公开(公告)号：US11693487B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-04

申请号：US17649582

申请日：2022-02-01

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Craig M. Stanley ,  Simon K. Porter ,  John H. Sheerin ,  Glenn K. Trainer ,  Ethan L Huwe ,  Sean T. McIntosh ,  Jason C. Della Rosa ,  Christopher J. Stringer ,  Molly J. Anderson ,  Erik L. Wang

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R1/30 ,  H04R5/02 ,  H04R31/00 ,  H03K17/96 ,  H05K1/02 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R7/12 ,  H04R7/18 ,  H04R9/02 ,  H04R9/06 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R1/28 ,  G06F3/16 ,  F21V3/00 ,  F21V5/00 ,  F21V23/04 ,  F21V33/00 ,  H01H13/02 ,  H05K1/14 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/0202 ,  F21V3/00 ,  F21V5/007 ,  F21V23/0485 ,  F21V33/0056 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/016 ,  G06F3/03547 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/165 ,  H01H13/023 ,  H03K17/962 ,  H04R1/025 ,  H04R1/026 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R1/2811 ,  H04R1/2826 ,  H04R1/2888 ,  H04R1/30 ,  H04R1/403 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R5/02 ,  H04R7/12 ,  H04R7/127 ,  H04R7/18 ,  H04R9/022 ,  H04R9/025 ,  H04R9/06 ,  H04R31/006 ,  H05K1/0274 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H03K2217/960785 ,  H04R2201/028 ,  H04R2201/34 ,  H04R2201/401 ,  H04R2400/03 ,  H04R2400/13 ,  H04R2420/07 ,  H05K1/141 ,  H05K2201/09063 ,  H05K2201/10106 ,  H05K2201/10378

Abstract: A voice-controlled electronic device that includes an axisymmetric device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include a plurality of microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the plurality of microphones and first and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.

公开(公告)号：US20220174399A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-02

申请号：US17651563

申请日：2022-02-17

Applicant: Apple, Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Simon K. Porter ,  Suzanne Hardy ,  John H. Sheerin

IPC: H04R1/28 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/14

Abstract: Loudspeakers are described that may reduce comb filtering effects perceived by a listener by either 1) moving transducers closer to a sound reflective surface (e.g., a baseplate, a tabletop or a floor) through vertical (height) or rotational adjustments of the transducers or 2) guiding sound produced by the transducers to be released into the listening area proximate to the reflective surface through the use of horns and openings that are at a prescribed distance from the reflective surface. The reduction of this distance between the reflective surface and the point at which sound emitted by the transducers is released into the listening area may lead to shorter reflected path that reduces comb filtering effects caused by reflected sounds that are delayed relative to the direct sound. Accordingly, the loudspeakers shown and described may be placed on reflective surfaces without severe audio coloration caused by reflected sounds.

公开(公告)号：US11290805B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-29

申请号：US16822474

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Simon K. Porter ,  Suzanne Hardy ,  John H. Sheerin

IPC: H04R1/28 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/14

Abstract: Loudspeakers are described that may reduce comb filtering effects perceived by a listener by either 1) moving transducers closer to a sound reflective surface (e.g., a baseplate, a tabletop or a floor) through vertical (height) or rotational adjustments of the transducers or 2) guiding sound produced by the transducers to be released into the listening area proximate to the reflective surface through the use of horns and openings that are at a prescribed distance from the reflective surface. The reduction of this distance between the reflective surface and the point at which sound emitted by the transducers is released into the listening area may lead to shorter reflected path that reduces comb filtering effects caused by reflected sounds that are delayed relative to the direct sound. Accordingly, the loudspeakers shown and described may be placed on reflective surfaces without severe audio coloration caused by reflected sounds.

公开(公告)号：US10438580B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US16011900

申请日：2018-06-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Simon K. Porter ,  Sylvain J. Choisel ,  John C. Stewart

IPC: G10K15/12 ,  H04R3/12 ,  G10K11/34 ,  H04R29/00 ,  H04S7/00

Abstract: A method for using a loudspeaker array that is housed in a loudspeaker cabinet to present audio content to a listener in a room includes receiving (1) an audio channel that includes audio content and (2) acoustical characteristics of the room. The method also produces (1) a first beamformer input signal from the audio channel and (2) a second beamformer input signal and a third beamformer input signal by decorrelating the audio channel and adjusting the audio channel in accordance with the acoustical characteristics of the room. The second and third beamformer input signals are different de-correlated versions of the audio channel. The method also generates driver signals from the first, second, and third beamformer input signals to drive the loudspeaker array to produce a main beam, a first ambient beam, and a second ambient beam, respectively. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US10425733B1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-24

申请号：US16147111

申请日：2018-09-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sylvain J. Choisel ,  Afrooz Family ,  Simon K. Porter

IPC: H03G5/02 ,  H04R3/04 ,  G10L21/0232 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G10L21/0216

Abstract: A microphone equalization system determines an equalization filter which is used to spectrally shape a signal from a microphone. A loudspeaker has an enclosure, a back volume, a driver diaphragm, and a sensor located inside the back volume. An external microphone is located outside the loudspeaker. A processor determines the equalization filter based on comparison of a first signal from an output of the sensor and a second signal from an output of the external microphone both of which are produced while the driver diaphragm produces acoustic pressure waves produced by the driver diaphragm. The processor is to then spectrally shape a third signal from the output of the external microphone that is responsive to further acoustic pressure waves from a source other than the loudspeaker. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US10194249B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-29

申请号：US15622617

申请日：2017-06-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sylvain J. Choisel ,  Simon K. Porter ,  David A. Sumberg

IPC: H04R29/00 ,  H04R9/06 ,  H04R9/04 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H03G3/30 ,  H04R9/02

Abstract: A coil assembly is coupled to a diaphragm. The coil assembly has a number of coils that are fixed in a stacked, end to end manner along a length axis. The coils include a middle coil, a several upper coils and several lower coils. Each coil has a respective pair of coil terminals so that it can be independently driven by an audio signal. The coil assembly as a whole is overhung, while each of constituent coils is underhung so that there are at least two adjacent coils that are completely within the magnetic gap, and at least two other coils that are completely outside the magnetic gap, during a majority of the full excursion of the coil assembly. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US20180091910A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-29

申请号：US15275077

申请日：2016-09-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Simon K. Porter ,  Sylvain J. Choisel ,  Jesse A. Lippert

IPC: H04R29/00 ,  H04R19/04

CPC classification number: H04R29/001 ,  H04R1/2834 ,  H04R1/38 ,  H04R3/002 ,  H04R3/005 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R19/04 ,  H04R2201/003 ,  H04R2400/13

Abstract: A differential pressure gradient micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone for measuring an acoustic characteristic of a loudspeaker. The microphone includes a MEMS microphone housing and a compliant membrane mounted in the MEMS microphone housing, the compliant membrane dividing the MEMS microphone housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber includes a primary port open to a first side of the compliant membrane and the second chamber includes a secondary port open to a second side of the compliant membrane, and the primary port and the secondary port are tuned with respect to one another to control a pressure difference between the first side and the second side of the compliant membrane such that at least 10 dB of attenuation is observed in a microphone signal output relative to a microphone having a sealed first or second chamber.

公开(公告)号：US09930444B1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-27

申请号：US15649527

申请日：2017-07-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Craig M. Stanley ,  Simon K. Porter ,  John H. Sheerin ,  Glenn K. Trainer ,  Jason C. Della Rosa ,  Ethan L. Huwe ,  Sean T. McIntosh ,  Erik L. Wang ,  Christopher J. Stringer ,  Molly J. Anderson

IPC: H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R3/12

CPC classification number: H04R1/2888 ,  F21V3/00 ,  F21V5/007 ,  F21V23/0485 ,  F21V33/0056 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/016 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/165 ,  H04R1/025 ,  H04R1/026 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R1/2811 ,  H04R1/2826 ,  H04R1/30 ,  H04R1/403 ,  H04R3/00 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R5/02 ,  H04R7/12 ,  H04R7/127 ,  H04R7/18 ,  H04R9/022 ,  H04R9/025 ,  H04R9/06 ,  H04R31/006 ,  H04R2201/028 ,  H04R2201/34 ,  H04R2201/401 ,  H04R2400/03 ,  H04R2400/13 ,  H04R2420/07

Abstract: This disclosure relates to speakers and more specifically to an array speaker for distributing music uniformly across a room. A number of audio drivers can be radially distributed within a speaker housing so that an output of the drivers is distributed evenly throughout the room. In some embodiments, the exit geometry of the audio drivers can be configured to bounce off a surface supporting the array speaker to improve the distribution of music throughout the room. The array speaker can include a number of vibration isolation elements distributed within a housing of the array speaker. The vibration isolation elements can be configured reduce the strength of forces generated by a subwoofer of the array speaker.

公开(公告)号：US09859858B2

公开(公告)日：2018-01-02

申请号：US15000847

申请日：2016-01-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Simon K. Porter ,  Afrooz Family ,  Martin E. Johnson ,  Richard M. Powell

IPC: G06F17/00 ,  H03G5/16 ,  H03G3/00 ,  H04R3/00 ,  G10L25/48 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H03G9/00 ,  G06F3/16

CPC classification number: H03G5/16 ,  G06F3/165 ,  G10L25/03 ,  G10L25/48 ,  G10L25/54 ,  H03G3/002 ,  H03G3/3005 ,  H03G3/3089 ,  H03G5/005 ,  H03G5/165 ,  H03G7/002 ,  H03G7/007 ,  H03G9/005 ,  H04R3/007 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R2430/01

Abstract: An unknown content audio signal that is input to an audio power amplifier and speaker that have a known gain and speaker sensitivity, is buffered. A portion of the buffered signal is provided to an automatic content recognition (ACR) system, and then a content identifier, of the unknown content signal, as provided by the ACR system is received. Previously determined metadata is also received, for a reference audio content signal that has been assigned to the content identifier. The metadata includes a previously determined reference measure of an audio signal characteristic for the reference content. An input measure of the audio signal characteristic is computed, for the unknown content, and compared with the reference measure. On that basis, and also based on the known gain and speaker sensitivity, at least one of a scalar gain and spectral shaping filtering that is being applied to the unknown content is adjusted. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

公开(公告)号：US20170289673A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-05

申请号：US15623028

申请日：2017-06-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Martin E. Johnson ,  Simon K. Porter ,  Suzanne Hardy ,  John H. Sheerin

IPC: H04R1/28 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/14 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02

CPC classification number: H04R1/2811 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/025 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R1/2803 ,  H04R1/288 ,  H04R1/403 ,  H04R3/14 ,  H04R2201/401

Abstract: Loudspeakers are described that may reduce comb filtering effects perceived by a listener by either 1) moving transducers closer to a sound reflective surface (e.g., a baseplate, a tabletop or a floor) through vertical (height) or rotational adjustments of the transducers or 2) guiding sound produced by the transducers to be released into the listening area proximate to the reflective surface through the use of horns and openings that are at a prescribed distance from the reflective surface. The reduction of this distance between the reflective surface and the point at which sound emitted by the transducers is released into the listening area may lead to a shorter reflected path that reduces comb filtering effects caused by reflected sounds that are delayed relative to the direct sound. Accordingly, the loudspeakers shown and describe may be placed on reflective surfaces without sever audio coloration caused by reflected sounds.