Feedback Suppression Patents (Class 381/83)
-
Patent number: 7627287Abstract: An on-channel repeater has a receiving antenna for receiving an RF signal and a transmitting antenna for transmitting on the same frequency as the input signal. An amplification path between the antennas provides substantially linear processing and includes a combiner, a decorrelating delay and a power amplifier. A filter estimator receives a reference signal and the combiner output and generates a plurality of control coefficients which are applied to an adaptive filter which filters the reference signal accordingly and applies its output to the combiner. The reference signal is derived not from the output of the decorrelating delay but rather from the output antenna after the power amplifier. Where there is an adjacent transmitter generating potentially interfering signals, the transmitter output is coupled to the same transmitter antenna.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: British Broadcasting CorporationInventor: Peter Neil Moss
-
Patent number: 7627129Abstract: An apparatus for suppressing feedback in an environment where a microphone and a loudspeaker are located, comprises a means for embedding a test signal into a loudspeaker signal, a microphone signal or a modified microphone signal, preferably by using a psychoacoustic masking threshold by using a pseudo-noise test signal, a means for determining a characteristic of a transmission channel in the environment between the loudspeaker and the microphone by using the embedded test signal and the microphone signal, a filter for filtering the loudspeaker signal to obtain a filtered loudspeaker signal, wherein the filter is adaptable to be adapted with regard to its filter characteristic to the characteristic of the transmission channel by the means for determining, as well as a means for subtracting the filtered loudspeaker signal from the microphone signal to obtain the modified microphone signal, in which the feedback is reduced due to the loudspeaker signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Thomas Sporer, Christian Neubauer
-
Publication number: 20090274316Abstract: A system for countering ambient noise when operating an address system in at least one compartment of a passenger transport unit includes: (a) a noise control unit; and (b) at least one memory unit coupled with the noise control unit. The at least one memory unit stores noise characteristic information relating with at least one operational condition of the transport unit. The noise control unit employs the noise characteristic information to effect the countering.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2008Publication date: November 5, 2009Applicant: BOEING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWAREInventor: George Van Tran
-
Patent number: 7602925Abstract: A signal processing system improves signal quality by accurately locating and eliminating a feedback signal in an input signal, such as an audio signal. The signal processing system interpolates between frequency sample points to obtain a more accurate identification of a feedback signal frequency. A less intrusive filter reduces or eliminates the identified frequency signal frequency without excessive adverse effects on adjacent frequencies in the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Richard A. Kreifeldt, Curtis R. Reed, Aaron M. Hammond
-
Patent number: 7548854Abstract: A unique, fully integrated, fully programmable, and highly flexible sound distribution system and methodology for providing masking sound, background music, and paging capabilities in up to eight zones of a building or space is provided. The methodology embodied in the system includes internal masking sounds that are uniquely pre-filtered to provide efficient and effective masking of distracting sounds within selectable zones of the space with a minimum masking sound dB sound level and with a pleasant sounding and non-annoying masking sound. The system also incorporates the capacity to be controlled from a remote or local telephone to adjust the volume level in any zone serviced by the system by issuing appropriate DTMF codes from the telephone's keypad. Unique bi-tone diagnostic functions are provided for assuring that the entire system is correctly wired and installed and for troubleshooting operational anomalies.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: AWI Licensing CompanyInventors: Kenneth P. Roy, Thomas J. Johnson, Ronald Fuller, Steve Dove
-
Publication number: 20080285774Abstract: Howling, which occurs when amplifying a target sound collected by a first microphone through an amplification section and outputting the amplified sound as an intensified sound from a loudspeaker, is suppressed. A first power spectrum is produced according to a first acoustic signal output from the first microphone collecting a sound. A second power spectrum is produced according to a second acoustic signal of a sound including at least the intensified sound and not including the target sound. Then, the first acoustic signal is filtered based on the first power spectrum and the second power spectrum to output only an acoustic signal of the target sound to the amplification section.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2005Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Takeo Kanamori, Takashi Kawamura, Tomomi Matsuoka
-
Publication number: 20080212792Abstract: A microphone apparatus is obtained capable of preventing howling effectively, while having no time difference between a timing of voice utterance to a microphone and a timing of sound emission from a speaker and having simple and low-cost physical and electrical configurations. There are provided microphone units or microphones disposed at locations with the same acoustic conditions, and switching units disposed corresponding to the microphone units or microphones, respectively, for switching sequentially an audio signal transformed in each of the microphone units or microphones to generate an output signal. The switching units may switch sequentially the audio signal transformed in the microphone unit or microphone at an shorter time interval than a time period from a time point the microphone unit or microphone is turned on to a time point an output thereof grows to reach a maximum level by howling.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2007Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICAInventor: Hiroshi AKINO
-
Patent number: 7386142Abstract: A hearing assistance system having adjustable bulk delay for cancellation of a time varying acoustic feedback path. The hearing assistance system including an FIR filter, coefficient update module, and delay rules module for programmable adaptive filtering. The hearing assistance system adjustable for continuous bulk delay adjustments. The hearing assistance system providing a number of coefficient update routines, including, but not limited to an LMS coefficient update process and a normalized LMS coefficient update process.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Jon S. Kindred
-
Publication number: 20070297627Abstract: The determination of a suitable step size for controlling the adaptation of a filter of an acoustic feedback compensator especially for hearing aids is to be improved. A step size controller is therefore provided in which an input signal is analyzed in at least two frequency bands. In doing so, any steep signal edges in the individual frequency bands are detected. The adaptation step size of an adaptive filter is then controlled depending on the number of frequency bands in which steep signal edges are detected, wherein the magnitude of the signal edges can be included in the decision.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventor: Henning Puder
-
Patent number: 7292699Abstract: An improved method for adaptively cancelling acoustic feedback in hearing aids and other audio amplification devices. Feedback cancellation is limited to a frequency band that encompasses all unstable frequencies. By limiting the bandwidth of the feedback cancellation signal, the distortion due to the adaptive filter is minimized and limited only to the unstable feedback regions. A relatively simple signal processing algorithm is used to produce highly effective results with minimal signal distortion.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: House Ear InstituteInventors: Shawn X. Gao, Sigfrid D. Soli, Hsiang-Feg Chi
-
Patent number: 7227959Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus that improve processing of acoustic signals by reducing acoustic feedback in an acoustic system. An aspect of the invention is a multi-channel digital feedback reducer (DFR) system that comprises a plurality of channel elements. Each channel element comprises a notch filter configuration having an adaptive notch filter and an operative notch filter. The operative notch filter processes a signal received from an acoustic input device and provides the processed signal to an acoustic output device, in which acoustic feedback between the acoustic input device and the acoustic output device is ameliorated. If acoustic feedback is detected by a channel element, the channel element informs other channel elements of the multi-channel DFR system about the detected feedback to ensure that all channel elements may incorporate the same notch filters. During the notification, the other channel elements may continue searching for feedback on the associated channels.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Shure IncorporatedInventor: Mathew T. Abraham
-
Patent number: 7203324Abstract: This invention is an audio system capable of identifying frequencies of feedback signals and filters these feedback signals. Frequency interpolation is utilized on a sampled frequency spectrum signal corresponding to a feedback signal, where the frequency interpolation allows the frequency of the feedback signal to be identified, especially where the frequency lies between samples of the frequency spectrum signal. The frequency identification allows a less intrusive filter, such as a notch filter, to be placed at the determined frequency of the feedback to eliminate the feedback signal. The placement of the notch filter reduces the effect on the audio signal provided by the audio system. The audio system may provide adaptive filtering of multiple feedback signals, using a single filter such as a notch filter.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Richard A. Kreifeldt, Curtis R. Reed, Aaron M. Hammond
-
Patent number: 7162044Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided to inhibit at least one feedback component of an input audio signal by adjusting a feedback-inhibiting filter through a narrowband subaudible signal. The level of the signal may be determined using an audibility model so as to yield its subaudible quality.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: William S. Woods
-
Patent number: 7136495Abstract: A loudspeaker device comprising a power amplifier (13) to which an input signal is delivered via a subtracter (6), a speaker unit (1) for reproducing output signals delivered from the power amplifier (13), an acoustic pipe (2) coupled in front of the speaker unit for guiding the sound waves, a microphone (4) for detecting an acoustic outputs radiated from the speaker unit, a microphone amplifier (5) for amplifying an acoustic output signals detected by the microphone, and a negative feedback circuit. Output signals of the microphone amplifier are delivered to the subtracter, at the same time the same output signal is connected to a high-pass filter (7) to be delivered to the subtracter. Thus the negative feedback circuit is formed to suppress peaks and dips for providing a flattened sound pressure frequency characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Tanaka, Fumiyasu Konno
-
Patent number: 7092532Abstract: A system and method for adaptively removing feedback in audio systems and, more particularly, hearing aid systems. The audio system comprises an analysis unit, for receiving an input signal and providing N bandpass input signals, and an adaptive feedback cancellation unit for removing a feedback condition in one or more of the N bandpass input signals. The adaptive feedback cancellation unit comprises N sub-units with at least one of the sub-units including: (i) a feedback detector for indicating the presence of the feedback condition in one of the bandpass input signals, (ii) an adaptive feedback canceller for providing an adaptive gain modification factor for adjusting gain when the feedback condition is detected within one of the bandpass input signals, and (iii) a multiplier coupled to the adaptive feedback canceller and the analysis unit for providing a bandpass output signal based on one of the bandpass input signals and the corresponding adaptive gain modification factor.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Unitron Hearing Ltd.Inventors: Henry Luo, Horst Arndt, André Vonlanthen
-
Patent number: 7054451Abstract: A sound reinforcement system includes several microphones, a microphone beamformer coupled to the microphones, adaptive echo compensator (EC) coupled to the microphone beamformer for generating an echo compensated microphone signal, and several loudspeakers coupled to the adaptive EC. An adaptive loudspeaker beamformer is coupled between the adaptive EC and the loudspeakers for shaping the directional pattern of the loudspeakers. The adaptive loudspeaker beamformer creates a beam pattern which is capable of creating a “null” in the direction of speaker(s) such that howling is effectively prevented.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Cornelis Pieter Janse, Harm Jan Willem Belt
-
Patent number: 7027604Abstract: This invention includes a circuit for the prevention of acoustic feedback between an electronic device and an audio accessory. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit prevents audio feedback between a cellular telephone and a speakerphone accessory. The circuit includes a current limiting device coupled serially in the receive (Rx) line. The current limiting device is actuated via a delay circuit coupled between the current limiting device and the transmit (Tx) line. When a bias current is presented to the Tx line, the bias propagates through the delay circuit, thereby actuating the current limiting device a predetermined time after the presentation of the bias. The circuit keeps the Rx line open long enough for the phone to deactivate its internal microphone.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Kee Eng Soo, Ashok Ramakant Patil, Michael D. Geren, Macwien Krishnamurthi Annamalai
-
Patent number: 7024011Abstract: In a hearing aid having an oscillation detector and a method for establishing the presence of oscillations in a hearing aid, sinusoidal input signals of the microphone can be detected, and so oscillations that are present can also be detected. To this end, the number of digitized sample values in consecutive periods of the input signal is determined, and a long-term average value NL and a short-term average value NK are formed from these numbers. When NL and NK are essentially identical, the presence of oscillations is detected.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Georg-Erwin Arndt, Tom Weidner
-
Patent number: 7013015Abstract: For reducing feedback-conditioned oscillations in a hearing aid device, microphone signals of a first microphone and of a distanced, second microphone are compared to one another. When oscillations are detected at the same frequency in both microphone signals, these oscillations are determined to be useful (non-feedback) tonal signals. Oscillations that are only present in one of the microphone signals, in contrast, are feedback-conditioned and are suppressed using suitable measures.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Volker Hohmann, Volkmar Hamacher, Inga Holube, Birger Kollmeier, Thomas Wittkop
-
Patent number: 6931137Abstract: A feedback compensator for a hearing aid device has a filter arrangement that splits a signal path, to implement an adaptive feedback compensation with only one buffer memory, two splitting nodes, and two addition nodes. The feedback compensation ensues only in the feedback-susceptible frequency range of the input signal. In addition to the filtering of the input signal, it is advantageous to feed to the adaptive feedback compensation filter a bandwidth-limited signal that is taken from the amplified output signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Georg-Erwin Arndt, Tom Weidner
-
Patent number: 6910013Abstract: The invention relates first of all to a method for identifying a transient acoustic scene, said method including the extraction, during an extraction phase, of characteristic features from an acoustic signal captured by at least one microphone (2a, 2b), and the identification, during an identification phase, of the transient acoustic scene on the basis of the extracted characteristics. According to the invention, at least auditory-based characteristics are identified in the extraction phase. Also specified are an application of the method per this invention and a hearing device.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Sylvia Allegro, Michael Büchler
-
Patent number: 6876751Abstract: An improved method for adaptively cancelling acoustic feedback in hearing aids and other audio amplification devices. Feedback cancellation is limited to a frequency band that encompasses all unstable frequencies. By limiting the bandwidth of the feedback cancellation signal, the distortion due to the adaptive filter is minimized and limited only to the unstable feedback regions. A relatively simple signal processing algorithm is used to produce highly effective results with minimal signal distortion.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: House Ear InstituteInventors: Shawn X. Gao, Sigfrid D. Soli, Hsiang-Feg Chi
-
Patent number: 6810124Abstract: An adaptive resonance canceller system and method for attenuating narrowband noise signals within an input signal, where the narrowband noise signals may vary significantly in frequency. The sensor comprises a notch filter, an error reference and gradient generator, and a complex correlator circuit for attenuating the narrowband noise component of the input signal. The input signal is applied to the notch filter and to the error reference and gradient generator. The latter component generates an error reference signal and an error gradient signal. These two signals are applied to the complex correlator circuit which, in turn, generates a tuning parameter signal which is applied to the notch filter to tune the filter to the center frequency of the noise component of the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Stanley A White
-
Publication number: 20040190731Abstract: A system and method for adaptively removing feedback in audio systems and, more particularly, hearing aid systems. The audio system comprises an analysis unit, for receiving an input signal and providing N bandpass input signals, and an adaptive feedback cancellation unit for removing a feedback condition in one or more of the N bandpass input signals. The adaptive feedback cancellation unit comprises N sub-units with at least one of the sub-units including: (i) a feedback detector for indicating the presence of the feedback condition in one of the bandpass input signals, (ii) an adaptive feedback canceller for providing an adaptive gain modification factor for adjusting gain when the feedback condition is detected within one of the bandpass input signals, and (iii) a multiplier coupled to the adaptive feedback canceller and the analysis unit for providing a bandpass output signal based on one of the bandpass input signals and the corresponding adaptive gain modification factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: Unitron Industries Ltd.Inventors: Henry Luo, Horst Arndt, Andre Vonlanthen
-
Patent number: 6792114Abstract: A digital hearing aid according to the present invention is capable of measuring its own performance. The hearing aid includes a test signal generator for feeding a test signal into the hearing aid amplifier. The response to the test signal is acquired at a specific point in the hearing aid, depending upon what aspect of performance is to be measured. Various elements of the hearing aid and/or the hearing aid feedback may be bypassed. The hearing aid further includes the capability of initializing hearing aid parameters based upon the performance measurements. The measurement and initialization capability may be entirely integral to the hearing aid, or an external processor may be used to download the measurement program and the run time program, and assist in computing the parameters.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: GN ReSound A/SInventors: James Mitchell Kates, John Laurence Melanson, Eric Lindemann
-
Publication number: 20040156510Abstract: When the speaker is registered or verified, the supplying part outputs an interference sound signal to cause the loudspeaker to emit interference sound. In the sound inputted to the microphone, the canceling part cancels the component corresponding to the interference sound fed back to the microphone. Using the sound in which the component corresponding to the interference sound has been canceled, the collating part registers or verifies the speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Takehiko Isaka, Kimio Miseki
-
Publication number: 20040101147Abstract: A feedback compensator for a hearing aid device has a filter arrangement that splits a signal path, to implement an adaptive feedback compensation with only one buffer memory, two splitting nodes, and two addition nodes. The feedback compensation ensues only in the feedback-susceptible frequency range of the input signal. In addition to the filtering of the input signal, it is advantageous to feed to the adaptive feedback compensation filter a bandwidth-limited signal that is taken from the amplified output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Georg-Erwin Arndt, Tom Weidner
-
Patent number: 6724899Abstract: A sound pick-up and reproduction system includes at least two sound sensors, such as microphones, situated at different distances from a sound reproduction device, such as a loudspeaker. A processor responds to amplitudes and phases of signals outputted by the at least two sound sensors to control a signal outputted to an amplifier and adapted to drive the sound reproduction device, thereby reducing echoes in the sound reproduction device output caused by acoustic coupling between the at least two sound sensors and the sound reproduction device.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: France Telecom S.A.Inventors: Wolfgang Taeger, Gregoire Le Tourneur
-
Patent number: 6674863Abstract: Herein disclosed is a microphone-speaker apparatus, comprising: audio signal dividing means for dividing the audio signal into a plurality of raw component signals each indicative of the raw wave components; coherent component signal extracting means for extracting a plurality of coherent component signals respectively indicative of the coherent wave components from the raw component signals divided by the audio signal dividing means; power value calculating means for calculating the raw power value of each of the coherent component signals extracted by the coherent component signal extracting means; power value adjusting means for adjusting the raw power value of each of the coherent component signals calculated by the power value calculating means to produce an adjusted power value of each of the coherent component signals; power value judging means for judging whether or not the adjusted power value of each of the coherent component signals of the current frame exceeds the adjusted power value of each of tType: GrantFiled: March 3, 2003Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takefumi Ura
-
Patent number: 6665411Abstract: A digital voice enhancement, DVE, communication system includes an instability detector detecting an unstable acoustic feedback condition from a loudspeaker to a microphone by sensing a condition of the electrical signal transmitted from the microphone to the loudspeaker, and a corrective processor responsive to the instability detector to modify the electrical signal to reduce unstable acoustic feedback. The sensed condition may be magnitude, power, or, preferably, the sinusoidal characteristic of the electrical signal, namely the electrical signal becoming sinusoidal in nature.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Digisonix LLCInventor: Shawn K. Steenhagen
-
Publication number: 20030210798Abstract: There is provided a speaker control apparatus capable of efficiently improving frequency characteristic of a speaker apparatus of phase inversion type, which is originally small in size and high in efficiency. The speaker control apparatus includes a detection section for detecting sound pressure within a speaker apparatus of phase inversion type and generating a sound pressure signal Spo corresponding to the detected sound pressure, a signal processing section for generating a feedback signal Sfb for feedback on the basis of the detected sound pressure signal Spo, a feedback section for feeding back the feedback signal Sfb to an input signal corresponding to sound to be radiated and generating a feedback input signal Ssy, and an amplification section for driving a speaker unit included in the speaker apparatus on the basis of the feedback input signal Ssy and causing radiation of sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventor: Takashi Ohyaba
-
Publication number: 20030210797Abstract: This invention is an audio system capable of identifying frequencies of feedback signals and filters these feedback signals. Frequency interpolation is utilized on a sampled frequency spectrum signal corresponding to a feedback signal, where the frequency interpolation allows the frequency of the feedback signal to be identified, especially where the frequency lies between samples of the frequency spectrum signal. The frequency identification allows a less intrusive filter, such as a notch filter, to be placed at the determined frequency of the feedback to eliminate the feedback signal. The placement of the notch filter reduces the effect on the audio signal provided by the audio system. The audio system may provide adaptive filtering of multiple feedback signals, using a single filter such as a notch filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventors: Richard A. Kreifeldt, Curtis R. Reed, Aaron M. Hammond
-
Publication number: 20030206640Abstract: A system and method facilitating signal enhancement utilizing an adaptive filter is provided. The invention includes an adaptive filter that filters an input based upon a plurality of adaptive coefficients, the adaptive filter modifying at least one of the adaptive coefficients based on a feedback output. The invention further includes a feedback component that provides the feedback output based, at least in part, upon a non-linear function of the acoustic reverberation reduced output.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Henrique S. Malvar, Dinei Afonso Ferreira Florencio, Bradford W. Gillespie
-
Patent number: 6625286Abstract: Amplitude is corrected by subtracting a component signal from a composite signal to produce a remainder signal, correlating the remainder signal with the component signal to produce a product signal, averaging the product signal, and adjusting the magnitude of the component signal in accordance with the averaged product signal to minimize the product signal. The amplitude of the component signal is adjusted in a programmable gain amplifier controlled by an up-down counter. The up-down counter is part of a digital control loop including a pseudo-multiplier for multiplying the remainder signal with the component signal. The output of the multiplier controls the direction of the count, which is generally continuous except that it cannot roll over or roll under. The remainder signal is the received signal with the echo removed.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1999Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Acoustic Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Raymond Rubacha, Kendall G. Moore, Samuel L. Thomasson
-
Publication number: 20030156723Abstract: Filter system designed to remove loudspeaker-generated sound signals from a microphone signal, comprising a stereo sampling unit for sampling the interference-bearing microphone signal as well as the interfering loudspeaker signal in time (t) to generate samples x(t) and z(t) for provision to a computation unit which derives the transfer friction H(f,T) effective between the loudspeaker and the microphone and applies that function to a filter unit which acts to restore the interference-free microphone signal y(t) from x(t), z(t) and H(f,T).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventor: Dietmar Ruwisch
-
Patent number: 6608898Abstract: A complementary comb filter includes a plurality of band pass filters and a plurality of notch filters, wherein the notch filters have the same center frequencies as the band pass filters or the same center frequencies as the dead bands defined by the band pass filters. Phase distortion by the notch filters occurs primarily in the notch, thereby eliminating distortion of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Acoustic Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kendall G. Moore, Samuel L. Thomasson
-
Publication number: 20030123674Abstract: A gain control method for reducing or eliminating the undesirable effects of acoustic echo coupling between a speaker and a microphone while providing a full-duplex connection. Weighted normalized far-end and near-end powers are used to first calculate a suppression value which is used to determine the attenuation factor between an upper and a lower limit, thus improving reliability in noisy environments. To further improve the quality of the full-duplex connection, a smoothing factor is applied to the attenuation calculation to provide a low power and constant sounding echo without annoying transient-like sounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2001Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Avaya Technology Corp.Inventor: Simon Boland
-
Publication number: 20030108213Abstract: An anti-oscillation loudspeaker device where a reproduced sound is compensated based on a acoustic signal detected by a microphone and a reproduced band is enlarged is provided. In this loudspeaker device, a microphone is placed near a position where sound pressure of resonance occurring in a closed space for at least one of height, width, and depth of the inside of a cabinet is minimum. An influence of the resonance is restrained, a feedback circuit becomes stable, and a feedback amount increases.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventor: Hidekazu Tanaka
-
Publication number: 20030103635Abstract: A system (100) for controlling noise comprises an array (2) of concelling tranducers (loudspeakers) (2a). Located some distance away from cancelling array (2) is a detection system (3) comprising a series of microphones (3a), the system casting an acoustic “shadow” or quiet region (4). Located on or adjacent the primary source (1) emitting the noise to be controlled is a synchronising sensor (5) which may be a microphone, vibration transducer or electrical transducer, the output of sensor (5) being fed, along with the output from detection array (3), into an adaptive control system (102) the output of which is fed back to the cancelling units (2). The adaptive control system (102) comprises a low pass filter (15) producing a dc component V from a mathematical convolver (multiplier) (14), and a digital oscillator (16) which generates the cancelling frequency which is controlled by V. Also included arc frequency multipliers (17, 18 and 19) which multiply (2, 3) and n times respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Selwn Edgar Wright, Branislav Vuksanovic, Hidajat Atmoko
-
Patent number: 6563931Abstract: An auditory prosthesis, and method, which is able to adapt better to filter out a selected unwanted portion of the auditory input signal by relying on a human activation, such as activation by the user, who knows by listening when the auditory environment contains only, or mostly only, the selected unwanted portion of the auditory input signal. This person may then activate the adaptive filter of the auditory prosthesis. The adaptive filter then utilizes the then current auditory environment as a noise reference on which to adapt. A transducer is adapted to receive the environmental sound and convert the environmental sound into an electrical input signal. The electrical input signal contains a selected electrical component corresponding to the selected auditory component in the environmental sound. An adaptive filter receives the electrical input signal and provides a filtered signal. The adaptive filter has adaptable filtering characteristics based upon a reference.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1992Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: K/S HIMPPInventors: Sigfrid D. Soli, Ralph P. Fravel
-
Patent number: 6542611Abstract: An echo suppressor uses a multi-state operating sequence to provide non-disruptive monitoring of a remotely broadcast program during a performer's live performance at a local site. The operating sequence is actuated by a voice activated switch that initiates signal processing for correlating a locally originating audio (e.g., the performer's voice) to its echo in the broadcast program. During correlation states in the operating sequence, the echo suppressor switches monitoring to a local microphone signal to allow the performer to hear his or her own voice while preventing echo from being heard before correlation is achieved and echo suppression can begin. The correlation states include an initial correlation at a reduced sampling rate to detect echo within a wide delay time window and determine the locally originating audio is on-the-air.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1998Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Circuit Research Labs, Inc.Inventors: Eric B. Lane, Forrest Seitz, Stan Sasaki
-
Publication number: 20030059062Abstract: This invention includes a circuit for the prevention of acoustic feedback between an electronic device and an audio accessory. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit prevents audio feedback between a cellular telephone and a speakerphone accessory. The circuit includes a current limiting device coupled serially in the receive (Rx) line. The current limiting device is actuated via a delay circuit coupled between the current limiting device and the transmit (Tx) line. When a bias current is presented to the Tx line, the bias propagates through the delay circuit, thereby actuating the current limiting device a predetermined time after the presentation of the bias. The circuit keeps the Rx line open long enough for the phone to deactivate its internal microphone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: Kee Eng Soo, Ashok Ramakant Patil, Michael D. Geren, Macwien Krishnamurthi Annamalai
-
Patent number: 6535111Abstract: A wave-discriminating inductive electronic device includes a special integrated circuit that is inducible by a proximity feeble electromagnetic signal generated by a general mobile phone during receiving and transmitting signals, so that the induced integrated circuit is able to control and drive another integrated circuit that includes voice and motor driving circuits. Voices and vibrations produced by the integrated circuit enable the wave-discriminating inductive electronic device to provide a highly interesting entertaining effect.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Inventor: Ching-Tien Tsai
-
Publication number: 20030039370Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a method and apparatus for eliminating audio feedback which includes an active microphone coupled to an amplifier which transmits signals received at the active microphone to a parametric speaker to generate a feedback controlled signal for broadcasting. The apparatus may also be adapted for use with an audio system wherein the invention comprises (i) at least one transducer for detecting at least one sonic frequency and generating an electrical signal representative of the at least one sonic frequency, (ii) a processor for receiving the electrical signal and generating a first ultrasonic frequency which has been modulated with the at least one sonic frequency, (iii) a parametric demodulator for recovering the at least one sonic frequency from the first ultrasonic frequency, and (iv) a speaker for directly emitting the recovered sonic frequency as a feedback controlled audio emission.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventor: Elwood G. Norris
-
Patent number: 6466674Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a method and apparatus for eliminating audio feedback which includes an active microphone coupled to an amplifier which transmits signals received at the active microphone to a parametric speaker to generate a feedback controlled signal for broadcasting. The apparatus may also be adapted for use with an audio system wherein the invention comprises (i) at least one transducer for detecting at least one sonic frequency and generating an electrical signal representative of the at least one sonic frequency, (ii) a processor for receiving the electrical signal and generating a first ultrasonic frequency which has been modulated with the at least one sonic frequency, (iii) a parametric demodulator for recovering the at least one sonic frequency from the first ultrasonic frequency, and (iv) a speaker for directly emitting the recovered sonic frequency as a feedback controlled audio emission.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventor: Elwood G. Norris
-
Publication number: 20020141602Abstract: An earset including a housing positionable with respect to an ear of a person, a microphone disposed with respect to the housing for insertion into the ear of a person, the microphone operable to detect a change in air pressure within the ear while the person speaks and to produce an electrical microphone signal corresponding to the internally detected change in air pressure and a speaker disposed with respect to the housing and operable to produce a sound corresponding to an electrical speaker signal. The earset also includes a circuit coupled to receive the microphone signal and the speaker signal and operable to produce a corrected microphone signal having a reduced feedback component of the microphone signal, the feedback component resulting from the detection by the microphone of the sound produced by the speaker to produce a corrected microphone signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventor: Guerman G. Nemirovski
-
Patent number: 6442280Abstract: A howling canceling apparatus is provided in a sound system containing a microphone, a loudspeaker and an amplifier for canceling howling which may occur by feedback of sound from the loudspeaker to the microphone. In the howling canceling apparatus, a measuring section measures an impulse response of the sound system to determine a time length of a decay portion of the impulse response. A detecting section detects an occurrence of the howling when the determined time length is longer than a predetermined reference time length, and further analyzes a frequency spectrum of the decay portion of the impulse response to determine a frequency point at which the howling occurs. An attenuating section attenuates a frequency component of the sound around the determined frequency point so as to cancel the howling.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1998Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Tsugio Ito
-
Patent number: 6424720Abstract: In order to reduce acoustic echo and restore stereophonic sound in a digital transmission system of sound signals on multiple transmission channels, between a local site and one or several remote sites, comprising several microphones and loudspeakers, the method consists in the following steps: computing a weighting factor to be applied to each microphone signal before emitting, based on two attenuation factors computed from the microphone and loudspeaker signals; transmitting on each transmission channel the linear combination of weighted microphone signals; computing a weighting factor to be applied to each loudspeaker signal; and emitting on the loudspeaker the linear combination of transmitted, weighted signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1999Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: France TelecomInventors: Jean-Philippe Thomas, Alain Saliou, Marc Emerit, Yannick Mahieux
-
Method for feedback recognition in a hearing aid and a hearing aid operating according to the method
Patent number: 6404895Abstract: In a method for feedback recognition in a hearing aid and a hearing aid operating according to the method, a frequency band is defined, a first signal level in the frequency band is determined, the signal on a signal transmission path of the hearing aid is attenuated, and a second signal level of the attenuated signal in the frequency band is determined, and feedback is recognized on the basis of the identified first and second signal levels.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Tom Weidner -
Publication number: 20020044666Abstract: There is disclosed an audio terminal (10) and a method for operating in uncontrolled audio environments, the audio terminal (10) having an echo suppression unit (20) for reducing acoustic feedback (18). The echo suppression unit (20) includes a learner (22) for learning an audio environment of the audio terminal (10) and a control unit (21) for controlling the acoustic feedback (18) in accordance with the audio environment of the audio terminal (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Applicant: VOCALTEC COMMUNICATIONS LTD.Inventors: Alon Eran, Ofir Mecayten