GB2327012A - Hands free apparatus with multiple microphones - Google Patents

Hands free apparatus with multiple microphones Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2327012A
GB2327012A GB9811689A GB9811689A GB2327012A GB 2327012 A GB2327012 A GB 2327012A GB 9811689 A GB9811689 A GB 9811689A GB 9811689 A GB9811689 A GB 9811689A GB 2327012 A GB2327012 A GB 2327012A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
microphones
hands free
switching
free apparatus
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9811689A
Other versions
GB9811689D0 (en
Inventor
Yong-In Cho
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.)
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd filed Critical Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Publication of GB9811689D0 publication Critical patent/GB9811689D0/en
Publication of GB2327012A publication Critical patent/GB2327012A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
    • H04M1/6075—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
    • H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
    • H04B1/3877—Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

A hands free apparatus for use with a mobile phone has multiple microphones 201-20n installed in different places of a vehicle. A switching module 210 compares the voice signals input from the microphones and switches the hands free apparatus body 100 to a selected microphone of which the voice signal output has the highest intensity. In this way, at least two and, preferably, all the persons in the vehicle can make use of the hands free function.

Description

1 2327012 HANDS FREE APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE MICROPHONES
Backaround of the invention
The present invention relates to a hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone, particularly but not exclusively, for use in a vehicle, and a vehicle containing such apparatus as well as a method for use in such apparatus.
In recent times, with the spread of mobile radio telephones, telephone calls are frequently made in vehicles whilst the engine is running. In particular, when a driver makes or gets a telephone call to or from another party while driving the vehicle, he/she is required to hold the mobile radio telephone in one hand and drive the vehicle with the other hand. Therefore, the driver may become careless whilst driving, which may cause a traffic accident. To reduce the possibility of a traffic accident due to the careless driving and to offer convenience to the driver, hands, free apparatus for mobile radio telephones have been developed and are widely used. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone according to the prior art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone includes a hands free apparatus body 100, a power supply 110, a microphone 120, a speaker 130, a cradle 140, and a mobile radio telephone 150. In operation, the hands free apparatus body 100 is provided with a supply voltage from the power supply 110 and processes a voice signal input from the microphone 120 installed in the vehicle and provides the processed voice signal to the mobile radio telephone 150 via the cradle 140. Furthermore, the voice signal input via the mobile 2 radio telephone 150 is applied to the hands free apparatus body 100 via the cradle 140. The hands free apparatus body 100 processes the received voice signal and outputs it to speaker 130.
As described above, the conventional hands f ree apparatus includes one microphone installed in a specific place of the vehicle (e.g., in a place adjacent to the driver's seat). Thus, a fellow passenger in the vehicle, if any, cannot easily make use of the hands free function.
Summary of the invention
According to the invention, there is provided a hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone, comprising: a hands free apparatus body installable in a vehicle; at least two microphones installable in a vehicle spaced apart from one another; and a switching module for comparing voice signals from the microphones and switching to a selected microphone for which the voice signal output has the highest intensity.
Preferably, the number of microphones is sufficient to install at least one adjacent each seat of a vehicle.
Preferably, the number of microphones is 4, 5 or 6.
Preferably, the switching module comprises:
a signal detector for measuring voice signals from the microphones to generate measurement signals corresponding to the intensity of the voice signals; a switching controller for comparing the measurement signals with one another to generate a switching control signal; and a switching circuit for switching the hands free apparatus body to the selected microphone for which the 3 voice signal output has the highest intensity.
In a further aspect there is provided a vehicle comprising hands f ree apparatus as herein described, in which the microphones are installed in different places in the vehicle.
Preferably, the microphones are installed in different sections of the vehicle.
Preferably, at least one microphone is installed adjacent front seats of a vehicle and at least one microphone is installed adjacent seats rearward of the front seats.
Preferably, at least one microphone is installed adjacent each seat of the vehicle.
In a further aspect there is provided a method for controlling a hands free apparatus having a plurality of microphones installed in different places of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring intensities of voice signals input from the microphones; comparing the intensities of the voice signals with one another to detect the voice signal having the highest intensity; and switching a mobile radio telephone to a selected microphone for which the voice signal output has the highest intensity.
Preferably, the method comprises the step of repeating the steps of measuring, comparing and switching periodically.
Thus, the present invention provides a apparatus with multiple microphones.
hands free 4 Preferably, the present invention provides a hands free apparatus which enables two or more and, preferably everyone travelling in the vehicle to make use of the hands free function.
Preferably, the hands free apparatus includes a mobile radio telephone.
Brief description of the drawincs
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone according to the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a switching module (210) of FIG. 2.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiment
Referring to FIG. 2, a hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hands free apparatus body 100, a power supply 110, a speaker 130, a cradle 140, a mobile radio telephone 150, a plurality of microphones 201-20n, and a switching module 210. The microphones 201-20n are installed in different places in the vehicle. For example, one or more microphones are installed adjacent to every seat in the vehicle.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the switching module 210 consists of a signal detector 211 for detecting intensity of the voice signals input from the microphones 201-2on, a switching circuit 213 for switching the hands free apparatus body 100 to one of the microphones 201-20n, and a switching controller 212 for controlling the switching 5 circuit 213.
Now, referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, the hands free apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. The switching module 210 receives the voice signals from the microphones 201-2on, and switches the hands free apparatus body 100 to the microphone for which the voice signal output has the highest intensity.
Specifically describing an operation of the switching module 210, the signal detector 211 measures the voice signals input from the respective microphones 201-20n, and provides the switching controller 212 with the measurement signals. The switching controller 212 compares the measurement signals output from the signal detector 211 with one another to detect the voice signal having the highest intensity, and generates a switching control signal according to the comparison. The switching circuit 213 receives the switching control signal output from the switching controller 212 and switches the hands free apparatus body 100 to the microphone for which the output voice signal has the highest intensity according to the switching control signal.
The hands free apparatus body 100 provided with the supply 30 voltage from the power supply 110, processes the selected voice signal input from the switching module 210 and provides the voice signal to the mobile radio telephone 150 via the cradle 140. As well known in the art, the signal processing is performed by amplifier/attenuator and an echo canceller.
6 Meantime, the voice signal received from the mobile radio telephone 150 is applied to the hands free apparatus body 100 via the cradle 140. The hands free apparatus body 100 processes the received voice signal and outputs it to the speaker 130.
As described above, the hands free apparatus for the mobile radio telephone has a plurality of microphones installed in different places of the vehicle, so that at least two and preferably all the people in the vehicle can make use of the hands free function.
Typically, all the microphones are identical or have similar amplification properties so a direct comparison of output signals is meaningful in deciding which microphone is being used. If different microphones are used, calibration may be used.
Where the microphones are installed in different sections 20 of the vehicle, these are typically the front, ie adjacent the front seat, and rear, ie adjacent the rear seats, of the vehicle.
Switching to different microphones can take place 25 periodically. Thus, different people in the vehicle, can take part in the same telephone call.
7

Claims (13)

  1. A hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone, comprising: a hands free apparatus body installable vehicle; in a at least two microphones installable in a vehicle spaced apart from one another; and a switching module for comparing voice signals from the microphones and switching to a selected microphone for which the voice signal output has the highest intensity.
  2. 2. A hands free apparatus according to claim 1, in which the number of microphones is sufficient to install at least one adjacent each seat of a vehicle.
  3. 3. A hands f ree apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the number of microphones is 4, 5 or 6.
  4. 4. A hands f ree apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the switching module comprises:
    a signal detector for measuring voice signals from the microphones to generate measurement signals corresponding to the intensity of the voice signals; a switching controller for comparing the measurement signals with one another to generate a switching control signal; and a switching circuit for switching the hands free apparatus body to the selected microphone for which the voice signal output has the highest intensity.
  5. 5. A vehicle comprising hands free apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the microphones are installed in different places in the vehicle.
  6. 6. A vehicle according to claim 5, in which the microphones are installed in different sections of the 8 vehicle.
  7. 7. A vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, in which at least one microphone is installed adjacent front seats of a vehicle and at least one microphone is installed adjacent seats rearward of the front seats.
  8. 8. A vehicle according to claim 5, 6 or 7 in which at least one microphone is installed adjacent each seat of the vehicle.
  9. 9. A method for controlling a hands free apparatus having a plurality of microphones installed in different places of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: is measuring intensities of voice signals input from the microphones; comparing the intensities of the voice signals with one another to detect the voice signal having the highest intensity; and 20 switching a mobile radio telephone to a selected microphone for which the voice signal output has the highest intensity.
  10. 10. A method according to claim, comprising the step of repeating the steps of measuring, comparing and switching periodically.
  11. 11. A hands free apparatus for a mobile radio telephone substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in figures 2 and/or 3.
  12. 12. A vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in figures 2 and/or 3.
  13. 13. A method for controlling hands free apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in figures 2 and/or 3.
GB9811689A 1997-07-04 1998-06-01 Hands free apparatus with multiple microphones Withdrawn GB2327012A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1019970030975A KR100233166B1 (en) 1997-07-04 1997-07-04 Handfree device having multi-mike and control method

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9811689D0 GB9811689D0 (en) 1998-07-29
GB2327012A true GB2327012A (en) 1999-01-06

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9811689A Withdrawn GB2327012A (en) 1997-07-04 1998-06-01 Hands free apparatus with multiple microphones

Country Status (3)

Country Link
KR (1) KR100233166B1 (en)
DE (1) DE19820453A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2327012A (en)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6847833B2 (en) * 2001-12-01 2005-01-25 E-Lead Electronic Co., Ltd. Hand free device commonly shared by multiple communication devices
US6882734B2 (en) 2001-02-14 2005-04-19 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US7120261B1 (en) 1999-11-19 2006-10-10 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
EP1913708A1 (en) * 2005-11-17 2008-04-23 Microsoft Corporation Determination of audio device quality
US7447320B2 (en) 2001-02-14 2008-11-04 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
WO2010039437A1 (en) * 2008-09-30 2010-04-08 Apple Inc. Multiple microphone switching and configuration
US8102995B2 (en) 2006-03-20 2012-01-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Communication device and telephone communication method thereof
US8350683B2 (en) 1999-08-25 2013-01-08 Donnelly Corporation Voice acquisition system for a vehicle
US8541745B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2013-09-24 Motorola Mobility Llc Methods and devices for clothing detection about a wearable electronic device
US8682005B2 (en) 1999-11-19 2014-03-25 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US8947382B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-02-03 Motorola Mobility Llc Wearable display device, corresponding systems, and method for presenting output on the same
US8988349B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-03-24 Google Technology Holdings LLC Methods and apparatuses for operating a display in an electronic device
EP2843916A3 (en) * 2013-08-26 2015-06-10 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof
US9098069B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2015-08-04 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display device, corresponding systems, and methods for orienting output on a display
CN105706427A (en) * 2013-09-09 2016-06-22 诺基亚技术有限公司 Determination of ambient sound processed audio information
US9484001B2 (en) 2013-12-23 2016-11-01 Google Technology Holdings LLC Portable electronic device controlling diffuse light source to emit light approximating color of object of user interest
US9622365B2 (en) 2013-02-25 2017-04-11 Google Technology Holdings LLC Apparatus and methods for accommodating a display in an electronic device
US9674922B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2017-06-06 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display side edge assembly and mobile device including same
US9875008B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2018-01-23 Google Llc Display device, corresponding systems, and methods therefor

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE525728C2 (en) 1999-01-27 2005-04-12 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M Portable telecommunications device for multiple audio accessories
CN111863032A (en) * 2020-06-12 2020-10-30 随锐科技集团股份有限公司 Method and system for optimizing audio acquisition equipment and computer readable storage medium

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GB2174268A (en) * 1985-04-19 1986-10-29 Shure Bros Microphone actuation system
US5546458A (en) * 1994-05-18 1996-08-13 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Handsfree communication apparatus

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US4008376A (en) * 1975-10-17 1977-02-15 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Loudspeaking teleconferencing circuit

Patent Citations (2)

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GB2174268A (en) * 1985-04-19 1986-10-29 Shure Bros Microphone actuation system
US5546458A (en) * 1994-05-18 1996-08-13 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Handsfree communication apparatus

Cited By (33)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8350683B2 (en) 1999-08-25 2013-01-08 Donnelly Corporation Voice acquisition system for a vehicle
US9283900B2 (en) 1999-08-25 2016-03-15 Magna Electronics Inc. Accessory mounting system for a vehicle
US8531279B2 (en) 1999-08-25 2013-09-10 Magna Electronics Inc. Accessory mounting system for a vehicle
US8682005B2 (en) 1999-11-19 2014-03-25 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US7120261B1 (en) 1999-11-19 2006-10-10 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US7443988B2 (en) 1999-11-19 2008-10-28 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US7447320B2 (en) 2001-02-14 2008-11-04 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US7616768B2 (en) 2001-02-14 2009-11-10 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone having mechanism for reducing line-induced noise
US6882734B2 (en) 2001-02-14 2005-04-19 Gentex Corporation Vehicle accessory microphone
US6847833B2 (en) * 2001-12-01 2005-01-25 E-Lead Electronic Co., Ltd. Hand free device commonly shared by multiple communication devices
EP1913708A4 (en) * 2005-11-17 2008-09-10 Microsoft Corp Determination of audio device quality
EP1913708A1 (en) * 2005-11-17 2008-04-23 Microsoft Corporation Determination of audio device quality
US8102995B2 (en) 2006-03-20 2012-01-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Communication device and telephone communication method thereof
WO2010039437A1 (en) * 2008-09-30 2010-04-08 Apple Inc. Multiple microphone switching and configuration
US9723401B2 (en) 2008-09-30 2017-08-01 Apple Inc. Multiple microphone switching and configuration
US8401178B2 (en) 2008-09-30 2013-03-19 Apple Inc. Multiple microphone switching and configuration
CN102165521B (en) * 2008-09-30 2012-11-07 苹果公司 Multiple microphone switching and configuration
US8541745B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2013-09-24 Motorola Mobility Llc Methods and devices for clothing detection about a wearable electronic device
US10387020B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2019-08-20 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display device, corresponding systems, and methods therefor
US9875008B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2018-01-23 Google Llc Display device, corresponding systems, and methods therefor
US9098069B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2015-08-04 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display device, corresponding systems, and methods for orienting output on a display
US8947382B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-02-03 Motorola Mobility Llc Wearable display device, corresponding systems, and method for presenting output on the same
US8988349B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-03-24 Google Technology Holdings LLC Methods and apparatuses for operating a display in an electronic device
US9622365B2 (en) 2013-02-25 2017-04-11 Google Technology Holdings LLC Apparatus and methods for accommodating a display in an electronic device
US9674922B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2017-06-06 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display side edge assembly and mobile device including same
EP2843916A3 (en) * 2013-08-26 2015-06-10 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof
US9947363B2 (en) 2013-08-26 2018-04-17 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof
US10332556B2 (en) 2013-08-26 2019-06-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof
EP3611909A1 (en) * 2013-08-26 2020-02-19 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof
US11049519B2 (en) 2013-08-26 2021-06-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof
CN105706427A (en) * 2013-09-09 2016-06-22 诺基亚技术有限公司 Determination of ambient sound processed audio information
CN105706427B (en) * 2013-09-09 2019-06-04 诺基亚技术有限公司 The method and apparatus of the audio-frequency information of environment sonication are provided
US9484001B2 (en) 2013-12-23 2016-11-01 Google Technology Holdings LLC Portable electronic device controlling diffuse light source to emit light approximating color of object of user interest

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR100233166B1 (en) 1999-12-01
KR19990008836A (en) 1999-02-05
GB9811689D0 (en) 1998-07-29
DE19820453A1 (en) 1999-01-07

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