User voice activity detection methods, devices, assemblies, and components

US10564925B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Jiajin An · Portland, US
• Michael Jon Wurtz · Lake Oswego, US
• David Wurtz · Portland, US
• Manpreet S. Khaira · Portland, US
• Amit Kumar · San Ramon, US
• Shawn O'Connor · Austin, US
• Shankar Rathoud · Beaverton, US
• James Scanlan · Winchester, GB
• Eric Sorensen · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2017
• Grant date: Feb 18, 2020
• Expiry date: Sep 21, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02D10/00
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Many headsets include automatic noise cancellation (ANC) which dramatically reduces perceived background noise and improves user listening experience. Unfortunately, the voice microphones in these devices often capture ambient noise that the headsets output during phone calls or other communication sessions to other users. In response, many headsets and communication devices provide manual muting circuitry, but users frequently forget to turn the muting on and/or off, creating further problems as they communicate. To address this, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary headset that detects the absence or presence of user speech, automatically muting and unmuting the voice microphone without user intervention. Some embodiments leverage relationships between feedback and feedforward signals in ANC circuitry to detect user speech, avoiding the addition of extra hardware to the headset. Other embodiments also leverage the speech detection function to activate and deactivate keyword detectors, and/or sidetone circuits, thus extending battery.