IP Library Granted Patent US 12,212,940
Granted Patent B2
US 12,212,940 · App. 18/086,471 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Acoustic processing apparatus

Inventor: Makoto Takemoto (Kanagawa Ken, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
H04R3/005G10L21/0208H03F1/26H04R3/002H03F2200/264
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,212,940
App. No.
18/086,471
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An acoustic processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes one or more microphones, a first voice processing unit, and a second voice processing unit. The second voice processing unit is connectable between the microphones and the first voice processing unit. The second voice processing unit includes an operational amplifier, an output terminal, an attenuator, and a transistor. The output terminal is connectable to the first voice processing unit. The attenuator is electrically connected between an output node of the operational amplifier and the output terminal.

Claims (34)

1. An acoustic processing apparatus, comprising:

one or more microphones;

a first voice processor; and

a second voice processor that is connected between some or all of the microphones and the first voice processor, wherein

the second voice processor comprises:

an operational amplifier;

an output terminal that is connected to the first voice processor;

an attenuator electrically connected between an output node of the operational amplifier and the output terminal; and

a voice processor electrically connected to the output node of the operational amplifier, and

a first input impedance of the voice processor is equal to a second input impedance of the attenuator.

2. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the attenuator has an attenuation amount in accordance with an amplification amount of the operational amplifier.

3. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the one or more microphones is of a capacitor type, and

the second voice processor further comprises a transistor that is disposed between the attenuator and the output terminal and connected to the output terminal by open emitter connection.

4. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

a base of the transistor is electrically connected to the attenuator, an emitter of the transistor is electrically connected to the output terminal, and a collector of the transistor is electrically connected to a ground potential.

5. An acoustic processing apparatus, comprising:

one or more microphones;

a first voice processor; and

a second voice processor that is disposed between some or all of the microphones and the first voice processor, wherein

the second voice processor comprises:

an operational amplifier;

an output terminal that is connected to the first voice processor;

an attenuator electrically connected between an output node of the operational amplifier and the output terminal; and

a voice processor electrically connected to the output node of the operational amplifier, and

a first input impedance of the voice processor is equal to a second input impedance of the attenuator.

6. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the attenuator has an attenuation amount in accordance with an amplification amount of the operational amplifier.

7. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

each of the one or more microphones is of a capacitor type, and

the second voice processor further comprises a transistor that is disposed between the attenuator and the output terminal and connected to the output terminal by open emitter connection.

8. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

a base of the transistor is electrically connected to the attenuator, an emitter of the transistor is electrically connected to the output terminal, and a collector of the transistor is electrically connected to a ground potential.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0745 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2023
From: TAKEMOTO, MAKOTO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063294/0026 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-153325 · Sep 11, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021023843 · Jun 23, 2021
Related Publication 20230131342A1 · Apr 27, 2023
References Cited (7)
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JP 2010283506A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015219032A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (including English Language Translation), mailed Sep. 7, 2021, by the Japan Patent Office (JPO), in International Application No. PCT/JP2021/023843. [cited by applicant]