Noise cancelling soundbar device and system

Abstract

A noise cancelling soundbar that may be integrated into a piece of furniture, such as a bed, comprising one or more loudspeakers, an integrated power amplifier, one or more microphones, an audio input communication module, and an active noise cancellation module. After receiving an audio input signal from a media source, such as a TV or smartphone, the noise cancelling soundbar may produce an amplified output signal. By using its microphones and active noise cancellation technology, the noise cancelling soundbar may, in addition to reproducing input audio via its loudspeakers, generate negative sound waves which destructively interfere with ambient noise to allow users to listen to audiovisual media without disturbing non-listeners in the area, and without using headphones.

Claims

1. A noise cancelling soundbar, comprising: one or more loudspeakers; one or more microphones, which are configured to sense and measure an ambient noise; and an active noise cancelling module, which is configured to be in communication with the one or more loudspeakers and the one or more microphones; one or more adjustable loudspeaker bases; and one or more adjustable microphone bases; wherein said active noise cancelling module process the ambient noise to create a negative output audio; wherein the negative output audio is configured to be projected from the one or more loudspeakers; wherein said negative output audio, when projected from the one or more loudspeakers destructively interferes with the ambient noise; wherein the one or more loudspeakers are mounted on the one or more adjustable loudspeaker bases; wherein the one or more microphones are mounted on the one or more adjustable microphone bases; wherein one or more adjustable loudspeaker bases are configured to be adjustable so as to adjust an angle of the one or more loudspeakers, thereby adjusting the negative output audio, such that the negative output audio is configured to destructively interfere with the ambient noise; and wherein the one or more adjustable microphone bases are configured to adjust an angle of the one or more microphones to improve sensing and measuring of the ambient noise.

2. The noise cancelling soundbar of claim 1, wherein the noise cancelling soundbar is integrated into a headboard of a bed and is configured to substantially reduce a level of the ambient noise heard by a user.

3. The noise cancelling soundbar of claim 2, wherein the ambient noise is snoring generated by a person in close proximity to the user.

4. The noise cancelling soundbar of claim 3, further comprising: a driver; wherein the driver is configured to adjust the one or more adjustable loudspeaker bases and the one or more adjustable microphone bases.

5. The noise cancelling soundbar of claim 1, wherein the ambient noise experienced by a user is substantially reduced when the ambient noise is destructively interfered with by the negative audio output.

6. The noise cancelling soundbar of claim 5, wherein the noise cancelling soundbar is configured to receive an audio signal from one or more media sources and subsequently play the audio signal from the one or more loudspeakers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details which may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps, which are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or steps.

(2) FIG. 1 is an illustration of the prior art, in which a soundbar is installed near and under a television set up in a bedroom.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an illustration of one embodiment of a noise cancelling soundbar.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed schematic view of one embodiment of a noise cancelling soundbar.

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of a noise cancelling soundbar system.

(6) FIG. 5 is an illustration detailing various microphone and loudspeaker types that may be used with a noise cancelling soundbar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(7) In the following detailed description of various embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of the embodiments. However, these embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

(8) While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still others will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of protection. Accordingly, the graphs, figures, and the detailed descriptions thereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection.

(9) In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise specified, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, in one embodiment, an object that is “substantially” located within a housing would mean that the object is either completely within a housing or nearly completely within a housing. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is also equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.

(10) As used herein, the terms “approximately” and “about” generally refer to a deviance of within 5% of the indicated number or range of numbers. In one embodiment, the term “approximately” and “about,” may refer to a deviance of between 0.0001-10% from the indicated number or range of numbers.

(11) As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are signified both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

(12) “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

(13) Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intended to exclude, for example, other components, integers or steps. “Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey an indication of a preferred or ideal embodiment. “Such as” is not used in a restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.

(14) Disclosed are components that may be used to perform the disclosed methods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and systems. This applies to all embodiments of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that may be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps may be performed with any specific embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosed methods.

(15) The present methods and systems may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description.

(16) In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise specified, the term “noise cancelling soundbar” generally refers to a soundbar or array of sound equipment that may be equipped with active noise cancelling technology.

(17) “Ambient sound(s)” and “ambient sound waves” refer generally to sounds waves present in the vicinity of a noise cancelling soundbar of the present disclosure. This includes, but is not limited to, electronically generated audio (such as that produced by a loudspeaker in response to an electrical signal) and naturally generated audio (such as that produced by people talking, traffic and construction noises, etc.).

(18) “Disruptive Audio” refers to any ambient sound waves that a user of a noise cancelling sound board of the present disclosure is not actively trying to listen to, or is trying to avoid listening to.

(19) The terms “negative sound wave(s)” and “negative sound output pattern” refer to machine-generated soundwaves that are calculated to destructively interfere with a counterpart disruptive audio.

(20) “Media” refers to any form of audio and/or audiovisual content that includes an audio component for listeners to hear.

(21) “View” refers to the act of engaging with audio and/or audiovisual media, regardless of whether the viewer is looking and listening, or only listening.

(22) The term “set” generally refers to a group of things, such as loudspeakers, but there may be only one thing in any specific group.

(23) Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of soundbars. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a noise cancelling soundboard which, through a combination of a small form factor, targeted audio output, and active noise cancelling, allows its users to listen to audio or audiovisual media without disturbing nearby users.

(24) Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however, that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate describing these embodiments. It is to be understood that the methods and systems are not limited to specific methods, specific components, or to particular implementations. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

(25) FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a common soundbar setup 100 as used in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a soundbar 120 may receive audio input from a media device 110, such as a TV. The soundbar 120 is installed directly underneath the media device 110, such that the audio output 140 of the soundbar 120 needs to be loud enough to clearly reach a bed 125. In many situations, the length of the bed 125 requires that the audio output 140 be turned to such a volume that there is often spillover audio that disturbs the peace and quiet of other people nearby.

(26) FIG. 2 is an illustration showing one embodiment of a noise cancelling soundbar setup 200. As shown in FIG. 2, a noise cancelling soundbar 220 may receive an audio input 215 from a visual/audio media device 210, such as a television. The audio input 215 may be transmitted to the noise cancelling soundbar 220 wirelessly or with a wired connection. Rather than being installed directly under the media device 210, the noise cancelling soundbar 220 may preferably be installed directly on, in, or near a headboard 226 of a bed 225. By placing the noise cancelling soundbar 220 on, in, or near the headboard 226, the audio output 240 of the noise cancelling soundbar 220 requires a much lower volume in order to be heard by anyone trying to view the programming of the media device 210 while lying down in the bed 225. While reference is made to a bed 225, it is to be understood that the noise cancelling soundbar 220 may similarly be installed on or near the headrests of sofas, lounge chairs, etc., to produce the same effect.

(27) FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a detailed view of a noise cancelling soundbar system 300. As shown in FIG. 3, the noise cancelling soundbar system 300 may comprise a noise cancelling soundbar 320, one or more loudspeakers 330, one or more microphones 340, a processor 360, a wireless communication module 370, and a signal preamplifier 380. The noise cancelling soundbar 320 may receive an audio input signal 315 from a media device 310, such as a television (TV), smartphone, tablet, or other device capable of playing audio and/or audiovisual media. The audio input signal 315 may be transmitted to the noise cancelling soundbar 320 wirelessly and be received by the wireless communication module 370. The audio input signal 315 may, alternatively, be transmitted to the noise cancelling soundbar 320 via a wired connection (not shown).

(28) The audio input signal 315 may be enhanced by the signal preamplifier 380, and then subsequently transmitted to the one or more loudspeakers 330 for broadcasting. The one or more loudspeakers 330 may use the (amplified) audio input signal 315 to create a soundbar output audio 337. The soundbar output audio 337 may be a faithful reproduction of the audio input signal 315 received from the media device 310, albeit enhanced. In situations in which the media device 310 includes loudspeakers of its own, the media device 310 loudspeakers may preferably be powered down while the noise cancelling soundbar 320 is in use, such that only the noise cancelling soundbar 320 is generating audible sounds pertaining to the media that the user is viewing. The volume of the soundbar output audio 337 may be controlled by means of a volume control module 390, which may allow communication with, for example, a remote control.

(29) The one or more loudspeakers 330 may be mounted on a rotatable (or otherwise moveable/adjustable) base 335, which may in turn be controlled by a driver 336. The rotatable base 335 may be underneath the one or more loudspeakers 330, and may be used to adjust the angle of the one or more loudspeakers 330, thereby adjusting the directional output of the soundbar output audio 337. In this manner, the one or more loudspeakers 330 may be adjusted such that the soundbar output audio 337 may be precisely aimed (or otherwise directed) at a user's ears. As a result, a lower volume is required for the soundbar output audio 337 to be clearly heard by the user.

(30) The noise cancelling soundbar 320 may further comprise one or more microphones 340, which may be used to measure ambient noise 327. The ambient noise 327 may be processed by an active noise cancelling module 375, to create a negative output audio which may destructively interfere with the ambient noise 327 when combined with the ambient noise 327. Preferably, the negative output audio may be emitted from the one or more loudspeakers 330, such that the negative output audio largely cancels out any disruption by the ambient noise 327 to a user of the noise cancelling soundbar 320. The one or more microphones 340 may be mounted on a rotatable (or otherwise moveable/adjustable) base 335, which may be used to adjust the angle of the one or more microphones 340 in order to improve the measurement of ambient noise 327.

(31) FIG. 4 is an illustration of another embodiment of a noise cancelling soundbar system 400. As shown in FIG. 4, the noise cancelling soundbar system 400 may comprise a first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 and a second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2. In the follow detailed description, reference numerals ending in “0.1” designate that the component is part of the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1, while reference numerals ending in “0.2” designate that the component is part of the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2.

(32) The first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 and the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 may each comprise one or more loudspeakers 430.1/430.2, one or more microphones 440.1/440.2, a processor 460.1/460.2, a wireless communication module 470.1/470.2, and a signal preamplifier 480.1/480.2, respectively. The first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 and the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 may each be capable of receiving a first and second audio input 415.1/415.2 from a first and second media device 410.1/410.2, respectively, amplifying the audio signal, and subsequently emitted the amplified audio through directionally adjustable loudspeakers. In this regard, each soundbar may act similarly to the detailed description provided above for FIG. 3.

(33) By using one or more noise cancelling soundbars in tandem, the noise cancelling soundbar system 400 provides a uniquely effective way for listeners to soundproof themselves against ambient noise in the vicinity of all interconnected noise cancelling soundbars. For clarity, the following description will focus primarily on the components and features of the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1. However, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 may preferably include the same components and features of the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1.

(34) As shown in FIG. 4, the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 may receive an audio input signal 415.1 from a media device 410.1, such as a TV, smartphone, tablet, or other device capable of playing audio and/or audiovisual media. The audio input signal 415.1 may be enhanced by the signal preamplifier 480.1, and then subsequently transmitted to the one or more loudspeakers 430.1 for broadcasting. The one or more microphones 440.1 may be used to measure ambient noise 427 for processing by an active noise cancellation module 475.1. By doing so, the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 may generate a first negative output audio which may destructively interfere with the ambient noise 427. The first negative output audio may be projected from the first one or more loudspeakers 430.1, as part of the first soundbar output audio 437.1.

(35) The ambient noise 427, which may be measured by the one or more microphones 440.1 may include the second soundbar output audio 437.2 (i.e., any output audio produced by the noise cancelling soundbar 420.2), as well as any ambient noise 427 present in the vicinity of the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2, which was not produced by the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2. The reverse is true for the one or more microphones 440.2 of the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2. Specifically, the one or more microphones 440.2 of the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 may measure both the first soundbar output audio 437.1 and ambient noise 427 present in the vicinity of the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1. The second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 may then, by means of an active noise cancelling module 475.2, generate a second negative output audio which may destructively interfere with, or neutralize, the first soundbar output audio 437.1. In this manner a person near soundbar 420.2 may experience a reduced level of ambient noise, including noise made by the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1. The second negative output audio may be projected from the second one or more loudspeakers 430.2, as part of the soundbar output audio 437.2. Preferably, the volume of the first and output audio 437.1 and the second soundbar output audio 437.2 may be controlled by means of a first volume control module 490.1 and a second volume control module 490.2, respectively.

(36) Alternatively, and/or in addition to, the first and second noise cancelling soundbars may directly communicate with each other to produce more effective negative sound waves for cancelling out unwanted audio. For example, the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 may directly process the first audio input signal 415.1 via the second active noise cancelling module 475.2. The first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 may use a similar method to directly process the second audio input signal 415.2. In this way, each individual soundbar may more effectively produce a negative audio output that is designed to neutralize the (positive) audio output of the other soundbar, enabling users of each individual soundbar to enjoy their respective programming without disturbing others users or having to wear headphones.

(37) The ambient noise 427 which may be detected by the microphones to generate counterpart cancelling negative sound waves may additionally include naturally generated noises within the vicinity of the noise cancelling soundbar system 400, such as a user's snoring or nearby traffic or construction sounds. In one embodiment, the first and second soundbars may be separately installed in different locations, rather than on a single soundbar support board 420 as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the first noise cancelling soundbar 420.1 may be installed in or near the headrest of an office chair, with the second noise cancelling soundbar 420.2 installed on the outside of the office door housing the office chair. Both soundbars may be activated even without any media device input, instead being used primarily for their ability to detect ambient noise 427 and create negative sound waves that destructively interfere with the ambient noise 427. The rotatable stands 435.1/435.2 for the loudspeakers and microphones allow for each individual soundbar to be adjusted for optimal ambient noise detection, and aiming of the first and second negative output audios. Preferably, a first driver 436.1 and a second driver 436.2 may be able to control the movements of the first and second rotatable stands 435.2/435.2, respectively.

(38) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a noise cancelling soundbar system 500, providing additional detail on the types of microphones and loudspeakers that may be used. As shown in FIG. 5, the noise cancelling soundbar 520 may comprise one or more near-field sensing microphones 541, one or more ambient sound sensing microphones 542, one or more tweeter speakers 531, and one or more mid-range speakers 532. The one or more near-field sensing microphones 541 and the one or more ambient sound sending microphones 542 may be used to sense sounds that are near and far from the noise cancelling soundbar 520, respectively. The one or more tweeter speakers 531 and the one or more mid-range speakers 532 may be used to produce high and mid-low range output audio, respectively.

(39) Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, locations, and other specifications, which set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range, which is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

(40) The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows and describes the illustrative embodiments. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more additional embodiments may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection. It is intended that the scope of protection not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.

(41) Except as stated immediately above, nothing which has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.