METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DUAL DIGITAL MICROPHONE PROCESSING IN AN AUDIO CODEC

• US 20090316731A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kong, Hongwei
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/544
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Methods and systems for dual digital microphone processing in an audio CODEC are disclosed and may include demultiplexing one or more received time-multiplexed digital audio signals from one or more digital microphones, and separately processing each of the demultiplexed digital audio signals. The digital microphones may include microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphones. The demultiplexed digital audio signals may be level-converted, downshifted, and/or filtered. The filtering may include a finite impulse response (FIR) filter. A sampling rate of the one or more demultiplexed digital audio signals may be converted by repeating the demultiplexed digital audio signals. Audio beamforming and/or diversity processing may be performed utilizing the digital microphones.

Claims

1. A method for processing audio signals, the method comprising:

in a wireless device comprising a single hardware audio CODEC,

demultiplexing one or more received time-multiplexed digital audio signals from one or more digital microphones; and

separately processing each of said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more digital microphones comprise microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphones.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising level-converting said demultiplexed digital audio signals from at least a first sampling rate to at least a second sampling rate.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising converting a sampling rate of said one or more demultiplexed digital audio signals.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising repeating said demultiplexed digital audio signals for said sampling rate conversion.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising filtering said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising filtering said demultiplexed digital audio signals via a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising downshifting said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising audio beamforming utilizing said digital microphones.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising diversity processing utilizing said digital microphones.

11. A system for processing audio signals, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a wireless device, said one or more circuits comprising a single hardware audio CODEC and wherein said one or more circuits are operable to demultiplex one or more received time-multiplexed digital audio signals from one or more digital microphones; and

said one or more circuits being operable to separately process each of said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more digital microphones comprise microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphones.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to level-convert said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to convert a sampling rate of said one or more demultiplexed digital audio signals from at least a first sampling rate to at least a second sampling rate.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to repeat said demultiplexed digital audio signals for said sampling rate conversion.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to filter said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to filter said demultiplexed digital audio signals via a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to downshift said demultiplexed digital audio signals.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable for audio beamforming utilizing said digital microphones.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable for diversity processing utilizing said digital microphones.