Virtual Microphone Coverage Mapping for Adaptive 3D Array Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio conference systems struggle to dynamically form a unified and optimized virtual microphone coverage map in real-time, adapting to variable room dimensions, dynamic seating, and unknown microphone and speaker locations, leading to issues like overlapping coverage zones, undesired sound source pickup, and acoustic feedback loops.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically determines and positions a virtual microphone coverage grid based on the real-time positions and orientations of individual microphones, forming a combined microphone array aware of its constituent elements, to optimize audio signal and noise performance without manual calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple microphones are used to cover larger spaces, then audio coverage area is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple microphones into a unified virtual microphone coverage map, merging their individual coverage zones into a single coordinated system. The system processor integrates signals from multiple microphones and manages them as a unified array, reducing the complexity of managing multiple independent microphone systems while expanding the effective coverage area.
2Reliability
If manual calibration is performed to optimize audio performance, then audio quality is improved, but setup time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic calibration by having microphones emit test tones and using the system processor to automatically determine optimal coverage zone dimensions based on measured acoustic responses. This self-calibrating mechanism eliminates the need for manual audio technician calibration while maintaining high audio quality through automated optimization of coverage patterns and gain structure.
3Quantity of substance
If microphones are placed close to participants to maximize vocal pickup, then desired sound source level is improved, but undesired sound source pickup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates locally optimized coverage zones for each microphone based on its specific position and orientation relative to participants and noise sources. The system processor calculates individual coverage zone dimensions for each microphone element, allowing each microphone to be optimally positioned for vocal pickup while the overall system coordinates to minimize overlap and reduce pickup of undesired sound sources through precise zone boundary management.
4Area of stationary object
If coverage zone boundaries are extended to cover more area, then audio coverage is improved, but acoustic feedback loops and microphone conflict increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts coverage zone dimensions and boundaries based on real-time conditions, participant positions, and microphone configurations. The system processor continuously optimizes coverage zone parameters to maximize area coverage while preventing acoustic feedback loops by maintaining appropriate boundaries that avoid microphone-s speaker conflicts and prevent overlapping coverage zones from creating feedback conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for automatically dynamically forming a virtual microphone coverage map using a combined microphone array in a shared 3D space is provided. The system includes a combined microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones and a system processor communicating with the combined microphone array. The microphones in the combined microphone array are arranged along various microphone arrangements. The system processor is configured to perform operations including obtaining locations of the microphones within the combined microphone array throughout the shared 3D space, generating coverage zone dimensions based on the locations of the microphones, and populating the coverage zone dimensions with virtual microphones.