Context aware compressor for headphone audio feedback path
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsNavneet Gandhi, Daniel S. Phillips, Jarrett B. Lagler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A processor is configured to perform headphone playback with a playback audio signal. The processor produces a feedback signal from an internal microphone, compresses the feedback signal according to a variable compressor setting, and determines a context of usage of the headphone, as being one of running or jogging, transportation, and critical listening. In response, the processor changes the variable compressor setting and drives the headphone speaker with the compressed feedback signal combined with the playback audio signal. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
Claims16
A method for headphone audio signal processing, the method comprising:
- performing playback by driving a speaker of a headphone with a playback audio signal;
- and
- during the playback:
- filtering an audio feedback signal from an internal microphone of the headphone, to produce a filtered feedback signal;
- changing two or more of a plurality of compressor parameters based on one or more context inference signals that includes a user volume setting wherein the plurality of compressor parameters comprise attack time, release time, threshold, and compression ratio;
- compressing the filtered feedback signal according to the plurality of compressor parameters to produce a compressed feedback signal;
- and
- driving the speaker of the headphone with the compressed feedback signal combined with the playback audio signal.
A headphone comprising:
- a speaker;
- an internal microphone;
- and
- a processor configured to perform playback by driving the speaker with a playback audio signal, and during the playback:
- produce a feedback signal from the internal microphone,
- compress the feedback signal according to a variable compressor setting to produce a compressed feedback signal, wherein the variable compressor setting is compression ratio that is at a first setting when user volume is maximum, and a second setting when the user volume is below a threshold that is less than the maximum, and wherein the processor is configured to detect when the user volume is below the threshold or that the playback has stopped and in response decrease the compression ratio;
- and
- drive the speaker of the headphone with the compressed feedback signal combined with the playback audio signal.
A processor configured to:
- produce a feedback signal from an internal microphone of a headphone,
- compress the feedback signal according to a variable compressor setting, to produce a compressed feedback signal,
- determine a context of usage of the headphone, as being one of i) transportation, by receiving an indication from a companion device or by processing a global positioning system location signal or a communication network connection, or ii) critical listening, by receiving an indication from the companion device or by processing an inertial measurement unit output signal, and in response change the variable compressor setting;
- and
- drive a speaker of the headphone with the compressed feedback signal combined with a playback audio signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.