Directed audio system for audio privacy and audio stream customization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405096-B2
Application number	US-201815867973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2018
Priority date	Jan 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A system includes an audio transducer. The audio output of the transducer may be directed at an operator. The directionality of the audio output may ensure privacy in audio delivery. Further, the directionality of the audio output may reduce the potential for other nearby individuals to be disturbed by the audio output. A directed audio system may control the content of the audio output. The content of the audio output may be configured for applications in individual operator workspaces, multiple-operator common spaces, shared-use spaces or a combination thereof. The directed audio system may customize the audio output in accord with a stored audio profile for the operator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first audio transducer configured to generate an audio output directed at an operator location;
a visual privacy status display comprising display states including a privacy state and an interaction state;
a ranging sensor circuit configured to determine position information for an operator when within the operator location; and
privacy status circuitry in communication with the first audio transducer, the visual privacy status display, and the ranging sensor circuit, the privacy status circuitry configured to:
obtain the position information from the ranging sensor circuit;
responsive to the position information, select among at least the privacy state and the interaction state;
when the privacy state is selected:
cause the first audio transducer to generate the audio output;
cause the visual privacy status display to enter the privacy state to indicate that the operator is engaged with the audio output; and
send an alert to the operator when a visitor is detected at the operator location; and

when the interaction state is selected:
cause the first audio transducer to interrupt the audio output; and
cause the visual privacy status display to enter the interaction state to indicate that the operator is disengaged with the audio output.

2. The system of claim 1 , where the first audio transducer comprises an ultrasonic audio transducer within a transducer array.

3. The system of claim 2 , where the transducer array comprises a second audio transducer that is:
frequency detuned from the first audio transducer to render the audio output audible; and
phase detuned from the first audio transducer to facilitate direction of the audio output at the operator location.

4. The system of claim 1 , where the first audio transducer comprises a transducer within a loudspeaker comprising a chassis configured for passive audio directivity.

5. The system of claim 1 , where the first audio transducer is coupled to a Bluetooth-compliant transmitter, USB-C compliant interface circuitry, or any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , where the first audio transducer comprises a transducer within an earbud-style earphone.

7. The system of claim 1 , where the visual privacy status display comprises an LED light with on and off states mapped to the privacy and interaction states.

8. The system of claim 1 , where the visual privacy status display comprises a monitor configured to render outputs indicating the privacy and interaction states.

9. The system of claim 8 , where the monitor is further configured to indicate a schedule of privacy and interaction states for the operator.

10. The system of claim 1 , where:
the privacy status circuitry is further configured to select among a Do Not Disturb (DND) state in which the privacy status circuitry is configured to:
cause the first audio transducer to generate the audio output;
cause the visual privacy status display to enter the DND state to indicate that the operator is engaged with the audio output; and
forgo sending alerts to the operator when the visitor is detected at the operator location.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier comprising at least:
a visibility state; and
an opaque state in which visibility through the barrier is reduced with respect to the visibility state; and
where the privacy status circuitry is further configured to:
cause the barrier to enter the visibility state when the interaction state is selected; and
cause the barrier to enter the opaque state when the privacy state is selected.

12. The system of claim 1 , where the ranging sensor circuit comprises multiple cameras spaced at a pre-defined offset to facilitate positioning in three dimensions.

13. The system of claim 1 , where the ranging sensor circuit comprises a lidar detector, a radar detector, a sonar detector, or any combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1 , where the position information comprises an indication whether the operator is in a sitting position or in a standing position.

15. A workspace comprising:
an audio transducer configured to generate an audio output directed at an operator when the operator is in the workspace, the audio output generated in accord with an audio profile for the operator;
proximity sensor circuitry configured to:
detect a presence of the operator within the workspace; and
determine a identity of the operator; and

privacy status circuitry coupled to the proximity sensor circuitry, the privacy status circuitry configured to:
responsive to the identity, access the audio profile for the operator;
after detecting the presence, determine to enter a privacy state; and
while in the privacy state:
cause the audio transducer to generate the audio output in accord with the audio profile; and
send an alert to the operator when a visitor is detected at the workspace.

16. The workspace of claim 15 , where the proximity sensor circuitry comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit, a near-field communication transceiver, a Bluetooth-compliant transceiver, a lidar detector, a radar detector, a sonar detector, multiple cameras, or any combination thereof.

17. The workspace of claim 15 , further comprising:
a terminal comprising man-machine interface circuitry configured to accept audio profile preference input; and
audio control circuitry coupled to the terminal, the privacy status circuitry, and the proximity sensor circuitry, the audio control circuitry configured to update a stored preference within the audio profile responsive to the audio profile preference input.

18. The workspace of claim 15 , where the privacy status circuitry is configured to interrupt the audio output when the presence is not detected by the proximity sensor circuitry.

19. A method comprising:
obtaining, from proximity sensor circuitry, position information for an operator within a workspace;
responsive to the position information, selecting among at least a privacy state for the workspace and an interaction state for the workspace;
when the privacy state is selected:
causing an audio transducer to generate an audio output directed at the operator within the workspace; and
causing a visual privacy status display disposed within the workspace to enter the privacy state to indicate that the operator is engaged with the audio output
sending an alert to the operator when a visitor is detected at the workspace; and

when the interaction state is selected:
causing the audio transducer to interrupt the audio output; and
causing the visual privacy status display to enter the interaction state to indicate that the operator is disengaged with the audio output.

20. The method of claim 19 , where causing the audio transducer to generate the audio output comprises causing a beam-forming transducer array to direct, at an ear of the operator, an ultrasonic beam modulated with audible audio content.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Sculley Darrin
• Slager Mark
• Wilson Scott
• Mckenna Mark
• Griffes Kirk Gregory

Classifications

• H04S3/008

  in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels (data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02) · CPC title

• G10K11/178

  by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase · CPC title

• H04S7/302 Primary

  Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R2203/12

  Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays · CPC title

• H04R1/403

  loud-speakers · CPC title