Granted Patent B2

US 12,267,652 · App. 18/323,039 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Inventor: William H. Bush (Santa Clarita, CA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

H04R29/002H03G3/32H03G5/165H04R3/00H04R3/04H04R29/00H04S7/301H04S7/305H04R2430/01

Abstract

Claims (90)

1. A playback device comprising:

a network interface;

at least one microphone within a housing of the playback device;

an audio transducer within the housing;

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

play back first audio content via the audio transducer;

during playback of at least a portion of the first audio content in a particular environment, detect, via the at least one microphone, a first audio signal, wherein at least a portion of the detected first audio signal comprises a reflection of the first audio content played back by the playback device;

determine one or more first reflection characteristics based on at least the detected first audio signal, wherein the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise a response representing acoustic characteristics of the particular environment;

determine an equalization setting that at least partially offsets the acoustic characteristics of the particular environment when applied to playback by the playback device;

apply the determined equalization setting during playback of second audio content via the audio transducer;

during playback of at least a first portion of the second audio content, detect, via the at least one microphone, a second audio signal, wherein at least a portion of the detected second audio signal comprises a reflection of the second audio content played back by the playback device;

determine one or more second reflection characteristics based on at least the detected second audio signal, wherein the one or more second reflection characteristics comprise noise in the particular environment;

adjust the equalization setting to boost one or more frequency ranges that include the noise in the particular environment; and

apply the adjusted equalization setting during playback of at least a second portion of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

2. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to determine the equalization setting comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

based on the determined one or more first reflection characteristics, determine that the acoustic characteristics boosted or attenuated one or more frequency ranges during playback of the first audio content; and

adjust the equalization setting to offset the boost or attenuation within the one or more frequency ranges via the audio transducer.

3. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to determine the equalization setting comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

based on the determined one or more first reflection characteristics, determine that bass frequencies during playback of the first audio content were boosted; and

adjust the equalization setting to attenuate bass frequencies during playback of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

4. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to determine the equalization setting comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

based on the determined one or more first reflection characteristics, determine that treble frequencies during playback of the first audio content were attenuated; and

adjust the equalization setting to boost treble frequencies during playback of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

5. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to determine the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

determine at least one first reflection characteristic based on differences between a portion of the first audio content and the detected first audio signal.

6. The playback device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to determine the at least one reflection characteristic comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

determine a difference between the response representing the acoustic characteristics of the particular environment and a reference response of the playback device in an anechoic environment.

7. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to determine the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

determine one or more qualitative characteristics corresponding to the detected first audio signal.

8. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

detect that the playback device has been physically moved to another location in an additional listening environment; and

based on the detection that the playback device has been physically moved, re-adjust the equalization setting of the playback device, wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to re-adjust the equalization setting of the playback device comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

during playback of at least a portion of additional audio content in the additional listening environment, detect, via the at least one microphone, an additional audio signal;

determine one or more additional reflection characteristics based on at least the detected additional audio signal, wherein the one or more additional reflection characteristics comprise a response representing acoustic characteristics of the additional listening environment;

determine an additional equalization setting that at least partially offsets the acoustic characteristics of the additional listening environment when applied to playback by the playback device; and

apply the determined additional equalization setting during playback of the additional audio content via the audio transducer.

9. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein the playback device further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect that the playback device has been physically moved to another location in the additional listening environment comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:

receive, via the accelerometer, accelerometer data indicating that the playback device has experienced a change in acceleration representing a change in position or orientation.

10. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first audio content is a first portion of an audio track, and wherein the second audio content is a second portion of the audio track.

11. A system comprising:

a playback device comprising:

at least one microphone within a housing of the playback device; and

an audio transducer within the housing;

a network interface;

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

play back first audio content via the audio transducer;

during playback of at least a portion of the first audio content in a particular environment, detect, via the at least one microphone, a first audio signal, wherein at least a portion of the detected first audio signal comprises a reflection of the first audio content played back by the playback device;

determine one or more first reflection characteristics based on at least the detected first audio signal, wherein the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise a response representing acoustic characteristics of the particular environment;

determine an equalization setting that at least partially offsets the acoustic characteristics of the particular environment when applied to playback by the playback device;

apply the determined equalization setting during playback of second audio content via the audio transducer;

during playback of at least a first portion of the second audio content, detect, via the at least one microphone, a second audio signal, wherein at least a portion of the detected second audio signal comprises a reflection of the second audio content played back by the playback device;

determine one or more second reflection characteristics based on at least the detected second audio signal, wherein the one or more second reflection characteristics comprise noise in the particular environment;

adjust the equalization setting to boost one or more frequency ranges that include the noise in the particular environment; and

apply the adjusted equalization setting during playback of at least a second portion of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine the equalization setting comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

based on the determined one or more first reflection characteristics, determine that the acoustic characteristics boosted or attenuated one or more frequency ranges during playback of the first audio content; and

adjust the equalization setting to offset the boost or attenuation within the one or more frequency ranges via the audio transducer.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine the equalization setting comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

based on the determined one or more first reflection characteristics, determine that bass frequencies during playback of the first audio content were boosted; and

adjust the equalization setting to attenuate bass frequencies during playback of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine the equalization setting comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

based on the determined one or more first reflection characteristics, determine that treble frequencies during playback of the first audio content were attenuated; and

adjust the equalization setting to boost treble frequencies during playback of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

determine at least one first reflection characteristic based on differences between a portion of the first audio content and the detected first audio signal.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine the at least one reflection characteristic comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

determine a difference between the response representing the acoustic characteristics of the particular environment and a reference response of the playback device in an anechoic environment.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

determine one or more qualitative characteristics corresponding to the detected first audio signal.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

detect that the playback device has been physically moved to another location in an additional listening environment; and

based on the detection that the playback device has been physically moved, re-adjust the equalization setting of the playback device, wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to re-adjust the equalization setting of the system comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

during playback of at least a portion of additional audio content in the additional listening environment, detect, via the at least one microphone, an additional audio signal;

determine one or more additional reflection characteristics based on at least the detected additional audio signal, wherein the one or more additional reflection characteristics comprise a response representing acoustic characteristics of the additional listening environment;

determine an additional equalization setting that at least partially offsets the acoustic characteristics of the additional listening environment when applied to playback by the playback device; and

apply the determined additional equalization setting during playback of the additional audio content via the audio transducer.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the playback device further comprises an accelerometer, and wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to detect that the playback device has been physically moved to another location in the additional listening environment comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

receive, via the accelerometer, accelerometer data indicating that the playback device has experienced a change in acceleration representing a change in position or orientation.

20. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by at least one processor such that a playback device is configured to:

play back first audio content via an audio transducer;

during playback of at least a portion of the first audio content in a particular environment, detect, via at least one microphone, a first audio signal, wherein at least a portion of the detected first audio signal comprises a reflection of the first audio content played back by the playback device;

determine one or more first reflection characteristics based on at least the detected first audio signal, wherein the one or more first reflection characteristics comprise a response representing acoustic characteristics of the particular environment;

determine an equalization setting that at least partially offsets the acoustic characteristics of the particular environment when applied to playback by the playback device;

apply the determined equalization setting during playback of second audio content via the audio transducer;

during playback of at least a first portion of the second audio content, detect, via the at least one microphone, a second audio signal, wherein at least a portion of the detected second audio signal comprises a reflection of the second audio content played back by the playback device;

determine one or more second reflection characteristics based on at least the detected second audio signal, wherein the one or more second reflection characteristics comprise noise in the particular environment;

adjust the equalization setting to boost one or more frequency ranges that include the noise in the particular environment; and

apply the adjusted equalization setting during playback of at least a second portion of the second audio content via the audio transducer.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (8)

References Cited (400)