Patent Grant
9171537
1. Technical Field
The embodiments herein generally relate to noise signal reducing apparatus and methods and particularly to cancelling device and method for noise signals. More particularly the embodiments herein relate to an apparatus and method for cancelling, reducing, modulating, noise signals and for signal enhancement and signal-proofing with a wireless or wired apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Often, the public, businessmen, the military and professionals endure constant, varying and distracting noise. Hence, environmental noise has become a very significant issue for many homes, businesses and other institutions. A variety of different factors contribute to the problem of environmental noise pollution. The different factors include increasing population density, per capita space reduction, and increasing levels of industrial, transportation and residential noise. Noise sources are increasingly perceived as environmental pollution and are considered to be a diminution of quality of life. Examples of the noise sources include but are not limited to roads and freeways, airplanes, industrial institutions, plants and factories, air conditioners and pool equipment, and many others.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an apparatus for reducing the environmental noise and enable an individual to establish, on command, absolute or a desired level of silence. Further, it is desirable to have an apparatus and method to enable a person or persons to resist, exclude or modulate a variety of signals in a variety of locales. For example, a hotel room in a densely populated urban area could reduce traffic noise, a military debriefing room could be made ‘secure,’ and a classroom could be improved to avoid undesired stimuli that would otherwise distract learning students.
Hence, there is a need to provide an efficient system and method for cancelling, reducing, modulating, noise signals and for signal enhancement and signal-proofing with a wireless or wired apparatus.
The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The embodiments herein relate generally to, among other things, the fields of military and diplomatic intelligence gathering, and delivery of intelligence and misinformation; auditory and medical research; consumer appliances; business appliances; education; electronic technology; private and public auditoria for orchestras, theater, etc., and robot technology. The term “noise” wherever mentioned in the specification means an undesirable signal or signals. The term ‘signal’ is not limited to just sound waves, but also includes light particles, smell particles, touch/sensation signals, and taste signals.
The primary object of the embodiments herein is to provide an apparatus and methods for cancelling signal noise modulation, reduction, signal noise cancellation, signal enhancement, and signal-proofing.
Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an efficient, practical, simple apparatus and/or methods to eliminate or significantly reduce undesirable signals.
Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an efficient, practical, simple apparatus and/or methods to enhance signals, substitute signals, isolate signals and modulate signals.
Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an efficient, practical, simple apparatus and/or methods that is operated irrespective of whether the apparatus is in proximity and/or remote to the subject.
Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide an efficient, practical, simple apparatus and/or methods that will transmit silencing descriptor information to a receiver or receivers for signal or noise cancellation.
The embodiments herein provide an apparatus and method for cancelling signal noise modulation, reduction, signal noise cancellation for signal noise modulation. Examples of the signal noise include, but are not limited to sound signal, light signal, smell signal touch or sensation signal and taste signal. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for cancelling signal noise has a means for capturing undesirable signals, especially from one area to another confined or open area. A transducer is connected to the means for capturing the undesirable signals for receiving the captured undesirable signals, for converting the energy of the captured signals and for modulating the captured undesirable signals. The sound waves in this embodiment are converted into analog signals. A signal-inverting circuit is connected to the transducer to generate the inverse of the captured undesirable signals. A means for transmitting is connected to the signal inverting circuit to transmit the output of the signal inverting circuit. A means for communications is provided to communicate the output of the signal inverting circuit transmitted using the means for transmitting. A means for receiving is provided to receive the inverted signal transmitted by the means for transmitting. A signal output device is connected to the means for receiving to output the inverted signal received by the means for receiving. A power source is provided to supply power to all the components in the apparatus.
The signal output device outputs the inverted signal received by the means for receiving to cancel the undesirable signal. The means for capturing the undesirable signal is a sensor or a receiver for detecting an undesirable signal. The sensor or receiver is automatically tuned to a specific frequency of the signal. The sensor or the receiver has a feature for adjusting the volume of the specific signal for achieving any desired degree of noise cancellation.
The signal inverting circuit generates a signal which is the inverse of the undesirable signal captured by the means for capturing. The output signal from the signal inverting circuit has an amplitude which is inverse of the captured, undesired signal and a frequency which is same as the frequency of the captured, undesired signal. The undesired signal is a signal selected from a group comprising noise, undesirable sounds, visual stimuli, touch stimuli and taste stimuli.
The means for communications is a wired network to communicate the output of the signal inverting circuit, which is transmitted using the means for transmitting. The means for communications is a wireless network to communicate the output of the signal inverting circuit, which is transmitted using the means for transmitting. The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a fully or partially wireless network. The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a partially wired or partially wireless network or optical communications system.
According to another embodiment, a method for cancelling signal noise is provided. The method involves capturing undesirable signals, generating inverse signals of the captured undesirable signal, transmitting the generated inverse of the captured undesirable signal, receiving the transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal and outputting the received inverse of the captured undesirable signal to cancel the undesirable signal.
The undesirable signals are captured using a sensor or receiver. The captured undesirable signal is passed through a signal inverting circuit to generate the inverse of the captured undesirable signal. The inverse signal has an amplitude which is inverse of the captured undesirable signal and a frequency which is same as the frequency of the captured undesirable signal. The undesired signal is a signal selected from a group comprising noise, undesirable sounds, visual stimuli, touch stimuli and taste stimuli.
The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a wired network. The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a fully or partially wireless network. The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a partially wired or partially wireless network or optical communications system.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The embodiments herein provide an apparatus and method for cancelling signal noise modulation, reduction, signal noise cancellation for signal noise modulation. Examples of the signal noise include, but are not limited to sound signal, light signal, smell signal, touch or sensation signal and taste signal. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for cancelling signal noise has a means for capturing undesirable signals. A transducer is connected to the means for capturing the undesirable signals for receiving the captured undesirable signals, for converting the energy of the captured signals and for modulating the captured undesirable signals. A signal inverting circuit is connected to the transducer to generate the inverse of the captured undesirable signals. A means for transmitting is connected to the signal inverting circuit to transmit the output of the signal inverting circuit. A means for communications is provided to communicate the output of the signal inverting circuit transmitted using the means for transmitting. A means for receiving is provided to receive the inverted signal transmitted by the means for transmitting. A signal output device is connected to the means for receiving to output the inverted signal received by the means for receiving. A power source is provided to supply power to all the components in the apparatus.
The signal output device outputs the inverted signal received by the means for receiving to cancel the undesirable signal. The means for capturing the undesirable signal is a sensor or a receiver for detecting an undesirable signal. The sensor or receiver is automatically tuned to a specific frequency of the signal. The sensor or the receiver has a feature for adjusting the volume of the specific signal for achieving any desired degree of noise cancellation.
The signal inverting circuit generates a signal which is inverse of the undesirable signal captured by the means for capturing. The output signal from the signal inverting circuit has amplitude which is inverse of the captured, undesirable signal and a frequency which is same as the frequency of the captured, undesirable signal. The undesirable signal is a signal selected from a group comprising noise, undesirable sounds, visual stimuli, touch stimuli and taste stimuli.
The means for communications is a wired network to communicate the output of the signal inverting circuit, which is transmitted using the means for transmitting. The means for communications is a fully or partially wireless network to communicate the output of the signal inverting circuit, which is transmitted using the means for transmitting.
According to another embodiment, a method for cancelling signal noise is provided. The method involves capturing undesirable signals, generating inverse signals of the captured undesirable signal, transmitting the generated inverse of the captured undesirable signal, receiving the transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal and outputting the received inverse of the captured undesirable signal to cancel the undesirable signal.
The undesirable signals are captured using a sensor or receiver. The captured undesirable signal is passed through a signal inverting circuit to generate the inverse of the captured undesirable signal. The inverse signal has an amplitude which is the inverse of the captured undesirable signal and a frequency which is same as the frequency of the captured undesirable signal. The undesirable signal is a signal selected from a group comprising noise, undesirable sounds, visual stimuli, touch stimuli and taste stimuli.
The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a wired network. The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a fully or partially wireless network. The transmitted inverse of the captured undesirable signal is communicated through a partially wired or partially wireless network or optical communications system.
According to one embodiment, the sensor or a receiver is placed on or about a suction cup or other device attached to one or more windows to capture outside noise and transmit the signal to a stereo receiver in a house or office to create silence inside residential or commercial space, respectively. The apparatus cancels the signal noise by replicating or mirroring the signal so that the listener is unaware of the undesirable ambient sound and can instead focus on the desired sound.
The sensors and receivers have the ability to automatically tune to the specific frequency of the signal and modulate/adjust volume for any desired degree of noise cancellation or to be manually adjusted, remotely or otherwise. The sensors and receivers, transmitters and printed circuit boards are expected to be, but need not be, in a closed or partially closed, stationary or moving [e.g., a vehicle], space. The power source for the apparatus could be AC, DC, AC/DC, battery, solar or otherwise.
The apparatus and related components need not be separate or stand-alone. For example, a window or wall could contain within or could be embedded with the receivers, transmitters, power sources and printed circuit boards. The signals could be electromagnetic or otherwise, and need not be within sensory receptors to the human, e.g., audible to the human ear, observable to the human eye, etc. The term ‘signal’ is not limited to just sound signals, but also includes light signals, smell signals, touch/sensation signals and taste signals, etc.
The FM receiver 109 receives the inverted signal noise through the antenna 108. The FM receiver 109 amplifies the inverted signal noise and sends the amplified inverted signal noise to a transducer such as a speaker 110. An example of the transducer 110 includes a speaker. The transducer such as speaker 110 outputs the amplified inverted noise signal 111 to the surrounding area so that the amplified inverted noise signal 111 combines with the signal noise 101 to reduce or eliminate or cancel the level of unwanted signal noise perceived by a listener. A power supply 112 along with a switch 113 (ON/OFF modulating switch) connected to the FM receiver 109 and transducer such as speaker 110 powers entire process of amplifying the inverted noise signal and producing the noise cancellation signal 111. Examples of the power supply 112 include, but are not limited to an Alternating Current (AC) source, a Direct Current (DC) source, a battery and a solar power source.
In various embodiments, the elements are populated on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to form a Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) for generating the noise cancellation signal 111 to cancel the signal noise so that the noise cancellation signal 111 combines with the signal noise 101 to reduce or eliminate the level of unwanted signal noise 111 perceived by a listener.
The inverted high frequency signal noise output from the OPAMP 202 is fed to an OPAMP 203 through a resistance R3. Non inverting-input of the OPAMP 203 is grounded. A feedback resistor RF2 is connected from output of the OPAMP 203 to the inverting-input of the OPAMP 203. The OPAMP 203 inverts amplitude of the inverted high frequency signal noise received from the OPAMP 202 due to negative feedback provided through the resistance RF2. Further, the inverted high frequency signal noise output from the OPAMP 203 is fed to an OPAMP 204 through a resistance R4. Non inverting-input of the OPAMP 204 is grounded. A feedback resistor RF3 is connected from output of the OPAMP 204 to the inverting-input of the OPAMP 204. The OPAMP 204 inverts amplitude of the inverted high frequency signal noise received from the OPAMP 204 due to negative feedback provided through the resistance RF3. The inverted signal noise output from the OPAMP 204 forms the final output of the signal noise inverting circuit collected through load resistance R5.
Although the invention is described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments herein which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.
We claim benefit of an earlier filed Provisional Application with Application No. 61/201,558 which was filed on 12 Dec. 2008.
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| 5375174 | Denenberg | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5600471 | Hirohashi et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
| 6947526 | Wilson | Sep 2005 | B2 |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100150366 A1 | Jun 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61201558 | Dec 2008 | US |
