Microphone Array Directivity Control for Video Conference Audio Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video conference systems face challenges in ensuring intended audio output, as panoramic cameras capture the entire room and microphone arrays direct sound towards speakers, but this can result in unwanted ambient noise being transmitted, affecting the clarity and focus of the communication.
Innovation Solution
A communication system and method that includes a first communication device generating correspondence information between image projection and capture coordinates, allowing users to specify a projection area, and a second communication device to control microphone directivity based on this information to focus audio output on the intended speaker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a panoramic camera is used to capture the entire conference room, then the coverage area is improved, but the image processing complexity increases due to coordinate mapping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary coordinate mapping by generating correspondence information between projection plane coordinates and captured image coordinates before actual image processing. This pre-established mapping relationship enables direct coordinate transformation without complex real-time processing, resolving the contradiction between wide coverage and processing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a microphone array is used to direct sound collection, then the speech clarity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple microphones and beamforming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by directing the microphone array's sound collection focus specifically toward the speaker's location identified from the captured image, rather than uniform omnidirectional collection. This localized directivity enhancement improves speech clarity while maintaining manageable device complexity through targeted processing.
3Measurement precision
If the microphone array directs sound toward the speaker automatically, then the speech capture accuracy is improved, but the adaptability decreases when focused output is not desired
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptability by allowing the microphone array's directivity to be adjusted based on user input. The speaker identification and directivity control are not fixed but can be modified through user instructions, enabling the system to adapt between automatic speaker focus and other output requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between capture accuracy and versatility.
4Manufacturing precision
If coordinate mapping between projection area and captured image is implemented, then the image specification accuracy is improved, but the information processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the essential correspondence information between projection plane coordinates and captured image coordinates, rather than processing and transmitting the entire image data sets. This extraction of critical coordinate mapping data maintains specification accuracy while significantly reducing the information processing load.
Data Source
AI summary
A device performs to: generate second correspondence information indicating a correspondence relation between coordinates of a projection area and coordinates of a captured image based on first correspondence information indicating a size of the projection area indicating an area to which an image is projected by an image projection device, a size of a basic area indicating an area predetermined as the area to which the image is projected, and indicating a correspondence relation between the coordinates of the basic area and the coordinates of the captured image obtained by an imaging unit; transmit coordinate information indicating a range, of the projection area, specified by a user and the second correspondence information to other device; and output, when receiving output information including voice whose directivity is controlled according to an area corresponding to the coordinate information of the captured image from the other device, the received output information.