Abstract: A telephone having a method and apparatus for increasing the intelligibility of the loudspeaker output and for echo cancellation. The telephone includes an intelligibility booster for processing a speech input signal to generate an intelligibility-enhanced signal. The intelligibility booster includes a reverberation signal path for generating a reverberation signal, a direct signal path for generating an attenuated direct signal corresponding to the input signal, and an adder for combining the reverberation signal and direct signal to generate the intelligibility-enhanced signal. The reverberation signal path includes an intelligibility-information emphasizer followed by a reverberation unit. In the preferred embodiment, the intelligibility information emphasizer is a high pass filter and/or compressor that generates an intelligibility-dense signal to generate the reverberation signal.

Abstract: An antenna coupler for coupling a portable radio to an auxiliary antenna to provide transmission and reception through the auxiliary antenna. The antenna coupler includes an outer tubular conductor and an inner tubular conductor coaxially disposed within the outer tubular conductor. An end cover having an antenna opening is secured to one end of the tubular conductors. The radio and auxiliary antenna are placed in a coupled position by inserting the on-board antenna into the inner tubular conductor. The coupled, on-board antenna and inner tubular conductor form a close-coupled transmission line with the antenna functioning as the central conductor and the inner tubular conductor functioning as an outer conductor of the transmission line. The inner tubular conductor is conductively connected to an impedance matching circuit and RF connector for providing impedance matching and interconnection with the auxiliary antenna.