Rotating Microphone Array for Targeted Audio Surveillance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camera systems lack the capability to selectively detect and transmit audio signals to specific sound sources, limiting their effectiveness in surveillance applications such as crime prevention and security management.
Innovation Solution
A camera system equipped with a microphone array, processor, and speaker array that calculates and adjusts the rotation angles of both the microphone and speaker arrays to focus on specific subjects, allowing for targeted audio signal processing and transmission, along with image analysis for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a camera system is equipped with audio signal transmission and reception capabilities, then surveillance functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines audio signal transmission and reception capabilities with the existing camera system by integrating a microphone array and speaker array into the same housing structure. The processor that handles image processing is extended to also handle audio signal processing, creating a unified surveillance device that performs both visual and auditory monitoring functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is transformed into a multi-functional surveillance device by adding audio capture and transmission capabilities. The same processor controls both the camera and audio components, enabling the device to perform multiple surveillance functions including image capture, audio recording, audio transmission to remote devices, and audio playback through the speaker array.
2Measurement precision
If the microphone array is rotated to focus on specific subjects, then audio signal detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone array is made rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation to focus on specific subjects of interest. The driving controller rotates the microphone array based on the location of detected subjects, enabling the system to concentrate audio sensitivity in particular directions and improve audio signal detection precision for targeted monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the video processor about subject location to control the rotation of the microphone array. When a subject is detected in the surveillance area, the video processor provides location information to the driving controller, which then rotates the microphone array to face the subject, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously optimizes audio detection direction based on visual input.
3Reliability
If the speaker array transmits audio signals toward specific subjects, then communication effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker array is configured to be rotatable, allowing it to dynamically orient toward specific subjects for targeted audio transmission. This dynamic positioning ensures that audio signals are directed precisely at the intended recipients, improving communication effectiveness by reducing signal dispersion and ensuring that warnings or notifications are clearly received by the subjects being monitored.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system processes audio signals from multiple subjects simultaneously, then surveillance coverage is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio processing task by handling multiple subjects sequentially rather than simultaneously. The driving controller rotates the microphone array to focus on one subject at a time, processes the audio signal from that specific subject with high precision, then moves to the next subject. This segmented approach maintains audio detection precision while achieving comprehensive surveillance coverage of multiple subjects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by alternating between different subjects in a systematic manner. When multiple subjects are present in the surveillance area, the microphone array periodically rotates to focus on each subject in turn, allowing the system to maintain high audio detection precision for each individual subject while ultimately achieving broad surveillance coverage across all subjects through repeated cycles of focused monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system includes: a camera configured to capture an image of a surveillance area; a microphone array which includes at least one microphone; and at least one processor configured to implement: a video processor which designates at least one subject in the image as a target; a beam-former which calculates a rotation angle of the microphone array based on a location of the subject; and a driving controller which rotates the microphone array toward the subject based on the rotation angle of the microphone array, wherein the beam-forming unit further performs signal processing on an audio input signal received through the microphone array rotated toward the subject and outputs an audio output signal corresponding to the audio input signal.