Adaptive Beamforming Microphone Array Motion Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio source localization systems require precise knowledge of the source's position and static sensor arrays, leading to decreased effectiveness and increased computational resources when the source or array moves, as they are designed for stationary environments and precise source location determination.
Innovation Solution
An audio processing system that uses a microphone array with an accelerometer to track changes in position and orientation, allowing for adaptive beamforming and source location identification through a combination of wide-scanning and narrow-scanning modes, and updates a location table to compensate for array motion, enabling efficient audio source isolation and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beamforming technology is used to locate and isolate an audio source, then audio source isolation is improved, but computational resources increase when the source or array moves
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static beamforming to dynamic adaptive beamforming that automatically adjusts to movements of the microphone array or audio source. The accelerometer detects motion and triggers updates to the beamforming parameters, maintaining isolation effectiveness without continuous heavy computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerometer continuously monitors array position and orientation in advance, so when movement is detected, the system can proactively adjust beamforming parameters before the movement degrades audio source isolation, reducing the need for reactive high-computation corrections.
2Area of stationary object
If wide-scanning mode is used to identify audio source location, then coverage area is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning process is divided into two segments: wide-scanning mode for initial broad coverage to identify potential audio sources, and narrow-scanning mode for detailed localization of identified sources. This segmentation allows the system to balance coverage area and processing time by only applying intensive narrow scanning to regions of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic wide-scanning to update the general audio source location table at intervals, rather than continuously. Between wide-scans, narrow-scanning is used for precise tracking. This periodic approach maintains coverage while reducing overall processing time compared to continuous wide-scanning.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio source location, tracking and isolation system, particularly suited for use with person-mounted microphone arrays. The system increases capabilities by reducing resources required for certain functions so those resources can be utilized for result enhancing processes. A wide area scan may be utilized to identify the general vicinity of an audio source and a narrow scan to locate pinpoint positions may be initiated in the general vicinity identified by the wide area scan. Subsequent locations may be anticipated by compensating for motion of the sensor array and anticipated changes in source location by trajectory. Identification may use two or more sets of characterizations and rules. The characterizations may use computationally less intense analyses to characterize audio and only perform computationally higher intensity analysis if needed. Rule sets may be used to eliminate the need to track audio sources that emit audio to be eliminated from an audio output.