ACTIVE NOISE-CANCELLATION FEEDBACK SIGNAL TRANSMISSION

• US 20120177213A1
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Le Faucheur, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 9,384,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1783 handling or detecting of non-standard events or conditions, e.g. changing operating modes under specific operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17855 for improving speed or power requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17875 using an error signal without a reference signal, e.g. pure feedback
• 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: H04B 1/1684 of the decoded left or right stereo channel
• 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 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/004 For headphones

Abstract

A noise-cancelling system includes headset for generating a feedback signal for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset. An encoded microphone signal is generated in response to the first feedback signal. An audio generator can be used to generate a noise-cancellation signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and to generate an electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a first output audio signal. An audio connector is provided to couple the encoded microphone signal from the headset to the audio generator and to couple the first electronic audio signal to the headset.

Claims

1. A noise-cancelling headset, comprising

a first headset speaker that is arranged to generate a sound wave directed towards a first ear of a user of the noise-cancelling headset in response to a first received electronic audio signal that is received from an external audio generator;

a first feedback microphone that is arranged to generate a first feedback signal for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset; and

an encoder that is arranged to generate an encoded microphone signal in response to the first feedback signal and to transmit the encoded microphone signal to the external audio generator.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the first received electronic audio signal is received using a single audio connector and the encoded microphone signal is transmitted to the external audio generator using the single audio connector.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the single audio connector is a plug of a connector that is coupled to the headset using an audio cord.

4. The headset of claim 1, comprising a second headset speaker that is arranged to generate a sound wave directed towards a second ear of a user of the noise-cancelling headset in response to a second received electronic audio signal that is received from an external audio generator.

5. The headset of claim 4, comprising a second feedback microphone that is arranged to generate a second feedback signal for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset, wherein the encoder is arranged to generate the encoded microphone signal in response to the second feedback signal.

6. The headset of claim 5, wherein the encoder is arranged to ultrasonically modulate the encoded microphone signal using a first portion of a frequency spectrum to encode the first feedback signal and to ultrasonically modulate the encoded microphone signal using a second portion of a frequency spectrum to encode the second feedback signal.

7. The headset of claim 5, wherein the first received electronic audio signal is received using a single audio connector, the first received electronic audio signal is received using a single audio connector, and the encoded microphone signal is transmitted to the external audio generator using the single audio connector, wherein the single audio connector is an audio jack that includes a left channel audio input coupled to the first received electronic audio signal, a right channel audio input coupled to the second received electronic audio signal, a ground signal, and a microphone audio output coupled to the encoded microphone signal.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the encoder is arranged in a side of the headset that includes the first headset speaker, but excludes a second headset speaker that is arranged in the headset.

9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the encoder is arranged to ultrasonically modulate the encoded microphone signal using a first portion of a frequency spectrum to encode the first feedback signal.

10. The headset of claim 1, comprising a microphone that is arranged to generate a microphone-generated electronic audio signal that is coupled to the encoder, wherein the encoder is arranged to generate an encoded microphone signal in response to the microphone-generated electronic audio signal.

11. The headset of claim 1, wherein first feedback microphone is arranged adjacent to the first headset speaker.

12. A noise-cancellation system, comprising:

a headset that is arranged to generate a first feedback signal for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset, and to generate an encoded microphone signal in response to the first feedback signal;

an audio generator that is arranged to generate a noise-cancellation signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and to generate a first electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a first output audio signal; and

an audio connector that is arranged to couple the encoded microphone signal from the headset to the audio generator and is arranged to couple the first electronic audio signal to the headset.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the audio generator is a mobile phone having one or more processors that are configured to decode the encoded microphone signal and to generate the electronic audio signal.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein audio generator is arranged to receive instructions from a user to control the strength of the noise-cancelling signal in the electronic audio signal.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the headset is arranged to generate a second feedback signal for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset, and to generate an encoded microphone signal in response to the second feedback signal, and wherein the audio generator is arranged to generate the electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a second output audio signal, and wherein the audio connector is arranged to couple the second electronic audio signal to the headset.

16. A method for monitoring the execution of a safety-related processor, comprising:

generating a first feedback signal in a headset for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset;

generating an encoded microphone signal in response to the first feedback signal;

generating a noise-cancellation signal in response to the encoded microphone signal;

generating a first electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a first output audio signal; and

transmitting the encoded microphone signal from the headset.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving the encoded microphone signal from the headset, generating a noise-cancellation signal in response to the encoded microphone signal, generating a first electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a first output audio signal;

and transmitting the first electronic audio signal to the headset.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving instructions from a user to control the strength of the noise-cancelling signal in the electronic audio signal.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising:

generating a second feedback signal in a headset for noise-cancellation in response to sound externally generated from the headset;

generating the encoded microphone signal in response to the second feedback signal;

generating a second electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and a second output audio signal; and

transmitting the encoded microphone signal from the headset.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising generating a second electronic audio signal in response to the encoded microphone signal and the second output audio signal;

and transmitting the second electronic audio signal to the headset.