EFFECTING VOICE COMMUNICATION IN A SOUND-RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT

• US 20150243296A1
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Purpura, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/02 Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation reducing echo effects in line transmission systems H04B3/20; echo suppression in hands-free telephones H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/001 Digital control of analog signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• 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 3/02 for preventing acoustic reaction , i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A headset is provided for use by a user to effect voice communication in a sound-restricted environment. The headset includes a microphone that converts the user'"'"'s voice at a first sound level to produce a first audio signal. The headset also includes an apparatus with circuitry that amplifies the first audio signal to produce a second audio signal representing that produced by conversion of the user'"'"'s voice at a greater, second sound level by the microphone, and outputs the second audio signal for communication to a telecommunications device or sound recording device. The circuitry also receives a third audio signal and measures a third sound level thereof. The circuitry produces a feedback signal in at least one instance in which the third sound level is greater than a threshold sound level that is less than the second sound level, and outputs the feedback signal for communication to the user.

Claims

1. A headset for use by a user to effect voice communication in a sound-restricted environment, the headset comprising:

a housing;

a microphone supported by the housing and configured to convert the user'"'"'s voice at a first sound level to produce a first audio signal;

an apparatus including circuitry carried by the housing and configured to receive the first audio signal, the circuitry being configured to amplify the first audio signal to produce a second audio signal representing an audio signal produced by conversion of the user'"'"'s voice at a greater, second sound level by the microphone, and output the second audio signal for communication to at least one of a telecommunications device or a sound recording device,

wherein the circuitry is also configured to receive a third audio signal and measure a third sound level thereof, produce a feedback signal in at least one instance in which the third sound level is greater than a threshold sound level that is less than the second sound level, and output the feedback signal for communication to the user, the third audio signal and third sound level being the same as or different from the first audio signal and first sound level; and

a wireless or wired communication interface configured to communicate the second audio signal to the telecommunications device or the sound recording device.

2. The headset of claim 1 further comprising a sound shield disposed proximate the microphone and configured to at least partially muffle the user'"'"'s voice from propagating beyond the microphone in the sound-restricted environment.

3. The headset of claim 1 further comprising an input user interface coupled to the apparatus, and configured to receive user-selection of at least one of the threshold sound level from a plurality of possible threshold sound levels, or the second sound level from a plurality of possible second sound levels.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein the third audio signal and third sound level are the same as the first audio signal and first sound level.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein the third audio signal and third sound level are different from the first audio signal and first sound level, and the headset further comprises another microphone configured to convert background noise to produce the third audio signal, and

wherein the circuitry being configured to measure the third sound level includes being configured to measure the third sound level from a portion of the background noise including the user'"'"'s voice at the third sound level.

6. The headset of claim 1 further comprising an output user interface including at least one of a loudspeaker, vibration actuator, light-emitting diode or display device coupled to the apparatus,

wherein the circuitry being configured to output the feedback signal includes being configured to output the feedback signal to the output user interface.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to output the second audio signal for communication to the telecommunications device to be carried by a telephone call therefrom, and

wherein the circuitry being configured to output the feedback signal includes being configured to output the feedback signal to cause the telecommunications device to terminate the telephone call.

8. The headset of claim 7 further comprising an output user interface including at least one of a loudspeaker, vibration actuator, light-emitting diode or display device coupled to the apparatus,

wherein the at least one instance includes one or more first instances and a next instance thereafter in each of which the first sound level is greater than the threshold sound level,

wherein the circuitry being configured to output the feedback signal includes being configured to output the feedback signal to the output user interface in each of the one or more first instances, and output the feedback signal to cause the telecommunications device to terminate the telephone call in the next instance thereafter.

9. An apparatus for use by a user to effect voice communication in a sound-restricted environment, the apparatus comprising:

an amplifier configured to receive a first audio signal produced by conversion of the user'"'"'s voice at a first sound level by a microphone, the amplifier being configured to amplify the first audio signal to produce a second audio signal representing an audio signal produced by conversion of the user'"'"'s voice at a greater, second sound level by the microphone, and output the second audio signal for communication to at least one of a telecommunications device or a sound recording device; and

a processor configured to receive a third audio signal and measure a third sound level thereof, produce a feedback signal in at least one instance in which the third sound level is greater than a threshold sound level that is less than the second sound level, and output the feedback signal for communication to the user, the third audio signal and third sound level being the same as or different from the first audio signal and first sound level.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a wireless or wired communication interface coupled to the amplifier and processor, and configured to couple the apparatus to at least one of a headset including the microphone to receive the first audio signal from the microphone, or the telecommunications device or the sound recording device for communication of the second audio signal to the telecommunications device or the sound recording device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an input user interface coupled to the processor, and configured to receive user-selection of at least one of the threshold sound level from a plurality of possible threshold sound levels, or the second sound level from a plurality of possible second sound levels.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third audio signal and third sound level are the same as the first audio signal and first sound level.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third audio signal and third sound level are different from the first audio signal and first sound level,

wherein the processor being configured to receive the third audio signal includes being configured to receive the third audio signal produced by conversion of background noise by another microphone, and

wherein the processor being configured to measure the third sound level includes being configured to measure the third sound level from a portion of the background noise including the user'"'"'s voice at the third sound level.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor being configured to output the feedback signal includes being configured to output the feedback signal to an output user interface including at least one of a loudspeaker, vibration actuator, light-emitting diode or display device.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the amplifier is configured to output the second audio signal for communication to the telecommunications device to be carried by a telephone call therefrom, and

wherein the processor being configured to output the feedback signal includes being configured to output the feedback signal to cause the telecommunications device to terminate the telephone call.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one instance includes one or more first instances and a next instance thereafter in each of which the first sound level is greater than the threshold sound level,

wherein the processor being configured to output the feedback signal includes being configured to output the feedback signal to an output user interface including at least one of a loudspeaker, vibration actuator, light-emitting diode or display device in each of the one or more first instances, and output the feedback signal to cause the telecommunications device to terminate the telephone call in the next instance thereafter.

17. A method for a user to effect voice communication in a sound-restricted environment, the method comprising:

receiving a first audio signal produced by conversion of the user'"'"'s voice at a first sound level by a microphone, amplifying the first audio signal to produce a second audio signal representing an audio signal produced by conversion of the user'"'"'s voice at a greater, second sound level by the microphone, and outputting the second audio signal for communication to at least one of a telecommunications device or a sound recording device; and

receiving a third audio signal and measure a third sound level thereof, producing a feedback signal in at least one instance in which the third sound level is greater than a threshold sound level that is less than the second sound level, and outputting the feedback signal for communication to the user, the third audio signal and third sound level being the same as or different from the first audio signal and first sound level.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving user-selection of at least one of the threshold sound level from a plurality of possible threshold sound levels, or the second sound level from a plurality of possible second sound levels.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the third audio signal and third sound level are the same as the first audio signal and first sound level.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the third audio signal and third sound level are different from the first audio signal and first sound level,

wherein receiving the third audio signal includes receiving the third audio signal produced by conversion of background noise by another microphone, and

wherein measuring the third sound level includes measuring the third sound level from a portion of the background noise including the user'"'"'s voice at the third sound level.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein outputting the feedback signal includes outputting the feedback signal to an output user interface including at least one of a loudspeaker, vibration actuator, light-emitting diode or display device.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the second audio signal is output for communication to the telecommunications device to be carried by a telephone call therefrom, and

wherein outputting the feedback signal includes outputting the feedback signal to cause the telecommunications device to terminate the telephone call.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one instance includes one or more first instances and a next instance thereafter in each of which the first sound level is greater than the threshold sound level,

wherein outputting the feedback signal includes outputting the feedback signal to an output user interface including at least one of a loudspeaker, vibration actuator, light-emitting diode or display device in each of the one or more first instances, and outputting the feedback signal to cause the telecommunications device to terminate the telephone call in the next instance thereafter.