# US 2010/0166205 A1 · Information processing apparatus and information processing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166205 A1 - Document ID: US20100166205A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/613,669 - Filed: 2009-11-06 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-26 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Katsumi YAMAOKA; Hideto Saraoka; Toshie Oinuma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166205A1 ## CPC - G10K 11/17819: {between the output signals and the reference signals, e.g. to prevent howling} - G10K 11/17823: {Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment} - G10K 11/17833: {by using a self-diagnostic function or a malfunction prevention function, e.g. detecting abnormal output levels} - G10K 11/17873: {using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward} - G10K 2210/1053: Hi-fi, i.e. anything involving music, radios or loudspeakers - G10K 2210/1081: Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets - H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract An information processing apparatus includes a jack, a noise-canceling section, a judgment section, and a first regulation section. The jack is connectable with a plug of a headphone including a microphone, outputs a first signal to the headphone, and inputs a second signal from the microphone. The noise-canceling section generates a third signal that cancels a noise component around the headphone based on the second signal input from the jack and enables an operation of superposing the third signal on the first signal. The judgment section judges whether at least one of the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined level. The first regulation section regulates an operation of the noise-canceling section when the judgment section detects that the predetermined level is exceeded. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information processing apparatus, comprising: a jack that is connectable with a plug of a headphone including a microphone, outputs a first signal to the headphone, and inputs a second signal from the microphone; a noise-canceling section to generate a third signal that cancels a noise component around the headphone based on the second signal input from the jack and enable an operation of superposing the third signal on the first signal; a judgment section to judge whether at least one of the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined level; and a first regulation section to regulate an operation of the noise-canceling section when the judgment section judges that the predetermined level is exceeded. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first detection section to detect that a plug is connected to the jack; and a second regulation section to regulate the operation of the noise-canceling section for a predetermined period of time after the first detection section detects that the plug is connected to the jack. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a second detection section to detect that the plug of the headphone including the microphone is connected to the jack; and a release section to release the regulation on the operation of the noise-canceling section by the second regulation section when the second detection section detects that the plug of the headphone including the microphone is connected to the jack. ### Claim 4 An information processing apparatus, comprising: a jack that is connectable with a plug of a headphone including a microphone, outputs a first signal to the headphone, and inputs a second signal from the microphone; a noise-canceling section to generate a third signal that cancels a noise component around the headphone based on the second signal input from the jack and superpose the third signal on the first signal; a switch to make a switch as to whether the third signal is superposed on the first signal; a comparator to compare one of a first voltage of the first signal and a second voltage of the second signal with a predetermined third voltage and output a fourth signal when one of the first voltage and the second voltage exceeds the third voltage; and a flip-flop that is capable of holding the fourth signal and outputs a fifth signal with which the switch is turned off when the flip-flop holds the fourth signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a control section to output a sixth signal with which the switch is turned on, wherein the flip-flop is capable of holding the sixth signal and turns on the switch when flip-flop holds the sixth signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the jack includes a microphone input terminal, the information processing apparatus further comprising: a power source to supply power to the microphone input terminal; and a first hysteresis comparator to compare a fourth voltage applied to the microphone input terminal with a predetermined fifth voltage and output a seventh signal when the fourth voltage is lower than the fifth voltage, wherein the control section turns off the switch for a predetermined period of time when the first hysteresis comparator outputs the seventh signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second hysteresis comparator to compare the fourth voltage applied to the microphone input terminal with a predetermined sixth voltage set to be lower than the fifth voltage and output an eighth signal when the fourth voltage is in a range between the fifth voltage and the sixth voltage, wherein the control section turns on the switch when the second hysteresis comparator outputs the eighth signal. ### Claim 8 An information processing method, comprising: generating, based on a second signal input from a jack that is connectable with a plug of a headphone including a microphone, outputs a first signal to the headphone, and inputs the second signal from the microphone, a third signal that cancels a noise component around the headphone; superposing the third signal on the first signal; judging whether at least one of the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined level; and regulating the superposing the third signal on the first signal when it is detected that the predetermined level is exceeded.