Electronic siren audio notch filter for transmitters

• US 4,736,432 A
• Filed: 12/09/1985
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cantrell, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schroeder, L. C.
• Application Number:
  US06/807,074
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71, 381/83, 381/86, 381/94, 381/95, 381/98, 455/113, 455/114
• US Class Current: 381/83
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/1291 Current or voltage controlled filters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence

Abstract

A notch filter as disclosed which is adaptable to notching out a background siren from voice communications from an emergency vehicle. Two embodiments are disclosed. In the first embodiment, a frequency lock loop tracks the fundamental frequency of an electronic siren. The siren fundamental frequency is then notched out from voice transmissions using a notch filter. In the preferred transmissions using a notch filter. In the preferred embodiment, a digital ramp is generated by a first digital signal processor. This signal is input to an amplifier and a speaker thus producing an electronic siren. The digital ramp is also input to a second digital signal processor which notches out the fundamental frequency and odd harmonics thereof from the digital ramp thus acting as a comb notch filter. Analog voice is digitized by way of an analog to digital converter and input to the second digital signal processor. The second digital signal processor combs out the fundamental frequency and odd harmonics of the background siren signal from the digitized voice signal. The digitized voice signal is then converted back to an analog signal by way of a digital to analog converter.

Claims

1. An audio comb notch filter system adaptable to receiving a composite signal comprising at least a first signal and a second signal and notching out the fundamental frequency and one or more harmonics thereof of said first or second signal comprising:

a. first means for generating a ramp signal;

b. Second means responsive to said ramp signal for controlling a comb notch filter for notching out the fundamental and one or more harmonics of one of said signals.

2. An audio comb notch filter as described in claim 1 wherein said first signal comprises a digital ramp.

3. An audio comb notch filter as described in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a digital signal processor.

4. An audio comb notch filter as described in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a digital signal processor.

5. An electronic siren and audio comb filter for use in emergency vehicles for notching out background siren sounds from voice transmissions comprising;

first means for generating a digital signal;

amplifier means electrically coupled to said first means for amplifying said digital signal;

speaker means coupled to said amplifier means for converting said digital signal to an audible sound;

second means having an input means and output means and adapted to receive a composite signal at said input means comprised of said digital signal and a second signal, said second means being operatively coupled to said first means and responsive thereto for notching out the fundamental frequency and one or more harmonics of said digital signal from said composite signal.

6. The notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said digital signal comprises a digital ramp.

7. The notch filter as described in claim 6 wherein said audible sound comprises a siren.

8. The notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said first means comprises a first digital signal processor.

9. The notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a second digital signal processor.

10. The audio notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said second signal comprises a digitized voice signal.

11. The comb notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said second means includes an analog to digital converter for receiving an input analog second signal and a digital to analog converter for outputting an analog signal.

12. The comb notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said second means also contains means for pre-emphasis filtering.

13. The comb notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said second means also contains means for splatter filtering.

14. The comb notch filter as described in claim 5 wherein said digital signals are notched out.

15. The comb notch filter as described in claim 11 wherein said analog to digital converter further includes means for anti-aliasing.

16. The comb notch filter as described in claim 11 wherein said digital to analog converter further includes means for anti-aliasing.