Active headset

• US 6,069,959 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCT Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noise Cancellation Technologies, Inc. (NCT Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Ping
• Application Number:
  US08/846,443
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71.13, 381/71.6, 381/74, 381/71.1, 381/120, 330/262
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/145 electric, e.g. for active noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1783 handling or detecting of non-standard events or conditions, e.g. changing operating modes under specific operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1787 General system configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/128 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3222 Manual tuning

Abstract

An active headset providing for reduction of external noise over a given frequency range by means of a microphone which generates an external noise representative signal processed and fed to a loudspeaker to produce an external noise cancellation signal spectrum, wherein a bridge amplifier circuit is interposed between the microphone and the loudspeaker and the gain of the bridge amplifier for peak amplitude of the noise cancellation signal is user adjustable without substantially reducing the breadth of the given frequency range over which noise reduction is effective.

Claims

1. An active headset incorporating noise cancellation circuitry for reducing the amount of external noise reaching a user'"'"'s ear by generation of a noise cancellation signal spectrum extending over a given frequency range, comprising:

an adjustment element that adjusts a noise cancellation gain/frequency response of the noise cancellation circuitry without substantially reducing the breadth of the given frequency range over which noise reduction of external noise reaching the user'"'"'s ear is effective, wherein the adjustment element further comprises;

a bridge amplifier circuit having a resistive-capacitive coupling, the resistive-capacitive coupling having a summation node providing a high frequency shelf for an operational amplifier in a non-inverting amplifier stage of the bridge amplifier circuit.

2. An active headset according to claim 1, wherein, at a position of adjustment producing a minimum peak gain, the noise cancellation gain/frequency response of the noise cancellation circuitry is substantially flat over a substantial portion of the given frequency range.

3. An active headset according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element accomplishes a continuous range of adjustment of the noise cancellation gain/frequency response of the noise cancellation circuitry.

4. An active headset according to claim 3, wherein the continuous range of adjustment is achieved by a variable resistance.

5. An active headset according to claim 3, wherein the continuous range of adjustment is achieved by a plurality of switchable capacitors of the noise cancellation circuitry.

6. An active headset incorporating noise cancellation circuitry for reducing the amount of external noise reaching a user'"'"'s ear by generation of a noise cancellation signal spectrum extending over a given frequency range, comprising:

an adjustment element that adjusts a noise cancellation gain/frequency response of the noise cancellation circuitry without substantially reducing the breadth of the given frequency range over which noise reduction of external noise reaching the user'"'"'s ear is effective, wherein the adjustment element further comprises;

an amplifier having a non-inverting amplifier stage and an inverting amplifier stage; and

a resistive-capacitive coupling having a summation node providing a high frequency shelf for the amplifier in the inverting amplifier stage.

7. An active headset according to claim 6, wherein, at a position of adjustment producing a minimum peak gain, the noise cancellation gain/frequency response of the noise cancellation circuitry is substantially flat over a substantial portion of the given frequency range.

8. An active headset according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment element accomplishes a continuous range of adjustment of the noise cancellation gain/frequency response of the noise cancellation circuitry.

9. An active headset according to claim 8, wherein the continuous range of adjustment is achieved by a variable resistance.

10. An active headset according to claim 9, wherein the continuous range of adjustment is achieved by a plurality of switchable capacitors of the noise cancellation circuitry.

13. An active headset according to claim 8, wherein the means for adjustment of gain further comprises:

a variable resistance having an adjustable tapping, the variable resistance being connected to the summation node by a resistive coupling; and

the adjustable tapping of the variable resistance being capacitively coupled to the operational amplifier in the inverting amplifier stage.

15. An active headset according to claim 8, wherein the non-inverting amplifier stage and the inverting amplifier stage are constituted by a bridge amplifier.

11. An active headset incorporating noise cancellation circuitry for reducing the amount of external noise reaching a user'"'"'s ear by generation of a noise cancellation signal spectrum extending over a given frequency range, comprising:

an operational amplifier having a non-inverting amplifier stage and an inverting amplifier stage;

a resistive-capacitive coupling providing a high frequency shelf for the operational amplifier in the inverting amplifier stage, the resistive-capacitive coupling having a summation node; and

a means for adjustment of gain comprising a variable component of the resistive-capacitive coupling.

12. An active headset according to claim 11, wherein the means for adjustment of gain further comprises:

a variable resistance having an adjustable tapping, the variable resistance being capacitively connected between the summation node and the operational amplifier in the inverting amplifier stage; and

the adjustable tapping of the variable resistance being connected by the resistive-capacitive coupling to the summation node.

14. An active headset according to claim 11, wherein the means for adjustment of gain further comprises a plurality of switchable capacitors connected between the summation node and the output of the operational amplifier in the inverting amplifier stage.