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).

  • Patent number: 10127006
    Abstract: An example method, and example devices and computer-readable media related to the example method, are disclosed herein. The method includes, as a computing device is moving within an environment of a playback device, capturing, via a microphone of the computing device, one or more calibration sounds played by the playback device. The method further includes identifying one or more sections of data such that each of the one or more sections of the data correspond to a respective calibration sound of the one or more calibration sounds and using the one or more sections of the data to determine a frequency response of the playback device. The method further includes determining one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, and sending, to the playback device, the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10114530
    Abstract: An example playback device includes a signal detector, a signal emitter, and a communication interface. Audio content corresponding to video content being displayed on a display device is received via the communication interface device. The audio content is played. While playing the audio content, a first signal is received via the signal detector from a control device configured to control the display device. A second signal is generated based on the first signal and the second signal is emitted via the signal emitter. The display device receives at a signal receiver of the display device the first signal from the control device and the second signal at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 10097939
    Abstract: A first signal may be received indicative of audio to be played by a speaker. A second signal may be received which comprises (i) a voice input received by a microphone and (ii) at least a portion of the audio played by the speaker at a same time that the microphone receives the voice input. Based on the first signal, nonlinearities output by the speaker which played the audio may be determined. At least the nonlinearities from the second signal may be removed to output a third signal comprising substantially the voice input received at the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis, Romi Kadri, Yean-Nian Willy Chen
  • Publication number: 20180232199
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20180192215
    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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9952825
    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: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9936318
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibration of a playback device. In an example, a system maintains a database of representative acoustic characteristics. Each representative acoustic characteristic corresponds to a respective plurality of network devices and the network devices in each respective plurality of network devices shares characteristics. The system receives, from a particular network device, data indicating characteristics of the particular network device, an identification of a playback device, and data indicating audio detected by the particular network device while the playback device played a calibration tone. The system identifies, in the database, the representative acoustic characteristic corresponding to those characteristics. Based on the identified representative acoustic characteristic, the identification of the playback device, and the data indicating the detected audio, the system determines an audio processing algorithm to adjust audio output of the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9910634
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibration of a microphone of a network device based on a first signal detected by the microphone of the network device and a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. While the network device is positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device, a microphone of the network device may detect a first audio signal. The network device may also receive data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device. Based on data indicating the first audio signal and the data indicating the second audio signal, the network device may identify a microphone calibration algorithm, and apply the microphone calibration algorithm when performing a calibration function associated with the playback device. Similar functions may also be performed by a computing device, such as a server to coordinate calibration of the microphone of the network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9891881
    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: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis
  • Publication number: 20180020306
    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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9813829
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for audio synchronization of one or more playback devices using offset information. A playback device may join a synchrony group upon a command, where the synchrony group may have a group coordinator that provides timing information for the group. In one case, the playback device may retrieve offset information from memory storage, where the information represents the offset between a clock of the playback device and the clock of the group coordinator. In another case, the playback device may determine that the offset information is not available in storage and as a result, the offset information may be computed. In one instance, the offset information may be computed using other offsets obtained from storage, such as offsets between other devices in the synchrony group. In another instance, the offset information may be computed using SNTP polling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9781513
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided herein for balancing of outputs from playback devices playing audio content in synchrony. In one embodiment, the balancing of outputs may involve receiving a first audio signal to be played by a first playback device according to a first crossover frequency, determining a limiting result by applying a limiting function associated with a second playback device to a second audio signal to be played by the second playback device according to a second crossover frequency, and based on the first limiting result, configuring the first playback device to play the first audio signal according to a third crossover frequency. In some cases, the first and second playback devices may be configured to play the first and second audio signals, respectively, in synchrony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9749763
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibration of a microphone of a network device. An example network device identifies, within a database of microphone acoustic characteristics, an acoustic characteristic of the microphone which corresponds to a particular characteristic of the network device. The network device calibrates a playback device based on at least the identified acoustic characteristic of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20170245079
    Abstract: A first signal may be received indicative of audio to be played by a speaker. A second signal may be received which comprises (i) a voice input received by a microphone and (ii) at least a portion of the audio played by the speaker at a same time that the microphone receives the voice input. Based on the first signal, nonlinearities output by the speaker which played the audio may be determined. At least the nonlinearities from the second signal may be removed to output a third signal comprising substantially the voice input received at the microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis, Romi Kadri, Yean-Nian Willy Chen
  • Publication number: 20170245054
    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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis, Romi Kadri, Yean-Nian Willy Chen
  • Patent number: 9715367
    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: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Patent number: 9706323
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve calibrating a playback device for a playback environment based on audio signals detected by a microphone of a network device as the network device moves about the playback environment. While the playback device is playing a first audio signal and the network device is moving within the playback environment from a first physical location to a second physical location, the network device may detect by a microphone of the network device, a second audio signal. The network device may then identify an audio processing algorithm based on data indicating the second audio signal, and transmit to the playback device, data indicating the identified audio processing algorithm. Similar functions may also be performed by the playback device being calibrated or a computing device, such as a server to coordinate calibration of the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20170083279
    Abstract: An example method, and example devices and computer-readable media related to the example method, are disclosed herein. The method includes, as a computing device is moving within an environment of a playback device, capturing, via a microphone of the computing device, one or more calibration sounds played by the playback device. The method further includes identifying one or more sections of data such that each of the one or more sections of the data correspond to a respective calibration sound of the one or more calibration sounds and using the one or more sections of the data to determine a frequency response of the playback device. The method further includes determining one or more parameters of an audio processing algorithm based on the frequency response of the playback device and a target frequency response, and sending, to the playback device, the one or more parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheen
  • Publication number: 20170068510
    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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy W. Sheen, Simon Jarvis
  • Publication number: 20170064453
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided herein for balancing of outputs from playback devices playing audio content in synchrony. In one embodiment, the balancing of outputs may involve receiving a first audio signal to be played by a first playback device according to a first crossover frequency, determining a limiting result by applying a limiting function associated with a second playback device to a second audio signal to be played by the second playback device according to a second crossover frequency, and based on the first limiting result, configuring the first playback device to play the first audio signal according to a third crossover frequency. In some cases, the first and second playback devices may be configured to play the first and second audio signals, respectively, in synchrony.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Timothy W. Sheen