Microphone Array Beamforming Delay for Stable Source Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beamforming microphone arrays with steerable directional pickup patterns often consume resources inefficiently or produce inaccurate results due to the source tracker's inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The source tracking of the source tracker is paused if a user begins to speak and is likely to continue, and resumed when the user stops, with pause durations adjusted based on user likelihood of movement and environment, and a delay introduced to allow fine-tuning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the source tracker continuously tracks the audio source to maintain accurate beamforming targeting, then the beamforming accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The source tracker operates in a periodic manner by alternating between active tracking and paused states. The system monitors speech activity and pauses tracking when no speech is detected, then resumes when speech is detected again, converting continuous operation into periodic cycles that reduce power consumption while maintaining accuracy when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The source tracker utilizes the speech activity information already being processed by the beamforming system for its own control. The same audio signals used for beamforming also serve to trigger pause and resume decisions, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms and reducing overall system resource usage
2Productivity
If the source tracker continuously monitors audio sources to respond to new speakers, then the system responsiveness is improved, but interference from multiple speakers causes inaccurate tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively pauses source tracking when speech activity is detected, anticipating that continuous tracking during speech would cause the beamforming to shift away from the intended target. By preemptively stopping tracking during speech periods, the system prevents the harmful effect of beamforming drift while maintaining responsiveness to speech events
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary speech activity detection and uses this information to control the source tracker's operation. By detecting speech beforehand and pausing tracking in advance, the system prepares the beamforming system to maintain accurate targeting without needing to react to interference after it occurs
3Stability of the object's composition
If the source tracking is paused during speech to prevent beamforming shifts, then the beamforming stability is improved, but the tracking may be paused indefinitely if speech continues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic resume attempts at predetermined intervals during paused states. Even if speech continues, the tracker will attempt to resume at scheduled intervals, ensuring that the pause duration is bounded and preventing indefinite pausing while maintaining stability during active speech periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors speech activity during paused states and uses this feedback to decide whether to resume tracking. If speech stops before the predetermined interval elapses, the tracker resumes immediately; if speech continues, the system waits for the interval to expire before attempting resume, creating a feedback-controlled mechanism that balances stability and duration
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for controlling source tracking and delaying beamforming in a microphone array system. A source tracker may continuously determine a direction of an audio source. A source tracker controller may pause the source tracking of the source tracker if a user may continue to speak to the system. The source tracker controller may resume the source tracking of the source tracker if the user may cease to speak to the system, or when one or more pause durations have been reached.