Wireless communications assembly with variable audio characteristics based on ambient acoustic environment

• US 6,195,572 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Lilja, Patrik H., Jazwa, Thomas E., Patterson, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PABLO N
• Application Number:
  US09/441,420
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/68, 455/69, 455/232, 455/234, 455/338, 455/355, 455/33, 455/549, 455/56, 379/390, 379/388, 379/392, 379/420, 379/409, 381/57, 381/104, 381/107, 381/103, 381/101, 381/102, 381/108
• US Class Current: 455/570
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/044 according to the level of ambient noise

Abstract

An environmental sensor distinguishes between a plurality of different ambient acoustic environments and communicates with an audio gain circuit which automatically adjusts the audio characteristics of the speaker and microphone of a wireless communications assembly for more optimum audio performance. The wireless communications assembly preferably includes a hands free adapter coupled to a wireless communications device such as a cellular telephone. The adjustments to the audio characteristics are according to predetermined settings for the identified ambient acoustic environment which are preferably stored in memory associated with the audio gain circuit. In this manner, the audio characteristics are automatically adjusted for the actual ambient acoustic environment that the wireless communications assembly is operating in.

Claims

1. A wireless communications assembly, comprising:

a) an audio gain circuit;

b) a hands free circuit in communication with said audio gain circuit;

c) a microphone in communication with said audio gain circuit;

d) a speaker in communication with said audio gain circuit and producing an output;

e) an environmental sensor in communication with said audio gain circuit, said environmental sensor distinguishing between a plurality of different ambient acoustic environments independently of said output of said microphone; and

f) wherein said audio gain circuit adjusts the audio characteristics of at least one of said microphone and said speaker depending on the ambient acoustic environment detected by said environmental sensor.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said environmental sensor includes a plurality of external power connections and wherein each of said external power connections indicates a different ambient acoustic environment.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said environmental sensor includes an ambient noise level detector.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said environmental sensor includes a user settable switch.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising memory in communication with said audio gain circuit for providing a plurality of predetermined audio gain settings for said speaker and said microphone;

each of said audio gain settings associated with an ambient acoustic environment.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communications device.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said wireless communications device includes said speaker.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said wireless communications device includes said microphone.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said wireless communications device further includes said hands free circuit;

said hands free circuit having at least one hands free algorithm.

11. The assembly of claim 6 further including a hands free adapter coupled to said wireless communications device.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said hands free adapter includes said speaker.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said hands free adapter includes said microphone.

14. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said hands free adapter includes:

a) said environmental sensor;

b) said audio gain circuit;

c) said speaker; and

d) said microphone.

15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said wireless communications device is attached to said hands free adapter and wherein said environmental sensor detects the ambient acoustic environment based on a characteristic of said attachment.

16. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said hands free adapter includes said environmental sensor and wherein the ambient acoustic environment detected by said environmental sensor is communicated to said wireless communications device.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said wireless communications device changes operating modes depending on the ambient acoustic environment detected by said environmental sensor.

18. A wireless communications assembly, comprising:

a) a transceiver capable of bidirectional communications;

b) an audio gain circuit;

c) a hands free circuit in communication with said audio gain circuit and said transceiver;

d) a speaker in communication with said audio gain circuit;

e) a microphone in communication with said audio gain circuit and producing an output;

f) an environmental sensor in communication with said audio gain circuit, said environmental sensor distinguishing between a plurality of different ambient acoustic environments independently of said output of said microphone; and

g) wherein said audio gain circuit adjusts the audio characteristics of at least one of said microphone and said speaker depending on the ambient acoustic environment detected by said environmental sensor to facilitate transmission of bi-directional conversation by said transceiver in said acoustic environment detected by said environmental sensor.