IP Library Granted Patent US 9,537,213
Granted Patent B2
US 9,537,213 · App. 14/696,041 · Granted Jan 3, 2017

Antenna selection

Inventors: Niels van Erven (Agoura Hills, CA); Carlo van Niekerk (Santa Barbara, CA); Michael Frey (Tyngsboro, MA)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
H01Q3/24G06F3/162G06F3/165H03G5/165H04B7/0834H04R3/12H04S7/302H04S7/303H04S7/307
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,537,213
App. No.
14/696,041
Granted
Jan 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network device communicates with one or another set of antennas depending on an orientation of the network device. The network device includes a first set of one or more antennas, a second set of one or more antennas, a processor, and memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to perform functions. The functions include (1) determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation; (2) if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas; and (3) if the determined the orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of one or more antennas.

Claims (38)

1. A network device comprising:

a first set of one or more antennas, wherein the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the respective longitudinal axis of the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas is substantially parallel;

a second set of one or more antennas, wherein each antenna in the second set of one or more antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the respective longitudinal axis of each antenna in the second set of one or more antennas is substantially perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis of the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas;

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation;

if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas; and

if the determined the orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of one or more antennas.

2. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the first set of one or more antennas comprises a first set of three or more antennas.

3. The network device of claim 2 , wherein the second set of one or more antennas comprises a second set of three or more antennas, and wherein the second set of one or more antennas is different than the first set of one or more antennas.

4. The network device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first set of one or more antennas comprises a first set of three or more antennas;

the second set of one or more antennas comprises a second set of three or more antennas;

the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas and each antenna in the second set of one or more antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, the respective longitudinal axis of the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas being substantially parallel; and

the respective longitudinal axis of each antenna in the second set of one or more antennas being substantially parallel to the respective longitudinal axis of the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas.

5. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

if the determination is that the orientation is the first orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting; and

if the determination is that the orientation is the second orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound according to a second equalization setting.

6. The network device of claim 1 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises causing the network device to receive at least one of control information and audio information via the first set of one or more antennas.

7. The network device of claim 1 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises causing the network device to send at least one of control information and audio information via the first set of one or more antennas.

8. The network device of claim 1 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises enabling the first set of one or more antennas.

9. The network device of claim 1 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises causing the network device to disable the second set of one or more antennas.

10. The network device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first set of one or more antennas comprises a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna; and

the second set of one or more antennas comprises the first antenna, the second antenna, and a fourth antenna.

11. The network device of claim 10 , wherein each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas and the second set of one or more antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, wherein the respective longitudinal axis of the second antenna and the respective longitudinal axis of the third antenna are substantially parallel.

12. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the respective longitudinal axis of the first antenna and the respective longitudinal axis of the fourth antenna are substantially perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis of the second antenna and the respective longitudinal axis of the third antenna.

13. The network device of claim 12 , wherein the network device comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the respective longitudinal axis of the network device is substantially parallel to the respective longitudinal axis of the third antenna.

14. The network device of claim 10 , the functions further comprising:

if the determination is that the orientation is the first orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting; and

if the determination is that the orientation is the second orientation, then configuring the network device to reproduce sound according to a second equalization setting.

15. The network device of claim 10 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises causing the network device to receive at least one of control information and audio information via the first set of one or more antennas.

16. The network device of claim 10 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises enabling the first set of one or more antennas.

17. The network device of claim 10 , wherein causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas comprises disabling the second set of one or more antennas.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

determine that an orientation of a network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation;

if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using a first set of one or more antennas, wherein the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the respective longitudinal axis of the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas is substantially parallel; and

if the determined orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using a second set of one or more antennas, wherein each antenna in the second set of one or more antennas comprises a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein the respective longitudinal axis of each antenna in the second set of one or more antennas is substantially perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axis of the network device and each antenna in the first set of one or more antennas.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058213/0597 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2021
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058123/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2018
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 046991/0433 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2018
From: GORDON BROTHERS FINANCE COMPANY
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046625/0882 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2016
From: SONOS, INC.
To: GORDON BROTHERS FINANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 038329/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2015
From: VAN ERVEN, NIELS; VAN NIEKERK, CARLO; FREY, MICHAEL
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035562/0260 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160315384A1 · Oct 27, 2016