Reducing undesirable audio signals

• US 20030003944A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenzweig, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• 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 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3027 Feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A way of reducing undesirable audio signals is provided. A portable device is provided that comprises a sensor to sense an audio signal and a control unit that is communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control unit is provided to receive a first audio signal from a storage unit and to generate a second audio signal based on at least a portion of the sensed audio signal to reduce an undesirable audio signal. The control unit is further provided to combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal and to provide the combined signal through a speaker.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

a sensor to sense an audio signal; and

a control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor, the control unit to receive a first audio signal from a storage unit, generate a second audio signal based on at least a portion of the sensed audio signal to reduce an undesirable audio signal, combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal, and provide the combined signal through a speaker.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control unit generates the second audio signal that is out of phase with the sensed signal.

3. The portable device of claim 2, wherein the control unit generates the second audio signal that is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the sensed signal.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control unit receives the first audio signal comprising digital music.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a microphone.

6. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located on a headphone set that is capable of interfacing with the portable device.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control unit generates the second audio signal based on at least one of a selected range of frequencies and amplitude of the sensed signal.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving a first audio signal;

converting the first audio signal to an analog audio signal;

generating a second audio signal to reduce an undesirable sound; and

combining the analog audio signal and the second audio signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing the combined signal to a speaker.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the second audio signal comprises receiving a sensed signal and generating an out of phase signal with the sensed signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the out of phase signal comprises generating a signal that is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the sensed signal.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the first audio signal comprises receiving a signal comprising at least one of voice and music data.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to convert the first audio signal to an analog signal.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to provide the converted signal to a speaker.

16. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to receive the second audio signal from a microphone.

17. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to generate the audio signal that is out of phase with the second audio signal.

18. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to generate the audio signal.

20. The wireless phone of claim 19, further comprising at least one sensor to sense an audio signal, wherein the control unit generates the second audio signal based on the sensed audio signal.

21. The wireless phone of claim 20, further comprising a CODEC to process the first audio signal.

22. The wireless phone of claim 20, wherein the control unit generates the second audio signal that is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with sensed audio signal.

23. A wireless phone of claim 19, further comprising an interface to allow the wireless phone to reduce the undesirable audio signal while the transceiver is not in use.

24. The wireless phone of claim 19, further comprising a storage medium to store at least one music file.

25. The wireless phone of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of sensors to sense audio signals.

27. The communications device of claim 26, wherein the control unit converts the audio signal to an analog signal.

28. The communications device of claim 26, wherein the generator generates the audio reduction signal that is out of phase with the sensed signal.

29. The communications device of claim 28, wherein the generator generates the audio reduction signal that is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the sensed signal.

30. The communications device of claim 28, wherein the sensor is a microphone and the output interface comprises an interface to a speaker.

13. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to:

receive a first audio signal and a second audio signal;

generate an audio signal to reduce an undesirable audio signal based on at least a portion of the second audio signal;

combine the first audio signal and the generated audio signal; and

process the combined signal.

19. A wireless phone, comprising:

a transceiver;

a speaker; and

a control unit to process a first audio signal received from the transceiver, generate a second audio signal to reduce an undesirable audio signal, combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal, and provide the combined signal to the speaker.

26. A communications device, comprising:

an output interface;

a sensor to sense an audio signal;

a generator to generate an audio reduction signal based on at least a portion of the sensed audio signal;

a signal adder to combine an audio signal with the audio reduction signal; and

a control unit to provide the combined signal to the output interface.