RF antenna proximity sensing in a playback device

• US 9,703,324 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Reilly, Jonathon, Calatayud, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Legasse, Jr., Francis M
• Application Number:
  US14/799,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• 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

An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor and responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna;

a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna;

one or more processors; and

a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising;

detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor; and

responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the RF antenna comprises a copper pour in a printed circuit board.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio comprises responsively causing a control area of the playback device to be illuminated.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio comprises:

streaming audio content via the wireless communications interface; and

caching the streamed audio content in a data storage of the playback device.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio comprises responsively enabling an audio stage of the playback device such that an amplifier component of the audio stage is configured to produce amplified audio signals.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is mounted adjacent to a first side of the playback device so as to provide proximity detection in a first direction, and wherein the RF antenna is mounted adjacent to a second side of the playback device so as to provide proximity detection in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

7. The playback device of claim 6, wherein the first side of the playback device is a top surface of the playback device, and wherein the second side of the playback device is a front side of the playback device that is orthogonal to the top surface.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device further comprises a conductive speaker grille and wherein the operations further comprise:

causing the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to the conductive speaker grille.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the playback device will be rendering audio; and

responsively causing the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be decoupled from the conductive speaker grille while the playback device is rendering audio.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the playback device has stopped rendering audio; and

responsively causing the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to the conductive speaker grille.

11. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the conductive speaker grille is mounted on a first side of the playback device so as to provide proximity detection in a first direction, and wherein the RF antenna is mounted adjacent to a second side of the playback device so as to provide proximity detection in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

12. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the conductive speaker grille is mounted on a front side of the playback device so as to provide proximity detection in a given direction, and wherein the RF antenna is mounted adjacent to the front side of the playback device so as to provide proximity detection in the given direction.

13. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications interface comprises one or more of:

a wireless network interface or a Bluetooth interface.

14. A playback device comprising:

a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna;

a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna; and

a control system that detects that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor and responsively prepares the playback device to play back audio.

15. The playback device of claim 14, wherein the RF antenna comprises a copper pour in a printed circuit board.

16. The playback device of claim 14, wherein responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio comprises responsively causing a control area of the playback device to be illuminated.

17. The playback device of claim 16, wherein responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio comprises responsively enabling an audio stage of the playback device such that an amplifier component of the audio stage is configured to produce amplified audio signals.

18. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the playback device further comprises a conductive speaker grille, and wherein the control system anticipates that the playback device will be rendering audio and responsively causes the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be decoupled from the conductive speaker grille while the playback device is rendering audio.

19. The playback device of claim 18, wherein the control system determines that the playback device has stopped rendering audio and responsively causes the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to the conductive speaker grille.

20. A capacitive sensing system comprising:

a capacitive proximity sensor that includes a grounding plane, wherein the grounding plane is oriented so as to sense proximity in a first direction; and

a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna, wherein the RF antenna is coupled to the grounding plane, and wherein the RF antenna is oriented so as to sense proximity in a second direction that is different from the first direction.