Microphone proximity detection
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a mobile communications device housing having integrated therein;
a downlink channel processor to receive an incoming signal from a far end user;
a receiver or earpiece speaker coupled to an output of the downlink channel processor to receive the incoming signal from the far end user and to output a receiver acoustic signal;
a first microphone located far from the receiver to pick up voice of a near end user and to output a voice signal of the near end user;
an uplink channel processor to send the voice signal of the near end user to the far end user;
a second microphone located near the receiver to pick up the receiver acoustic signal and to output an audio signal representing the receiver acoustic signal; and
a signal processor configured to measure a frequency response which is a function of (a) the audio signal representing the receiver acoustic signal and (b) the incoming signal from the far end user, the signal processor to analyze the frequency response to detect a proximity of the apparatus to an object.
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Abstract
A mobile communications device contains at least two microphones. One microphone is located away from the handset receiver and serves to pick up voice of a near end user of the device for transmission to the other party during a call. Another microphone is located near the handset receiver and serves to pick up acoustic output of the handset receiver (a far end signal). A signal processor measures the frequency response of the receiver. The signal processor performs spectral analysis of the receiver frequency response to determine whether or not the device is being held at the ear of the user. On that basis, the device automatically changes its operating mode, e.g., turns on or off a touch sensitive display screen during the call. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
a mobile communications device housing having integrated therein; a downlink channel processor to receive an incoming signal from a far end user; a receiver or earpiece speaker coupled to an output of the downlink channel processor to receive the incoming signal from the far end user and to output a receiver acoustic signal; a first microphone located far from the receiver to pick up voice of a near end user and to output a voice signal of the near end user; an uplink channel processor to send the voice signal of the near end user to the far end user; a second microphone located near the receiver to pick up the receiver acoustic signal and to output an audio signal representing the receiver acoustic signal; and a signal processor configured to measure a frequency response which is a function of (a) the audio signal representing the receiver acoustic signal and (b) the incoming signal from the far end user, the signal processor to analyze the frequency response to detect a proximity of the apparatus to an object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for operating a mobile communications device, comprising:
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receiving an incoming audio signal from a far-end user; converting the incoming audio signal to an acoustic signal; generating an audio signal that represents the acoustic signal; and calculating a frequency response, which is a function of the audio signal that represents the acoustic signal and the incoming audio signal from the far-end user, and analyzing the frequency response to detect a proximity of the mobile communications device to an object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification