US5381473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Noise cancellation apparatus
Assignee: Andrea Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-29
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Granted: 1995-01-10
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Expires: 2012-10-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for reducing acoustic background noise for use with a telephone handset or a boom microphone device or the like. The apparatus includes first and second microphones which are arranged such that the first microphone receives a desired speech input and the background noise present in the vicinity of the speech, and the second microphone receives substantially only the background noise. The background noise from the second microphone is converted into a corresponding electrical signal and subtracted from a signal corresponding to the speech and background noise obtained from the first microphone so as to produce a signal representing substantially the speech.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Andrea
- 👤 Martin Topf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R3/00; H04R3/02; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/04; H04M1/05; H04M1/19; H04M1/60; H04M1/6008; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/10; H04B1/12; H04R2201/00; H04R2201/10; H04R2201/107; H04R2201/40; H04R2201/403; H04R29/00; H04R29/004; H04R29/005; H04R29/006; H04R3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A telephone handset apparatus having a speaker portion and a receiver portion for use with a telephone unit operable by standard power supplied from said telephone unit for transmitting and receiving signals representing speech between two or more operators, said apparatus comprising: a housing in the receiver portion having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech from the operator using said apparatus and background noise in the vicinity of said speech and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ with respect to said first microphone means, and adjacent thereto, for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal; and means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal so as to obtain a signal representing substantially said speech.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A telephone handset apparatus having a speaker portion and a receiver portion for use with a telephone unit operable by standard power supplied from said telephone unit for transmitting and receiving signals representing speech between two or more operators, said apparatus comprising: a housing in the receiver portion having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech from the operator using said apparatus and background noise in the vicinity of said speech and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ with respect to said first microphone means, and adjacent thereto, for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal; and means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal so as to obtain a signal representing substantially said speech.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle φ lies within a range from approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60 degrees.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first microphone means is arranged in said housing such that an angle Θ formed between a plane passing through a portion of said first microphone means which receives said first acoustic sound and an input direction of said speech is less than approximately 35 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second microphone means is arranged in said housing such that an angle β formed between an axis normal to the receiving portion of said second microphone means and said input direction of said speech is approximately equal to [(90-Θ)+φ] degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The telephone handset apparatus recording to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second microphone means includes a plurality of microphones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising amplifier means for selectively amplifying a signal received from one or more of said operators so as to produce an amplified signal therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first and second microphone means, said means for subtracting and said amplifier means are powered by said standard power supplied from said telephone unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for subtracting and said amplifier means are formed on a low-powered integrated circuit chip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said low-powered integrated circuit chip is a Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor (CMOS) chip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising protecting means for protecting said housing, said protecting means including a portion having a predetermined thickness and a number of holes contained therein and which is situated adjacent to said first microphone means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined thickness is less than approximately 0.030 of an inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said protecting means further includes a side portion and wherein said portion having said predetermined thickness is located below an upper portion of said side portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said protecting means is formed from a plastic-type material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for use with a telephone handset having a speaker portion and a receiver portion for reducing acoustical noise, said apparatus comprising: a housing in the receiver portion having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech from an operator using said telephone handset and background noise in the vicinity of said speech and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ with respect to said first microphone means, and adjacent thereto, for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal; and means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal so as to obtain a signal representing substantially said speech.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for use with a telephone handset having a speaker portion and a receiver portion for reducing acoustical noise, said apparatus comprising: a housing in the receiver portion having first microphone means for receiving a first acoustic sound composed of speech from an operator using said telephone handset and background noise in the vicinity of said speech and for converting said first acoustic sound to a first signal, and second microphone means arranged at a predetermined angle φ with respect to said first microphone means, and adjacent thereto, for receiving a second acoustic sound composed of substantially said background noise and for converting said second acoustic sound to a second signal; and means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal so as to obtain a signal representing substantially said speech.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined angle φ lies within a range from approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first microphone means is arranged in said housing such that an angle Θ formed between a plane passing through a portion of said first microphone means which receives said first acoustic sound and an input direction of said speech is less than approximately 35 degrees.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second microphone means is arranged in said housing such that an angle β formed between an axis normal to the receiving portion of said second microphone means and said input direction of said speech is approximately equal to [(90-Θ)+φ] degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second microphone means includes a plurality of microphones.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising amplifier means for selectively amplifying a signal received from another operator so as to produce an amplified signal therefrom.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said first and second microphone means, said means for subtracting and said amplifier means are powered by standard power supplied to said telephone handset.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said means for subtracting and said amplifier means are formed on a low-powered integrated circuit chip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said low-powered integrated circuit chip is a Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor (CMOS) chip.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising protecting means for protecting said housing, said protecting means including a portion having a predetermined thickness and a number of holes contained therein and which is situated adjacent to said first microphone means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said predetermined thickness is less than approximately 0.030 of an inch.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said protecting means further includes a side portion and wherein said portion having said predetermined thickness is located below an upper portion of said side portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said protecting means is formed from a plastic-type material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The telephone handset apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second microphones are matched to each other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first and second microphone means are matched to each other.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-09 | 1998-07-11 | 1999-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-09 | 2002-07-11 | 2003-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-09 | 2006-07-11 | 2007-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |