Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Hearing aids – electrical – Directional
Patent
1998-05-14
2000-11-28
Isen, Forester W.
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Hearing aids, electrical
Directional
381312, 381 92, 381 941, 367119, 367121, 367125, H04R 2500, H04R 300, H04B 1500, G01S 380
Patent
active
06154552&
ABSTRACT:
The hybrid adaptive beamformer of the present invention includes a plurality of microphones for receiving sound energy from an external environment and for producing a plurality of microphone outputs from the sound energy. A processor produces a plurality of first order beams based on the microphone outputs. The processor determines an amount of reverberation in the external environment and adaptively produces a second order output beam taking into consideration the determined amount of reverberation. The processor may determine the amount of reverberation based on a comparison of the first order beams. The processor may produce the second order output beam by adaptively combining the plurality of first order beams, as further described below, or by adaptively combining the microphone outputs. The adaptation varies taking into consideration the determined amount of reverberation. Alternatively, the adaptation may vary by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio of the first order beams and adaptively combining the first order beams based on the determined signal-to-noise ratios.
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Gibian Gary L.
Koroljow Walter S.
Isen Forester W.
Pendleton Brian Tyrone
Planning Systems Inc.
Zibelli David L.
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