FEEDBACK ENCLOSURE AND FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR A TRANSDUCER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20150195631A1
• Filed: 01/03/2014
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: FORRESTER, Chris, Hawker, Larry Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/00 Tone control or bandwidth control in amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/025 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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 3/002 Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits

Abstract

The disclosure recites a feedback system and method for adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device. The feedback system comprises: a transducer; a microphone; and an enclosure for the communication device defining a first location for the placement of the transducer, a second location for the placement of the microphone adjacent to the transducer, a first port connecting the first location to a cavity located on a top side of the enclosure, a second port connecting the second location to the cavity. For the system, the first port connects to the cavity beside the second port.

Claims

1. A feedback system for output sounds generated by a communication device, comprising:

a transducer;

a microphone; and

an enclosure for the communication device defining a first location for the placement of the transducer, a second location for the placement of the microphone adjacent to the transducer, a first port connecting the first location to a cavity located on a top side of the enclosure, a second port connecting the second location to the cavity,

wherein the first port connects to the cavity beside the second port.

2. The feedback system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first port is shaped and has dimensions to be smaller than a cross section of an opening to an ear canal for a human.

3. The feedback system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first port has:

a height of between approximately 1 mm and 4 mm; and

a width of between approximately 2 mm and 15 mm.

4. The feedback system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a processor;

a memory device; and

an application stored in the memory device providing instructions for execution on the processor to

measure the input signals detected by the microphone; and

when the input signals are determined to be less than a threshold a receiver for one of a handset, a headset or insert earphone, not decrease an output level of a signal provided to the transducer.

5. The feedback system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the threshold is for the headset.

6. The feedback system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the threshold is approximately 118 dBA.

7. The feedback system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the application provides further instructions for execution on the processor to:

when the input signals are determined to be greater than the threshold, decrease an output level of a signal provided to the transducer.

8. The feedback system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the application provides further instructions for execution on the processor to:

when the input signals are determined to be less than the threshold and greater than a minimum level, either

not change an output level of a signal provided to the transducer;

or

change a characteristic of the output level to boost at least a portion of the signal provided to the transducer, where resulting input signals at the microphone are still below the threshold.

9. The feedback system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the application provides further instructions for execution on the processor to:

when the input signals are determined to be less than a minimum threshold, increase an output level of a signal provided to the transducer, where the resulting input signals at the microphone are still below the threshold.

10. The feedback system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an alignment feature protruding from either the housing or a cover for the housing, the alignment feature located near the cavity and providing a physically detectable feature indicating when the device is being positioned about a user'"'"'s ear.

11. A method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, comprising:

measuring sound pressure levels detected by a microphone located in an enclosure for the communication device defining

a first location for the placement of a transducer,

a second location for the placement of the microphone adjacent to the transducer,

a first port connecting the first location to a cavity located on a top side of the enclosure, and

a second port connecting the second location to the cavity, and

determining whether the sound pressure levels are less than a threshold a receiver for one of a handset, a headset or insert earphone, and if so not decreasing an output level of a signal provided to the transducer.

12. The method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the threshold is for the headset.

13. The method, of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the threshold is approximately 118 dBA.

14. The method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the input signals are greater than the threshold, and if so decreasing an output level of a signal provided to the transducer.

15. The method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the input signals are less than the threshold and greater than a minimum level, and if so, either

not changing an output level of a signal provided to the transducer;

or

changing a characteristic of the output level to boost at least a portion of the signal provided to the transducer, where resulting input signals at the microphone are still below the threshold.

16. The method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the input signals are less than a minimum threshold, and if so increasing an output level of a signal provided to the transducer, where the resulting input signals at the microphone are still below the threshold.

17. The method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the first port is shaped and has dimensions to be smaller than a cross section of an opening to an ear canal for a human.

18. The method of adjusting output sounds generated by a communication device, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first port has:

a height of between approximately 1 mm and 4 mm; and

a width of between approximately 2 mm and 15 mm.