System and method for speech enhancement

• US 7,191,127 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lorenzo, Geydi, Estes, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan; Vijay B.
• Application Number:
  US10/328,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 704225-233, 704/207
• US Class Current: 704/233
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/0135 Voice conversion or morphing
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0364 for improving intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6025 implemented as integrated speech networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/43 Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing noise in a speech signal. A handset or remote unit provides to users with a hearing deficiency, a first mode of operation where noise suppressant/speech enhancement algorithms are used during any auditory-related service. There is also provided, in a related mode of operation, speech filtering for reducing noise in a speech signal received through the microphone and outputting the filtered sound to the speaker. The handset includes a microphone for receiving an auditory sound, a receiver for receiving an auditory signal and a speech filter for suppressing noise in the auditory signal and sound. The speech filter also may be configured to shift the frequency and/or alter the intensity of the auditory signal and sound. The speaker is used for amplifying and outputting the enhanced speech component as an audible sound.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing speech perception in a communications device:

providing a cellular telephone having a signal receiver for receiving a voice signal from a receiver via an antenna, a microphone for capturing a voice signal, a speaker for outputting an audible sound, and an upconverter for selectively upconverting the voice signal captured by the microphone or routing it to the speaker;

selecting at a control menu either the receiver or the microphone for an advanced hearing mode;

receiving the voice signal into the cellular telephone via which of the receiver or microphone as selected, wherein the voice signal comprises a speech component and a noise component;

separating the voice signal into speech and noise components; and

routing the speech component of the voice signal to the speaker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating step comprises filtering the voice signal to remove the noise component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating step comprises processing the voice signal to enhance the speech component and suppress the noise component.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of customizing the signal to noise ratio of the received voice signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the customizing step comprises setting the signal to noise ratio to a predetermined level based on the based on a listener'"'"'s preference.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of storing multiple custom predetermined signal to noise ratio levels, each custom predetermined signal to noise ratio level corresponding to a particular environment.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of storing the multiple custom predetermined signal to noise ratio levels in a selectable menu system for enabling the user to select the appropriate custom predetermined signal to noise ratio level.

8. A cellular telephone comprising:

a microphone for receiving an auditory sound;

a receiver for receiving an auditory signal via a receiver coupled to an antenna, wherein the auditory signal is received wirelessly from a cellular infrastructure;

a speech filter for suppressing noise in the auditory signal and the auditory sound for enhancing a speech component of the auditory signal and the auditory sound; and

a speaker for amplifying and outputting the speech component as an audible sound;

wherein the cellular telephone provides a control menu for selecting either the receiver or microphone for outputting the corresponding speech component.

9. The remote unit of claim 8 wherein the control menu further allows setting an operating parameter of the speech filter.

10. The remote unit of claim 9, wherein the control menu comprises means for setting a signal to noise ratio of the filter based on a listening environment of a user.

11. The remote unit of claim 10, wherein multiple custom signal to noise ratio settings maybe stored in the remote unit.

12. The remote unit of claim 11, wherein the control menu further comprises a selectable menu system for enabling the user to select the custom predetermined signal to noise ratio level appropriate for the user.