SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BEAM FORMATION USING MICROPHONE GRID Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC H04R3/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to determination of the direction of a sound source in a given search area sing a beam position control method using a microphone grid, and particularly to a systems and method which provide for automatic beam formation for any topology of the microphone grid and for any type of microphone. Beam formation involves processing output audio signals of the microphone grid so as to make the microphone grid operate as a narrow-directed microphone. In other words, beam formation provides for a "listening beam", which is aimed at a specific sound source, often with filtration of other sounds. A "unified beam former" automatically forms a set of beams, which cover the required spatial angular range in the given search area. The layout of formed beams is a function of topology and operational characteristics of microphones, and also depends on noise models of the environment around the microphone grid.

EFFECT: possibility of using beam former in any topology of the microphone grid and any type of microphones.

35 cl, 5 dwg