acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance; and

determining that the acoustic effects of the given environment have changed between the first instance and the second instance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises causing a microphone to record samples of the first audio pulse, the recorded samples of the first audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, and wherein receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises causing the microphone to record samples of the second audio pulse, the recorded samples of the second audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises receiving, via a network interface from a recording device, samples of the first audio pulse, the recorded samples of the first audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, and wherein receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises receiving, via the network interface from the recording device, samples of the second audio pulse, the recorded samples of the second audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises a first frequency response indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, wherein the audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises a second frequency response indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance, and wherein determining that the acoustic effects of the given environment have changed between the first instance and the second instance comprises determining that a change between the first frequency response and the second frequency response is greater than a distortion threshold.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the playback device comprises a first speaker and a second speaker, wherein calibrating the playback device comprises determining respective calibrations for the first speaker and the second speaker, wherein detecting the barrier comprises detecting that the barrier is within proximity of the first speaker, and wherein adjusting the calibration of the playback device comprises adjusting the calibration of the first speaker.

15. A tangible 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:

configuring the playback device for audio output in a given environment, wherein configuring the playback device for audio output comprises calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment;

after configuring the playback device for audio output, detecting a barrier within proximity of the playback device, wherein detecting the barrier comprises detecting a change in the acoustic effects of the given environment; and

in response to detecting the barrier within proximity of the playback device, adjusting the calibration of the playback device.

16. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein calibrating the playback device to at least partially offset acoustic effects of the given environment comprises:

causing, at a first instance, one or more speakers to output a first audio pulse; and

receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse, wherein the received audio data indicates acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance.

17. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein detecting the change in the acoustic effects of the given environment:

causing, at a second instance that is after the first instance, the one or more speakers to output a second audio pulse;

receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse, wherein the received audio data indicates acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance; and

determining that the acoustic effects of the given environment have changed between the first instance and the second instance.

18. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises causing a microphone to record samples of the first audio pulse, the recorded samples of the first audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, and wherein receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises causing the microphone to record samples of the second audio pulse, the recorded samples of the second audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance.

19. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein receiving audio data representing the first audio pulse comprises receiving, via a network interface from a recording device, samples of the first audio pulse, the recorded samples of the first audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the first instance, and wherein receiving audio data representing the second audio pulse comprises receiving, via the network interface from the recording device, samples of the second audio pulse, the recorded samples of the second audio pulse indicating acoustic effects of the given environment at the second instance.

20. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the playback device comprises a first speaker and a second speaker, wherein calibrating the playback device comprises determining respective calibrations for the first speaker and the second speaker, wherein detecting the barrier comprises detecting that the barrier is within proximity of the first speaker, and wherein adjusting the calibration of the playback device comprises adjusting the calibration of the first speaker.