IP Library Granted Patent US 10,091,578
Granted Patent B2
US 10,091,578 · App. 14/806,156 · Granted Oct 2, 2018

Method for adjusting a volume level of a communications unit and a communications unit

Inventor: Thomas Benner (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
H04R3/00A61B5/055A61B5/7465G10K11/175G10K2210/1161H04R2227/001H04R2430/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,091,578
App. No.
14/806,156
Granted
Oct 2, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for adjusting a volume level of a communications unit is provided. The communications unit is configured for communication between a medical operator and a patient during a magnetic resonance examination and includes at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker. The method includes detecting communication signals by the at least one microphone, transmitting the detected communication signals to the at least one loudspeaker, and an acoustic output of the detected communication signals by the at least one loudspeaker. A volume level of the at least one microphone may be automatically adjusted during detection of the communication signals, and/or a volume level of the at least one loudspeaker may be automatically adjusted during the acoustic output of the communication signals.

Claims (48)

1. A method for adjusting a volume level of a communications unit, wherein the communications unit is configured for communication between a medical operator and a patient during a magnetic resonance examination and wherein the communications unit comprises at least one microphone, at least one loudspeaker, and a control unit, the method comprising:

detecting, by the at least one microphone, communication signals;

measuring an ambient volume level by a volume measurement;

transmitting the detected communication signals to the control unit;

automatically adjusting a volume level of the at least one microphone or the at least one loudspeaker using the detected communication signals and the measured ambient volume level; and

outputting, by the at least one loudspeaker, an acoustic output of the detected communication signal at the adjusted volume level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications unit is further configured to adjust the volume level as a function of a time parameter of a magnetic resonance scan.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the the ambient volume level is measured by the at least one microphone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the the ambient volume level is measured by a separate volume detection unit of the communications unit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatic adjusting comprises a deactivation of the volume level.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatic adjusting comprises an adjustment of the volume level to an ambient noise volume level of the at least one microphone or of the at least one loudspeaker.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein after a cessation of interference noises, after an end of a magnetic resonance scan, or after a cessation of interference noises and after an end of a magnetic resonance scan, the volume level is automatically set, by the communications unit, to an original volume level.

8. A communications unit comprising:

at least one microphone;

at least one loudspeaker; and

a control unit,

wherein the communications unit is configured for communication between a medical operator and a patient during a magnetic resonance examination,

wherein the control unit comprises a volume adjustment unit configured to adjust a volume level of the communications unit, and

wherein the communications unit is configured to:

detect, by the at least one microphone, of communication signals;

measure an ambient volume level by a volume measurement;

transmit the detected communication signals to the control unit;

automatically adjust a volume level of the at least one microphone or the at least one loudspeaker using the detected communication signals and the measured ambient volume level; and

output an acoustic output of the detected communication signal at the adjusted volume level.

9. The communications unit of claim 8 , the communications unit further comprising a volume detection unit configured to measure the ambient volume level.

10. A magnetic resonance device comprising:

a communications unit comprising:

at least one microphone;

at least one loudspeaker; and

a control unit,

wherein the communications unit is configured for communication between a medical operator and a patient during a magnetic resonance examination,

wherein the control unit comprises a volume adjustment unit configured to adjust a volume level of the communications unit, and

wherein the communications unit is configured to:

detect, by the at least one microphone, of communication signals;

measure an ambient volume level by a volume measurement;

transmit the detected communication signals to the control unit;

automatically adjust a volume level of the at least one microphone or the at least one loudspeaker using the detected communication signals and the measured ambient volume level; and

output an acoustic output of the detected communication signal at the adjusted volume level.

11. In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by one or more processors to adjust a volume of a communications unit, wherein the communications unit is configured for communication between a medical operator and a patient during a magnetic resonance examination and comprises at least one microphone, at least one loudspeaker, and a control unit, the instructions comprising:

detect, by the at least one microphone, communication signals;

measure an ambient volume level by a volume measurement;

transmit the detected communication signals to the control unit;

automatically adjust a volume level of the at least one microphone or the at least one loudspeaker using the detected communication signals and the measured ambient volume level; and

output an acoustic output of the detected communication signal at the adjusted volume level.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the communications unit is further configured to adjust the volume level as a function of a time parameter of a magnetic resonance scan.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the ambient volume level is measured by the at least one microphone.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the ambient volume level is measured by a separate volume detection unit of the communications unit.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the automatic adjustment comprises a deactivation of the volume level.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 066088 FRAME: 0256. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 071178/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 066088/0256 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 047483/0739 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2015
From: BENNER, THOMAS
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 036777/0848 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 214 265 · Jul 22, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160029135A1 · Jan 28, 2016