Sensor
First Claim
1. An acoustic coupling sensor for a portable electronic device, the acoustic coupling sensor comprising:
- an acoustic transmitter,an acoustic sensor,a reference signal generator coupled to the acoustic transmitter and configured and arranged to generate a reference signal having a frequency band limited relative to audio signal transmissions by the acoustic transmitter,at least one further acoustic sensor, anda level detector configured with circuitry and coupled to the acoustic sensor, the level detector being configured to combine signals representative of the reference signal as received by the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor and to output a control signal which is indicative of a value or level of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor, and wherein in operation, the reference signal generator is operable to transmit the reference signal to the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic transmitter is operable to transmit the reference signal along with an audio signal and the acoustic sensor is operable to detect an acoustic level of the transmitted reference signal; and
a computer processor configured and arranged to adjust a gain of another audio signal input to the acoustic transmitter responsive to an output control signal being indicative of a change in the reference signal level being greater than a threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic coupling sensor 200 for a portable electronic device is described which includes an acoustic transmitter 22, a reference signal generator 20 coupled to the acoustic transmitter, and an acoustic sensor 24 wherein in operation, the reference signal generator is operable to transmit the reference signal to the acoustic transmitter, to detect an acoustic level of the transmitted reference signal via the acoustic sensor, and wherein the detected reference signal level corresponds to a value of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter and the acoustic sensor. The acoustic coupling sensor may be used for example in a mobile phone to detect acoustic leakage in order to adapt the acoustic level in the mobile phone during use.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An acoustic coupling sensor for a portable electronic device, the acoustic coupling sensor comprising:
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an acoustic transmitter, an acoustic sensor, a reference signal generator coupled to the acoustic transmitter and configured and arranged to generate a reference signal having a frequency band limited relative to audio signal transmissions by the acoustic transmitter, at least one further acoustic sensor, and a level detector configured with circuitry and coupled to the acoustic sensor, the level detector being configured to combine signals representative of the reference signal as received by the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor and to output a control signal which is indicative of a value or level of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor, and wherein in operation, the reference signal generator is operable to transmit the reference signal to the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic transmitter is operable to transmit the reference signal along with an audio signal and the acoustic sensor is operable to detect an acoustic level of the transmitted reference signal; and a computer processor configured and arranged to adjust a gain of another audio signal input to the acoustic transmitter responsive to an output control signal being indicative of a change in the reference signal level being greater than a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An acoustic coupling sensor for a portable electronic device, the acoustic coupling sensor comprising:
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an acoustic transmitter, a microphone operable as an acoustic sensor, a reference signal generator coupled to the acoustic transmitter and configured and arranged to generate a reference signal having a frequency band limited relative to audio signal transmissions by the acoustic transmitter, wherein the reference signal has a frequency that is above a resonant frequency of the acoustic transmitter, at least one further microphone and a level detector, including a circuit, the at least one further microphone coupled to the level detector, wherein the level detector is configured to combine the reference signal sensed via the microphone and the at least one further microphone and to output a control signal, wherein the control signal corresponds to a value of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter, the microphone and the at least one further microphone, wherein in operation, the reference signal generator is operable to transmit the reference signal to the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic transmitter is operable to transmit the reference signal along with an audio signal, and the acoustic sensor is operable to detect an acoustic level of the transmitted reference signal, and a processor configured and arranged to adjust a gain of another audio signal input to the acoustic transmitter responsive to an output control signal being indicative of a change in the reference signal level being greater than a threshold.
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18. A method for detecting acoustic coupling for a portable electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a reference signal, transmitting the reference signal along with an audio signal through an acoustic transmitter, detecting a reference signal level of the transmitted reference signal outputted from the acoustic transmitter by an acoustic sensor, wherein the reference signal is a band-limited signal having a frequency greater than one octave above a resonant frequency of the acoustic transmitter, and adjusting a gain of an audio signal inputted to the acoustic transmitter in response to a change in the reference signal level being greater than a threshold value, and using at least one further acoustic sensor coupled to a level detecting circuit with the level detecting circuit operating to combine the reference signal received via the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor and to output a control signal which corresponds to a value of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor, and wherein an output control signal is indicative of the change in the reference signal level being greater than the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for detecting acoustic coupling for a portable electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a reference signal; mixing the reference signal with an audio signal via mixer circuitry of the portable electric device; transmitting the mixture of the reference signal with the audio signal through an acoustic transmitter of the portable electric device; detecting a reference signal level via an acoustic sensor of the portable electric device, including comparing a change in the acoustic level of the transmitted reference signal with respect to a known level, and outputting a control signal that corresponds to a value of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter and the acoustic sensor based on the comparison; and adjusting a gain of another audio signal in response the change in the reference signal level being greater than a threshold value; and using at least one further acoustic sensor coupled to a level detecting circuit with the level detecting circuit operating to combine the reference signal received via the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor and to output the control signal which corresponds to the value of acoustic coupling between the acoustic transmitter, the acoustic sensor and the at least one further acoustic sensor and wherein an output control signal is indicative of the change in the reference signal level being greater than the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification