Audio device utilizing a defect detection method on a microphone array

An audio device, comprising:

• a microphone array for receiving ambient audio signals, comprising at least a first microphone and a second microphone, wherein the first and second microphones respectively generate a first audio signal and a second audio signal from the ambient signals;
• an error detector, coupled to the first and second microphones, detecting functions of the first and second microphones based on the first and second audio signals to generate a status signal;
• a digital signal processor (DSP), coupled to the first microphone, second microphone and the error detector, processing the first and second audio signals based on the status signal, wherein,
• if the status signal indicates that both the first microphone and the second microphone are normal, the DSP switches to a normal mode in which both the first and second audio signals are processed, and
• if the status signal indicates that only the first microphone or the second microphone is defective, the DSP switches to a single microphone mode in which only audio signals from the remaining normal microphone is processed, and
• if the status signal indicates that both the first and second microphones are defective, the DSP generates an error indication signal and stops processing the first and second audio signals;
• wherein the error detector comprises:
• a first activity detector, comparing the first audio signal with a local activity threshold to generate a first activity flag for indicating voice activity of the first audio signal;
• a second activity detector, comparing the second audio signal with the local activity threshold to generate a second activity flag for indicating voice activity of the second audio signal;
• a power difference detector, comparing the first and second audio signals to generate a power difference flag for indicating whether the differences between the first and second audio signals exceed a predetermined ratio;
• and
• a correlation detector, determining correlation of the first and second audio signals to generate a correlation flag for indicating whether the first and second audio signals are correlated.