# US 12,008,287 B2 · Audio output device with hardware volume control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,008,287 B2 - Document ID: US12008287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/355,098 - Filed: 2021-06-22 - Published: 2022-12-22 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-22 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Hilary K. Mogul; Eric J. Day; Hannes Breitschaedel; Juha O. Merimaa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008287B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 3/162: {Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04S 1/005: {For headphones} - H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type} - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems - H04S 2400/13: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS ## Abstract A method performed by an audio source device that is communicatively coupled with an audio output device, the method includes obtaining an audio signal; receiving a volume adjustment; applying the volume adjustment to the audio signal; applying dynamic range compression on the volume adjusted audio signal; and applying an inverse volume adjustment to the compressed audio signal, where the inverse volume adjusted audio signal is to be transmitted to the audio output device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by an audio output device, the method comprising: driving a speaker driver of the audio output device to output an audio signal; obtaining, from a volume control of the audio output device, a user volume adjustment; generating, responsive to the user volume adjustment, an audio feedback signal; driving the speaker driver to output the audio feedback signal; transmitting, via a wireless connection with an audio source device, the user volume adjustment to the audio source device; in response to transmitting the user volume adjustment, receiving, via the wireless connection and from the audio source device, a processed audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; adjusting the processed audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; and driving the speaker driver to output the adjusted processed audio signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the audio source device is configured to generate the processed audio signal by applying a separate user volume adjustment, dynamic range compression, and an inverse of the separate user volume adjustment to the audio signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the audio feedback signal includes a sound indicating that a volume level is adjusted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the sound comprises a ding sound. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the processed audio signal received from the audio source device is in a floating-point audio format, wherein the method further comprises converting the adjusted processed audio signal to a fixed-point audio format. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein a signal level of the adjusted processed audio signal while in the floating-point audio format does not exceed 0 decibels relative to full scale (dBFS) of the audio output device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the audio output device is a wireless headset that is wirelessly connected to the audio source device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, prior to obtaining the user volume adjustment and from the audio source device, the audio signal having a first signal level, wherein the processed audio signal comprises the audio signal having a second signal level that is less than the first signal level. ### Claim 9 A wireless headset comprising: a speaker driver; a hardware volume control; a processor; and memory having instructions stored therein which when executed by the processor causes the wireless headset to: drive the speaker driver to output an audio signal; obtain, from the hardware volume control, a user volume adjustment; generate, responsive to the user volume adjustment, an audio feedback signal; drive the speaker driver to output the audio feedback signal; wirelessly transmit the user volume adjustment to an audio source device; in response to wirelessly transmitting the user volume adjustment, wirelessly receive, from the audio source device, a processed audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; adjust the processed audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; and drive the speaker driver to output the adjusted processed audio signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wireless headset of claim 9, wherein the audio source device is configured to generate the processed audio signal by applying a separate user volume adjustment, dynamic range compression, and an inverse of the separate user volume adjustment to the audio signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The wireless headset of claim 9, wherein the audio feedback signal includes a sound indicating that a volume level is adjusted. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The wireless headset of claim 9, wherein the processed audio signal received from the audio source device is in a floating-point audio format, wherein the memory has further instructions to convert the adjusted processed audio signal to a fixed-point audio format. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wireless headset of claim 12, wherein a signal level of the adjusted processed audio signal while in the floating-point audio format does not exceed 0 decibels relative to full scale (dBFS) of the audio output device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The wireless headset of claim 9, wherein the memory has further instructions to: adjust the audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; and drive the speaker driver to output the adjusted audio signal until the speaker driver is driven to output the adjusted processed audio signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The wireless headset of claim 9, wherein the memory has further instructions to receive, prior to obtaining the user volume adjustment and from the audio source device, the audio signal having a first signal level, wherein the processed audio signal comprises the audio signal having a second signal level that is less than the first signal level. ### Claim 16 A processor of an audio output device that is configured to: drive a speaker driver of the audio output device to output an audio signal; obtain, from a volume control of the audio output device, a user volume adjustment; generate, responsive to the user volume adjustment, an audio feedback signal; drive the speaker driver to output the audio feedback signal; wirelessly transmit the user volume adjustment to an audio source device; in response to transmitting the user volume adjustment, wirelessly receive, from the audio source device, a processed audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; adjust the processed audio signal based on the user volume adjustment; and drive the speaker driver to output the adjusted processed audio signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The processor of claim 16, wherein the processed audio signal received from the audio source device is in a floating-point audio format, wherein the processor is configured to convert the adjusted processed audio signal to a fixed-point audio format. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The processor of claim 17, wherein a signal level of the adjusted processed audio signal while in the floating-point audio format does not exceed 0 decibels relative to full scale (dBFS) of the audio output device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The processor of claim 16, wherein the audio output device is a wireless headset that is wirelessly connected to the audio source device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The processor of claim 16 is further configured to receive, prior to obtaining the user volume adjustment and from the audio source device, the audio signal having a first signal level, wherein the processed audio signal comprises the audio signal having a second signal level that is less than the first signal level.