Abstract: A system for managing the changing state of an adaptive filter in an active noise control (ANC) system is described. An adaptive filter state storage stores copies of prior states of the adaptive filter. A disturbance detector can detect either normal ambient noise or abnormal ambient noise. An adaptive filter state manager signals that a copy of a current state of the adaptive filter is to be repeatedly written to the state storage, so long as normal ambient noise is being detected. But when abnormal noise is detected, the state manager signals that the adaptive filter be restored to one of its prior states, from the copies stored in the state storage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A feed forward active noise cancellation (ANC) system for use in a portable audio device has an adaptive digital filter and a reference microphone. A non-adaptive pre-shaping digital filter has an input coupled to the reference microphone and is in series with, and in front of, the adaptive filter. The pre-shaping filter is minimum phase and presents at least 2 dB more gain over a low audio frequency band than over a high audio frequency band. This may help compensate for low frequency band difficulties, and may thereby extend ANC bandwidth at the low end without a worsening impact on the high end. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient noise level is greater than a threshold level of an audio artifact that could be induced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient noise level is greater than a threshold level of an audio artifact that could be induced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient acoustic noise level is greater than an estimate of the anti-noise produced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A communications device is configured to control the intelligibility of speech in a downlink voice signal during a call. The device determines a current noise level based on sampling ambient acoustic noise and based on a previously determined noise level. The device then determines an overall output gain and a frequency response based on the current noise level and based on a user-selected volume setting of the device. The device modifies the downlink voice signal during the call in accordance with the determined overall output gain and the determined frequency response. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method in a communications device includes the following operations. During a call, a process automatically detects that the device has moved from an at-the-ear position to an away-from-the-ear position. Based on the detection, a noise suppressor that operates upon an uplink signal for the call is signaled to change its noise suppression performance. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Active noise cancellation (ANC) circuitry is coupled to the input of an earpiece speaker in a portable audio device, to control the ambient acoustic noise outside of the device and that may be heard by a user of the device. A microphone is to pickup sound emitted from the earpiece speaker, as well as the ambient acoustic noise. Control circuitry deactivates the ANC in response to determining that an estimate of how much sound emitted from the earpiece speaker has been corrupted by noise indicates insufficient corruption by noise. In another embodiment, the ANC decision is in response to determining that an estimate of the ambient noise level is greater than a threshold level of an audio artifact that could be induced by the ANC. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: This invention describes a mobile phone with a means of measuring a background sound level of an environment. When a user either initiates or receives a phone call, sound levels before and during the call are compared. Once it is decided that the voice is too loud based on a predetermined criteria, the phone gives the user a feedback indicating that the voice is too loud and potentially a disruption to other people. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feedback for a voice adjustment by utilizing a sidetone adaptive signal that filters the user own speech directly to an earpiece.

Abstract: This invention describes a mobile phone with a means of measuring a background sound level of an environment. When a user either initiates or receives a phone call, sound levels before and during the call are compared. Once it is decided that the voice is too loud based on a predetermined criteria, the phone gives the user a feedback indicating that the voice is too loud and potentially a disruption to other people. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feedback for a voice adjustment by utilizing a sidetone adaptive signal that filters the user own speech directly to an earpiece.