Patent · US Expired

Automatic speaker volume and microphone gain control in a portable handheld radiotelephone with proximity sensors

US6853850B2 · kind B2 · utility

66Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 4, 2000
Grant dateFeb 8, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2250/12
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Method and system for controlling operation of radiotelephone speaker volume and/or microphone gain. Using signals from one or more proximity sensors associated with the radiotelephone device, the device determines if a radiotelephone user is within a selected proximity zone for the device. If the user is within the proximity zone, the system adjusts the speaker volume control and/or the microphone gain control according to an estimated user-device distance. If the user is beyond the proximity zone, the system may adjust the speaker volume and/or microphone gain to its maximum value, may provide a notification that the user not within the proximity zone, or may disable the speaker and/or microphone. Several varieties of proximity sensors are used, individually and in combination.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.