Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface including a wireless (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) antenna), a capacitive sensor comprising an electrode that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include operating the playback device in a first power state, detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive sensor, and in response to detecting the object, adjusting operation of the playback device from the first power state to a second power state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are computing devices, including playback devices, that are configured to operate in several media distribution modes and play back audio data in several playback modes based at least in part on the source of audio/video data for playback. IN one example, a playback device receives, via a first hardware interface, an input stream of audiovisual content comprising first audio data and video data. The playback device tags the first audio data and transmits the tagged audio data along with the video data to a video display device. The playback device then receives, via second hardware interface from the video display device, a second audio data stream. The second stream is evaluated to identify a tag, after which the playback device plays back the first audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data while suppressing playback of the second audio data.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface including a wireless (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) antenna), a capacitive sensor comprising an electrode that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include operating the playback device in a first power state, detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive sensor, and in response to detecting the object, adjusting operation of the playback device from the first power state to a second power state.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface including a wireless (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) antenna), a capacitive sensor comprising an electrode that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include operating the playback device in a first power state, detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive sensor, and in response to detecting the object, adjusting operation of the playback device from the first power state to a second power state.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface including a radio frequency (RF) antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include operating the playback device in a first power state, detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor, and in response to detecting the object, adjusting operation of the playback device from the first power state to a second power state.

Abstract: Example techniques involve a speaker grille of a playback device that is connectable to a capacitive proximity sensor, which may increase the area over which an object's proximity to the sensor can be sensed. An example implementation includes a playback device that includes an enclosure comprising a first surface and a second surface, one or more speakers mounted on the first surface, a conductive speaker grille covering the one or more speakers, one or more playback controls mounted on the second surface, and a capacitive proximity sensor oriented away from the second surface. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a grounding plane that is connectable to the conductive speaker grille.

Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. A example playback device includes a capacitive proximity sensor and a radio frequency (RF) antenna. While a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor is decoupled from a grounding plane of the RF antenna, the playback device determines that the playback device will be rendering audio, and responsively causes the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to the grounding plane of the RF antenna while the playback device is rendering audio.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface including a radio frequency (RF) antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include operating the playback device in a first power state, detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor, and in response to detecting the object, adjusting operation of the playback device from the first power state to a second power state.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor and responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio.

Abstract: Example techniques involve a speaker grille of a playback device that is connectable to a capacitive proximity sensor, which may increase the area over which an object's proximity to the sensor can be sensed. An example implementation includes a playback device that includes an enclosure comprising a first surface and a second surface, one or more speakers mounted on the first surface, a conductive speaker grille covering the one or more speakers, one or more playback controls mounted on the second surface, and a capacitive proximity sensor oriented away from the second surface. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a grounding plate that is connectable to the conductive speaker grille.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device that includes a capacitive proximity sensor; one or more speakers; a conductive speaker grille; and a control system that decouples a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor from the conductive speaker grille while the one or more speakers are rendering audio and couples the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to the conductive speaker grille while the one or more speakers are not rendering audio.

Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. A example playback device includes a capacitive proximity sensor and a radio frequency (RF) antenna. While a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor is decoupled from a grounding plane of the RF antenna, the playback device determines that the playback device will be rendering audio, and responsively causes the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to the grounding plane of the RF antenna while the playback device is rendering audio.

Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor may include a first metal electrode coupled to the RF antenna ground plane is coupled to the first metal electrode such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for intelligently revealing selectable icons on a control panel of a playback device based on proximity detection. In one example, an ambient light level may be determined based on a detection of ambient light by a light sensor of a control area for a playback device. Based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor and a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor may be adjusted. The IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor may each be configured to detect a physical movement. Based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device may be determined, and a control area of the playback device may be illuminated.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device that includes a capacitive proximity sensor; one or more speakers; a conductive speaker grille; and a control system that decouples a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor from the conductive speaker grille while the one or more speakers are rendering audio and couples the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to the conductive speaker grille while the one or more speakers are not rendering audio.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor and responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio.

Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a speaker grille on a surface of the playback device oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a first metal electrode coupled to the speaker grille such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially at the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for intelligently revealing selectable icons on a control panel of a playback device based on proximity detection. In one example, an ambient light level may be determined based on a detection of ambient light by a light sensor of a control area for a playback device. Based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor and a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor may be adjusted. The IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor may each be configured to detect a physical movement. Based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device may be determined, and a control area of the playback device may be illuminated.

Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a speaker grille on a surface of the playback device oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a first metal electrode coupled to the speaker grille such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially at the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor may include a first metal electrode coupled to the RF antenna ground plane is coupled to the first metal electrode such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction.