Voice detection and discrimination apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Voice detection and discrimination apparatus for controlling a voice operated system comprising a protective ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation,an inner electroacoustic transducer element (M2) on an inner side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a first acoustic field and providing a first electronic signal representing said first acoustic field, an outer electroacoustic transducer element (M1) on an outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a second acoustic field and providing a second electronic signal representing said second acoustic field, an electronics unit (11,E3) connected with said electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) and comprising first comparison means (27) for comparison of said first and second electronic signals to obtain the difference between said two electronic signals, and second comparison means (28) for comparing said difference with given criteria, and output means (13,E12) connected to said electronics unit for providing an output signal depending on said second comparison, said output signal is an input signal to the voice operated system (29), wherein the criteria comprises a predetermined difference in acoustic signal strength as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) in a noisy environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method of voice detection and discrimination apparatus for controlling a voice operated system. A protective ear terminal element in the apparatus protects the ear by providing acoustic attenuation. An inner electroacoustic transducer element on an inner side of the ear terminal element detects a first acoustic field and provides a first electronic signal representing the first acoustic field. An outer electroacoustic transducer element on an outer side of the ear terminal element detects a second acoustic field and provides a second electronic signal representing the second acoustic field. An electronics unit is connected with the electroacoustic transducer elements and includes first and second comparison members.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. Voice detection and discrimination apparatus for controlling a voice operated system comprising a protective ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation,
an inner electroacoustic transducer element (M2) on an inner side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a first acoustic field and providing a first electronic signal representing said first acoustic field, an outer electroacoustic transducer element (M1) on an outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a second acoustic field and providing a second electronic signal representing said second acoustic field, an electronics unit (11,E3) connected with said electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) and comprising first comparison means (27) for comparison of said first and second electronic signals to obtain the difference between said two electronic signals, and second comparison means (28) for comparing said difference with given criteria, and output means (13,E12) connected to said electronics unit for providing an output signal depending on said second comparison, said output signal is an input signal to the voice operated system (29), wherein the criteria comprises a predetermined difference in acoustic signal strength as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) in a noisy environment.
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13. Voice detection and discrimination apparatus for controlling a voice operated system comprising
a protective ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation, an inner electroacoustic transducer element (M2) on an inner side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a first acoustic field and providing a first electronic signal representing said first acoustic field, an outer electroacoustic transducer element (M1) on an outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a second acoustic field and providing a second electronic signal representing said second acoustic field, an electronics unit (11,E3) connected with said electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) and comprising first comparison means (27) for comparison of said first and second electronic signals to obtain the difference between said two electronic signals, and second comparison means (28) for comparing said difference with given criteria, and output means (13,E12) connected to said electronics unit for providing an output signal depending on said second comparison, said output signal is an input signal to the voice operated system (29) wherein the signal strength comparison means (27) comprises means for estimating the acoustic attenuation of the ear terminal element (1,2) for establishing said predetermined difference.
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18. Method of detecting a voice and for controlling a voice operated system, employing an ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation comprising the following steps;
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detecting (M2) the acoustic signal strength on the inner side of said ear terminal element, detecting (M1) the acoustic signal strength on the outer side of said ear terminal element, obtaining (23,26,27) a difference value representing the difference in the acoustic signal strength between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element, deciding (28) if a voice is present using said value representing said difference and given criteria (28), providing an output signal depending on said decision using output means (13,E12), the output signal being an input to the voice operated system (29), and determining if said difference in the acoustic signal strength (27) between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element (1,2) has decreased more than a given amount. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
providing an output signal (13) in the form of a control signal, commands, instructions, code for said voice operated system (29), such as a communication system. -
20. Method according to claim 18 comprising
writing and reading predetermined criteria to and from storage means (E8,E9,E10) in the ear terminal element (1,2). -
21. Method according to claim 18 comprising
determining if said difference in the acoustic signal strength (27) between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element (1,2) has decreased more than a given amount, typically 2-10 dB, from a predetermined amount, typically − - 20 to −
40 dB.
- 20 to −
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22. Method according to claim 18 comprising
filtering (22,25) the signals from the two electroacoustic transducer elements (M2,M1) using bandpass filters (22,25). -
23. Method according to claim 18 comprising;
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analysing (E3) the voice signal for determining its characteristic, such as duration, frequency, and amplitude, providing said output signal (13) depending on the said determined voice characteristics.
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24. Method according to claim 23 comprising;
obtaining a value representing the running average of the difference in the acoustic signal level between the inner and outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2).
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25. Method according to claim 18 comprising
adjusting the said criteria according to the running average of the said difference. -
26. Method according to claim 18 comprising
extracting information from the acoustic signals being detected by the electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2). -
27. Method according to claim 26 comprising
analysing the signal from the electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) for the presence of particular speech components, such as words. -
28. Method according to claim 18 comprising
prior to normal use, performing a calibration operation where an estimate of the attenuation of the hearing protector is obtained by determining the difference in the sound levels as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements in a period where no voice but only noise is present. -
29. Method according to claim 18 comprising
during normal operation, performing a verification operation where an estimate of the attenuation of the hearing protector is obtained by determining the difference in the sound levels as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements in a period where no voice but only noise is present, and the obtained attenuation is compared with a predetermined stored attenuation value.
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30. Voice detection and discrimination apparatus for controlling a voice operated system comprising
a protective ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation, an inner electroacoustic transducer element (M2) on an inner side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a first acoustic field and providing a first electronic signal representing said first acoustic field, an outer electroacoustic transducer element (M1) on an outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2) for detecting a second acoustic field and providing a second electronic signal representing said second acoustic field, an electronics unit (11,E3) connected with said electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) and comprising first comparison means (27) for comparison of said first and second electronic signals to obtain the difference between said two electronic signals, and second comparison means (28) for comparing said difference with given criteria, output means (13,E12) connected to said electronics unit for providing an output signal depending on said second comparison, said output signal is an input signal to the voice operated system (29), and a decision block with a detection prohibition function in order to enable a blocking function in the ear terminal when an incoming communication signal is introduced in the ear terminal.
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45. Method of detecting a voice and for controlling a voice operated system, employing an ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation comprising the following steps;
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detecting (M2) the acoustic signal strength on the inner side of said ear terminal element, detecting (M1) the acoustic signal strength on the outer side of said ear terminal element, obtaining (23,26,27) a difference value representing the difference in the acoustic signal strength between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element, deciding (28) if a voice is present using said value representing said difference and given criteria (28), providing an output signal depending on said decision using output means (13,E12), the output signal being an input to the voice operated system (29), and adjusting the said criteria according to the running average of the said difference. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
providing an output signal (13) in the form of a control signal, commands, instructions, code for said voice operated system (29), such as a communication system. -
47. Method according to claim 45 comprising
writing and reading predetermined criteria to and from storage means (E8,E9,E10) in the ear terminal element (1,2). -
48. Method according to claim 45 comprising
determining if said difference in the acoustic signal strength (27) between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element (1,2) has decreased more than a given amount, typically 2-10 dB, from a predetermined amount, typically − - 20 to −
40 dB.
- 20 to −
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49. Method according to claim 45 comprising
filtering (22,25) the signals from the two electroacoustic transducer elements (M2,M1) using bandpass filters (22,25). -
50. Method according to claim 45 comprising;
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analysing (E3) the voice signal for determining its characteristic, such as duration, frequency, and amplitude, providing said output signal (13) depending on the said determined voice characteristics.
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51. Method according to claim 50 comprising;
obtaining a value representing the running average of the difference in the acoustic signal level between the inner and outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2).
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52. Method according to claim 45 comprising
extracting information from the acoustic signals being detected by the electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2). -
53. Method according to claim 52 comprising
analysing the signal from the electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) for the presence of particular speech components, such as words. -
54. Method according to claim 45 comprising
prior to normal use, performing a calibration operation where an estimate of the attenuation of the hearing protector is obtained by determining the difference in the sound levels as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements in a period where no voice but only noise is present. -
55. Method according to claim 45 comprising
during normal operation, performing a verification operation where an estimate of the attenuation of the hearing protector is obtained by determining the difference in the sound levels as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements in a period where no voice but only noise is present, and the obtained attenuation is compared with a predetermined stored attenuation value.
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56. Method of detecting a voice and for controlling a voice operated system, employing an ear terminal element (1,2) for protecting the ear by providing acoustic attenuation comprising the following steps;
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detecting (M2) the acoustic signal strength on the inner side of said ear terminal element, detecting (M1) the acoustic signal strength on the outer side of said ear terminal element, obtaining (23,26,27) a difference value representing the difference in the acoustic signal strength between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element, deciding (28) if a voice is present using said value representing said difference and given criteria (28), providing an output signal depending on said decision using output means (13,E12), the output signal being an input to the voice operated system (29), and during normal operation, performing a verification operation where an estimate of the attenuation of the hearing protector is obtained by determining the difference in the sound levels as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements in a period where no voice but only noise is present, and the obtained attenuation is compared with a predetermined stored attenuation value. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
providing an output signal (13) in the form of a control signal, commands, instructions, code for said voice operated system (29), such as a communication system. -
58. Method according to claim 56 comprising
writing and reading predetermined criteria to and from storage means (E8,E9,E10) in the ear terminal element (1,2). -
59. Method according to claim 56 comprising
determining if said difference in the acoustic signal strength (27) between the inner and outer side of said ear terminal element (1,2) has decreased more than a given amount, typically 2-10 dB, from a predetermined amount, typically − - 20 to −
40 dB.
- 20 to −
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60. Method according to claim 56 comprising;
filtering (22,25) the signals from the two electroacoustic transducer elements (M2,M1) using bandpass filters (22,25).
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61. Method according to claim 56 comprising;
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analysing (E3) the voice signal for determining its characteristic, such as duration, frequency, and amplitude, providing said output signal (13) depending on the said determined voice characteristics.
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62. Method according to claim 61 comprising;
obtaining a value representing the running average of the difference in the acoustic signal level between the inner and outer side of the ear terminal element (1,2).
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63. Method according to claim 56 comprising
adjusting the said criteria according to the running average of the said difference. -
64. Method according to claim 56 comprising
extracting information from the acoustic signals being detected by the electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2). -
65. Method according to claim 64 comprising
analysing the signal from the electroacoustic transducer elements (M1,M2) for the presence of particular speech components, such as words. -
66. Method according to claim 56 comprising
prior to normal use, performing a calibration operation where an estimate of the attenuation of the hearing protector is obtained by determining the difference in the sound levels as detected by the two electroacoustic transducer elements in a period where no voice but only noise is present.
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Specification