US 7,630,501 · Granted 2009-12-08

Microsoft's Automatic Speaker Calibration Patent

Imagine setting up a home theater where speakers are scattered around your room — this patent describes a system that automatically measures where each speaker is and adjusts the sound so everything syncs up perfectly. A microphone on each speaker listens to test signals and calculates exact distances, then the system fine-tunes the audio balance without you tweaking anything manually.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a method and system for automatically calibrating acoustic rendering devices in a room. What's protected here is the specific process of using a microphone attached to each speaker, sending test signals from a central audio source, measuring the time it takes for those signals to return, and then automatically calculating both distance and optional angle to determine optimal speaker placement and timing adjustments. The patent also covers the computing components that perform these calculations and coordinate calibration across multiple speakers simultaneously.

Why it matters

Home theater and multi-room audio systems are only as good as their calibration — speakers that are out of sync or poorly balanced ruin the listening experience. This patent protects an automated solution that removes the tedious manual setup process, making high-quality surround sound accessible to consumers without expensive professional installation. For Microsoft and related audio device manufacturers, owning this technology prevents competitors from offering similar plug-and-play calibration features without licensing.

Real-world use

When you buy a surround sound system and the speakers automatically adjust themselves the first time you power it on, that smart self-tuning is likely using principles covered by this patent.

Original USPTO abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for automatic calibration of an acoustic system. The acoustic system may include a source A/V device, calibration computing device, and multiple rendering devices. The calibration system may include a calibration component attached to each rendering device and a source calibration module. The calibration component on each rendering device includes a microphone. The source calibration module includes distance and optional angle calculation tools for automatically determining a distance between the rendering device and a specified reference point upon return of the test signal from the calibration component.

Patent details

Publication number: US 7,630,501
Filing date: 2004-05-14
Grant date: 2009-12-08
Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
Inventor(s): BLANK WILLIAM TOM, SCHOFIELD KEVIN M., OLYNYK KIRK O., ATKINSON ROBERT G., JOHNSTON JAMES DAVID, VAN FLANDERN MICHAEL W.
CPC class: H04S7/301

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