Acoustic device for streaming audio data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016286313-A1
Application number	US-201514665367-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The technology described in this document can be embodied in a first acoustic device that includes an input port configured to receive an input signal representing audio from a media device, and one or more acoustic transducers. The first acoustic device also includes one or more processors configured to generate, from the input signal, a first signal for producing an acoustic output from the one or more transducers, and a second signal for producing an acoustic output from a second acoustic device. The first and second signals are generated from the input signal based on a feedback signal received from the second acoustic device. The first acoustic device also includes an output port for providing a portion of the second signal to the second acoustic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A first acoustic device comprising:
an input port configured to receive an input signal representing audio from a media device; one or more acoustic transducers; one or more processors configured to generate, from the input signal, a first signal for producing an acoustic output from the one or more transducers, and a second signal for producing an acoustic output from a second acoustic device, wherein the first and second signals are generated from the input signal based on a feedback signal received from the second acoustic device; and an output port for providing a portion of the second signal to the second acoustic device.

2 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle for detachably engaging at least a portion of the second acoustic device.

3 . The first acoustic device of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle comprises a charging port for charging a battery of the second acoustic device.

4 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the media device is a television.

5 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the input port comprises a receptacle for detachably engaging a wire from the media device.

6 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the input port is configured to receive a wireless signal as the input signal.

7 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 comprising multiple transducers.

8 . The first acoustic device of claim 7 , wherein the first signal is configured to produce acoustic outputs from the multiple transducers.

9 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is configured to produce acoustic outputs from multiple speaker devices.

10 . The first acoustic device of claim 9 , wherein the acoustic output from one of the multiple speaker devices is different from the acoustic output from another of the multiple speaker devices.

11 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the output port comprises a transmitter for transmitting the second signal to the second acoustic device.

12 . The first acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the second signal in accordance with a Bluetooth® standard.

13 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the feedback signal comprises information on a relative position of the second acoustic device with respect to the first acoustic device.

14 . The first acoustic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to use beamforming techniques in generating the first and second signals.

15 . A method comprising:
receiving, at a processing device, an input signal representing audio from a media device; receiving a feedback signal from a speaker device, the feedback signal comprising information on a relative position of the speaker device with respect to the processing device; processing the input signal based on the information from the feedback signal to generate an output signal configured to produce an acoustic output from the speaker device; and providing the output signal to the speaker device.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the feedback signal further comprises information on a user preference associated with an acoustic output of the speaker device.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising generating the output signal also based on the user preference.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the user preference indicates an acoustic intelligibility of the user.

19 . A system comprising:
a speaker device; and a docking device configured to detachably engage with the speaker device, the docking device comprising:
a charging connector configured to provide an electrical connection with a charging port of the speaker device,
an input port configured to receive an input signal representing audio from a media device,
one or more transducers configured to produce acoustic output,
one or more processors configured to generate, from the input signal, a first signal for producing an acoustic output from the one or more transducers, and a second signal for producing an acoustic output from the speaker device, and
an output connector for providing the second signal to the speaker device.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to use beamforming techniques in generating the first and second signals.

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Kofman Igor
• Crist David Rolland
• Mulhearn Christopher James
• Belge Matthew
• Tiene Michael
• Mayman Avrum G

Classifications

• H04S7/301

  Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone · CPC title

• H04R2430/01

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

• H04R2205/024

  Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction · CPC title

• H04R2205/021

  Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement · CPC title

• H04R2203/12

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