Non-interference zones generated by acoustic wave cancellation system

• US 6,754,353 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheng, Bruce C. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Application Number:
  US09/382,137
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71-- 7, 381/94-- 9, 704/226, 704/227, 704/228, 704/273, 704/270
• US Class Current: 381/71.1
• 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

Abstract

The present invention discloses an acoustic voice cancellation system for generating a non-interference zone. The acoustic system includes an input transducer for receiving an acoustic input signal from a speaker to a signal processor. The acoustic system further includes a subsystem for providing a non-interfering environment The subsystem for providing non-interfering environment generates an acoustic cancellation signal for destructively interfering with the acoustic input signal at a distance away from the speaker. In a preferred embodiment, the subsystem for providing a non-interfering environment further includes an acoustic attenuation means for generating a cancellation acoustic signal for destructively interfering with the acoustic input signal. In another preferred embodiment, the subsystem for providing a non-interfering environment further includes a signal transmission means for transmitting the cancellation acoustic signal to the distance away from the speaker. In another preferred embodiment, the signal transmission means is provided for transmitting the cancellation acoustic signal with a speed higher than an air sonic speed. In another preferred embodiment, the acoustic system further includes an output transducer for outputting the cancellation acoustic signal.

Claims

1. An acoustic system for reducing acoustic signals transmitting outside of a private zone comprising:

a signal processing means includes an input transducer for receiving an acoustic input signal from an acoustic source disposed substantially in a mid portion of said private zone; and

said signal processing means further includes an acoustic attenuation means disposed in and integrated as part of said signal processing means for generating an acoustic cancellation signal directly from and corresponding to an acoustic signal propagated to a peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal for destructively interfering with said acoustic input signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone at a distance away from said acoustic source.

2. The acoustic system of claim 1 wherein:

said signal processing means further includes a speech processing means for processing said acoustic input signal received from said acoustic source as a speech message data.

3. The acoustic system of claim 2 further comprising:

a signal transmission means for transmitting said acoustic cancellation signal to said distance away from said acoustic source at a higher speed higher than an air sonic speed as said acoustic input signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone.

4. The acoustic system of claim 1 wherein:

said acoustic attenuation means is provided for generating electromagnetic signals directly from and corresponding to said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal ready for generating said acoustic cancellation signal for destructively interfering with said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal at a distance away from said acoustic source.

5. The acoustic system of claim 1 further comprising:

an output transducer disposed at said peripheral point of said private zone at said distance away from said acoustic source for receiving said acoustic cancellation signal from said signal processing means for outputting said acoustic cancellation signal.

6. A method for reducing acoustic signals from transmitting out of a private zone surrounding an acoustic system comprising:

providing an input transducer for receiving an acoustic input signal from an acoustic source to a signal processing means with said acoustic source disposed in a mid portion of said private zone; and

integrating an acoustic attenuation means as part of said signal processing means for generating an acoustic cancellation signal directly from and corresponding to an acoustic signal propagated to a peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal for destructively interfering with said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal at a distance away from said acoustic source.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of:

providing a speech processing means for processing said acoustic input signal received from said acoustic source as a speech message data.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing signal transmission means for transmitting said acoustic cancellation signal to said peripheral point of said private zone at a distance away from said acoustic source at a higher speed higher than an air sonic speed as said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:

said step of generating said acoustic cancellation signal further comprising a step of generating electromagnetic signals directly from and corresponding to said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal ready for generating said acoustic cancellation signal for destructively interfering with said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal at a distance away from said acoustic source.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step of:

disposing an output transducer at said peripheral point of said private zone at said distance away from said acoustic source for receiving said electromagnetic signal from said signal processing means for outputting said acoustic cancellation signal.

11. A data handling system comprising:

an input transducer for receiving an acoustic input signal from an acoustic source disposed in a mid portion of a private zone surrounding said data handling system;

a signal processing means for processing and converting said acoustic input signal into electromagnetic signals for said data handling system; and

said signal processing means further includes a means for generating an acoustic cancellation signal directly from and corresponding to an acoustic signal propagated to a peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal for destructively interfering with said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal at a distance away from said acoustic source.

12. The data handling system of claim 11 wherein:

said signal processing means further includes a speech processing means for processing said acoustic input signal received from said acoustic source as a speech message data.

13. The data handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a signal transmission means for transmitting said acoustic cancellation signal to said distance away from said acoustic source at a higher speed higher than an air sonic speed as said acoustic input signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone.

14. The data handling system of claim 11 wherein:

said acoustic attenuation means is provided for generating electromagnetic signals directly from and corresponding to said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal ready for generating said acoustic cancellation signal for destructively interfering with said acoustic signal propagated to said peripheral point of said private zone from said acoustic input signal at a distance away from said acoustic source.

15. The data handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

an output transducer disposed at said peripheral point of said private zone at said distance away from said acoustic source for receiving said acoustic cancellation signal from said signal processing means for outputting said acoustic cancellation signal.

16. The data handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a personal computer having a central processing unit (CPU) provided to function as said signal processing means.

17. The data handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a notebook computer having a central processing unit (CPU) provided to function as said signal processing means.

18. The data handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a personal digital assistant (PDA) device having a data processor provided to function as said signal processing means.