Voice control circuit for a communication terminal
US4891837A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M9/08
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A voice control circuit controls the volume range of the voice signals in a communication terminal, such as a video telephone having a hands-free facility. In a hands-free facility, the signal-to-noise ratio is lower than in telephones with handset. To avoid audible feedback, hands-free facility conventionally includes a volume control circuit which decreases or increases the gain in the receive path as the gain in the set path increases or decreases. The problem to be solved is to utilize the maximum possible loop gain without reducing the gain in the receive path. The idea is to place behind the microphone (50) a controllable compandor (52) in which the signal voltages from the microphone (50) are A. compressed if they lie above a predetermined level, B. expanded if they lie below the predetermined level, and C. imparted maximum gain if they have the predetermined level. The predetermined signal level, which corresponds to the compression set point, is varied by a control circuit (90) as a function of the ambient noise.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.