Personal audio playback device having gain control responsive to environmental sounds
First Claim
1. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
- a compact consumer audio device housing;
an audio output adapted for connection to headphones for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound;
a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to said housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal;
an audio program source for providing input of audio program information, wherein said audio program information is stored within said housing;
an audio processor for detecting an event in said ambient sounds from said ambient measuring audio signal and adjusting a characteristic of said audio program information in response to detection of said event to produce said one or more output electrical audio signals;
a control circuit coupled to an output of said processor for controlling playback position of said audio program information, and wherein said processor further determines when said audio program information is substantially interrupted by action of said processor in response to said detected event and automatically resumes playback of said audio program information after said action of said processor in response to said detected event has ceased at a playback position substantially corresponding to the beginning of said interrupting action; and
a battery receptacle within said housing for accepting a battery for supplying power to said portable personal audio device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal audio playback device having gain control responsive to environmental sounds provides for improved enjoyment of program material played back through headphones, while further providing features for personal safety and communications with others. A microphone is incorporated on the surface of the playback device, which includes an audio output connection for headphones and internal storage for audio program material. The entire device may be incorporated within the headphones, or the headphones may connect through a connector on the housing of the device. The gain, type or position of the program material is controlled in conformity with a detected characteristic of ambient sounds received by the microphone, which may be the amplitude of the signals in one or more frequency bands, or a particular type of sound, such as speech or vehicular sounds. Multiple modes are selectable for processing the audio, selecting program material type and/or re-positioning the program material.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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a compact consumer audio device housing; an audio output adapted for connection to headphones for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to said housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal; an audio program source for providing input of audio program information, wherein said audio program information is stored within said housing; an audio processor for detecting an event in said ambient sounds from said ambient measuring audio signal and adjusting a characteristic of said audio program information in response to detection of said event to produce said one or more output electrical audio signals; a control circuit coupled to an output of said processor for controlling playback position of said audio program information, and wherein said processor further determines when said audio program information is substantially interrupted by action of said processor in response to said detected event and automatically resumes playback of said audio program information after said action of said processor in response to said detected event has ceased at a playback position substantially corresponding to the beginning of said interrupting action; and a battery receptacle within said housing for accepting a battery for supplying power to said portable personal audio device. - 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. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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a compact consumer audio device housing; an audio output adapted for connection to headphones for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to said housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal; an audio program source for providing input of audio program information, wherein said audio program information is stored within said housing and comprises multiple audio program information types; an ambient characteristic detector for detecting a characteristic of said ambient sounds from said ambient measuring audio signal; a control circuit for automatically selecting the audio program information from among said multiple program types for compatibility with said ambient sounds in conformity with said detected characteristic; and a battery receptacle within said housing for accepting a battery for supplying power to said portable personal audio device.
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20. An electronic audio device, comprising:
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an analog-to-digital converter having selectable operating modes with corresponding differing power consumption levels; a control circuit for selecting between said selectable operating modes of said analog-to-digital converter; at least one microphone coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, wherein said at least one microphone is provided for monitoring background noise and for providing input of other sounds, and wherein said control circuit selects a lower power consumption operating mode of said analog-to-digital converter when said microphone is monitoring said background noise and a higher power consumption mode when said at least one microphone is providing input of said other sounds. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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a compact consumer audio device housing; an audio output adapted for connection to headphones for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to the housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal; an audio program source for providing input of audio program information, wherein the audio program information is stored within the housing; an audio processor for detecting a first characteristic of the ambient sounds from the ambient measuring audio signal, detecting a second characteristic of the audio program information that is independent of the first characteristic of the ambient sounds, and adjusting a third characteristic of the audio program information in conformity with the detected first characteristic of the ambient sounds and the detected second characteristic of the audio program information to produce the one or more output electrical audio signals; and a battery receptacle within the housing for accepting a battery for supplying power to the portable personal audio device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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a compact consumer audio device housing; an audio output adapted for connection to headphones for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to the housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal; an audio program source for providing input of audio program information, wherein the audio program information is stored within the housing; an audio processor for detecting an event in the ambient sounds from the ambient measuring audio signal and adjusting a characteristic of the audio program information in response to detection of the event to produce the one or more output electrical audio signals; a transceiver for communicating with another audio reproduction device equipped with a receiver, wherein the processor distinguishes the event within the ambient sounds as speech of a user of the device, and wherein the processor delivers the ambient measuring audio signal to the transceiver for transmission to the other audio reproduction device in response to the processor detecting the speech of the user, when the processor is in a mode selected as a linked chat mode; and a battery receptacle within the housing for accepting a battery for supplying power to the portable personal audio device.
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28. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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a compact consumer audio device housing; an audio output adapted for connection to headphones for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; microphone inputs for connection of at least two microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to the housing and producing multiple ambient measuring audio signals; an audio program source for providing input of audio program information, wherein the audio program information is stored within the housing; an audio processor for detecting an event in the ambient sounds from the ambient measuring audio signals and adjusting a characteristic of the audio program information in response to detection of the event to produce the one or more output electrical audio signals, wherein the audio processor further detects a directionality of the event from the multiple ambient measuring audio signals and wherein the adjusting another characteristic is further qualified by the detected directionality; and a battery receptacle within the housing for accepting a battery for supplying power to the portable personal audio device.
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Specification