Future iMacs and Studio Displays may have external as well as built-in speakers for enhanced audio as evidenced by a newly granted patent (number US 12112094 B2).
About the patent
In the patent Apple notes that electronic devices, such as computers, mobile phones, audio players, laptops, tablet computers, televisions (hereinafter an “electronic device”) typically may have an integrated audio output device (e.g., speakers) or may be able to communicate with an audio output device. Additionally, many electronic devices may also include a visual or video output device or communicate with a video display device.
What’s more, Apple says that many audio/visual output devices may be able to have an improved audio or video output IF the audio output is able to be adjusted to the environment, surroundings, circumstances, program, and/or environment. However, many audio and video output devices may require a user input or interaction in order to change a particular output or may not have variable output settings.
In these instances the audio and/or video output may not be performing or outputting the best quality sound or images for the particular environment, programs, circumstance, or the like, according to Apple. The company’s solution is a multi-speaker set-up with a method for detecting a user by a sensor. Once a user is detected, a process determines whether the user is an optimum range for a current audio output of an audio output device. If the user is not within the optimum range, the processor modifies the audio output. Additionally, the sensor determines whether the user is orientated towards the computing device. Based on the user orientation the processor adjusts an audio device.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A system for enhancing audio including a plurality of sensors, an output device, and a processor in communication with the plurality of sensors and the output device. The processor is configured to process data captured by the plurality of sensors, and based on that, modify an output of the output device. The processor also is configured to determine whether there are a plurality of users associated with a video conferencing session, determine which user of the plurality of users is speaking, and enhance the audio or video output of the speaking user on the output device.”
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