ACOUSTIC DAMPENING COMPENSATION SYSTEM

• US 20140119553A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Usher, John, Goldstein, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06

Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a communication device that includes a microphone configured to detect an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment, and a processor, configured to detect an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone, based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal and, responsive to the acoustical dampening, apply a compensation filter to the acoustic signal to form a compensated acoustic signal that is reproduced. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a microphone configured to detect an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment; and

a processor, configured to detect an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone, based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal and, responsive to the acoustical dampening, apply a compensation filter to the acoustic signal to form a compensated acoustic signal that is reproduced, the compensation filter approximating an inverse of the acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the microphone is operatively and communicatively coupled to headwear, where the processor, responsive to an analysis of the change in the characteristic of the acoustic signal, detects a presence of the headwear.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor, from the analysis, detects when the headwear is worn or removed, and applies the compensation filter to accommodate the headwear based on the presence of the headwear.

4. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor selectively adjusts the spatial sensitivity of the headwear to sound in the user'"'"'s local environment.

5. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the headwear is one of a headset, earbud, earpiece or combination thereof.

6. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor actively detects when headwear is adjusted or fitted.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the headwear is activated on a continuous or intermittent basis.

8. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the compensation filter for the headwear is activated via voice-activation.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor detects an onset of the acoustical dampening from a first acoustic signal and responsive to the detected onset of the acoustical dampening applies the compensation filter.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a portion of one of a computer system, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a mobile phone, an earpiece or a head-worn communication device.

11. A method of compensating for acoustical dampening comprising:

detecting an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment via a microphone; and

detecting an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal; and

,

responsive to the acoustical dampening, filtering the acoustic signal using a compensation filter approximating an inverse of the acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the microphone is operatively coupled to headwear, and the processor, responsive to the change in the characteristic of the acoustic signal, detects a presence of the headwear.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor, detects when the headwear is worn or removed, and applies the compensation filter to accommodate the headwear based on the presence of the headwear.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor applies the compensation filter to selectively adjust a spatial sensitivity of the headwear to sound in the acoustic environment.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the headwear is one of a headset, earbud, earpiece or combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor actively detects when headwear is adjusted or fitted.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the headwear is activated on a continuous or intermittent basis.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the compensation filter for the headwear is activated via voice-activation.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor detects an onset of the acoustical dampening from a first acoustic signal and responsive to the detected onset of the acoustical dampening applies the compensation filter.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication device is a portion of one of a computer system, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a mobile phone, an earpiece or a head-worn communication device.