AUDIO SIGNAL TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION DEVICE AND MICROPHONE APPARATUS THEREOF

• US 20080260178A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Ryo
• Application Number:
  US12/108,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/403 Linear arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/405 Non-uniform arrays of transducers or a plurality of uniform arrays with different transducer spacing

Abstract

An audio signal transmission/reception device includes a speaker array having a plurality of linearly arranged speaker units and a microphone apparatus having a microphone array having a plurality of linearly arranged microphone units. Some of the microphone units are aligned with equal spacing corresponding to a prescribed distance therebetween in a high-density alignment section, which is set symmetrical to an alignment origin corresponding to a center point of linear alignment. The remaining microphone units are aligned in a low-density alignment section externally of the high-density alignment section in such a way that the spacing therebetween is progressively widened integer times larger than the prescribed distance. Manufacturing costs can be reduced by reducing the total number of the microphone units, and it is possible to improve sound reception directivity with respect to both high and low frequency bands.

Claims

1. A microphone apparatus comprising:

a plurality of linearly arranged microphone units,

wherein some of the microphone units are arranged in a high-density alignment section, which is set symmetrical to an alignment origin corresponding to a center point of linear alignment,

wherein the remaining microphone units are aligned in a low-density alignment section outside the high-density alignment section,

wherein the microphone units in the high-density alignment section are equally spaced at a prescribed distance between them, and

wherein the microphone units in the low-density alignment section are spaced at a progressively widening spacing that is set integer times larger than the prescribed distance.

2. The microphone apparatus according to claim 1, further including a delay device for each of output signals of the microphone units.

3. An audio signal transmission/reception device comprising:

a speaker array having a plurality of linearly arranged speaker units; and

a microphone array having a plurality of linearly arranged microphone units,

wherein some of the microphone units are arranged in a high-density alignment section, which is set symmetrical to an alignment origin corresponding to a center point of linear alignment,

wherein the remaining microphone units are aligned in a low-density alignment section outside the high-density alignment section,

wherein the microphone units in the high-density alignment section are equally spaced at a prescribed distance between them, and

wherein the microphone units in the low-density alignment section are spaced at a progressively widening spacing that is set integer times larger than the prescribed distance.

4. The audio signal transmission/reception device according to claim 3, further including a delay device for each of output signals of the microphone units.