Abstract: A separation signal generation unit generates a plurality of separation signals which are independent from one another from the mixed signals for one frame which are converted into those in a frequency region. A mask processing unit judges a noise condition of a first separation signal for each frequency bin on the basis of the first separation signal and second separation signals. The mask processing unit further removes a first noise component obtained on the basis of a judgment result on the noise condition from the first separation signal. A noise amount measuring unit measures the amount of noise in the first separation signal. A noise signal selection unit selects a noise signal for each frequency bin on the basis of the amount of noise measured by the noise amount measuring unit. A noise removing unit removes a second noise component from a noise removal signal inputted from the mask processing unit.

Abstract: An operation assist apparatus including: an assist controller that assists a driver of a vehicle in operating the vehicle before a stop point; and a watching action detector that detects a watching action of the driver for watching the stop point. The assist controller changes an assist manner in which to assist the vehicle operation by the driver in accordance with whether the watching action is detected by the watching action detector during deceleration of the vehicle. Thus configured, the operation assist apparatus can accurately determine whether the driver will stop the vehicle at the stop point and thus can perform the vehicle operation assist appropriately.