Automatic sound pass-through method and system for earphones
US9491542B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2013 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2430/01
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Earphone systems and methods for automatically directing ambient sound to an earphone device are provided. An ambient microphone signal from an ambient microphone proximate a sound isolating earphone or headset device is directed to a receiver within an earphone device according to mixing circuitry. The mixing circuitry is controlled by voice activity of the earphone device wearer. This enables hands-free operation of an earphone system to allow the earphone device wearer to maintain situation awareness with the surrounding environment. During detected voice activity, incoming audio content is attenuated while ambient sound is increased and provided to the earphone device. User voice activity is detected by analysis of at least one of an ear canal microphone signal or an ambient sound microphone signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.