Patents by Inventor Timothy W. Sheen

Timothy W. Sheen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240134595
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20230385018
    Abstract: An example implementation involves a computing device transmitting, via a local area network, a command that instructs a playback device to play a particular audio signal. The example implementation also involves the computing device receiving data indicating a detected audio signal corresponding to playback of the particular audio signal by the playback device, where the detected audio signal includes a portion of the particular audio signal. The implementation further involves the computing device obtaining data indicating a predetermined audio characteristic and determining an audio processing algorithm based on the detected audio signal and the predetermined audio characteristic. The example implementation involves causing the playback device to apply the determined audio processing algorithm when playing audio via at least one speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 11803350
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 11625219
    Abstract: An example implementation involves a computing device transmitting, via a local area network, a command that instructs a playback device to play a particular audio signal. The example implementation also involves the computing device receiving data indicating a detected audio signal corresponding to playback of the particular audio signal by the playback device, where the detected audio signal includes a portion of the particular audio signal. The implementation further involves the computing device obtaining data indicating a predetermined audio characteristic and determining an audio processing algorithm based on the detected audio signal and the predetermined audio characteristic. The example implementation involves causing the playback device to apply the determined audio processing algorithm when playing audio via at least one speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20220137918
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20210405963
    Abstract: An example implementation involves a computing device transmitting, via a local area network, a command that instructs a playback device to play a particular audio signal. The example implementation also involves the computing device receiving data indicating a detected audio signal corresponding to playback of the particular audio signal by the playback device, where the detected audio signal includes a portion of the particular audio signal. The implementation further involves the computing device obtaining data indicating a predetermined audio characteristic and determining an audio processing algorithm based on the detected audio signal and the predetermined audio characteristic. The example implementation involves causing the playback device to apply the determined audio processing algorithm when playing audio via at least one speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 11099808
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 11029917
    Abstract: An example implementation involves a computing device transmitting, via a local area network, a command that instructs a playback device to play a particular audio signal. The example implementation also involves the computing device receiving data indicating a detected audio signal corresponding to playback of the particular audio signal by the playback device, where the detected audio signal includes a portion of the particular audio signal. The implementation further involves the computing device obtaining data indicating a predetermined audio characteristic and determining an audio processing algorithm based on the detected audio signal and the predetermined audio characteristic. The example implementation involves causing the playback device to apply the determined audio processing algorithm when playing audio via at least one speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20200356337
    Abstract: An example implementation involves a computing device transmitting, via a local area network, a command that instructs a playback device to play a particular audio signal. The example implementation also involves the computing device receiving data indicating a detected audio signal corresponding to playback of the particular audio signal by the playback device, where the detected audio signal includes a portion of the particular audio signal. The implementation further involves the computing device obtaining data indicating a predetermined audio characteristic and determining an audio processing algorithm based on the detected audio signal and the predetermined audio characteristic. The example implementation involves causing the playback device to apply the determined audio processing algorithm when playing audio via at least one speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20200301652
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10701501
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibrating one or more playback devices. An example implementation involves a mobile device receiving data representing an audio signal recorded via a microphone at multiple locations between a first physical location and a second physical location within a given environment while one or more playback devices played back calibration audio within the given environment. Based on the received data representing the audio signal, the mobile device determines acoustic characteristics of the given environment. Based on the determined acoustic characteristics of the given environment, the mobile device determines one or more audio processing algorithms to adjust audio output of the one or more playback devices in the given environment to have a pre-determined audio characteristic and causes, via a network interface, the one or more playback devices to apply the determined one or more audio processing algorithms to playback of audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10599386
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve determining an audio processing algorithm for a playback device to apply when playing audio content in a playback zone. Determining the audio processing algorithm may involve causing the playback device to play a first audio signal in the playback zone, receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. Based on the second audio signal and a characteristic of the playback device, an audio processing algorithm may be determined. The audio processing algorithm may be calculated, or identified in a database based on an acoustic characteristic of the playback zone. The acoustic characteristic of the playback zone may be determined based on the second audio signal and the characteristic of the playback device. The audio processing algorithm may then be applied by the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10585639
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10306364
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a crossover frequency between a plurality of audio speakers rendering audio content. In one example, a first subset of a plurality of audio speakers may be rendering a first sub-range of a range of audio frequencies of an audio content, and a second subset of speakers of the plurality of audio speakers may be rendering a second sub-range of the range of audio frequencies. In this example, the first sub-range and the second sub-range may be substantially separated at the crossover frequency. In one case, a characteristic of the audio content may be determined, and the crossover frequency may be adjusted based on the determined characteristic to help improve the audio content rendering quality by the respective subsets of audio speakers in the plurality of audio speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, William H. Bush
  • Patent number: 10271150
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibration of a microphone. In an example implementation, while a network device is positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device, the network device detects, via a microphone of, a first audio signal. The network device also receives data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device. Based on (i) data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, the network device determines an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device and generates a microphone calibration algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device. The network device then applies the microphone calibration algorithm when performing an acoustic calibration of the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20190116439
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibrating one or more playback devices. An example implementation involves a mobile device receiving data representing an audio signal recorded via a microphone at multiple locations between a first physical location and a second physical location within a given environment while one or more playback devices played back calibration audio within the given environment. Based on the received data representing the audio signal, the mobile device determines acoustic characteristics of the given environment. Based on the determined acoustic characteristics of the given environment, the mobile device determines one or more audio processing algorithms to adjust audio output of the one or more playback devices in the given environment to have a pre-determined audio characteristic and causes, via a network interface, the one or more playback devices to apply the determined one or more audio processing algorithms to playback of audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20190073192
    Abstract: Example techniques facilitate calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a computing device capturing, via a microphone, data representing multiple iterations of a calibration sound as played by a playback device. The computing device identifies multiple sections within the captured data. Two or more sections represent respective iterations of the calibration sound as played by the playback device. Based on the multiple identified sections, the computing device determines a frequency response of the playback device, the frequency response of the playback device representing audio output by the playback device and acoustic characteristics of an environment around the playback device. Based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, the computing device determines one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm and sends, to the playback device, the one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10154359
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibrating a playback device. An example implementation receives, from a network microphone device (NMD), data indicating second audio signal detected by the NMD at multiple locations between a first physical location and a second physical location within a given environment while the network microphone device is moving from the first physical location to the second physical location, the second audio signal representing acoustic echo of a first audio signal played by a playback device. Based on the detected second audio signal, the implementation determines an audio characteristic of the given environment. Based on the determined audio characteristic, the implementation determines an audio processing algorithm to adjust audio output of the playback device in the given environment to have a pre-determined audio characteristic that is representative of desired audio playback qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10142754
    Abstract: A signal from a sensor may be received indicative of an acceleration of a moving component of a transducer at a location where the sensor is mounted. A position the moving component may be determined based on the acceleration. The position of the moving component may be compared with a reference to output a measure of distortion associated with the transducer. Nonlinearities in audio output by the transducer may be corrected based on the measure of distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis, Romi Kadri, Yean-Nian Willy Chen
  • Patent number: 10127008
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve maintaining a database of audio processing algorithms. Maintaining the database may involve generating or updating audio processing algorithm entries. In one example, generating an audio processing algorithm may involve a computing device causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback zone, receiving (i) data indicating one or more characteristics of a playback zone, and (ii) data indicating a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device in the playback zone. Based on the second audio signal and a characteristic of the playback device, an audio processing algorithm may be determined. The an association between the determined audio processing algorithm at least one of the one or more characteristics of the playback zone may be stored in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis