Reduced microphone handling noise

• US 8,787,599 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Grattan, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US12/886,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20120070018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 381 91- 92, 381 941- 943, 381/94.7, 381/122, 381/26, 381/56, 381/111, 381/355, 381/375, 381/113, 381/58
• US Class Current: 381/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/007 Protection circuits for transducers

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for reduced microphone handling noise are disclosed. In one example, a microphone system includes a microphone to output a microphone output signal and a sensor adapted to output a sensor signal indicating whether the sensor is in proximity to or touching a user finger. A processor is adapted to process the microphone output signal using touch mode signal processing responsive to a determination the sensor is in proximity to or touching the user finger.

Claims

1. A microphone system comprising:

a microphone element to output a microphone output signal;

a touch sensor disposed on or within proximity of an outward facing surface of a microphone system housing, the touch sensor arranged to detect a proximity or a contact with a user skin surface of a user finger;

a touch sensor circuit coupled to the touch sensor configured to receive signals from the touch sensor and determine whether the touch sensor is touching the user skin surface of the user finger; and

a processor adapted to process the microphone output signal using a modified signal processing responsive to a determination the touch sensor is touching the user skin surface of the user finger for a duration of the determination the touch sensor is touching the user skin surface and adapted to return to a normal mode signal processing following a termination of the determination the touch sensor is touching the user skin surface.

2. The microphone system of claim 1, wherein the modified signal processing responsive to a determination the touch sensor is in proximity to or touching the user skin surface of the user finger comprises use of a signal attenuator, compressor, or limiter.

3. The microphone system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor circuit is further configured to determine whether the touch sensor is in proximity to the user skin surface, and the processor is further adapted to process the microphone output signal using the modified signal processing responsive to a determination the touch sensor is in proximity to the user skin.

4. The microphone system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive sensor.

5. The microphone system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is an infrared detector, pyroelectric sensor, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, or a skin resistance sensor.

6. The microphone system of claim 1, wherein the microphone system housing comprises a clip portion.

7. The microphone system of claim 1, wherein the microphone element is an electret condenser microphone.

8. The microphone system of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer to output an accelerometer output signal, wherein the processor is adapted to process the microphone output signal responsive to the accelerometer output signal.

9. A method for processing a microphone signal comprising:

receiving a microphone signal output from a microphone element;

receiving a sensor output signal indicating a first condition where a user skin of a user finger is not in proximity to or in contact with a sensor or indicating a second condition where the user skin of the user finger is in proximity to or in contact with the sensor; and

processing the microphone signal responsive to the sensor output signal using a touch mode processing for a duration of the second condition and then returning to a normal mode processing following a termination of the second condition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein processing the microphone signal responsive to the sensor output signal indicating the second condition comprises attenuating the microphone signal for a duration of the second condition.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein processing the microphone signal responsive to the sensor output signal indicating the first condition comprises normal mode processing and processing the microphone signal responsive to the sensor output signal indicating the second condition comprises touch mode processing.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a processed microphone signal to a far-end listener.

13. A microphone system comprising:

a microphone to output a microphone output signal;

a sensor adapted to output a sensor signal indicating whether the sensor is in proximity to or touching a user finger; and

a processor adapted to process the microphone output signal using a touch mode signal processing for a duration of a determination the sensor is in proximity to or touching the user finger and adapted to return to using a normal mode signal processing following a termination of the determination the sensor is in proximity to or touching the user finger.

14. The microphone system of claim 13, wherein the touch mode signal processing comprises attenuating, limiting, or compressing the microphone output signal.

15. The microphone system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor, infrared detector, or pyroelectric sensor.

16. The microphone system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is disposed on or within proximity to a microphone system housing.

17. The microphone system of claim 16, wherein the microphone system housing comprises a clip portion.

18. The microphone system of claim 13, wherein the microphone is an electret condenser microphone.

19. A method for processing a microphone signal comprising:

receiving a microphone signal output from a microphone element;

processing the microphone signal using a first signal processing method;

receiving a sensor output signal indicating a user finger in proximity to or in contact with a sensor;

processing the microphone signal using a second signal processing method responsive to receiving the sensor output signal indicating the user finger in proximity to or in contact with the sensor, the second signal processing method used for a duration that the sensor output signal indicates the user finger in proximity to or in contact with the sensor;

receiving an updated sensor output signal indicating removal of the user finger from contact with the sensor; and

resuming processing the microphone signal using the first signal processing method.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein processing the microphone signal using a second signal processing method comprises attenuating the microphone signal or limiting the microphone signal.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting a processed microphone signal to a far-end listener.