Reducing ambient noise distraction with an electronic personal display

• US 9,761,217 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.), Rakuten Kobo Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, James, Hayashi, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELLERS, DANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/931,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20150003620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17875 using an error signal without a reference signal, e.g. pure feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/105 Appliances, e.g. washing machines or dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/11 Computers, i.e. ANC of the noise created by cooling fan, hard drive or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/12 Rooms, e.g. ANC inside a room, office, concert hall or automobile cabin

Abstract

A method and system for reducing ambient noise distraction with an electronic personal display is disclosed. One example determines when the electronic personal display is in reader mode. In addition, ambient noise around the electronic personal display is also detected. Noise cancelling sound waves are generated at the electronic personal display for reducing ambient noise distraction. The noise cancelling sound waves are then output from at least one speaker coupled with the electronic personal display.

Claims

1. A method for reducing ambient noise distraction with an electronic personal display, the method comprising:

automatically determining that the electronic personal display is in reader mode upon detecting that the electronic personal display has been used to display an electronic book for a first time period;

detecting ambient noise around the electronic personal display;

generating noise cancelling sound waves at the electronic personal display for reducing ambient noise distraction;

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one speaker coupled with the electronic personal display, wherein the noise cancelling sound waves are configured to reduce ambient noise within an area having a user-adjustable location;

receiving a user input adjusting the location of the area; and

adjusting a power level of the noise cancelling sound waves to reduce ambient noise within the area having the adjusted location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically determining the electronic personal display is in reader mode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining further comprising:

receiving a manual input signaling the electronic personal display is in reader mode from a hard button.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a manual input signaling the electronic personal display is in reader mode from a capacitive sensor input.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting an amplitude and a frequency for the ambient noise with at least one front facing microphone fixedly coupled with the electronic personal display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting ambient noise further comprises:

detecting an amplitude and a frequency for the ambient noise with at least one microphone removably coupled with the electronic personal display.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from a pair of front facing speakers fixedly coupled with the electronic personal display.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting the noise cancelling sound waves from the at least one speaker removably coupled with the electronic personal display.

9. An electronic reader (eReader) ambient noise minimizer comprising:

circuitry configured to;

automatically determine that the eReader is in reader mode upon detecting that the eReader has been used to display an electronic book for a first time period;

detect, via at least one microphone, ambient noise around the eReader;

generate noise cancelling sound waves at the eReader for reducing ambient noise distraction;

output the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one speaker coupled with the eReader, wherein the noise cancelling sound waves are configured to reduce ambient noise within an area having a user-adjustable location;

receive a user input adjusting the location of the area; and

adjust a power level of the noise cancelling sound waves to reduce ambient noise within the area having the adjusted location.

10. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine that the eReader is in reader mode from a group of detection methods including at least one of an automatic detection, a manual input from a hard button input, and a manual input from a capacitive sensor input.

11. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker is a front facing speaker fixedly coupled with the eReader.

12. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker includes a pair of front facing speakers fixedly coupled with the eReader.

13. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker is coupled with the eReader via a wireless connection.

14. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one speaker is coupled with the eReader via a wired connection.

15. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone is a front facing microphone fixedly coupled with the eReader.

16. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone is coupled with the eReader via a wireless connection.

17. The eReader ambient noise minimizer of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone is coupled with the eReader via a wired connection.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:

automatically determine that an electronic reader (eReader) is in reader mode upon detecting that the eReader has been used to display an electronic book for a first time period;

detect ambient noise around the eReader;

generate noise cancelling sound waves at the eReader for reducing ambient noise distraction;

output the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one speaker coupled with the eReader, wherein the noise cancelling sound waves are configured to reduce ambient noise within an area having a user-adjustable location;

receive a user input adjusting the location of the area; and

adjust a power level of the noise cancelling sound waves to reduce ambient noise within the area having the adjusted location.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein determining that the eReader is in reader mode is selected from a group of detection methods including at least one of an automatic detection, a manual input from a hard button input, and a manual input from a capacitive sensor input.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

detect an amplitude and a frequency for the ambient noise with at least one front facing microphone fixedly coupled with the eReader.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

output the noise cancelling sound waves from at least one front facing speaker fixedly coupled with the eReader.