How Smart Speakers Adapt Sound to Your Room and Listening Spot

This patent describes a system that automatically adjusts how spatial audio sounds in a room by sensing speaker locations, listener position, and room acoustics, then dynamically calibrating the sound output.

What it covers

This system controls an audio environment by first automatically figuring out where each loudspeaker is located (claim 1). It also gathers detailed acoustic information, called loudspeaker profile information, from each speaker's individual sound-producing parts, or drivers. The system then automatically determines where a listener is sitting in the room. It takes in special audio data designed for spatial sound and uses microphones, some of which can be built into the speakers, to understand the room's unique sound characteristics. Based on all this information—speaker locations, speaker profiles, listener position, and room characteristics—the system renders, or processes, the audio data. It then calibrates this rendered audio to perfectly match the room and listener, providing the adjusted sound to the speakers. For example, if you add a new speaker, the system automatically detects it and adjusts the sound rendering (claim 9).

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover audio systems where loudspeaker locations are manually entered or fixed, rather than automatically determined by the system.
• —Does not cover systems that do not automatically determine the listener's position in the audio environment.
• —Does not cover audio playback systems that only handle traditional stereo or mono audio, without spatial audio-based sound data.
• —Does not cover systems that lack microphones to automatically sense and calibrate for the room's specific acoustic characteristics.
• —Does not cover systems that cannot dynamically adjust their sound output when loudspeakers are added or removed from the setup.

The clever bit

The truly clever part is the system's ability to automatically sense and adapt to its environment. It dynamically determines speaker positions, listener location, and room acoustics, then continuously adjusts the spatial audio rendering. This means the sound is always optimized without manual intervention, even if speakers are moved or added.

Why it matters

This technology is crucial for delivering immersive audio experiences, like those found in home theaters and advanced sound systems. It simplifies the setup process for users by automating complex calibration steps that previously required manual adjustments or professional installers. By adapting sound to the specific room and listener, it ensures a consistent and high-quality audio experience, regardless of the environment's acoustics or speaker placement. This enables more accessible and effective deployment of spatial audio technologies.

Real-world examples

• 1.Dolby Atmos home theater systems
• 2.High-end soundbars with automatic room calibration
• 3.Smart speakers with integrated acoustic tuning features
• 4.Professional audio setups that self-configure for different venues