Apple patents speaker layout to hide device noise
Apple describes a system that uses multiple speakers to mask the hum of internal parts like fans or motors. It creates a specific sound pattern with a 'hole' at the source of the noise to reduce how loud that noise sounds to the user.
In the filing’s own words
Aspects of the subject technology provide noise mitigation for electronic devices. Noise mitigation can mitigate the effect of a sound-generating component of an electronic device that generates sound as a byproduct of a primary function of the sound-generating component. The noise mitigation can include geometrically distributing another sound in a geometric distribution that mitigates the perceived effect of the sound of the sound-generating component on a user of the electronic device.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A device, comprising: a sound-generating component; a plurality of speakers; and one or more processors, configured to: obtain audio content that includes a representation of the sound of the sound-generating component; obtain a geometric distribution for an output of the audio content, wherein the geometric distribution is configured to mitigate, at the sound-generating component, a sound corresponding to the sound-generating component by including: a geometric hole, at a location of the sound-generating component, for the output of the representation of the sound of the sound-generating component; and a projection of the representation of the sound of the sound-generating component to one or more other locations different from the location of the sound-generating component; and operate the plurality of speakers to output the audio content in accordance with the obtained geometric distribution.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Noise mitigation for electronic devices
- Patent number
- US12726763B2
- Application number
- 18507016
- Filed
- Nov 10, 2023
- Granted
- Sep 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 18
Classified under
H04R 3/005 Electricity & electronicsH04R 5/033 Electricity & electronicsH04R 5/04 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Audio & voice
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.