Virtual Microphone Arrays Using User Devices for Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microphone arrays are fixed in location and require specialized equipment, which is inconvenient and costly for the average user.
Innovation Solution
Form a virtual microphone array using multiple user devices with microphones, leveraging their relative positions and orientations to create on-the-fly beamforming for enhanced directionality without the need for specialized equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional microphone arrays are used, then beamforming and directionality are achieved, but specialized equipment and high cost are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables ordinary user devices with microphones to perform beamforming functions traditionally reserved for specialized microphone arrays. By making the system universal and compatible with common devices, it eliminates the need for specialized equipment while maintaining directional audio capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual microphone array by computationally modeling and synthesizing the behavior of a physical array using software algorithms. This virtual copy replicates the beamforming functionality without requiring the actual specialized hardware
2Measurement precision
If conventional microphone arrays are used, then beamforming for desired directionality is achieved, but costly specialized equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, specialized microphone array equipment with inexpensive, readily available user devices that everyone already possesses. This substitution dramatically reduces cost while achieving the same functional outcome through software-based beamforming
3Measurement precision
If fixed microphone arrays are used, then beamforming is achieved, but adaptability to different user situations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts beamforming parameters based on real-time conditions including user movement, device positions, and acoustic environment. This dynamic behavior allows the virtual array to adjust to different situations, maintaining performance across varying contexts unlike fixed physical arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes beamforming parameters such as weights, delays, and spatial filters based on detected conditions and user actions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system adapts to different scenarios while maintaining beamforming effectiveness
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
Achieves beamforming for desired directionality using user devices, providing enhanced audio capture and suppression of undesired sounds, eliminating the need for costly specialized equipment.
Implementation Method 1
determining a plurality of beams of a beamforming pattern along which acoustic energy propagates toward the plurality of microphones, the beamforming pattern being based on the position in space and the orientation of each of the plurality of microphones
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating a virtual microphone array according including identifying a plurality of microphones, identifying a relative position in space of each of the plurality of microphones, generating a virtual microphone array based on the plurality of microphones and the relative position in space of each of the plurality of microphones, sensing audio at each of the plurality of microphones, and generating an audio signal of the virtual microphone array based on the sensed audio.