Patent · US Active

Signaling microphone covering to the user

US8374362B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
4References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 2008
Grant dateFeb 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2499/11
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mechanism is provided that monitors secondary microphone signals, in a multi-microphone mobile device, to warn the user if one or more secondary microphones are covered while the mobile device is in use. In one example, smoothly averaged power estimates of the secondary microphones may be computed and compared against the noise floor estimate of a primary microphone. Microphone covering detection may be made by comparing the secondary microphone smooth power estimates to the noise floor estimate for the primary microphone. In another example, the noise floor estimates for the primary and secondary microphone signals may be compared to the difference in the sensitivity of the first and second microphones to determine if the secondary microphone is covered. Once detection is made, a warning signal may be generated and issued to the user.

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