Communication device and telephone communication method thereof

• US 8,102,995 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang Oh
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US11/687,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20070218959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/420.03, 379/420.02, 379/444, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 381/86, 381/386, 381111-115, 381/122, 381/71.4, 381/71.7, 381/71.8, 381/71.3, 381/94.1
• US Class Current: 379/420.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/082 using echo cancellers echo cancellers per se H04B3/23

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.

Claims

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, 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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector is configured to determine an intensity of at least one voice characteristic within each of the first and second signals, to compare the intensity determined for each of the first and second signals, and to select at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on the comparison of the determined intensities.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector is configured to determine a sound quality of audible information within the first and second signals, to compare the sound quality determined for each of the first and second signals, and to select at least one voice signal based on the comparison of the determined sound qualities.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector is further configured to select the at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on a combination of which magnitude of change in the signal-to-noise ratio determined for each of the first and second signals is greater, an intensity of at least one voice characteristic within each of the first and second signals, and a sound quality of audible information within each of the first and second signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector is further configured to continuously select at least one signal from among the first and second signals as long as the controller enables communications.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a talk button, wherein the selector is configured to be operable when the talk button is activated by a user.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first microphone is installed in the vehicle in a first position nearest a first occupant seat of the vehicle and the second microphone is installed in the vehicle in a second position nearest a second occupant seat of the vehicle, the second position being different from the first position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first position is a section of a ceiling of the vehicle above a driver seat of the vehicle and the second position is a different section of the ceiling above a passenger seat of a vehicle.

9. A communication device for a vehicle, comprising:

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.

10. The communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detector comprises a sound quality comparator configured to determine a sound quality of audible information within the first and second input signals, to compare the sound quality determined for each of the first and second input signals, and to generate the third signal based on the comparison of the determined sound qualities of the first and second input signals.

11. The communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detector comprises a volume comparator configured to determine an intensity of at least one voice characteristic within each of the first and second input signals, to compare the intensity determined for each of the first and second input signals, and to generate the third signal based on the comparison of the determined intensities of the first and second input signals.

12. A communication method comprising:

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.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein selecting the at least one signal comprises determining an intensity of at least one voice characteristic within each of the first and second signals, comparing the intensity determined for each of the first and second signals, and selecting the at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on the comparison of the determined intensities of the first and second signals.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein selecting the at least one signal comprises determining a sound quality of audible information within the first and second signals, comparing the sound quality determined for each of the first and second signals, and selecting at least one voice signal based on the comparison of the determined sound qualities of the first and second signals.

15. A method of processing voice signals in a vehicle, comprising:

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.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein generating the third signal comprises determining an SNR for each of the first and second signals, comparing the determined SNR for each of the first and second signals, and generating the third signal based on the comparison of the determined SNRs for the first and second signals.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein generating the third signal comprises determining an intensity of at least one voice characteristic within each of the first and second signals, comparing the intensity determined for each of the first and second signals, and generating the third signal based on the comparison of the determined intensities of the first and second signals.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein generating the third signal comprises determining a sound quality of audible information within the first and second signals, comparing the sound quality determined for each of the first and second signals, and generating the third signal based on the comparison of the determined sound qualities of the first and second signals.