Automatic speaker volume and microphone gain control in a portable handheld radiotelephone with proximity sensors

• US 6,853,850 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobigence Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mobigence Incorporated
• Inventors: Park, Ilwhan, Shim, Jae H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/730,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 445/550.1, 445/569.1, 445/344, 445/347, 445/350, 445/351, 445/355, 445/575.1, 379/432, 379/433.01, 379/433.02, 379/433.03
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Method and system for controlling operation of radiotelephone speaker volume and/or microphone gain. Using signals from one or more proximity sensors associated with the radiotelephone device, the device determines if a radiotelephone user is within a selected proximity zone for the device. If the user is within the proximity zone, the system adjusts the speaker volume control and/or the microphone gain control according to an estimated user-device distance. If the user is beyond the proximity zone, the system may adjust the speaker volume and/or microphone gain to its maximum value, may provide a notification that the user not within the proximity zone, or may disable the speaker and/or microphone. Several varieties of proximity sensors are used, individually and in combination.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operation of a radiotelephone, the method comprising:

determining if a radiotelephone is activated for use;

when the radiotelephone is activated, determining when the radiotelephone is within a selected proximity zone of a radiotelephone user;

when the radiotelephone is activated and is within the proximity zone, estimating a distance d between the radiotelephone and the user and adjusting a volume control for a radiotelephone speaker according to the estimated distance, providing a minimum value V_s(min) of the sneaker volume control and a maximum value V_s(max) of the speaker volume control, and allowing the sneaker volume control to vary monotonically with the distance d between the values V_s(min) and V_s(max).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when said radiotelephone is activated and is not within said proximity zone, taking at least one of the following actions;

refraining from adjusting said speaker volume control;

automatically adjusting said speaker volume control to a maximum audio level;

providing a notification that said radiotelephone is not within said proximity zone; and

automatically disabling said speaker until said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing at least one of said values V_s(min) and V_s(max) to be adjusted by said user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when said radiotelephone is activated, and is within said proximity zone, adjusting a radiotelephone microphone gain control according to said estimated distance.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

when said radiotelephone is activated and is not within said proximity zone, taking at least one of the following actions;

refraining from adjusting said microphone gain control;

automatically adjusting said microphone gain control to a maximum audio level;

providing a notification that said radiotelephone is not within said proximity zone; and

automatically disabling said microphone until said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a minimum value G_m(min) of said microphone gain control and a maximum value G_m(max) of said microphone gain control; and

allowing said microphone gain control to vary monotonically with said distance d between the values G_m(min) and G_m(max), when said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing at least one of said values G_m(min) and G_m(max) to be adjusted by said user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone by a procedure comprising at least one of the following processes:

(i) transmitting at least one infrared signal, allowing the infrared signal to be reflected from a signal-reflecting object, measuring the signal strength of the reflected infrared signal as received at said radiotelephone, and comparing the reflected infrared signal with at least one selected threshold infrared signal strength;

(ii) transmitting at least one photoelectric signal, allowing the photoelectric signal to be reflected from a signal-reflecting object, measuring the signal strength of the reflected photoelectric signal as received at said radiotelephone, and comparing the reflected photoelectric signal with at least one selected threshold photoelectric signal strength;

(iii) transmitting at least one sound signal, allowing the sound signal to be reflected from a signal-reflecting object, measuring the signal strength of the reflected sound signal as received at said radiotelephone, and comparing the reflected sound signal with at least one selected threshold sound signal strength;

(iv) estimating a distance from an object to a capacitive sensor located at said radiotelephone; and

(v) estimating a temperature of a selected surface within said proximity zone and comparing the estimated temperature with at least one threshold temperature.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing at least one of said infrared signal, said photoelectric signal and said sound signal with a selected signal indicium that distinguishes this signal from a background signal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising choosing said at least one threshold temperature to be at least 32°

C.

11. A system for controlling operation of a radiotelephone, the system comprising:

a detection mechanism that determines when a radiotelephone is activated for use;

a distance sensor, associated with the radiotelephone, that estimates a distance d from the radiotelephone to the user, and that determines when the radiotelephone is within a selected radiotelephone proximity zone;

a speaker volume control, connected to a speaker on the radiotelephone, that receives the estimated distance and adjusts the speaker volume according to the estimated distance between the radiotelephone and the user, that provides a minimum value V_s(min) of the speaker volume and a maximum value V_s(max) of the speaker volume, and that allows the speaker volume to vary monotonically with the distance d between the values V_s(min) and V_s(max), when the radiotelephone is within the proximity zone and is activated for use.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said system is configured so that:

when said radiotelephone is activated and is not within said proximity zone, said system takes at least one of the following actions;

refraining from adjusting said speaker volume control;

automatically adjusting said speaker volume control to a maximum audio level;

providing a notification that said radiotelephone is not within said proximity zone; and

automatically disabling said speaker until said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said system is configured to allow at least one of said values V_s(min) and V_s(max) to be adjusted by said user.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a microphone gain control, connected to a microphone on said radiotelephone, that receives said estimated distance and adjusts the microphone gain according to said estimated distance between said radiotelephone and said user, when said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said system is configured so that:

when said radiotelephone is activated and is not within said proximity zone, said system takes at least one of the following actions;

refraining from adjusting said microphone gain control;

automatically adjusting said microphone gain control to a maximum audio level;

providing a notification that said radiotelephone is not within said proximity zone; and

automatically disabling said microphone until said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said system is configured:

to provide a minimum value G_m(min) of said microphone gain control and a maximum value G_m(max) of said microphone gain control; and

to allow said microphone gain control to vary monotonically with said distance d between the values G_m(min) and G_m(max), when said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said system is configured to allow at least one of said values G_m(min) and G_m(max) to be adjusted by said user.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said system determines whether said radiotelephone is within said proximity zone by a procedure comprising at least one of the following processes:

(i) transmitting at least one infrared signal, allowing the infrared signal to be reflected from a signal-reflecting object, measuring the signal strength of the reflected infrared signal as received at said radiotelephone, and comparing the reflected infrared signal with at least one selected threshold infrared signal strength;

(ii) transmitting at least one photoelectric signal, allowing the photoelectric signal to be reflected from a signal-reflecting object, measuring the signal strength of the reflected photoelectric signal as received at said radiotelephone, and comparing the reflected photoelectric signal with at least one selected threshold photoelectric signal strength;

(iii) transmitting at least one sound signal, allowing the sound signal to be reflected from a signal-reflecting object, measuring the signal strength of the reflected sound signal as received at said radiotelephone, and comparing the reflected sound signal with at least one selected threshold sound signal strength;

(iv) estimating a distance from an object to a capacitive sensor located at said radiotelephone; and

(v) estimating a temperature of a selected surface within said proximity zone and comparing the estimated temperature with at least one threshold temperature.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said infrared signal, said photoelectric signal and said sound signal is provided with a selected signal indicium that distinguishes this signal from a background signal.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one threshold temperature is chosen to be at least 32°

C.