Method and device for operating a microphone system, especially in a motor vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a microphone system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a sound at a plurality of spatially distributed locations;
(b) simultaneously evaluating at least one variable of the sound detected by each of the microphones;
(c) weighting the locations of the microphones and combining audio signals from the microphones based on the evaluating step (b);
(d) tracking a changed location in 3-dimensional space of a source of the sound based on a directivity of the microphone system by shifting at least one of the variables of the microphone signals;
(e) optimizing in 3-dimensional space a virtual microphone location in relation to the position in 3-dimensional space of a movable sound source;
(f) feeding the signals from the microphones to a transmission device after the evaluating step (b).
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Abstract
A device for operating a microphone system, particularly in a motor vehicle, detects speech sound in several different physical locations to track a virtual microphone location, which is optimized in relation to a moving speech source. From the evaluation of variables, such as operating time, phase and/or amplitude, the individual microphone locations are virtually weighted, and the audio signals from the microphones are added or otherwise combined.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for operating a microphone system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a sound at a plurality of spatially distributed locations;
(b) simultaneously evaluating at least one variable of the sound detected by each of the microphones;
(c) weighting the locations of the microphones and combining audio signals from the microphones based on the evaluating step (b);
(d) tracking a changed location in 3-dimensional space of a source of the sound based on a directivity of the microphone system by shifting at least one of the variables of the microphone signals;
(e) optimizing in 3-dimensional space a virtual microphone location in relation to the position in 3-dimensional space of a movable sound source;
(f) feeding the signals from the microphones to a transmission device after the evaluating step (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for operating a microphone system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a sound at a plurality of spatially distributed locations;
(b) simultaneously evaluating at least one variable of the sound detected by each of the microphones;
(c) weighting the locations of the microphones and combining audio signals from the microphones based on the evaluating step (b);
(d) tracking a changed location in 3-dimensional space of a source of the sound based on a directivity of the microphone system by shifting at least one of the variables of the microphone signals;
(e) optimizing in 3-dimensional space a virtual microphone location in relation to the position in 3-dimensional space of a movable sound source;
(f) feeding the signals from the microphones to a transmission device after the evaluating step (b);
wherein the microphone system is provided in a motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
determining a position of the sound source based on the at least one variable; and
determining whether to trigger at least one safety system of the motor vehicle in accordance with the determined sound source position.
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9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the safety system includes an air bag system.
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10. A device for operating a microphone system, the microphone system including at least two spatially distributed microphones, sound signals being feedable by the microphone system into at least one of an audio system, a telephone system, a voice-controlled input unit and an active noise compensation system, the device comprising:
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a signal analyzer configured to combine the signals from each of the microphones;
an arrangement including a microphone-location-determination unit logically and bidirectionally connected to the signal analyzer, the microphone-location-determination unit configured to ascertain a virtual microphone location in 3-dimensional space and to transmit a return signal to the signal analyzer to perform at least one of controlling and selecting one of an optimum microphone in 3-dimensional space relative to the sound source and a directivity characteristic of the microphone system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
at least two adjustable amplifiers, each of the adjustable amplifiers being connected to an output of a respective one of the microphones;
an evaluating device configured to adjust the amplifiers;
an adder, an output of each amplifier being wired to the adder; and
a transmitter configured to transmit audio signals, the adder being connected to the transmitter;
wherein the output of each amplifier is connected to the evaluating device in parallel with the adder to thereby define an information feedback loop.
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16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the microphone system is provided in a motor vehicle.
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17. The device according to claim 10, wherein the spatially distributed microphones are non-coplanar.
Specification