Method and device for in ear canal echo suppression

A method for in-ear canal echo suppression control suitable for use in an earpiece, the method comprising the steps of:

• capturing an ambient sound from at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal;
• delivering audio content to an ear canal by way of an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) to produce an acoustic audio content;
• capturing in the ear canal by way of an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) the acoustic audio content to produce an electronic internal signal, the electronic internal signal including an echo of a spoken voice generated by a wearer of the earpiece;
• suppressing the echo of the spoken voice in the electronic internal signal to produce a modified electronic internal signal;
• generating a voice activity level of the spoken voice based on the modified electronic internal signal and the electronic ambient signal;
• and
• controlling a mixing and an adjusting of the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal based on the voice activity level.

An earpiece to provide in-ear canal echo suppression, comprising:

• an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) configured to capture ambient sound and produce an electronic ambient signal;
• an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) configured to deliver audio content to an ear canal;
• an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) configured to capture internal sound in the ear canal and produce an electronic internal signal, the electronic internal signal including an echo of a spoken voice generated by a wearer of the earpiece;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the ASM, the ECM and the ECR where the processor is configured to:
• measure a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal;
• suppress the echo of the spoken voice in the electronic internal signal to produce a modified electronic internal signal containing primarily the spoken voice;
• generate a voice activity level for the spoken voice based on characteristics of the modified electronic internal signal and a level of the background noise signal;
• and
• mix and adjust the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on at least one of the voice activity level or the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal that is delivered to the ear canal by way of the ECR.