Patent ID: 8102995

Claim:
An apparatus for processing voice signals in a vehicle, comprising: a first microphone installed in a vehicle; a first detector configured to detect at least two magnitudes of a first signal generated by the first microphone based on input received by the first microphone; a second microphone installed in the vehicle; a second detector configured to detect at least two magnitudes of a second signal generated by the second microphone based on input received by the second microphone; a selector configured to select at least one signal from among the first and second signals; and a controller configured to enable communications by transmitting the at least one selected signal to a portable communications device coupled to the apparatus, wherein the selector is configured to: determine a first magnitude of change in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the first signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the first signal, determine a second magnitude of change in an SNR for the second signal by comparing the at least two magnitudes of the second signal, compare the first magnitude of change in the SNR to the second magnitude of change in the SNR, and select the at least one signal from among the first and second signals based on which of the first and second magnitudes of change in the SNR is greater.