Identifying and addressing noise in an audio signal

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for suppressing or attenuating noise in audio circuitry, such as which may result from a source of electromagnetic energy being coupled to the audio circuitry. Some embodiments may employ two separate channels, a first of which captures audio information and noise, and a second of which captures the noise. Noise compensation may be performed by transforming the signal of the first channel in accordance with noise in the second channel which is identified as comprising a particular type of noise.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device, comprising:
 at least one processor programmed to:
 receive at least one signal, comprising audio produced by audio circuitry, and also comprising noise; 
 identify a portion of the at least one signal as comprising a particular type of noise; and 
 modify the at least one signal to address the particular type of noise. 
   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to identify the portion of the at least one signal as comprising noise resulting from a source of electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to identify the portion of the at least one signal as comprising noise resulting from a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by the source of electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to identify the portion of the at least one signal as comprising noise resulting from a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a wireless transmission component. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to identify the portion of the at least one signal as comprising the particular type of noise based at least in part upon the portion having one or more of: timing characteristics, spectral characteristics, shape characteristics, pattern characteristics, power characteristics, phase characteristics, and envelop characteristics. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the audio comprised in the at least one signal which the at least one processor is programmed to receive comprises high-quality audio having a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB or greater, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to modify the at least one signal so as to comprise high-quality audio having a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB or greater. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to modify the at least one signal by suppressing or attenuating the particular type of noise. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein suppressing or attenuating the particular type of noise comprises applying at least one filter to the at least one signal. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to detect a varying environmental condition affecting the device, and wherein applying the at least one filter comprises modifying a response of the at least one filter in accordance with the detected varying environmental condition. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to modify the at least one signal at least in part by modifying the portion identified as comprising the particular type of noise. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising acts of:
 (A) receiving at least one signal, comprising audio produced by audio circuitry, and also comprising noise;   (B) identifying a portion of the at least one signal as comprising a particular type of noise; and   (C) modifying the at least one signal to address the particular type of noise.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act (B) comprises identifying the portion of the at least one signal as comprising noise resulting from a source of electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the act (B) comprises identifying the portion of the at least one signal as comprising noise resulting from a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by the source of electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the act (B) comprises identifying the portion of the at least one signal as comprising noise resulting from a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a wireless transmission component. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act (B) comprises identifying the portion of the at least one signal as comprising the particular type of noise based at least in part upon the portion having one or more of: timing characteristics, spectral characteristics, shape characteristics, pattern characteristics, power characteristics, phase characteristics, and envelop characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act (A) comprises receiving at least one signal comprising high-quality audio having a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB or greater, and wherein the act (C) comprises modifying the at least one signal so as to comprise high-quality audio having a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB or greater. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the act (C) comprises modifying the at least one signal by suppressing or attenuating the particular type of noise. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein suppressing or attenuating the particular type of noise comprises applying at least one filter to the at least one signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the act (C) comprises detecting a varying environmental condition affecting the device, and wherein applying the at least one filter comprises modifying a response of the at least one filter in accordance with the detected varying environmental condition. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the act (C) comprises modifying the portion identified as comprising the particular type of noise. 
     
     
         22 . At least one computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon which, when executed in a computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one signal comprises at least a first signal and a second signal;   the first signal comprises the audio and the noise, the noise originating from a source;   the second signal also comprises noise originating from the source;   the at least one processor is programmed to:
 determine that noise originating from the source in a portion of the second signal comprises the particular type of noise; and 
 modify the first signal, to address the noise in the first signal originating from the source. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the act (A) comprises receiving at least a first signal and a second signal, the first signal comprising the audio and the noise, the noise originating from a source, the second signal comprising noise also originating from the source;   the act (B) comprises determining that noise originating from the source in a portion of the second signal comprises the particular type of noise; and   the act (C) comprises modifying the first signal, to address the noise in the first signal originating from the source.