Wearable Audio Echo Removal Using Neural Speech Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Echoes generated by speakers in wearable devices with integrated microphones, such as head-mounted displays, cause leakage of binaural signals, leading to undesirable audio feedback during two-way communications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a neural network and adaptive filters to suppress echoes and enhance speech, trained to differentiate between sound patterns and modify impulse responses based on speaker-microphone relationships, including loudspeaker-to-device-microphone transfer functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If speakers and microphones are integrated in wearable devices, then device functionality is improved, but echo leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing system between the speaker and microphone. This system includes echo cancellation modules that generate anti-echo signals to neutralize the harmful echo leakage, allowing the integrated device to function properly without the harmful effects of echo feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the microphone signal is processed to identify echo components, and these echoes are fed back through cancellation filters to generate opposite-phase signals that destructively interfere with the original echo, thereby suppressing the harmful feedback loop
2Measurement precision
If echo suppression is applied, then speech quality is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the echo suppression process into distinct functional modules: echo detection, echo estimation, and echo cancellation. Each module handles a specific aspect of the signal processing, making the complex task more manageable and allowing for optimized processing at each stage without overwhelming the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-characterizing the acoustic path between speakers and microphones using transfer function models. This preliminary characterization allows the echo cancellation system to be pre-configured with the necessary filter parameters, reducing the computational burden during real-time operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method including receiving a microphone signal from a microphone, receiving a speaker signal from a speaker associated with the microphone, generating a speaker response relationship based on the microphone signal and the speaker signal, and generating an enhanced audio signal by modifying an echo associated with the microphone signal using a machine learning model and the speaker response relationship, the machine learning model being configured to differentiate between a first sound pattern and a second sound pattern.