Audio enhancement in mobile computing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271136-B2
Application number	US-201415119101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2014
Priority date	Apr 1, 2014
Publication date	Apr 23, 2019
Grant date	Apr 23, 2019

Abstract

In an example, a mobile computing device is provided with mechanical driver s for enhancing audio output, including low-frequency audio. The mechanical drivers may be provided to supplement traditional speakers. In an embodiment, mechanical drivers are boosted in effectiveness by being disposed against a sturdy surface such as a desktop. When a user holds a convertible tablet up, such enhancement may be provided by enabling mechanical drivers that are disposed against a base or other structural member of the convertible tablet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a foldable structural casement comprising a first planar surface having a first plurality of feet and a second planar surface removed from the first planar surface, the second planar surface having a second plurality of feet; and
a first mechanical driver disposed within one of the first plurality of feet, and a second mechanical driver disposed within one of the second plurality of feet; and
a sensor to detect that the foldable structural casement is in a folded configuration, wherein the first plurality of feet abut a third planar surface of the foldable structure;
wherein the first mechanical driver is configured to drive a low-frequency audio waveform onto the third planar surface of the structural casement in the folded configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second mechanical driver is configured to provide an audio waveform to cancel feedback of the first mechanical driver while the structural casement is in the folded configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to provide an enable signal to determine that one of the first mechanical driver or second mechanical driver abuts a work surface, and provide an enable signal to the mechanical driver abutting the work surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to determine that one of the first mechanical driver or second mechanical driver abuts a planar surface of a mechanical housing, and provide an enable signal to the mechanical driver abutting the planar surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drive plate disposed internal to the mechanical housing and against at least one of the mechanical drivers and configured to act as a drive surface when the mechanical driver outputs an audio waveform.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to calibrate the mechanical drivers by determining whether audio enhancement by use of the mechanical drivers is suitable for a usage context.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to select one or more of the mechanical drivers for use in the usage context.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises selecting drivers disposed against an external drive surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises sensing a position of a first housing of a computing device relative to a second housing of the computing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises sensing a position of a flip stand of a computing device.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises selecting a mechanical driver disposed against a rigid display surface of a computing device.

12. A system comprising:
a computing device; and
an audio subsystem comprising a speaker and a foldable structural casement comprising a first planar surface having a first plurality of feet and a second planar surface removed from the first planar surface, the second planar surface having a second plurality of feet; and
a first mechanical driver disposed within one of the first plurality of feet, and a second mechanical driver disposed within one of the second plurality of feet; and
a sensor to detect that the foldable structural casement is in a folded configuration, wherein the first plurality of feet abut a third planar surface of the foldable structure;
wherein the first mechanical driver is configured to drive a low-frequency audio waveform onto the third planar surface of the structural casement in the folded configuration.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second mechanical driver is configured to provide an audio waveform to cancel feedback of the first mechanical driver while the structural casement is in the folded configuration.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to provide an enable signal to determine that one of the first mechanical driver or second mechanical driver abuts a work surface, and provide an enable signal to the mechanical driver abutting the work surface.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to determine that one of the first mechanical driver or second mechanical driver abuts a planar surface of a mechanical housing, and provide an enable signal to the mechanical driver abutting the planar surface.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a drive plate disposed internal to the mechanical housing and against at least one of the mechanical drivers and configured to act as a drive surface when the mechanical driver outputs an audio waveform.

17. The system of claim 12 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to calibrate the mechanical drivers by determining whether audio enhancement by use of the mechanical drivers is suitable for a usage context.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to select one or more of the mechanical drivers for use in the usage context.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises selecting drivers disposed against an external drive surface.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises sensing a position of a first housing of the computing device relative to a second housing of the computing device.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises sensing a position of a flip stand of the computing device.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein selecting one or more of the mechanical drivers comprises selecting a mechanical driver disposed against a rigid display surface of the computing device.

23. A method comprising:
detecting that a foldable structural casement comprising a first planar surface having a first plurality of feet and a second planar surface removed from the first planar surface, the second planar surface having a second plurality of feet is in a folded configuration, wherein the first plurality of feet abut a third planar surface of the foldable structure, wherein a mechanical driver is one of at least two species of mechanical driver of an apparatus; and
driving a low-frequency audio waveform onto the third planar surface of the folded structural casement.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the mechanical driver is disposed to abut an external surface when the foldable structural casement is in an unfolded configuration.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein detecting that the foldable structural casement is in a folded configuration comprises sensing a position of a first housing of a computing device relative to a second housing of the computing device.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein detecting that the foldable structural casement is in a folded configuration comprises sensing a position of a flip stand of a computing device.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein a planar surface of the foldable structural casement is a rigid display surface of the apparatus.

Assignees

• Intel Corp
• Tao Jiancheng
• Wong Hong W
• Worrell Devon
• Kwong Wah Yiu
• Wang Jian

Inventors

• Tao Jiancheng
• Wong Hong W
• Worrell Devon
• Kwong Wah Yiu
• Wang Jian

Classifications

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title

• H04R1/24

  Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges · CPC title

• H04R9/066

  using the principle of inertia · CPC title

• H04R1/22 Primary

  for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only  {(circuit for combining transducers having different responses H04R3/00; for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · CPC title

• H04R3/002 Primary

  Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits · CPC title