Real-time audio processing of ambient sound

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10325585-B2
Application number	US-201615383134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2015
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Ambient sound is converted into digital signals. A processor performs active noise cancellation and/or a transformation operation that is distinct from the active noise cancellation on the digital signals. The active noise cancellation and the transformation operation transform the digital signals into modified digital signals. The modified digital signals are converted into modified analog signals. The modified analog signals are outputted as audio waves. An interior microphone is configured to output an output signal to the processor in response to receiving the modified analog signals. In response to receiving the output signal from the interior microphone, the processor is configured to determine whether the modified digital signals produce desired audio waves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an ear piece configured to convert ambient sound into digital signals, wherein the ambient sound spans an audible frequency range and the ambient sound having an ambient sound pressure level, and wherein the ear piece includes an exterior microphone, an interior microphone, and a cushion that includes a series of baffles configured to provide passive noise attenuation;
a communications interface configured to communicate with a mobile device; and
a processor coupled to the exterior microphone and the interior microphone, wherein the processor is configured to perform active noise cancellation and/or one or more transformation operations that are distinct from the active noise cancellation on the digital signals, wherein the active noise cancellation and the one or more transformation operations transform the digital signals into modified digital signals,
wherein in the event the active noise cancellation is performed on the digital signals the modified digital signals have a noise cancellation sound pressure level, wherein the noise cancellation sound pressure level spans the audible frequency range and the noise cancellation sound pressure level is less than the ambient sound pressure level, wherein the noise cancellation sound pressure level is based on the passive noise attenuation provided by the cushion and active noise cancellation provided by the processor,
wherein in the event one of the one or more transformation operations is performed on the digital signals, the modified digital signals have an associated sound pressure level that spans the audible frequency range and the associated sound pressure level is less than the ambient sound pressure level and higher than the noise cancellation sound pressure level,
wherein the ear piece is configured to convert the modified digital signals into modified analog signals and output the modified analog signals as audio waves, wherein the interior microphone is configured to output an output signal in response to receiving the modified analog signals, wherein in response to receiving the output signal from the interior microphone, the processor is configured to determine whether the modified digital signals produce desired audio waves and to continuously adapt the active noise cancellation and a parameter of the one or more transformation operations according to a result of the active noise cancellation and a quality of the one or more transformation operations,
wherein the communications interface is configured to receive, from the mobile device, a first user selection that corresponds to selecting the one of the one or more transformation operations,
wherein the communications interface is configured to receive, from the mobile device, a second user selection that corresponds to altering a selected parameter of the first user selection.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation operation is at least one of:
adding digital reverb to the digital signals;
applying an echo to the digital signals;
applying a digital notch filter; and
applying a flange to mix two copies of the digital signals, wherein a second copy of the digital signals includes a delay between 0.1 and 10 milliseconds relative to a first copy of the digital signals.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the active noise cancellation is designed to reduce noise in a specific frequency range associated with a selected one of background noise at a concert, background noise at a stadium, noise other than those by musicians during musical performance, and noise from a crying baby.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation operation is an application of at least one filter that affects a volume of audio within at least one preselected frequency band.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio waves derived from the ambient sound are output by a speaker less than thirty milliseconds following receipt of the ambient sound.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation operation is altered by an individual using the mobile device and the altered transformation operation is applied to future audio waves generated from ambient sound received after the altered transformation.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation of the one or more transformation operations includes producing the audio wave with a sound pressure level higher than the sound pressure level associated with the ambient sound.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the one or more transformation operations is applied to all frequencies of the ambient sound.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation operation is applied to some frequencies of the ambient sound.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to provide an option to adjust a delay amount associated with the transformation operation.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation operation includes applying one or more filters.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a transformation operation includes applying one or more effects.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the series of baffles provide a plurality of air pockets and a plurality of barriers, wherein each air pocket and barrier provides an amount of passive noise attenuation.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ear piece comprises a first ear piece, the system further comprising:
a second ear piece, wherein the one or more transformation operations includes a stereo separation between the first ear piece and the second ear piece.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein an amount of the stereo separation is selectable according to the second user selection.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to continuously adapt the active noise cancellation according to a least mean squares process.

17. A method, comprising:
converting, by an ear piece, ambient sound into digital signals, wherein the ambient sound spans an audible frequency range and the ambient sound having an ambient sound pressure level, and wherein the ear piece includes an exterior microphone, an interior microphone, and a cushion that includes a series of baffles configured to provide passive noise attenuation;
communicating with a mobile device, by a communications interface;
performing, by a processor, active noise cancellation and/or one or more transformation operations that are distinct from the active noise cancellation on the digital signals, wherein the active noise cancellation and the one or more transformation operations transform the digital signals into modified digital signals,
wherein in the event the active noise cancellation is performed on the digital signals the modified digital signals have a noise cancellation sound pressure level, wherein the noise cancellation sound pressure level spans the audible frequency range and the noise cancellation sound pressure level is less than the ambient sound pressure level, wherein the noise cancellation sound pressure level is based on the passive noise attenuation provided by the cushion and active noise cancellation provided by the processor,
wherein in the event one of the one or more the transformation operations is performed on the digital signals, the modified digital signals have an associated sound pressure level that spans the audible frequency range and the associated sound pressure level is less than the ambient sound pressure level and higher than the noise cancellation sound pressure level;
converting the modified digital signals into modified analog signals; and
outputting the modified analog si

Assignees

• Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp

Inventors

• Baker Jeffrey
• Parks Anthony
• Garcia Sal Gregory
• Burgess Thomas Ezekiel
• Yamamoto Matthew Fumio
• Palmborg Nils Jacob
• Kraft Noah
• Lanman Iii Richard Fritz
• Wiggins Daniel C

Classifications

• H04R2410/05

  Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone · CPC title

• G10K2210/3035

  Models, e.g. of the acoustic system · CPC title

• G10K2210/3033

  Information contained in memory, e.g. stored signals or transfer functions · CPC title

• G10K2210/3026

  Feedback · CPC title

• G10K2210/504

  Calibration · CPC title