Patent Description:
Supported by the development of electronic technology, various types of speakers have been developed and provided. Especially, a speaker in which a direction of progress of emitting sound is diversified has been developed. Examples of speakers are disclosed in <CIT>, which relates to a horn-type speaker; <CIT>, which relates to a sound wave diffusing device; and <CIT>, which relates to a display apparatus including speakers.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a speaker which is in an emission structure in <NUM> degrees according to a prior art.

The speaker in the <NUM> degrees emission structure includes a <NUM> degrees sound reflector, and the emitted sound may be reflected by the <NUM> degrees sound reflector so that the direction of progress of the sound may direct all directions.

However, if the speaker in the <NUM> degrees emission structure is used, there may be an unnecessary power consumption because sound is emitted in all directions even if there is only one user.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a speaker in a front side emission structure according to a prior art. The speaker which has the front side emission structure has a structure in which sound is emitted toward a front side of a user.

However, if the speaker having the front side emission structure is used, the user at a rear side of the speaker may have difficulty listening to sound as compared to the user at a front of the speaker.

Meanwhile, if a plurality of speakers having a front emission structure are equipped and the speakers are disposed in a circular form, the <NUM> degrees emission effect may be obtained. In this case, the front side emission or the <NUM> degrees emission could be selectively used, but there is a problem that a plurality of speakers are required. In addition, there is also a problem that a user's effort for changing the disposition is required for the front side emission or the <NUM> degrees emission.

Accordingly, it is needed to develop the speaker which supports the front side emission or the <NUM> degrees emission of sound with a more simple method.

An aspect of the disclosure addresses the problems described above and provides a speaker which may adjust an output direction of sound so that the sound is emitted in one direction and also in all directions, and a controlling method thereof.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a speaker according to claim <NUM>. Optional features of this aspect are set out in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating a speaker according to claim <NUM>. Optional features of this aspect are set out in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to the above various example embodiments, the speaker may change the posture (position) of the sound output unit, and if the sound output unit is in a specific posture (position), the sound output from the sound output unit is emitted in all directions by the reflector and an effect that one of the emission in all directions and the emission in <NUM> degrees of the sound could be selected, may be provided.

The above and other aspects, features and attendant advantages of various example embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent and readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:.

Various example embodiments of the present disclosure may be diversely modified. Accordingly, specific example embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and are described in greater detail in the present disclosure. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific example embodiment. Also, well-known functions or constructions may not described in detail where they may obscure the disclosure with unnecessary detail.

Hereinafter various example embodiments will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a speaker <NUM> according to an example embodiment. According to <FIG>, the speaker <NUM> includes a sound output unit (e.g., including sound output circuitry) <NUM>, a sound reflector <NUM>, and a support <NUM>.

The sound output unit <NUM> may include various sound output circuitry and receive an electric signal and emit sound by vibrating a diaphragm based on the received electric signal. The sound output unit <NUM> includes a sound emission hole at one side and may emit sound through the sound emission hole. That is, the sound output unit <NUM> may emit sound only in one direction of progress. In addition, if the sound output unit <NUM> emits sound in one direction of progress, a form, a sort, etc. of the sound output unit <NUM> are not limited.

The sound emission hole may be in plane mesh form. Alternatively, the sound emission hole may be in a curved mesh form. However, it is not limited thereto, and the sound emission hole may not have a specific form. For example, one side of the sound output unit <NUM> is in a dented form and the sound output unit <NUM> may emit sound through a diaphragm disposed inside the dented area. In this case, the sound emission hole may refer to the dented area itself.

The sound reflector <NUM> is disposed at a lower side of the sound output unit <NUM> and may be spaced apart from the sound output unit <NUM>. The upper side of the sound reflector <NUM> is formed in (i.e., has) a dome shape and reflects the sound emitted from the sound output unit <NUM>. For example, the upper side of the sound reflector <NUM> may be formed in a dome shape and reflect the sound emitted from the sound output unit <NUM> to a lower side. That is, in a state in which the sound emission hole of the sound output unit <NUM> faces the upper side of the sound reflector <NUM>, the upper side of the sound reflector <NUM> may reflect the sound emitted from the sound output unit <NUM> to a lower side.

The sound reflector <NUM> may be made of a material which may not absorb but reflect sound. For example, the sound reflector <NUM> may be made of a metal of which surface is smooth. However, it is not limited thereto, and the sound reflector <NUM> may be formed in a plastic with a smooth surface or any material which is appropriate for reflecting sound.

One end of the support <NUM> is fixed to the sound reflector <NUM> and the other end of the support <NUM> rotatably supports the output unit <NUM>. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the support <NUM> may include two support columns and each support column may be fixed so that one end thereof is counter to the sound reflector <NUM>. In addition, each support column may be connected so that the other end thereof is counter to the sound output unit <NUM>.

However, it is not limited thereto, and the support <NUM> may be in any form which may connect the sound output unit <NUM> and the sound reflector <NUM>, and rotate the sound output unit <NUM>. For example, the support <NUM> may be formed to connect the sound output unit <NUM> and the sound reflector <NUM> and rotate the sound output unit <NUM> only with one support column.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of rotation of the sound output unit <NUM> according to an example embodiment.

The sound output unit <NUM> positionable in one of the first posture (position) in which the sound emission hole faces the upper side of the sound reflector <NUM> and a second posture (position) in which the sound emission hole does not face the upper side of the sound reflector <NUM>. That is, a user may rotate and position the sound output unit <NUM> to be in the first posture or the second posture.

<FIG> illustrates a state in which the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture, and the left side of <FIG> is a view illustrating the speaker <NUM> at a front and the right side of <FIG> is a view illustrating the speaker <NUM> at a side.

In this case, the sound emitted from the sound output unit <NUM> may have a direction of progress at a lower side. The sound which has the direction of progress at a lower side may be emitted in all directions by being reflected by the sound reflector <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG>, the second posture may be the posture that faces a direction vertical to the direction of the sound emission hole facing the upper side of the sound reflector <NUM>.

That is, the first posture and the second posture are within the range of a slope of the sound output unit <NUM>. Especially, the first posture and the second posture may be expressed as a direction of progress of the sound emitted from the sound emitting unit <NUM>.

For example, if it is assumed that the standard direction which is vertical to a surface and faces a lower side is in <NUM> degree, the first posture may, for example, be a case in which the direction of progress of sound is in <NUM>~<NUM> degrees based on the standard direction, and the second posture may be within another range of angle. Here, the range of angle may be changed based on the width of the sound reflector <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the speaker <NUM> further includes a controller (not illustrated) which may adjust at least one of a volume and an intensity of each frequency of the output sound to be different in the first posture and the second posture. That is, the controller may control the sound output unit <NUM> to adjust at least one of a volume and an intensity of each frequency of the output sound to be different in the first posture and the second posture. For example, the controller may change the volume of sound in the first posture to be louder than in the second posture. Alternatively, the controller may set the intensity of a signal according to a frequency to be different in the first posture and in the second posture.

However, it is not limited thereto, and the controller may differently adjust at least one of a volume and an intensity of each frequency of output sound based on the slope of the sound output unit <NUM>.

Alternatively, the sound output unit <NUM> may not change a volume and an intensity of each frequency of the output sound even if a posture is changed.

Meanwhile, it is described that a user rotates the sound output unit <NUM> manually in <FIG> and <FIG>. Hereinafter an embodiment in which the speaker <NUM> further includes a driver which drives the sound output unit <NUM> to rotate will be described in greater detail below.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the speaker <NUM> according to an example embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the speaker <NUM> may include the sound output unit (e.g., including sound output circuitry) <NUM>, the controller (e.g., including processing circuitry) <NUM>, the driver <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, a communicator (e.g., including communication circuitry) <NUM>, and a user interface <NUM>. In addition, the speaker <NUM> further includes the sound reflector <NUM> and the support <NUM>, but the sound reflector <NUM> and the support <NUM> are not illustrated in the drawing because the sound reflector <NUM> and the support <NUM> may not include a composition which may be controlled by the controller <NUM>. Meanwhile, the description of the sound output unit <NUM> overlaps and thus will not be repeated here.

The controller <NUM> may include various processing circuitry and controls an overall operation of the speaker <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control the sound output unit <NUM> to receive an electric signal and to emit sound by vibrating a diaphragm based on the received electric signal.

In addition, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in at least one of the first posture and the second posture.

Here, the driver <NUM> is configured to drive the sound output unit <NUM> to rotate. The driver <NUM> includes a motor to rotate the sound output unit <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the controller <NUM> id configured to control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in one of the first posture and the second posture based on at least one of the number and the location of the user sensed by the sensor <NUM>.

Here, the sensor <NUM> may include various sensors, such as, for example, and without limitation, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, a temperature sensor, a Kinect, a depth camera, an ultrasonic wave sensor, or the like for sensing a user. For example, the sensor <NUM> may include a camera. The camera may be a component for photographing a still image or a video. The camera may be used for photographing a user at a front of the speaker <NUM>. In this case, the sensor may include a plurality of cameras of which angle of view is wide, or include one camera and a motor for rotating the camera. The controller <NUM> may sense the number or location of the user from the image photographed by the camera.

Alternatively, the sensor <NUM> may sense at least one of the number and location of the user(s) based on the sound input through the microphone. For example, the controller <NUM> may divide a tone by analyzing the sound input through the microphone, and may sense the number of users based on the number of the divided tones. In addition, the sensor <NUM> may include a plurality of microphones, and the controller <NUM> may estimate the direction from which the sound is input based on the phase difference of the sound input through each microphone.

However, it is not limited thereto, and any method may be used which could sense the number or location of the users.

For example, and without limitation, the number of the sensed users is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the first posture, and if the number of the sensed users is less than the predetermined number, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the second posture.

For example, and without limitation, if the number of the sensed users is five or more than five, the controller <NUM> controls the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the first posture, and if the number of the sensed users is less than five, controls the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the second posture.

The controller <NUM> may further consider the location of the sensed user. For example, even if the number of the sensed users five or more than five, if the distance between the sensed users is within the predetermined distance, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the second posture.

The controller <NUM> may divide all directions into a plurality of fan-shaped areas in a predetermined angle, and determine the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on whether a user is located in each fan-shaped area.

For example, the controller <NUM> may divide all directions into four fan-shaped areas in <NUM> degrees, and control the driver <NUM> so that only when users are located in three or more than three fan-shaped areas among the four fan-shaped areas, the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the first posture.

The controller <NUM> may determine the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> by considering only the location of the sensed user. For example, if two users are sensed in the counter locations, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the first posture.

Meanwhile, the driver <NUM> includes various driving circuitry, including the first motor and the second motor that drive the sound output unit <NUM> to rotate. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the first motor to tilt the sound output unit <NUM> to be positioned in one of the first posture and the second posture, and control the second motor so that the sound output unit <NUM> is swiveled in a horizontal direction in the second posture.

For example, the controller <NUM> may be swiveled sequentially in a horizontal direction toward a sensed user when the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture.

However, for example, if the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture, the second motor may not be operated.

Meanwhile, if the sensor <NUM> is implemented in a camera or the like, the sensor <NUM> may further sense a gender, an age and the like of a user. In this case, the controller <NUM> may control the sound output unit <NUM> by considering at least one of gender and age of the user.

For example, in the case in which the sensed user is a child, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture. That is, the speaker <NUM> may operate so that the emitted sound is emitted to all directions so as to protect the hearing of the child.

Meanwhile, the controller <NUM> may control the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the sort of the output sound. For example, if the output sound is rock music, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture, and if the output sound is classic music, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture.

The controller <NUM> may determine the sort of the sound output from tag information of original data of the output sound. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may determine the sort of the output sound from an average size of output sound.

Meanwhile, if the signal including sound is received through the communicator <NUM>, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the sound output unit <NUM> so that the received signal is output, and control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in the second posture based on the location of the electronic apparatus that provides a signal.

For example, if a user transmits music data with a smartphone to the speaker <NUM> which is connected to the smartphone through, for example, and without limitation, Bluetooth, the controller <NUM> may sense the location of the smartphone based on the music data signal and control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture based on the sensed location.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may position the sound output unit <NUM> in the second posture and control the second motor so that the sound output unit <NUM> is swiveled in the direction facing the electronic apparatus that provides the signal.

The method for sensing the location of the electronic apparatus that provides a signal based on the signal including sound may be any method. For example, the speaker <NUM> may include two antennas, calculate an incident angle of a signal regarding the antennas based on the phase different, wavelength and the like, and sense the location of the electronic apparatus that provides the signal.

The communicator <NUM> may include various communication circuitry and communicates with various types of external electronic apparatuses according to various types of communication methods. The communicator <NUM> may include, for example, and without limitation, a WiFi chip, a Bluetooth chip, a wireless communication chip, and/or an NFC chip and the like. The controller <NUM> may perform communication with various types of external electronic apparatuses using the communicator <NUM>.

The Wifi chip and the Bluetooth chip may perform communication in the Wifi method, and the Bluetooth method, respectively. When the WI-FI chip or the Bluetooth chip is used, various types of connection information such as SSID and session key may be first exchanged, and communication may be connected by using the connection information, and then various types of information may be exchanged. The wireless communication chip represents a chip which communicates according to various communication standards such as IEEE, Zigbee, 3rd Generation (<NUM>), 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Long Term Evolution (LTE) and so on. The NFC chip may mean a chip that operates by using a <NUM> band from among various radio-frequency identification (RF-ID) frequency bands such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>?<NUM>, <NUM>, or the like.

The communicator <NUM> may perform unilateral communication or bilateral communication with an external electronic apparatus. When unilateral communication is performed, the communicator <NUM> may receive a signal from an external electronic apparatus. When bilateral communication is performed, the communicator <NUM> may receive a signal from an external electronic apparatus or transmit a signal to an external electronic apparatus.

The controller <NUM> is configured to control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is positioned in one of the first posture and the second posture according to a user command received through the user interface <NUM>.

The user interface <NUM> may be configured to receive various user interactions. Herein, the user interface <NUM> may be implemented in various forms according to implementing example embodiments of the speaker <NUM>. For example, and without limitation, the user interface <NUM> may include a button on the speaker <NUM>, a microphone that receives a user voice, a camera that senses a user motion, or the like. Alternatively, if the speaker <NUM> is implemented to be an electronic apparatus based on touch, the user interface <NUM> may be implemented to be a touch screen that forms an interlayer structure with a touch pad.

For example, if the user interface <NUM> is implemented to be a button, a user may toggle the button, and the controller <NUM> may change the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the toggle of the button.

The speaker <NUM> may further include a remote controller for controlling the speaker <NUM>, and the user interface <NUM> may be included in the remote controller. In this case, if a user inputs a posture change command of the sound output unit <NUM> through the user interface <NUM> of the remote controller, the remote controller may transmit a control command to the speaker <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may change the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the received control command.

The controller <NUM> may adjust at least one of a volume and an intensity of each frequency of output sound to be different in the first posture and the second posture.

For example, the controller <NUM> may change the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the peripheral circumstance described above and adjust at least one of a volume and an intensity of each frequency of the output sound.

For example, when the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture, if the number of users is sensed equal to or more than a predetermined number, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture, and control the sound output unit <NUM> to increase a volume of the sound.

Meanwhile, the controller <NUM> may transmit the usage pattern of a user and sensed information to an external server. The external server may analyze the usage pattern of a user and sensed information, and transmit the control command based on the analyzed information to the speaker <NUM>.

For example, if a user is alone, the user may use the speaker <NUM> to be in the second posture, and if there are more people, the user may use the speaker <NUM> to be in the first posture. Here, the posture of the speaker <NUM> may be controlled by the user. The controller <NUM> may sense the number of the user through the sensor <NUM> and transmit the posture of the speaker <NUM> according to the number of the users to an external server.

Thereafter, when the speaker <NUM> is not operated, if a plurality of users are sensed, the controller <NUM> may transmit the sensed information to an external server, and the external server may transmit the control command for controlling the posture of the speaker <NUM> to be in the first posture to the speaker <NUM> based on the sensed information. That is, the controller <NUM> may control the posture of the speaker <NUM> based on the usage pattern of the user.

However, it is not limited thereto, and the controller <NUM> may store the usage pattern of a user in a storage without an external server and control the posture of the speaker <NUM> based on the stored usage pattern. For example, the controller <NUM> may generate the usage pattern by itself.

In addition, the speaker <NUM> may be an artificial intelligence speaker. In this case, the controller <NUM> may receive a user command from a user and transmit the user command to an artificial intelligence server. The artificial intelligence server may generate a control command corresponding to a user command, and transmit the generated control command to the artificial intelligence speaker.

The artificial intelligence server may store the user command and the corresponding control command, and generate database. For example, the artificial intelligence server may store an input time, space, input method and the like of the user command and generate the database, and learn the generated database to generate a usage pattern of a user.

If the sensed information or a user command is received from the artificial intelligence speaker, the artificial intelligence server may generate the control command corresponding to the received information based on the learned usage pattern, and provide the control command to the artificial intelligence speaker. The controller <NUM> may perform a corresponding function according to the received control command or perform an interaction with a user such as giving an inquiry to the user. For example, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture based on the received control command, but may provide with an inquiry message to a user such as "Change the posture to the first posture?" Here, the controller <NUM> may display the inquiry message through the display included in the artificial intellectual speaker, or emit the inquiry message as sound through the sound output unit <NUM>.

The artificial intellectual server may be implemented to be one device with the artificial intellectual speaker. The artificial intellectual speaker may, for example, perform learning in real time based on a usage pattern of a user or detection information, and interact with a user based on the learned data.

As described above, the speaker <NUM> may include the controller <NUM> and change the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> automatically by the controller <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example positioning operation based on a sensed user according to an example embodiment.

First, as illustrated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may sense one of the user at the left through the sensor <NUM> and control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture. However, also in this case, if there is an additional control of a user, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, if one more user is sensed at the right side through the sensor <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture.

If one more user is sensed at the left side in the state such as <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may not change the posture of the sound output unit <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may recognize a face of a user and sense only the user of which face is recognized as a valid user. For example, if a user watches the right direction, not the speaker <NUM> direction in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may determine only the user at the left as a valid user and not change the posture of the sound output unit <NUM>.

That is, if it is determined that a user listens the sound emitted from the sound output unit <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may sense the corresponding user as a valid user.

The controller <NUM> may determine the valid user based on the movement of a user. For example, if a movement is not sensed for more than a predetermined time such as the case in which a left user fell asleep in the state such as <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may exclude the user at the left from the valid user. Accordingly, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture. Here, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound emission hole of the sound output unit <NUM> faces the user at the right.

The speaker <NUM> may further include the storage in which registered user information is stored. The controller <NUM> may determine whether the sensed user is a valid user based on whether there is user information corresponding to the sensed user among the registered user information stored in the storage. The storage may be implemented, for example, and without limitation, to be a storing medium such as a memory, and any apparatus which may store data.

The storage may further store a priority order information of registered users. The storage <NUM> may determine the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the priority order information stored in the storage.

For example, the user of which priority order is high is assigned high weight, and the user of which priority order is low may be assigned low weight. In addition, if the sum of weights of the sensed users exceeds a predetermined value, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture.

While it is described in <FIG> and <FIG> that a user is sensed, the sensor <NUM> may sense a thing. For example, the controller <NUM> may sense a thing such as a wall through the sensor <NUM> and in this case, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second position because one side of the speaker <NUM> is a wall. Here, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound emission hole of the sound output unit <NUM> faces an opposite direction of the wall.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an operation of the speaker <NUM> based on the movement of a location of a user according to an example embodiment. Here, the driver <NUM> of the speaker <NUM> includes the second motor which swivels the sound output unit <NUM> in a horizontal direction.

As illustrated at an upper side of <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may sense one user at the left side and control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture.

Thereafter, as illustrated at the lower side of <FIG>, if the location of the user is changed, the controller <NUM> may swivel the sound output unit <NUM> to correspond to the location of the changed user's location.

The controller <NUM> may determine the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the distance from a user. For example, if a user moves far away from the speaker <NUM> more than a predetermined distance when the sound output unit <NUM> is in the first posture, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture. That is, as a user moves far, a user may listen sound easily through a front emission.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example operation of the speaker <NUM> regarding the electronic apparatus that provides a signal according to an example embodiment.

The controller <NUM> is configured to determine the posture of the sound output unit <NUM> based on the location of the electronic apparatus that provides a signal including sound. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> based on the location of the electronic apparatus at the right that provides a signal including sound, so that the sound output unit <NUM> is in the second posture. Here, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the sound emission hole of the sound output unit <NUM> faces the right side.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example structure of the speaker <NUM> according to another example embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sound emission unit <NUM> of the speaker <NUM> may be attached to a ceiling. Accordingly, the first side of the sound reflector <NUM> having, for example, a dome shape may face a lower side, and reflect the sound emitted from the sound output unit <NUM> to an upper side to all directions.

The second side which is opposite to the first side of the sound reflector <NUM> is formed flat to touch the ceiling. Alternatively, the second side may touch a floor. That is, a user may dispose the speaker <NUM> so that the second side of the sound reflector <NUM> touches one of the ceiling and the floor.

According to <FIG> and <FIG>, the speaker <NUM> may include the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM>, the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM>, the first sound reflector <NUM>-<NUM>, the second sound reflector <NUM>-<NUM>, and the support <NUM>.

According to <FIG>, the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the first sound reflector <NUM>-<NUM> may be disposed opposite to the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound reflector <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively. In addition, the sound emitted from the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> may be reflected in all directions by the second sound reflector <NUM>-<NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the driver <NUM> so that the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> are in the second posture. In this case, the direction of the sound emitted from the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> may be opposite to each other.

The controller <NUM> may stop one operation of the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> if the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> are in the second posture. For example, if the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> are in the second posture, the controller <NUM> may stop one operation of the first sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sound output unit <NUM>-<NUM> based on the location of the sensed user.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example method of operating the speaker according to an example embodiment.

A method for operating a speaker that includes a sound output unit comprising sound output circuitry and including a sound emission hole at one side, a sound reflector disposed at a lower side of the sound output unit and being spaced apart from the sound output unit, the sound reflector having a dome shaped upper side, and a support including one end fixed to the sound reflector and another end rotatably supporting the sound output unit, the method including: emitting sound by the sound output unit positioned in any one of a first posture in which the sound emission hole faces the upper side of the sound reflector and a second posture in which the sound emission hole does not face the upper side of the sound reflector in S1010.

In addition, if a predetermined event occurs, the sound output unit is positioned in another one of the first posture and the second posture and emits sound in S1020.

The second posture may be a posture in which the sound emission hole faces a direction vertical to a direction of the sound emission hole facing the upper side of the sound reflector.

The emitting the sound by being positioned in another one of the first posture and the second posture, S1020, comprises changing a posture of the sound output unit and changing at least one of a volume and an intensity of each frequency of the sound.

In addition, the method may further include sensing a user and positioning the sound output unit in one of the first posture and the second posture based on at least one of a number and a location of the sensed user.

The positioning may comprise positioning the sound output unit in the first posture if the number of the sensed user is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, and positioning the sound output unit in the second posture if the number of the sensed user is less than the predetermined number.

Meanwhile, the emitting the sound, further comprises positioning the sound output unit in one of the first posture and the second posture by tilting the sound output unit, and swiveling the sound output unit in a horizontal direction if the sound output unit is in the second posture.

The method further includes receiving a signal that includes the sound, outputting the received signal via the sound output unit, and positioning the sound output unit in the second posture based on a location of an electronic apparatus that provides the signal.

The method may further include receiving a user command, and positioning the sound output unit in one of the first posture and the second posture according to the received user command.

The sound output in the first posture may be reflected by the sound reflector to be emitted in all directions.

Claim 1:
A speaker (<NUM>) comprising:
a communicator (<NUM>) comprising communication circuitry,
a sound output unit (<NUM>) comprising sound output circuitry and including a sound emission hole disposed at one side;
a driver (<NUM>) comprising a first motor and a second motor configured to drive the sound output unit (<NUM>) to rotate;
a sound reflector (<NUM>) disposed at a lower side of the sound output unit and being spaced apart from the sound output unit, the sound reflector having a convex dome-shaped upper side;
a support (<NUM>) having one end fixed to the sound reflector and another end rotatably supporting the sound output unit; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the driver (<NUM>) to position the sound output unit (<NUM>) in one of a first posture in which the sound emission hole faces the upper side of the sound reflector and a second posture in which the sound emission hole does not face the upper side of the sound reflector,
wherein the controller (<NUM>) is configured to control the first motor to position the sound output unit in one of the first posture and the second posture by tilting the sound output unit, and to control the second motor to swivel the sound output unit in the second posture, and
wherein, when the sound output unit (<NUM>) is in the second posture, the controller (<NUM>) is configured to, based on a signal that includes a sound being received from an electronic apparatus via the communicator, identify a location of the electronic apparatus, and control the driver (<NUM>) to position the sound output unit (<NUM>) in a direction facing the electronic apparatus.