EP0564874A1 - Zweiweg-Kommunikations-Ohrhörer mit Filter - Google Patents

Zweiweg-Kommunikations-Ohrhörer mit Filter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0564874A1
EP0564874A1 EP93104560A EP93104560A EP0564874A1 EP 0564874 A1 EP0564874 A1 EP 0564874A1 EP 93104560 A EP93104560 A EP 93104560A EP 93104560 A EP93104560 A EP 93104560A EP 0564874 A1 EP0564874 A1 EP 0564874A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filter
user
microphone
high end
frequency
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93104560A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0564874B1 (de
Inventor
Noboru Yamaguchi
Masao Konomi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pan Communications Inc
Original Assignee
Pan Communications Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pan Communications Inc filed Critical Pan Communications Inc
Publication of EP0564874A1 publication Critical patent/EP0564874A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0564874B1 publication Critical patent/EP0564874B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R3/02—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for preventing acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1016—Earpieces of the intra-aural type

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a two-way communications earset with a filter which is worn in or at the ear of the user for use in two-way voice communications and which is operated hands-free.
  • the earset can transmit the user's voice and receive the voice signals of another party simultaneously without causing feedback.
  • Such portable telephones typically include a handset requiring the use of at least one hand for communication.
  • a disadvantage of the handset type of telephone is that they are inconvenient to use in front of a computer or while driving a car. In such instances, the user must use a hand to hold the handset while typing at the keyboard, which is very difficult to do, or while holding the Steering wheel of a car, which is dangerous. Alternatively, the user must hold the telephone handset to their ear with their shoulder, which is very uncomfortable.
  • a conventional two-way communications apparatus used with hands-free telephones comprises a headband including a speaker positioned in front of one ear and a boom attached to the headband with a small microphone at one end of the boom. With the boom connected to the headband, the microphone extends in front of the mouth of the user.
  • this type of hands-free telephone is not convenient to use because it is cumbersome and because it disturbs the hair of the user.
  • Another conventional two-way communications system used with hands-free telephones includes a structure which hangs from the ear of the user.
  • This type of communications system includes a speaker positioned in front of the user's ear and a boom having a microphone extending in front of the mouth of the user.
  • a structure is not convenient for the user because it typically does not hang well at the ear and because it is bulky to carry owing to the boom.
  • Yet another conventional two-way communication system comprises a speaker and a microphone both housed in an earset unit which is worn in the ear of the user.
  • Such an earset does not require use of hands to operate and does not have a boom extending in front of the user's mouth.
  • a drawback of this earset is that users cannot increase the sound volumes of either the speaker or the microphone. Therefore, the use of this type of earset is limited to quiet environments.
  • microphone sensitivity in such conventional earsets is set to a low level.
  • the user is difficult to hear.
  • the sensitivity of the speaker is set at a low level as well, the user tends to cover the earset with a hand in order to obtain improved communications in a noisy environment.
  • this tends to gauge feedback. Because of these drawbacks, conventional earsets include a warning regarding the tendency for feedback and are not widely used.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an earset for use in two-way voice communications which is worn in or at the ear of the user and which is operated hands-free.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an earset which transmits the user's voice and receives voice signals from another party simultaneously without feedback caused by acoustic or mechanical coupling between the speaker and the microphone.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an earset which delivers an adequate level of sound to the user without causing feedback, while also delivering an adequate level of sound to a receiver at the other end of the communication system.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide an earset which includes a mechanical or electrical filter that eliminates audio frequencies tending to cause feedback.
  • the earset of the present invention comprises a two-way simultaneous voice transmitting and receiving device comprising a case comprising an enlarged portion adapted to be placed in an ear auricle of a user and a hollow portion extending along a direction parallel to a mouth of the user, wherein the enlarged portion houses a speaker with an output led to an ear canal of the user and the hollow portion houses a microphone, and means, situated within an audio signal loop coupling the speaker to the microphone, for filtering a high end range of audio frequencies that causes feedback.
  • the present invention further comprises a two-way simultaneous voice transmitting and receiving device comprising a case including an enlarged portion adapted to be placed in an auricle of a user's ear and a hollow portion extending parallel to a mouth of the user, wherein the hollow portion houses a microphone, and the enlarged portion houses a speaker with an output to an ear canal of the user, wherein the speaker passes frequencies in a range of 300 to 1000 Hz and has a high end cut off frequency below 2.5 KHz.
  • the present invention comprises a two-way simultaneous voice transmitting and receiving device comprising a case including an enlarged portion adapted to be placed in an auricle of a user's ear and a hollow portion extending parallel to a mouth of the user, wherein the enlarged portion houses a speaker with an output led into an ear canal of the user, and the hollow portion houses a microphone, and wherein the microphone passes frequencies in a range of 300 to 1000 Hz and has a high end cut off frequency below 2.5 KHz.
  • the earset 1 has an L-shaped configuration and is preferably made of plastic.
  • the short arm of the L-shaped earset 1 includes an enlarged portion 1a which is inserted in the ear canal of the user.
  • the enlarged portion 1a includes an earset component portion 1b and an insertion portion 1c.
  • the enlarged portion 1a is placed in the ear auricle of the user and the insertion portion 1c is inserted into the ear canal.
  • the insertion portion 1c is preferably shaped so that the ear canal of the user will not be completely clogged by the device and so that the device will not be so loose that feedback due to leaked sound is caused.
  • a speaker 3 is housed in the earset component portion 1b and is supported by resilient material 4.
  • the output of the speaker 3 is input to the insertion part 1c and is fed into the ear canal of the user.
  • the speaker 3 can preferably be either a magnetic-type speaker or dynamic-type speaker. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the speaker 3 is situated in the earset component portion 1b. However, in accordance with the present invention, the speaker 3 can be placed in an alternate location, so long as the output from the speaker 3 is guided into the ear canal of the user.
  • the long arm of the L-shaped earset 1 preferably includes a hollow portion 1d which has a small hole 1e at the lower end thereof and an electret type microphone 5 at an upper portion thereof.
  • the microphone 5 can be either a bidirectional-type or a unidirectional-type microphone.
  • a sound pipe 2 is also contained within the hollow portion 1d and connects the small hole 1e and the microphone 5. In operation, the microphone 5 detects the voice signals of the user through the small hole 1e and the sound pipe 2.
  • a filter 6 is placed within the sound pipe 2 and is situated between the microphone 5 and the small hole 1e.
  • the filter 6 passes audio frequencies within a preferred range of 300 to 1000 Hz with a cut off frequency of preferably below 2.5 KHz, as described in greater detail below. Additionally, as also described in more detail below, the filter 6 can be located at alternate locations in the earset.
  • a wire 7 extends through the hollow portion 1d and combines the wires from the speaker 3 and the microphone 5.
  • the earset 1 is operated in the following manner.
  • electrical signals which are received are fed via the wire 7 to the speaker 3.
  • the speaker 3 emits sound to the ear canal of the user via a hole 1f in the insertion portion 1c.
  • the voice signal of the person using the earset 1 passes through the small hole 1e and filter 6 and reaches the microphone 5.
  • the microphone 5 converts the sound to electrical signals that are sent via the wire 7 to an amplifier, which is not shown in Figs. 1 or 2.
  • Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of an earset according to the present invention.
  • the device has a two-piece construction including a two-way wireless communication device 8 connected to an earset 1.
  • the communication device 8 includes a transmitter/receiver at the front portion of the ear lobe.
  • the communication device also includes a battery cell located at the back portion of the ear lobe. The battery cell and the transmitter/receiver remain connected to the ear lobe by a pinching mechanism located therebetween.
  • the earset 1, shown in Fig. 3, is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the unique sound field around the auricle of the ear was studied by the inventors of the present invention. This sound field was found to extend not only in front of the auricle, but also in the area surrounding the auricle and to result from a combination of the sound near the auricle, the ear canal and the head. It was also determined that the sound field generates sound reflection, diffraction and resonance.
  • acoustic and mechanical coupling between the speaker 3 and the microphone 5 was determined to increase selectively at a few specific frequencies between 1 KHz and 3.4 KHz. These specific frequencies vary depending on the type of earset worn by the user and the voice characteristics of the user.
  • signals within the area of the specific frequencies are reduced.
  • the specific identified frequencies can be reduced without lowering the quality of voice communications.
  • acoustic coupling and feedback can also be significantly reduced.
  • the inventors of the present invention found that if he high end cut off frequency was made too low, the quality of voice communications would be unacceptable. Conversely, if the high end cut off frequency was set too high, feedback occurred too readily. The inventors also considered that when sound passes from a free sound field to the ear drum, the sound pressure of signals between 1 KHz to around 2.5 KHz increases.
  • the filter 6 preferably is configured to pass frequencies in the range of 300 to 1000 Hz and to preferably have a high end cut off frequency of below 2.5 KHz.
  • the filter 6 is situated in the earset 1 in an audio signal loop coupling the speaker 3 and the microphone 5.
  • the audio signal loop is defined as electrical or mechanical connection between the speaker 3 and the microphone 5.
  • the filter 6 With the filter 6 coupled to the speaker 3, the speaker 3 will preferably have output characteristics that pass low frequencies in the range of 300 Hz to 1,000 Hz and have a high end cut-off frequency of below 2.5 KHz.
  • electrical signals from the microphone 5 will preferably have signal characteristics that pass low frequencies in the range of 300 Hz to 1,000 Hz and have a high end cut-off frequency of below 2.5 KHz.
  • two or more filters with portions of the desired frequency response can be allocated between the speaker 3 and microphone 5 in the audio signal loop.
  • the earset 1 in of the present invention be sensitive to human voice signals, but not to ambient noise or noise that is leaked from the speaker 3. Because the earset 1 is small in size and is mounted at the entrance of the ear canal of the user, it is preferable that the earset 1 have a structure which provides a greater sensitivity to voice signals and a lesser sensitivity to sound reaching the earset 1 from other directions.
  • Fig. 4 is a side view of a mechanical filter 61 which may be employed in the earset 1 shown in Figs. 1-3.
  • the filter 61 is preferably made of a fiber sheet coiled so that the sheet fits into the cylindrically shaped hollow portion 1d.
  • the filter 61 comprises a coil of highly fibrous paper tightly wound and filling the hollow portion 1d, which preferably has a diameter of 6 mm.
  • the mechanical filter 61 is constructed so that it has the frequency characteristics described above. The resultant frequency characteristic can be varied by changing the density of the coil, ie., reducing the number of coils.
  • the structure of the coiled fiber sheet achieves the desired frequency response and improves the sensitivity of the earset 1 to voice signals.
  • the mechanical filter 61 may be constructed of glass wool, rock wool, felt, materials such as high density sponge, or fibres made of cotton and pulp. More specifically, the mechanical filter 61 may comprise a cigarette filter because it has been found that cigarette filters can achieve the desired frequency characteristics. Additionally, a cigarette filter fits within the hollow portion 1d and are readily available.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment in which a mechanical filter 6 is positioned in front of microphone 5.
  • a mechanical filter 6 with a similar frequency response can alternatively be placed in front of the speaker 3.
  • a first mechanical filter 6 with a portion of the desired filter characteristics be placed in front of the microphone 5 while another mechanical filter 6, having another portion of the desired frequency response, be positioned in front of the speaker 3.
  • the filter 6 may preferably comprise electrical components, as shown in Figs. 5A and 6A.
  • Fig. 5A shows a low pass filter 62 comprising an operational amplifier 9 which can be used as the filter 6 of the earset 1.
  • Fig. 6A shows a band pass filter 63 also comprising an operational amplifier 10 which can be used as the filter 6 of the earset 1.
  • Fig. 5B and Fig. 6B show the frequency responses of the filters shown in Fig. 5A and Fig. 6A, respectively.
  • the operational amplifier may comprise a National Semiconductor LM324 type operational amplifier although alternative devices are known or can be designed by those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the mechanical filter 61 the low pass filter 62 and the band pass filter 63 are preferably placed in the audio loop between the speaker 3 and the microphone 5.
  • the high end cut off frequency of the filter 6 is preferably below 2.5 KHz.
  • the high end cut off frequencies for a frequency band with or without amplitude ripple, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, respectively, will be different.
  • the high end cut off frequency of the low pass or band pass filters 62 and 63 shown, respectively, in Figs. 5A and 6A is defined such that if the filter 6 does not have a ripple characteristic within the frequency range allowed to pass therethrough, as shown in Fig. 7, the cut-off frequency of the filter 6 is defined as that after which an output from the filter 6 becomes 3 dB below the maximum amplitude within the allowable frequency range.
  • the cut-off frequency is defined as that frequency after which an output from the filter 6 becomes 3 dB below the average amplitude within the allowed frequency range.
  • the filters 62 and 63 may cut off certain high frequency components of the speech signals and may therefore deteriorate voice communications.
  • an alternative filter 64 which includes a compensating circuit can be used.
  • Fig. 9A is a circuit diagram of such a compensation filter 64.
  • the compensating filter 64 shown in Fig. 9A improves the loss of high frequencies which may be filtered out by filters 62 and 63, shown in Figs. 5A and 6A.
  • Fig. 9B is a graphical representation of the frequency response of the circuit shown in Fig. 9A.
  • the microphone 5 of the earset 1, shown in Figs. 1-3 produces an electrical signal output 6a.
  • Output 6a is fed into audio band limiting filter 6b which as shown in Fig. 9B produces a band pass filter response similar to that shown in Fig. 6B. It is also contemplated that the output 6a can emanate from the speaker 3.
  • the output 6a is also input to high end audio select filter 6c1 of the high end audio amplitude limiter 6c.
  • the high end audio select filter 6c1 passes selected high end audio frequencies.
  • the frequency response of the high end audio select filter 6c1 is shown in Fig. 9B.
  • the output of the high end audio select filter 6c1 is fed into amplitude limiter 6c2 which limits the output of the high end audio select filter to a predetermined level.
  • the output of the amplitude limiter 6c2 is fed into attenuator 6d.
  • the outputs of audio band limiting filter 6b and attenuator 6d are added by the adder 6e.
  • FIG. 9A A graphical representation of the frequency response of the filter 64, shown in Fig. 9A, is shown in Fig. 9B.
  • the frequency response includes the both the 6b characteristics, the output from the audio band limiting filter, and the 6c1 characteristics, the output from the attenuator 6d. Accordingly, with the filter 64 of the present invention, the amplitudes of high frequencies are controlled below a certain level by amplitude limiter 6c2 so that feedback will not occur. In addition, because some high frequencies are left in the resultant output signal, as a result of the addition of high end signals to those of the audio band limiting filter 6b, the resultant voice signal will not be deteriorated.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
  • Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
EP93104560A 1992-03-19 1993-03-19 Zweiweg-Kommunikations-Ohrhörer mit Filter Expired - Lifetime EP0564874B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP92457/92 1992-03-19
JP4092457A JPH0817415B2 (ja) 1992-03-19 1992-03-19 イヤーセット型送受話器
CA002094667A CA2094667A1 (en) 1992-03-19 1993-04-22 Two-way communications earset with filter

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0564874A1 true EP0564874A1 (de) 1993-10-13
EP0564874B1 EP0564874B1 (de) 1997-09-17

Family

ID=25676114

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93104560A Expired - Lifetime EP0564874B1 (de) 1992-03-19 1993-03-19 Zweiweg-Kommunikations-Ohrhörer mit Filter

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0564874B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0817415B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2094667A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69313902T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2108151T3 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6175633B1 (en) 1997-04-09 2001-01-16 Cavcom, Inc. Radio communications apparatus with attenuating ear pieces for high noise environments
US6272446B1 (en) 1995-12-22 2001-08-07 Bruel & Kjaer Sound & Vibration Measurement A/S System and a method for measuring a continuous signal
WO2002030151A2 (en) * 2000-10-04 2002-04-11 New Transducers Limited Audio apparatus
US6885753B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2005-04-26 New Transducers Limited Communication device using bone conduction
US7564988B2 (en) 2003-09-10 2009-07-21 New Transducers Limited Audio apparatus
EP2280557A1 (de) * 2009-07-07 2011-02-02 Nxp B.V. Mikrophon-Lautsprecher-Vorrichtung

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5646969B2 (ja) * 2010-11-24 2014-12-24 日立アプライアンス株式会社 空気調和機

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1530814A (en) * 1977-06-20 1978-11-01 British Aircraft Corp Ltd Hearing protection devices
EP0237454A1 (de) * 1986-03-07 1987-09-16 Etablissement Public dit: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS) Verfahren und Geräte zum Vermindern der zum Trommelfell gelangenden Aussengeräusche und zum Verbessern der Verständlichkeit elektroakustischer Nachrichten
DE3627002A1 (de) * 1986-08-08 1988-02-18 Philips Patentverwaltung Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur akustischen kompensation des umgebungsgeraeusches bei kopfhoererempfang

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5525577Y2 (de) * 1975-09-16 1980-06-19
JPS58188996A (ja) * 1982-04-27 1983-11-04 Katsuo Motoi 外耳道内双方向通話装置

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1530814A (en) * 1977-06-20 1978-11-01 British Aircraft Corp Ltd Hearing protection devices
EP0237454A1 (de) * 1986-03-07 1987-09-16 Etablissement Public dit: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS) Verfahren und Geräte zum Vermindern der zum Trommelfell gelangenden Aussengeräusche und zum Verbessern der Verständlichkeit elektroakustischer Nachrichten
DE3627002A1 (de) * 1986-08-08 1988-02-18 Philips Patentverwaltung Verfahren und schaltungsanordnung zur akustischen kompensation des umgebungsgeraeusches bei kopfhoererempfang

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6272446B1 (en) 1995-12-22 2001-08-07 Bruel & Kjaer Sound & Vibration Measurement A/S System and a method for measuring a continuous signal
US6175633B1 (en) 1997-04-09 2001-01-16 Cavcom, Inc. Radio communications apparatus with attenuating ear pieces for high noise environments
US6885753B2 (en) 2000-01-27 2005-04-26 New Transducers Limited Communication device using bone conduction
WO2002030151A2 (en) * 2000-10-04 2002-04-11 New Transducers Limited Audio apparatus
WO2002030151A3 (en) * 2000-10-04 2002-08-22 New Transducers Ltd Audio apparatus
US7564988B2 (en) 2003-09-10 2009-07-21 New Transducers Limited Audio apparatus
EP2280557A1 (de) * 2009-07-07 2011-02-02 Nxp B.V. Mikrophon-Lautsprecher-Vorrichtung
EP2285135A1 (de) * 2009-07-07 2011-02-16 Nxp B.V. Mikrophon-Lautsprecher-Vorrichtung, die einen Tiefpassfilter umfasst

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69313902D1 (de) 1997-10-23
CA2094667A1 (en) 1994-10-23
ES2108151T3 (es) 1997-12-16
DE69313902T2 (de) 1998-01-22
JPH05268310A (ja) 1993-10-15
EP0564874B1 (de) 1997-09-17
JPH0817415B2 (ja) 1996-02-21

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