Granted Patent B2

US 12,574,675 · App. 18/397,683 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Inventors: John Usher (Beer, GB); Steve Goldstein (Delray Beach, FL); John P. Keady (Fairfax Station, VA)

Assignee: ST R&DTech, LLC

H04R1/1083G01H3/00

Abstract

Claims (21)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving an audio signal from a memory, wherein the memory is part of a device;

retrieving an equalization filter from a second memory, wherein the second memory is part of the device;

applying the equalization filter to the audio signal to generate a modified audio signal and storing the modified audio signal in a third memory, wherein the third memory is party of the device;

receiving a sensor signal from an accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is part of the device;

receiving a first microphone signal, wherein the first microphone signal is generated by modifying a signal from an ear canal microphone;

receiving a second microphone signal, wherein the second microphone signal is generated by modifying a signal from a first ambient sound microphone;

receiving a third microphone signal, wherein the third microphone signal is generated by modifying a signal from a second ambient sound microphone;

generating an ambient signal from a combination of the second microphone signal and the third microphone signal;

analyzing the first microphone signal and the sensor signal to detect if the user is speaking;

generating a modified signal when it is detected that the user is speaking, wherein the modified signal is generated by mixing the ambient signal and a second modified audio signal; and

sending the modified signal to a speaker.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the equalization filter is set by a user.

3 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the second modified audio signal is generated by reducing an acoustic volume of the modified audio signal.

4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the second modified audio signal is generated by increasing an acoustic volume of the modified audio signal.

5 . The method according to claim 3 comprising:

resetting the acoustic volume to a preset value when a preset time increment has expired.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is a phone or tablet.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the ear canal microphone, the first ambient microphone are part of an earphone communicatively linked to the mobile device.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the second ambient microphone is part of a second earphone communicatively linked to the mobile device.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ear canal microphone, the first ambient microphone and the second ambient microphone is part of the device.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (8)

References Cited (260)