AUDIO SOURCE PROXIMITY ESTIMATION USING SENSOR ARRAY FOR NOISE REDUCTION
First Claim
1. A method of determining proximity of an audio source, comprising:
- transforming a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of sensors to frequency domain;
determining amplitudes of the transformed audio signals;
comparing the amplitudes; and
determining the proximity of the audio source based on the comparison of the amplitudes.
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Abstract
Estimating the proximity of an audio source is accomplished by transforming audio signals from a plurality of sensors to frequency domain. The amplitudes of the transformed audio signals are then determined. The proximity of the audio source is determined based on a comparison of the frequency domain amplitudes. This estimation permits a device to differentiate between relatively distant audio sources and audio sources at close proximity to the device. The technique can be applied to mobile handsets, such as cellular phones or PDAs, hands-free headsets, and other audio input devices. Devices taking advantage of this “close proximity” detection are better able to suppress background noise and deliver an improved user experience.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of determining proximity of an audio source, comprising:
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transforming a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of sensors to frequency domain; determining amplitudes of the transformed audio signals; comparing the amplitudes; and determining the proximity of the audio source based on the comparison of the amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of determining proximity of an audio source, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of sensors; transforming the audio signals to frequency domain; determining amplitudes of the transformed audio signals at a plurality of frequencies; for each of the frequencies, determining a differential signal by comparing the amplitudes corresponding to the frequency, whereby determining a plurality of differential signals; and determining the proximity of the audio source based on the differential signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of audio sensors outputting a plurality of audio signals in response to an audio source; and a proximity detection module configured to transform the audio signals to frequency domain and to determine the proximity of the audio source by comparing amplitudes of the transformed audio signals. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for transforming a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of sensors to frequency domain; means for determining amplitudes of the transformed audio signals; means for comparing the amplitudes; and means for determining the proximity of the audio source based on the comparison of the amplitudes.
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28. A computer-readable medium embodying a set of instructions executable by one or more processors, comprising:
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code for transforming a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of sensors to frequency domain; code for determining amplitudes of the transformed audio signals; code for comparing the amplitudes; and code for determining the proximity of the audio source based on the comparison of the amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of determining proximity of an audio source, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of audio signals from a plurality of sensors; beamforming the audio signals; determining amplitudes of the beamformed audio signals; comparing the amplitudes; and determining the proximity of the audio source based on the comparison of the amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification