Binaural speaker localization and separation based on a joint ITD/ILD model and head movement tracking

Mehdi Zohourian; Rainer Martin

ICASSP 2016accepted0 citations

Binaural speaker localization and separation based on a joint ITD/ILD model and head movement tracking

Abstract

In this paper we present a novel algorithm to localize and separate simultaneous speakers using hearing aids when the head is subject to rotational movement. Most of the algorithms used in hearing aids are able to extract target signals that are in the look direction of the user and suffer from a reduced performance in localizing sounds received from other directions. Moreover, head-shadowing as well as variations like head movements may lead to significant distortions. The proposed binaural GSC beamformer includes an MMSE-based localization algorithm using an ITD/ILD model and is controlled by an inertial measurement unit. The localization algorithm can effectively localize multiple speakers in the presence of reverberation. The estimated source locations are used to adapt the GSC beamformer which extracts the desired speaker. Experimental results demonstrate the performance of the new system and especially the benefits of ILD information.

BibTeX

@inproceedings{icassp2016_binauralspeakerl,
  title = {Binaural speaker localization and separation based on a joint ITD/ILD model and head movement tracking},
  author = {Mehdi Zohourian and Rainer Martin},
  booktitle = {ICASSP 2016},
  year = {2016}
}