IP Library Granted Patent US 10,075,793
Granted Patent B2
US 10,075,793 · App. 15/681,937 · Granted Sep 11, 2018

Multi-orientation playback device microphones

Inventors: Brendan Welch (Boston, MA); Romi Kadri (Santa Barbara, CA); Jonathon Reilly (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: SONOS, INC.
H04R29/005G01S3/803H04R3/005H04R29/007G01S3/8003H04R1/406H04R3/12H04R5/04H04R2201/401H04R2201/405H04R2205/024H04R2227/003H04R2227/005H04R2420/07H04R2430/20H04R2430/21H04R2499/11H04S7/301
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,075,793
App. No.
15/681,937
Granted
Sep 11, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

Claims (58)

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

detecting, via at least one microphone array of the playback device, a portion of sound input;

determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input;

adjusting directional focus of the at least one microphone array based on the determined location of the source; and

capturing an additional portion of the sound input based on the adjusted directional focus of the at least one microphone array.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:

based on the orientation of the playback device, activating a first microphone array of the at least one microphone array for sound input capture.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

determining a direction of the source of the detected sound input based on a set of microphone training responses corresponding i) to the orientation of the playback device and ii) to the first microphone array.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

identifying a set of microphone training responses corresponding to the orientation of the playback device; and

determine a most likely direction of the source of the detected sound input using a probability function based on the set of microphone training responses and the detected sound input.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein the set of microphone training responses comprises microphone training responses captured in a same orientation as the orientation of the playback device.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

determining a direction of the source of the detected sound input based on a set of microphone training responses corresponding to the orientation of the playback device.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the orientation is a first orientation, and wherein the functions further comprise:

determining that the playback device is in a second orientation; and

detecting, via the at least one microphone array, a portion of a second sound input;

determining a location of a source of the second sound input based on the second orientation and the detected second sound input.

8. A playback device, comprising:

at least one microphone array;

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

detecting, via the at least one microphone array, a portion of sound input;

determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input;

adjusting directional focus of the at least one microphone array based on the determined location of the source; and

capturing an additional portion of the sound input based on the adjusted directional focus of the at least one microphone array.

9. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein the functions further comprise:

based on the orientation of the playback device, activating a first microphone array of the at least one microphone array for sound input capture.

10. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

determining a direction of the source of the detected sound input based on a set of microphone training responses corresponding i) to the orientation of the playback device and ii) to the first microphone array.

11. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

identifying a set of microphone training responses corresponding to the orientation of the playback device; and

determine a most likely direction of the source of the detected sound input using a probability function based on the set of microphone training responses and the detected sound input.

12. The playback device of claim 11 , wherein the set of microphone training responses comprises microphone training responses captured in a same orientation as the orientation of the playback device.

13. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

determining a direction of the source of the detected sound input based on a set of microphone training responses corresponding to the orientation of the playback device.

14. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein the orientation is a first orientation, and wherein the functions further comprise:

determining that the playback device is in a second orientation; and

detecting, via the at least one microphone array, a portion of a second sound input;

determining a location of a source of the second sound input based on the second orientation and the detected second sound input.

15. A method, comprising:

detecting, via at least one microphone array of a playback device, a portion of sound input;

determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input;

adjusting directional focus of the at least one microphone array based on the determined location of the source; and

capturing an additional portion of the sound input based on the adjusted directional focus of the at least one microphone array.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

based on the orientation of the playback device, activating a first microphone array of the at least one microphone array for sound input capture.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

determining a direction of the source of the detected sound input based on a set of microphone training responses corresponding i) to the orientation of the playback device and ii) to the first microphone array.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining a location of a source of the detected sound input based on an orientation of the playback device and the detected sound input comprises:

identifying a set of microphone training responses corresponding to the orientation of the playback device; and

determine a most likely direction of the source of the detected sound input using a probability function based on the set of microphone training responses and the detected sound input.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the set of microphone training responses comprises microphone training responses captured in a same orientation as the orientation of the playback device.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the orientation is a first orientation, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the playback device is in a second orientation; and

detecting, via the at least one microphone array, a portion of a second sound input;

determining a location of a source of the second sound input based on the second orientation and the detected second sound input.

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 Aug 31, 2017
From: WELCH, BRENDAN; KADRI, ROMI; REILLY, JONATHON
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043467/0438 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15282554 · Sep 30, 2016
Related Publication 20180098167A1 · Apr 5, 2018