Voice enhancement system
OwnerZvi Lichtinventor
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Abstract
A method of processing an audio signal in order to overcome background noise extraneous to the audio signal. The method includes comparing a measure of the audio signal in a frequency component of the audio signal to a measure of the noise in a frequency component of the background noise, determining a gain responsive to the comparison and amplifying at least a portion of the audio signal, including at least one frequency segment not included in the frequency component of the audio signal, by the determined gain.
Claims49
A method of processing an audio signal in order to overcome background noise extraneous to the audio signal, comprising:
- comparing a measure of the audio signal in a frequency component of the audio signal to a measure of the noise in a frequency component of the background noise;
- determining a gain responsive to the comparison;
- and
- amplifying at least a portion of the audio signal, including at least one frequency segment not included in the frequency component of the audio signal, by the determined gain.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein amplifying the at least a portion of the signal comprises amplifying a portion including the compared frequency component of the audio signal.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein determining the gain to be applied comprises determining a gain which would bring the signal to noise ratio in the frequency band of the frequency component of the audio signal to above a threshold value.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein comparing a measure of the audio signal in a frequency component of the audio signal comprises comparing in a frequency component which includes a formant of the audio signal.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising dividing the audio signal into a plurality of frequency components and selecting fewer than all the frequency components.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein amplifying the at least a portion of the audio signal comprises amplifying by a gain combined from a plurality of gains including the gain determined responsive to the comparison.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising sounding the amplified signal in the presence of the background noise.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frequency component of the audio signal and the frequency component of the noise span over substantially the same frequency band.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frequency component of the audio signal comprises a band of frequencies.
A method of processing an audio signal in order to overcome background noise extraneous to the audio signal, comprising:
- dividing the audio signal into a plurality of frequency components;
- enhancing each of the frequency components by a respective noise independent gain of the frequency component;
- and
- multiplying each of the frequency components by a respective noise dependent gain of the frequency component.
A method of processing an audio signal in order to overcome background noise extraneous to the audio signal, comprising:
- receiving an audio signal;
- enhancing the audio signal responsive to a measure of the background noise;
- and
- providing an output that is a weighted sum of the enhanced audio signal and the received audio signal.
A noise compensation system, comprising:
- an input interface adapted to receive an audio signal;
- a speaker adapted to sound an enhanced audio signal;
- a microphone adapted to collect background noise, that may interfere with a listener listening to the enhanced signal;
- and
- a controller adapted to compare a measure of the audio signal in a frequency component of the audio signal to a measure of the background noise in the same frequency component, determine a gain responsive to the comparison and amplify at least a portion of the audio signal, including at least one segment not in the frequency component, by the determined gain, so as to provide the enhanced audio signal.
A method of determining a gain for enhancing an audio signal so as to overcome a background noise extraneous to the audio signal, comprising:
- determining a plurality of high-point values over time of a measure of the audio signal;
- averaging the high point values;
- comparing the average to a measure of the noise;
- and
- determining a gain to enhance the audio signal responsive to the comparison.
A method according to any of claims 4448, wherein averaging the high-point values comprises calculating a geometric average.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.