Combined Beamforming and Noise Cancellation

Abstract

This paper examines microphone-array-based, combined beamformer-noise canceller structures. The performance of the structures is evaluated using computer simulation as well as experimental measurements. The inter-operation of the beamformer and noise canceller is studied by measuring the SNR improvements offered by the respective components. An experimental procedure for evaluating output SNR is presented: the desired signal is captured from a set location in the recording environment. The noise signal is measured from a second (generally different) location. Results reveal an SNR improvement of up to 17 dB, and are compared to those stemming from conventional approaches