Sonos, Inc.

Carlo Van Niekerk

Niels Van Erven

Michael Frey

Thomas Calatayud

A network device communicates with one or another set of antennas depending on an orientation of the network device. The network device includes a first set of one or more antennas, a second set of one or more antennas, a processor, and memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to perform functions. The functions include (1) determining that an orientation of the network device is one of a first orientation and a second orientation; (2) if the determined orientation is the first orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the first set of one or more antennas; and (3) if the determined the orientation is the second orientation, then causing the network device to communicate using the second set of one or more antennas.

Antenna selection

Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. A example playback device includes a capacitive proximity sensor and a radio frequency (RF) antenna. While a grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor is decoupled from a grounding plane of the RF antenna, the playback device determines that the playback device will be rendering audio, and responsively causes the grounding plane of the capacitive proximity sensor to be coupled to the grounding plane of the RF antenna while the playback device is rendering audio.

Capacitive proximity sensor configuration including an antenna ground plane

Embodiments are provided for antenna assemblies. An example apparatus includes a first plate forming a first ground plane for an antenna; a second plate forming a second ground plane for a circuit, wherein a first edge of the first plate is orthogonally adjacent to a second edge of the second plate; and a coupler to form a capacitive coupling between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.

Antenna assemblies

Embodiments of a capacitive sensor configuration for proximity detection by a playback device are provided. The playback device may include a capacitive proximity sensor configured to detect physical movement in a first direction, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor may include a first metal electrode coupled to the RF antenna ground plane is coupled to the first metal electrode such that the capacitive proximity sensor may be further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction that is substantially the relative angle to the first direction. The playback device may be configured to determine based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction.

Embodiments are provided for antenna configurations. An example playback device includes a housing having a metallic face, the metallic face including an opening; a first antenna oriented in a first direction on a plate, the plate forming a ground plane for the first antenna, the first antenna having a first slot aligned with the opening, the first antenna being associated with a first frequency; and a second antenna positioned proximate to the first antenna on the plate and oriented in a second direction opposing the first direction, the second antenna having a second slot aligned with the opening, the second antenna being associated with at least the first frequency, and the second antenna having at least a first portion located at a distance from at least a second portion of the first antenna of one quarter wavelength of the first frequency.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Carlo Van Niekerk