US 12,236,971 B2
Method and device for spectral expansion of an audio signal
John Usher, Beer (GB); and Dan Ellis, New York City, NY (US)
Assigned to ST R&DTech LLC, Delray Beach, FL (US)
Filed by ST R&DTEch, LLC
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,655.
Application 18/096,655 is a continuation of application No. 16/783,624, filed on Feb. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,605,395.
Application 16/783,624 is a continuation of application No. 16/047,612, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,622,005, issued on Apr. 14, 2020.
Application 16/047,612 is a continuation of application No. 14/155,724, filed on Jan. 15, 2014, granted, now 10,043,535, issued on Aug. 7, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/752,569, filed on Jan. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/920,321, filed on Dec. 23, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0142711 A1, May 11, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G10L 21/04 (2013.01); G10L 21/0388 (2013.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01); H04R 1/02 (2006.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01); H04R 5/033 (2006.01)
CPC G10L 21/0388 (2013.01) [H04R 3/00 (2013.01); H04R 1/028 (2013.01); H04R 1/1083 (2013.01); H04R 5/033 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving a command to initiate communication in a noisy environment;
retrieving a wideband reference signal and narrowband reference signal from memory, wherein the narrowband reference signal was generated from an ear canal microphone in a first earpiece, and the wideband reference signal was generated from an ambient sound microphone in the first earpiece, wherein the first earpiece is wirelessly connected to a first communication device;
receiving an ear canal signal from an ear canal microphone in the first earpiece;
generating a modified ear canal signal by spectrally expanding the ear canal signal using the wideband reference signal and the narrowband reference signal; and
sending the modified ear canal signal to a second communication device.