Quadratic higher order criteria for iterative blind separation of a MIMO convolutive mixture of sources

This paper deals with the problem of source separation in the case when the observations result from a multiple-input multiple-output convolutive mixing system. In a blind framework, higher order contrast functions have been proved to be efficient for extracting sources. Inspired by a semiblind approach, we propose new contrast functions for blind signal separation that make use of reference signals. The main advantage of this approach consists in the quadratic form of these criteria: The extraction of one source hence reduces to a simple optimization task for which fast and efficient algorithms are available. The separation of the other sources from the mixture is then carried out by an iterative deflation method. Furthermore, these contrasts are shown to be valid for both independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) and non-i.i.d. source signals. The performance offered by these criteria is investigated through simulations: They appear as very appealing tools compared with some classical contrast functions.