Voice coder with multiple-microphone system and strategic microphone placement to deter obstruction for a digital communication device
First Claim
1. A system included in a handheld communication device, comprising:
- a first microphone located at a first location within a housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a user'"'"'s voice signal via a first aperture in the housing;
a plurality of secondary microphones located within the housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a background noise signal other than the user'"'"'s voice signal, wherein the plurality of secondary microphones are located sufficiently distant from the first location to provide a lower voice-to-background noise ratio than the voice-to-background noise ratio provided by the first microphone;
a voice coder configured to;
receive signals from both the first microphone and the plurality of secondary microphones; and
generate an enhanced signal with reduced noise and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); and
a noise reduction component associated with the voice coder and configured to compensate or remove background noise from the first microphone voice signal using the background noise signal from the plurality of secondary microphones, wherein the noise reduction component comprises logic associated with the plurality of secondary microphones, and wherein the logic is configured to determine which secondary microphone of the plurality of secondary microphones collects a background noise signal that is most effective to use for noise reduction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a voice coder for voice communication that employs a multi-microphone system as part of an improved approach to enhancing signal quality and improving the signal to noise ratio for such voice communications, where there is a special relationship between the position of a first microphone and a second microphone to provide the communication device with certain advantageous physical and acoustic properties. In addition, the communication device can have certain physical characteristics and design features. In a two microphone arrangement, the first microphone is located in a location directed toward the speech source, while the second microphone is located in a location that provides a voice signal with significantly lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system included in a handheld communication device, comprising:
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a first microphone located at a first location within a housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a user'"'"'s voice signal via a first aperture in the housing; a plurality of secondary microphones located within the housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a background noise signal other than the user'"'"'s voice signal, wherein the plurality of secondary microphones are located sufficiently distant from the first location to provide a lower voice-to-background noise ratio than the voice-to-background noise ratio provided by the first microphone; a voice coder configured to; receive signals from both the first microphone and the plurality of secondary microphones; and generate an enhanced signal with reduced noise and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); and a noise reduction component associated with the voice coder and configured to compensate or remove background noise from the first microphone voice signal using the background noise signal from the plurality of secondary microphones, wherein the noise reduction component comprises logic associated with the plurality of secondary microphones, and wherein the logic is configured to determine which secondary microphone of the plurality of secondary microphones collects a background noise signal that is most effective to use for noise reduction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system included in a handheld communication device, comprising:
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a first microphone located at a first location within a housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a user'"'"'s voice signal via a first aperture in the housing; a plurality of secondary microphones located within the housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a background noise signal other than the user'"'"'s voice signal wherein the plurality of secondary microphones are located sufficiently distant from the first location to provide a lower voice-to-background noise ratio than the voice-to-background noise ratio provided by the first microphone; a voice coder configured to; receive signals from both the first microphone and the plurality of secondary microphones; and generate an enhanced signal with reduced noise and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); and a noise reduction component associated with the voice coder and configured to compensate or remove background noise from the first microphone voice signal using the background noise signal from at least one of the plurality of secondary microphones, wherein the noise reduction component comprises; logic associated with the plurality of secondary microphones, wherein the logic is configured to determine which secondary microphone of the plurality of secondary microphones collects a background noise signal that is most effective to use for noise reduction; a synchronizer circuit operable to synchronize the signals from the first microphone and the plurality of secondary microphones when there is a delay that is not otherwise compensated for; a continuous time quadrant modulation circuit; and a discrete time circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A system included in a handheld communication device, comprising:
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a first microphone located at a first location within a housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a user'"'"'s voice signal via a first aperture in the housing; a plurality of secondary microphones located within the housing of the handheld communication device and configured to collect primarily a background noise signal other than the user'"'"'s voice signal wherein the plurality of secondary microphones are located sufficiently distant from the first location to provide a lower voice-to-background noise ratio than the voice-to-background noise ratio provided by the first microphone; a voice coder configured to; receive signals from both the first microphone and the plurality of secondary microphones; and generate an enhanced signal with reduced noise and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); and a noise reduction component associated with the voice coder and configured to compensate or remove background noise from the first microphone voice signal using the background noise signal from the plurality of secondary microphones, wherein the noise reduction component comprises; logic associated with the plurality of secondary microphones, wherein the logic is configured to determine which secondary microphone of the plurality of secondary microphones collects a background noise signal that is most effective to use for noise reduction; a synchronizer circuit operable to synchronize the signals from the first microphone and the plurality of secondary microphones when there is a delay that is not otherwise compensated for; an environmental noise counterbalance circuit; and a continuous time quadrant modulation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification