Intelligent audio control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10440488-B2
Application number	US-201615193201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments for manipulating an audio environment by a processor. A noncalibrative stimulus is detected in the audio environment. In response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, a component in the audio environment is caused to modify an audio characteristic in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for manipulating an audio environment by a processor, comprising:
detecting a noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment using a camera or sonar-based device to determine the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to a component in the audio environment, the predetermined proximity being set and adjusted by the processor; wherein determining the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to the component in the audio environment comprises detecting that a particular individual has entered the audio environment, the particular individual having previously stored predetermined sound settings associated with individual preferences of the particular individual; and wherein the particular individual is identified using facial recognition technology or an acoustic signature of the particular individual; and
in response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, causing the component in the audio environment to modify an audio characteristic corresponding to the predetermined sound settings in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment; wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing a surface cone of the component comprising a loudspeaker to deform in the audio environment without physical manipulation of the surface cone by a user such as to deflect the sound generated by the surface of the component in a predetermined direction according to the deformation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing a modification in an amplitude, a direction, or a phase to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes:
causing a change in a position of the component to cause the sound to emanate in a differing direction, or
causing the component to produce a higher or lower sound pressure level.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including instructing an electromagnetic signal to be sent through an electroactive polymer (EAP) in mechanical communication with the component in the audio environment to cause the component to deform.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment further includes:
detecting a noncalibrative acoustical stimulus from a source external to the component,
detecting a noncalibrative physical stimulus within the predetermined proximity to the component,
receiving acoustical feedback input from the audio environment subsequent to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, to determine if the modification to the audio characteristic meets a predetermined criteria, or
upon detecting the noncalibrative stimulus, providing an alert notification to a user of the detected noncalibrative stimulus within the audio environment.

6. A system for manipulating an audio environment, comprising:
a processor, operable to receive input from the audio environment, that:
detects a noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment using a camera or sonar-based device to determine the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to a component in the audio environment, the predetermined proximity being set and adjusted by the processor; wherein determining the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to the component in the audio environment comprises detecting that a particular individual has entered the audio environment, the particular individual having previously stored predetermined sound settings associated with individual preferences of the particular individual; and wherein the particular individual is identified using facial recognition technology or an acoustic signature of the particular individual, and
in response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, causes the component in the audio environment to modify an audio characteristic corresponding to the predetermined sound settings in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment; wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing a surface cone of the component comprising a loudspeaker to deform in the audio environment without physical manipulation of the surface cone by a user such as to deflect the sound generated by the surface of the component in a predetermined direction according to the deformation.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes a modification in an amplitude, a direction, or a phase to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic:
causes a change in a position of the component to cause the sound to emanate in a differing direction, or
causes the component to produce a higher or lower sound pressure level.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor instructs an electromagnetic signal to be sent through an electroactive polymer (EAP) in mechanical communication with the component in the audio environment to cause the component to deform.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor:
detects a noncalibrative acoustical stimulus from a source external to the component,
detects a noncalibrative physical stimulus within the predetermined proximity to the component,
receives acoustical feedback input from the audio environment subsequent to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, to determine if the modification to the audio characteristic meets a predetermined criteria, or
upon detecting the noncalibrative stimulus, provides an alert notification to a user of the detected noncalibrative stimulus within the audio environment.

11. A computer program product for manipulating an audio environment by a processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
an executable portion that detects a noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment using a camera or sonar-based device to determine the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to a component in the audio environment, the predetermined proximity being set and adjusted by the processor; wherein determining the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to the component in the audio environment comprises detecting that a particular individual has entered the audio environment, the particular individual having previously stored predetermined sound settings associated with individual preferences of the particular individual; and wherein the particular individual is identified using facial recognition technology or an acoustic signature of the particular individual; and
an executable portion that, in response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, causes the component in the audio environment to modify an audio characteristic corresponding to the predetermined sound settings in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment; wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing a surface cone of the componen

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Lection David B
• Rakshit Sarbajit K
• Stevens Mark B
• Wilson John D

Classifications

• H04R2430/01

  Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems · CPC title

• H04R29/001 Primary

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R1/323

  for loudspeakers (H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04R2201/025

  Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet · CPC title

• H04R3/00

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title