Two-way communications device having a single transducer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A two-way communication device comprising:
- an analog signal processor configured to insert in or close to an ear canal and having a first analog input for receiving a reception signal containing electrical audio signals, a second analog output for outputting a transmission signal containing electrical audio signals, the analog signal processor further comprising a bridge circuit configured to provide a first echo cancellation operation and including a transducer configured to convert the reception signal at the first analog input into acoustic wave vibrations in the ear canal and further configured to convert acoustic wave vibrations received from the ear canal into the transmission signal at the second analog output; and
a digital signal processor (DSP) having a first digital output coupled to the first analog input of the analog signal processor and a second digital input coupled to the second analog output of the analog signal processor, the DSP configured to measure operating characteristics of an electronic signal path through the transducer and the bridge circuit in the analog signal processor by comparing the reception signal input into the transducer by the DSP through the first analog input with the transmission signal output by the same transducer from the second analog output responsive to the reception signal, the DSP further configured to use the measured operating characteristics to provide a second echo cancellation operation to filter reception signal echo from the transmission signal not filtered by the first echo cancellation operation provided by the analog signal processor.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a small and economical two-way communications device that has both an excellent echo-cancellation function that substantially suppresses echoes over the entire frequency range and an excellent voice-operated exchange function that provides natural switching of conversation sounds while protecting against unnatural disconnection or echoes during conversation, even when a reception signal and a transmission signal are superimposed in a single transducer.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A two-way communication device comprising:
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an analog signal processor configured to insert in or close to an ear canal and having a first analog input for receiving a reception signal containing electrical audio signals, a second analog output for outputting a transmission signal containing electrical audio signals, the analog signal processor further comprising a bridge circuit configured to provide a first echo cancellation operation and including a transducer configured to convert the reception signal at the first analog input into acoustic wave vibrations in the ear canal and further configured to convert acoustic wave vibrations received from the ear canal into the transmission signal at the second analog output; and a digital signal processor (DSP) having a first digital output coupled to the first analog input of the analog signal processor and a second digital input coupled to the second analog output of the analog signal processor, the DSP configured to measure operating characteristics of an electronic signal path through the transducer and the bridge circuit in the analog signal processor by comparing the reception signal input into the transducer by the DSP through the first analog input with the transmission signal output by the same transducer from the second analog output responsive to the reception signal, the DSP further configured to use the measured operating characteristics to provide a second echo cancellation operation to filter reception signal echo from the transmission signal not filtered by the first echo cancellation operation provided by the analog signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a two-way communication device comprising a digital signal processor and an analog signal processor with a transducer that is designed to be inserted into an ear canal, a method comprising:
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configuring a first filter in the digital signal processor to simulate a input voltage generated by the analog signal processor with a large amplitude; configuring a second filter in the digital signal processor to simulate an input voltage generated by the analog signal processor with a small amplitude, wherein the second filter further simulates a signal path through the analog signal processor for determining characteristics in the signal path between an input and output of a same transducer by comparing a first electrical audio test signal input into the transducer with a second electrical audio test signal output from the same transducer responsive to the first electrical audio signal; and subtracting an output of the second filter from an output of the analog signal processor to substantially cancel an echo component present in the output of the analog signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. In a two-way communication device comprising a digital signal processor and an analog signal processor, the analog signal processor including a transducer that is designed to be inserted into an ear canal, a method comprising:
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transmitting a first test signal through a first signal path in the analog signal processor; generating a first set of filter coefficients from the first test signal that simulate signal transmission characteristics through the first signal path; transmitting a second test signal through a second signal path in the analog signal processor; generating a second set of filter coefficients from the second test signal that simulate signal transmission characteristics through the second signal path; combining the first set of coefficients with the second set of coefficients in a first filter in the digital signal processor to simulate a response of a large amplitude signal through the first signal path and the second signal path through the analog signal processor; transmitting a third test signal through the first signal path and through a third signal path, wherein the third signal path includes the first filter and the second signal path; generating a third set of coefficients from the third test signal; using the third set of coefficients in a second filter located in the digital signal processor to simulate a response of a small amplitude signal through the analog signal processor; transmitting a receive signal through the first signal path and the third signal path; and subtracting an output of the second filter from an output of the analog signal processor to substantially cancel an echo component present in the output of the analog signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A two-way communications device comprising:
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a piezoelectric transducer, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to detect vibrations of an eardrum membrane caused by sound waves, and wherein the piezoelectric transducer is also configured to transmit a sound wave to the eardrum membrane; a housing shaped like an earplug that is configured to contain the piezoelectric transducer; and an echo-canceller configured to model the variable acoustic characteristics of the piezoelectric transducer caused by the eardrum membrane and an ear canal associated with the eardrum membrane, wherein the echo-canceller comprises; a first buffer with an output coupled to both an input of a first D/A converter and an input of a first compensation filter; a second buffer with an input coupled to an output of a second A/D converter, wherein the compensation filter is configured to simulate transmission characteristics along a signal path starting at the input of the first D/A converter, passing through the piezoelectric transducer, passing out from the same piezoelectric transducer through the second A/D converter, and ending at an output of the second buffer; and an adder configured to subtract an output of the compensation filter from the output of the second buffer.
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Specification