Audio device and method of recognizing position of audio device

• US 9,661,431 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Chan-ho, Lim, Kyeong-chae
• Primary Examiner(s): BERNARDI, BRENDA C
• Application Number:
  US15/084,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• 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 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

An audio device and a position recognition method of the audio device are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, an audio device includes at least one infrared (IR) transceiver and a controller configured to recognize whether the audio device is positioned to a left or right of another audio device in response to a signal received by the at least one IR transceiver.

Claims

1. An audio device comprising:

at least one infrared (IR) transceiver; and

a controller configured to determine whether the audio device is positioned to a left or right of another audio device in response to a signal received by the at least one IR transceiver.

2. The audio device of claim 1, further comprising a movement sensor configured to sense movement of the audio device,

wherein the controller is configured to turn on the at least one IR transceiver in response to a signal indicating that the movement sensor senses movement of the audio device.

3. The audio device of claim 1, wherein,

the at least one IR transceiver includes a first IR transceiver and a second IR transceiver, and

the controller is configured to determine that the audio device is positioned on a surface using the first IR transceiver positioned on the bottom surface of the audio device, and to determine that the audio device is positioned to a left or right of the other audio device based on the second IR transceiver receiving a signal.

4. The audio device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to change settings of a function of the audio device in response to a change in a state of a signal sensed by the first IR transceiver positioned on the bottom surface of the audio device.

5. The audio device of claim 4, wherein the function includes one or more of a change of an input source, a change of a sound stage, and a volume up/down of the audio device.

6. A position recognition method of an audio device, the position recognition method comprising:

receiving a signal by at least one infrared (IR) transceiver included in the audio device; and

determining whether the audio device is positioned to a left or right of another audio device in response to the received signal.

7. The position recognition method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a signal indicating sensing a movement of the audio device;

and turning on the at least one IR transceiver in response to the signal indicating sensing the movement.

8. The position recognition method of claim 6, wherein,

the at least one IR transceiver includes a first IR transceiver and a second IR transceiver, and

the position recognition method further comprises:

determining that the audio device is positioned on a surface using the first IR transceiver positioned on the bottom surface of the audio device, and

determining that the audio device is positioned to a left or right of the other audio device based on the second IR transceiver receiving a signal.

9. The position recognition method of claim 8, further comprising changing settings of a function of the audio device in response to a change in a state of a signal sensed by the first IR transceiver positioned on the bottom surface of the audio device.

10. The position recognition method of claim 9, wherein the function includes one or more of a change of an input source, a change of a sound stage, and a volume up/down of the audio device.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program which, when executed, causes the audio device to perform operations recited in claim 6.