Voice Sensing using Multiple Microphones

Abstract

A headset includes an acoustic structure, a first microphone located outside the acoustic structure, a second microphone located inside the acoustic structure, and an output driver configured to receive an antinoise signal based on a combination of input from the first and second microphones. A voice signal of a user of the headset is generated using input from the first and second microphones. The first microphone could be a feed-forward microphone that provides input to a feed-forward filter to produce a filtered feed-forward signal for producing the antinoise signal. The second microphone could be a feedback microphone that provides input to a feedback filter to produce a filtered feedback signal for producing the antinoise signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headset comprising:
 an acoustic structure;   a first microphone located outside the acoustic structure;   a second microphone located inside the acoustic structure; and   an output driver configured to receive an antinoise signal based on a combination of input from the first and second microphones,   wherein a voice signal of a user of the headset is generated using input from the first and second microphones.   
     
     
         2 . The headset of  claim 1 , wherein the first microphone is a feed-forward microphone that provides input to a feed-forward filter to produce a filtered feed-forward signal for producing the antinoise signal. 
     
     
         3 . The headset of  claim 1 , wherein the second microphone is a feedback microphone that provides input to a feedback filter to produce a filtered feedback signal for producing the antinoise signal. 
     
     
         4 . The headset of  claim 1 , further comprising an ear tip configured to seal the acoustic structure to an ear canal of the user of the headset. 
     
     
         5 . The headset of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic structure, the first and second microphones, and the output driver are all part of a first earbud or earpiece, and the headset includes a second earbud or earpiece that comprises:
 an additional acoustic structure;   a third microphone located outside the additional acoustic structure;   a fourth microphone located inside the additional acoustic structure; and   an additional output driver configured to receive an additional antinoise signal based on a combination of input from the third and fourth microphones.   
     
     
         6 . The headset of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second earbuds or earpieces are connected via a cord. 
     
     
         7 . The headset of  claim 5 , further comprising processing circuitry contained within the first and second earbuds or earpieces. 
     
     
         8 . The headset of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a module attached to the cord; and   processing circuitry contained within the module.   
     
     
         9 . The headset of  claim 5 , wherein the voice signal of the user of the headset is generated by further using input from the third and fourth microphones. 
     
     
         10 . The headset of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional microphone located outside the acoustic structure, wherein input from the first and additional microphones is used to produce an array-filtered signal that is used to generate the voice signal of the user of the headset. 
     
     
         11 . A method of generating a voice signal of a user of a headset, the headset including an acoustic structure, a first microphone located outside the acoustic structure, a second microphone located inside the acoustic structure, and an output driver, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the output driver, an antinoise signal based on a combination of input from the first and second microphones; and   generating a voice signal of the user of the headset using input from the first and second microphones.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first microphone is a feed-forward microphone that provides input to a feed-forward filter to produce a filtered feed-forward signal for producing the antinoise signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second microphone is a feedback microphone that provides input to a feedback filter to produce a filtered feedback signal for producing the antinoise signal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the headset further includes an ear tip configured to seal the acoustic structure to an ear canal of the user of the headset. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the acoustic structure, the first and second microphones, and the output driver are all part of a first earbud or earpiece, and the headset includes a second earbud or earpiece that comprises an additional acoustic structure, a third microphone located outside the additional acoustic structure, a fourth microphone located inside the additional acoustic structure, and an additional output driver, wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, at the additional output driver, an additional antinoise signal based on a combination of input from the third and fourth microphones.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second earbuds or earpieces are connected via a cord. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the headset further includes processing circuitry contained within the first and second earbuds or earpieces. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the headset further includes a module attached to the cord and processing circuitry contained within the module. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 generating the voice signal of the user of the headset using input from the third and fourth microphones.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the headset further includes an additional microphone located outside the acoustic structure, wherein input from the first and additional microphones is used to produce an array-filtered signal that is used for the generating of the voice signal of the user of the headset.