Range finding audio system
AssigneeRound Rock Research, LLC
InventorTodd C. Houg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A range finding audio system automatically modifies the audio output of an audio source based on the distance of a listener from the speakers. A speaker in an audio system may include a range device coupled with a controller. The range device may utilize infrared, laser, or acoustic technology to determine the distance between the speaker and the listener. The controller may transfer distance information to an audio interface of a processor unit. The audio lo interface may include a positioning routine to modify the audio output according to the distance from the speaker to the listener. Alternatively, the controller may perform the functions ascribed to the positioning routine making the necessary modifications to the audio output based on the distance information.
Claims13
A system comprising:
- a plurality of speakers;
- a plurality of range devices associated with respective speakers, each range device adapted to generate an indication representing a distance of the respective speaker to a listener;
- and
- a module operatively coupled to the plurality of range devices, the module comprising logic that polls a register operatively coupled to the module, wherein the register stores distance information from the plurality of range devices, and wherein the logic polls the register for differences in the distance information from the range devices, wherein, the module modifies a timing of an audio signal transmitted to at least one of the plurality of speakers based on the a determined difference between the distance information stored in the register and the signals that the module receives from the range devices.
A method to adjust audio output at plural speakers, comprising:
- receiving signals representing distances of respective speakers to a listener;
- storing the distance information;
- receiving additional signals representing distances of the respective speakers to a listener;
- comparing the distance information from the additional signals with the stored distance information;
- modifying timings of audio output signals based on the comparison;
- and
- sending the audio output signals having the modified timings to respective speakers.
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- a routine executable on the processor to:
- receive indications of distances from respective output speakers to a listener;
- poll a register in the processor for prior distance information;
- and
- modify a timing of at least one of audio output signals provided to respective output speakers based on the difference between the prior distance information and the received indications of distances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.