Apparatus and Method for Sound Enhancement

• US 20080004872A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensear Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sensear Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fynn, Kevin, Nordholm, Sven
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/226
• 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 11/17861 using additional means for damping sound, e.g. using sound absorbing panels
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17881 the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• 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 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

An apparatus for sound enhancement has at least two microphones (9) that provide a directional microphone array which is arranged to be pointed in the direction of a sound source. The directional microphone array thereby receives sound emitted by the sound source and generates sound signals. A processor (20) processors the sound signals generated by the microphone array to enhance the sound received by the directional microphone array from the sound source relative to other sound received by the directional microphone array. The processor (20) generates a corresponding enhanced signal (ES). Loud speakers (22) reproduce the enhanced signal as audible sound. Furthermore, sound suppression devices (7, 7a) are provided to suppress ambient should from reaching the eardrums of the user. This sound suppression acts in conjunction with the directional microphone array and the processor (20) which enhance the SOI to provide a listening environment in which the SOI is enhanced.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing sound enhancement for a user comprising:

at least two microphones providing a directional microphone array arranged to be pointed in the direction of a sound source to receive sound emitted by said sound source and generate sound signals,

a processor to process the sound signals generated by said directional microphone array to enhance sound received by said directional microphone array from said sound source relative to other sound received by said directional microphone array and generate a corresponding enhanced signal,

at least one loud speaker to reproduce the enhanced signal as audible sound for the user, and

at least one sound suppression device arranged to be located adjacent each ear of the user to suppress ambient sound reaching the ear drums of the user, said sound suppression device able to provide sound suppression of at least 15 dB.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound suppression device provides sound suppression in the range of from substantially 15 dB to substantially 50 dB.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor provides adaptive processing of the sound signals generated by said directional microphone array dependent upon the levels of the ambient sound in the environment in which the sound source is located.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor provides spatial processing, temporal processing and post processing of the sound signals generated by said directional microphone array.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said loud speaker is arranged to be provided adjacent at least one ear of the user of said apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound suppression device comprises ear muffs.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound suppression device comprises ear plugs.

9. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a controller circuit is provided which is arranged to receive said enhanced signal prior to said enhanced signal being fed to said at least one loud speaker and said controller circuit is arranged to receive sound signals generated by each said microphone provided adjacent each said sound suppression device prior to being fed to said at least one loud speaker, and wherein said controller circuit generates cancellation signals to cancel the sound signals generated by each said microphone such that reproduction of these sounds by said at least one loud speaker is attenuated.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said controller circuit comprises a respective controller circuit for each said loud speaker.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one microphone is provided adjacent each sound suppression device.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound suppression device comprises ear muffs and ear plugs.

8. (canceled)

11. A method of providing sound enhancement comprising:

receiving sound signals emitted by a sound source and at least two microphones providing a directional microphone array,

generating sound signals corresponding to the sound received at the directional microphone array,

processing the sound signals generated at said microphone array to enhance sound received by the directional microphone array from said sound source relative to other sound received by said directional microphone array,

generating a corresponding enhanced signal,

reproducing the enhanced signal as audible sound, and

suppressing ambient sound from being heard by at least 15 dB.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein suppressing ambient sound comprises providing sound suppression in the range of from substantially 15 dB to substantially 50 dB.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein processing the sound signals comprises performing adaptive processing of the sound signals generated by said directional microphone array dependent upon the levels of the ambient sound in the environment in which the sound source is located.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein processing the sound signals comprises performing spatial processing, temporal processing and post processing of the sound signals generated by said directional microphone array.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

processing sound signals that are representative of ambient sound that is not suppressed, and

generating cancellation signals to cancel the ambient sound that is not suppressed such that reproduction of those sounds is attenuated.