System and method for steering directional microphones
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An audio system for a conference room containing audience members comprising:
- optical transducer means directed at the audience members;
a processor receiving information from the optical transducer means and determining from that information which audience members are speaking or are about to speak; and
a steerable directional microphone connected to the processor, the processor causing activation of the microphone which is directed towards audience members who are speaking or are about to speak.
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Abstract
A system that selects and/or steers a directional steerable microphone system based on input from an optical transducer is described. An optical transducer, such as a video camera, provides video input to a processor that controls a steerable directional microphone (such as a microphone array) in the direction of audience members that exhibit physical cues commonly expressed by persons who are speaking or are about to speak.
193 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An audio system for a conference room containing audience members comprising:
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optical transducer means directed at the audience members; a processor receiving information from the optical transducer means and determining from that information which audience members are speaking or are about to speak; and a steerable directional microphone connected to the processor, the processor causing activation of the microphone which is directed towards audience members who are speaking or are about to speak. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A telephone comprising optical transducer means directed at a talker, a processor receiving information from the optical transducer means and determining from that information the physical location of the talker;
- and a steerable directional microphone connected to the processor, the processor causing activation of the microphone which is directed towards the talker.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. In a conference room containing audience members, optical transducer means directed at the audience members, a processor, and a steerable directional microphone, a method for broadcasting audio signals throughout said conference room comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving, at said optical transducer means, an image of said audience members; b. transferring said image to said processor; c. determining from said image which audience members are speaking or are about to speak; d. activating said steerable directional microphone towards audience members who are speaking or are about to speak; and e. broadcasting audio signals received by said steerable directional microphone throughout the conference room. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification