Active noise suppression system for telephone handsets and method

摘要

System for use by a caller and a recipient of a telephone call for suppressing environmental noise in the vicinity of a telephone comprising a telephone handset forming a part of the telephone. The telephone handset has a human voice sensor for picking up human sounds generally in one direction, and creating a first electrical signal. A speaker capable of producing substantially directional human voice sounds is provided. A second sound sensor is carried by the handset and has sound pick-up capabilities from a direction which is generally opposite said one direction for picking up external environmental noise in the vicinity of the handset and producing a second electrical signal having a frequency and amplitude. Electrical circuitry is provided for processing the second electrical signal to provide a third electrical signal of the same frequency as the second electrical signal but of opposite amplitude and sign and for combining the third electrical signal with the first electrical signal to suppress environmental noise present in the first electrical signal so that the recipient will receive an electrical signal in which the environmental noise in the vicinity of the caller has been suppressed.