Active noise canceling headset and devices with selective noise suppression

• US 20020141599A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trajkovic, Miroslav, Gutta, Srinivas, Cohen-Solal, Eric
• Application Number:
  US09/825,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20020141599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/145 electric, e.g. for active noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17837 by retaining part of the ambient acoustic environment, e.g. speech or alarm signals that the user needs to hear
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/108 Communication systems, e.g. where useful sound is kept and noise is cancelled
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A selective noise canceling device is disclosed that evaluates an external audio signal and determines whether a given external audio signal should be suppressed or reproduced. A selective noise suppression circuit processes the external audio signal to classify the external audio signal as noise to be suppressed or as a desired audio signal to be reproduced. An external audio signal, or a desired portion thereof, is reproduced if a portion of the external audio signal is likely to be of interest to the user. The desired external signal may optionally be amplified over the primary selected audio signal for emphasis and the selected audio signal may optionally be suppressed entirely when the desired external signal is reproduced.

Claims

1. A selective noise canceling headset, comprising:

at least one earpiece for reproducing a selected audio signal;

a microphone for monitoring an external audio signal in a vicinity of said headset; and

a selective noise suppression circuit for analyzing said external audio signal and for selectively reproducing at least a portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user.

2. The selective noise canceling headset of claim 1, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is an alarm audio signal.

3. The selective noise canceling headset of claim 1, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is acoustically distinct from a general background noise of a local environment.

4. The selective noise canceling headset of claim 1, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is associated with speech directed to a user of said headset.

5. The selective noise canceling headset of claim 1, wherein said selective noise suppression circuit suppresses said external audio signal unless a portion of said external audio signal is likely to be of interest to a user.

6. The selective noise canceling headset of claim 1, wherein said selective noise suppression circuit segments said external audio signal and reproduces only a desired portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user.

7. The selective noise canceling headset of claim 1, wherein said selective noise suppression circuit emphasizes a desired portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user over said selected audio signal.

8. A selective noise canceling device, comprising:

a microphone for monitoring an external audio signal; and

a selective noise suppression circuit for analyzing said external audio signal and for selectively reproducing at least a portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user.

9. The selective noise canceling device of claim 8, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is an alarm audio signal.

10. The selective noise canceling device of claim 8, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is acoustically distinct from a general background noise of a local environment.

11. The selective noise canceling device of claim 8, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is associated with speech directed to a user of said device.

12. The selective noise canceling device of claim 8, wherein said selective noise suppression circuit suppresses said external audio signal unless a portion of said external audio signal is likely to be of interest to a user.

13. The selective noise canceling device of claim 8, wherein said selective noise suppression circuit segments said external audio signal and reproduces only a desired portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user.

14. The selective noise canceling device of claim 8, wherein said selective noise suppression circuit emphasizes a desired portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user over a selected audio signal.

16. The selective noise canceling method of claim 15, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is an alarm audio signal.

17. The selective noise canceling method of claim 15, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is acoustically distinct from a general background selective noise of a local environment.

18. The selective noise canceling method of claim 15, wherein said reproduced portion of said external audio signal is associated with speech directed to a user of said method.

19. The selective noise canceling method of claim 15, further comprising the step of suppressing said external audio signal unless a portion of said external audio signal is likely to be of interest to a user.

20. The selective noise canceling method of claim 15, further comprising the step of segmenting said external audio signal and reproducing only a desired portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user.

21. The selective noise canceling method of claim 15, further comprising the step of emphasizing a desired portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user over said selected audio signal.

15. A selective noise canceling method, comprising:

monitoring an external audio signal;

analyzing said external audio signal; and

selectively reproducing at least a portion of said external audio signal that is likely to be of interest to a user.