Loudspeaker telephone device comprising a noise suppressing circuit

Abstract: Controlled by a signal level produced by a microphone (12), a noise suppressing circuit (25) supplies a first attenuator (16) with a local level which is equal to the signal level and is suppressed to a predetermined output level when the signal level is lower and higher than a predetermined input level. Cooperating with a drive level produced by a second attenuator (17) to drive a loudspeaker (13), the local level makes a comparator unit (21-23) produce a control signal for making the first attenuator give smaller and greater amounts of attenuation to the signal level with the drive level rendered by the second attenuator low and high when positive and negative values are had, respectively, by an input difference equal to the local level less the drive level. Preferably, the local level is suppressed by a level difference had by the signal level above the predetermined input level.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to a loudspeaker telephone device or set. Usually, a telephone set includes a handset comprising a transmitter and a receiver. A microphone is generally used as the transmitter. When the telephone set is used in a mobile telephone unit installed in an automobile or a like vehicle, where it is highly desired for a user to speak to and receive speech from an attendant to a counterpart telephone unit of a plurality of remote telephone units without lifting the handset, a loudspeaker is preferably used instead of the receiver housed in the handset. Such a telephone set is herein called a loudspeaker telephone device. A loudspeaker telephone device of a local telephone unit is for converting a microphone output signal to a speech transmission signal, which is transmitted to a counterpart telephone substation typically as a radio transmission signal. When received as a radio reception signal from the counterpart telephone unit, a speech reception signal is converted by the loudspeaker telephone device to a loudspeaker drive signal for use in driving the loudspeaker. It goes without saying that a mobile telephone unit is for transmitting a user's speech to a counterpart telephone unit and for receiving to listen to a speech sent from the counterpart telephone unit. On transmitting the user's speech to the counterpart telephone unit, the loudspeaker telephone device should be put in speech transmission mode of operation of giving a small amount of attenuation to the microphone output signal and of giving a great attenuation to the speech reception signal which is quiescent in practice. On receiving speech from the counterpart telephone substation, the loudspeaker telephone device should be put in speech reception mode of operation of giving a small amount of attenuation to the speech reception signal and a great amount of attenuation to the microphone output signal which may have an appreciably high level due to noise surrounding the loudspeaker telephone device. In the manner which will later be described in more detail, a conventional loudspeaker telephone device comprises a comparator unit for comparing the microphone output signal having a microphone signal level with the loudspeaker drive signal having a loudspeaker drive level. The comparator unit thereby produces an attenuation control signal with an attenuation control level which is equal to the microphone signal level less the drive level, namely, is a level difference between the microphone signal level and the drive level. In the manner described in the following, the attenuation control signal is used in putting the loudspeaker telephone device automatically selectively in the speech transmission and reception modes. In the loudspeaker telephone device, a first attenuator unit is supplied with the microphone output signal and is controlled by the attenuation control signal to produce the speech transmission signal by giving the microphone output signal a first variable amount of attenuation which increases with an increase in the attenuation control level. A second attenuator unit is supplied with the talk reception signal and controlled by the attenuation control signal to produce the loudspeaker drive signal by giving the talk reception signal a second variable amount of attenuation which decreases with the above-mentioned increase. The microphone of the mobile telephone unit is often surrounded by a strong or loud noise. In such an event, the microphone produces the microphone output signal with a considerably high microphone signal level even when the user is not speaking to the microphone. As a consequence, the microphone signal level becomes appreciably higher than the drive level even if the speech reception signal is delivered to the second attenuator unit with a significant level. Under the circumstances, the conventional loudspeaker telephone device is undesiredly kept in the speech transmission mode of attenuating the speech reception signal. This gives the loudspeaker drive signal an objectionably low drive level and renders it impossible for the loudspeaker to clearly reproduce the talk sent from the counterpart telephone unit. Document EP-A- 0 299 507 discloses noise suppression in a telephone having a handset which a user speaks into and listens to. The documents appreciates that there is a problem even with this type of telephone of background noise. To monitor this background noise a separate noise input is used comprising a noise detection device. This is independent of the handset and the noise level detected there does not necessarily correspond to the noise level at the handset. Document US-A- 4 317 959 addresses the problem of noise block. Noise block is noise on a received signal and comprises the noise picked up by a circuit line or on a radio transmission received by the telephone unit rather than background noise. The telephone unit disclosed therein, in order to deal with this noise, is required to have two receivers amplifiers (a first reception control amplifier and a second receive control amplifier) driving a loudspeaker. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a loudspeaker telephone device which can be automatically switched from speech transmission mode to speech reception mode when a speech reception signal is received with a significant level even in the presence of strong background noise. It is a subordinate object of this invention to provide a loudspeaker telephone device which is of the type described and with which a user can speak to an attendant to a counterpart telephone unit in the presence of a surrounding noise of a high noise level if the user speaks: with a level which is higher than the noise level. Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds. On setting forth the gist of an aspect of this invention, it is possible to understand that a loudspeaker telephone device is for converting a microphone output signal having a microphone signal level to a speech transmission signal and for converting a speech reception signal to a loudspeaker drive signal having a drive level and includes: (a) a comparator unit for comparing a local signal having a local level derived from the microphone signal level and the loudspeaker drive signal to produce an attenuation control signal in accordance with a level difference equal to the local level less the drive level, (b) a first attenuator controlled by the attenuation control signal to produce the speech transmission signal by giving the local signal a first variable amount of attenuation increasing with an increase in the level difference, and (c) a second attenuator controlled by the attenuation control signal to produce the loudspeaker drive signal by giving the speech reception signal a second variable amount of attenuation decreasing with the above-mentioned increase. According to the above-mentioned aspect of this invention, the above-understood loudspeaker telephone device comprises a noise suppressing circuit supplied with the microphone output signal to produce the local signal with the local level varied in accordance with the microphone signal level when the microphone signal level is lower than a predetermined input level and with the local level suppressed to a predetermined output level when the microphone signal level is higher than the predetermined input level. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone substation including a conventional loudspeaker telephone device; Fig. 2 exemplifies attenuation characteristics which are used in a loudspeaker telephone device in general; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a telephone unit which includes a loudspeaker telephone device according to an embodiment of the instant invention; Fig. 4, depicted below Fig. 2 merely for convenience of illustration, exemplifies an input-to-output characteristic of a noise suppressing circuit which is used in the loudspeaker telephone device shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 exemplifies an input-to-output characteristic of a comparator unit which is used in the loudspeaker telephone device illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 exemplifies an operation characteristic of the noise suppressing circuit mentioned in connection with Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a practical circuit diagram of the noise suppressing circuit mentioned in conjunction with Fig. 4; Fig. 8, drawn below Fig. 6, exemplifies an attenuation characteristic of a gain control unit for use in the noise suppressing circuit depicted in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 exemplifies an output-to-input ratio versus a gain control current value in connection with a compander integrated circuit which is used in the gain control unit mentioned in connection with Fig. 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: Referring to Fig. 1, attention will first be directed, in order to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, to a telephone unit which is used as a local telephone unit and includes a conventional loudspeaker telephone device or set 11. It is known in the art that the loudspeaker telephone device 11 includes a microphone 12 as a transmitter and features a loudspeaker 13 which is used in place of a usual receiver housed in a handset (not shown) together with the transmitter. The microphone 12 produces a microphone output signal either, ordinarily, when a user of the local telephone unit speaks to the microphone 12 for transmission of a user's speech to an attendant to a counterpart telephone unit of a plurality of remote telephone substations (not shown) by, for example, a radio transmission signal produced by a radio transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) 15 in response to the microphone output signal in a manner which will presently become clear or, depending on the circumstances, when the microphone 12 picks up a surrounding noise of a noise level even in the absence of the user's speech If produced in response to the surrounding noise, the microphone output signal is undesiredly transmitted to the counterpart telephone substation. When produced in response to the user's speech in the absence of the surrounding noise, the microphone output signal has a microphone signal level which depends solely on the voice level of human voice forming the user's speech. When the microphone output signal is produced in response to the surrounding noise while the user is quiescent, the microphone signal level depends on the noise level. When a radio reception signal is received with a signal reception level from the counterpart telephone substation, the radio transmitter/receiver 15 produces a speech reception signal with a signal production level. In this manner, the radio transmitter/ receiver 15 serves in the telephone substation being illustrated as a radio device which includes various other circuit elements which are known in the art and are not shown. In the manner which will shortly become clear, the loudspeaker telephone device 11 is for converting the microphone output signal to a speech transmission signal for transmission as the radio transmission signal to the counterpart telephone unit The loudspeaker telephone device 11 is furthermore for converting the speech reception signal to a loudspeaker drive signal for use in driving the loudspeaker 13. The loudspeaker drive signal has a loudspeaker drive level which depends on the signal production level at which the speech reception signal is produced by the radio transmitter/receiver 15. In general, the speech transmission signal is transmitted to the counterpart telephone unit by putting the loudspeaker telephone device 11 in a speech transmission mode of operation of giving a small amount of attenuation to the microphone output signal and of giving a great amount of attenuation to the speech reception signal. On producing the loudspeaker drive signal, the speech transmission mode should automatically be switched to speech reception mode of operation of giving a small amount of attenuation to the speech reception signal and of giving a great amount of attenuation to the microphone output signal. For this purpose, first and second attenuator units or attenuators 16 and 17 are used together with first and second level detectors 21 and 22 which are connected to a comparator 23 for supplying the first and the second attenuators 16 and 17 with an attenuation control signal with an attenuation control level in the manner which will presently be described. Supplied with the speech reception signal and controlled by the attenuation control signal, the second attenuator 17 produces the loudspeaker drive signal with the loudspeaker drive level determined by the attenuation control level. The loudspeaker drive signal is delivered to the loudspeaker 13 and to the second level detector 22, which detects the loudspeaker drive level for supply to the comparator 23 as one of two comparison input signals that has the drive level. In the conventional loudspeaker telephone device 11, the microphone output signal is supplied directly to the first attenuator 16 and to the first level detector 21. Controlled by the attenuation control signal, the first attenuator 16 produces the speech transmission signal with the microphone signal level attenuated depending on the attenuation control level. The first level detector 21 detects the microphone signal level for supply to the comparator 23 as the other of the two comparison input signals that has the microphone signal level. Turning to Fig. 2 during a short while, the first and the second attenuators 16 and 17 (Fig. 1) have attenuation characteristics exemplified by straight lines which are labelled (16) and (17) and each of which shows an amount of attenuation (ATT) versus the attenuation control level indicated at (ATTCONT). More particularly, the amount of attenuation increases in the first attenuator 16 with an increase in the attenuation control level. The amount of attenuation decreases in the second attenuator 17 with the above-mentioned increase. Turning back to Fig. 1, a combination of the first and the second level detectors 21 and 22 and the comparator 23 serves as a comparator unit. In the conventional loudspeaker telephone device 11, the comparator unit (21-23) is supplied with the microphone output signal and the loudspeaker drive signal and compares the microphone signal level and the loudspeaker drive level with each other to render the attenuation control level dependent on an input level difference which is obtained by subtracting the drive level from the microphone signal level. When the level difference is equal to zero, a predetermined level is given to the attenuation control level. When the level difference has a positive value, the attenuation control level becomes higher than the predetermined level. When the level difference is negative, the attenuation control level becomes lower than the predetermined level. It is now understood in connection with the conventional loudspeaker telephone device 11 that the microphone output signal is given a small amount of attenuation with the speech reception signal given a great amount of attenuation when the microphone signal level is higher than the loudspeaker drive level. The speech reception signal is given a small amount of attenuation with the microphone output signal given a great amount of attenuation when the drive level is higher than the microphone signal level. In this manner, the conventional loudspeaker telephone device 11 is selectively put in the speech transmission and reception modes. It will now be presumed merely for convenience of the description which follows that the local telephone unit is a mobile telephone substation installed in an automobile or a like vehicle. The microphone 12 may be subjected to a surrounding noise lasting for an appreciable interval of time and having a strong or high noise level which may vary or fluctuate during the time interval. The conventional loudspeaker telephone device 11 is undesiredly kept in the speech transmission mode under such a strong or loud surrounding noise. This is because the microphone signal level is considerably higher than the loudspeaker drive level even when the user is quiescent and even if the speech reception signal is produced with a significant signal production level. It is therefore impossible under the circumstances to automatically switch the talk transmission mode to the talk reception mode. Inasmuch as the speech reception signal is unduly attenuated in the speech transmission mode, the loudspeaker drive signal has an objectionably low drive level. The loudspeaker can not produce a clear reproduction of speech sent from the counterpart telephone substation. Referring now to Fig. 3 with Fig. 2 additionally referred to, the description will be directed to a local telephone unit comprising similar parts which are designated by like reference numerals and are similarly operable with likewise named signals unless otherwise pointed out hereinafter. In Fig, 3, the telephone unit includes a loudspeaker telephone device which is according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and will be designated by the reference numeral 11 as before merely for convenience of designation. The microphone output signal is now delivered to the first attenuator 16 and to the comparator unit (21-23) indirectly as a local signal through a noise suppressing circuit 25 which will become clear as the description prcceeds. The local signal is produced by the noise suppressing circuit 25 with a local level into which the microphone signal level is varied or adjusted in accordance with the microphone signal level. In other words, the local level is derived from the microphone signal level. More specifically, the microphone signal level is varied to render the local level substantially equal to the microphone signal level when the microphone signal level is lower than a predetermined input level. The microphone signal level is suppressed to a predetermined output level for use as the local level when the microphone signal level is higher than the predetermined input level. The predetermined input level may be equal to the microphone signal level derived when the voice level is equal to an ordinary level of the user's speech. The predetermined output level may be equal to the local level produced by the noise suppressing circuit 25 in response to the microphone output signal having the microphone signal level which is substantially equal to the predetermined input level. Supplied with the local signal instead of the microphone output signal and with the loudspeaker drive signal, the comparator unit (21-23) renders the attenuation control level dependent on an improved level difference which is obtained by subtracting the loudspeaker drive level from the local level. In other respects, the comparator unit is operable with no difference from that described in conjuction with Fig. 1. It may be mentioned here that the attenuation control level will presently be described with reference to one of the drawing figures and that a like level difference can be used by subtracting the local level from the loudspeaker drive level. The first and the second attenuators 16 and 17 are controlled by the attenuation control level which is determined by the improved level difference. It should consequently be understood in connection with Fig. 2 that the attenuation control level depends on the improved level difference. Turning temporarily to Fig. 4, the microphone signal level is represented by Vt with the local level represented by Vt'. The local level is detected by the first level detector 21. Under the circumstances, the noise suppressing circuit 25 (Fig. 3) has an input-to-output characteristic exemplified in connection with the microphone signal level and the local level in the figure being referenced. In the manner exemplified in Fig. 4, the local level is substantially equal to the microphone signal level when the microphone signal level is lower than the predetermined input level which is represented by TH. The local level is kept at or suppressed to the predetermined output level when the microphone signal level is higher than the predetermined input level. Further turning to Fig. 5, the attenuation control level is denoted by (ATTCONT) as before. It is possible to understand that the comparator 23 (Fig. 3) is supplied with a collective input signal having an input difference level (Vt' - Vr), where Vr represents the loudspeaker drive level detected by the second level detector 22. The comparator 23 therefore has an input-to-output characteristic exesplified as regards the attenuation control level versus the input difference level in the drawing figure being referred to. As exemplified in Fig. 5, the attenuation control level is equal to a predetermined level or current value I(O) when the input difference level is equal to zero. When the talk is not received from the counterpart telephone substation to make the input difference level have a positive value, the attenuation control level is rendered lower than the predetermined level. When the speech reception signal is produced with the significant signal production level to make the input difference level have a negative value even in the presence of a strong surrounding noise which is suppressed by the noise suppressing circuit 25 (Fig. 3), the attenuation control level is given a higher level than the predetermined level. Turning back to Fig. 3, the noise suppressing circuit 25 is for producing the local signal by giving a controllable amount of attenuation to the microphone output signal. The controllable amount of attenuation is substantially equal to zero when the microphone signal level is lower than the predetermined input level. When the microphone signal level is higher than the predetermined input level, the controllable amount increases in proportion to a level increment in the local level above the predetermined input level. The local level consequently varies in the manner exemplified in Fig. 4. The illustrated loudspeaker telephone device 11 therefore produces the speech transmission signla with the local signal given by the first attenuator 16 a first variable amount of attenuation determined by the attenuation control level. The loudspeaker drive signal is produced with the speech reception signal given by the second attenuator 17 a second variable amount of attenuation dependent on the attenuation control level. When the microphone signal level is lower than the predetermined input level, the first and the second variable amounts of attenuation are not much different from those used in the conventional loudspeaker telephone device 11 illustrated with reference to Fig. 1. When the microphone signal level is higher than the predetermined input level as a result of presence of a strong surrounding noise, each of the first and the second variable amounts is markedly different from a corresponding one of the small amounts or the great amounts of attenuation described in conjunction with Fig. 1. This will become clear from the following. It will first be surmised that the microphone 12 is not subjected to a surrounding noise having an appreciable noise level. It will be assumed in addition that the user begins speaking to the microphone 12 with a voice level which is not higher than an ordinary level of the user's speech. Under the circumstances, the microphone output signal is supplied to the first attenuator 16 through the noise suppressing circuit 25 with the local level into which the microphone signal level is varied with substantially no attenuation. When the speech reception signal is produced with a substantially zero signal production level, the input difference level (Vt' - Vr) is considerably high. As a consequence, the first variable amount of attenuation is small. The second variable amount of attenuation is great. The illustrated loudspeaker telephone device 11 is therefore put in the speech transmission mode. It will be assumed in addition that the user stops speaking to the microphone 12. It will be supposed that the speed reception signal is produced with a significant signal production level. The input difference level is given a negative value. The attenuation control level is given a high level. As a result, the first variable amount of attenuation becomes great. The second amount of attenuation becomes small. The loudspeaker telephone device 11 is therefore successfully automatically switched from the speech transmission mode to the talk reception mode. It will next be surmised that the microphone 12 is subjected to a surrounding noise having a considerably high noise level. It will additionally be assumed that the user speaks to the microphone 12 during absence of the speech reception signal produced with the significant signal production level. It is usual under such a strong surrounding noise that the user speaks to the microphone 12 with a high voice level which is higher than the considerably high noise level. Turning to Fig. 6 during a short while, the considerably high noise level is indicated at N. The high voice level is depicted at A. In the manner exemplified leftwardly of the figure with a label MIC attached to represent microphone input levels, the microphone output signal consists of a voice output component and a noise output component having component output levels which are determined by the high voice level and the considerably high noise level and each of which is higher than the predetermined input level. It will be supposed merely for brevity of the description that the component output levels are equal to levels A and N and have a level difference Δv. In the manner exemplified in Fig. 6 rightwardly with another label LOC used to indicate the local level, the local signal consists of a local voice component and a local noise component which have a local voice level A' and a local noise level N'. The local voices level is equal to the predetermined output level. Inasmuch as each of the component output levels of the voices and the noise output components is higher than the predetermined input level, the noise suppressing circuit 25 (Fig. 3) gives a common amount of attenuation to the voice and the noise output components supplied thereto. As a result, the level difference is unexpectedly maintained between the local voice level and the local noise level. The local voice and noise components are therefore produced with an output ratio which is hardly deteriorated when compared with the input ratio of the high voice level to the considerably high noise level. Turning back to Fig. 3, it will now additionally be assumed that the speech reception signal is produced with a significant signal production level during absence of the user's speech. Even though the surrounding noise has the considerably high noise level, the local level does not exceed the predeterminded output level. It is consequently possible to make the input difference level (Vt' - Vr) have a negative value. The attenuation control level is rendered lower than the predetermined level. As a result, the first variable amount of attenuation is given a large value. The second variable amount of attenuation is rendered small. The illustrated loudspeaker telephone device 11 is automatically switched from the speech transmission mode to the speed reception mode. Inasmuch as the second amount of attenuation is small, the speech reception signal gives the loudspeaker drive signal a high drive level. This makes the loudspeaker 13 produce a clear reproduction of the speech received as the speed reception signal. Referring now to Fig. 7. the noise suppressing circuit 25 has circuit input and output terminals 26 and 27. When the noise suppressing circuit 25 is used in the loudspeaker telephone device 11 illustrated with reference to Fig. 3, the circuit input terminal 26 is supplied with the microphone output signal having the microphone signal level Vt. The noise suppressing circuit 25 delivers the local signal to the circuit output terminal 27 with the local level Vt'. When attention is directed to the noise suppressing circuit 25 alone, it will be said that the circuit input terminal 26 is supplied with a circuit input signal. In other words, the microphone output signal is referred to as the circuit input signal. The microphone signal level Vt will be called a signal input level. The local signal will be referred to as a circuit output signal. The local level Vt' will be called a signal output level. Under the circumstances, the noise suppressing circuit 25 is for rendering the signal output level substantially equal to the signal input level when the signal input level is lower than a predetermined input level. When the signal input level is higher than the predetermined input level, the signal output level is suppressed to a predetermined output level. Preferably, the noise suppressing circuit 25 comprises a gain control unit 31. It is convenient to use a compander integrated circuit (compander IC) 32 in the gain control unit 31. In this event, a peripheral control circuit should be connected to the compander integrated circuit 32 in the manner which will presently be described in connection with a practical example of the noise suppressing circuit 25. The compander integrated circuit 32 is preferably µPD796 manufactured and sold by NEC Corporation, Tôkyô, Japan. Alternatively, the compander integrated circuit 32 may be NE575 manufactured and sold by Cygnetics. The compander integrated circuit 32 has a plurality of pins which will become clear as the description proceeds. As a part of the peripheral control circuit, an input circuit is connected to a signal input pin IN. In the example being illustrated, the input circuit comprises an input capacitor Ci connected to the circuit input terminal 26 and an input resistor Ri between the input capacitor and the signal input pin. A circuit power source of plus 8 V is connected to a power supply pin V(CC). A circuit output pin OUT is connected to the circuit output terminal 27. A gain control input pin REC is supplied with a gain control signal which will shortly be described. As a fractional part of the peripheral control circuit, a first capacitor C1 is connected between one of connection pins CR and ground. major part of the peripheral control circuit comprises a second capacitor C2 between the circuit output pin and another of the.connection pins AG, a series circuit of first and second resistors R1 and R2 between the circuit output pin and still another of the connection pins InV, and a third capacitor C3 between a point of connection between the first and the second resistors and ground. As well as to the input capacitor Ci, the circuit input terminal 26 is connected to a rectifier detector unit 33. In the practical example, the detector unit 33 comprises a fourth capacitor C4 connected to the circuit input terminal 26, a third resistor R3 connected to the fourth capacitor, a first operational amplifier OP1 having a first amplifier output terminal, an inverted input terminal connected to the third resistor, and a non-inverted input terminal supplied with plus 3 V from a local power source, a series connection of first and second diodes D1 and D2 connected to the third resistor and having a point of connection connected to the first amplifier output terminal, a series circuit of fourth and fifth resistors R4 and R5 between the third resistor and a unit power source of plus 3 V, and a sixth resistor R6 between a cathode electrode of the second diode and a point of connection between the fourth and the fifth resistors. In the example being illustrated, the first operational amplifier serves as a differential amplifier which is accompanied by a feedback resistor comprising the fourth and the fifth resistors and has a gain determined by a resistance ratio between the fifth and the sixth resistors. The third resistor serves as an input resistor. Comprising the first and the second diodes, the detector unit 33 serves as a half-wave detector. A smoothing unit 34 is connected to the rectifier detector unit 33. In the manner known in the art, the smoothing unit 34 may comprise a seventh resistor R7 connected to a point of connection between the sixth resistor and the cathode electrode of the second diode. A fifth capacitor C5 is connected between the seventh resistor and ground. A combination of the rectifier detector unit 33 and the smoothing unit 34 serves as a rectifier unit for rectifying the circuit input signal into a rectified signal. Through the smoothing unit 34, the rectifier unit (33, 34) produces the rectified signal with a rectified voltage which is proportional to the signal input level. A voltage follower unit 35 is connected to the rectifier unit (33, 34) and is supplied with plus 3 V from the unit power source. In the practical example, the voltage follower unit 35 comprises a voltage follower which comprises an eighth resistor R8 connected to the unit power source. a second operational amplifier OP2 having a second amplifier output terminal, an inverted input terminal connected to the eighth resistor, and a non-inverted input terminal connected to the smoothing unit 34, and a ninth resistor R9 between the amplifier output terminal and the inverted input terminal of the second operational amplifier. A voltage divider is connected to the voltage follower and comprises a series circuit of tenth and eleventh resistors R10 and R11 connected to a point of connection between the second amplifier output terminal and the ninth resistor and a twelfth resistor R12 between a point of connection between the tenth and the eleventh resistors and ground. A current modifier unit 36 is connected to the voltage follower unit 35. In the practical example, the current modifier unit 36 comprises a series connection of third and fourth diodes D3 and D4 connected to the voltage follower unit 35 and having a point of connection supplied with plus 8 V from a local power source through a thirteenth resistor R13. A combination of the voltage follower unit 35 and the current modifier unit 36 serves as a voltage-to-current converter unit. Supplied with the rectified signal, the voltage-to-current converter unit (35, 36) produces an output current signal having a current value I(c) proportional to a voltage increment which the rectified voltage has above or relative to a predetermined voltage. More particularly, the current value is kept substantially at zero until the rectified voltage rises up to the predetermined voltage. When the rectified voltage rises above the predetermined voltage, the current value increases in proportion to the voltage increment. The output current signal is supplied to the gain control input terminal REC of the compander integrated circuit 32 as the gain control signal. A connection 37 is used between the voltage-to-current converter unit (35, 36) and the gain control unit 31 to serve as a supply arrangement. Through the supply arrangement (37), the current value makes the gain control unit 31 subject the circuit input signal of the signal input level to a controllable amount of attenuation to produce the circuit output signal with the signal output level. In the practical example, the compander integrated circuit 32 is operable as a compressor, an expander, or a compander when different circuit structures are given to the peripheral control circuit and/or when different circuit constants are given to circuit elements of the peripheral control circuit. In the example being illustrated, the peripheral control circuit is given a circuit structure described above. The following circuit constants are selected. In the peripheral control circuit: Ci: 1.0 microfarad; C1: 2.2 microfarads; C2: 1 microfarad; C3: 10 microfarads; Ri: 82 kiloohms; and each of R1 and R2: 10 kiloohms. Incidentally, other circuit constants are as follows. C4: 0.01 microfarad; C5: 10 microfarads; each of R3 and R4: 47 kiloohms; R5: 4.7 kiloohms; R6: 10 kiloohms; R7: 330 kiloohms; each of R8 and R9: 220 kiloohms; R10: 560 ohms; R11: 560 kiloohms; R12: 5.6 kiloohms; and R13: 1 megohm. Turning to Fig. 8 during a short while, the gain control unit 31 (Fig. 7) subjects the circuit input signal to a controllable amount of attenuation which is indicated at (ATT) and increases in the manner exemplified by a straight line labelled (31) when the current value I(c) is not kept substantially at zero but increases. As described above, the current value is substantially equal to zero until the rectified voltage rises up to the predetermined voltage. The current value is therefore kept substantially at zero when the signal input level is lower than a predetermined input level which is determined by the predetermined voltage. The controllable amount of attenuation is consequently kept substantially at zero until the signal input level rises up to the predetermined input level. When the signal input level rises above the predetermined input level, the controllable amount of attenuation is proportional to a level increment which the signal input level has above or relative to the predetermined input level. Further turning to Fig. 9, the compander integrated circuit 32 (Fig. 7) receives an arriving signal at its circuit input pin IN with an arriving signal level Vt". Attention will be directed to a level ratio R of the signal output level to the arriving signal level. When the circuit elements of the peripheral control circuit are connected in the manner described in conjunction with Fig. 7 and are given the circuit constants described above, the ratio R decreases with an increase in the current value I(c) in the manner which is exemplified by a curve labelled (32). Turning back to Fig. 7, it is now clear that the noise suppressing circuit 25 is supplied with the circuit input signal having the signal input level, such as the microphone signal level Vt, and produces the circuit output signal having the signal output level or the local level Vt' which is substantially equal to the signal input level when the signal input level is lower than the predetermined input level. When the signal input level is higher than the predetermined input level, the signal output level is suppressed to the predetermined output level. While this invention has thus far been described in specific conjunction with a loudspeaker telephone device according to a preferred embodiment thereof and with a noise suppressing circuit according to an aspect thereof, it will now be readily possible for one skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, the noise suppressing circuit 25 may comprise an adjuster for adjusting the predetermined input level according, for example, to the ordinary level of the user's speech. Above all, it should clearly be understood in the manner described before with reference to Fig. 3 that the comparator unit (21-23) may produce the attenuation control signal with the attenuation control level determined in accordance with a different input level difference which is equal to the loudspeaker drive level Vr less the local level Vt'. Rather than rendered equal to each other, the signal input level and the signal output level may be rendered substantially proportional to each other by the noise suppressing circuit 25. Incidentally, the microphone output signal is supplied to the first attenuator 16 and to the first level detector 21 as a local signal of a sort in the conventional loudspeaker telephone device illustrated with reference to Fig. 1.

Claims: A loudspeaker telephone device (11) for converting a microphone output signal having a microphone signal level to a speech transmission signal and for converting a speech reception signal to a loudspeaker drive signal having a drive level, said loudspeaker telephone device including a comparator unit (21,22,23) for comparing a local signal having a local level derived from said microphone (12) signal level and said loudspeaker (13) drive signal to produce an attenuation control signal in accordance with a level difference equal to said local level less said drive level, a first attenuator (16) controlled by said attenuation control signal to produce said speech transmission signal by giving said local signal a first variable amount of attenuation increasing with an increase in said level difference, and a second attenuator (17) controlled by said attenuation control signal to produce said loudspeaker drive signal by giving said speech reception signal a second variable amount of attenuation decreasing with said increase in said difference level, said loudspeaker telephone device (11) characterised by a noise suppressing circuit (25) supplied with said microphone output signal to produce said local signal with said local level varied in accordance with said microphone signal level when said microphone signal level is lower than a predetermined input level and with said local level suppressed to a predetermined output level when said microphone signal level is higher than said predetermined input level. A loudspeaker telephone device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said predetermined input level is equal to an ordinary level of speech. A loudspeaker telephone device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said noise suppressing circuit is for producing said local signal by giving said microphone output signal a controllable amount of attenuating which is constant when said microphone signal level is lower than said predetermined input level and which increases in proportion to a level increment had by said microphone signal level above said predetermined input level to suppress said local level to said predetermined output level when said microphone signal level is higher than said predetermined input level. A loudspeaker telephone device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said noise suppressing circuit comprises: a gain control unit (31) controlled by a gain control signal having a gain control level to produce said local signal by giving said microphone output signal a controllable amount of attenuation in accordance with said gain control level; a rectifier unit (33,34) for rectifying said microphone output signal to produce a rectified signal having a rectified voltage proportional to said microphone signal level; a voltage-to-current converter unit (35,36) supplied with said rectified signal to produce an output current signal having a current value proportional to a voltage increment which said rectified voltage has above a predetermined voltage determined in compliance with said predetermined input level; and supply means (37) for supplying said output current signal to said gain control unit to use said current value as said gain control level whereby said local level is rendered proportional to said microphone signal level when said microphone signal level is lower than said predetermined input level, said local level being suppressed to said predetermined output level when said microphone signal level is higher than said predetermined input level.

Inventors: EGUCHI TADASHI, TOMIYORI YUTAKA, EGUCHI, TADASHI, TOMIYORI, YUTAKA, Eguchi, Tadashi, c/o NEC Saitama, Ltd.
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04M9
IPC codes: H04M9, H04M1