Correlation-based two microphone algorithm for noise reduction in reverberation

• US 9,489,963 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm technologies international, ltd. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm technologies international, ltd. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jazi, Nima Yousefian, Alves, Rogerio Guedes
• Primary Examiner(s): Godbold, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US14/658,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20160275966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/02165 Two microphones, one receiving mainly the noise signal and the other one mainly the speech signal
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/02166 Microphone arrays; Beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0208 Noise filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0232 Processing in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0264 characterised by the type of parameter measurement, e.g. correlation techniques, zero crossing techniques or predictive techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0316 by changing the amplitude

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards providing speech enhancement of audio signals from a target source and noise reduction of audio signals from a noise source. A coherence between a first audio signal from a first microphone and a second audio signal from a second microphone may be determined. A first gain function may be determined based on real components of a coherence function, wherein the real components include coefficients based on the previously determined coherence. A second gain function may be determined based on imaginary components of the coherence function. And a third gain function may be determined based on a relationship between a real component of the coherence function and a threshold range. An enhanced audio signal may be generated by applying a combination of the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function to the first audio signal.

Claims

1. A method to provide speech enhancement of audio signals from a target source and noise reduction of audio signals from a noise source, comprising:

determining a coherence function between a first audio signal from a first microphone and a second audio signal from a second microphone;

determining a first gain function based on real components of the coherence function;

determining a second gain function based on imaginary components of the coherence function;

determining a third gain function based on a relationship between the real components of the coherence function and a threshold range;

determining a final gain function based on the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function; and

generating an enhanced audio signal by applying final gain function to the first audio signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third gain function is a small constant value when the real component of the coherence function is outside of the threshold range and one when the real component of the coherence function is inside of the threshold range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function are determined independent of each other.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the final gain function is a product of the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function raised to a power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gain function and the second gain function are based on differences between values of the coherence function and values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio are determined using a direct-to-reverberant energy ratio.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio are determined further utilizing an angle of incidence of the target source.

8. A network computer to provide speech enhancement of audio signals from a target source and noise reduction of audio signals from a noise source, comprising:

a memory for storing at least instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to perform actions, including;

determining a coherence function between a first audio signal from a first microphone and a second audio signal from a second microphone;

determining a first gain function based on real components of the coherence function;

determining a second gain function based on imaginary components of the coherence function;

determining a third gain function based on a relationship between the real component of the coherence function and a threshold range;

determining a final gain function based on the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function; and

generating an enhanced audio signal by applying the final gain function to the first audio signal.

9. The network computer of claim 8, wherein the third gain function is a small constant value when the real component of the coherence function is outside of the threshold range and one when the real component of the coherence function is inside of the threshold range.

10. The network computer of claim 8, wherein the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function are determined independent of each other.

11. The network computer of claim 8, wherein the final gain function is a product of the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function raised to a power.

12. The network computer of claim 8, wherein the first gain function and the second gain function are based on differences between values of the coherence function and values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio.

13. The network computer of claim 12, wherein the values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio are determined using a direct-to-reverberant energy ratio.

14. The network computer of claim 13, wherein the values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio are determined further utilizing an angle of incidence of the target source.

15. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes instructions to provide speech enhancement of audio signals from a target source and noise reduction of audio signals from a noise source, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor performs actions, comprising:

determining a coherence function between a first audio signal from a first microphone and a second audio signal from a second microphone;

determining a first gain function based on real components of the coherence function;

determining a second gain function based on imaginary components of the coherence function;

determining a third gain function based on a relationship between the real component of the coherence function and a threshold range;

determining a final gain function based on the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function; and

generating an enhanced audio signal by applying the final gain function to the first audio signal.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the third gain function is a small constant value when the real component of the coherence function is outside of the threshold range and one when the real component of the coherence function is inside of the threshold range.

17. The media of claim 15, wherein the final gain function is a product of the first gain function, the second gain function, and the third gain function raised to a power.

18. The media of claim 15, wherein the first gain function and the second gain function are based on differences between values of the coherence function and values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein the values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio are determined using a direct-to-reverberant energy ratio.

20. The media of claim 19, wherein the values of the coherence function expected for a high signal-to-noise ratio are determined further utilizing an angle of incidence of the target source.