Acoustic Localization via Cross-Spectrum TDOA Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image localization systems face issues with high data quantity, slow processing speed, high hardware requirements, and environmental limitations such as brightness and weather conditions, which increase manufacturing costs and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A sound source localization system that transforms time domain signals from microphones into frequency domain signals and performs a cross-spectrum process to determine time differences of arrival (TDOA), allowing for precise sound source localization without relying on environmental conditions or electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an image localization system is used to locate a target, then the target can be located visually, but the data quantity is significant large, processing speed is slow, hardware requirements are high, and it is restricted by environmental brightness or weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/image-based localization system with an acoustic/sound-based localization system. Instead of using cameras and image processing hardware, the system uses microphones to capture sound waves and processes audio signals to determine target location. This substitution reduces hardware complexity and eliminates dependence on environmental lighting conditions while maintaining localization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter used for localization from optical intensity/image data to acoustic time-domain signals. By measuring time differences of arrival (TDOA) of sound waves at multiple microphones, the system determines target position. This parameter change reduces data quantity and processing complexity compared to image processing, while providing robustness against environmental conditions.
2Measurement precision
If an image localization system is used to locate a target, then the target can be located visually, but the processing speed is relative slow due to large data quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computationally intensive image processing with simpler acoustic signal processing. The microphone array captures sound signals that require less computational resources to process compared to image data. The time-domain signal processing and TDOA calculation are inherently faster and more efficient than image analysis algorithms, thereby improving processing speed while maintaining localization accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If an image localization system is used to locate a target, then the target can be located visually, but the hardware requirement is high, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost and the power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes energy-intensive image sensors, processors, and associated hardware with lower-power acoustic sensors and signal processing circuits. Microphones and audio processing require significantly less power than camera systems and image processing units, thereby reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining the ability to accurately locate targets through acoustic TDOA measurement.
4Measurement precision
If an image localization system is used to locate a target, then the target can be located visually, but it tends to be restricted by the environmental brightness or the weather condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the light-dependent optical system with an acoustic system that operates independently of environmental lighting and weather conditions. Sound waves propagate through air regardless of brightness or fog, allowing the microphone array to continuously locate targets in conditions where visual systems fail. This provides superior environmental adaptability and operational versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances processing speed, reduces hardware requirements and power consumption, and enables accurate sound source localization even in adverse environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
sound capturing devices, such as microphones, are respectively transformed into frequency domain signals
Data Source
AI summary
A sound source localization system and a sound source localization method. The sound source localization system includes sound capturing devices and an arithmetic unit. The sound capturing devices sense a sound source to output time domain signals. The arithmetic unit transforms the time domain signals into frequency domain signals, performs a cross spectrum process according to the frequency domain signals to determine time differences of arrival, and locates the sound source according to the time differences of arrival and locations of the sound capturing devices.