Electronic device, and method for processing stereo audio signal thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11622198-B2
Application number	US-201917042429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2019
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device, according to various embodiments of the present invention, comprises: a first speaker arranged on one side end of the electronic device; a second speaker arranged on the other side end of the electronic device; at least one sensor; and a processor, wherein the processor may be configured so as to receive a first audio signal, acquire a first channel signal and a second channel signal by using the first audio signal, acquire state information associated with the electronic device by using the at least one sensor, correct at least one portion of the first channel signal on the basis of at least the state information, output the corrected first channel signal using the first speaker, and output the second channel signal using the second speaker. In addition, various embodiments are possible.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a first speaker disposed on a side end of the electronic device;
a second speaker disposed on a different side end of the electronic device;
at least one sensor; and
a processor,
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a first audio signal;
acquire a first channel signal and a second channel signal by using the first audio signal;
acquire state information related to the electronic device by using the at least one sensor, wherein the state information comprises a movement state of the electronic device and a state of proximity between the electronic device and a user;
when the processor identifies that the movement state is fixed, correct the first channel signal to be at a first loudness level;
when the processor identifies that the movement state is not fixed and the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user is proximate, correct the first channel signal to be at a second loudness level lower than the first loudness level,
when the processor identifies that the movement state is not fixed and the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user is not proximate, correct the first channel signal to be at a third loudness level lower than or equal to the first loudness level but higher than the second loudness level,

output the corrected first channel signal by using the first speaker; and output the second channel signal by using the second speaker;
receive a second audio signal output request;
identify whether the electronic device is in an idle state;
if it is determined that the electronic device is in the idle state, correct a second audio signal according to a first designated configuration;
if it is determined that the electronic device is not in the idle state, identify whether the first audio signal is currently output;
if it is identified that the first audio signal is not currently output, output the second audio signal according to a second designated configuration;
if it is identified that the first audio signal is currently output, identify the movement state of the electronic device;
if it is identified that the electronic device is fixed, correct the first and second audio signals according to a third designated configuration;
if it is identified that the electronic device is not fixed, identify the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user;
if it is identified that the electronic device and the user are proximate to each other, correct the first and second audio signals according to a fourth designated configuration; and
if it is identified that the electronic device and the user are not proximate to each other, correct the first and second audio signals according to a fifth designated configuration.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a motion sensor, and the processor is configured to acquire the movement state of the electronic device as at least a part of the state information by using at least one of the gyro sensor, the acceleration sensor, or the motion sensor.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a proximity sensor or a touch sensor, and the processor is configured to acquire the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user as at least a part of the state information by using at least one of the proximity sensor or the touch sensor.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a microphone, wherein the processor is configured to:
analyze a change in an echo path by using the microphone; and
acquire the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user as at least a part of the state information, based on the analyzed echo path.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to apply a designated gain to the first channel signal in case that the processor identifies that the movement state is not fixed, and the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user is proximate.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to filter at least a partial frequency band of the first channel signal in case that the processor identifies that the movement state is not fixed, and that the state of proximity is proximate.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust a dynamic range of the first channel signal within a designated range in case that the processor identifies that the movement state is not fixed, and that the state of proximity is proximate.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a second audio signal before receiving the first audio signal; and
output a second audio signal while increasing a volume level thereof in a stepwise manner by using the first speaker and the second speaker.

9. A method for processing a stereo audio signal by an electronic device comprising a first speaker and a second speaker, the method comprising:
receiving a first audio signal;
acquiring a first channel signal and a second channel signal by using the first audio signal;
acquiring state information related to the electronic device by using at least one sensor, wherein the state information comprises a movement state of the electronic device and a state of proximity between the electronic device and a user;
when the movement state is fixed, correcting the first channel signal to be at a first loudness level;
when the movement state is not fixed and the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user is proximate, correcting the first channel signal to be at a second loudness level lower than the first loudness level;
when the movement state is not fixed and the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user is not proximate, correcting the first channel signal to be at a third loudness level lower than or equal to the first loudness level but higher than the second loudness level; and
outputting the corrected first channel signal by using the first speaker and outputting the second channel signal by using the second speaker;
receiving a second audio signal output request identifying whether the electronic device is in an idle state;
when it is determined that the electronic device is in the idle state, correcting a second audio signal according to a first designated configuration;
when it is determined that the electronic device is not in the idle state, identifying whether the first audio signal is currently output;
when it is identified that the first audio signal is not currently output, outputting the second audio signal according to a second designated configuration;
when it is identified that the first audio signal is currently output, identifying the movement state of the electronic device;
when it is identified that the electronic device is fixed, correcting the first and second audio signals according to a third designated configuration;
when it is identified that the electronic device is not fixed, identifying the state of proximity between the electronic device and the user;
when it is identified that the electronic device and the user are proximate to each other, correcting the first and second audio signals according to a fourth designated configuration; and
when it is identified that the electronic device and the user are not proximate to each other, correcting the first and second audio signals according to a fifth designated configuration.

10. The method as claimed in clai

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Son Beakkwon
• Kim Yangsu
• Park Sangsoo
• Park Jaeha
• Yang Jaemo
• Jang Keunwon
• Choi Hyunmin
• Kim Gangyoul
• Moon Hangil

Classifications

• H04R2499/11

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

• H04R5/04 Primary

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title

• H04R2400/01

  Transducers used as a loudspeaker to generate sound aswell as a microphone to detect sound · CPC title

• H04R3/00 Primary

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

• H04M1/605 Primary

  involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user · CPC title