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GooglePatent applicationAudio & voiceInterest 6/10

Google patents tech to fix muffled sounds when phone speaker is blocked

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This filing describes a method where a device uses sensors to detect if its speaker port is physically blocked, such as by a hand or case. It then identifies the specific cause of the blockage and adjusts the audio output to reduce distortion.

Why it mattersIt could improve the listening experience for users who accidentally cover their phone's speaker during calls or media playback.

In the filing’s own words

Techniques, systems, and apparatuses directed to audio distortion mitigation on a computing device associated with a physical blockage of a speaker port of the device are disclosed. In one example, a computer-implemented method includes generating a sound output corresponding to an audio signal, emitting the sound output from a speaker port defined in a housing of a computing device, receiving first sensor data from at least one first sensor, determining a physical blockage of the speaker port based on the first sensor data, receiving second sensor data from at least one second sensor, and determining a cause of the determined physical blockage of the speaker port. Responsive to determining a cause of the physical blockage of the speaker port, the computing device performs one or more actions to mitigate audio distortion of the sound output from the speaker port.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a sound output corresponding to an audio signal; emitting the sound output from a speaker port defined in a housing of a computing device; receiving first sensor data that corresponds to the sound output from at least one first sensor; determining, based on the first sensor data, a physical blockage of the speaker port; receiving second sensor data from at least one second sensor; determining, based on the second sensor data, a cause of the determined physical blockage of the speaker port; and in response to determining the cause of the physical blockage of the speaker port, causing the computing device to perform one or more actions to mitigate audio distortion of the sound output from the speaker port.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Audio Distortion Mitigation
Publication number
US20260323228A1
Application number
18870292
Filed
Dec 13, 2023
Published
Oct 15, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
22

Classified under

H04R 29/001 Electricity & electronicsH04R 2499/11 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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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.