JP2006340151A - Acoustic echo canceling device, telephone using it, and acoustic echo canceling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an acoustic echo canceling device, along with a telephone using the same and an acoustic echo canceling method, in which an echo canceling technology is compatible with an microphone array technology, for less process amount. <P>SOLUTION: A step for orienting directivity to a near end speaker by adjusting the directivity by a microphone array is separately processed from a step for echo-canceling the signal from the direction of the speaker to which directivity is oriented. The echo canceling method is applied after a variable period for eliminating the effect of acoustic echo path caused by change of directivity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an acoustic echo canceling apparatus that controls the directivity of a microphone, a telephone using the same, and an acoustic echo canceling method.

  In a telephone such as a speakerphone system telephone, there is an echo cancellation technique for preventing howling and echo. According to this echo cancellation technology, sound output from a speaker passes through a space such as a room, and from a sound (echo) input to a microphone, a transfer function that simulates the space and a sound output to the speaker. By subtracting the convoluted signal, it can be as if there is no echo.

  In addition, there is a microphone array technology for picking up a microphone with a good S / N ratio so that the directivity of the microphone is directed toward the speaker and other sounds are not picked up so that environmental noise does not enter.

  Echo cancellation technology and microphone array technology are established at the same time, and only the near-end speaker who speaks is picked up. There is a way to subtract. As the method, there are conventional techniques described in (Non-patent Document 1) and (Non-Patent Document 2). In this method, a plurality of speaker positions are estimated, directivity is directed to the speakers, and echo cancellation is performed. (Non-Patent Document 1) describes a method of updating filter coefficients of a microphone array and an echo canceller. Further, (Non-patent document 2) describes a method for estimating the position of a speaker, and is cited from (Non-patent document 1). This conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an acoustic echo canceling apparatus according to the prior art. In FIG. 6, only a portion that processes a speaker, a plurality of microphones, a far-end speaker's voice, and a plurality of microphones that output the far-end speaker's voice are extracted and shown. In FIG. 6, the frequency table domain representation of the signal from the far-end speaker is Z (ω), the frequency domain representation of the input signal from the microphone 1 is X ₁ (ω), and the input signal from the microphone 2 is The frequency domain representation is X ₂ (ω), and the frequency domain representation of the input signal from the microphone M is X _M (ω). The frequency domain representation of the filter that performs signal processing on the signal from the far-end speaker is G (ω), and the frequency domain representation of the filter that performs signal processing on the signal from the microphone 1 is H ₁ (ω). The frequency domain representation of the filter that performs signal processing on the signal from the microphone 2 is H ₂ (ω), and the frequency domain representation of the filter that performs signal processing on the signal from the microphone M is H _M (ω). These filter outputs are added to obtain a transmission signal Y (ω) from the near-end speaker.

  The conventional technique is composed of two parts: a process of estimating the speaker position and updating the filter coefficient and a process of actually filtering the input signal. The operation of the part for updating the filter coefficient is as follows. All filter inputs in the part where the filter coefficient is updated are expressed by (Equation 1).

  All filter processes are expressed by (Equation 2).

  If it carries out as mentioned above, the transmission signal from a near-end speaker can be represented like (Formula 3).

In the above conventional technique, by _obtaining the covariance matrix R _S1S2 (ω) of the signal for each speaker, the covariance matrix R _EE (ω) of only the reverberation signal, and the covariance matrix R _NN (ω) of only the noise signal, A filter coefficient H (ω) for directing directivity to the near-end speaker and removing an echo of a signal obtained by collecting the far-end speaker's voice from the speaker is obtained by (Equation 4).

Here, the number of speakers is K, C _S1 is a sensitivity constraint weight of each speaker, C _E is a weight for echo, and C _N is a weight for noise. A _S1 represents a mixing ratio for speaker i. Filter processing is performed using the coefficients obtained as described above.

The operation of the part for estimating the speaker position is as follows. _Let τ _yk be the arrival time difference between the i-th and j-th microphones when there are M microphones and sound is emitted from the k-th sound source among the total of N sound sources. Further, assuming that the position of the i-th estimated microphone is (x _i , y _i , z _i ) and the k-th estimated sound source position is (x _k , y _k , z _k ), the arrival time difference τ _yk (p) between estimated microphones. Is represented by (Equation 5).

  Here, p is a vector having 3M + 3N elements of (Equation 6).

Therefore, the number p of microphone positions is obtained from a certain sound source and the position of each microphone, and the number p of microphone positions is obtained from another sound source in the same manner. The position of the sound source can be obtained by solving the part where the coordinates are unknown using ( _Expression 7) indicating that the actually measured values τ _yk and τ _yk (p) of the microphone arrival time difference are equal.

Now consider the order of this covariance matrix. The filter that processes the far-end speaker's voice is 128 taps, the filter that processes each microphone input signal is 128 taps, and X (ω) is 512 taps when there are three microphones. The order of the dispersion matrix is a 512 × 512 two-dimensional matrix. In this conventional technique, it is necessary to obtain an inverse matrix of a covariance matrix of order 512 × 512.
Kazunori Kobayashi, two others, “Echo canceller integrated microphone array”, IEICE Transactions A, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, February 2004, Vol. J87-A, No. 2, p. 143-151 Kazunori Kobayashi and two others, "Position estimation when the position of the microphone and the sound source is unknown", IEICE technical report, IEICE, September 2002, EA-2002-53

  In general, obtaining an inverse matrix of a matrix having such a large degree in real time requires a large amount of computation. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method that allows an echo cancellation technique and a microphone array technique with a small amount of processing to be simultaneously realized.

  As a configuration of the present invention, sound output from a speaker is input via a plurality of microphones, and a transfer function between the speaker and the plurality of microphones is estimated to cancel echo of the input sound. An acoustic echo canceling apparatus, wherein an input direction in which sound is input to a microphone is selected from a plurality of preset input directions, and a microphone corresponding to the input direction selected by the input direction selecting unit A sound collection unit that collects sound input via the sound collection unit, an echo cancellation processing unit that performs echo cancellation processing that cancels echo of the sound collected by the sound collection unit, and an echo cancellation processing unit Execute the input direction selection unit to select the input direction of the audio input when executing the echo cancellation process. And having an input direction selection control section.

  The microphone array control and the echo canceller are not performed at the same time in order to collect the directivity toward the speaker and cancel the echo from the directivity in the next step. Can be reduced.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the first aspect of the invention relates to an echo of a voice input by estimating a transfer function between the speaker and the plurality of microphones, and inputting a voice output from the speaker via the plurality of microphones. An acoustic echo canceling apparatus that cancels the input direction selection unit that selects an input direction in which sound is input to the microphone from a plurality of preset input directions, and an input direction selected by the input direction selection unit A sound pickup unit that picks up the sound input via a microphone corresponding to, an echo cancellation processing unit that executes echo cancellation processing that cancels echo of the sound collected by the sound pickup unit, and an echo The input direction selection unit is controlled so as to select the input direction of the voice input when the echo cancellation process is executed by the cancellation processing unit. Those having an input direction selection control unit for.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to execute each process separately by selecting an input direction in which sound is input to the microphone and performing echo cancellation with the sound collected in the selected input direction. And an acoustic echo canceling device with a small amount of calculation can be provided.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the second invention is an acoustic echo canceling apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the input direction selecting unit displays a directivity pattern indicating an input direction in which the sound is input to the microphone, Is selected as the input direction to be input to the microphone.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to further specify the voice input direction in detail by selecting in advance a direction with sound directivity based on the directivity pattern indicating the directivity corresponding to the microphone, It is possible to provide an acoustic echo canceling apparatus that can pick up the input voice strongly.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a third invention is an acoustic echo cancellation apparatus according to the second invention, wherein the echo cancellation processing unit is an adaptive filter coefficient corresponding to the directivity pattern selected by the input direction selection unit. An adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit that performs an echo cancellation process based on the adaptive filter coefficient calculated by the adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit, and further calculates the adaptive filter coefficient calculated by the adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit. The adaptive filter coefficient storage unit corresponding to the input direction and stored in the memory and the adaptive filter coefficient stored in the memory are referred to, and the adaptive filter coefficient corresponding to the directivity pattern selected by the input direction selection unit is detected. An echo filter processing unit, and the echo cancel processing unit is adapted to perform adaptive filter coefficient detection by the adaptive filter coefficient detection unit. If the coefficient is detected, reads out the detected adaptive filter coefficients from the memory, based on the adaptive filter coefficient read out said, is to perform an echo cancellation process.

  According to this configuration, the filter coefficient of the adaptive filter at the time of echo cancellation when each directional pattern is used last is stored in correspondence with the directional pattern, so that the corresponding directional pattern is selected. When this is done, an acoustic echo canceling device with quick convergence can be realized by using the filter coefficients of the adaptive filter stored previously as the initial values.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a fourth invention is an acoustic echo canceling device according to any one of the first to third inventions, a plurality of microphones to which sound is input, and an echo canceling processing unit of the acoustic echo canceling device. Is a telephone having a speaker that outputs a canceled voice.

  According to this configuration, even when a plurality of speakers speaks around the telephone, when one of the speakers is selected and used by a plurality of people who can perform echo cancellation processing, the talking It is possible to provide an easy-to-listen telephone that can pick up a person's voice strongly and has little environmental noise.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the fifth invention is characterized in that sound output from a speaker is input via a plurality of microphones, and a transfer function between the speaker and the plurality of microphones is estimated to estimate the input sound. An acoustic echo canceling method for canceling an echo, wherein an input direction in which sound is input to a microphone is selected from a plurality of preset input directions, and an input selected by the input direction selection step A voice collecting step for picking up a voice input via a microphone corresponding to the direction; an echo canceling step for executing an echo canceling process for canceling an echo of the voice picked up by the voice collecting step; Audio input that was input when echo cancellation processing was executed in the echo cancellation processing step So as to select the direction, and has an input direction selection control step of executing the input direction selection step.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to execute each process separately by selecting an input direction in which sound is input to the microphone and performing echo cancellation with the sound collected in the selected input direction. And an acoustic echo canceling method with a small amount of calculation can be provided.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the configuration of the acoustic echo canceling apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of acoustic echo cancellation apparatus 127 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a speaker that reproduces a call signal received from a far-end speaker. In FIG. 1, an AD converter that converts a speech signal received from a far-end speaker that has been digitally processed into an analog signal and a power amplifier that drives a speaker are omitted. Reference numerals 102-1 to 102-n denote microphones that collect the far-end speaker's speech signal and the near-end speaker's voice signal reproduced by the speaker 101. Similarly, a DA converter for performing DA conversion on the signal collected by the microphone is omitted.

  Reference numeral 115 denotes a directivity pattern storage unit that stores a plurality of directivity parameter sets realized by the sets of the microphones 102-1 to 102-n in advance as directivity patterns. This directivity parameter is generated by a microphone array technique that realizes a predetermined directivity by adding after weighting calculation to respective inputs from the microphones 102-1 to 102-n.

  105 sets one of a plurality of directivity parameter groups stored in the directivity pattern storage unit 115 for the audio signals input from the microphones 102-1 to 102-n, The directivity calculation processing unit selects a directivity parameter corresponding to the direction in which the end speaker is speaking. In addition, the directivity calculation processing unit 105 sets the selection timing corresponding to the direction in which the near-end speaker is speaking and the timing for copying the directivity parameter.

  106 calculates the directivity corresponding to the selected directivity parameter using the directivity parameter selected by the directivity calculation processing unit 105, and performs sound collection based on the directivity. It is a 1st directivity calculating part. 107 calculates the directivity corresponding to the selected directivity parameter using the directivity parameter used in the first directivity calculation unit 106 and collects sound according to the directivity. It is a 2nd directivity calculating part.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a first adaptive filter that operates together with the first adder 111 using the speaker output signal as a reference signal, and echo-cancels the signal subjected to the directivity calculation of the first directivity calculation unit 106. Reference numeral 112 denotes a second adaptive filter that operates together with the second adder 113 using the speaker output signal as a reference signal and echo cancels the signal whose directivity is calculated by the second directivity calculator 107.

  The directivity calculation processing unit 105 functions as an “input direction selection unit” and an “input direction selection control unit”. The first directivity calculation unit 106 and the second directivity calculation unit 107 function as a “voice sound collection unit”. The first adaptive filter 110 and the first adder 111, and the second adaptive filter 112 and the second adder 113 each function as an “echo cancellation processing unit”. These directivity calculation processing unit 105, first directivity calculation unit 106, second directivity calculation unit 107, first adaptive filter 110, first adder 111, second adaptive filter 112, and second The adder 113 of 2 is configured by an integrated circuit (IC) such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a CPU (Central Processing Unit) by executing a predetermined program.

  Next, operations of directivity search processing and echo cancellation processing using the above hands-free telephone will be described. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing an example of directivity search processing and echo cancellation processing according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the speech signal received from the far-end speaker and reproduced by the speaker 101 and the speech signal of the near-end speaker are temporally frame-divided as “voice data” at the top in FIG.

  First, the outline of the processing will be described. The directivity calculation processing unit 105 performs directivity search processing for directing directivity to the speaker of each frame using signals collected by the microphones 102-1 to 102-n corresponding to frame division. A method of directivity search processing will be described later.

  The first directivity calculation unit 106 and the second directivity calculation unit 107 perform processing for actually collecting a signal having directivity toward the speaker. A signal that directs directivity to continuous speakers by the first directivity calculation unit 106 and the second directivity calculation unit 107 using the directivity parameter corresponding to the direction in which the near-end speaker is speaking. Process to pick up the sound. A continuous process is performed by copying the directivity parameter from the first directivity calculation unit 106 to the second directivity calculation unit 107 at the frame break.

  Inputs of microphones 102-1 to 102-n picked up with directivity obtained using the same continuous directivity parameter output from the first directivity calculation unit 106 and the second directivity calculation unit 107 are input. The echo cancellation processing is performed by the first adaptive filter 110 and the second adaptive filter 112, respectively.

  The first half of the inputs of the microphones 102-1 to 102-n picked up with the directivity obtained using the same directivity parameter continuously causes the adaptive filter for echo cancellation to follow the change in directivity. Therefore, the second half signal of the microphone input picked up with the directivity obtained using the same directivity parameter is used as the transmission signal to the far-end speaker. Filter coefficients from the first adaptive filter 110 to the second adaptive filter 112 in order to use the first half and the second half of the microphone inputs picked up with the directivity obtained using the same directivity parameter for different purposes. Is copied.

  As described above, a signal having directivity directed to the speaker is collected, and an echo-cancelled signal following the change in directivity is obtained from the signal collected with the directivity.

  Next, directivity calculation processing section 105 in the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, the directivity search processing method in the directivity calculation processing unit 105 is as follows. In order to detect in which direction around the hands-free telephone the speaker is speaking with respect to the microphone input in the frame 1 section, as shown in FIG. Eight sets of directivity parameters covering 45 degrees are prepared. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of directivity parameters according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this case, the microphones 102-1 to 102-n are also provided in the form of horizontal 360 degrees divided into eight equal parts. This parameter is stored in advance in the directivity pattern storage unit 115. Each parameter is set as (Equation 8).

Here, directivity parameter for microphones 102-1 when f ₀₀ is 0 °, directivity parameter for microphones 102-2 when f ₀₁ is 0 degrees, with respect to the microphone 102-n when f _0n is 0 degrees directivity parameter, directivity parameter for microphones 102-1 when the f ₁₀ is 45 degrees, f ₁₁ is directivity parameter for microphones 102-2 when the 45 °, the microphone 102-n when the f _1n 45 degrees directivity parameter, ... (omission) ..., directivity parameter for microphones 102-1 when f ₇₀ is 315 degrees, the directivity parameter for microphones 102-2 when f ₇₁ is 315 degrees relative to, f _This represents a directivity parameter for the microphone 102-n when _7n is 315 degrees. As a method for determining the directivity parameter, for example, the directivity parameter can be obtained by a method as shown in EA88-65 “Simultaneous sound pickup device in other direction” of IEICE.

  Alternatively, in order to consider the influence of the actual housing, a microphone is attached to the actual housing, and for example, the speaker 101 is moved around the housing in units of 10 degrees to output a signal such as white noise. The adaptive filter is used so that the signal taking into account the sensitivity due to the directivity of the microphone is used as the reference signal, and the sum of the signals actually input from multiple microphones multiplied by the adaptive filter coefficient is the same as the reference signal. It can also be determined using technology.

The signals collected from the angles of each of the eight sets are sequentially calculated within one frame. Among them, each of the power p ₁ of the angle of the strongest sound pickup signal, the power p ₂ of the angle of the strongest sound pickup signal, and the environmental noise when the call signal received from the far-end speaker is not reproduced. Find the average power p _{TH of the} angle. When the condition of (Equation 9) is satisfied, it is determined that the first speaker has occurred, and directivity is directed in that direction.

  Here, α and β are constants. Directivity parameters for the microphones 102-1 to 102-n in the selected direction are output from the directivity calculation processing unit 105 to the first directivity calculation unit 106 (step 1, directivity search in FIG. 2). processing).

  Next, in the first directivity calculation unit 106, each microphone selected by the directivity calculation processing unit 105 for each input of the microphones 102-1 to 102-n in the frame section 2 of the next frame for which directivity is obtained. Is processed using the directivity parameter, and directivity is collected toward the speaker (step 2 in FIG. 2).

  At this time, the first adaptive filter 110 is paired with the first adder 111 using the signal of the frame section 2 (not the signal of the frame section 1) and using the received signal from the far-end speaker as a reference signal. Thus, adaptive filter processing is performed so as to reduce the output error of the first adder 111, and echo cancellation processing is performed. Here, as an echo cancellation algorithm, a normalized LMS (Least Mean Square) algorithm, an RLS (Resursive Last Square) algorithm, or the like can be used (step 2 in FIG. 2, echo cancellation processing).

  In the next frame section 3, the directivity parameter for each microphone is copied from the first directivity calculation unit 106 to the second directivity calculation unit 107, and the directivity calculation is performed on each input of the microphones 102-1 to 102-n. Processing is performed using the directivity parameter for each microphone obtained by the unit 106, and sound is collected with directivity toward the speaker (step 3 in FIG. 2).

  Further, the second adaptive filter 112 is paired with the second adder 113 using the signal of the frame section 3 (not the signal of the frame section 1) and the received signal from the far-end speaker as a reference signal. Adaptive processing is performed so as to reduce the output error of the second adder 113, and echo cancellation processing is performed (step 3, echo cancellation processing in FIG. 2).

  Next, in parallel with the echo cancellation processing in step 2 described above, the directivity calculation processing unit 105 detects in which direction around the hands-free telephone 100 the speaker is speaking with respect to the microphone input in the frame 2 section. Then, the directivity parameter for each microphone is output from the directivity calculation processing unit 105 to the first directivity calculation unit 106 (step 4 in FIG. 2, directivity search processing).

  In parallel with the echo cancellation processing in step 3 described above, the first directivity calculation unit 106 uses the microphones 102-1 to 102-n in the frame section 3 of the next frame for which directivity is obtained in step 4. Are processed using the directivity parameter for each microphone obtained by the directivity calculation unit 105 to collect sound with directivity toward the speaker (step 5 in FIG. 2).

  At this time, the second adaptive filter 112 is paired with the second adder 113 using the signal of the frame section 3 (not the signal of the frame section 2) and the received signal from the far-end speaker as a reference signal. Then, adaptive processing is performed so as to reduce the output error of the second adder 113, and echo cancellation processing is performed (step 5 in FIG. 2, echo cancellation processing).

  In the next frame section 4, the directivity parameter for each microphone is copied from the first directivity calculating unit 106 to the second directivity calculating unit 107, and the directivity calculation is performed on each input of the microphones 102-1 to 102-n. Processing is performed using the directivity parameter for each microphone obtained by the unit 106 to collect sound with directivity toward the speaker (step 6 in FIG. 2).

  Further, the second adaptive filter 112 is paired with the second adder 113 using the signal of the frame section 4 (not the signal of the frame section 2) and the received signal from the far-end speaker as a reference signal. Adaptive processing is performed so as to reduce the output error of the second adder 113, and echo cancellation processing is performed (step 6 in FIG. 2, echo cancellation processing).

  As described above, the directivity search process, the directivity characteristic process, and the echo cancellation process are sequentially performed, so that directivity can be directed to the speaker and the echo cancellation process can be performed simultaneously.

  In the first embodiment, the case where there are eight types of directivity patterns has been shown. However, when the voice of only the speaker is to be collected, the number of directivity patterns should be increased using a narrow directivity pattern. Is also possible. Conversely, when the amount of calculation is reduced, it is also possible to reduce the number using a wide directivity pattern.

  In addition, the section where echo cancellation processing is continuously performed is set to 2 frames, and the voice subjected to the latter echo cancellation processing is output to the far-end speaker, but further learning of the echo cancellation processing has progressed, and the echo disappeared. When a signal is transmitted to the far-end speaker, it can be dealt with by increasing the directivity calculation unit, the adaptive filter, and the adder.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an acoustic echo canceling apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. When performing echo cancellation processing in the first adaptive filter 110 and the second adaptive filter 112 in step 2 and step 5 in the second embodiment, in order to speed up convergence of the echo cancellation processing, the coefficient of the adaptive filter is set. Remember.

  The first adaptive filter 110 and the second adaptive filter 112 function as an “adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit”, an “adaptive filter coefficient storage unit”, and an “adaptive filter coefficient detection unit”. The adaptive filter coefficient storage unit 114 functions as a “memory” such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

The adaptive filter coefficient storage unit 114 stores the coefficient of the adaptive filter in association with each directivity parameter set F ₀ to F ₇ of the directivity pattern storage unit 115. When a corresponding directivity parameter is selected, echo cancellation processing is performed using the filter coefficient read from the corresponding adaptive filter coefficient storage unit 114 as an initial value. In step 3 and step 6, the parameters for each microphone are copied from the first adaptive filter 110 to the second directivity calculator 106 to the second directivity calculator 107, and the second adaptive filter 112 continues. Perform echo cancellation processing. Thereafter, the learned coefficients are written back to the corresponding adaptive filter coefficient storage unit 114 in preparation for the case where the corresponding angle is selected next. As described above, it is possible to provide echo cancellation processing that realizes quick convergence even when the directivity selection angle changes.

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, a hands-free telephone according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of hands-free telephone 100 in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The hands-free phone 100 is a so-called “conference phone” that can be used by a plurality of people from different locations and used for a conference, for example.

  In FIG. 5, the received signal from the far-end speaker in the acoustic echo canceling device 127 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment in the housing 128 is electrically connected to the line signal input terminal 129. Similarly, a transmission signal to the far-end speaker of the acoustic echo canceling device 127 is electrically connected to the line signal output terminal 130.

  Inside the housing 128, the speaker 101 and the microphones 102-1 to 102-4 are fixed, and a reception signal from the far-end speaker of the acoustic echo canceling device 127 is electrically connected to the speaker 101. . In addition, microphones 102-1 to 102-4 are electrically connected to the acoustic echo canceling device 127. Two adjacent microphones are attached to each adjacent side surface via one side surface. That is, two adjacent microphones are at an angle of 90 degrees with the casing 128 as the center. One speaker 101 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 128.

  In the third embodiment, the speaker 101 is installed toward the upper surface of the housing 127 so that sound from the line signal input terminal 129 can be reproduced. In addition, four microphones 102-1 to 102-4 are installed in order to pick up the voices of the speakers around the entire casing 128. Here, a directivity pattern is created by a set of four microphones.

  In addition, the signal from the line signal input terminal 129 is output as a received signal from the far-end speaker of the acoustic echo canceling device 127, so that a voice is output from the speaker 101. You can hear the sound from.

  The sound wave of the sound output from the speaker 101 in the housing 128 becomes a sound wave to which the reverberation of the installed room is added, and the sound waves generated from the periphery of the housing 128 are combined to generate the sound from the microphone 102-1. -4 is collected.

  The acoustic echo canceling device 127 removes a component output from the speaker 101 and added with room reverberation from a signal picked up by the microphone 102-4 from the microphone 102-1. For this reason, only sound waves generated from the periphery of the casing 128 are output to the line signal output terminal 130 as a transmission signal to the far-end speaker of the acoustic echo canceling device 127. As a result, only the voices of people around the casing 128 can be output to the line signal output terminal 130, and the hands-free telephone 100 can be realized. In addition, although the number of microphones is described as four, it is not limited to this number.

  A configuration using the acoustic echo canceling apparatus according to the third embodiment controls a microphone so as to follow a change of a speaker, and provides a hands-free telephone that is stable, has a large echo canceling amount, and is easy to talk. Can do.

  Since the directivity to the speaker by such signal processing is directed and the acoustic canceling is adopted, the selection of the directivity pattern by comparing the input power from the multiple directivities and the corresponding directivity Therefore, the amount of processing is small, and acoustic echo cancellation processing can be performed. Therefore, there is an effect that can be realized even with an inexpensive processing apparatus having a small processing capacity.

Block diagram of acoustic echo canceling apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Timing chart showing an example of directivity search processing and echo cancellation processing in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of directivity parameters in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Block diagram of acoustic echo canceling apparatus in Embodiment 2 of the present invention External perspective view of hands-free telephone in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Block diagram of a conventional acoustic echo canceling device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Hands-free telephone 101 Speaker 102-1, 102-2, ..., 102-n Microphone 105 Input direction selection part, Input direction selection control part (Directivity calculation processing part)
106 Voice pickup unit (first directivity calculation unit)
107 Voice pickup unit (second directivity calculation unit)
110 Echo cancellation processing unit, adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit, adaptive filter coefficient storage unit, adaptive filter coefficient detection unit (first adaptive filter)
111 Echo cancellation processing unit (first adder)
112 Echo cancellation processing unit, adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit, adaptive filter coefficient storage unit, adaptive filter coefficient detection unit (second adaptive filter)
113 Echo cancellation processing unit (second adder)
114 memory (adaptive filter coefficient storage unit)
127 Acoustic echo cancellation device

Claims (5)

An acoustic echo canceling apparatus that inputs sound output from a speaker through a plurality of microphones, cancels an echo of the input sound by estimating a transfer function between the speakers and the plurality of microphones. And
An input direction selection unit that selects an input direction in which the sound is input to the microphone from a plurality of preset input directions;
A sound pickup unit that picks up a sound input via a microphone corresponding to the input direction selected by the input direction selection unit;
An echo cancellation processing unit for performing echo cancellation processing, canceling echo of the voice collected by the voice sound collection unit;
An input direction selection control unit that causes the input direction selection unit to execute so as to select an input direction of the voice input when the echo cancellation processing unit performs the echo cancellation process;
An acoustic echo canceling device. The acoustic echo canceling device according to claim 1,
The input direction selection unit selects a directivity pattern indicating an input direction in which the sound is input to the microphone as an input direction in which the sound is input to the microphone.
An acoustic echo canceling device. An acoustic echo canceling device according to claim 2,
The echo cancellation processing unit includes an adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit that calculates an adaptive filter coefficient corresponding to the directivity pattern selected by the input direction selection unit, and the adaptive filter coefficient calculated by the adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit On the basis of the echo cancellation processing,
An adaptive filter coefficient storage unit that stores the adaptive filter coefficient calculated by the adaptive filter coefficient calculation unit in a memory in correspondence with the input direction;
An adaptive filter coefficient detection unit that refers to the adaptive filter coefficient stored in the memory and detects an adaptive filter coefficient corresponding to the directivity pattern selected by the input direction selection unit;
When the adaptive filter coefficient detection unit detects an adaptive filter coefficient, the echo cancellation processing unit reads the detected adaptive filter coefficient from the memory, and based on the read adaptive filter coefficient, the echo cancellation processing unit Execute the process,
An acoustic echo canceling device. The acoustic echo canceling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A plurality of microphones to which the sound is input;
A speaker that outputs the sound in which the echo is canceled by the echo cancellation processing unit of the acoustic echo cancellation device,
A telephone characterized by that. An acoustic echo canceling method in which sound output from a speaker is input via a plurality of microphones, and a transfer function between the speaker and the plurality of microphones is estimated to cancel an echo of the input sound. And
An input direction selection step of selecting an input direction in which the sound is input to the microphone from a plurality of preset input directions;
A sound collecting step for collecting sound input via a microphone corresponding to the input direction selected in the input direction selecting step;
An echo cancellation processing step for executing echo cancellation processing, canceling echo of the voice collected by the voice recording step;
An input direction selection control step for executing the input direction selection step so as to select an input direction of the voice input at the time of execution of the echo cancellation processing by the echo cancellation processing step;
An acoustic echo canceling method characterized by the above.

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