REDUCING AMBIENT NOISE DISTRACTION WITH AN ELECTRONIC PERSONAL DISPLAY

• US 20150003620A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rakuten Kobo Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: WU, James, HAYASHI, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,761,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/71.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• 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 11/17875 using an error signal without a reference signal, e.g. pure feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/105 Appliances, e.g. washing machines or dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/11 Computers, i.e. ANC of the noise created by cooling fan, hard drive or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/12 Rooms, e.g. ANC inside a room, office, concert hall or automobile cabin

Abstract

A method and system for reducing ambient noise distraction with an electronic personal display is disclosed. One example determines when the electronic personal display is in reader mode. In addition, ambient noise around the electronic personal display is also detected. Noise cancelling sound waves are generated at the electronic personal display for reducing ambient noise distraction. The noise cancelling sound waves are then output from at least one speaker coupled with the electronic personal display.

Claims

1. A method for reducing ambient noise distraction with an electronic personal display, the method comprising:

determining the electronic personal display is in reader mode;

detecting ambient noise around the electronic personal display;

generating noise cancelling sound waves at the electronic personal display for reducing ambient noise distraction; and

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one speaker coupled with the electronic personal display.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically determining the electronic personal display is in reader mode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining further comprising:

receiving a manual input signaling the electronic personal display is in reader mode from a hard button.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a manual input signaling the electronic personal display is in reader mode from a capacitive sensor input.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting an amplitude and a frequency for the ambient noise with at least one front facing microphone fixedly coupled with the electronic personal display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting ambient noise further comprises:

detecting an amplitude and a frequency for the ambient noise with at least one microphone removably coupled with the electronic personal display.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from a pair of front facing speakers fixedly coupled with the electronic personal display.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from the at least one speaker removably coupled with the electronic personal display.

9. An electronic reader (eReader) ambient noise minimizer comprising:

a read mode determiner to determine when the eReader is in reader mode;

a microphone to detect an ambient noise around the eReader;

a noise cancelling module to develop noise cancelling sound waves that correspond to the ambient noise detected around the eReader; and

at least one speaker to output the noise cancelling sound waves.

10. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the read mode determiner determines the eReader is in reader mode from the group of detection methods consisting of:

an automatic detection, a manual input from a hard button input, and a manual input from a capacitive sensor input.

11. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker is a front facing speaker fixedly coupled with the eReader.

12. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker comprises a pair of front facing speakers fixedly coupled with the eReader.

13. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker is coupled with the eReader via a wireless connection.

14. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker is coupled with the eReader via a wired connection.

15. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone is a front facing microphone fixedly coupled with the eReader.

16. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone is coupled with the eReader via a wireless connection.

17. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone is coupled with the eReader via a wired connection.

18. A method for reducing ambient noise distraction with an electronic reader (eReader), the method comprising:

determining the eReader is in reader mode;

detecting an amplitude and a frequency for an ambient noise around the eReader with at least one microphone coupled with the eReader; and

generating noise cancelling sound waves at the eReader for reducing ambient noise distraction; and

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one speaker coupled with the eReader.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the determining is selected from the group of detection methods consisting of:

an automatic detection, a manual input from a hard button input, and a manual input from a capacitive sensor input.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

detecting the amplitude and the frequency for the ambient noise with at least one front facing microphone fixedly coupled with the eReader.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one front facing speaker fixedly coupled with the eReader.