Calibration, optimization, and DSP implementation of microphone array for speech processing

For various audio, teleconference, hearing aid, and voice recognition applications, a microphone array is known to be an effective method to enhance the SNR in noisy environments resulting in significant improvement of speech intelligibility or recognition. We propose a novel electronically steerable microphone array based on the maximum energy (ME) concentration criterion to form a focused beam toward the desired speech source, attenuating background noises and rejecting discrete spatial interferers. The design and implementation of a prototype DSP-based microphone array system are described. Details on microphone measurement, calibration, and optimization needed to achieve a high performance microphone array are discussed. Computer simulated and measured array performance are presented.