Audio detection system and methods

• US 10,582,311 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dscg Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dscg Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Sebastian, Richard, Belsley, Kendall
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai N.
• Application Number:
  US15/858,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 381 92, 381 98, 381113, 381115, 381168, 381171, 381172, 381177, 381192, 381396
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/18 the extracted parameters being spectral information of each sub-band
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A laser microphone can include a detection system including plurality of laser subsystems. The detection system can be configured to produce emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern and receive reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object. The detection system can be configured to define combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted, electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The detection system can be configured to define a set of spectral bins in a frequency domain based on the combined frequency data, modify the combined frequency data based on a datapoint obtained from a subset of the set of spectral bins, and define at least one of a range or a velocity based on the combined frequency data. The laser microphone can include an audio processor configured to define an audio signal based on the at least one of the range or velocity.

Claims

1. A laser microphone system, comprising:

a detection system including plurality of laser subsystems, each of the plurality of laser subsystems configured to;

produce emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern,

receive reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from a first object,

define combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted, electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation, and

define at least one of a range or a velocity based on the combined frequency data;

an audio processor configured to define an audio signal based on the at least one of the range or the velocity of at least one of the plurality of laser subsystems; and

a coupling device configured to couple the plurality of laser subsystems and the audio processor to a second object, the second object being distinct from the first object.

2. The laser microphone system of claim 1, wherein the second object includes a wearable device worn by a user.

3. The laser microphone system of claim 2, wherein the wearable device includes a helmet.

4. The laser microphone system of claim 2, wherein the wearable device includes an armband.

5. The laser microphone system of claim 2, wherein the wearable device includes a hearing aid.

6. The laser microphone system of claim 2, further comprising:

an electronic device coupled to the wearable device, the electronic device including an output device configured to communicate diagnostic feedback to the user, the diagnostic feedback indicating a level of intelligibility of the audio signal defined by the audio processor.

7. The laser microphone system of claim 2, wherein the electronic device includes a display for visual communication with the user.

8. The laser microphone system of claim 2, wherein the wearable device includes an earpiece, and

wherein the plurality of laser subsystems and the audio processor form a laser microphone mounted within the earpiece.

9. The laser microphone system of claim 1, wherein the second object includes a vehicle.

10. The laser microphone system of claim 9, wherein the coupling device includes a mount configured to attach the plurality of laser subsystems and the audio processor onto the second object, the second object being fixed with respect to the vehicle.

11. The laser microphone system of claim 10, wherein the second object includes a rearview mirror.

12. The laser microphone system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of laser subsystems and the audio processor are attached to the mount at a position determined according to a plurality of markings on the mount.

13. The laser microphone system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of laser subsystems and the audio processor form a laser microphone mounted within the vehicle.

14. A miniature laser microphone array including the laser microphone system of claim 1.

15. A laser microphone system, comprising:

a plurality of laser subsystems configured to estimate at least one of a range and a velocity of a first object;

an audio processor configured to define an audio signal based on the at least one of the range or the velocity of at least one of the plurality of laser subsystems; and

a coupling device configured to couple the plurality of laser subsystems and the audio processor to a second object, the second object being distinct from the first object.

16. The laser microphone system of claim 15, wherein the laser microphone includes a unidirectional microphone.