Audio apparatus adaptable to user position

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10154358-B2
Application number	US-201615350631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2016
Priority date	Nov 18, 2015
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

An audio apparatus adaptable to a user position is provided. The audio apparatus may include a plurality of sub-modules placed at separate locations from one another, each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules including a loudspeaker configured to generate sound and a communicator configured to perform communication. The first sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules may include a processor that processes an audio signal to be output as sound through the loudspeaker of the first sub-module, determines a user's position with respect to each of the plurality of sub-modules, and changes a state of the sound being output from the loudspeaker of the first sub-module in accordance with the determined position of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An audio apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sub-modules for placing at locations separate from one another, each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules comprising a microphone, a loudspeaker, a communicator and a processor,
wherein the processor of a first sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules is configured to:
process an audio signal to be output as sound through the loudspeaker of the first sub-module,
identify a position of a user with respect to the first sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules,
set a volume level of the microphone of the first sub-module based on the identified position of the user with respect to a second sub-module.

2. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to define an area corresponding to positions of the plurality of sub-modules based on distances between the plurality of sub-modules, and determine the position of the user with respect to the defined area.

3. The audio apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first sub-module further comprises a microphone configured to receive a sound input, and
wherein the processor is further configured to determine a first distance between the first sub-module and a second sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules, based on a time taken by an ultrasonic wave to be output from the loudspeaker of the first sub-module, reflected from the second sub-module, and received by the microphone of the first sub-module.

4. The audio apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive information about a second distance between the second sub-module and a third sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules, from one of the second sub-module and the third sub-module through the communicator of the first sub-module.

5. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-module comprises at least two microphones configured to receive sounds that are output by the first sub-module and a second sub-module, and
wherein the processor is further configured to determine the position of the user based on a phase difference between the sounds respectively received by the at least two microphones.

6. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select a channel of a plurality of channels within the audio signal, the selected channel corresponding to the identified position of the user, and control a volume level of the selected channel to be different from volume levels of remaining channels of the plurality of channels.

7. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control a volume level of the sound being output through the loudspeaker in accordance with the identified position of the user.

8. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules further comprises a display is configured to display information related to the audio signal, and the microphone is configured to receive a sound input.

9. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-module further comprises a microphone configured to receive speech from the user, and
wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve contact information of a call recipient specified by the speech from a mobile phone connectable with the communicator of the first sub-module, and dial the call recipient through the mobile phone.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of an audio apparatus comprising a plurality of sub-modules for placing at separate locations from one another, the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code for a method to be executed by a processor of a first sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules, the method comprising:
processing an audio signal to be output as sound through a loudspeaker of the first sub-module;
identifying a position of a user with respect to the first sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules;
setting a volume level of a microphone of the first sub-module based on the identified position of the user with respect to the first sub-module,
wherein the identifying the position of the user comprises determining an angle of the user with respect to each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules within a defined area.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the determining the position of the user with respect to each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules comprises:
defining an area corresponding to positions of the plurality of sub-modules based on distances between the plurality of sub-modules; and
determining the position of the user with respect to the defined area.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the defining the area corresponding to the positions of the plurality of sub-modules comprises:
determining a first distance between the first sub-module and a second sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules, based on a time taken by an ultrasonic wave to be output from the loudspeaker of the first sub-module, reflected from the second sub-module, and received by a microphone of the first sub-module.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the defining the area corresponding to the positions of the plurality of sub-modules comprises:
receiving information about a second distance between the second sub-module and a third sub-module among the plurality of sub-modules, from one of the second sub-module and the third sub-module through a communicator of the first sub-module.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the determining the position of the user by determining the angle of the user with respect to each sub-module comprises:
determining the position of the user based on a phase difference between sounds that are output by the first sub-module and a second sub-module and respectively received by at least two microphones of the first sub-module.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , further comprising:
selecting one channel of a plurality of channels within the audio signal, the selected channel corresponding to the identified position of the user; and
controlling a volume level of the selected channel to be different from volume levels of remaining channels of the plurality of channels.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , further comprising:
controlling a volume level of the sound in accordance with the identified position of the user.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein a display of the first sub-module is configured to display information related to the audio signal, and a microphone of the first sub-module is configured to receive a sound input.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
connecting with a mobile phone;
retrieving, from the mobile phone, contact information of a call recipient specified by a speech being input by the user through a microphone of the first sub-module; and
dialing the call recipient through the mobile phone.

19. An audio apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sub-modules for placing at locations separate from one another, each sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules comprising a microphone, a loudspeaker, a communicator and a processor,
wherein the processor of a f

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jee-Hoon
• Law David
• Vasquez Phillip
• Hayes Robin
• Choo You-Na

Classifications

• H04R2201/021

  Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title

• H04R1/02

  Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R2499/15

  Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops · CPC title