IP Library Granted Patent US 10,349,174
Granted Patent B2
US 10,349,174 · App. 15/543,854 · Granted Jul 9, 2019

Device for processing an audio signal

Inventors: Cyrille Potereau (Saint Arnoult en Yvelines, FR); Laurent Thery (Les Essarts le Roi, FR); Jean-Christophe Grzeskowiak (Bu, FR)
Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
H04R3/04G10L25/21H04B1/1027H04B1/1661H04R29/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,349,174
App. No.
15/543,854
Granted
Jul 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a device ( 1 ) for processing an initial audio signal ( 4 ), including: a treble detecting block ( 2 ) capable of analyzing the initial audio signal to determine a treble level; and a filter block ( 3 ) capable of attenuating the initial audio signal in the treble, if the treble level is less than a maximum threshold.

Claims (23)

1. A device ( 1 ) for processing an initial audio signal ( 4 ) defined by a spectrum of frequencies, the device comprising:

a treble detecting block ( 2 ) that analyzes the initial audio signal ( 4 ) and determines a treble level of the initial audio signal, where the treble level indicates a level of energy of a treble portion of the initial audio signal defined by a detection band of treble frequencies; and

a filter block ( 3 ) that, on condition that the treble level detected by the treble detecting block is less than a maximum threshold (Smax), attenuates the initial audio signal ( 4 ) at frequencies that exceed an attenuation cut-off frequency (F ca ), said attenuation cut-off frequency (F ca ) being a frequency inside the detection band of treble frequencies.

2. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the treble detecting block ( 2 ) comprises a determining means that determines the treble level as a ratio of an energy (Ea) of the initial audio signal ( 4 ) in the detection band ( 6 ) to a total energy (Et) of the initial audio signal ( 4 ).

3. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the detection band ( 6 ) extends from 7 kHz to 13 kHz.

4. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the attenuation cut-off frequency F ca , is 10 kHz.

5. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the filter block performs minimal attenuation (Amin) when the determined treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

6. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the filter block performs minimal attenuation (Amin) when the determined treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

7. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the filter block performs zero attenuation when the treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

8. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the attenuation cut-off frequency F ca , is 10 kHz.

9. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the filter block performs minimal attenuation (Amin) when the determined treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

10. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the filter block performs minimal attenuation (Amin) when the determined treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

11. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the filter block performs zero attenuation when the treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

12. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuation cut-off frequency F ca , is 10 kHz.

13. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the filter block performs minimal attenuation (Amin) when the determined treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

14. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the filter block performs minimal attenuation (Amin) when the determined treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

15. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the filter block performs zero attenuation when the treble level is greater than or equal to the maximum threshold (Smax).

16. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuation (A) performed by the filter block is maximal (Amax) when the treble level is less than or equal to a minimum threshold (Smin), said minimum threshold (Smin) being less than the maximum threshold (Smax).

17. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuation (A) performed by the filter block is total when the treble level is less than or equal to a minimum threshold (Smin), said minimum threshold (Smin) being less than the maximum threshold (Smax).

18. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the attenuation (A) performed by the filter block is applied linearly by the filter block as a function of the treble level detected by the treble detecting block, between a maximum attenuation (Amax) corresponding to the minimum threshold (Smin) and a minimum attenuation (Amin) corresponding to the maximum threshold (Smax).

19. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a time block that causes an activation and/or a deactivation of the filter block ( 3 ) to be performed as a transition over a non-zero period of time.

20. A radio receiver comprising the device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE S.A.S.
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 071931/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2017
From: POTEREAU, CYRILLE; THERY, LAURENT; GRZESKOWIAK, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 043532/0550 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 15 50526 · Jan 22, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170374461A1 · Dec 28, 2017