Telephone with background volume control
First Claim
1. I claim an electronic system comprised of, an AUDIO APPLIANCE for producing sound output information within a listening area, means to monitor BACKGROUND NOISE level in the listening area independently of the sound produced by the appliance, and means to electrically vary the output from the appliance which, when these elements are connected together and placed in a location relative to a listener, adjust the sound level of the output produced by the appliance, in accordance with the measured noise level that is present in the area, and the need of the listener for a louder audible output from the appliance when noise level is high, and a lower audible output from the appliance when noise level is low, for electronic telephonic instruments comprised of:
- (a) a subset switch that determines "on-" and "off-hook" conditions of a telephone subset,(b) an incoming call signal detector, signal generator, and so transducer,(c) audio line termination elements, an electrical hybrid, and a sound transducer in an earpiece of the subset,which, respectively, convert the instrument from "on-hook" incoming call status to "off-hook" audible communication status;
signal the user that an incoming call is present; and
receive, separate, and transduce voice signals into corresponding audible sound, and, which together comprise elements of telephonic instruments which produce audible output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to the adjustment of sound intensity (volume) from appliances which communicate audible information to users. Information carried by sound energy from an appliance competes with whatever audible noise is present in the listener'"'"'s area. Some appliances have volume controls that let the user adjust sound intensity. These controls do not deal adequately with background noise that changes often, and which makes it necessary for the user to frequently reset the volume control. A setting of volume control that is appropriate at a quiet time, may make it impossible to understand a message when background noise becomes louder. Similarly, a volume control setting which is suitable when background noise is high may produce a message which is disturbingly loud when background noise is low.
The present invention solves this problem of audio volume control by monitoring background noise in the listening area and automatically adjusting the sound level of the appliance accordingly. By raising the volume of sound in the presence of higher background noise, and lowering the volume of sound when background noise level is lower, the needs of the user are better met.
67 Citations
10 Claims
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1. I claim an electronic system comprised of, an AUDIO APPLIANCE for producing sound output information within a listening area, means to monitor BACKGROUND NOISE level in the listening area independently of the sound produced by the appliance, and means to electrically vary the output from the appliance which, when these elements are connected together and placed in a location relative to a listener, adjust the sound level of the output produced by the appliance, in accordance with the measured noise level that is present in the area, and the need of the listener for a louder audible output from the appliance when noise level is high, and a lower audible output from the appliance when noise level is low, for electronic telephonic instruments comprised of:
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(a) a subset switch that determines "on-" and "off-hook" conditions of a telephone subset, (b) an incoming call signal detector, signal generator, and so transducer, (c) audio line termination elements, an electrical hybrid, and a sound transducer in an earpiece of the subset, which, respectively, convert the instrument from "on-hook" incoming call status to "off-hook" audible communication status;
signal the user that an incoming call is present; and
receive, separate, and transduce voice signals into corresponding audible sound, and, which together comprise elements of telephonic instruments which produce audible output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification