US 9031259

US Patent 9,031,259: Noise Reduction Apparatus for Enhanced Audio Clarity

Title: Noise reduction apparatus, audio input apparatus, wireless communication apparatus, and noise reduction method

Current Assignee: Soundclear Technologies LLC
Original Assignee: JVCKenwood Corp
Inventor: Takaaki Yamabe
Filing Date: September 14, 2012
Issue Date: May 12, 2015

Abstract:
The patent describes a noise reduction apparatus, an audio input apparatus, a wireless communication apparatus, and a noise reduction method designed to reduce noise components in a voice signal across various environments. It aims to overcome limitations of known noise canceling functions, particularly in high-noise environments where high-quality voice sound is difficult to achieve. The invention focuses on accurately detecting speech segments and voice incoming directions to perform effective noise reduction.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent presents several independent claims covering a noise reduction apparatus, an audio input apparatus, and a noise reduction method:

• Noise Reduction Apparatus Claim: This claim describes an apparatus comprising a speech segment determiner, a voice direction detector, and an adaptive filter. The speech segment determiner identifies whether a sound from either a first or a second microphone is a speech segment. When a speech segment is detected, the voice direction detector determines the direction from which the voice sound originates, using signals from both microphones. The adaptive filter then performs a noise reduction process on these microphone signals, utilizing both the speech segment information and the detected voice incoming-direction information.
• Audio Input Apparatus Claim: This claim outlines an audio input apparatus featuring a first face and an opposing second face, separated by a specific distance. A first microphone is on the first face, and a second microphone is on the second face. Similar to the noise reduction apparatus, it includes a speech segment determiner to identify speech, a voice direction detector to detect the voice's incoming direction when speech is present, and an adaptive filter that performs noise reduction based on both speech segment and voice incoming-direction information.
• Noise Reduction Method Claim: This claim details a method that involves three primary steps. First, it determines if a sound picked up by at least one of a first or second microphone is a speech segment. Second, if a speech segment is identified, it detects the voice's incoming direction using signals from both microphones. Third, a noise reduction process is executed on the microphone signals, leveraging the information about the identified speech segment and the detected voice incoming direction.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search for specific dockets related to US Patent 9,031,259 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield direct case filings or scheduled cases. The search results provided general access to CAFC scheduled cases and case information, but no explicit mention of patent 9,031,259 in the current 2026 dockets.