Method and apparatus for directional enhancement of speech elements in noisy environments
First Claim
1. A listening device for processing speech audio signals present in acoustical sound waves captured from an adjacent environment, the device comprising:
- a housing for providing acoustical and mechanical coupling to a user'"'"'s ear, the housing having a first portion for positioning in the ear and an elongated second portion extending from the first portion;
a pair of spaced apart microphones positioned on a line-of-sight reference vector and supported by the housing, at least one of the microphones located in the elongated second portion of the housing, the microphones configured for capturing the acoustical sound waves from the environment including speech related elements from a first source and non-speech related elements from a second source;
a digital signal processor supported by the housing and for configured for digitally processing the captured acoustical sound waves to identify and select the speech related elements propagating towards the second portion in the vicinity of along the line of sight vector and for enhancing the signal strength of the selected speech related elements over that of the non-speech related elements in the captured acoustical sound waves to generate a processed acoustical digital signal;
a receiver located in the first portion for converting the processed acoustical digital signals into processed analog acoustical signals and for transmitting the processed analog acoustical signals into the user'"'"'s ear.
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Abstract
A listening device and respective method for processing speech audio signals present in noisy acoustical sound waves captured from an adjacent environment for persons with normal hearing. The device comprises a housing for providing acoustical and mechanical coupling to a user'"'"'s ear, the housing having a first portion for positioning in the ear and an elongated second portion extending from the first portion. The device also comprises a pair of spaced apart microphones positioned on a line-of-sight reference vector and supported by the housing, at least one of the microphones located in the elongated second portion of the housing, the microphones configured for capturing the acoustical sound waves from the environment including speech related elements and non-speech related elements. A digital signal processor is supported by the housing and is configured for digitally processing the captured acoustical sound waves to identify and select the speech related elements propagating towards the second portion in the vicinity of along the line of sight vector and for enhancing the signal strength of the selected speech related elements with respect to other of the elements in the captured acoustical sound waves to generate a processed acoustical digital signal. A receiver located in the first portion is used for converting the processed acoustical digital signals into processed analog acoustical signals and for transmitting the processed analog acoustical signals into the user'"'"'s ear.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A listening device for processing speech audio signals present in acoustical sound waves captured from an adjacent environment, the device comprising:
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a housing for providing acoustical and mechanical coupling to a user'"'"'s ear, the housing having a first portion for positioning in the ear and an elongated second portion extending from the first portion;
a pair of spaced apart microphones positioned on a line-of-sight reference vector and supported by the housing, at least one of the microphones located in the elongated second portion of the housing, the microphones configured for capturing the acoustical sound waves from the environment including speech related elements from a first source and non-speech related elements from a second source;
a digital signal processor supported by the housing and for configured for digitally processing the captured acoustical sound waves to identify and select the speech related elements propagating towards the second portion in the vicinity of along the line of sight vector and for enhancing the signal strength of the selected speech related elements over that of the non-speech related elements in the captured acoustical sound waves to generate a processed acoustical digital signal;
a receiver located in the first portion for converting the processed acoustical digital signals into processed analog acoustical signals and for transmitting the processed analog acoustical signals into the user'"'"'s ear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for processing speech audio signals present in acoustical sound waves captured from an adjacent environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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capturing the acoustical sound waves from the environment including speech related elements from a first source and non-speech related elements from a second source by a pair of spaced apart microphones positioned on a line-of-sight reference Vector, at least one of the microphones located in an elongated portion of a device housing positioned adjacent to a user'"'"'s ear;
digitally processing the captured acoustical sound waves to identify and select the speech related elements propagating towards the second portion in the vicinity of along the line of sight vector enhancing the signal strength of the selected speech related elements over that of the non-speech related elements in the captured acoustical sound waves to generate a processed acoustical digital signal;
converting the processed acoustical digital signals into processed analog acoustical signals; and
transmitting the processed analog acoustical signals into the user'"'"'s ear. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification