Sound Direction Estimation Using Hierarchical Search Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound direction estimation devices require a large computational load to enhance estimation accuracy, leading to low processing efficiency due to the need for multiple transfer functions correlated with sound directions.
Innovation Solution
A sound direction estimation device that calculates the number of classes and search intervals based on a desired search range and spatial resolution, allowing for efficient searching and interpolation of transfer functions to estimate sound directions, thereby reducing processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transfer functions correlated with multiple sound directions are stored to enhance estimation accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but computation efficiency deteriorates due to large computational load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous sound direction search space into discrete classes or sectors. Instead of searching all possible directions with fine resolution, the algorithm segments the search space into a manageable number of classes, performs coarse search to identify promising classes, and then conducts fine search only within those selected classes. This segmentation reduces the total number of transfer function evaluations required while maintaining estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different search resolutions to different regions of the sound direction space. Rather than using uniform fine resolution across all directions, the algorithm uses coarse resolution for most directions and applies fine resolution only locally to directions identified as promising by the coarse search. This local refinement strategy maintains accuracy where needed while reducing overall computational load.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of transfer functions are used to improve sound direction estimation accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computation process into two stages: a fast coarse search stage that identifies promising direction classes, and a slower fine search stage that refines the estimate within selected classes. This segmentation allows the system to spend most of the processing time on the efficient coarse search and only a small fraction on the computationally intensive fine search, thereby reducing total processing time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary coarse search to identify promising direction classes before conducting the computationally expensive fine search. By performing this preliminary action, the system eliminates the need to perform fine search across all possible directions, thereby significantly reducing the total number of transfer function evaluations and processing time required to achieve accurate sound direction estimation.
Data Source
AI summary
A sound direction estimation device includes a transfer function storage unit configured to store transfer functions of sound sources in correlation with directions of the sound sources, a calculation unit configured to calculate the number of classes to be searched and a search interval for each class based on a desired search range and a desired spatial resolution for searching for the directions of the sound sources, and a sound source localization unit configured to search the search range for every search interval using the transfer function, to estimate the direction of the sound source based on the search result, to update the search range and the search interval based on the estimated direction of the sound source until the number of classes calculated by the calculation unit is reached, and to estimate the direction of the sound source.