Electronic apparatus capable of always executing proper noise canceling regardless of display screen state, and voice input method for the apparatus

• US 20050069149A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshio, Saito, Kazuyuki, Yamaguchi, Makoto, Sakamoto, Kei
• Granted Patent: US 8,189,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/405 Non-uniform arrays of transducers or a plurality of uniform arrays with different transducer spacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/01 Noise reduction using microphones having different directional characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops

Abstract

In an electronic apparatus, microphones are arranged parallel to one side of a display screen so as to be spaced apart from each other on the front surface of a display whose display screen is exposed. Together with the microphone, a microphone is arranged parallel to other side different from one side of the display screen. Of the microphones, the microphones are selected when one side of the display screen serves as a bottom, and the microphones are selected when other side of the display screen serves as the bottom. A voice input process is then executed.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a front surface;

a display screen which is incorporated in the display unit and exposed from the front surface;

a first microphone and a second microphone which are arranged parallel to one side of the display screen on the front surface so as to be spaced apart from each other;

a third microphone which is arranged parallel to another side different from the one side of the display screen on the front surface so as to be spaced apart from either of the first microphone and the second microphone; and

a voice input unit configured to execute a voice input process by using two microphones as one of a combination of the first microphone and the second microphone and a combination of the first microphone and the third microphone.

2. The electronic apparatus according claim 1, wherein the voice input unit executes the voice input process including noise canceling.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a main body attached to the display unit;

and

wherein the display unit can be used in a first state in which the display screen faces the main body and overlaps the main body, and a second state in which the display screen is exposed outside and overlaps the main body.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a hinge mechanism that connects the display to the main body;

the hinge mechanism comprising;

a pivotal axis capable of pivoting the display unit with respect to the main body; and

a turning axis capable of turning the display unit while the display stands with respect to the main body.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect either of a third state in which the one side of the display screen serves as a bottom and a fourth state in which the another side of the display screen serves as the bottom; and

a selection unit configured to select the first microphone and the second microphone for the third state and the first microphone and the third microphone for the fourth state; and

wherein the voice input unit uses two microphones selected by the selection unit.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit includes a gravity sensor which detects a direction of gravity.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a switch;

and

wherein the detection unit detects either of the third state and the fourth state by monitoring an operation of the switch.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising;

a selection unit configured to select the first microphone and the second microphone when the display screen displays an image in a first orientation in which a bottom of the image is located on the one side of the display screen, and to select the first microphone and the third microphone when the display screen displays the image in a second orientation in which bottom of the image is located on the other side of the display screen; and

wherein the voice input unit uses two microphones selected by the selection unit.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect either of a third state in which the one side of the display screen serves as a bottom and a fourth state in which the other side of the display screen serves as the bottom; and

a switch which switches an orientation of the image on the display screen between the first orientation and the second orientation; and

wherein the selection unit switches microphones to be selected when switching between the third state and the fourth state is recognized on the basis of a detection result of the detection unit, and an instruction to switch the orientation of the image between the first orientation and the second orientation in a direction coincident with a recognized direction is recognized to be input from the switch.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detection unit includes a gravity sensor which detects a direction of gravity.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a front surface;

a display screen which is incorporated in the display unit and exposed from the front surface;

a first speaker and a second speaker which are arranged parallel to one side of the display screen on the front surface so as to be spaced apart from each other;

a third speaker which is arranged parallel to another side different from the one side of the display screen on the front surface so as to be spaced apart from either of the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker; and

a voice output unit configured to output a voice by using two speakers as one of a combination of the first speaker and the second speaker and a combination of the first speaker and the third speaker.

12. A voice input method for an electronic apparatus having a display screen, a first microphone and a second microphone which are arranged parallel to one side of the display screen so as to be spaced apart from each other, and a third microphone which is arranged parallel to another side different from the one side of the display screen so as to be spaced apart from either of the first microphone and the second microphone, the method comprising:

detecting either of a first state in which the one side of the display screen serves as a bottom and a second state in which the other side of the display screen serves as the bottom;

selecting the first microphone and the second microphone for the first state and the first microphone and the third microphone for the second state; and

executing a voice input process by using the two selected microphones.

13. The voice input method according to claim 12, wherein the voice input process includes a process including noise canceling.

14. A voice input method for an electronic apparatus having a display screen, a first microphone and a second microphone which are arranged parallel to one side of the display screen so as to be spaced apart from each other, a third microphone which is arranged parallel to other side different from the one side of the display screen so as to be spaced apart from either of the first microphone and the second microphone, and wherein the display screen displays an image in a first orientation in which a bottom of the image is located on the one side of the display screen and in a second orientation in which the bottom of the image is located on the other side of the display screen, the method comprising:

selecting the first microphone and the second microphone when the display screen displays the image in the first orientation, and selecting the first microphone and the third microphone when the display screen display unit displays the image in the second orientation; and

executing a voice input process by using the two selected microphones.

15. The voice input method according to claim 14, wherein the voice input process includes a process including noise canceling.