Patent Publication Number: US-2023156399-A1

Title: Electronic device and method of operating the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2022/017815, filed on Nov. 14, 2022, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2021-0157020, filed on Nov. 15, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and of a Korean patent application number 10-2022-0005476, filed on Jan. 13, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The disclosure relates to an electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     During a call using an electronic device, a noise signal and/or an echo signal may be generated due to various causes other than a speaker&#39;s voice. Since these noise signals and/or echo signals may affect call quality and degrade performance, robustness may be acquired by removing the noise signals and/or echo signals. 
     The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     A noise signal may be categorized into a diffuse noise signal without direction of arrival (DOA) information and an interference noise signal with DOA information. Among them, a diffuse noise signal without DOA information may be removed by beamforming, but an interference noise signal with DOA information, such as a voice of a person nearby or a sound of a television (TV) drama show, cannot be removed. 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure, it is to efficiently remove a directional noise signal other than a speaker&#39;s voice signal during a video call by using an electronic device with DOA information. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is to improve performance degradation due to mounting positions of microphones in an electronic device. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is to lessen performance degradation due to an echo signal in an electronic device. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of microphones disposed at different positions in the electronic device, a processor configured to collect input signals input to each of the microphones, acquire DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones from the input signals, calculate generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information, adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones, based on the generation directions of the input signals, and generate an output signal for each of the microphones by reflecting the weight adjusted for each of the microphones, and a speaker configured to output an output signal for each of the microphones. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating an electronic device including a plurality of microphones is provided. The method includes collecting input signals input to each of the microphones at different positions in the electronic device, acquiring DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones from the input signals, calculating generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information, adjusting a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones, based on the generation directions of the input signals, generating an output signal for each of the microphones by reflecting the weight adjusted for each of the microphones, and outputting an output signal for each of the microphones. 
     An electronic device according to one embodiment may remove directional noise other than the speaker&#39;s voice signal by using DOA information corresponding to the plurality of microphones. 
     An electronic device according to one embodiment may adjust the weight of the input signal for each microphone with respect to the signal generated in a direction other than the speaker, according to the generation direction of the input signals calculated based on DOA information corresponding to the plurality of microphones. Call quality may be improved by further removing interference noise. 
     An electronic device according to one embodiment may determine whether an echo signal is included in the input signal based on the echo reference information and remove DOA information of the echo signal to acquire DOA information corresponding to the speaker&#39;s voice signal, and accordingly, performance degradation due to echo signals may be lessened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in a network environment according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an electronic device according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a method of calculating generation directions of input signals using direction of arrival (DOA) information, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a method of generating an output signal for each microphone, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an example of a weight table according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of operating an electronic device, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is a graph illustrating an example of an echo signal according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of operating an electronic device, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
     The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an electronic device  101  in a network environment  100  may communicate with an electronic device  102  via a first network  198  (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or communicate with at least one of an electronic device  104  or a server  108  via a second network  199  (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device  101  may communicate with the electronic device  104  via the server  108 . According to one embodiment, the electronic device  101  may include a processor  120 , a memory  130 , an input module  150 , a sound output module  155 , a display module  160 , an audio module  170 , and a sensor module  176 , an interface  177 , a connecting terminal  178 , a haptic module  179 , a camera module  180 , a motor  187 , a power management module  188 , a battery  189 , a communication module  190 , a subscriber identification module (SIM)  196 , or an antenna module  197 . In one embodiment, at least one of the components (e.g., the connecting terminal  178 ) may be omitted from the electronic device  101 , or one or more other components may be added to the electronic device  101 . In one embodiment, some of the components (e.g., the sensor module  176 , the camera module  180 , or the antenna module  197 ) may be integrated as a single component (e.g., the display module  160 ). 
     The processor  120  may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program  140 ) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device  101  connected to the processor  120  and may perform various data processing or computations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of data processing or computations, the processor  120  may store a command or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor module  176  or the communication module  190 ) in a volatile memory  132 , process the command or the data stored in the volatile memory  132 , and store resulting data in a non-volatile memory  134 . According to one embodiment, the processor  120  may include a main processor  121  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)), or an auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently from or in conjunction with the main processor  121 . For example, when the electronic device  101  includes the main processor  121  and the auxiliary processor  123 , the auxiliary processor  123  may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor  121  or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor  123  may be implemented separately from the main processor  121  or as a part of the main processor  121 . 
     The auxiliary processor  123  may control at least some of functions or states related to at least one (e.g., the display module  160 , the sensor module  176 , or the communication module  190 ) of the components of the electronic device  101 , instead of the main processor  121  while the main processor  121  is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state or along with the main processor  121  while the main processor  121  is an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., an ISP or a CP) may be implemented as a portion of another component (e.g., the camera module  180  or the communication module  190 ) that is functionally related to the auxiliary processor  123 . According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., an NPU) may include a hardware structure specifically for artificial intelligence model processing. An artificial intelligence model may be generated by machine learning. The machine learning may be performed by, for example, the electronic device  101 , in which artificial intelligence is performed, or performed via a separate server (e.g., the server  108 ). Learning algorithms may include, but are not limited to, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning. The artificial intelligence (AI) model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers. An artificial neural network may include, for example, a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), and a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more thereof, but is not limited thereto. The AI model may additionally or alternatively include a software structure other than the hardware structure. 
     The memory  130  may store various pieces of data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor  120  or the sensor module  176 ) of the electronic device  101 . The various pieces of data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program  140 ) and input data or output data for a command related thereto. The memory  130  may include the volatile memory  132  or the non-volatile memory  134 . Non-volatile memory  134  may include internal memory  136  and external memory  138 . 
     The program  140  may be stored as software in the memory  130  and may include, for example, an operating system (OS)  142 , middleware  144 , or an application  146 . 
     The input module  150  may receive, from outside (e.g., a user) the electronic device  101 , a command or data to be used by another component (e.g., the processor  120 ) of the electronic device  101 . The input module  150  may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen). 
     The sound output module  155  may output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device  101 . The sound output module  155  may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing a recording. The receiver may be used to receive an incoming call. According to one embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as a part of the speaker. 
     The display module  160  may visually provide information to the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device  101 . The display module  160  may include, for example, a control circuit for controlling a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control its corresponding one of the display, the hologram device, and the projector. According to one embodiment, the display module  160  may include a touch sensor adapted to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor adapted to measure the intensity of force of the touch. 
     The audio module  170  may convert sound into an electric signal or vice versa. According to one embodiment, the audio module  170  may obtain the sound via the input module  150  or output the sound via the sound output module  155  or an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 , such as a speaker or headphones) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device  101 . 
     The sensor module  176  may detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device  101  or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device  101  and generate an electric signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to one embodiment, the sensor module  176  may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor. 
     The interface  177  may support one or more specified protocols to be used by the electronic device  101  to couple with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 ) directly (e.g., by wire) or wirelessly. According to one embodiment, the interface  177  may include, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface. 
     The connecting terminal  178  may include a connector via which the electronic device  101  may physically connect to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 ). According to one embodiment, the connecting terminal  178  may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphones connector). 
     The haptic module  179  may convert an electric signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or an electrical stimulus, which may be recognized by a user via their tactile sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to one embodiment, the haptic module  179  may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator. 
     The camera module  180  may capture a still image and moving images. According to one embodiment, the camera module  180  may include one or more lenses, image sensors, ISPs, and flashes. 
     The power management module  188  may manage power supplied to the electronic device  101 . According to one embodiment, the power management module  188  may be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). 
     The battery  189  may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device  101 . According to one embodiment, the battery  189  may include, for example, a primary cell, which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell, which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell. 
     The communication module  190  may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device  101  and the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 , the electronic device  104 , or the server  108 ) and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module  190  may include one or more CPs that are operable independently from the processor  120  (e.g., an application processor (AP)) and that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module  190  may include a wireless communication module  192  (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module  194  (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device, for example, the electronic device  104 , via the first network  198  (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™ wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network  199  (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5th generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a wide area network (WAN))). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multiple components (e.g., multiple chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module  192  may identify and authenticate the electronic device  101  in a communication network, such as the first network  198  or the second network  199 , using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the SIM  196 . 
     The wireless communication module  192  may support a 5G network after a 4th generation (4G) network, and next-generation communication technology, e.g., new radio (NR) access technology. The NR access technology may support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), or ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). The wireless communication module  192  may support a high-frequency band (e.g., a millimeter (mm) Wave band) to achieve, e.g., a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module  192  may support various technologies for securing performance on a high-frequency band, such as, e.g., beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), an array antenna, analog beam-forming, or a large scale antenna. The wireless communication module  192  may support various requirements specified in the electronic device  101 , an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  104 ), or a network system (e.g., the second network  199 ). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module  192  may support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) or more) for implementing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for implementing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for each of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or a round trip of 1 ms or less) for implementing URLLC. 
     The antenna module  197  may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of the electronic device  101 . According to one embodiment, the antenna module  197  may include an antenna including a radiating element including a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to one embodiment, the antenna module  197  may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an antenna array). In such a case, at least one antenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in a communication network, such as the first network  198  or the second network  199 , may be selected by, for example, the communication module  190  from the plurality of antennas. The signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module  190  and the external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. According to one embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module  197 . 
     According to one embodiment, the antenna module  197  may form a mmWave antenna module. According to one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a PCB, an RFIC on a first surface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the PCB, or adjacent to the first surface of the PCB and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on a second surface (e.g., the top or a side surface) of the PCB, or adjacent to the second surface of the PCB and capable of transmitting or receiving signals of the designated high-frequency band. 
     At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)). 
     According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device  101  and the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  104 ) via the server  108  coupled with the second network  199 . Each of the external electronic devices (e.g., the electronic device  102  or  104 ) may be a device of the same type as or a different type from the electronic device  101 . 
     According to one embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed by the electronic device  101  may be executed by one or more external electronic devices (e.g., the electronic devices  102  and  104  and the server  108 ). For example, if the electronic device  101  needs to perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device  101 , instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or service. The one or more external electronic devices receiving the request may perform the at least part of the function or service, or an additional function or an additional service related to the request and may transfer a result of the performance to the electronic device  101 . The electronic device  101  may provide the result, with or without further processing the result, as at least part of a response to the request. To that end, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device  101  may provide ultra low-latency services using, e.g., distributed computing or MEC. In one embodiment, the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  104 ) may include an Internet-of-things (IoT) device. The server  108  may be an intelligent server using machine learning and/or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  104 ) or the server  108  may be included in the second network  199 . The electronic device  101  may be applied to intelligent services (e.g., a smart home, a smart city, a smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology or IoT-related technology. 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , an electronic device  200  (e.g., the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1   ) may include a plurality of microphones  210  (e.g., the input module  150  of  FIG.  1   ), a processor  220  (e.g., the processor  120  of  FIG.  1   ), a speaker  230  (e.g., the sound output module  155  of  FIG.  1   ), a memory  240  (e.g., the memory  130  of  FIG.  1   ), and a communication interface  250  (e.g., the communication module  190  of  FIG.  1   ). The plurality of microphones  210 , the processor  220 , the speaker  230 , the memory  240 , and the communication interface  250  may communicate with each other via, for example, a communication bus  205 , or the microphones  210 , the processor  220 , the speaker  230 , the memory  240 , and the communication interface  250  may communicate with each other via an Internet protocol (IP) assigned thereto. 
     The plurality of microphones  210  may be disposed at different positions in the electronic device  200  to receive input signals. Different positions where the plurality of microphones  210  are disposed may include, for example, a first position on an upper end and/or a lower end of a front surface of the electronic device, a second position on a left side and/or a right side of the electronic device, and a third position on an upper end and/or a lower end of a rear surface of the electronic device, but are not necessarily limited thereto. A microphone at the first position among the plurality of microphones  210  may be referred to as a “first microphone,” and a signal input to the first microphone may be referred to as a “first input signal.” A microphone at a second position among the plurality of microphones  210  may be referred to as a “second microphone,” and a signal input to the second microphone may be referred to as a “second input signal.” A microphone at the third position among the plurality of microphones  210  may be referred to as a “third microphone,” and a signal input to the third microphone may be referred to as a “third input signal.” The number of microphones  210  may be, for example, three or more, but is not limited thereto. 
     The processor  220  may collect input signals input to each of the microphones  210 . The processor  220  may acquire direction of arrival (DOA) information corresponding to each of the microphones  210  from the input signals. The processor  220  may calculate generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information. A method by which the processor  220  calculates the generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  4    below. 
     The processor  220  may adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones  210 , based on the generation directions of the input signals. For example, based on the generation directions of the input signals, the processor  220  may correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction other than a position of a speaker (e.g., a speaker  501  of  FIG.  5   ) corresponding to the electronic device  200  to be less than a reference value, and may correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  to be greater than the reference value. In this example, the “position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  200 ” may be understood as, for example, a position where the speaker  501  looks at the front of a camera (e.g., the camera module  180  of  FIG.  1   ) and/or a display module (e.g., the display module  160  of  FIG.  1   ) disposed on the front surface of the electronic device  200  for a video call. The position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  200  may be, for example, fixed, or changed. 
     In addition, the processor  220  may set a weight of a first input signal for a first microphone at a first position among the microphones  210  and a weight of a second input signal for a second microphone at a second position different from the first position to be identical, based on the generation directions of the input signals, when both the first input signal and the second input signal are generated in the direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  200 . 
     The processor  220  may generate an output signal for each of the microphones  210  by reflecting the weight adjusted for each of the microphones  210 . 
     The processor  220  may calculate a direction in which sound is generated using DOA information of the microphones  210  at positions (e.g., a front upper end portion, a side, and a rear surface) other than the position (e.g., an central portion of the front surface) of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  200  and may adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones  210  with respect to a signal generated in a direction other than the position of the speaker  501  based on the direction in which the sound is generated, to additionally remove interference noise, so that a call quality may be enhanced. A method by which the processor  220  generates an output signal for each of the microphones  210  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  5    below. 
     The processor  220  may adjust the weight of the input signal for each of the microphones  210  based on a weight table (e.g., a weight table  600  of  FIG.  6   ) provided in advance for the microphones  210  corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. The processor  220  may adjust a weight of an input signal of a second microphone based on a position of the second microphone, relative to the position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device in the weight table  600 . In this example, the processor  220  may adjust a weight of an input signal for each microphone, based on the weight table  600  provided in advance for the microphones  210  corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. An example in which the processor  220  generates an output signal by adjusting a weight of an input signal for each microphone using the weight table  600  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  7    below. 
     According to one embodiment, the processor  220  may determine whether an echo signal is included in the input signal. The “echo signal” may be understood to refer to a signal that is unintentionally and erroneously transmitted to a microphone although a signal received from a conversation partner needs to be transmitted to a speaker of an electronic device. In one embodiment, since the position of the speaker  230  is fixed, DOA information of the echo signal may also be fixed. The echo signal will be described in greater detail with reference to  FIG.  8    below. 
     The processor  220  may determine whether an echo signal is included in the input signal based on echo reference information set in advance. The echo reference information may include information for recognizing in advance whether there is an echo signal in an input signal and which echo signal it is. The echo reference information may include, for example, at least one of an input time of the echo signal and DOA information of the echo signal, but is not limited thereto. 
     The processor  220  may determine whether an echo signal is included in at least one of the input signals, based on the echo reference information. When it is determined the echo signal is included in at least one of the input signals, the processor  220  may acquire DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones  210  by removing DOA information of the echo signal from a corresponding input signal. An example in which the processor  220  removes the echo signal from the input signal will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  9    below. 
     The speaker  230  may output the output signal generated by the processor  220  for each microphone. For example, a single speaker, or a plurality of speakers  230  may be provided. 
     The memory  240  may store the DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones  210 , acquired by the processor  220 . The memory  240  may store the generation direction of the input signals calculated by the processor  220 . Also, the memory  240  may store the output signal for each of the microphones  210  generated by the processor  220 . 
     In addition, the memory  240  may store various pieces of information generated during the above-described processing operation of the processor  220 . Also, the memory  240  may store various pieces of data and programs. The memory  240  may include, for example, a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory. The memory  240  may include a high-capacity storage medium, such as a hard disk, to store a variety of data. 
     According to one embodiment, the communication interface  250  may transmit, to the outside of the electronic device  200 , DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones  210  calculated by the processor  220 , the generation directions of input signals, and/or the output signal for each of the microphones  210  generated by the processor  220 . 
     In addition, the processor  220  may perform at least one of the methods or operations described above with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  9   . The processor  220  may be a hardware-implemented electronic device having a circuit that is physically structured to execute desired operations. The desired operations may include, for example, code or instructions in a program. For example, the electronic device  200  implemented as hardware may include a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, a processor core, a multi-core processor, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and an NPU. 
       FIG.  3    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an electronic device, according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, operations may be sequentially performed, but are not necessarily performed sequentially. For example, the order of the operations may be changed and at least two of the operations may be performed in parallel. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1    and an electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   ) including a plurality of microphones (e.g., an input module  150  of  FIG.  1    and microphones  210  of  FIG.  2   ) according to one embodiment may output an output signal for each microphone through operations  310  to  350 . 
     In operation  310 , the electronic device  200  may collect input signals input to each of the microphones  210  at different positions in the electronic device  200 . The different positions may include, for example, a first position on an upper end of the front surface of the front surface of the electronic device  200 , a second position on a side of the electronic device  200 , and a third position on the rear surface of the electronic device  200 , but are not necessarily limited thereto. 
     In operation  320 , the electronic device  200  may acquire DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones  210  from the input signals collected in operation  310 . The electronic device  200  may calculate DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones  210  by using, for example, a phase difference between signals input to the three or more microphones  210  at different positions. The electronic device  200  may determine whether an echo signal is included in the input signal. The electronic device  200 , for example, may determine whether an echo signal is included in the input signal based on echo reference information set in advance. The echo reference information may include, for example, at least one of an input time of the echo signal and DOA information of the echo signal. When it is determined that the echo signal is included in at least one of the input signals, the electronic device  200  may remove DOA information of the echo signal from the corresponding input signal. 
     In operation  330 , the electronic device  200  may calculate generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information. For example, during a video call, the electronic device  200  may predefine a range (e.g., a range of ±30 degrees or a range of ±90 degrees relative to the central portion of the front surface of the electronic device  200 ), in which a speaker (e.g., the speaker  501  of  FIG.  5   ) is likely to be with respect to the front surface of the electronic device  200 , and a signal received within a corresponding angular range may be defined as an “in-beam signal.” 
     The electronic device  200  may adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones  210 , based on the generation directions of the input signals calculated in operation  330 . 
     In operation  340 , the electronic device  200  may generate an output signal for each of the microphones  210  by reflecting the weight of the input signal for each of the microphones  210  adjusted in operation  340 . 
     The electronic device  200  may generate an output signal for each of the microphones  210  based on whether the input signals correspond to in-beam signals based on DOA information. The electronic device  200  may determine that a signal corresponding to an in-beam signal among the generation directions of the input signals is a speaker&#39;s voice signal, and that a signal that does not correspond to an in-beam signal is an interference noise signal, not a speaker&#39;s voice signal. 
     For example, when it is determined in operation  330  that the input signals correspond to in-beam signals, the electronic device  200  may generate output signals for each of the microphones  210  using a scheme (e.g., filter sum beamforming (FSB)) of simply filtering and adding the input signals for each microphone without considering a weight in operation  340 . Alternatively, when it is determined in operation  330  that the input signals do not correspond to in-beam signals, the electronic device  200  may adjust the weight of the input signal for each of the microphones  210 , based on the generation directions of the input signals in operation  340 . For example, based on the generation directions of the input signals, the electronic device  200  may correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction other than the speaker&#39;s position corresponding to the electronic device  200  to be greater than a reference value and may correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction corresponding to the speaker&#39;s position to be less than the reference value. The electronic device  200  may generate an output signal for each of the microphones  210  by reflecting the weight adjusted for each of the microphones  210 . 
     The electronic device  200  may adjust the weight of the input signal for each of the microphones  210 , based on the weight table  600  provided in advance for the microphones  210  corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. The electronic device  200  may adjust a weight of an input signal of a second microphone based on a position of the second microphone, relative to the position of the speaker corresponding to the electronic device  200 , in the weight table  600 . A method by which the electronic device  200  adjusts a weight based on the weight table  600  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS.  6  and  7    below. 
     In operation  350 , the electronic device  200  may output the output signal for each of the microphones  210  generated in operation  340 . 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a method of calculating generation directions of input signals using DOA information, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4    depicting diagram  400 , an angle [rad] corresponding to the generation direction of input signals input to microphones  410  and  420  from an acoustic source  405  according to one embodiment, a distance D [m] between the microphones  410  and  420 , and an arrival path difference [m] are shown. 
     For example, there is a difference in time for input signals transmitted from an acoustic source  405  to arrive at the microphones  410  and  420 , which may cause a phase difference between input signals input to each of the microphones  410  and  420 . An electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1    and the electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   ) may calculate a direction (angle) of the acoustic source  405  with respect to the microphones  410  and  420  by the phase difference between the input signals arriving at the microphones  410  and  420 . 
     A variance of the phase difference between the input signals arriving at the microphones  410  and  420  may increase as the distance D between the microphones  410  and  420  increases. In addition, the variance may increase as the angle from the microphones  410  and  420  to the acoustic source  405  increases. 
     The electronic device  200  may detect the distance D between the microphones  410  and  420  by calculating the variance of the phase difference with respect to signals input to the microphones  410  and  420  based on the above result. In this example, the phase difference with respect to the signals input to the microphones  410  and  420  may have a characteristic of being wrapped within 2π despite a linear curve, and a characteristic of approaching zero if a frequency decreases. 
     Accordingly, a possible linear curve representing the phase difference with respect to the signals input to the microphones  410  and  420  may be expressed, for example, as shown in Equation 1 below. 
         g   k ( f )= af,    
         g   k ( f )= af+ 2π,
 
         g   k ( f )= af− 2π,  Equation 1
 
     In Equation 1, g k (f) denotes a linear curve representing a k-th voice signal generated by the acoustic source  405 , and a denotes a slope of the linear curve g k (f). 
     The electronic device  200  may calculate generation directions of input signals input to the microphones  410  and  420  from the acoustic source  405 , based on the above description. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the length Δd may correspond to a difference in an arrival path between a signal input to the microphone  410  and a signal input to the microphone  420 . 
     The angle θ from the microphones  410  and  420  to the acoustic source  405  may be represented as shown in Equation 2 below. 
       Δ D=D  sin θ  Equation 2
 
     The difference Δd in the arrival path may be represented as shown in Equation 3 below. 
       Δ d=Qc exz   Equation 3 below.
 
     In Equation 3, Q denotes a difference in an arrival time at which the input signals arrive at the microphones  410  and  420  and c[m/s] denotes a sound speed of a signal input to the microphones  410  and  420 . When the aforementioned slope a is used, the difference Q in arrival time may be represented as Q=a/F s . 
     As a result, the electronic device  200  may calculate the angle θ corresponding to the generation direction of the input signals in the microphones  410  and  420  by the slope a. 
     The electronic device  200  may identify positions (for example, the front surface, left/right sides, and rear surface of the electronic device  200 ) of microphones by an angle θ corresponding to the generation direction of the input signals, and may enhance a call quality by removing interference noise input in a direction other than a position of a speaker (e.g., the speaker  501  of  FIG.  5   ). 
       FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a method of generating an output signal for each microphone, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , examples  530 ,  540 , and  550  of various positions of the speaker  501  making a video call using an electronic device  500  (e.g., the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1    and the electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   ) according to one embodiment. The electronic device  500  may be, for example, a tablet or a user terminal in which landscape mode support is basic, but is not limited thereto. The electronic device  500  may include, for example, a first microphone  510  on an upper end of a front surface of the electronic device  500 , a second microphone  520  on a side of the electronic device  500 , and a third microphone (not shown) on a rear surface of the electronic device  500 . 
     Since a distance between the first microphone  510  and the speaker  501  is the same as in a situation such as in each of the examples  530 ,  540 , and  550 , magnitudes of voice signals of the speaker  501  input to the first microphone  510  may also be similar. More specifically, since the first microphone  510  is at the upper end of the front surface of the electronic device  200 , all signals input to the first microphone  510  may be similar when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen is −90 degrees as shown in the example  530 , when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 0 degrees as shown in the example  540 , and when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is +90 degrees as shown in the example  550 . In another example, in the examples  530 ,  540 , and  550 , a distance between the second microphone  520  and the speaker  501  may vary. In this example, a signal input to the second microphone  520  may be greatly changed based on a movement position of the speaker  501 . 
     For example, the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen on the front surface of the electronic device  500  may be 270 degrees (−90 degrees) as shown in the example  530 , may be 0 degrees as shown in the example  540 , and may be 90 degrees as shown in the example  550 . 
     When the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 0 degrees as shown in the example  540 , the distance between the first microphone  510  and the speaker  501  may not be significantly different from the distance between the second microphone  520  and the speaker  501 , and accordingly the magnitude of the speaker  501 &#39;s voice signal input to each microphone may also not significantly differ. 
     When the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 270 degrees (−90 degrees) as shown in the example  530 , the second microphone  520  and the speaker  501  may be at the shortest distance, and accordingly the speaker  501 &#39;s voice signal input to the second microphone  520  may have a greatest magnitude. Alternatively, when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 90 degrees as shown in the example  550 , the second microphone  520  and the speaker  501  may be at the greatest distance, and accordingly the speaker  501 &#39;s voice signal input to the second microphone  520  may have a lowest magnitude. As described above, when the second microphone  520  is on the side of the electronic device  500 , magnitudes of signals input to the second microphone  520  may differ in response to a change in the position of the speaker facing the front surface of the electronic device  500 , which may cause a distortion of a beam pattern. The electronic device  500  may secure the robustness of the beam pattern by correcting the weight of the second microphone  520  based on, for example, a weight table (e.g., the weight table  600  of  FIG.  6   ). 
     Since the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the electronic device  500  is determined based on the DOA information corresponding to each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520 , the electronic device  500  may adjust the weight of the signal input to the second microphone  520  based on the generation directions of the input signals to the first and second microphones  510  and  520 . 
     The electronic device  500  may correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction other than the position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  500  to be greater than the reference value, and correct a weight of an input signal generated in the direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  to be less than the reference value, based on the generation directions of the input signals. 
     The electronic device  500 , for example, may adjust the weight of the input signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520 , based on the weight table  600  provided in advance for the first and second microphones  510  and  520  corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. 
     For example, when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 0 degrees as shown in the example  540 , both input signals input to the first microphone  510  and the second microphone  520  in the electronic device  500  may be generated in the direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501 . In this example, the electronic device  500  may set the weight of the input signal of the first microphone  510  to be identical to the weight of the input signal of the second microphone  520  as 45%:45% (1:1) as in the first row of the weight table  600 . 
     When the weight ratio of the first microphone  510  and the second microphone  520  is set to be equal to 1:1, the electronic device  500  may correct the weight of the second microphone  520  to be greater or less than the reference value according to a position of the second microphone  520  relative to the speaker  501 . 
     For example, when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 90 degrees as shown in the example  550 , the electronic device  500  may correct the weight of the input signal of the first microphone  510  generated in the direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  to be 10%, which is less than the reference value (45%), and correct the weight of the input signal of the second microphone  520  generated in the direction other than the position of the speaker  501  to be 80%, which is greater than the reference value (45%). 
     In another example, when the position of the speaker  501  with respect to the LCD screen is 270 degrees (−90 degrees) as shown in the example  530 , the electronic device  500  may correct the weight of the input signal of the second microphone  520  generated in the direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  to be less than the reference value, and may correct the weight of the input signal of the first microphone  510  generated in a direction other than the position of the speaker  501  to be greater than the reference value. 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an example of a weight table according to an embodiment.  FIG.  6    illustrates a weight table  600  showing various positions of a speaker  501  with respect to a screen or camera on the front surface of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1   , the electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   , and the electronic device  500  of  FIG.  5   ) in angles according to one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , in a weight table  600 , a first microphone (e.g., a first microphone  410  of  FIG.  4    and a first microphone  510  of  FIG.  5   ) may be a microphone located in the central portion of the front surface of an electronic device  500 , as described above with reference to  FIG.  5   , and a second microphone (e.g., a second microphone  420  of  FIG.  4    and a second microphone  520  of  FIG.  5   ) may be a microphone located on the left and/or right sides of the electronic device  500 . Although not shown in  FIG.  5   , a third microphone may be a microphone on the rear surface of the electronic device  500 . The third microphone on the rear surface of the electronic device  500  may be used as a criterion for removing noise and/or securing DOA information rather than a voice signal of a speaker (e.g., the speaker  501  of  FIG.  5   ). Since the third microphone has no significant influence on securing robustness, a weight of the third microphone may be fixed to a value (e.g., 10%) regardless of various positions of the speaker  501  and may be used. 
       FIG.  7    is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of operating an electronic device, according to an embodiment. In the following embodiment, operations may be sequentially performed, but are not necessarily performed sequentially. For example, the order of the operations may be changed and at least two of the operations may be performed in parallel. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1   , an electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   , and an electronic device  500  of  FIG.  5   ) according to one embodiment may output an output signal for each microphone (e.g., an input module  150  of  FIG.  1   , a plurality of microphones  210  of  FIG.  2   , microphones  410  and  420  of  FIG.  4   , and first and second microphones  510  and  520  of  FIG.  5   ). 
     In operation  710 , the electronic device  200  may collect input signals of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  disposed at different positions. 
     In operation  720 , the electronic device  200  may acquire DOA information corresponding to each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  from the input signals collected in operation  710 . 
     In operation  730 , the electronic device  200  may determine whether an input signal collected in operation  710  is an in-beam signal. The electronic device  200  may determine that a signal corresponding to an in-beam signal among the generation directions of the input signals is a speaker&#39;s voice signal and that a signal that does not correspond to an in-beam signal is an interference noise signal, which is not a speaker&#39;s voice signal. If it is determined in operation  730  that the input signal is an in-beam signal (Yes), the electronic device  200  may filter the input signals for each microphone by, for example, an FSB scheme and may perform beam forming by simply summing the input signals in operation  740 , and may generate an output signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  in operation  760  based on a result of performing the beam forming in operation  740 . In operation  770 , the electronic device  200  may transmit and output the output signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  generated in operation  760  to the corresponding first and second microphones  510  and  520 . 
     If it is determined in operation  730  that the input signal is not an in-beam signal (No), the electronic device  200  may adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  in operation  750 . In operation  750 , the electronic device  200  may adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  based on the weight table  705  provided in advance for microphones (e.g., a first microphone to which a first input signal is input, a second microphone to which a second input signal is input, and a third microphone to which a third input signal is input) corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. The electronic device  200  may correct the weight of the input signal generated in the direction other than the speaker&#39;s position corresponding to the electronic device  200  to be greater than a reference value and may correct the weight of the input signal generated in the direction corresponding to the speaker&#39;s position to be less than the reference value, using the weight table  705  based on the generation directions of the input signals. 
     In operation  760 , the electronic device  200  may generate an output signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  by reflecting the weight adjusted in operation  750 . 
     In operation  770 , the electronic device  200  may transmit and output the output signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  generated in operation  760  to the corresponding first and second microphones  510  and  520 . 
       FIG.  8    is a graph illustrating an example of an echo signal according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , a graph  800  illustrating DOA information and angles of a target signal  810  and an echo signal  830  corresponding to the target signal  810  is shown according to one embodiment. 
     For example, when the echo signal  830  is included in at least one input signal among input signals to microphones and when each of the microphones and the speaker is at a short distance, the echo signal  830  may be dominant in input signals to the microphones. In other words, when the echo signal  830  and a signal input from a relatively far distance compared to the echo signal  830  are input together to the microphone, it may be difficult for an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1   , the electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   , and the electronic device  500  of  FIG.  5   ) to determine which of the signals corresponds to the echo signal  830 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in the graph  800 , focusing on the fact that DOA information is included in the echo signal  830  and the DOA information of the echo signal  830  does not change, when a high-intensity signal is input to a microphone at a position corresponding to the DOA information of the echo signal, the DOA information of the echo signal may be removed (or lowering the weight), and only DOA information corresponding to a voice signal of a speaker (e.g., the speaker  501  of  FIG.  5   ) may be calculated, to secure the robustness of the electronic device  200  with respect to the echo signal  830 . 
       FIG.  9    is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of operating an electronic device, according to an embodiment. In the following embodiment, operations may be sequentially performed, but are not necessarily performed sequentially. For example, the order of the operations may be changed and at least two of the operations may be performed in parallel. 
     Referring to  FIG.  9   , an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1   , an electronic device  200  of  FIG.  2   , and an electronic device  500  of  FIG.  5   ) according to one embodiment may output an output signal for each microphone (e.g., an input module  150  of  FIG.  1   , a plurality of microphones  210  of  FIG.  2   , microphones  410  and  420  of  FIG.  4   , and first and second microphones  510  and  520  of  FIG.  5   ), through operations  910  to  970 . 
     In operation  910 , the electronic device  200  may collect input signals of the first and second microphones  510  and  520 . 
     In operation  920 , the electronic device  200  may determine whether an echo signal (e.g., the echo signal  830  of  FIG.  8   ) is included in at least one of the input signals collected in operation  910 . In this example, the electronic device  200  may determine whether the echo signal  830  is included in at least one of the input signals collected in operation  910  based on echo reference information  905  provided in advance. 
     If it is determined in operation  920  that the echo signal  830  is included in the at least one input signal (Yes), the electronic device  200  may remove DOA information of the echo signal  830  from among a corresponding input signal in operation  930 , and may acquire DOA information from input signals from which the DOA information of the echo signal  830  has been removed in operation  940 . 
     If it is determined in operation  920  that the echo signal  830  is not included in the at least one input signal (No), the electronic device  200  may acquire DOA information corresponding to each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  from the input signals collected in operation  910 , in operation  940 . 
     In operation  950 , the electronic device  200  may calculate generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information acquired in operation  940 . In operation  950 , the electronic device  200  may determine whether the input signals correspond to the above-described in-beam signals according to the generation directions of the input signals, may maintain a directional signal corresponding to the in-beam signal and may remove directional noise (e.g., a voice other than a speaker, and sound of a television (TV)) that does not correspond to an in-beam signal or lower a weight reflected to an input signal. 
     In operation  960 , the electronic device  200  may generate an output signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  based on the generation directions of the input signals calculated in operation  950 . 
     In operation  970 , the electronic device  200  may transmit and output the output signal for each of the first and second microphones  510  and  520  generated in operation  960  to a corresponding microphone. 
     According to one embodiment, an electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500  may include a plurality of microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  disposed at different positions in the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 , a processor  120 ,  220  configured to collect input signals input to each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210 , acquire DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  from the input signals, calculate generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information, adjust a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  based on the generation directions of the input signals, and generate an output signal for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  by reflecting the weight adjusted for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210 , and a speaker (e.g., sound output module  155 ),  230  configured to output an output signal to each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210 . 
     According to one embodiment, based on the generation directions of the input signals, the processor  120 ,  220  may correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction other than a position of a speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500  to be less than a reference value, and correct a weight of an input signal generated in a direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  to be greater than the reference value. 
     According to one embodiment, the processor  120 ,  220  may set a weight of a first input signal for a first microphone  410 ,  510  at a first position among the plurality of microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  and a weight of a second input signal for a second microphone  420 ,  520  at a second position different from the first position to be identical, based on the generation directions of the input signals, when both the first input signal and the second input signal are generated in the direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 . 
     According to one embodiment, the processor  120 ,  220  may adjust the weight of the input signals for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  based on a weight table  600  provided in advance for the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. 
     According to one embodiment, the processor  120 ,  220  may adjust a weight of an input signal of the second microphone  420 ,  520  based on a position of the second microphone  420 ,  520 , relative to the position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500  in the weight table  600 . 
     According to one embodiment, the processor  120 ,  220  may determine whether an echo signal  830  is included in at least one of the input signals, and remove DOA information of the echo signal  830  from the input signal when it is determined that the echo signal  830  is included in the input signal. 
     According to one embodiment, the processor  120 ,  220  may determine whether the echo signal  830  is included in the input signal, based on echo reference information set in advance. 
     According to one embodiment, the echo reference information may include at least one of an input time of the echo signal  830  and DOA information of the echo signal  830 . 
     According to one embodiment, the different positions may include a first position on an upper end of a front surface of the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 , a second position on a side of the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 , and a third position on a rear surface of the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 . 
     According to one embodiment, a method of operating an electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500  including a plurality of microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  may include operation  310  of collecting input signals input to each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  disposed at different positions in the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 , operation  320  of acquiring DOA information corresponding to each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  from the input signals, operation  330  of calculating generation directions of the input signals using the DOA information, operation  340  of adjusting a weight of an input signal for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  based on the generation directions of the input signals, operation  350  of generating an output signal for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  by reflecting the weight adjusted for each of the microphones, and operation  360  of outputting an output signal for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210 . 
     According to one embodiment, the adjusting of the weight may include, based on the generation directions of the input signals, correcting a weight of an input signal generated in a direction other than a position of a speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500  to be less than a reference value, and correcting a weight of an input signal generated in a direction corresponding to the position of the speaker  501  to be greater than the reference value. 
     According to one embodiment, the adjusting of the weight may include adjusting the weight of the input signal for each of the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  based on a weight table  600  provided in advance for the microphones (e.g., input module  150 ),  210  corresponding to the generation directions of the input signals. 
     According to one embodiment, the adjusting the weight may include adjusting a weight of an input signal of the second microphone  420 ,  520  based on the position of the second microphone  420 ,  520 , relative to the position of the speaker  501  corresponding to the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 . 
     According to one embodiment, the acquiring of the DOA information may include determining whether an echo signal  830  is included in at least one of the input signals, and removing DOA information of the echo signal  830  from the input signal when it is determined that the echo signal  830  is included in the input signal. 
     According to one embodiment, the determining of whether the DOA information of the echo signal  830  is included may include determining whether the echo signal  830  is included in the input signal, based on echo reference information set in advance. 
     According to one embodiment, the echo reference information may include at least one of an input time of the echo signal  830  and DOA information of the echo signal  830 . 
     According to one embodiment, the different positions may include a first position on an upper end of a front surface of the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 , a second position on a side of the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 , and a third position on a rear surface of the electronic device  101 ,  200 ,  500 .