IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,097,942
Granted Patent B2
US 10,097,942 · App. 15/342,893 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Playback device calibration

Inventors: Neil Griffiths (Lexington, MA); Mike Chamness (Gloucester, MA)
Assignee: SONOS, INC.
H04S7/301G06F3/04847G06F3/04883G06F3/165H04R3/14H04R29/001H04S7/307H04R3/04H04R27/00H04R2227/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,097,942
App. No.
15/342,893
Filed
Nov 3, 2016
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2655
USPC
381/303
Abstract

An indication of an acoustic characteristic of a playback device may comprise an orientation of the playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the playback device. After receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, a crossover frequency of the playback device may be determined and a series of tones may be output. A phase may be set based at least in part on a received indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones.

Claims (50)

1. A first playback device comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

a speaker driver;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, from a second playback device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of an acoustic characteristic of the second playback device that comprises an orientation of the second playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the second playback device;

after receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, in synchronization with the second playback device via the speaker driver, a series of tones;

after outputting the series of tones, receiving, from a controller device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones; and

setting a phase of the first playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the selected tone set.

2. The first playback device of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to pair with the second playback device.

3. The first playback device of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to calibrate the first playback device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

sending, to the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a prompt to recalibrate the first playback device.

5. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein determining the crossover frequency comprises calculating the crossover frequency based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic.

6. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the series of tones includes a first tone set and a second tone set, the second tone set output 180 degrees offset in phase from the first tone set.

7. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein setting the phase comprises storing, in the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory, configuration data.

8. The first playback device of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a level setting for the first playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the series of tones comprises spectral content comprising harmonics of a fundamental frequency that span frequencies above the crossover frequency and below the crossover frequency.

10. The playback device of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

playing audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device from a second playback device via a wireless communication interface, an indication of an acoustic characteristic of the second playback device that comprises an orientation of the second playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the second playback device;

after receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, in synchronization with the second playback device via a speaker driver, a series of tones;

after outputting the series of tones, receiving, from a controller device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones; and

setting a phase of the first playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the selected tone set.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to calibrate the first playback device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the crossover frequency comprises calculating the crossover frequency based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a level setting for the first playback device.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

playing audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device from a second playback device via a wireless communication interface, an indication of an acoustic characteristic of the second playback device that comprises an orientation of the second playback device with respect to an axis of a sensor of the second playback device;

after receiving the indication of the acoustic characteristic, determining a crossover frequency of the first playback device and the second playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic;

after determining the crossover frequency, outputting, in synchronization with the second playback device via a speaker driver, a series of tones;

after outputting the series of tones, receiving, from a controller device via the wireless communication interface, an indication of a selected tone set from the series of tones; and

setting a phase of the first playback device based at least in part on the received indication of the selected tone set.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, an instruction to calibrate the first playback device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the method for determining the crossover frequency comprises calculating the crossover frequency based at least in part on the received indication of the acoustic characteristic.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from the controller device via the wireless communication interface, a level setting for the first playback device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

playing audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: GRIFFITHS, NEIL; CHAMNESS, MIKE
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040281/0335 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13466877 · May 8, 2012
Related Publication 20170070836A1 · Mar 9, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,250,529 US 12,443,422