Noise cancellation apparatus

• US 5,732,143 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrea Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Andrea Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Andrea, Douglas, Topf, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Application Number:
  US08/485,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 381/72, 381/71, 381/94, 381/93, 381/74, 381/183, 381/187
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• 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: H04B 1/12 Neutralising, balancing, or compensation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/08 Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• 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 2201/403 Linear arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/006 Microphone matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• 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 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing ambient noise for use with a headset or a boom headset attached to a boom microphone device or the like. The apparatus can include a sensor microphone to detect a background noise signal, a desired input audio transmission, and signal processing means for canceling the noise signals to create an inverted anti-noise signal within an acoustical waveguide located adjacent to the earphone of headset. The method for reducing noise according to this invention is provided by an open loop circuit allowing the input audio signal from an operator or caller to be transmitted to the user'"'"'s ear without the disturbance of unwanted ambient noise. The method provides adjustments to the gain/or and phase of a noise signal for canceling the noise component detected, within an acoustical waveguide to produce a quiet zone for the desired audio speech to be transmitted.

Claims

1. A two terminal transducer for use in a noise cancellation apparatus for reducing background noise comprising:

a housing having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech originating from an operator operating said apparatus and background noise, and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ

in close proximity with respect to said first microphone means for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal;

at least one of the first and second microphone means includes a plurality of microphones;

said first and second microphones are connected to a differential amplifier means of the noise cancellation apparatus so as to obtain a signal representing substantially speech;

the amplifier means is for receiving acoustic sounds from each microphone and has a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is grounded;

a voltage means for inputting a DC supply bias;

a transistor means connected between the first terminal and the voltage means for receiving and amplifying an AC signal representative of the audio input from each microphone;

means for filtering the amplified AC signal from the DC signal, so the DC signal powers the amplifier means.

2. The two terminal transducer according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier means is an operational amplifier.

3. The two terminal transducer according to claim 1, wherein the means for filtering the AC signal from the DC signal is a resistor coupled with a capacitor circuit.

4. An open-loop active noise reduction apparatus for reducing ambient noise in the vicinity of a eardrum, comprising:

a housing for receiving an input audio signal;

an output transducer located in the housing;

an input transducer for detecting and reducing ambient noise, the input transducer not located in substantially the same plane as the output transducer;

an open-loop signal processing means to reduce the ambient noise detected by the input transducer;

an acoustic means including an acoustic waveguide for transmitting the input audio signal to the eardrum without disturbance of the ambient noise and

having low pass filter characteristics with a zero phase shift over a desired bandwidth to isolate the output transducer from the input transducer for channeling the input audio signal representing substantial speech between the output transducer and the eardrum, wherein a quiet zone is created to isolate sound transmitted from the input transducer.

5. The active noise reduction apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein the acoustic means is an acoustic filter when located in proximity to the input transducer and an acoustic waveguide when located between the output transducer and the eardrum.

6. An open-loop active noise reduction apparatus comprising:

a housing having an earphone;

microphone means mounted in the earphone facing towards an ear of a user for detecting unwanted ambient noise;

means to convert the noise to electric signals;

phase shifting and attenuation means connected to the microphone to provide an inverted anti-noise signal;

an output transducer substantially out of plane with the microphone means for transmitting the audio signal to the user'"'"'s ear;

means for preventing mechanical vibration induced low frequency disturbances from being transmitted to the output transducer;

an acoustical waveguide isolating the microphone means from the output transducer for creating a quiet zone in close proximity to the output transducer and thereby excluding the unwanted ambient noise from reaching the user'"'"'s ear.

7. An open-loop active noise reduction apparatus for use in a headset with a boom microphone to reduce ambient noise from reaching a user'"'"'s ear without disturbing a desired audio signal outputted to the ear comprising an earphone located within the headset;

a pick-up microphone for detecting noise signals within the earphone facing towards the ear;

open-loop means for converting the noise signals into electric signals;

electro-acoustic means for applying the electric signals to the earphone to produce acoustic signals 180°

out of phase with the ambient noise;

an output transducer means mounted in the earphone having an acoustical filter having low pass filter characteristics with a zero phase shift over a desired bandwidth for coupling speech to the user'"'"'s ear and isolating vibration induced low frequency disturbances from reaching the user'"'"'s ear.

8. An open loop noise reduction system for use with an active noise cancellation apparatus comprising:

a pick-up microphone located in the headset for detecting noise signals to convert to electrical signals;

a speaker located in the headset having an acoustic means with low pass filter characteristics with a zero phase shift over a desired bandwidth;

an audio transmission signal;

means for electrically rejecting vibrations of the electrical signal;

a variable gain/control means for inverting the noise signal to produce an anti noise-signal;

the acoustic means for filtering out mechanical vibration induced low frequency disturbances from reaching the speaker;

acoustic summing means to combine the anti-noise signal and the noise signal to produce a quiet zone in the acoustic means;

means for transmitting the audio signal to the speaker;

and means for maintaining phase agreement between the noise signal and the anti-noise signal of the speaker.

9. The open loop noise reduction system according to claim 8, wherein the means for rejecting low frequency responses is a high pass filter.

10. The open loop noise reduction system according to claim 9, wherein the quiet-zone means is an acoustic filter.

11. The noise reduction system according to claim 8 wherein the active noise cancellation apparatus comprises:

a housing having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech originating from an operator operating said apparatus and background noise, and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ

in close proximity with respect to said first microphone means for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal; and

means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal so as to obtain a signal representing substantially said speech.

12. The noise reduction system of claim 8 wherein the variable gain/control means automatically adjusts for interfacing with a communication system.

13. An open loop active noise reduction apparatus for reducing ambient noise in the vicinity of the eardrum, comprising:

a housing for receiving an input audio signal;

an output transducer located in the housing;

an input transducer located in the housing for detecting ambient noise located in the housing;

a open loop signal processing means to process noise detected by the input transducer;

an acoustic means having low pass filter characteristics with a zero phase shift over the desired bandwidth to isolate the output transducer from the input transducer for channeling the input audio signal representing substantial speech between the output transducer and the eardrum; and

an acoustic waveguide means for transmitting the input audio signal without disturbance of the noise to the eardrum creating a quiet zone to isolate sound transmitted from the input transducer.

14. An active noise cancellation and noise reduction system for use in a headset for transmitting audio signals from microphones and for receiving external audio from a surrounding environment comprising:

a first microphone means having a first switch means having a noise canceling mode and a talk thru mode and a second microphone means;

a microphone amplifier means connected to the microphones by a second switch means having a noise canceling mode and a talk thru mode;

an audio microphone transmission means for connecting the amplifier means when the first switch means and the second switch means are operating in the noise canceling mode, wherein the microphone transmission means is bypassed when the first switch means and the second switch means are in the talk-thru mode;

a transmission gate for transmitting the audio signal from both microphone means to a buffer amplifier when the first switch means and second switch means are in the noise canceling mode, wherein the transmission gate is disabled when the second switch means is in the talk thru mode;

the buffer amplifier means for transmitting the audio signal received from the transmission gate to an audio system and to a scaling amplifier when the first switch means and second switch means are operating in the noise canceling mode;

the buffer amplifier means for directly outputting the audio signals received by the microphone amplifier means when the first switch means and second switch means are operating in the talk thru mode;

the scaling amplifier having a third switch means having a noise canceling mode and a talk-thru mode, provides a sidetone signal to an earcup of a speaker transmitted from both microphone means and from the external audio when all the switch means are operating in the noise canceling mode;

the scaling amplifier having a gain control, wherein the gain control is increased when all the switch means are operating in the talk thru mode to increase the sidetone signal to a speaker;

an active noise reduction system receives and outputs the sidetone signal to the speaker in the headset.

15. The noise reduction apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first microphone means is an omnidirectional microphone consisting of speech only.

16. The noise reduction apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second microphone means is an omnidirectional microphone consisting of substantial speech and background noise.

17. A method for independently calibrating an active noise reduction apparatus including a housing comprising a speaker to produce an acoustic anti-noise signal in the housing, a microphone to detect an external noise signal, an acoustical waveguide having zero phase shift over a desired bandwidth to isolate and direct the acoustic anti-noise signal from the microphone, and an amplitude adjustment means to calibrate the acoustic anti-noise signal to create a quiet zone in the housing for operation with an independent electrical assembly, wherein the apparatus is calibrated separately from the electrical assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

producing the external noise signal having a gain and phase response detected by the microphone in the housing;

inputting the external noise signal received by the microphone through acoustic-electro processing means in the electrical assembly to produce an electrical anti-noise signal,

transmitting to the speaker the electrical anti-noise signal having an equal gain and opposite phase response to the external noise signal detected by the microphone; and

balancing the gain and phase response of the electrical anti-noise signal by the amplitude adjustment means located in the noise reduction apparatus to match the gain and phase response of the external noise signal to yield a theoretical zero in the quiet zone.

18. The method in claim 17 wherein the amplitude adjustment means is a calibration pot.