Orientation-based device interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10897680-B2
Application number	US-201816138707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Oct 4, 2017
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for automatic audio equalization. In one aspect, a method is performed at an audio device having one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of device interface elements, including one or more speakers and a plurality of microphones. The method includes: (1) detecting a change in orientation of the audio device from a first orientation to a second orientation; and (2) in response to detecting the change in orientation, configuring operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method performed at an audio device having one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of device interface elements that include a volume control element positioned on a predefined side of the audio device, one or more speakers, and a plurality of microphones, the method comprising:
detecting a first change in orientation of the audio device from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein:
the first orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a first side of the audio device;
the second orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a second side of the audio device, distinct from the first side; and
while in the first orientation, movement along the volume control element toward a first end of the volume control element corresponds to increasing volume of the one or more speakers;

based on the first change in orientation, configuring operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements, including configuring the volume control element so that movement along the volume control element toward the first end of the volume control element corresponds to decreasing the volume of the one or more speakers.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to detecting the first change in orientation, operating the audio device in the first orientation; and
wherein configuring the operation of the two or more device interface elements comprises reconfiguring the operation based on the first change in orientation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements includes assigning a first microphone of the plurality of microphones to a task based on the first change in orientation.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising, based on the first change in the orientation, unassigning a second microphone of the plurality of microphones from the task.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more speakers comprise a plurality of speakers; and
wherein configuring the operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements includes configuring operation of the plurality of speakers.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein, while in the first orientation, the plurality of speakers is configured to operate in a stereo mode; and
wherein configuring the operation of the plurality of speakers comprises reconfiguring the plurality of speakers to operate in a mono mode.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein reconfiguring the plurality of speakers to operate in a mono mode comprises utilizing only a subset of the plurality of speakers for a subsequent audio output.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein configuring the operation of the plurality of speakers comprises utilizing only a subset of the plurality of speakers for subsequent audio output having an audio frequency above a threshold frequency.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein configuring the operation of the plurality of speakers comprises:
utilizing only a subset of the plurality of speakers for subsequent audio output while a volume setting of the audio device is below a volume threshold; and
utilizing the subset and one or more additional speakers of the plurality of speakers for subsequent audio output while the volume setting of the audio device is above the volume threshold.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising audio-pairing the audio device with an additional audio device; and
wherein configuring the operation of the plurality of speakers comprising utilizing a first subset of the plurality of speakers while in the first orientation and utilizing a second subset of the plurality of speakers while in the second orientation.

11. An audio device, comprising:
a plurality of dedicated physical device interface elements having fixed locations on the audio device, the plurality of device interface elements including:
a first element comprising a volume control element positioned on a predefined side of the audio device;
a second element comprising one or more speakers; and
a third element comprising a plurality of microphones;

one or more processors; and
memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
detecting a first change in orientation of the audio device from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein:
the first orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a first side of the audio device;
the second orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a second side of the audio device, distinct from the first side; and
while in the first orientation, movement along the volume control element toward a first end of the volume control element corresponds to increasing volume of the one or more speakers;

based on the first change in orientation, configuring operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements, including configuring the volume control element so that movement along the volume control element toward the first end of the volume control element corresponds to decreasing the volume of the one or more speakers.

12. The audio device of claim 11 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
detecting a second change in orientation of the audio device from the first orientation to a third orientation, wherein the third orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a third side of the audio device, distinct from the first side; and
based on the second change in orientation to the third orientation, presenting an error message to a user of the audio device.

13. The audio device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions for configuring the operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements includes instructions for configuring operation of the volume control element.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an audio device having one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of device interface elements that include a volume control element positioned on a predefined side of the audio device, one or more speakers, and a plurality of microphones, cause the audio device to:
detect a first change in orientation of the audio device from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein:
the first orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a first side of the audio device;
the second orientation corresponds to the audio device being positioned on a second side of the audio device, distinct from the first side; and
while in the first orientation, movement along the volume control element toward a first end of the volume control element corresponds to increasing volume of the one or more speakers;

based on the first change in orientation, configure operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements, including configuring the volume control element so that movement along the volume control element toward the first end of the volume control element corresponds to decreasing the volume of the one or more speakers.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of device interface elements includes a plurality of lighting elements; and
wherein configuring the operation of two or more of the plurality of device interface elements includes adjusting operation of the plurality of lighting elements.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Wodrich Justin
• Palacios Rolando Esparza
• Matarese Nicholas
• Montvelishsky Michael B
• Larsen Rasmus Munk
• Shaya Benjamin Louis
• Kuo Che-Yu
• Smedegaard Michael
• Lyon Richard F
• Slotnick Gabriel Fisher
• Mangum Kristen

Classifications

• H04R1/403

  loud-speakers · CPC title

• H04R2430/03

  Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing · CPC title

• H04R3/04

  for correcting frequency response · CPC title

• F21V33/0056

  Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers · CPC title

• H04R3/005

  for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407) · CPC title