Apparatus, system and method for noise cancellation and communication for incubators and related devices

• US 9,858,915 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northern Illinois Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: Northern Illinois Research Foundation
• Inventors: Kuo, Sen M., Liu, Lichuan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THANG V
• Application Number:
  US15/365,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/006 comprising sound equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/10 Pillows pillow holders A47C21/00, A47C21/026; specially adapted for preventing snoring A61F5/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17837 by retaining part of the ambient acoustic environment, e.g. speech or alarm signals that the user needs to hear
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17854 the filter being an adaptive filter
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17855 for improving speed or power requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17881 the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/116 Medical; Dental
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3014 Adaptive noise equalizers [ANE], i.e. where part of the unwanted sound is retained
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/002 Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods for integrating adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) with communication features in an enclosure, such as an incubator, bed, and the like. Utilizing one or more error and reference microphones, a controller for a noise cancellation portion reduces noise within a quiet area of the enclosure. Voice communications are provided to allow external voice signals to be transmitted to the enclosure with minimized interference with noise processing. Vocal communications from within the enclosure may be processed to determine certain characteristics/features of the vocal communications. Using these characteristics, certain emotive and/or physiological states may be identified.

Claims

1. An enclosure, comprising:

a noise cancellation portion, comprising a controller unit, operatively coupled to one or more error microphones and a reference sensing unit, wherein the controller unit processes signals received from one or more error microphones and reference sensing unit to reduce noise in an area within the enclosure using one or more speakers;

an external voice input apparatus comprising a microphone operatively coupled to the noise cancellation portion, wherein the external voice input apparatus is configured to receive external voice signals and reproduce the external voice signals on the one or more speakers, wherein the external voice signals are external to the area within the enclosure; and

wherein the external voice input apparatus comprises a sound analyzer configured to analyze the external voice signals and determine whether the external voice signals are desired speech signals and reproduce the desired speech signals on the one or more speakers.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the desired speech signals are a parent'"'"'s voice.

3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the external voice input apparatus further comprises a transmitter and wherein the controller unit reproduces the desired speech signals using the one or more speakers.

4. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the reference sensing unit includes a microphone for receiving the external voice signals.

5. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the microphone is a wireless microphone that is not placed on or within the enclosure.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the external voice input apparatus is further configured to receive an interior audio signal, wherein the interior audio signal originates inside the enclosure.

7. The enclosure of claim 6, wherein the enclosure, based on the interior audio signal, detects an emergency noise.

8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein the enclosure, in response to the emergency noise, sends an emergency message.

9. An incubator for reducing unwanted noises and reproducing desired voice signals, the incubator comprising:

an interior space within the incubator;

a noise reduction portion, comprising;

one or more speakers;

an error microphone;

a reference sensing unit; and

a controller unit operatively coupled to the error microphone and the reference sensing unit, wherein the controller unit processes signals received from the error microphone and the reference sensing unit to reduce unwanted noise in the interior space using one or more speakers;

a communication portion configured to reproduce a desired voice signal within the interior space, wherein the communication portion is operatively coupled to the noise reduction portion and wherein the desired voice signal originates outside of the incubator, wherein the communication portion comprises a microphone configured to receive an external audio signal, wherein the external audio signal originates outside of the incubator; and

wherein the communication portion comprises a sound analyzer configured to analyze the external audio signal and determine whether the external audio signal is the desired voice signal and reproduce the desired speech signals on the one or more speakers.

10. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the desired voice signal is a parent'"'"'s voice.

11. The incubator of claim 10, wherein the communication portion further comprises a transmitter that transmits the desired voice signal to the controller unit, and wherein the controller unit reproduces the desired voice signal using the one or more speakers.

12. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the microphone is a wireless microphone that is not placed on or within the incubator.

13. The incubator of claim 10, wherein the incubator, based on the interior audio signal, detects an emergency noise;

and

wherein the incubator, in response to the emergency noise, sends an emergency message.