Use of sensors for noise suppression in a mobile communication device

A method in a mobile communication device, comprising:

• receiving a first audio signal by a first microphone of the mobile communication device;
• receiving a second audio signal by a second microphone of the mobile communication device;
• determining whether a camera of the mobile communication device is disabled;
• switching the first microphone and the second microphone to a first mode of operation in response to determining that the camera is disabled;
• and
• switching the first microphone and the second microphone to a second mode of operation in response to determining that the camera is enabled,
• wherein in the first mode, the first microphone is configured as a primary microphone to detect a first primary signal that represents speech of a user of the mobile communication device and the second microphone is configured as a secondary microphone to detect a first secondary signal that represents reference noise, and
• wherein in the second mode, the first microphone is configured as the secondary microphone to detect a second secondary signal that represents reference noise and the second microphone is configured as the primary microphone to detect a second primary signal that represents sound from a targeted source facing the camera;
• subtracting a representation of the first secondary signal from a representation of the first primary signal to provide a first noise-reduced primary signal in response to determining that the camera is disabled;
• and
• subtracting representation of the second secondary signal from a representation of the second primary signal to provide a second noise-reduced primary signal in response to determining that the camera is enabled.

A mobile communication device, comprising:

• a first sensor configured to be proximate to a mouth of a user during operation of the mobile communication device by the user,
• a second sensor configured to be distal to the mouth of the user during the operation of the mobile communication device by the user;
• a camera;
• and
• a processor configured to determine whether the camera is disabled, switch the first sensor and the second sensor to a first mode of operation in response to a determination that the camera is disabled, and switch the first sensor and the second sensor to a second mode of operation in response to a determination that the camera is enabled,
• wherein in the first mode:
• the first sensor is configured as a primary sensor to detect a first primary signal that represents speech of the user of the mobile communication device and the second sensor is configured as a secondary sensor to detect a first secondary signal that represents reference noise, and
• wherein in the second mode:
• the first sensor is configured as the secondary sensor to detect a second secondary signal that represents reference noise and the second sensor is configured as the primary sensor to detect a second primary signal that represents sound from a targeted source facing the camera.