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US 6,212,496 B1Granted
Customizing audio output to a user's hearing in a digital telephone
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorsLowell Campbell, Daniel Robertson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for producing an audio output customized to a listener's hearing impairment through a digital telephone. A user initially sets user parameters to represent the user's hearing spectrum. In receiving a call, the digital telephone receives an input signal. The digital telephone adjusts the input signal according to the user parameters and generates an output signal based upon the adjusted input signal.
Claims19
A method of adjusting audio output of a digital telephone, comprising:
- obtaining user parameters which represent a user's individual hearing spectrum, wherein obtaining the user parameters comprises
- generating a plurality of tones with the digital telephone,
- receiving a user response to a plurality of said tones entered into the digital telephone, and
- setting a user parameter based upon the user responses;
- receiving a digital input signal representing information to be heard by the user;
- adjusting the digital input signal according to the user parameters to form a hearing-adjusted digital signal;
- and
- generating an analog output signal based upon the hearing-adjusted digital signal.
5 more elements
A method of adjusting audio output of a digital telephone, comprising:
- obtaining user parameters which represent a user's individual hearing spectrum, wherein obtaining the user parameters comprises
- generating a plurality of tones with the digital telephone,
- receiving a user response to a plurality of said tones entered into the digital telephone, and
- setting a user parameter based upon the user responses;
- receiving a digital signal;
- decoding the received digital signal using a vocoder;
- using the vocoder to shift the pitch lag parameter of the decoded digital signal from frequency bands in which the user parameters indicate the user cannot hear to frequency bands in which the user parameters indicate the user can hear, in addition to using the vocoder to shift the poles and zeros of the vocal tract filter function in the vocoder, forming a shifted digital signal;
- and
- generating an analog output signal based upon the digital signal.
6 more elements
A method of adjusting audio output of a digital telephone, comprising:
- obtaining user parameters which represent a user's individual hearing spectrum, wherein obtaining the user parameters comprises
- generating a plurality of tones with the digital telephone,
- receiving a user response to a plurality of said tones entered into the digital telephone, and
- setting a user parameter based upon the user responses;
- receiving a digital signal;
- decoding the received digital signal using a vocoder;
- applying a fast Fourier transform to the digital signal to convert the digital signal from a time domain into a frequency domain;
- amplifying the converted digital signal in frequency bands in which the user parameters indicate the user's hearing is impaired;
- applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to the amplified digital signal to convert the amplified digital signal from the frequency domain into the time domain;
- and
- generating an analog output signal based upon the digital signal.
8 more elements
A method of adjusting audio output of a digital telephone to match a user's individual hearing ability, comprising:
- first, adjusting a received digital signal according to a first set of user parameters which represent a first user's hearing ability;
- and
- second, adjusting a received digital signal according to a second set of user parameters which represent a second user's hearing ability.
A digital telephone for adjusting audio output to a user's individual hearing spectrum, comprising:
- an audio output;
- an audio input;
- an entry for receiving a digital signal;
- a case coupled to the audio output, the audio input, and the entry;
- a memory for storing user parameters which represent the user's individual hearing ability;
- and
- a digital signal processor coupled to the memory, the entry, and the audio output, wherein the digital signal processor includes a vocoder connected to the entry and a frequency transformation element, and
- wherein the digital signal processor shifts the signal from frequency bands in which the user parameters stored in the memory indicate the user's hearing is impaired to frequency bands in which the user parameters indicate the user's hearing is not impaired, and
- wherein the digital signal processor amplifies the shifted signal in frequency bands in which the user parameters stored in the memory indicate the user's hearing is impaired.
6 more elements
A digital telephone for adjusting a digital signal according to a user's hearing ability, comprising:
- a user parameter control element including a memory for storing user parameters representing the user's hearing ability;
- a receiving element for receiving a signal;
- a digital signal processor connected to the user parameter control element and the receiving element, where the digital signal processor includes a vocoder connected to the receiving element and a frequency transformation element, and
- where the digital signal processor shifts the signal from frequency bands in which the user parameters stored in the memory indicate the user's hearing is impaired to frequency bands in which the user parameters indicate the user's hearing is not impaired, and
- where the digital signal processor amplifies the shifted signal in frequency bands in which the user parameters stored in the memory indicate the user's hearing is impaired;
- and
- an output element connected to the digital signal processor, for outputting the amplified signal.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.