Noise cancellation apparatus

• US 6,061,456 A
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrea Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Andrea Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Topf, Martin, Andrea, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, VIVIAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/089,710
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71.6, 381/71.13, 381/72, 381/94.7, 381/71.7, 381/93, 381/74, 381/372, 381/386
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• 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 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/12 Neutralising, balancing, or compensation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/08 Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/403 Linear arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/006 Microphone matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

Disclosed is a transducer for use in a noise cancellation apparatus for reducing background noise. The transducer includes a housing having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech originating from an operator operating the apparatus and background noise, and for converting the first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ in close proximity with respect to the first microphone means for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially the background noise and for converting the second acoustic sound to a second signal. The first and second microphones are connected to a differential amplifier means of the noise cancellation apparatus so as to obtain a signal representing substantially speech. The amplifier means is for receiving acoustic sounds from each microphone and has a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is grounded. The transducer further includes a transistor means for receiving and amplifying an AC signal representative of the audio input from each microphone; and means for filtering the amplified AC signal from the DC signal, so that the DC signal powers the amplifier means. Also disclosed is a method for calibrating an active noise reduction apparatus including a housing having a speaker to produce an acoustic anti-noise signal in the housing, a microphone to detect an external noise signal, and an amplitude adjustment means to calibrate the acoustic anti-noise signal to create a quiet zone in the housing for operation with an independent electrical assembly, wherein the apparatus is calibrated separately from the electrical assembly. The method includes the steps of: inputting the external noise signal received by the microphone to produce an anti-noise signal; transmitting to the speaker the anti-noise signal having an equal gain and opposite phase response to the external noise signal detected by the microphone; and balancing the gain and phase response of the anti-noise signal by the amplitude adjustment means located in the noise reduction apparatus to match the gain and phase response of the external noise signal to yield a theoretical zero in the quiet zone.

Claims

1. A transducer for use in a noise cancellation apparatus for reducing background noise comprising:

a housing having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech originating from an operator operating said apparatus and background noise, and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle .O slashed. in close proximity with respect to said first microphone means for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal;

said first and second microphones are connected to a differential amplifier means of the noise cancellation apparatus so as to obtain a signal representing substantially speech;

the amplifier means for receiving acoustic sounds from each microphone and having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is grounded;

a transistor means for receiving and amplifying an AC signal representative of the audio input from each microphone; and

means for filtering the amplified AC signal from the DC signal, so that the DC signal powers the amplifier means.

2. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier means is an operational amplifier.

3. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the means for filtering the AC signal from the DC signal is a resistor coupled with a capacitor circuit.

4. An active noise reduction apparatus for reducing ambient noise in the vicinity of an eardrum, comprising:

a housing for receiving an input audio signal;

an output transducer located in the housing;

an input transducer for detecting and reducing ambient noise, the input transducer not located in substantially the same plane as the output transducer;

signal processing means to reduce the ambient noise detected by the input transducer;

an acoustic means including an acoustic waveguide for transmitting the input audio signal to the eardrum without disturbance of the ambient noise and

having low pass filter characteristics with a zero phase shift over a desired bandwidth to isolate the output transducer from the input transducer for channeling the input audio signal representing substantial speech between the output transducer and the eardrum, wherein a quiet zone is created to isolate sound transmitted from the input transducer.

5. The active noise reduction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the acoustic means effects an acoustic filter when located in proximity to the input transducer and effects an acoustic waveguide when located between the output transducer and the eardrum.

6. An active noise reduction apparatus comprising:

a housing having an earphone;

microphone means mounted in the earphone facing towards an ear of a user for detecting unwanted ambient noise;

means to convert the noise to electric signals;

phase shifting and attenuation means connected to the microphone to provide an inverted anti-noise signal;

an output transducer substantially out of plane with the microphone means for transmitting the audio signal to the user'"'"'s ear;

means for preventing mechanical vibration induced low frequency disturbances from being transmitted to the output transducer;

an acoustic waveguide isolating the microphone means from the output transducer for creating a quiet zone in close proximity to the output transducer and thereby excluding the unwanted ambient noise from reaching the user'"'"'s ear.

7. An active noise reduction apparatus for use in a headset with a boom microphone to reduce ambient noise from reaching a user'"'"'s ear without disturbing a desired audio signal outputted to the listening ear comprising an earphone located within the headset;

a pick-up microphone for detecting noise signals within the earphone facing towards the ear;

means for converting the noise signals into electric signals;

electro-acoustic means for applying the electric signals to the earphone to produce acoustic signals 180°

degrees out of phase with the ambient noise;

an output transducer means mounted in the earphone having an acoustical filter having low pass filter characteristics with a zero shift phase over a desired bandwidth for coupling speech to the user'"'"'s ear and isolating vibration induced low frequency disturbances from reaching the user'"'"'s ear.

8. A noise reduction system for use with an active noise cancellation apparatus comprising:

a pick-up microphone located in the headset for detecting noise signals to convert to electrical signals;

a speaker located in the headset having a acoustic means with low pass filter characteristics with a zero phase shift over a desired bandwidth;

an audio transmission signal;

means for electrically rejecting vibrations of the electrical signal;

a variable gain/control means for inverting the noise signal to produce an anti noise-signal;

the acoustic means for filtering out mechanical vibration induced low frequency disturbances from reaching the speaker;

acoustic summing means to combine the anti-noise signal

and the noise signal to produce a quiet zone in the acoustic means;

means for transmitting the audio signal to the speaker;

and means for maintaining phase agreement between the noise signal and the anti-noise signal of the speaker.

9. The noise reduction system according to claim 8, wherein the means for rejecting low frequency responses is a high pass filter.

10. The noise reduction system according to claim 9, wherein the quiet-zone means is an acoustic filter.

11. The noise reduction system according to claim 8 wherein the active noise cancellation apparatus comprises:

a housing having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech originating from an operator operating said apparatus and background noise, and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle .O slashed. in close proximity with respect to said first microphone means for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal; and

means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal so as to obtain a signal representing substantially said speech.

12. The noise reduction system of claim 8 wherein the variable gain/control means automatically adjusts for interfacing with a communication system.

13. An active noise reduction apparatus for reducing ambient noise in the vicinity of an eardrum, comprising:

a housing for receiving an input audio signal;

an output transducer located in the housing;

an input transducer located in the housing for detecting ambient noise located in the housing;

a signal processing means to process noise detected by the input transducer;

an acoustic means for channeling the input audio signal representing substantial speech between the output transducer and the eardrum; and

an acoustic waveguide means for transmitting the input audio signal without disturbance of the noise to the eardrum creating a quiet zone to isolate sound transmitted from the input transducer.

14. A method for calibrating an active noise reduction apparatus including a housing comprising a speaker to produce an acoustic anti-noise signal in the housing, a microphone to detect an external noise signal, and an amplitude adjustment means to calibrate the acoustic anti-noise signal to create a quiet zone in the housing for operation with an independent electrical assembly, wherein the apparatus is calibrated separately from the electrical assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting the external noise signal received by the microphone to produce an anti-noise signal;

transmitting to the speaker the anti-noise signal having an equal gain and opposite phase response to the external noise signal detected by the microphone; and

balancing the gain and phase response of the anti-noise signal by the amplitude adjustment means located in the noise reduction apparatus to match the gain and phase response of the external noise signal to yield a theoretical zero in the quiet zone.

15. The method in claim 14, wherein the amplitude adjustment means is a calibration pot.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said electrical assembly, after calibration, processes said anti-noise signal for cancelling said external noise signal such that said calibration is performed independently of the electrical assembly;

wherein said step of balancing balances th e gain and phase response of said anti-noise signal separate during said calibration.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said electrical assembly is one of a plurality of types of electrical assemblies;

wherein said calibration is performed irrespective of the type of said electrical assembly such that the calibrated active noise reduction apparatus is operational with any type of electrical assembly.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said active noise reduction apparatus is a headset and said electrical assembly is external to the headset such that said headset is universal to any type of electrical assembly;

wherein said calibration calibrates said headset separately from said electrical assembly.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said electrical assembly is a closed/open loop electrical assembly which processes said anti-noise signal after calibration is performed using closed/open loop noise cancelation.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein said active noise reduction apparatus includes an acoustic waveguide which directs said acoustic anti-noise signal into the quiet zone.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said microphone of said active noise reduction apparatus is arranged with respect to said acoustic waveguide such that said acoustic anti-noise signal is directed away from the microphone in order that said acoustic anti-noise signal is not substantially received by said microphone.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said active noise reduction apparatus includes an acoustic foam with a zero phase-shift characteristic for shielding the microphone.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said acoustic waveguide may be formed by an opening in said acoustic foam such that said acoustic foam acts as both a waveguide for guiding said acoustic anti-noise signal to the quiet zone and shields the microphone.