Reducing undesirable audio signals

• US 7,277,722 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenzweig, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr.; William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/892,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,288 Days
• Field of Search: 455/296, 455/297, 455/303, 455/304, 455/305, 455/306, 455/310, 455/311, 455/333, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3027 Feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A way of reducing undesirable audio signals is provided. A portable device is provided that comprises a sensor to sense an audio signal and a control unit that is communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control unit is provided to receive a first audio signal from a storage unit and to generate a second audio signal based on at least a portion of the sensed audio signal to reduce an undesirable audio signal. The control unit is further provided to combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal and to provide the combined signal through a speaker.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

a sensor to sense an undesirable audio signal present in an environment in which the portable device is to operate; and

a control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor, the control unit to receive data from a storage unit of the portable device and generate a first audio signal therefrom for output to a speaker of the portable device, generate a second audio signal based on at least a portion of the undesirable audio signal to reduce the undesirable audio signal, the second audio signal substantially 180°

out of phase with the undesirable audio signal, combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal, and provide the combined signal to the speaker.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a microphone.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located on a headphone set to be interfaced with the portable device.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving a first audio signal from a storage unit of a portable device;

converting the first audio signal to an analog audio signal;

generating a second audio signal to reduce undesirable sound present in an environment in which the portable device is to operate based on a frequency and an amplitude of a detected signal including the undesirable sound; and

combining the analog audio signal and the second audio signal in the portable device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing the combined signal to a speaker of the portable device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the first audio signal comprises receiving a signal comprising at least one of voice and music data.

7. A wireless phone, comprising:

a transceiver;

a speaker;

a storage medium to store at least one audio file; and

a control unit to process the at least one audio file received from the storage medium into a first audio signal of a digital form, generate a second audio signal of a digital form to reduce an undesirable audio signal, combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal in the digital form, convert the combined digital signal to a combined analog signal, and provide the combined analog signal to the speaker.

8. The wireless phone of claim 7, further comprising at least one sensor to sense an audio signal, wherein the control unit to generate the second audio signal based on the sensed audio signal.

9. The wireless phone of claim 8, further comprising a CODEC to process the first audio signal.

10. The wireless phone of claim 8, wherein the control unit to generate the second audio signal substantially 180 degrees out of phase with sensed audio signal.

11. A wireless phone of claim 7, further comprising an interface to allow the wireless phone to reduce the undesirable audio signal while the transceiver is not in use.

12. The wireless phone of claim 7, wherein the storage medium comprises a removable storage.

13. The wireless phone of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of sensors to sense audio signals.

17. The wireless phone of claim 7, further comprising a signal adder coupled to the control unit to combine the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

14. A communications device, comprising:

an output interface;

a sensor to sense an audio signal;

a generator to generate an audio reduction signal based on at least a portion of the sensed audio signal, wherein the portion of the sensed audio signal corresponds an undesirable audio signal present in an environment in which the communications device is to operate;

a signal adder to combine a second audio signal of a video signal to be provided to a display of the communications device with the audio reduction signal; and

a control unit to provide the combined signal to the output interface.

15. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the control unit to convert the second audio signal to an analog signal.

16. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a microphone and the output interface comprises an interface to a speaker.

18. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the control unit to combine the second audio signal with the audio reduction signal in a digital form and convert the digital form into an analog form of the combined signal.

19. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the control unit is to provide the combined signal when the communications device is not in communication with a remote entity.

20. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the second audio signal comprises at least one of voice and music data.

21. The communications device of claim 14, further comprising a storage to store the second audio signal prior to the combining.

22. The communications device of claim 21, further comprising a media interface to read and/or write the second audio signal onto the storage.