IP Library Granted Patent US 9,357,301
Granted Patent B2
US 9,357,301 · App. 14/358,283 · Granted May 31, 2016

Method and device for reducing acoustic feedback

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,357,301
App. No.
14/358,283
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Acoustic feedback in an audio device is reduced or eliminated via a feedback compensator. The feedback compensator disposes of at least one adaptive filter whose adaptation is governed by a step-size parameter μ. A step-size parameter μ of the adaptive filter is set at a high level to eliminate acoustic feedback and the parameter μ is decreased when a critical excitation signal is detected. This way to proceed allows for efficient elimination of feedback whistling while required environment signals are retained.

Claims (21)

1. A method of reducing acoustic feedback of an audio device by a feedback compensator, the feedback compensator having at least one adaptive filter, the method comprising the steps of:

setting a step-size parameter p of the adaptive filter at a high level to eliminate acoustic feedback;

using a feedback detector to detect a critical excitation signal being a tonal signal, wherein the tonal signal is a microphone signal which is received by the feedback detector; and

when the critical excitation signal is detected, decreasing the step-size parameter p;

wherein the step-size parameter p controls an adaptation speed of the adaptive filter and wherein the step-size parameter p is set at 0.06 or more to eliminate acoustic feedback.

2. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises controlling the step-size parameter p with a step-size controller.

3. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises processing signals with a signal processing unit prior to the signals being fed to an audio output.

4. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises using a detector for correlated signals to detect the critical excitation signal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises carrying out a frequency decomposition of excitation signals into frequency subbands, and selectively applying the method to at least one subband.

6. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises employing the method for stabilizing adaption of an adaptive filter.

7. An audio device, comprising:

a feedback compensator for reducing acoustic feedback, said feedback compensator containing at least one adaptive filter controlled with a step-size parameter p;

a feedback detector configured to detect a critical excitation signal being a tonal signal, wherein the tonal signal is a microphone signal which is received by said feedback detector; and

a step-size controller configured for setting the step-size parameter p of said adaptive filter at a relatively high level to eliminate acoustic feedback;

said step-size controller configured for decreasing the step-size parameter p when said feedback detector detects the critical excitation signal;

wherein the critical signal is a tonal signal; and

wherein the step-size parameter p controls an adaptation speed of said adaptive filter and wherein the step-size parameter p is set at 0.06 or more to eliminate acoustic feedback.

8. The audio device according to claim 7 , further comprising a step-size controller configured for controlling the step-size parameter p.

9. The audio device according to claim 7 , further comprising a signal processing unit for processing signals before the signals are fed to an audio output.

10. The audio device according to claim 7 , further comprising a detector for correlated signals to detect the critical excitation signal.

11. The audio device according to claim 7 , configured for operation to perform a frequency decomposition of excitation signals into subbands.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 10, 2015
From: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
To: SIVANTOS PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 036089/0827 →