WO2002098113A1

WO2002098113A1 - Self-configuring communication device interface unit

Info

Publication number: WO2002098113A1
Application number: PCT/DK2002/000367
Authority: WO
Inventors: Niels Christian Steen Hansen; Ole N. Christensen
Original assignee: Danacom A/S
Priority date: 2001-05-31
Filing date: 2002-05-29
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for configuring a communication device interface unit to a communication device base station, where the interface unit comprises a first signal path for a microphone containing unit with unknown characteristics, where the first signal path comprises gain adjustment means, where the interface unit comprises a second signal path for a microphone containing unit with known characteristics, where an acoustic input signal is supplied to the known and to the unknown microphone containing unit simultaneously and where the microphone output from the known and the unknown unit respectively, are sampled in an integrator, where the gain of the unknown microphone containing unit is adjusted by the gain adjustment means to at least approximately level the difference between the energies of the integrated signals. The invention further relates to a device incorporating the method.

Description

Self-configuring communication device interface unit

AREA OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the area of self configuring coirimuiiication device interface units, and more particularly to the area of interface units where a communication device interface unit has to be configured to a specific communication device base station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using such devices it is necessary to adjust the interface unit to the communication device in order to obtain the desired level of output and input. This is normally done manually by adjusting suitable potentiometers. As the adjustment requires some technical know-how it can be a challenge for many people. A desire for an automatic or semi automatic adjustment (self-configuring) of such devices therefore exists.

One example of such self-configuring communication device interface units is disclosed in US patent 5729603. Although this previously known device deals with the general principles of recognizing the microphone containing unit and the successive measuring of the relevant output values in order to determine a setting of an amplifier, the device will however not perform satisfactory when the signal entered for determining the output is an interrupted signal, such as a speech signal. The speech signal is desired for this purpose since this gives the natural level of the signal.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a device, which to a significant degree eliminates this disadvantage and thereby allows the user of the microphone containing unit to adapt this to the communication device base station in the best possible manner by using an interrupted signal, such as a voice signal, for the adaptation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention this is achieved by means of a method as defined in claim 1.

By sampling the output signal from the microphone for a period of time and integrating this signal the total output energy is accumulated and this will eliminate the influence of possible interruptions in the input signal, which could lead to an erroneous adjustment of the gain. By basing the gain adjustment on the integrated signals a more objective comparison of the two signals, the known and the unknown signal, can form the basis for the gain adjustment.

Preferred embodiments are depicted in claims 2 and 3.

By the embodiment defined in claim 2 a satisfactory level of adjustment is achieved for most systems.

By the sampling time as defined in claim 3 it is achieved that the sampling time is sufficient for a correct leveling of the gain of the unknown microphone.

According to the invention the objective is further achieved by means of an interface unit as defined in claim 4.

A preferred embodiment is depicted in claim 5.

The invention is described more detailed in the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the communication device base station and the microphone-containing unit.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the signal path for the adaptation circuitry. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

From FIG. 1 a system appears including the unit according to the invention and a telephone device. The telephone device is connected to the telephone network, wired or wireless. The telephone unit normally comprises a base station and a handset connected to the base station via an input/output port. The input/output port is used for connection of the interface unit. The interface unit comprises an input/output port for the handset and for an additional device, which could be a headset or a conference microphone. The handset and the base station will normally be adapted to each other for optimal use, i.e. the gain is adapted to the impedance of the handset. The additional device will as a general device not be adapted for a specific telephone and will therefore need adjustment in relation to the telephone with which it is intended to be used. The interface unit and the microphone containing device can be a single integrated unit.

From FIG. 2 a diagram appears which depicts the essential elements in the unit according to the invention, this the blocks are explained as followsKnown source.

This could be a microphone measuring a voice signal. The sensitivity and impedance of the microphone are known.

Unknown source.

This could also be a microphone measuring a voice signal. The sensitivity and impedance of the microphone or the equipment where the microphone is connected to are not known. Amplifier.

The amplifier amplifies the signal to a suitable level for the rectifier.

Rectifier.

The rectifier changes the signal from AC to DC.

Integrator. The Integrator integrates the rectified signal. The Integrator can be reset from the microcontroller.

Programmable comperator. The comperator is connected to the integrator to detect a level shift. The reference voltage of the comperator can be programmed. This unit could also be implemented as an Analog to Digital Converter. Microcontroller. The microcontroller set the comperator level, measures the integrationtime and clears the integrator. The measurement cycle is controlled by this unit.

Definitions: Source: the signal source can be an electrical signal or an acoustical source through a microphone.

Source type: The signal can be a stable continuos signal or more typical - a fluctuating or arbitrary signal like the human voice.

The user will during the adjustment phase speak into the microphone of both the handset and the unknown microphone containing unit. The sampling and integration of the signal will then automatically, due to the microcontroller, perform the necessary adjustment.

By implementing this in a communication device interface unit the adaptation of the interface unit and the related microphone-containing device to the communication device, e.g. a telephone or telephone base station has been greatly facilitated.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a communication devicecommunication device interface unit to a communication device base station, where the interface unit comprises a first signal path for a microphone containing unit with at least partly unknown characteristics, where the first signal path comprises gain adjustment means, where the interface unit comprises a second signal path for a microphone containing unit with known characteristics, where an acoustic input signal is supplied to the known and to the unknown microphone containing unit simultaneously and where the microphone output from the known and the unknown unit respectively, are sampled in an integrator, where the energies of the integrated signals are compared and where the gain of the unknown microphone containing unit is adjusted by the gain adjustment means to at least approximately level the difference between the energies of the integrated signals.

2. A method according to claim 1, where the gain adjustment is carried out with steps of between 1 and 6 dB, preferably 2-3dB.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, where the sampling time for the integrator is between 0,5 and 30 seconds, preferably between 2 and 15 seconds.

4. A self configuring communication device interface unit comprising where the interface unit comprises a first signal path for a microphone containing unit with unknown characteristics, where the first signal path comprises gain adjustment means, where the interface unit comprises a second signal path for a microphone containing unit with known characteristics, where an integrator is provided for sampling each of the two microphone output signals from the two signal paths, where comparator means are provided for comparing the two integrated signals and where a micro-controller is provided for adjust the gain of the unit with unknown characteristics to approximately the level of the unit with the known characteristics. An interface unit according to claim 4, where the microphone containing unit with unknown characteristics are integrated with the interface unit.