System and method for providing close microphone adaptive array processing

• US 8,204,252 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Audience Corporation
• Inventors: Avendano, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/080,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 381/91, 381/92, 381 941- 943, 381/94.7, 381/95, 381/110, 381/122, 381/312, 381/313, 704/226, 704/227, 704/233, 704/275
• US Class Current: 381/94.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/01 Noise reduction using microphones having different directional characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/005 Microphone arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads

Abstract

Systems and methods for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system are provided. A primary acoustic signal and a secondary acoustic signal are received. In exemplary embodiments, a frequency analysis is performed on the acoustic signals to obtain frequency sub-band signals. An adaptive equalization coefficient may then be applied to a sub-band signal of the secondary acoustic signal. A forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern are then generated based on the sub-band signals. Utilizing cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern, noise suppression may be performed. A resulting noise suppressed signal is output.

Claims

1. A method for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system, comprising:

receiving a primary acoustic signal and a secondary acoustic signal;

performing frequency analysis on the primary and secondary acoustic signals to obtain primary and secondary sub-band signals;

applying an adaptive equalization coefficient to a secondary sub-band signal;

generating a forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the sub-band signals;

utilizing cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern to perform noise suppression; and

outputting a noise suppressed signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether to adapt the adaptive equalization coefficient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether to adapt comprises verifying if a desired sound is present in a forward direction of a second non-adaptive close microphone array.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining whether to adapt comprises verifying if a desired sound is present in a forward direction of the close microphone array.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein verifying is based on energy level of the acoustic signals.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein verifying is based on signal-to-noise ratio of the acoustic signals.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising adapting the adaptive equalization coefficient.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein adapting comprises determining an error and applying a normalized least mean square function to the error to determine a new adaptive equalization coefficient.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing the cardioid signals to perform noise suppression comprises determining an energy spectrum for each cardioid signal.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing the cardioid signals to perform noise suppression comprises determining an inter-microphone level difference between the cardioid signals of the forward-facing and backward-facing cardioid patterns.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing the cardioid signals to perform noise suppression comprises determining a noise estimate based in part on the cardioid signals.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a gain mask based in part on the noise estimate.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising applying the gain mask to the primary acoustic signal to suppress noise.

14. A system for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system, comprising:

a frequency analysis module configured to perform frequency analysis on primary and secondary acoustic signals to obtain primary and secondary sub-band signals;

an adaptive array processing engine configured to apply an adaptive equalization coefficient to a secondary sub-band signal and to generate a forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the sub-band signals;

a noise suppression system configured to use cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern to perform noise suppression; and

an output device configured to output a noise suppressed signal.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the adaptive array processing engine comprises an adaptation control configured to determine whether to adapt the adaptive equalization coefficient.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the adaptive array processing engine comprises an adaptation processor configured to determine a new adaptive equalization coefficient.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the noise suppression system comprises an inter-microphone level difference module configured to determine an inter-microphone level difference between the cardioid signals of the forward-facing and backward-facing cardioid patterns.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the noise suppression system comprises a noise estimate module configured to determine a noise estimate based in part on the cardioid signals.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the noise suppression system comprises a filter module configured to determine a gain mask based in part on the noise estimate.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the noise suppression system comprises a masking module configured to apply the gain mask to the primary acoustic signal to suppress noise.

21. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program providing instructions for a method for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system, comprising:

receiving a primary acoustic signal and a secondary acoustic signal;

performing frequency analysis on the primary and secondary acoustic signals to obtain primary and secondary sub-band signals;

applying an adaptive equalization coefficient to a secondary sub-band signal;

generating a forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern based on the sub-band signals;

utilizing cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern to perform noise suppression; and

outputting a noise suppressed signal.