Voice input in a multimedia console environment

• US 7,931,537 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guo, Wei, Filer, Eric Paul, McLoone, Hugh Edward Jr., Giaimo, Edward C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ROSS A
• Application Number:
  US11/165,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20070021205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 463 40- 42, 463/46, 381/26, 462/46
• US Class Current: 463/47
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for enabling a microphone module that connects to a headset jack on a game controller. The microphone may include directional or omni-directional microphone element(s) that pick up voice input from people near a peripheral, such as a game controller, but reject background sounds from the room. User controls may also be available to set the microphone gain level, either manually or automatically, and/or to mute or unmute the microphone. The microphone of the invention can be used on a wired or wireless game controller. When used with a wireless game controller, wireless microphone capabilities and freedom of movement are provided without headdress requirements imposed by headsets.

Claims

1. A peripheral for use with an on-line or networked application of a multimedia console used primarily for executing games and other multimedia applications in a multimedia console system, wherein the peripheral includes a microphone module and an interface for communicative coupling to the microphone module,

wherein the microphone module includes at least one directional microphone element and at least one omnidirectional microphone element for receiving voice input from a user of the multimedia console, the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element operating so that the user is able to simultaneously send the voice input to another user of the multimedia console system and receive voice output from another user of the multimedia console system,

wherein the interface is configurable to receive an indication from the user that the user wishes to switch operation between the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omni-directional microphone element, and wherein the interface is further configurable to responsively switch operation of the microphone module without requiring the user to physically manipulate the microphone elements, and

wherein the microphone module is configured to selectively operate in a chat mode in which the voice input is transmitted to at least one other person or in a command mode in which the voice input is interpreted as command data for the multimedia console system.

2. A peripheral according to claim 1, further including a detection component for detecting whether a headset, microphone only, or no headset or microphone is present, and outputting at least one signal based on said detecting.

3. A microphone module for use with an on-line or networked application of a multimedia console system used primarily for executing games and other multimedia applications, the microphone module including:

at least one directional microphone element and at least one omnidirectional microphone element for receiving voice input from at least one user of the multimedia console system, wherein the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element operate in an unmuted mode continuously without requiring push-to-talk action from the user of the multimedia console system that interrupts the operation of the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element,

an interface configurable to receive an indication from the user that the user wishes to switch operation between the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omni-directional microphone element, and wherein the interface is further configurable to responsively switch operation of the microphone elements without physically manipulating the microphone elements;

a mute control communicatively coupled to the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element for selectively muting the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element;

a microphone gain control communicatively coupled to the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element and configured to adjust a gain level associated with the voice input; and

an automatic gain control circuit communicatively coupled to the microphone gain control and configured to automatically set a gain of a signal received by the at least one directional microphone element and the at least one omnidirectional microphone element.