Patent ID: 7333618

Claim:
A noise compensation system comprising: a variable amplifier configured to receive an audio input signal and to generate an audio output signal in response to the audio input signal; where the variable amplifier is further configured to receive an adjustment signal and to control an output level of the audio output signal in response to the adjustment signal; a source sound processor coupled to the variable amplifier, configured to receive the audio output signal, and configured to generate a set of audio output levels, where each audio output level from the set of audio output levels is indicative of the audio output signal in a corresponding frequency band from a set of frequency bands; an area sound processor configured to receive an ambient sound input signal and configured to generate a set of ambient sound levels, where each ambient sound level from the set of ambient sound levels is derived from the ambient sound input signal in a corresponding frequency band from the set of frequency bands; and an adjustment circuit coupled to the source and area sound processors, configured to perform a comparison of the set of audio output levels with the set of ambient sound levels, and configured to generate the adjustment signal in response to the comparison.