IP Library Granted Patent US 9,699,550
Granted Patent B2
US 9,699,550 · App. 14/539,678 · Granted Jul 4, 2017

Reduced microphone power-up latency

Inventors: Joseph Robert Fitzgerald (San Diego, CA); Bengt Stefan Gustavsson (San Diego, CA); Louis Dominic Oliveira (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04R3/00H04R3/005G06F1/3215H04R29/00H04R29/004H04R2499/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,699,550
App. No.
14/539,678
Granted
Jul 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes generating a command at a first microphone and sending the command from the first microphone to a second microphone. The command is sent to the second microphone via a bus that is coupled to the first microphone and to the second microphone.

Claims (70)

1. A method comprising:

generating a command at a first microphone; and

sending the command from the first microphone to a second microphone via a bus that is coupled to the first microphone and to the second microphone, wherein the command instructs the second microphone to transition from a low power mode to a high power mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is a wakeup command.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting acoustic input sound at a port of the first microphone; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to detecting the acoustic input sound.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting acoustic input sound at a port of the first microphone;

comparing a sound level of the acoustic input sound to a threshold; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the sound level of the acoustic input sound satisfies the threshold.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

detecting a keyword at the first microphone; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to detecting the keyword.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining whether a particular period of time has elapsed since commanding the second microphone to transition from the low power mode to the high power mode; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the particular period of time has elapsed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is a handover command that further instructs the second microphone to

perform microphone activity detection functions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the microphone activity detection functions include at least one of detecting acoustic input sound at a port of the second microphone, comparing a sound level of the acoustic input sound to a threshold, detecting a keyword at the second microphone, or determining whether a particular period of time has elapsed since commanding another microphone to transition from the low power mode to the high power mode.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the microphone activity detection functions further include sending a wakeup command to another microphone via the bus.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transitioning into the low power mode after sending the handover command to the second microphone.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining whether a port of the first microphone is blocked; and

sending the handover command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the port of the first microphone is blocked.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining whether the port of the first microphone is blocked comprises:

detecting acoustic input sound at the port of the first microphone; and

comparing a sound level of the acoustic input sound to a threshold, wherein the port of the first microphone is blocked if the sound level is below the threshold.

13. A microphone comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a command; and

sending the command from the microphone to a second microphone via a bus that is coupled to the microphone and to the second microphone, wherein the command instructs the second microphone to transition from a low power mode to a high power mode.

14. The microphone of claim 13 , wherein the command is a wakeup command.

15. The microphone of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting an acoustic input sound at a port of the microphone; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to detecting the acoustic input sound.

16. The microphone of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting an acoustic input sound at a port of the microphone;

comparing a sound level of the acoustic input sound to a threshold; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the sound level of the acoustic input sound satisfies the threshold.

17. The microphone of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a keyword at the microphone; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to detecting the keyword.

18. The microphone of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether a particular period of time has elapsed since commanding the second microphone to transition from the low power mode to the high power mode; and

sending the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the particular period of time has elapsed.

19. The microphone of claim 13 , wherein the command is a handover command that further instructs the second microphone to

perform microphone activity detection functions.

20. The microphone of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether a port of the microphone is blocked; and

sending the handover command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the port of the microphone is blocked.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor within a microphone, cause the processor to:

generate a command; and

send the command from the microphone to a second microphone via a bus that is coupled to the microphone and to the second microphone, wherein the command instructs the second microphone to transition from a low power mode to a high power mode.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the command is a wakeup command.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to send the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to detecting an acoustic input sound at a port of the microphone.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to send the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to a determination that a sound level of an acoustic input sound detected at a port of the microphone satisfies a threshold.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to send the wakeup command to the second microphone in response to detecting a keyword.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the command is a handover command that further instructs the second microphone to

perform microphone activity detection functions.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the processor to:

determine whether a port of the microphone is blocked; and

send the handover command to the second microphone in response to a determination that the port of the microphone is blocked.

28. A microphone comprising:

means for generating a command; and

means for sending the command from the microphone to a second microphone via a bus that is coupled to the microphone and to the second microphone, wherein the command instructs the second microphone to transition from a low power mode to a high power mode.

29. The microphone of claim 28 , wherein the command is a wakeup command.

30. The microphone of claim 28 , wherein the command is a handover command that further instructs the second microphone to

perform microphone activity detection functions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2014
From: FITZGERALD, JOSEPH ROBERT; GUSTAVSSON, BENGT STEFAN; OLIVEIRA, LOUIS DOMINIC
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 034158/0822 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160134966A1 · May 12, 2016