Array Microphone Auto-Focus for Moving Audio Source Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional microphones in conferencing environments capture unwanted audio such as room noise and echoes, and the position of beamformed microphone lobes may not be optimal when audio sources move, leading to suboptimal sound capture.
Innovation Solution
Array microphones with automatic focusing and placement of beamformed lobes based on sound activity detection, and inhibition based on remote far-end audio signal, ensuring optimal coverage and reducing unwanted sound capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If array microphones use fixed beamformed lobe positions, then device complexity is reduced, but audio source coverage deteriorates when sources move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic focusing and placement of beamformed microphone lobes that dynamically adjust in real-time based on detected sound activity. The system continuously monitors the environment and repositions lobes to track moving audio sources, transforming a static system into an adaptive one that maintains optimal performance without requiring complex manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone system performs self-adjustment through automatic detection of sound activity and autonomous repositioning of beamformed lobes. The system monitors its own performance environment and automatically optimizes lobe placement without external intervention, reducing the need for manual setup while maintaining adaptability to moving sources
2Adaptability or versatility
If array microphones automatically adjust lobe positions based on sound activity, then audio source coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the microphone array continuously monitors sound activity in the environment and uses this information to automatically adjust lobe positions. The detected acoustic feedback drives the automatic focusing and placement algorithms, enabling the system to adapt to moving sources while managing complexity through intelligent control rather than hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of beamformed lobes dynamically based on detected sound activity. By adjusting lobe position, orientation, and focus parameters in response to audio source movement, the system achieves adaptability without requiring physical reconfiguration, managing complexity through software-based parameter optimization
3Adaptability or versatility
If array microphones deploy multiple microphones to capture audio sources, then audio source coverage is improved, but unwanted sound capture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating steerable beamformed pickup patterns with focused lobes that concentrate sensitivity in specific directions. Instead of uniform omnidirectional capture from multiple microphones, the system directs localized acoustic sensitivity toward identified audio sources, improving source coverage while inherently rejecting sounds from other directions through the shaped pickup patterns
Data Source
AI summary
Array microphone systems and methods that can automatically focus and/or place beamformed lobes in response to detected sound activity are provided. The automatic focus and/or placement of the beamformed lobes can be inhibited based on a remote far end audio signal. The quality of the coverage of audio sources in an environment may be improved by ensuring that beamformed lobes are optimally picking up the audio sources even if they have moved and changed locations.