US 12,250,528 B2
Array augmentation for audio playback devices
Hilmar Lehnert, Framington, MA (US); Chris Davies, Santa Barbara, CA (US); and Paul MacLean, Quincy, MA (US)
Assigned to Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed by Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/613,023.
Application 18/613,023 is a continuation of application No. 17/451,037, filed on Oct. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,974,106.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,430, filed on Oct. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0236569 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. H04R 3/12 (2006.01); H04N 21/436 (2011.01); H04R 5/04 (2006.01); H04R 25/00 (2006.01); H04S 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 3/12 (2013.01) [H04N 21/43615 (2013.01); H04R 5/04 (2013.01); H04R 25/407 (2013.01); H04S 7/307 (2013.01); H04R 2205/024 (2013.01); H04R 2205/026 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A playback device, comprising:
a left audio transducer configured to output audio along a left acoustic axis;
a right audio transducer configured to output audio along a right acoustic axis;
one or more processors; and
data storage having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:
receiving a source stream of audio content comprising at least a left input channel and a right input channel;
generating a left lead output signal based on the left input channel;
generating a right lead output signal based on the right input channel;
generating a right augmentation output signal based on the right input channel, wherein the right augmentation output signal is configured to at least partially cancel out the right lead output signal;
generating a left augmentation output signal based on the left input channel, wherein the left augmentation output signal is configured to at least partially cancel out the left lead output signal;
playing back, via the left transducer, audio based on both the left lead output signal and the right augmentation output signal; and
concurrently playing back, via the right transducer, audio based on both the right lead output signal and the left augmentation output signal,
wherein playing back, via the left transducer, the audio based on the right augmentation output signal at least partially cancels out the audio played back via the right transducer based on the right lead output signal, and
wherein playing back, via the right transducer, the audio based on the left augmentation output signal at least partially cancels out the audio played back via the left transducer based on the left lead output signal.