IP Library Granted Patent US 8,155,330
Granted Patent B2
US 8,155,330 · App. 12/415,842 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Dynamic audio parameter adjustment using touch sensing

Assignee: Apple Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,155,330
App. No.
12/415,842
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio communications device has a handset in which a touch sensing ear piece region is coupled to an acoustic leakage analyzer. The acoustic leakage analyzer is to analyze signals from the touch sensing ear piece region and on that basis adjust an audio processing parameter. The latter configures an audio processor which generates an audio receiver input signal for the device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims (21)

1. A machine-implemented method for operating an audio communications device, comprising:

during a call that is being performed using the audio communications device, automatically

detecting an imprint of a user's ear against a region around a sound

emitting surface of the device using a touch sensing surface, and

adjusting an audio processing parameter of the device based on said

detection to compensate for acoustic leakage between the user's ear and

the region around the sound emitting surface wherein said adjusting an audio processing parameter of the device comprises adjusting a plurality of parameters of an audio signal processor whose input is to receive a downlink audio signal and a sidetone signal, to change sound pressure level and spectral content of an acoustic signal that is delivered to the user's ear.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting comprises:

detecting a plurality of separate touch-activated regions around the sound emitting surface, each of the separate regions being contiguous.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting a plurality of parameters comprises one of:

adjusting a gain setting unit;

adjusting an automatic gain control (AGC) unit;

adjusting an equalization filter;

adjusting a noise suppressor or noise canceller;

adjusting a compander;

adjusting a compressor; and

adjusting an expander.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting a plurality of parameters comprises:

boosting a frequency response range that is below 1 kHz, relative to a frequency response range that is above 1 kHz, when compensating for a transition from a more sealed condition to a less sealed condition.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting a plurality of parameters comprises:

cutting back a frequency range that is below 1 kHz, relative to a frequency response range that is above 1 kHz, when compensating for a transition from a less sealed condition to a more sealed condition.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2009
From: CHEN, SHAOHAI
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 022479/0678 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100246855A1 · Sep 30, 2010