Pre-Configuration and Control of Radio Frequency Noise Cancellation

Abstract

A noise-reduction system includes a noise-pattern predictor in communication with a noise-canceling module. In a more specific embodiment, the noise-reduction apparatus further includes an input collector in communication with the noise-pattern predictor. The input collector is coupled to a first module, such as a sensor, that provides information to the noise-pattern predictor to facilitate predicting noise in an accompanying signal environment and to provide a first signal in response thereto. In an illustrative embodiment, the first signal includes information indicating when an ignition system of a vehicle will turn on. The first signal further includes information indicating when a second signal transmitted from a cellular base station will affect noise in the signal environment. The second signal may include a burst in a cellular signal.

1 . An apparatus to cancel a noise signal characteristic that interferes with a target circuit, the apparatus comprising:
 a pre-configuration mechanism configured to receive an advance signal from a sensor adapted to detect a future occurrence of a noise signal and, responsive to receiving the advance signal, generate a pre-configuration signal based on the advance signal, the advance signal indicating the future occurrence of the noise signal and comprising the noise signal characteristic; and   a noise canceling circuit configured to receive the pre-configuration signal and load processing parameters to compensate for the noise signal in response to the pre-configuration signal.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the noise signal characteristic includes an indication of energy in the noise signal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the noise signal characteristic includes an indication of a phase of the noise signal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the noise signal characteristic includes an indication of a frequency of the noise signal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the noise signal characteristic includes an indication of an associated channel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the noise signal characteristic includes an indication of an amplitude of the noise signal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the noise signal characteristic includes an indication of a delay of the noise signal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the advance signal is derived from a clock signal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the advance signal is generated periodically at known intervals to correspond with a periodic behavior of the noise signal. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the advance signal indicates a periodic signal between a mobile phone and a base station. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the advance signal includes an indication of a predicted change in a radiation pattern of a mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is handled by a user. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the advance signal includes an indication that a noise source will be activated. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the advance signal includes an indication that an energy emission of a display screen will change. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-configuration mechanism includes one or more coefficients used in a noise canceling process. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a pre-configuration module configured to receive an advance signal from a sensor prior to the transmission of a noise signal in the signal environment, the advance signal indicating a future occurrence of the noise signal and comprising a noise signal characteristic;   a noise pattern analyzer configured to analyze the advance signal and generate a prediction of change in a characteristic of the noise signal with respect to time; and   a noise canceling circuit configured to receive the prediction and comprising a controller configured to, in response to receiving the prediction, load processing parameters to compensate for the noise signal based on the noise signal characteristic.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the noise canceling circuit uses coefficient parameters to converge on a cancellation signal, the apparatus further comprising:
 means to accelerate convergence by pre-loading one or more coefficient parameters in response to at least one of the advance signal and the prediction.   
     
     
         17 . A method for reducing an effect of electromagnetic energy, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a noise canceling circuit, an input signal that indicates a characteristic of electromagnetic energy before the characteristic of electromagnetic energy affects a target circuit;   responsive to the input signal, loading, by the noise canceling circuit, processing parameters to compensate for the noise signal based on the characteristic of the electromagnetic energy; and   producing, by the noise canceling circuit, a cancellation signal for canceling an effect of the characteristic of electromagnetic energy on the target circuit.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic includes a time at which the electromagnetic energy will be emitted. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic includes one or more of a phase, amplitude or frequency of the electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 pre-configuring, by the noise canceling circuit, a noise cancellation algorithm to accelerate convergence of the noise-cancellation algorithm to produce the cancellation signal.