Systems and methods for providing a wideband frequency response

• US 9,380,384 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Joseph Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US14/090,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 381/98, 381/92, 381/122, 381/91
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/245 of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/02 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use of the electrostatic type H04R19/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Electronic circuitry is described. The electronic circuitry includes a first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure that exhibits a first frequency response in a voice frequency range and that captures a first signal. The electronic circuitry also includes a second MEMS structure coupled to the first MEMS structure. The second MEMS structure exhibits a second frequency response in an ultrasound frequency range and captures a second signal. A combination of the first frequency response and the second frequency response achieves a target frequency response in a combined frequency range.

Claims

1. Electronic circuitry, comprising:

a first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure configured to exhibit a first frequency response in a voice frequency range and to capture a first signal;

a second MEMS structure coupled to the first MEMS structure, wherein the second MEMS structure is configured to exhibit a second frequency response in an ultrasound frequency range and to capture a second signal, wherein a combination of the first frequency response and the second frequency response achieves a target frequency response in a combined frequency range;

automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry coupled to the second MEMS structure, wherein the AGC circuitry is configured to adjust processing in the ultrasound frequency range when a signal level meets or exceeds an amplitude threshold; and

a summer configured to combine the first signal and the second signal.

2. The electronic circuitry of claim 1, further comprising a high-pass filter coupled to the second MEMS structure, wherein the high-pass filter is configured to mitigate audio frequency range intermodulation distortion (IMD) caused by the second signal.

3. The electronic circuitry of claim 1, wherein adjusting the processing comprises deactivating the second MEMS structure.

4. The electronic circuitry of claim 1, wherein adjusting the processing comprises adjusting the frequency response of the second MEMS structure.

5. The electronic circuitry of claim 1, wherein adjusting the processing comprises reducing a gain of the second MEMS structure.

6. A method for providing a wide band frequency response by electronic circuitry, comprising:

capturing a first signal by a first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure that exhibits a first frequency response in a voice frequency range;

capturing a second signal by a second MEMS structure that exhibits a second frequency response in an ultrasound frequency range, wherein a combination of the first frequency response and the second frequency response achieves a target frequency response in a combined frequency range;

performing automatic gain control (AGC) based on the second signal, wherein performing AGC comprises adjusting processing in the ultrasound frequency range when a signal level of the second signal meets or exceeds an amplitude threshold; and

combining the first signal and the second signal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising mitigating audio frequency range intermodulation distortion (IMD) caused by the second signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the processing comprises deactivating the second MEMS structure.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the processing comprises adjusting the frequency response of the second MEMS structure.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the processing comprises reducing a gain of the second MEMS structure.

11. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for causing electronic circuitry to capture a first signal by a first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure that exhibits a first frequency response in a voice frequency range;

code for causing the electronic circuitry to capture a second signal by a second MEMS structure that exhibits a second frequency response in an ultrasound frequency range, wherein a combination of the first frequency response and the second frequency response achieves a target frequency response in a combined frequency range;

code for causing the electronic circuitry to perform automatic gain control (AGC) based on the second signal, wherein performing AGC comprises adjusting processing in the ultrasound frequency range when a signal level meets or exceeds an amplitude threshold; and

code for causing the electronic circuitry to combine the first signal and the second signal.

12. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise code for causing the electronic circuitry to mitigate audio frequency range intermodulation distortion (IMD) caused by the second signal.

13. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein adjusting the processing comprises deactivating the second MEMS structure.

14. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein adjusting the processing comprises adjusting the frequency response of the second MEMS structure.

15. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein adjusting the processing comprises reducing a gain of the second MEMS structure.

16. An apparatus for providing a wide band frequency response, comprising:

means for capturing a first signal, wherein the means for capturing the first signal exhibits a first frequency response in a voice frequency range;

means for capturing a second signal coupled to the means for capturing the first signal, wherein the means for capturing the second signal exhibits a second frequency response in an ultrasound frequency range, wherein a combination of the first frequency response and the second frequency response achieves a target frequency response in a combined frequency range;

means for performing automatic gain control (AGC) based on the second signal, wherein the mean for performing AGC comprises means for adjusting processing in the ultrasound frequency range when a signal level of the second signal meets or exceeds an amplitude threshold; and

means for combining the first signal and the second signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for high-pass filtering coupled to the means for capturing the second signal, wherein the means for high-pass filtering mitigates audio frequency range intermodulation distortion (IMD) caused by the second signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein adjusting the processing comprises deactivating the means for capturing the second signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein adjusting the processing comprises adjusting the frequency response of the means for capturing the second signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein adjusting the processing comprises reducing a gain of the means for capturing the second signal.