Sony patents drones that control phones using engine sounds
Sony describes a system where a drone changes its engine speed to create specific sounds. A nearby device, like a phone, listens for these sounds with its microphone to trigger actions, such as saving or sending data.
In the filing’s own words
An electronic device comprises a sensor arrangement, a control system operable to obtain sensor data from the sensor arrangement, and a microphone configured to provide an audio signal representing sound waves received by the microphone. The control system processes ( 102) the audio signal for detection of an audio characteristic feature, ACF, representing an operating parameter of a propulsion system in an aerial vehicle, and, upon said detection, performs ( 104) a dedicated action related to the sensor data. The dedicated action may comprise obtaining and/or transmitting at least part of the sensor data. To control the electronic device, the aerial vehicle is configured to, intermittently while on a flight path, cause its propulsion system ( 22) to impart a predefined and audible modification of an operating parameter of the propulsion system ( 22) to thereby generate sound waves that include the ACF.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device, comprising: a sensor arrangement, a control system circuitry operable to obtain sensor data from the sensor arrangement, and a microphone configured to provide an audio signal representing sound waves received by the microphone, wherein the control system circuitry is configured to process the audio signal for detection of an audio characteristic feature representing an operating parameter of a propulsion system of an aerial vehicle, and, upon said detection, perform a dedicated action related to the sensor data, wherein the audio characteristic feature is a predefined modulation of an operating frequency of the propulsion system of the aerial vehicle, and the control system circuitry is configured to perform different dedicated actions depending on a property of the audio characteristic feature.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Controlling electronic devices by aerial vehicles
- Patent number
- US12732783B2
- Application number
- 18568080
- Filed
- May 11, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 18
Classified under
H04W 4/38 Electricity & electronicsB64U 10/13 Operations & transportH04W 4/40 Electricity & electronicsB64U 2201/00 Operations & transportMore from Sony in Robots & automation
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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.