Spatial double-talk detector
AssigneeBose Corporation
InventorsElie Bou Daher, Cristian M. Hera, Vigneish Kathavarayan, Tobe Z. Barksdale
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Abstract
Double-talk detection systems and methods are provided that include a plurality of microphones and array processing to detect when a vehicle occupant is speaking. One or more array processors combine the microphone signals to provide a primary signal and a reference signal. The responses of the primary signal and the reference signal are different in the direction of an occupant location. A comparison of energy content is made between the primary signal and reference signal to selectively indicate double-talk based on the comparison.
Claims27
A double-talk detector, comprising:
- a plurality of microphones configured to provide a plurality of signals;
- a first array processor configured to combine the plurality of signals to provide a first array signal having a first response in a direction of a user location, the first array signal having a first energy level when an occupant at the user location is not speaking;
- a second array processor configured to combine the plurality of signals to provide a second array signal having a second response in the direction of the user location, the second response being different from the first response, and the second array signal having a second energy level when the occupant is not speaking, the second energy level being a substantially fixed ratio to the first energy level when the occupant is not speaking and having a higher ratio when the occupant is speaking;
- and
- a processor configured to make a comparison of an energy content of the first array signal to an energy content of the second array signal and to selectively indicate double-talk based on the comparison.
A method of detecting speech activity of a user, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of signals derived from a plurality of non-linearly arranged microphones;
- array processing the plurality of signals to generate a primary signal having a first acoustic response in the direction of a user location;
- receiving a reference signal derived from one or more microphones, the reference signal having a second acoustic response to acoustic signals originating from the user location, the second acoustic response being lower than the first acoustic response;
- comparing an energy of the primary signal to an energy of the reference signal;
- and
- selectively indicating double-talk based on the comparison.
A double-talk detector, comprising:
- an input configured to receive a plurality of microphone signals;
- a first array processor configured to combine the plurality of microphone signals to provide a first array signal having a first response in a direction of a first location in a vehicle;
- a second array processor configured to combine the plurality of microphone signals to provide a second array signal having a second response in the direction of a second location in the vehicle;
- and
- a processor configured to combine one or more of the plurality of microphone signals to provide a reference signal, to make a first comparison of an energy content of the first array signal to an energy content of the reference signal, to make a second comparison of an energy content of the second array signal to an energy content of the reference signal, and to selectively indicate double-talk based upon at least one of the first comparison and the second comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.