Systems and methods for noise cancellation and power management in a wireless headset

• US 8,285,208 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aminzay, Shaima Q
• Application Number:
  US12/220,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/570, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/569.1, 455/556.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/3.05, 379/428.02, 379/430, 379/431, 379/433.03, 381/71.1, 381/71.6, 381/74, 381370-380, 381/381
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/02166 Microphone arrays; Beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0216 characterised by the method used for estimating noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

This includes systems and methods for noise cancellation and power management in a wireless headset. The wireless headset can perform noise cancellation by using two or more omni-directional microphones to generate a noise canceling “cone.” Audio signals received outside of the cone can be filtered out. An accelerometer can be used to determine the location of the wireless headset and the system can then properly position the cone to face the user'"'"'s voice and filter out other audio signals. Additionally, by monitoring the ambient noise, the system can save power by turning off the noise cancellation system when the amount of ambient noise is below a threshold value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving with a wireless headset an audio signal that comprises a first audio portion and ambient noise;

in response to the receiving the audio signal, determining with the wireless headset an amount of the ambient noise that is present in the received audio signal;

in response to the determining the amount of the ambient noise, comparing with the wireless headset the determined amount of the ambient noise to a cutoff value; and

in response to the comparing, operating with the wireless headset a noise cancellation system of the wireless headset based on a result of the comparison of the determined amount of the ambient noise to the cutoff value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the comparing the determined amount of the ambient noise to the cutoff value comprises determining that the determined amount of the ambient noise is less than the cutoff value; and

the operating the noise cancellation system comprises turning off at least part of the noise cancellation system in response to a determination that the determined amount of the ambient noise is less than the cutoff value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the turning off at least part of the noise cancellation system comprises turning off all but one omni-directional microphone of a plurality of omni-directional microphones of the noise cancellation system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the comparing the determined amount of the ambient noise to the cutoff value comprises determining that the determined amount of the ambient noise is greater than the cutoff value; and

the operating a noise cancellation system comprises turning on the noise cancellation system in response to a determination that the determined amount of the ambient noise is greater than the cutoff value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating the noise cancellation system further comprises discarding at least a portion of the received audio signal that is received from outside of a cone-shaped region that extends from the wireless headset.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating the noise cancellation system further comprises:

determining an angular position of the wireless headset; and

in response to the determining the angular position of the wireless headset, determining a size of the cone-shaped region based on the determined angular position.

7. A method comprising:

receiving an audio signal;

determining an amount of ambient noise present in the audio signal;

comparing the amount of ambient noise to a cutoff value; and

operating a noise cancellation system for a wireless headset based on the comparison of the amount of ambient noise to the cutoff value, wherein operating a noise cancellation system further comprises discarding at least a portion of the audio signal that is received from outside of a cone-shaped region extending from the wireless headset; and

wherein discarding at least a portion of the audio signal comprises;

choosing a first microphone and a second microphone from a plurality of omni-directional microphones of the noise cancellation system;

determining a first time when the portion of the audio signal reaches the first microphone;

determining a second time when the portion of the audio signal reaches the second microphone;

determining a time difference between the first time and the second time;

based on the time difference, determining whether the portion of the audio signal is received from outside the cone-shaped region; and

discarding the portion of the audio signal if it is determined that the portion of the audio signal is received from outside of the cone-shaped region.

8. A method comprising:

receiving with a wireless headset an audio signal;

in response to the receiving, transmitting the received audio signal from the wireless headset to an external device that is in communication with the wireless headset;

after the transmitting the received audio signal, processing the transmitted audio signal with the external device; and

in response to the processing the transmitted audio signal, controlling with the external device a noise cancellation system of the wireless headset based on the processed audio signal, wherein the processing the transmitted audio signal with the external device comprises determining that an amount of ambient noise that is present in the transmitted audio signal is less than a cutoff value; and

the controlling the noise cancellation system comprises turning off at least part of the noise cancellation system in response to a determination that the determined amount of ambient noise is less than the cutoff value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the external device that is in communication with the wireless headset comprises a cellular telephone.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the processing the transmitted audio signal with the external device comprises determining that an amount of ambient noise that is present in the transmitted audio signal is greater than a cutoff value; and

the controlling the noise cancellation system comprises turning on the noise cancellation system in response to a determination that the determined amount of ambient noise is greater than the cutoff value.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a position signal from the wireless headset to the external device, wherein the position signal is indicative of an angular position of the wireless headset; and

after the transmitting the position signal, processing the transmitted position signal with the external device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling the noise cancellation system for the wireless headset comprises controlling the noise cancellation system based on the processed position signal.

13. A system comprising:

a wireless headset comprising an input device that is configured to receive an audio signal that comprises a first audio portion and ambient noise; and

a processor that is configured to;

determine an amount of the ambient noise that is present in the audio signal that is received by the input device;

in response to determining the amount of the ambient noise, compare the determined amount of the ambient noise to a cutoff value; and

in response to comparing the determined amount of the ambient noise to the cutoff value, operate a noise cancellation system of the wireless headset based on a result of the comparison of the determined amount of the ambient noise to the cutoff value.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to determining the amount of the ambient noise, determine that the determined amount of the ambient noise is less than the cutoff value; and

in response to a determination that the determined amount of the ambient noise is less than the cutoff value, turn off at least part of the noise cancellation system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the input device comprises a plurality of omni-directional microphones; and

the processor is further configured to turn off all but one omni-directional microphone of the plurality of omni-directional microphones.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to determining the amount of the ambient noise, determine that the determined amount of the ambient noise is greater than the cutoff value; and

in response to a determination that the amount of the ambient noise is greater than the cutoff value, turn on the noise cancellation system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to discard at least a portion of the received audio signal that is received from outside of a cone-shaped region that extends from the wireless headset.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the input device comprises an accelerometer that is configured to generate a position signal indicative of an angular position of the wireless headset; and

the processor is further configured to determine a size of the cone-shaped region based on the position signal that is generated by the accelerometer.

19. A system comprising:

a wireless headset comprising an input device configured to receive an audio signal; and

a processor that is configured to;

determine an amount of ambient noise present in the audio signal;

compare the amount of ambient noise to a cutoff value; and

operate a noise cancellation system for the wireless headset based on the comparison of the amount of ambient noise to the cutoff value, wherein the processor is further configured to discard at least a portion of the audio signal that is received from outside of a cone-shaped region extending from the wireless headset, and wherein;

the input device comprises a plurality of omni-directional microphones; and

the processor is further configured to;

choose a first microphone and a second microphone from the plurality of omni-directional microphones;

determine a first time when the portion of the audio signal reaches the first microphone;

determine a second time when the portion of the audio signal reaches the second microphone;

determine a time difference between the first time and the second time;

based on time difference, determine whether the portion of the audio signal is received from outside the cone-shaped region; and

discard the portion of the audio signal if it is determined that the portion of the audio signal is received from outside of the cone-shaped region.

20. A system comprising:

a wireless headset that is configured to;

receive an audio signal; and

transmit the received audio signal from the wireless headset; and

a device that is in communication with the wireless headset and that is configured to;

receive the transmitted audio signal;

in response to receiving the transmitted audio signal, process the transmitted audio signal; and

in response to processing the transmitted audio signal, control a noise cancellation system of the wireless headset based on the processed audio signal, wherein the device is external to the wireless headset.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the device that is in communication with the wireless headset comprises a cellular telephone.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the device is further configured to:

determine that an amount of ambient noise that is present in the received audio signal is less than a cutoff value; and

turn off at least part of the noise cancellation system in response to a determination that the determined amount of ambient noise is less than the cutoff value.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the device is further configured to:

determine that an amount of ambient noise that is present in the received audio signal is greater than a cutoff value; and

turn on the noise cancellation system in response to a determination that the determined amount of ambient noise is greater than the cutoff value.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the wireless headset is further configured to transmit a position signal that is indicative of an angular position of the wireless headset; and

the device is further configured to;

receive the transmitted position signal; and

in response to receiving the transmitted position signal, process the transmitted position signal.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the device is further configured to control the noise cancellation system of the wireless headset based on the processed position signal.