Hybrid adaptive beamformer

Details Hybrid adaptive beamformer Hybrid adaptive beamformer

2005-08-02

2005-08-02

Harvey, Minsun Oh (Department: 2644)

Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices

Hearing aids, electrical

Directional

C381S092000, C381S094100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06925189

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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