Wearable Camera Sound Direction Detection via Microphone Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable cameras used by law enforcement officers often struggle to accurately determine the direction of sound sources in video recordings, making it difficult to create detailed reports, especially when sounds like gunshots or voices are involved.
Innovation Solution
A wearable camera system with multiple microphones positioned at different locations on the casing to capture sound signals, which a controller uses to determine the sound emission direction by analyzing signal timing deviations and adds this information as attributes to the video data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sound collector is used, then the device structure is simple, but the sound emission direction cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The sound collection function is segmented into multiple sound collectors (microphones) positioned at different locations on the camera body. This segmentation enables the system to capture sound from different spatial positions simultaneously, allowing for direction determination through time difference of arrival analysis between the multiple collectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point sound collection to a spatially distributed array of sound collectors. By adding the spatial dimension with multiple collectors arranged at different positions, the system can determine sound emission direction through the time deviations of signals arriving at each collector, effectively converting a 0D measurement into a 3D directional measurement.
2Loss of information
If multiple sound collectors are arranged at different positions, then the sound emission direction can be determined, but the device structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple sound collectors serve dual functions: they individually capture sound signals for general audio recording purposes, and collectively work together as a directional array for sound emission direction determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated directional sensing components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving direction information capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound collectors and controller work together where the controller automatically processes the time deviation information from the multiple sound collectors to determine sound direction. The system self-services by using its own structural complexity (multiple collectors) to generate the directional information that compensates for the information loss, without requiring external directional sensing equipment.
3Productivity
If sound direction information is not captured, then the device operation is simple, but report creation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically determining and recording sound emission direction information during the video capture process. This pre-processing of directional audio data eliminates the need for manual direction estimation during report creation, significantly improving productivity by providing ready-to-use directional information that officers can directly incorporate into their reports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of direction estimation (visually determining sound direction during report creation) with an automated electronic system. The controller electronically analyzes time deviations from multiple sound collectors to automatically determine sound emission directions, substituting manual effort with automated signal processing that directly outputs directional data for report integration.
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
Enables easier creation of reports by providing accurate sound emission direction data, allowing officers to identify speakers and describe incidents more effectively.
Implementation Method 1
determine a direction from which the sound is emitted based on a deviation of output timings of the signals
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable camera includes a capturing unit configured to capture video data, a memory configured to store the video data captured by the capturing unit, a plurality of sound collectors that are arranged at different positions of a casing and that are configured to collect a sound and output signals, and a controller that is configured to determine a direction from which the sound is emitted based on a deviation of output timings of the signals and add the direction as attribute information to the video data.