Efficient convex optimization for real-time robust beamforming with microphone arrays
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise in audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter includes a method for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise for audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The method includes receiving an audio signal using a microphone array and processing the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise. A barrier-type beamforming process is used to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array. The beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier function, according to various embodiments.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving an audio signal using a microphone array in a hearing assistance device; and
processing the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise, including using a barrier-type beamforming process to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array function and using a level of steering vector mismatch to adapt computational complexity, wherein the beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier, and wherein the beamforming process is adapted to execute on a processor of the hearing assistance device by eliminating a linear constraint, truncating a conjugate gradient method, or eliminating a Cholesky factorization.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the logarithmic barrier function includes solving a minimization problem with equality constraints.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein using the logarithmic barrier function includes using Newton's method to solve the minimization problem.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein using Newton's method includes using a gradient and a Hessian of the barrier function.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein using Newton's method includes constructing Newton system matrices.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein using Newton's method includes solving a linear system for an update step using a conjugate gradient method.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the barrier-type beamforming process includes using fewer iterations than sampling periods.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the barrier-type beamforming process includes tracking environment change.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein tracking environment change includes updating the data covariance matrix using a one-pole averaging filter.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the barrier-type beamforming process includes performing multiple iterations to reach a desired solution precision.
11. A hearing assistance device, comprising:
a microphone array configured to receive an audio signal, the audio signal including speech and noise; and
a processor configured to process the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise, wherein the processor is configured to use a barrier-type beamforming process to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array function and to use a level of steering vector mismatch to adapt computational complexity, wherein the beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier, and wherein the beamforming process is adapted to execute on the processor of the hearing assistance device by eliminating a linear constraint, truncating a conjugate gradient method, or eliminating a Cholesky factorization.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.
15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.
16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.
17. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.
18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.
19. The device of claim 11 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a cochlear implant.
20. The device of claim 11 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a deep insertion device.