Frequency routing based on orientation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9748647-B2
Application number	US-201514813961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 19, 2011
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for frequency routing based on orientation are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream. The example method includes determining, by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

First claim

We claim:

1. A playback device comprising:
a network interface;
a processor;
a plurality of speaker drivers;
at least one orientation sensor; and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory including instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving an audio data stream via the network interface;
determining, via the at least one orientation sensor, a change in orientation of the playback device from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein the determining includes (i) detecting for a change in pitch relative to a pitch axis of the playback device and (ii) detecting for a change in roll relative to a roll axis of the playback device, wherein the roll axis is perpendicular to the pitch axis;
routing a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation; and
routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is determined to be in the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

2. The playback device of claim 1 , the functions further comprising:
reproducing a stereophonic sound based on the audio data stream using the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation; and
reproducing a monaural sound based on the audio data stream using the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is determined to be in the second orientation.

3. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first set of frequencies is below a threshold frequency and the second set of frequencies is above the threshold frequency.

4. The playback device of claim 1 , the functions further comprising:
playing back the audio data stream via the plurality of speaker drivers.

5. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation comprises routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the playback device being in the first orientation and a state of the playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 5 , wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired and (ii) a paired state indicative of a pairing of the playback device with an additional playback device.

7. The playback device of claim 6 , wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.

8. The playback device of claim 5 , the functions further comprising:
receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication of the state of the playback device.

9. The playback device of claim 1 , the functions further comprising based on the detected change in pitch and the detected change in roll, removing an offset introduced by at least one of vibration and playback device non-linearity.

10. A method comprising:
receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream;
determining, via at least one orientation sensor of the playback device, a change in orientation of the playback device from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein the determining includes (i) detecting for a change in pitch relative to a pitch axis of the playback device and (ii) detecting for a change in roll relative to a roll axis of the playback device, wherein the roll axis is perpendicular to the pitch axis;
routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation; and
routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is determined to be in the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
reproducing a stereophonic sound based on the audio data stream using the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation; and
reproducing a monaural sound based on the audio data stream using the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is determined to be in the second orientation.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first set of frequencies is below a threshold frequency and the second set of frequencies is above the threshold frequency.

13. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprising:
playing back the audio data stream via the plurality of speaker drivers.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation comprises routing the first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the playback device being in the first orientation and a state of the playback device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired and (ii) a paired state indicative of pairing of the playback device with an additional playback device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.

17. The method of claim 14 , the method further comprising:
receiving, via a network interface from a network device, an indication of the state of the playback device.

18. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprising based on the detected change in pitch and the detected change in roll, removing an offset introduced by at least one of vibration and playback device non-linearity.

19. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, by the playback device, an audio data stream;
determining, via at least one orientation sensor of the playback device, a change in orientation of the playback device from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein the determining includes (i) detecting for a change in pitch relative to a pitch axis of the playback device and (ii) detecting for a change in roll relative to a roll axis of the playback device, wherein the roll axis is perpendicular to the pitch axis;
routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is in the first orientation; and
routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers when the playback device is determined to be in the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 19 , the functions further comprising:
reproducing a stere

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Kallai Christopher
• Ericson Michael Darrell Andrew
• Lang Jonathan P
• Wisneski Craig
• Reilly Jonathon
• Daly Seamus
• Mansfield Todd

Classifications

• H04S7/307

  Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control (H04S7/301 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R3/04

  for correcting frequency response · CPC title

• H04S5/02

  of the pseudo four-channel type, e.g. in which rear channel signals are derived from two-channel stereo signals · CPC title

• H04R3/12 Primary

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

• H04B7/0814

  based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold · CPC title