VOLUME CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

A method and apparatus for performing noise suppression on an electronic device is provided herein. During operation, a volume-control knob will increase a volume of sound output from a device in a substantially linear fashion (versus knob rotation angle) as a volume-control knob is rotated in a first direction. Noise suppression on the electronic device will also increase as the volume-control knob is rotated in the first direction.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to U.S. patent application No. (Attorney Docket No. PAT29470), entitled, VOLUME CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE. Both this application, and the related application are assigned to the same assignee, and filed on the same day.

BACKGROUND

A device that comprises a volume-control knob will increase/decrease its volume in a substantially linear fashion as the volume-control knob is rotated. In other words, as a user rotates the volume-control knob on the device, the volume will increase/decrease in a linear fashion based on an angle through which the knob is rotated. In addition to controlling volume via a volume-control knob, many devices will also comprise a volume-boost feature that increases a volume to a maximum amount, above what could be achieved by simply rotating the volume-control knob. The volume-boost feature is oftentimes cumbersome to access, requiring a dedicated button be pushed, or that several menus be navigated in order to activate a volume-boost. It would be beneficial if the volume-boost feature could be more-easily activated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to more-easily activate a volume-boost, a method and apparatus for volume control of an electronic device is provided herein. During operation, a volume-control knob will increase a volume of sound output from a device in a substantially linear fashion (versus knob rotation angle) as a volume-control knob is rotated. Once the volume-control knob is rotated past a predetermined amount, a volume boost is activated, increasing the volume level in a non-linear fashion. More particularly, in one embodiment of the present invention, once the volume-control knob is rotated past the predetermined amount (e.g., 300 degrees), the volume will be increased instantaneously by, for example, 25%.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an aggressiveness of noise-suppression circuitry is increased after the volume-control knob is rotated past a second predetermined amount (which may equal the first predetermined amount).

Example embodiments are herein described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to example embodiments. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a special purpose and unique machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The methods and processes set forth herein need not, in some embodiments, be performed in the exact sequence as shown and likewise various blocks may be performed in parallel rather than in sequence. Accordingly, the elements of methods and processes may be referred to herein as “blocks” rather than “steps.”

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, radio, smart phone, or other programmable data processing apparatus that may be on or off-premises, or may be accessed via the cloud in any of a software as a service (Saas), platform as a service (PaaS), or infrastructure as a service (IaaS) architecture so as to cause a series of operational blocks to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide blocks for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. It is contemplated that any part of any aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented or combined with any part of any other aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification. Further advantages and features consistent with this disclosure will be set forth in the following detailed description, with reference to the figures.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates device100having volume-control knob101. In one embodiment of the present invention, knob101comprises a haptic rotary knob that provides haptic feedback to the user as they rotate the knob. The feedback may be generated electronically through motors, magnets, . . . , etc., or alternatively, the feedback may be provided by mechanical means, through indents, gears, . . . , etc. Rotary knob101allows the user to directly manipulate at least a volume output from device100. Knob101is approximately a cylindrical object. Knob101can alternatively be implemented as a variety of different objects, including conical shapes, spherical shapes, dials, cubical shapes, rods, etc., and may have a variety of different textures on their surfaces, including bumps, lines, or other grips, or projections or members extending from the circumferential surface.

User103preferably grips or contacts the circumferential surface of knob101and rotates it a desired amount to increase or decrease a volume of sound output from speaker102. The initial positive rotation, from zero degrees preferably powers up device100. Continued positive rotation increases a volume level output from speaker102, while negative rotation decreases the volume level. Haptic feedback can be provided to distinguish between transitions between power up and volume control. The Haptic feedback is preferably a tactile feedback which takes advantage of a sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to knob101.

As discussed above, prior art volume control increases the volume of device100in a linear fashion versus knob rotation angle. This is illustrated inFIG.2. More particularly,FIG.2illustrates volume level versus knob rotation angle. As is evident, after knob101is rotated through power on, the volume of sound output from speaker102will increase in a linear fashion until a maximum volume is reached. Knob101is usually not allowed to travel beyond the point of maximum volume (e.g., 300 degrees). Any volume boost from maximum volume will take place by accessing menus and/or buttons other than knob101.

In order to more-easily activate the volume-boost function, volume-control knob101will increase a volume of sound output from a device in a substantially linear fashion as knob101is rotated. Once the volume-control knob is rotated past a predetermined amount (e.g., 300 degrees), a volume boost is activated, increasing the volume level in a non-linear fashion. More particularly, in one embodiment of the present invention, once the volume-control knob is rotated past the predetermined amount, the volume will be increased instantaneously by a predetermined amount (e.g., 25%). Haptic feedback can be provided to distinguish transitions to volume boost. Volume boost is illustrated inFIG.3.

FIG.3illustrates a graph of volume level versus knob rotation. As is evident, after power on, the volume increases and decreases in a linear fashion versus knob rotation angle up to a certain point (e.g., 270 or 300 degrees). Rotation beyond that point may trigger a haptic feedback while instantaneously increasing the volume by a predetermined amount (e.g., 25%), performing a volume-boost function. In one embodiment of the present invention, haptic feedback provides a resistance at the transition to volume boost to indicate that further rotation will result in a volume boost. Rotation beyond resistance requires a higher torque to differentiate linear increase of volume vs an instantaneous increase in volume. As discussed, haptic feedback is particularly useful to distinguish the transition, or border, between functions as knob101is rotated. This is illustrated inFIG.4.

More particularly,FIG.4illustrates a haptic effect applied when rotating a knob from power on through volume-boost. In particular graphs401and402are shown that plots an intensity of force, vibration, or motion applied to the knob versus angle of rotation for knob101. As knob101is rotated, its angle increases up to some maximum angle at403. Little to no haptic effect (forces, vibrations, or motions) is provided to knob101until power on occurs. As knob101is rotated through volume boost (e.g., approximately 300 degrees), user201is notified of the transition to volume boost by haptic effect402applied to knob101. The intensity of the haptic effect (e.g., an amount of force, vibration, or motion) increases as the border between transitions. As shown inFIG.4, once the transition is made, the haptic effect is reduced. It should be noted that although the haptic feedbacks at power up and volume boost are shown inFIG.4to be similar. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the type, variation, and lengths of the haptic feedbacks may differ, creating a different “feeling” for the user at the transitions between power on and volume boost. In one embodiment, these haptic feedbacks are simply provided through mechanical means as known in the art (e.g., indents that engage with knob101), however, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, haptic feedback may be provided to the user as they rotate knob101through electronic means. This may be provided by mechanical means (e.g., magnets, actuators, vibration modules, . . . , etc).

FIG.5is a block diagram of device100ofFIG.1. Device100may include various components connected by a bus514. Device100may include a hardware processor (logic circuitry)502such as one or more central processing units (CPUs) or other processing circuitry able to provide any of the functionality described herein when running instructions (e.g., computer programs, computer code . . . , etc.). Processor502may be connected to memory501that may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium on which is stored one or more sets of instructions. Memory501may include one or more of static or dynamic storage, or removable or non-removable storage, for example. A machine-readable medium may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by processor502, such as solid-state memories, magnetic media, and optical media. Machine-readable medium may include, for example, Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), or flash memory. The instructions stored in memory501enable device100to operate in any manner thus programmed, such as the functionality described specifically herein, when processor502executes the instructions.

Receiver503comprises any standard over-the-air receiver that utilize a private802.11network set up by a building operator, a next-generation cellular communications network operated by a cellular service provider, or any public-safety network such as an APCO 25 network or the FirstNet broadband network, LMR (Land mobile radio) network such as analogue RF, DMR, TETRA. During operation, over-the-air transmissions that are received by receiver503are demodulated and sent through volume-control circuitry505before being audibly output through speaker102.

Volume-control circuitry comprises well-known circuitry (amplifiers) that increases and decreases the amplitude (volume) of signals output to speaker102. As discussed above, the amount of amplification of any input signal is dependent upon a position of knob101, as shown inFIG.3. Thus, during operation, knob101outputs an angle of rotation to microprocessor502. The output may be in analog or digital form. In response, microprocessor703instructs volume-control circuitry505to adjust a volume (amplitude) of any signal input to volume control circuitry505from receiver503(or other inputs not shown).

With the above in mind,FIG.5shows an apparatus comprising a knob configured to be rotated, a speaker, volume control circuitry, and a processor (logic circuitry) running code that instructs the processor to determine a rotation angle of the knob and increase a volume of a speaker as the knob is rotated in a first direction such that the volume is increased in a continuous manner as the knob is rotated until the knob is rotated past a predetermined amount, after the knob is rotated past the predetermined amount the volume is increased instantaneously by at least 10 percent.

As discussed above, the volume may be increased in a substantially linear manner as the knob is rotated in the first direction until the knob is rotated past the predetermined amount.

FIG.6is a block diagram of the device ofFIG.1in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In the alternate embodiment of the present invention, noise suppression circuitry602is provided and operated based on a position of knob101. Noise suppression can comprise a software solution (executed by logic circuitry502) where the microphone audio signal is processed by logic circuitry502in order to reduce background noise before being sent to transmitter601. In an alternate embodiment, noise suppression may comprise a hardware solution where the microphone audio signal is processed by noises suppressor IC602before being sent to transmitter601. The hardware solution is depicted inFIG.6, while the software solution is depicted inFIG.7.

As one of ordinary skills in the art will recognize, noise suppression (sometimes referred to as adaptive noise reduction (ANR)) reduces an amount of background noise transmitted over the air through transmitter601. While single microphone and dual microphone solutions exist, dual microphone ANR solutions more quickly adapt to the changing background noise conditions, while providing minimal distortion to the desired source signal input from one of the two microphones. Adding a second microphone to a system design provides the ability to sample the noise of the acoustic environment. This noise reference signal (acoustic environment, or sometimes referred to as background noise) can be subtracted from the original microphone to greatly reduce background noise. Although a single microphone may be used, dual microphone ANR is often a better solution than single microphone noise reduction algorithms because the noise spectrum changes more quickly over time than the transfer function of the noise source.

Various algorithms for ANR exist. For example, in quiet environments, no noise suppression may take place, while basic noise suppression may take place in moderately noisy environments. Additionally, various levels of noise suppression may take place as background noise increases. The various levels of noise suppression are typically based on differing filter values used in the noise-suppression circuitry. For example, Wiener filtering is an industry standard for dynamic signal processing, and is used widely in hearing aids and other edge devices such as phones and communication devices. The adaptive filter works best given two audio signals: one with both the speech and the background noise and another that solely measures the background noise. Modern day smartphone designers will often place two microphones distanced from each other such that one is placed near the speaker's mouth to record the noisy speech and the other can measure the ambient noise to filter out the noise. Filter parameters may be adjusted based on an amount of background noise detected.

In the alternate embodiment of the present invention, the aggressiveness of any noise suppression (e.g., filter parameters, Weiner filter parameters, . . . , etc.) is based on knob rotation. More specifically, since an increase in volume is a good indicator of an increase in background noise, the aggressiveness for any noise suppression may be based on knob rotation (and hence, volume level, with higher volume levels (larger rotation angles of knob101) indicating higher background noise that may require more aggressive noise control).

As an example of the above, in the paper Evaluation of Optimal and Sub-optimal Speech Noise Reduction Wiener Filters, by Alencar et. al, the ratio of speech distortion inserted by optimal and sub-optimal filter depends on the choice of parameter α. This parameter may be varied based on volume level (knob rotation angle).

In one embodiment, noise suppression does not take place unless knob101is rotated past a predetermined amount (e.g, 300 degrees). In one embodiment, both noise suppression and volume boost will take place at the same time (e.g., knob rotated past 300 degrees). In this embodiment, no noise suppression or volume boost takes place unless knob101is rotated past a predetermined amount. After that point, both noise suppression and volume boost takes place.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, volume boost and noise suppression may take place independent of each other. For example, noise suppression may take place after rotating knob101a first predetermined amount, while volume boost may take place after rotating knob101a second predetermined amount.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, more aggressive noise suppression may take place as knob101is rotated. So for example, minimal or no noise suppression will take place until knob101is rotated past a first predetermined amount, then a more aggressive noise suppression will take place. More aggressive noise suppression may take place as the knob is further rotated past a second predetermined amounts.

With this in mind,FIG.6andFIG.7shows the addition of at least one microphone603.604, noise suppression circuitry602, and transmitter601to the circuitry ofFIG.5. Microphones603and604provide a mechanism for receiving human voice and background noise, respectively. The human voice and noise are converted to electrical signals and passed to noise suppression circuitry602where the noise is subtracted from the voice. The resulting noise-suppressed signal is output to transmitter601where it is modulated in transmitted over the air.

Transmitter601preferably comprises a standard over-the-air transmitter that utilizes a private 802.11 network set up by a building operator, a next-generation cellular communications network operated by a cellular service provider, or any public-safety network such as an APCO 25 network or the FirstNet broadband network, LMR (Land mobile radio) network such as analogue RF. DMR, TETRA. During operation, over-the-air transmissions that are received by receiver503are demodulated and sent through volume-control circuitry505before being audibly output through speaker102. During operation, the noise suppressed signal (e.g., human voice) from noise suppression circuitry602is modulated and transmitted. In an alternate embodiment shown inFIG.7, noise suppression may comprise a software solution where the microphone audio signal is processed by logic circuitry502before being sent to transmitter601. As discussed, the hardware solution is depicted inFIG.6, while the software solution is depicted inFIG.7.

With the above in mind, the apparatus shown inFIG.6andFIG.7comprise an apparatus comprising a knob configured to be rotated, a microphone, volume control circuitry, a speaker, and noise suppression circuitry (which, in a software solution comprises microprocessor502). The noise suppression circuitry is configured to decrease an amount of background noise received from the microphone. The apparatus additionally comprises microprocessor502(logic circuitry) running code that instructs the processor to increase a volume of the speaker as the knob is rotated in a first direction such that the volume is increased in a continuous manner as the knob rotates, and determine a rotation angle of the knob and increase a noise suppression level as the knob is rotated in the first direction such that the noise suppression level is increased after the knob is rotated past a predetermined amount.

As discussed above, the code may also instruct the processor to determine the rotation angle of the knob and increase the volume of the speaker as the knob is rotated in the first direction such that the volume is increased in the continuous manner as the knob is rotated until the knob is rotated past a second predetermined amount, then after the knob is rotated past the second predetermined amount the volume is increased instantaneously by at least 10 percent.

Additionally, the first predetermined amount may differ from the second predetermined amount or the first predetermined amount may be substantially equal to the second predetermined amount.

As discussed, the volume is increased in a substantially linear manner as the knob is rotated in the first direction until the knob is rotated past the second predetermined amount.

In one embodiment of the present invention, no noise suppression takes place until the knob is rotated past the first predetermined amount.

FIG.8is a flow chart showing operation of the device ofFIG.1in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The logic flow begins at step801where logic circuitry502receives (determines) a rotation angle of knob101. At step803, logic circuitry502increases a volume of speaker102as the knob101is rotated in a first direction such that the volume is increased in a continuous manner as the knob is rotated. At step805, logic circuitry502determines that knob101is rotated past a predetermined amount, and in response, increases the volume output from speaker102instantaneously by at least 10 percent (step807).

FIG.9is a flow chart showing operation of the device ofFIG.1in accordance with the alternate embodiment of the present invention. The logic flow begins at step901where logic circuitry502determines an amount knob101is rotated. At step903, logic circuitry increases a volume of the speaker as the knob is rotated in a first direction such that the volume is increased in a continuous manner as the knob rotates. Finally, at step905, logic circuitry502increases a noise suppression level as the knob is rotated in the first direction such that the noise suppression level is increased after the knob is rotated past a first predetermined amount.

As should be apparent from this detailed description above, the operations and functions of the electronic computing device are sufficiently complex as to require their implementation on a computer system, and cannot be performed, as a practical matter, in the human mind. Electronic computing devices such as set forth herein are understood as requiring and providing speed and accuracy and complexity management that are not obtainable by human mental steps, in addition to the inherently digital nature of such operations (e.g., a human mind cannot interface directly with RAM or other digital storage, cannot transmit or receive electronic messages, electronically encoded video, electronically encoded audio, etc., and cannot provide volume boost or noise suppression of electronic signals, among other features and functions set forth herein).