Communication device and telephone communication method thereof
First Claim
1. An apparatus for processing voice signals in a vehicle, comprising:
- a first microphone installed in a vehicle;
a first detector configured to detect at least two magnitudes of a first signal generated by the first microphone based on input received by the first microphone;
a second microphone installed in the vehicle;
a second detector configured to detect at least two magnitudes of a second signal generated by the second microphone based on input received by the second microphone;
a selector configured to select at least one signal from among the first and second signals; and
a controller configured to enable communications by transmitting the at least one selected signal to a portable communications device coupled to the apparatus,wherein the selector is configured to;
determine a first magnitude of change in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the first signal,determine a second magnitude of change in an SNR for the second signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the second signal,compare the first magnitude of change in the SNR to the second magnitude of change in the SNR, andselect the at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on which of the first and second magnitudes of change in the SNR is greater.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a communication device and a telephone communication method thereof. The present invention includes two or more microphones mounted at different positioned in a predetermined space, e.g., in a vehicle. Further, a detector compares selectively the signal-to-noise ratios, sound quality states, volume intensities or the like of signals input through the microphones, and detects the most optimal signal as a telephone communication signal in the signals. Echo and/or howling contained in the input signal when one talks over the telephone with a communication counterpart is removed through an echo remover in accordance with the control operation of a controller. Furthermore, if signals are input to the others of the microphones while the telephone communication is performed, the telephone communication is continuously performed by comparing the input signals with the signal input to the microphone through which the telephone communication has been performed and selecting a microphone with the most optimal telephone communication signal. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that occupants except a driver can conveniently talk over the telephone using any one of two or more microphones installed in a vehicle, and the telephone communication can be performed with an optimal telephone communication signal although a talker is changed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing voice signals in a vehicle, comprising:
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a first microphone installed in a vehicle; a first detector configured to detect at least two magnitudes of a first signal generated by the first microphone based on input received by the first microphone; a second microphone installed in the vehicle; a second detector configured to detect at least two magnitudes of a second signal generated by the second microphone based on input received by the second microphone; a selector configured to select at least one signal from among the first and second signals; and a controller configured to enable communications by transmitting the at least one selected signal to a portable communications device coupled to the apparatus, wherein the selector is configured to; determine a first magnitude of change in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the first signal, determine a second magnitude of change in an SNR for the second signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the second signal, compare the first magnitude of change in the SNR to the second magnitude of change in the SNR, and select the at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on which of the first and second magnitudes of change in the SNR is greater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication device for a vehicle, comprising:
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a first microphone installed in a vehicle and configured to receive at least two magnitudes of a first input signal; a second microphone installed in the vehicle and configured to receive at least two magnitudes of a second input signal; a detector configured to compare the first and second input signals and to generate a third signal; and a controller configured to control a communication to be performed using the third signal by transmitting the third signal to a portable communications device, wherein the detector comprises a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) comparator configured to; determine a first magnitude of change in an SNR for the first input signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the first input signal, determine a second magnitude of change in an SNR for the second input signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the second input signal, compare the first magnitude of change in the SNR to the second magnitude of change in the SNR and generate the third signal based on which magnitude of the first and second magnitudes of change in the SNR is greater. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A communication method comprising:
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detecting at least two magnitudes of a first signal generated by a first microphone based on input received by the first microphone, the first microphone being installed in a vehicle; detecting at least two magnitudes of a second signal generated by a second microphone based on input received by the second microphone, the second microphone being installed in the vehicle; selecting at least one signal from among the first and second signals; generating a third signal by removing echo or howling from the selected at least one signal; and enabling communication based on the third signal by transmitting the third signal to a portable communications device, wherein selecting the at least one signal comprises; determining a first magnitude of change in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the first, determining a second magnitude of change in an SNR for the second signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the second signal, comparing the first magnitude of change in the SNR to the second magnitude of change in the SNR, and selecting the at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on which of the first and second magnitudes of change in the SNR is greater. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of processing voice signals in a vehicle, comprising:
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receiving at least two magnitudes of a first signal at a first microphone installed in a vehicle; receiving at least two magnitudes of a second signal at a second microphone installed in the vehicle; generating a third signal based on the first and second signals; and performing a communication using the third signal by forwarding the third signal to a portable communications device, wherein generating the third signal comprises; determining a first magnitude of change in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the first signal, determining a second magnitude of change in an SNR for the second signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the second signal, comparing the first magnitude of change in the SNR to the second magnitude of change in the SNR, and generating the third signal based on which of the first and second magnitudes of change in the SNR is greater. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification