# US 8,787,602 B2 · Device for and a method of processing audio data

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- Number: US 8,787,602 B2
- Document ID: US8787602B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/855,557
- Filed: 2010-08-12
- Published: 2011-02-17
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-17
- Assignees: NXP B.V.
- Applicants: Christophe Marc Macours
- Inventors: Christophe Marc Macours
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787602B2

## CPC

- H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)}
- H04S 7/304: {For headphones}
- H04R 25/43: {Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics (H04R25/407 takes precedence)}
- H04R 25/552: {Binaural}
- H04R 2201/109: Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
- H04R 2420/01: Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers
- H04R 2420/03: Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
- H04R 2460/01: Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
- H04S 1/005: {For headphones}
- 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)
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A device (100) for processing audio data, wherein the device (100) comprises a first audio reproduction unit (102) adapted for reproducing a first part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a left ear (106) of a user (110), a second audio reproduction unit (104) adapted for reproducing a second part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a right ear (108) of the user (110), a detection unit (112) adapted for detecting a left/right inversion of the first audio reproduction unit (102) and the second audio reproduction unit (104), and a control unit (114) adapted for controlling the first audio reproduction unit (102) for reproducing the second part of the audio data and for controlling the second audio reproduction unit (104) for reproducing the first part of the audio data upon detecting the left/right inversion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for processing audio data, wherein the device comprises
a first audio reproduction unit adapted for reproducing a first part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a left ear of a user;
a second audio reproduction unit adapted for reproducing a second part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a right ear of the user;
a detection unit adapted for detecting a left/right inversion of the first audio reproduction unit and the second audio reproduction unit, the detection unit comprising a first signal detection unit located at a position of the first audio reproduction unit and adapted for detecting a first audio detection signal and a second signal detection unit located at a position of the second audio reproduction unit and adapted for detecting a second audio detection signal; and
a control unit adapted for controlling the first audio reproduction unit for reproducing the second part of the audio data and for controlling the second audio reproduction unit for reproducing the first part of the audio data upon detecting the left/right inversion,
wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting the left/right inversion based on the first audio detection signal and the second audio detection signal, and
wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting the left/right inversion by determining a time difference between the first audio detection signal detected by the first signal detection unit and the second audio detection signal detected by the second signal detection unit via calculating acoustical transfer functions between a signal emission unit and the first and second signal detection units or via correlating a reference signal emitted by the signal emission unit with the first and second audio detection signals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal detection unit comprises a first microphone and the second signal detection unit comprises a second microphone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, further comprising the signal emission unit adapted for emitting the reference signal for detection by the first signal detection unit as the first audio detection signal and by the second signal detection unit as the second audio detection signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device according to claim 3, wherein the signal emission unit is adapted for emitting at least one of an audible reference signal and an inaudible reference signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The device according to claim 3, wherein the signal emission unit comprises at least one further audio reproduction unit adapted for reproducing further audio data independently from the first audio reproduction unit and the second audio reproduction unit, the reproduced further audio data constituting the reference signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The device according to claim 3, wherein the signal emission unit is fixedly installed at a predefined reference position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the first audio reproduction unit and the second audio reproduction unit are adapted for Active Noise Reduction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, employed in one of a rear seat entertainment system for a vehicle, a congress system including headphones for translation, and an aircraft entertainment system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the first audio reproduction unit and the second audio reproduction unit form part of one of a headset, a headphone and an earphone.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, employed in at least one of a mobile phone, a hearing aid, a television device, a video recorder, a monitor, a gaming device, a laptop, an audio player, a DVD player, a CD player, a harddisk-based media player, a radio device, an internet radio device, a public entertainment device, an MP3 player, a car entertainment device, a medical communication system, a body-worn device, a speech communication device, a home cinema system, a home theatre system, a flat television apparatus, an ambiance creation device, a studio recording system, and a music hall system.

### Claim 11

A method of processing audio data, wherein the method comprises
reproducing a first part of the audio data by a first audio reproduction unit to be attached to a left ear of a user;
reproducing a second part of the audio data by a second audio reproduction unit to be attached to a right ear of the user;
detecting a first audio detection signal at the first audio reproduction unit;
detecting a second audio detection signal at the second audio reproduction unit;
detecting a left/right inversion of the first audio reproduction unit and the second audio reproduction unit based on the first audio detection signal and the second audio detection signal;
upon detecting the left/right inversion, controlling the first audio reproduction unit for reproducing the second part of the audio data and controlling the second audio reproduction unit for reproducing the first part of the audio data,
wherein the detecting the left/right inversion is effected by determining a time difference between the detecting of the first audio detection signal and the detecting of the second audio detection signal via calculating acoustical transfer functions between a signal emission unit and the first and second signal reproduction units or via correlating a reference signal emitted by the signal emission unit with the first and second audio detection signals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising a computer program for processing audio data according to the method of claim 11.