Ear-coupling detection and adjustment of adaptive response in noise-canceling in personal audio devices
US8908877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K2210/503
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal and injects the anti-noise signal into the speaker or other transducer output to cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds. An error microphone is also provided proximate the speaker to estimate an electro-acoustical path from the noise canceling circuit through the transducer. A processing circuit determines a degree of coupling between the user's ear and the transducer and adjusts the adaptive cancellation of the ambient sounds to prevent erroneous and possibly disruptive generation of the anti-noise signal if the degree of coupling lies either below or above a range of normal operating ear contact pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.