SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR ENHANCED ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION

• US 20100131269A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chan, Kwokleung, Park, Hyun Jin
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/233
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17837 by retaining part of the ambient acoustic environment, e.g. speech or alarm signals that the user needs to hear
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17854 the filter being an adaptive filter
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17881 the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets

Abstract

Uses of an enhanced sidetone signal in an active noise cancellation operation are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of audio signal processing, said method comprising performing each of the following acts using a device configured to process audio signals:

based on information from a first audio signal, producing an anti-noise signal;

separating a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce at least one among (A) a separated target component and (B) a separated noise component; and

based on the anti-noise signal, producing an audio output signal,

wherein the audio output signal is based on at least one among (A) the separated target component and (B) the separated noise component.

2. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 1, wherein the first audio signal is an error feedback signal.

3. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 1, wherein the second audio signal includes the first audio signal.

4. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 1, wherein said separating comprises separating a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated target component, and

wherein the audio output signal is based on the separated target component.

5. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 4, wherein said producing an audio output signal includes mixing the anti-noise signal and the separated target component.

6. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 4, wherein said separated target component is a separated voice component, and

wherein said separating a target component comprises separating a voice component of the second audio input signal from a noise component of the second audio input signal to produce the separated voice component.

7. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 4, wherein the anti-noise signal is based on the separated target component.

8. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 4, wherein said method comprises subtracting the separated target component from the first audio signal to produce a third audio signal, and

wherein said anti-noise signal is based on the third audio signal.

9. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 1, wherein the second audio signal is a multichannel audio signal.

10. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 9, wherein said separating includes performing a spatially selective processing operation on the multichannel audio signal to produce the at least one among a separated target component and a separated noise component.

11. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 1, wherein said separating comprises separating a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated noise component, and

wherein the first audio signal includes the separated noise component produced by said separating.

12. The method of audio signal processing according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises mixing the audio output signal with a far-end communications signal.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform a method of audio signal processing, said instructions comprising:

instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to produce an anti-noise signal based on information from a first audio signal;

instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce at least one among (A) a separated target component and (B) a separated noise component; and

instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to produce an audio output signal based on the anti-noise signal,

wherein the audio output signal is based on at least one among (A) the separated target component and (B) the separated noise component.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the first audio signal is an error feedback signal.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the second audio signal includes the first audio signal.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate include instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated target component, and

wherein the audio output signal is based on the separated target component.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to produce an audio output signal include instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to mix the anti-noise signal and the separated target component.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said separated target component is a separated voice component, and

wherein said instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate a target component include instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate a voice component of the second audio input signal from a noise component of the second audio input signal to produce the separated voice component.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the anti-noise signal is based on the separated target component.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said medium includes instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to subtract the separated target component from the first audio signal to produce a third audio signal, and

wherein said anti-noise signal is based on the third audio signal.

21. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the second audio signal is a multichannel audio signal.

22. The computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate include instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a spatially selective processing operation on the multichannel audio signal to produce the at least one among a separated target component and a separated noise component.

23. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate include instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated noise component, and

wherein the first audio signal includes the separated noise component produced by the processor.

24. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said medium includes instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to mix the audio output signal with a far-end communications signal.

25. An apparatus for audio signal processing, said apparatus comprising:

means for producing an anti-noise signal based on information from a first audio signal;

means for separating a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce at least one among (A) a separated target component and (B) a separated noise component; and

means for producing an audio output signal based on the anti-noise signal,

wherein the audio output signal is based on at least one among (A) the separated target component and (B) the separated noise component.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the first audio signal is an error feedback signal.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second audio signal includes the first audio signal.

28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said means for separating is configured to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated target component, and

wherein the audio output signal is based on the separated target component.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said means for producing an audio output signal is configured to mix the anti-noise signal and the separated target component.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said separated target component is a separated voice component, and

wherein said means for separating a target component is configured to separate a voice component of the second audio input signal from a noise component of the second audio input signal to produce the separated voice component.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the anti-noise signal is based on the separated target component.

32. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said apparatus includes means for subtracting the separated target component from the first audio signal to produce a third audio signal, and

wherein said anti-noise signal is based on the third audio signal.

33. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second audio signal is a multichannel audio signal.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said means for separating is configured to perform a spatially selective processing operation on the multichannel audio signal to produce the at least one among a separated target component and a separated noise component.

35. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said means for separating is configured to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated noise component, and

wherein the first audio signal includes the separated noise component produced by said means for separating.

36. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said apparatus includes means for mixing the audio output signal with a far-end communications signal.

37. An apparatus for audio signal processing, said apparatus comprising:

an active noise cancellation filter configured to produce an anti-noise signal based on information from a first audio signal;

a source separation module configured to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce at least one among (A) a separated target component and (B) a separated noise component; and

an audio output stage configured to produce an audio output signal based on the anti-noise signal,

wherein the audio output signal is based on at least one among (A) the separated target component and (B) the separated noise component.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the first audio signal is an error feedback signal.

39. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the second audio signal includes the first audio signal.

40. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said source separation module is configured to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated target component, and

wherein the audio output signal is based on the separated target component.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said audio output stage is configured to mix the anti-noise signal and the separated target component.

42. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said separated target component is a separated voice component, and

wherein said source separation module is configured to separate a voice component of the second audio input signal from a noise component of the second audio input signal to produce the separated voice component.

43. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the anti-noise signal is based on the separated target component.

44. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said apparatus includes a mixer configured to subtract the separated target component from the first audio signal to produce a third audio signal, and

wherein said anti-noise signal is based on the third audio signal.

45. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the second audio signal is a multichannel audio signal.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said source separation module is configured to perform a spatially selective processing operation on the multichannel audio signal to produce the at least one among a separated target component and a separated noise component.

47. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said source separation module is configured to separate a target component of a second audio signal from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce a separated noise component, and

wherein the first audio signal includes the separated noise component produced by said source separation module.

48. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said apparatus includes a mixer configured to mix the audio output signal with a far-end communications signal.