Microphone Array Directionality for Excluding Distant Voices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound collection devices risk collecting voices from distant locations or nearby noise sources, especially in open spaces, leading to interference and reduced signal-to-noise ratio.
Innovation Solution
A sound collection device with a microphone array that adjusts its directionality by setting a threshold separation angle and orienting the microphone towards a range where the separation angle between the microphone's normal direction and the sound source is equal to or less than the threshold, using methods like beamforming and image processing to exclude distant voices and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If echo and noise components are removed from sound signals using beamforming processing, then the signal-to-noise ratio of the captured voice is improved, but voices from distant locations or nearby noise sources may still be incorrectly collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of directionality configuration by introducing a separation angle threshold parameter. The directionality is configured to collect sounds only from directions where the separation angle from the normal direction is within this threshold, thereby excluding distant voices and nearby noise while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio for target speakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the directionality configuration dynamic by adjusting the separation angle threshold based on the installation environment. The system adapts the threshold value to match specific deployment scenarios, enabling flexible control over sound collection range to prevent unwanted voice capture while maintaining effective target voice collection.
2Reliability
If the microphone collects sounds from all directions, then no voice is missed, but noise from nearby sources and distant locations interferes with the target voice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating directionally selective sound collection zones. Instead of uniform omnidirectional collection, the microphone system collects sounds preferentially from specific directional ranges defined by the separation angle threshold, while suppressing sounds from other directions. This ensures reliable capture of target voices within the designated zone while excluding noise from other areas.
3Measurement precision
If beamforming processing is applied to separate voice and noise components, then the target voice quality is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the directionality parameters and separation angle threshold before actual sound collection begins. The beamforming weights and directionality characteristics are predetermined based on the installation environment, so that when sound collection starts, the system can immediately filter unwanted sounds without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus reducing processing complexity while maintaining effective voice separation.
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
The device effectively captures voices from intended speakers while excluding distant voices and nearby noise, maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio and reducing interference.
Implementation Method 1
a direction from a position at which the microphone is installed to a sound source
Data Source
AI summary
A sound collection method for setting directionality of a microphone includes setting a threshold separation angle, and orienting the directionality of the microphone toward a range of a sound source position where a separation angle between a normal direction of a surface on which the microphone is installed and a direction from a position at which the microphone is installed to a sound source is equal to or less than the threshold separation angle.