Patent · US Active

Virtual microphones in electronic conferencing systems

US8644525B2 · kind B2 · utility

41Cited by
27References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 2, 2004
Grant dateFeb 4, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 12, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M3/56
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This disclosure describes a virtual microphone for reducing common-mode noise for an individual pod in a multi-pod conferencing system that includes a base and a plurality of pods for local conference participants to communicate with remote conference participants. The described virtual microphone includes pod processor means and a loudspeaker that couples to a digital to analog converter that converts digital audio to analog audio, where the loudspeaker couples to the pod processor means. In addition, the virtual microphone includes three physical bi-polar microphones positioned at 120-degree intervals in the horizontal resting plane of the pod, where each individual physical microphone connects to a pair of audio ports with each audio port being equal distance from the loudspeaker, and where the physical microphones couple to analog to digital converting means, and further where the physical microphones couple to the pod processor means. Further, the virtual microphone includes virtual microphone means. And, the virtual microphone includes pod echo cancellation means. Further, the virtual microphone includes microphone gating means using a loudness value, a quietness counter, and…

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