Radiotelephone and method therefor for substantially reducing audio feedback

Abstract

A radiotelephone (101) comprises a receiver (217), a transmitter (215), an attenuator (305), a loudspeaker (203) and a microphone (201). The receiver (217) receives a forward audio signal (257) on a forward signal path (256) coupled to the loudspeaker (203) for producing a first acoustic signal (263). The transmitter (215) transmits a reverse audio signal (243) generated by the microphone (201) on a reverse signal path (248). A portion of the first acoustic signal (263) is coupled to the microphone (201) for producing a feedback audio signal (337) on the reverse signal path (248). The attenuator (305) attenuates the reverse audio signal (337) responsive to a measure of the feedback audio signal (339). The measure of the feedback audio signal (339) preferably comprises a signal to noise ratio measurement of the feedback audio signal (337). The attenuator (305) is further responsive to the first audio signal (257), and an acoustic audio signal (239) which may also be coupled to the reverse signal path (248). The present invention advantageously reduces audio feedback in a digital radiotelephone system (102) where audio processing times are long.