Adaptive Beamforming Noise Cancellation for Moving Talkers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noise cancellation systems in conferencing environments fail to effectively adapt to changing talker positions and noise sources, leading to suboptimal noise cancellation and audio quality, particularly when the audio source or noise source is not static relative to the microphones.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with an adaptive noise cancellation assembly that includes a localizer module to determine the active talker's direction and a beam generator to create a beam in that direction, dynamically assigning microphones or beams as active signal or noise sources based on the talker's position, using a beamforming technique to enhance the signal and suppress noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If static noise cancellation methods are used, then the system is simpler to implement, but noise cancellation effectiveness deteriorates when talker position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic noise cancellation by continuously tracking the active talker's position and adjusting the noise cancellation parameters in real-time. The system transitions from static to dynamic operation by using position tracking algorithms that update the noise cancellation filter coefficients based on current talker location, ensuring effective noise suppression regardless of talker movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the detected talker position is fed back into the noise cancellation algorithm. The position information from the active talker detection module continuously updates the noise cancellation parameters, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to changing conditions and maintains optimal noise cancellation performance.
2Reliability
If adaptive processing is used to track moving talkers, then noise cancellation effectiveness improves, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the noise cancellation process into distinct functional modules: active talker detection, position tracking, and adaptive filter adjustment. Each module handles a specific aspect of the problem, allowing for optimized computational processing in each segment rather than a monolithic complex algorithm, thus reducing overall computational burden while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters dynamically based on talker position, specifically adjusting the filter coefficients and noise cancellation parameters according to the detected talker location. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain high noise cancellation effectiveness while using efficient algorithms that adjust only the necessary parameters rather than reprocessing entire signal streams.
3Reliability
If synchronous noise cancellation is used, then repetitive background noise is cancelled, but intermittent noise at regular intervals is not cancelled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from synchronous to dynamic noise cancellation by continuously adapting the cancellation parameters based on real-time talker position detection. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond to both repetitive and intermittent noise patterns, as the position-based adaptation automatically adjusts to changing acoustic conditions including periodic noise sources that occur at regular intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The noise cancellation system is designed to handle multiple types of noise patterns universally through position-based adaptation. By making the cancellation parameters dependent on talker position rather than fixed synchronous timing, the system gains the ability to cancel both repetitive background noise and intermittent periodic noise, enhancing its versatility across different noise scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides improved noise cancellation by dynamically selecting the most optimal microphone or beam pair for each talker position, enhancing speech quality and reducing background noise, even when talker positions change during a communication session.
Implementation Method 1
an array of microphones for capturing sound
Implementation Method 2
a beam generator to create a beam in that direction, dynamically assigning microphones or beams as active signal or noise sources based on the talker's position, using a beamforming technique to enhance the signal and suppress noise
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system with a noise cancellation (NC) assembly providing adaptive or dynamic noise cancellation. The NC assembly includes a localizer module determining, during a communication session (active speaking or during idle times), a location of the active talker. The NC assembly includes a beam generator forming a beam in the determined direction of the active talker to enhance the active talker speech. Once the NC assembly has determined the position of the active talker, the NC assembly assigns a microphone of the microphone array or generated beam in that active direction to be the "active signal" source. The NC assembly assigns a second microphone or beam to be the noise source for NC purposes, and this source may be selected to be in acoustic shadow of the first microphone used as the active signal source or may be the farthest away in its position from the active talker's position.