US 11,393,446 B2Granted

Apparatus and methods for an acoustic noise cancellation audio headset

AssigneeTempo Semiconductor, Inc.

InventorDarrell Tinker

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A method and apparatus for acoustic noise cancellation (“ANC”) in an audio headset. A combination of an analog feedforward path and at least one digital feedforward path enables the ANC facility to operate with the shorter delay inherent in analog electronics, but with the capability of better cancellation of reflections that digital feedforward allows.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An acoustic noise cancellation (“ANC”) facility for use in an acoustic sound system comprising:

a first analog microphone:
configured to receive an undesired acoustic noise signal;
and
adapted to produce an analog noise signal substantially proportional to the received undesired acoustic noise signal;
and
a speaker:
configured to receive an analog anti-noise signal;
and
adapted to produce an acoustic anti-noise signal substantially proportional to the received analog anti-noise signal;
and
the ANC facility comprising:
a digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”):
adapted:
to receive a digital anti-noise signal;
and
to develop the analog anti-noise signal as a function of the received digital anti-noise signal;
a first digital feedforward circuit:
operably coupled:
to the first analog microphone;
and
to the DAC;
and
adapted:
to receive the analog noise signal;
and
to develop:
a digital noise signal proportional to the received analog noise signal;
at a first sample rate, a first digital feedforward signal as a function of the digital noise signal;
and
the digital anti-noise signal as a function of the first digital feedforward signal;
and
a selected one of:
an analog feedforward circuit:
operably coupled:
to the first analog microphone;
and
to the DAC;
and
adapted:
to receive:
the analog noise signal;
and
the analog anti-noise signal;
and
to develop an analog feedforward signal as a function of the received analog noise signal;
and
to mix the analog feedforward signal with the received analog anti-noise signal;
and
a second digital feedforward circuit:
operably coupled between the first digital feedforward circuit and the DAC;
and
adapted:
to receive:
the digital noise signal;
and
the digital anti-noise signal;
to develop at a second sample rate less than the first sample rate, a second digital feedforward signal as a function of the received digital noise signal;
and
to mix the second digital feedforward signal with the received digital anti-noise signal.

56 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/140,084Filed 3 Jan 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Jan 2020
Published: US 2021/0210065 A18 Jul 2021
Granted: 19 Jul 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G10K 11/17881
Using both a reference signal and an error signal: the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone
G10K 11/17854
Of the filter: the filter being an adaptive filter
G10K 2210/1081
Communication systems, e.g. where useful sound is kept and noise is cancelled: earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
G10K 2210/3013
Computational: analogue, i.e. using analogue computers or circuits

Family

Application62/956,786Us provisional application · filed 3 Jan 2020
US 2021/0210065 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Jul 2021
US 11,393,446 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Abstract

An acoustic noise cancellation (“ANC”) facility for use in an acoustic sound system comprising:

a first analog microphone:
configured to receive an undesired acoustic noise signal;
and
adapted to produce an analog noise signal substantially proportional to the received undesired acoustic noise signal;
and
a speaker:
configured to receive an analog anti-noise signal;
and
adapted to produce an acoustic anti-noise signal substantially proportional to the received analog anti-noise signal;
and
the ANC facility comprising:
a digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”):
adapted:
to receive a digital anti-noise signal;
and
to develop the analog anti-noise signal as a function of the received digital anti-noise signal;
a first digital feedforward circuit:
operably coupled:
to the first analog microphone;
and
to the DAC;
and
adapted:
to receive the analog noise signal;
and
to develop:
a digital noise signal proportional to the received analog noise signal;
at a first sample rate, a first digital feedforward signal as a function of the digital noise signal;
and
the digital anti-noise signal as a function of the first digital feedforward signal;
and
a selected one of:
an analog feedforward circuit:
operably coupled:
to the first analog microphone;
and
to the DAC;
and
adapted:
to receive:
the analog noise signal;
and
the analog anti-noise signal;
and
to develop an analog feedforward signal as a function of the received analog noise signal;
and
to mix the analog feedforward signal with the received analog anti-noise signal;
and
a second digital feedforward circuit:
operably coupled between the first digital feedforward circuit and the DAC;
and
adapted:
to receive:
the digital noise signal;
and
the digital anti-noise signal;
to develop at a second sample rate less than the first sample rate, a second digital feedforward signal as a function of the received digital noise signal;
and
to mix the second digital feedforward signal with the received digital anti-noise signal.

56 more elements

Facts

Application

17/140,084Filed 3 Jan 2021 · us provisional application

Priority

3 Jan 2020

Published

US 2021/0210065 A18 Jul 2021

Granted

19 Jul 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G10K 11/17881
Using both a reference signal and an error signal: the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone
G10K 11/17854
Of the filter: the filter being an adaptive filter
G10K 2210/1081
Communication systems, e.g. where useful sound is kept and noise is cancelled: earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
G10K 2210/3013
Computational: analogue, i.e. using analogue computers or circuits