SOUND SOURCE SEPARATION SYSTEM, SOUND SOURCE SEPARATION METHOD, AND ACOUSTIC SIGNAL ACQUISITION DEVICE

• US 20090323977A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waseda University (Waseda University Educational Association)
• Original Assignee: Waseda University (Waseda University Educational Association)
• Inventors: Kanba, Satoshi, Kobayashi, Tetsunori, Akagiri, Kenzo
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/71.8
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

The invention provides a sound source separation system, a sound source separation method, and an acoustic signal acquisition device which can precisely separate a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction, and which ensures miniaturization of a device. A sound source separation system 10 comprises two microphones 21, 22 disposed side by side in a direction in which a target sound comes from, a target sound superior signal generator 30 which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound, using the received sound signals of the microphones to generate a target sound superior signal, a target sound inferior signal generator 40 which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound, using the received sound signals of the microphones 21, 22, to generate a target sound inferior signal, and a separation unit 60 which separates the target sound and a disturbance sound, using a target sound superior signal spectrum and a target sound inferior signal spectrum.

Claims

1-110. -110. (canceled)

111. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

two microphones disposed in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound using received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound using the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator which separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis.

112. The sound source separation system according to claim 111, wherein, the two microphones are disposed side by side in the direction from which the target sound comes or approximately the same direction as that direction,

the target sound superior signal generator acquires a difference between a received sound signal of one microphone disposed near a sound source of the target sound in the two microphones and a received sound signal of an other microphone disposed away from the sound source of the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the one microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the other microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

113. The sound source separation system according to claim 112, wherein the separator compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation.

114. The sound source separation system according to claim 112, wherein the separator performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the target sound superior signal at the same frequency band.

115. The sound source separation system according to claim 112, wherein the target sound inferior signal generator applies a time delay which is the same as or approximately the same as a sound wave propagation time between the two microphones to the received sound of the microphone subject to the delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain.

116. The sound source separation system according to claim 113, wherein the target sound inferior signal generator applies a time delay which is the same as or approximately the same as a sound wave propagation time between the two microphones to the received sound of the microphone subject to the delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain.

117. The sound source separation system according to claim 114, wherein the target sound inferior signal generator applies a time delay which is the same as or approximately the same as a sound wave propagation time between the two microphones to the received sound of the microphone subject to the delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain.

118. The sound source separation system according to claim 112, wherein the two microphones are respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto.

119. The sound source separation system according to claim 113, wherein the two microphones are respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto.

120. The sound source separation system according to claim 114, wherein the two microphones are respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto.

121. The sound source separation system according to claim 111, wherein,

the two microphones are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator comprises:

a first target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the one microphone in the two microphones and the received signal of the other microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a first target sound superior signal; and

a second target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the other microphone and the received sound signal of the one microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a second target sound superior signal, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain.

122. The sound source separation system according to claim 121, wherein the separator comprises:

a first separation unit which compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the first target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation;

a second separation unit which compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the second target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation; and

an integration unit which performs a spectrum integration process of adding those powers of the spectrums for each frequency band or comparing the powers for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit.

123. The sound source separation system according to claim 121, wherein the separator comprises:

a first separation unit that performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the first target sound superior signal at the same frequency band;

a second separation unit that performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the second target sound superior signal of the same frequency band; and

an integration unit which performs a spectrum integration process of adding those powers of the spectrums for each frequency band or comparing the powers for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit.

137. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 121, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 121, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 121, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 121, as the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator.

138. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 122, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 122, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 122, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 122, as the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator.

139. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 123, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 123, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 123, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 123, as the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator.

140. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising;

two microphones disposed in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound using received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound using the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator which separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, wherein the two microphones are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator comprises;

a first target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the one microphone in the two microphones and the received signal of the other microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a first target sound superior signal; and

a second target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the other microphone and the received sound signal of the one microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a second target sound superior signal, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the said sound source separation system, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same processes as those of the sound source separation system according to claim 122 other than a process of the integration unit of the separator, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and has a sensitive region limitation unit which limits the second sensitive region to either of a region at the second microphone side and a region at the third microphone side, instead of the integration unit of the separator which constitutes the sound source separation system according to claim 122,

when the first target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the second microphone and the second target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the third microphone, the first target sound superior signal generator and the second target sound superior signal generator constituting the sound source separation system according to claim_122, the sensitive region limitation unit compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for each frequency band, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit is smaller than power of a spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit to generate the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the second microphone side, or performs band selection of assigning smaller power to the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit is smaller than power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit to generate a spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the third microphone side, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound.

141. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 122, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 122, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same processes as those of the sound source separation system according to claim 122 other than a process of the integration unit of the separator, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and has a sensitive region limitation unit which limits the second sensitive region to either of a region at the second microphone side and a region at the third microphone side, instead of the integration unit of the separator which constitutes the sound source separation system according to claim 122,

when the first target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the second microphone and the second target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the third microphone, the first target sound superior signal generator and the second target sound superior signal generator constituting the sound source separation system according to claim 122, the sensitive region limitation unit compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and the spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for each frequency band, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit is smaller than power of a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit to generate the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the second microphone side, or performs band selection of assigning smaller power to the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit is smaller than power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit to generate a spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the third microphone side, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound.

142. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising;

two microphones disposed in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound using received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound using the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator which separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, wherein the two microphones are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator comprises;

a first target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the one microphone in the two microphones and the received signal of the other microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a first target sound superior signal; and

a second target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the other microphone and the received sound signal of the one microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a second target sound superior signal, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain, wherein the separator comprises;

a first separation unit that performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the first target sound superior signal at the same frequency band;

a second separation unit that performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the second target sound superior signal of the same frequency band; and

an integration unit which performs a spectrum integration process of adding those powers of the spectrums for each frequency band or comparing the powers for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the said sound source separation system, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same processes as those of the sound source separation system according to claim 122 other than a process of the integration unit of the separator, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and has a sensitive region limitation unit which limits the second sensitive region to either of a region at the second microphone side and a region at the third microphone side, instead of the integration unit of the separator which constitutes the sound source separation system according to claim 122,

when the first target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the second microphone and the second target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the third microphone, the first target sound superior signal generator and the second target sound superior signal generator constituting the sound source separation system according to claim 122, the sensitive region limitation unit compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and the spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for each frequency band, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit is smaller than power of a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit to generate the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the second microphone side, or performs band selection of assigning smaller power to the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit is smaller than power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit to generate a spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the third microphone side, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound.

143. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two second and third microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 121 using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 121, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

144. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two second and third microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 122 using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 122, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

145. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two second and third microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 123 using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 123, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

146. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 121 using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 121, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has;

a first control target-sound-superior-signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain;

a second control target-sound-superior-signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain; and

a control signal integration unit that performs a spectrum integration process of comparing powers for each frequency band, using a spectrum of a first control target sound superior signal generated by the first control target-sound-superior-signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of a second control target sound superior signal generated by the second control target-sound-superior-signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and of assigning inferior power to a spectrum of a control target sound superior signal.

147. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 122 using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 122, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has;

a first control target-sound-superior-signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain;

a second control target-sound-superior-signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain; and

a control signal integration unit that performs a spectrum integration process of comparing powers for each frequency band, using a spectrum of a first control target sound superior signal generated by the first control target-sound-superior-signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of a second control target sound superior signal generated by the second control target-sound-superior-signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and of assigning inferior power to a spectrum of a control target sound superior signal.

148. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 123 using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 123, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has;

a first control target-sound-superior-signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain;

a second control target-sound-superior-signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain; and

a control signal integration unit that performs a spectrum integration process of comparing powers for each frequency band, using a spectrum of a first control target sound superior signal generated by the first control target-sound-superior-signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of a second control target sound superior signal generated by the second control target-sound-superior-signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and of assigning inferior power to a spectrum of a control target sound superior signal.

163. The sound source separation system according to claim 115, wherein the two microphones are respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto.

164. The sound source separation system according to claim 116, wherein the two microphones are respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto.

165. The sound source separation system according to claim 117, wherein the two microphones are respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto.

166. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising;

two microphones disposed in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound using received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound using the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator which separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, wherein the two microphones are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator comprises;

a first target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the one microphone in the two microphones and the received signal of the other microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a first target sound superior signal; and

a second target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the other microphone and the received sound signal of the one microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a second target sound superior signal, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the said sound source separation system, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator perform the same processes as those of the sound source separation system according to claim 123 other than a process of the integration unit of the separator, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and has a sensitive region limitation unit which limits the second sensitive region to either of a region at the second microphone side and a region at the third microphone side, instead of the integration unit of the separator which constitutes the sound source separation system according to claim 123,

when the first target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the second microphone and the second target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the third microphone, the first target sound superior signal generator and the second target sound superior signal generator constituting the sound source separation system according to claim 123, the sensitive region limitation unit compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and the spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for each frequency band, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit is smaller than power of a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit to generate the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the second microphone side, or performs band selection of assigning smaller power to the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit is smaller than power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit to generate a spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the third microphone side, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound.

167. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising;

two microphones disposed in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound using received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound using the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator which separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, wherein the two microphones are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator comprises;

a first target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the one microphone in the two microphones and the received signal of the other microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a first target sound superior signal; and

a second target sound superior signal generation unit which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the other microphone and the received sound signal of the one microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain to generate a second target sound superior signal, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain, wherein the separator comprises;

a first separation unit which compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the first target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation;

a second separation unit which compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the second target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation; and

an integration unit which performs a spectrum integration process of adding those powers of the spectrums for each frequency band or comparing the powers for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the said sound source separation system, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same processes as those of the sound source separation system according to claim 123 other than a process of the integration unit of the separator, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and has a sensitive region limitation unit which limits the second sensitive region to either of a region at the second microphone side and a region at the third microphone side, instead of the integration unit of the separator which constitutes the sound source separation system according to claim 123,

when the first target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the second microphone and the second target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the third microphone, the first target sound superior signal generator and the second target sound superior signal generator constituting the sound source separation system according to claim 123, the sensitive region limitation unit compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and the spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for each frequency band, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit is smaller than power of a spectrum of an other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit to generate the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the second microphone side, or performs band selection of assigning smaller power to the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit is smaller than power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit to generate a spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the third microphone side, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound.

168. The sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, wherein

the first sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 123, using the received sound signals of the two first and second microphones, and generates the same spectrum as the spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 123, as the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal,

the second sensitive region formation signal generator performs the same processes as those of the sound source separation system according to claim 123 other than a process of the integration unit of the separator, using the received sound signals of the two second and third microphones, and has a sensitive region limitation unit which limits the second sensitive region to either of a region at the second microphone side and a region at the third microphone side, instead of the integration unit of the separator which constitutes the sound source separation system according to claim 123,

when the first target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the second microphone and the second target sound superior signal generator performs a delayed process on the received sound signal of the third microphone, the first target sound superior signal generator and the second target sound superior signal generator constituting the sound source separation system according to claim 123, the sensitive region limitation unit compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for each frequency band, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit is smaller than power of a spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit to generate the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the second microphone side, or performs band selection of assigning smaller power to the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit is smaller than power of the spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit to generate a spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal which forms the second sensitive region limited to the region at the third microphone side, and

the sensitive region integration unit performs a spectrum integration process of comparing the powers of the spectrums for each frequency band, using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator, and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound.

124. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain, using received sound signals of the two first and third microphones to generate at least a target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator that separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis.

125. The sound source separation system according to claim 124, wherein,

the first and second microphones are disposed side by side in a direction from which the target sound comes or in approximately the same direction as that direction,

the first and third microphones are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the first microphone and the received sound signal of the second microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the first microphone and the received sound signal of the third microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

126. The sound source separation system according to claim 125, wherein the separator compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation.

127. The sound source separation system according to claim 125, wherein the separator performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the target sound superior signal at the same frequency band.

149. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 124 using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 124, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the second microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

150. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 125 using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 125, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the second microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

151. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 126 using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 126, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the second microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

152. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 127 using received sound signals of the three first, second and third microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 127, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the second microphone undergone a delayed process and the received sound signal of the first microphone on a time domain or a frequency domain.

128. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of four microphones, respective two microphones being disposed side by side as to be spaced away in a first direction and a second direction intersecting with each other;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain using received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction in the four microphones to generate at least one target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain using received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the second direction in the four microphones to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal; and

a separator which separates the target sound and the disturbance sound from each other using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the target sound inferior signal generated by the target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis.

129. The sound source separation system according to claim 128, wherein

the first direction is the direction from which the target sound comes or approximately the same direction as that direction,

the second direction is orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction on a time domain or a frequency domain, and

the target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the second direction on a time domain or a frequency domain.

130. The sound source separation system according to claim 129, wherein the separator compares powers at the same frequency band between the spectrum of the target sound superior signal and the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal for each frequency band, and performs band selection of assigning larger powers at the individual frequency bands to a spectrum obtained by separation.

131. The sound source separation system according to claim 129, wherein the separator performs spectral subtraction of subtracting a value, obtained by multiplying power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal by a coefficient, from power of the spectrum of the target sound superior signal at the same frequency band.

153. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of four microphones, respective two of which are disposed side by side in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the four microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction in the four microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 128, using received sound signals of the four microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 128, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the microphone at the opposite disturbance sound side undergone a delayed process in the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction and the received sound signal of the microphone at the target sound side on a time domain or a frequency domain.

154. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of four microphones, respective two of which are disposed side by side in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the four microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction in the four microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 129, using received sound signals of the four microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 129, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the microphone at the opposite disturbance sound side undergone a delayed process in the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction and the received sound signal of the microphone at the target sound side on a time domain or a frequency domain.

155. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of four microphones, respective two of which are disposed side by side in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the four microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction in the four microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at=the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 130, using received sound signals of the four microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 130, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the microphone at the opposite disturbance sound side undergone a delayed process in the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction and the received sound signal of the microphone at the target sound side on a time domain or a frequency domain.

156. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of four microphones, respective two of which are disposed side by side in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other;

an orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator that generates an orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal which suppresses an orthogonal disturbance sound coming from a direction orthogonal to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the four microphones;

an opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator that generates a control signal for suppressing an opposite disturbance sound coming from a direction opposite to the direction from which the target sound comes, using received sound signals of the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction in the four microphones; and

an opposite-disturbance-sound suppressing unit that compares powers at the same frequency band between a spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal generated by the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator and a spectrum of the control signal generated by the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator for each frequency band, and for a frequency band where power of the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal is smaller than power of the control signal, performs band selection of assigning smaller power to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, thereby suppressing a spectrum of the opposite disturbance sound included in the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and wherein

the orthogonal-disturbance-sound-suppressing-signal generator performs the same process as that of the sound source separation system according to claim 131, using received sound signals of the four microphones, and generates the same spectrum as a spectrum of the target sound obtained through separation by the sound source separation system according to claim 131, as the spectrum of the orthogonal-disturbance-sound suppressing signal, and

the opposite-disturbance-sound-suppressing-control-signal generator has a control target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the microphone at the opposite disturbance sound side undergone a delayed process in the two microphones disposed side by side in the first direction and the received sound signal of the microphone at the target sound side on a time domain or a frequency domain.

132. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of four first, second, third and fourth microphones disposed at respective vertices of a rectangle;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a target sound superior signal;

a first target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain using received sound signals of the two first and third microphones to generate a first target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal;

a second target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain using received sound signals of the two first and fourth microphones to generate a second target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal;

a first separator which separates one sound including the target sound, using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of the first target sound inferior signal generated by the first target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis;

a second separator which separates the other sound including the target sound, using the spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of the second target sound inferior signal generated by the second target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis; and

an integration unit which performs a spectrum integration process of adding those powers of the spectrums for each frequency band or comparing the powers for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using a spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and a spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit.

133. The sound source separation system according to claim 132, wherein

the first and second microphones are disposed side by side in a direction from which the target sound comes or in approximately the same direction as that direction,

the third microphone is disposed at one end of a line interconnecting the first microphone and the second microphone,

the fourth microphone is disposed at an other end of the line interconnecting the first microphone and the second microphone,

the target sound superior signal generator acquires a difference between received sound signals of the first and second microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain,

the first target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between received sound signals of the first and third microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain, and

the second target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between received sound signals of the first and fourth microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain.

134. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain, using received sound signals of the three microphones to generate a target sound superior signal;

a first target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a first target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal;

a second target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound on a time domain or a frequency domain, using received sound signals of the two first and third microphones to generate a second target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal;

a first separator which separates one sound including the target sound, using a spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of the first target sound inferior signal generated by the first target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis;

a second separator which separates the other sound including the target sound, using the spectrum of the target sound superior signal generated by the target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and a spectrum of the second target sound inferior signal generated by the second target sound inferior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis; and

an integration unit which performs a spectrum integration process of adding those powers of the spectrums for each frequency band or comparing the powers for each frequency band and assigning inferior power to a spectrum of the target sound, using a spectrum of the one sound including the target sound separated by the first separation unit and a spectrum of the other sound including the target sound separated by the second separation unit.

135. The sound source separation system according to claim 134, wherein,

the first and second microphones are disposed side by side in a direction inclined with respect to a direction from which the target sound comes,

the first and third microphones are disposed side by side in a direction inclined in a opposite direction to the inclined direction of the first and second microphones with respect to a direction from which the target sound comes,

the target sound superior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signal of the first microphone and a sum, obtained by multiplying received sound signals of the second and third microphones by the same or different proportionality coefficients, on a time domain or a frequency domain,

the first target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the first and second microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain, and

the second target sound inferior signal generator acquires a difference between the received sound signals of the first and third microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain.

136. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle on a plane orthogonal to or approximately orthogonal to a direction from which the target sound comes;

a first sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate a spectrum of a first sensitive region formation signal which forms a first sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones;

a second sensitive region formation signal generator that uses received sound signals of the two second and third microphones to generate a spectrum of a second sensitive region formation signal which forms a second sensitive region along a plane orthogonal to a line interconnecting those microphones; and

a sensitive region integration unit that forms a sensitive region for separating the target sound at a common part of the first sensitive region and the second sensitive region using the spectrum of the first sensitive region formation signal generated by the first sensitive region formation signal generator and the spectrum of the second sensitive region formation signal generated by the second sensitive region formation signal generator.

157. A sound source separation system that separates a target sound and a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes, comprising:

a plurality of different-directional-signal-group generators each generating more than or equal to two combinations of spectrums of a plurality of signals each of which has a different directivity, using received sound signals of a plurality of microphones; and

a sensitive region formation unit which determines whether or not a relationship between powers of the spectrums in a combination simultaneously satisfies a plurality of conditions each defined for a combination, for each frequency band, using more than or equal to two combinations of the spectrums of the plurality of signals generated by the respective different-directional-signal-group generators, and performs multidimensional band selection of assigning power of a spectrum selected beforehand to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated, for a frequency band where the plurality of conditions are simultaneously satisfied.

158. The sound source separation system according to claim 157, wherein

each different-directional-signal-group generator generates a spectrum of a target sound superior signal and a spectrum of a target sound inferior signal using the received sound signals of the plurality of microphones, and

the sensitive region formation unit sets a condition for each combination as a condition that power of the spectrum of the target sound superior signal is larger than power of the spectrum of the target sound inferior signal, and determines whether or not those conditions are simultaneously satisfied for each frequency band.

159. The sound source separation system according to claim 158, having a total of three first, second and third microphones disposed at respective vertices of a triangle, and wherein

a first different-directional-signal-group generator comprises:

a first target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between a received sound signal of the first microphone and a received sound signal of the second microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain and generates a first target sound superior signal;

a second target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between a received sound signal of the second microphone and a received sound signal of the first microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain, and generates a second target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which acquires a difference between received sound signals of the first and second microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain; and

an integration unit which compares powers for each frequency band using a spectrum of the first target sound superior signal generated by the first target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the second target sound superior signal generated by the second target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and performs a spectrum integration process of assigning inferior power to a spectrum of a target sound superior signal,

a second different-directional-signal-group generator comprises;

a first target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between a received sound signal of the third microphone and a received sound signal of the second microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain and generates a first target sound superior signal;

a second target sound superior signal generator which acquires a difference between a received sound signal of the second microphone and a received sound signal of the third microphone undergone a delayed process on a time domain or a frequency domain, and generates a second target sound superior signal;

a target sound inferior signal generator which acquires a difference between received sound signals of the second and third microphones on a time domain or a frequency domain; and

an integration unit which compares powers for each frequency band using a spectrum of the first target sound superior signal generated by the first target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis and a spectrum of the second target sound superior signal generated by the second target sound superior signal generator or obtained by a subsequent frequency analysis, and performs a spectrum integration process of assigning inferior power to a spectrum of a target sound superior signal, and

the sensitive region formation unit performs two-dimensional-band selection of assigning power of a spectrum of a target sound superior signal generated by either one of the first and second different-directional-signal-group generators to a spectrum of the target sound to be separated.

160. An acoustic signal acquisition device that acquires a target sound under a circumstance where a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes is present, comprising:

two microphones respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided, and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound, using received sound signals of the two microphones to generate at least one target sound superior signal; and

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound, using the received sound signals of the two microphones to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal.

161. An acoustic signal acquisition device that acquires a target sound under a circumstance where a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes is present, comprising:

two microphones provided in such a manner as to be spaced away from each other at a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound, using received sound signals of the two microphones to generate at least one target sound superior signal; and

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound, using the received sound signals of the two microphones to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal.

162. An acoustic signal acquisition device that acquires a target sound under a circumstance where a disturbance sound coming from an arbitrary direction other than a direction from which the target sound comes is present, comprising:

first and second microphones respectively provided at a corresponding portion of a front face of a portable device at which an operation unit and/or a screen display unit is provided, and a corresponding portion of a rear face opposite thereto;

a third microphone provided at the front face in such a manner as to be spaced away from the first microphone;

a target sound superior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for emphasizing the target sound, using received sound signals of the two first and second microphones to generate at least one target sound superior signal; and

a target sound inferior signal generator which performs a linear combination process for suppressing the target sound, using the received sound signals of the two first and third microphones to generate at least one target sound inferior signal to be paired with the target sound superior signal.