IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,101,612
Granted Patent B2
US 12,101,612 · App. 18/535,433 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Smart speaker power management

Inventors: Zhigang Dang (Cupertino, CA); Daniel Naito (Campbell, CA); Evan Thompson (Sunnyvale, CA); Peter Poon (San Jose, CA); Manasi Lagare (Cupertino, CA); Michael Nussbaum (Santa Cruz, CA); David Sumberg (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H04R3/007H03F3/183H03G3/3005H03F2200/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,101,612
App. No.
18/535,433
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A smart speaker power controller may be configured to receive power conforming to one of a plurality of power modes from an input power source. The power controller may be further configured to communicate the power mode to at least one component of a processing system or at least one component of an audio system for operating the smart speaker according to the received power mode, including determining a current limit of a power converter; determining a shutdown voltage threshold and safely shutting down the smart speaker if the input voltage falls below the threshold, and/or modifying audio operation of the smart speaker in response to the power mode. The smart speaker can further include an audio power supply controller configured to monitor energy required to reproduce an audio signal and to servo a power supply voltage provided to an audio amplifier in response to this energy level.

Claims (53)

1. A smart speaker system comprising:

a power controller configured to receive power from an input power source, wherein the received power conforms to one of a plurality of power modes;

a processing system configured to receive power from the power controller via a processing system power bus; and

an audio system configured to receive power from the power controller via an audio system power bus;

wherein:

the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode of the incoming power to at least one component of the processing system or at least one component of the audio system; and

the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode to a shutdown voltage threshold selector configured to determine a shutdown voltage threshold in accordance with the power mode of the incoming power, wherein the shutdown voltage threshold is provided to a shutdown controller configured to safely shut down the smart speaker system if the input power falls below the shutdown voltage threshold.

2. The smart speaker system of claim 1 wherein the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode to a current limit selector configured to determine a current limit in accordance with the power mode of the incoming power and limit current of a power converter in accordance with the determined current limit.

3. The smart speaker system of claim 2 wherein the power converter is configured to convert input power to power the audio system.

4. The smart speaker system of claim 3 wherein the power converter is a boost converter.

5. The smart speaker system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first switching device configured to selectively couple and decouple the processing system power bus from the input power source; and

a second switching device configured to selectively couple and decouple the audio system power bus to the processing system power bus;

wherein responsive to an input voltage below the shutdown voltage threshold, the shutdown controller is configured to open the first switching device, thereby decoupling the processing system power bus from the input power source and close the second switching device, thereby coupling the processing system power bus to the audio system power bus and allowing energy stored in an audio bus capacitor to provide for safe shutdown of the processing system.

6. The smart speaker system of claim 5 wherein, responsive to the input voltage below the shutdown voltage threshold, the shutdown controller is further configured to perform at least one of:

disabling an audio amplifier of the audio system;

disabling a power converter powering the audio system; and

sending a shutdown signal to the processing system.

7. The smart speaker system of claim 1 wherein the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode of the incoming power to the processing system, and wherein the processing system is configured to modify operation of the smart speaker system in response to the power mode.

8. The smart speaker system of claim 7 wherein the processing system is configured to modify operation of the smart speaker system in response to the power mode by modifying audio performance of the smart speaker system.

9. A smart speaker system comprising:

a power controller configured to receive power from an input power source, wherein the received power conforms to one of a plurality of power modes;

a processing system configured to receive power from the power controller via a processing system power bus; and

an audio system configured to receive power from the power controller via an audio system power bus;

wherein:

the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode of the incoming power to at least one component of the processing system or at least one component of the audio system; and

the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode to a current limit selector configured to determine a current limit in accordance with the power mode of the incoming power and limit current of a power converter in accordance with the determined current limit.

10. The smart speaker system of claim 9 wherein the power converter is configured to convert input power to power the audio system.

11. The smart speaker system of claim 10 wherein the power converter is a boost converter.

12. The smart speaker system of claim 9 wherein the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode to a shutdown voltage threshold selector configured to determine a shutdown voltage threshold in accordance with the power mode of the incoming power, wherein the shutdown voltage threshold is provided to a shutdown controller configured to safely shut down the smart speaker system if the input power falls below the shutdown voltage threshold.

13. The smart speaker system of claim 12 further comprising:

a first switching device configured to selectively couple and decouple the processing system power bus from the input power source; and

a second switching device configured to selectively couple and decouple the audio system power bus to the processing system power bus;

wherein responsive to an input voltage below the shutdown voltage threshold, the shutdown controller is configured to open the first switching device, thereby decoupling the processing system power bus from the input power source and close the second switching device, thereby coupling the processing system power bus to the audio system power bus and allowing energy stored in an audio bus capacitor to provide for safe shutdown of the processing system.

14. The smart speaker system of claim 13 wherein, responsive to the input voltage below the shutdown voltage threshold, the shutdown controller is further configured to perform at least one of:

disabling an audio amplifier of the audio system;

disabling a power converter powering the audio system; and

sending a shutdown signal to the processing system.

15. The smart speaker system of claim 9 wherein the power controller is configured to communicate the power mode of the incoming power to the processing system, and wherein the processing system is configured to modify operation of the smart speaker system in response to the power mode.

16. The smart speaker system of claim 15 wherein the processing system is configured to modify operation of the smart speaker system in response to the power mode by modifying audio performance of the smart speaker system.

17. A method of operating a smart speaker, the method comprising:

determining a power mode of input power received by the smart speaker, the power mode including an input voltage and at least one of an available current or an available power; and

responsive to the input power mode, performing at least one of:

determining a shutdown voltage threshold corresponding to the input power mode and, responsive to an input voltage below the determined shutdown voltage threshold, performing a safe shutdown of the smart speaker;

determining a current limit corresponding to the input power mode and limiting a current of a power converter based on the determined current limit; or

setting one or more audio parameters corresponding to the input power mode and operating an audio system of the smart speaker according to the set audio parameters.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein performing a safe shutdown of the smart speaker further comprises:

opening a first switching device to decouple a processing system power bus from the input power source; and

closing a second switching device to couple the processing system power bus to an audio system power bus, thereby allowing energy stored in an audio bus capacitor to provide for safe shutdown of the processing system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein performing a safe shutdown of the smart speaker further comprises at least one of:

disabling an audio amplifier of the audio system;

disabling a power converter powering the audio system; and

sending a shutdown signal to the processing system.

Continuity (3)
Division 17111967 · Dec 4, 2020
Provisional Application 63074652 · Sep 4, 2020
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