Method and device for in ear canal echo suppression
First Claim
1. A method for automatically mixing audio signals suitable for use in an earpiece, the method comprising:
- capturing an ambient acoustic signal from at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal;
capturing, in an ear canal, an internal sound from at least one Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, wherein the electronic internal signal includes a spoken voice generated by a wearer of the earpiece;
measuring a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal, the electronic internal signal, or a combination thereof;
detecting a voice activity level for the spoken voice based on characteristics of the electronic internal signal;
mixing and adjusting the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the voice activity level and the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal;
wherein the mixing includes filtering the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal based on a characteristic of the background noise signal, wherein the characteristic is a level of the background noise signal, a spectral profile, an envelope fluctuation, or a combination thereof;
producing an echo estimate of an echo based on the electronic internal signal and the mixed signal;
suppressing the echo by subtracting the echo estimate from the electronic internal signal to produce a modified electronic internal signal;
freezing an adaptation of a first set of filter coefficients for the modified electronic internal signal when the voice activity level is above a first threshold;
adapting, during the freezing, a second set of filter coefficients for the modified electronic internal signal when the voice activity level is below a second threshold different from the first threshold; and
unfreezing the adaptation after substituting the second set of filter coefficients for the first set of filter coefficients.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An earpiece (100) and acoustic management module (300) for in-ear canal echo suppression control suitable is provided. The earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (111) to capture ambient sound, an Ear Canal Receiver (125) to deliver audio content to an ear canal, an Ear Canal Microphone (123) configured to capture internal sound, and a processor (121) to generate a voice activity level (622) and suppress an echo of spoken voice in the electronic internal signal, and mix an electronic ambient signal with an electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the voice activity level and a background noise level to produce a mixed signal (323) that is delivered to the ear canal (131).
62 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method for automatically mixing audio signals suitable for use in an earpiece, the method comprising:
-
capturing an ambient acoustic signal from at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal; capturing, in an ear canal, an internal sound from at least one Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, wherein the electronic internal signal includes a spoken voice generated by a wearer of the earpiece; measuring a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal, the electronic internal signal, or a combination thereof; detecting a voice activity level for the spoken voice based on characteristics of the electronic internal signal; mixing and adjusting the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the voice activity level and the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal; wherein the mixing includes filtering the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal based on a characteristic of the background noise signal, wherein the characteristic is a level of the background noise signal, a spectral profile, an envelope fluctuation, or a combination thereof; producing an echo estimate of an echo based on the electronic internal signal and the mixed signal; suppressing the echo by subtracting the echo estimate from the electronic internal signal to produce a modified electronic internal signal; freezing an adaptation of a first set of filter coefficients for the modified electronic internal signal when the voice activity level is above a first threshold; adapting, during the freezing, a second set of filter coefficients for the modified electronic internal signal when the voice activity level is below a second threshold different from the first threshold; and unfreezing the adaptation after substituting the second set of filter coefficients for the first set of filter coefficients. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An earpiece, comprising:
-
an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) configured to capture ambient sound and produce an electronic ambient signal; an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) configured to deliver audio content to an ear canal; an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) configured to capture internal sound in the ear canal and produce an electronic internal signal; and a processor operatively coupled to the ASM, the ECM and the ECR, wherein the processor performs operations comprising; measuring a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal; generating a voice activity level for the spoken voice; mixing and adjusting the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the voice activity level and the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal that is configured for delivery to the ear canal by way of the ECR, wherein mixing includes filtering the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal based on a characteristic of the background noise signal, wherein the characteristic is a level of the background noise signal, a spectral profile, or an envelope fluctuation; producing an echo estimate of an echo based on the electronic internal signal and the mixed signal; suppressing the echo by subtracting the echo estimate from the electronic internal signal to produce a modified electronic internal signal; freezing an adaptation of a first set of filter coefficients for the modified electronic internal signal when the voice activity level is above a first threshold; adapting, during the freezing, a second set of filter coefficients for the modified electronic internal signal when the voice activity level is below a second threshold different from the first threshold; and unfreezing the adaptation after substituting the second set of filter coefficients for the first set of filter coefficients. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification