Noise reduction circuit and method therefor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An earphone device comprising;
- a housing having a proximate end configured for insertion into a user'"'"'s ear, and a distal end located opposite the proximate end and configured for placement near an outer portion of the user'"'"'s ear;
a speaker configured and arranged to generate sound based upon an audio signal for passing into the user'"'"'s ear canal via the proximate end of the housing;
a microphone at the distal end and configured to detect ambient noise and to detect portions of the generated sound leaked from inside the user'"'"'s ear canal, with the proximate end of the housing inserted into the ear; and
a noise reduction circuit configured togenerate a forward leakage transfer function for estimating noise entering the user'"'"'s ear canal, based upon the detected leaked portions of the generated sound,process a signal corresponding to the detected ambient noise with the forward leakage transfer function to generate and output a noise-cancellation signal to cancel at least a portion of the ambient noise that passes into the user'"'"'s ear canal.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Noise cancellation is effected for audio devices. In connection with various embodiments, a forward leakage transfer function is determined using a signal corresponding to detected portions of the generated sound that has leaked out of the user'"'"'s ear canal with the proximate end of the earphone inserted in (or otherwise fitted to) the ear. This forward leakage transfer function can be used to characterize ambient noise entering a user'"'"'s ear canal. A signal corresponding to ambient noise is processed with the forward leakage transfer function to generate and output a noise-cancelling signal for canceling at least a portion of the detected ambient noise.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An earphone device comprising;
-
a housing having a proximate end configured for insertion into a user'"'"'s ear, and a distal end located opposite the proximate end and configured for placement near an outer portion of the user'"'"'s ear; a speaker configured and arranged to generate sound based upon an audio signal for passing into the user'"'"'s ear canal via the proximate end of the housing; a microphone at the distal end and configured to detect ambient noise and to detect portions of the generated sound leaked from inside the user'"'"'s ear canal, with the proximate end of the housing inserted into the ear; and a noise reduction circuit configured to generate a forward leakage transfer function for estimating noise entering the user'"'"'s ear canal, based upon the detected leaked portions of the generated sound, process a signal corresponding to the detected ambient noise with the forward leakage transfer function to generate and output a noise-cancellation signal to cancel at least a portion of the ambient noise that passes into the user'"'"'s ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20)
-
-
14. An audio noise reduction circuit for reducing ambient noise audible to a user listening to sound generated by an earphone device having a proximate end inserted into the user'"'"'s ear, a speaker for generating sound in response to an audio signal, and a microphone at a distal end of the earphone device for positioning outside of the user'"'"'s ear canal, the circuit comprising:
-
an evaluation circuit configured to determine a forward leakage transfer function for characterizing ambient noise entering the user'"'"'s ear canal, using a signal corresponding to portions of the generated sound, as detected by the microphone, that has leaked out of the user'"'"'s ear canal with the proximate end of the earphone inserted in the ear; and a noise reduction circuit configured to process a signal corresponding to ambient noise, detected by the microphone, with the forward leakage transfer function to generate and output a noise-cancelling signal for canceling at least a portion of the detected ambient noise. - View Dependent Claims (15, 21)
-
-
16. A method for reducing ambient noise audible to a user listening to sound generated by an earphone device having a proximate end inserted into the user'"'"'s ear, a speaker for generating sound in response to an audio signal, and a microphone at a distal end of the earphone device for positioning outside of the user'"'"'s ear canal, the method comprising:
-
in an evaluation circuit, determining a forward leakage transfer function for characterizing ambient noise entering the user'"'"'s ear canal, using a signal corresponding to portions of the generated sound, as detected by the microphone, that has leaked out of the user'"'"'s ear canal with the proximate end of the earphone inserted in the ear; and in a noise reduction circuit, processing a signal corresponding to ambient noise, detected by the microphone, with the forward leakage transfer function to generate and output a noise-cancelling signal for canceling at least a portion of the detected ambient noise. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification