Voice activity detector (vad)-based multiple-microphone acoustic noise suppression

Abstract

Acoustic noise suppression is provided in multiple-microphone systems using Voice Activity Detectors (VAD). A host system receives acoustic signals via multiple microphones. The system also receives information on the vibration of human tissue associated with human voicing activity via the VAD. In response, the system generates a transfer function representative of the received acoustic signals upon determining that voicing information is absent from the received acoustic signals during at least one specified period of time. The system removes noise from the received acoustic signals using the transfer function, thereby producing a denoised acoustic data stream.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 .- 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method for removing noise from acoustic signals, comprising:
 receiving from a plurality of microphones, a plurality of acoustic signals, the plurality of acoustic signals including reflections, echoes or both, of at least one of the plurality of acoustic signals;   receiving information on a vibration of human tissue associated with human voicing activity from a tissue vibration detector in physical contact with the human tissue, the tissue vibration detector including a skin surface microphone of a voice activity detector device included in a wireless earpiece or a wireless headset, the skin surface microphone including a covering being configured to change an impedance of a microphone of the skin surface microphone;   determining, by the voice activity detector device, a signal associated with voicing information being absent in the plurality of acoustic signals for at least one specified period of time;   generating, based on the determining, at least one first transfer function representative of the plurality of acoustic signals; and   removing noise from the plurality of acoustic signals using the at least one first transfer function to produce at least one denoised acoustic data stream.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the removing noise further comprises:
 determining, by the voice activity detector device, a signal associated with voicing information being present in the plurality of acoustic signals for at least one specified period of time;   generating, based on the determining, at least one second transfer function representative of the plurality of acoustic signals; and   removing noise from the plurality of acoustic signals using at least one combination of the at least one first transfer function and the at least one second transfer function to produce the at least one denoised acoustic data stream.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the removing noise further comprises:
 generating at least one third transfer function using the at least one first transfer function and the at least one second transfer function.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the reflections include at least one reflection of at least one associated noise source signal and at least one reflection of at least one acoustic source signal. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the plurality of microphones are arranged in a microphone array included in the wireless earpiece or the wireless headset. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the removing noise further comprises:
 generating at least one third transfer function using the at least one first transfer function.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the human tissue comprises a surface of a cheek. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the generating the at least one first transfer function comprises recalculating the at least one first transfer function during at least one pre-specified interval. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the generating the at least one second transfer function comprises recalculating the at least one second transfer function during at least one pre-specified interval. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the covering comprises a layer of silicone being configured to mechanically couple with the human tissue. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 45  and further comprising:
 receiving, at a noise removal element, a voicing information signal from the voice activity detector device; 
 receiving, at the noise removal element, the plurality of acoustic signals; and 
 outputting cleaned speech from the noise removal element.