Electronic device with plurality of microphones and method for controlling same based on type of audio input received via the plurality of microphones

• US 10,191,595 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Gyuhyeok, Cho, Taegil
• Primary Examiner(s): Amadiz, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US15/476,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20170322648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0433 in which the acoustic waves are either generated by a movable member and propagated within a surface layer or propagated within a surface layer and captured by a movable member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/228 of application context

Abstract

An electronic device including a plurality of the microphones and operating method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes obtaining an audio according to a touch input of touching at least one of a plurality of the microphones, determining at least one selected from the group consisting of a location, a touch pattern, a touch strength, a touch duration time and a touch periodicity of the touch input based on the obtained audio, and performing an operation corresponding to the touch input based on a result of the determination.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of microphones receiving audio input; and

a processor operably coupled with the plurality of the microphones,

wherein;

when the received audio input is a first audio input caused by a touch input received at the electronic device, the processor determines at least one of a location, a touch pattern, a touch strength, a touch duration time, or a touch periodicity of the touch input, and activates a short-distance voice recognition mode for receiving a voice input originated within a predetermined distance from the electronic device; and

when the received audio input is a second audio input that is not caused by the touch input, the processor activates a long-distance voice recognition mode for receiving a voice input originated farther than the predetermined distance.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor recognizes an audio signal pattern of the received audio input and performs an operation corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the processor determines a user corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern and performs the operation corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern based on the determined user.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the processor checks time of receiving the audio input and performs the operation corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern based on the checked time.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch input is received via at least one of the plurality of microphones.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch input is received via a case of the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch input comprises tapping a case of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the tapping is received on a portion of the case at which at least one of the plurality of microphones is located.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a sound reception sensitivity is adjusted differently for the short-distance voice recognition mode and the long-distance voice recognition mode.

10. A method of operating an electronic device including a plurality of microphones, the method comprising:

determining whether an audio input received via the plurality of microphones is a first audio input caused by a touch input received at the electronic device or a second audio input that is not caused by the touch input;

when the received audio input is the first audio input, determining at least one of a location, a touch pattern, a touch strength, a touch duration time, or a touch periodicity of the touch input and, activating a short-distance voice recognition mode for receiving a voice input originated within a predetermined distance from the electronic device; and

when the received audio input is the second audio input, activating a long-distance voice recognition mode for receiving a voice input originated farther than the predetermined distance.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

recognizing an audio signal pattern of the received audio input; and

performing an operation corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a user corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern; and

performing the operation corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern based on the determined user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

checking a time of receiving the audio input; and

performing the operation corresponding to the recognized audio signal pattern based on the checked time.