Audio playback device and method for controlling operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12417109-B2
Application number	US-202418442366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2024
Priority date	Feb 17, 2016
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

Provided are an audio reproduction device and a method of controlling an operation thereof, which involve a user interface that allows a user to more effectively control various functions. The audio reproduction device includes a processor configured to obtain function information of the audio reproduction device corresponding to a user input received using mapping information for mapping between a user input received based on at least one of at least one wheel region rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise and at least one touch region and function information of the audio reproduction device, and to control the audio reproduction device according to the obtained function information of the audio reproduction device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An audio reproduction device comprising:
a user interface comprising at least one wheel device which is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise according to a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input to rotate the at least one wheel device clockwise or counterclockwise;
a display;
a lighting unit;
a speaker; and
a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
obtain an audio signal which is received through a wireless communication interface from an external device,
receive the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input that is performed through the user interface rotating the at least one wheel device clockwise or counterclockwise,
control the display to display information pertaining to the audio reproduction device,
process the audio signal to thereby reflect at least one of a disc jockey (DJ) effect for sound presentation and lighting effect for lighting presentation, both the DJ effect and the lighting effect being based on the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input through the at least one wheel device,
control the speaker to output the processed audio signal, and control the lighting unit to emit light having the lighting effect adjusted in association with the processed audio signal.

2. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting unit emits the light based on a lighting effect category from lighting effect categories selected when the DJ effect is added.

3. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the audio reproduction device is connectable to another device through at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

4. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein a level of the DJ effect applied in association with the audio signal is adjustable based on a corresponding clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input through the at least one wheel device.

5. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein a level of sound output by the speaker is adjustable based on a corresponding clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input through the at least one wheel device.

6. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the information displayed by the display is feedback information based on a user input that is performed through the user interface comprising the at least one wheel device to change an operation of the audio reproduction device.

7. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the processor controls the speaker to output the processed audio signal or controls the lighting unit based on function information comprising at least one of DJ effect setting information or lighting effect setting information.

8. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting unit comprises:
a first light configured to fill a unit surface of the speaker; and
a second light arranged on a contour portion of the unit surface of the speaker.

9. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises at least one touch region inside the at least one wheel device and configured to receive an input independent of the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input enabled through the at least one wheel device.

10. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the lighting unit so that the light emitted from the lighting unit is based on the DJ effect providing the sound presentation with respect to the audio signal.

11. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to change a lighting effect category based on a user input received through the at least one wheel device.

12. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request to search for a folder of a music file based on a user input through the at least one wheel device.

13. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the DJ effect comprises a scratch sound.

14. The audio reproduction device of claim 1 , wherein the processor processes the audio signal in association with the DJ effect independently from controlling of the lighting unit to adjust the at least one of color or brightness of the light emitted from the lighting unit.

15. A method of controlling an operation of an audio reproduction device including at least one wheel device, a display, a lighting unit, and a speaker, the method comprising:
obtaining an audio signal which is received through a wireless communication interface from an external device;
receiving a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input to rotate the at least one wheel device clockwise or counterclockwise, the at least one wheel device being rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise according to the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input that is performed through a user interface rotating the at least one wheel device;
control the display to display information pertaining to the audio reproduction device,
processing the audio signal to thereby reflect at least one of a disc jockey (DJ) effect for sound presentation and lighting effect for lighting presentation, both the DJ effect and the lighting effect being based on the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input through the at least one wheel device;
controlling the speaker to output the processed audio signal, and
controlling the lighting unit to emit light having the lighting effect adjusted in association with the processed audio signal.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the audio signal or the lighting unit is controlled based on function information comprising at least one of DJ effect setting information or lighting effect setting information.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
controlling the lighting unit so that the light emitted is based on the DJ effect providing the sound presentation with respect to the audio signal.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one wheel device comprises at least one touch region inside the at least one wheel device and configured to receive an input independent of the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input enabled through the at least one wheel device, and
the DJ effect applied in association with the audio signal for sound presentation is adjustable based on a corresponding clockwise or counterclockwise rotation input through the at least one wheel device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program which, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 15 .

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the DJ effect comprises a scratch sound.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Won Mi-Youn
• Kim Jung-Geun
• Kim Ji-Hyae
• Lee Won-Hee

Classifications

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• H04R1/26

  Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges · CPC title

• H04R2201/028

  Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure (H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026) · CPC title

• H04R1/028

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• H04R3/12 Primary

  for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · CPC title