Method and device for acoustic management control of multiple microphones

A method for acoustic management control suitable for use in an earpiece, the method comprising the steps of:

• capturing an ambient acoustic signal from at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal;
• detecting a spoken voice signal generated by a wearer of the earpiece from the electronic ambient signal;
• determining a background noise level from the electronic ambient signal when the spoken voice signal is not detected;
• generating a voice activity level of the spoken voice signal;
• and
• adjusting a characteristic of the electronic ambient signal as a function of the voice activity level and the background noise level to produce an adjusted signal.

An earpiece system for acoustic management control, comprising:

• at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) configured to capture ambient sound and produce an electronic ambient signal;
• an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) to deliver audio content to an ear canal to produce an acoustic audio content;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the at least one ASM and the ECR where the processor is configured to
• detect a spoken voice signal generated by a wearer of the earpiece from the electronic ambient signal;
• determine a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal when a spoken voice signal is not detected;
• generate a voice activity level of the spoken voice signal;
• and
• adjust a characteristic of the electronic ambient signal dependent on the voice activity level and the background noise signal to produce an adjusted signal.