Device and method for automatically controlling sound volume in a communication apparatus
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus comprising:
- first means for converting a first sound wave to a first audio signal;
second means for converting a second audio signal to a second sound wave;
averaging means for averaging an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal;
discriminating means for discriminating a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal;
determination means for determining a level of the averaged amplitude by comparing the averaged amplitude with at least one predetermined reference level; and
control means for varying an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the averaged amplitude when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal,wherein the discriminating means comprises a comparator for comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal, the comparator outputting a speech discrimination signal when an amplitude of the first audio signal is greater than the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal, and the comparator outputting a non-speech discrimination signal when an amplitude of the first audio signal is not greater than the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication apparatus comprises a sound volume controller in which a speech signal is discriminated from background noise of a transmitting audio signal and the sound volume control is performed when no speech signal is present in the transmitting audio signal. The sound volume controller comprises an averaging circuit for averaging an amplitude of the transmitting audio signal, a discriminator for discriminating a speech signal of the transmitting audio signal by comparing the transmitting audio signal with the averaged amplitude, and a controller for controlling an amplitude of a receiving audio signal when no speech signal is present in the transmitting audio signal. A level of the averaged amplitude is determined by comparing the averaged amplitude with at least one predetermined reference level, and the amplitude of the receiving audio signal is varied according to the level of the averaged amplitude when no speech signal is present.
64 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus comprising:
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first means for converting a first sound wave to a first audio signal; second means for converting a second audio signal to a second sound wave; averaging means for averaging an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; discriminating means for discriminating a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; determination means for determining a level of the averaged amplitude by comparing the averaged amplitude with at least one predetermined reference level; and control means for varying an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the averaged amplitude when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal, wherein the discriminating means comprises a comparator for comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal, the comparator outputting a speech discrimination signal when an amplitude of the first audio signal is greater than the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal, and the comparator outputting a non-speech discrimination signal when an amplitude of the first audio signal is not greater than the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A communication apparatus comprising:
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first means for converting a first sound wave to a first audio signal; second means for converting a second audio signal to a second sound wave; averaging means for averaging an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; discriminating means for discriminating a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; determination means for determining a level of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with at least one predetermined reference level; and control means for varying an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the first audio signal when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling sound volume in a communication apparatus comprising a first means for converting a first sound wave to a first audio signal and a second means for converting a second audio signal to a second sound wave, the method comprising the steps of:
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averaging an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; discriminating a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; determining a level of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with at least one predetermined reference level; and varying an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the first audio signal when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A communication apparatus comprising:
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first converter to convert a first sound wave to a first audio signal; second converter to convert a second audio signal to a second sound wave; averaging device to average an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; discriminating device to discriminate a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; determination device to determine a level of the averaged amplitude by comparing the averaged amplitude with at least one predetermined reference level; and controller to vary an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the averaged amplitude when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal, wherein the discriminating device includes a comparator for comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal, the comparator outputting a speech discrimination signal when an amplitude of the first audio signal is greater than the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal, and the comparator outputting a non-speech discrimination signal when an amplitude of the first audio signal is not greater than the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal.
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21. A communication apparatus comprising:
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first converter to convert a first sound wave to a first audio signal; second converter to convert a second audio signal to a second sound wave; averaging device to average an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; discriminating device to discriminate a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; determination device to determine a level of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with at least one predetermined reference level; and controller to vary an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the first audio signal when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal.
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22. A method for controlling sound volume in a communication apparatus including a first converter to convert a first sound wave to a first audio signal and a second converter to convert a second audio signal to a second sound wave, the method comprising the steps of:
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averaging an amplitude of the first audio signal to obtain an averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; discriminating a speech signal of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with the averaged amplitude of the first audio signal; determining a level of the first audio signal by comparing the first audio signal with at least one predetermined reference level; and varying an amplitude of the second audio signal according to the level of the first audio signal when the speech signal is not present in the first audio signal.
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Specification