Sound discrimination method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of distinguishing sound sources, comprising the steps of:
- transforming data, collected by a plurality of transducers which each react to a characteristic of an acoustic wave, into a plurality of signals, one for each respective transducer, the transducers being separated by a distance of less than about 70 mm or greater than about 90 mm, the plurality of transducers having a location;
separating each of the plurality of signals into a corresponding plurality of frequency bands;
for each frequency, comparing a magnitude difference of corresponding frequency bands of the plurality of signals to a predetermined first magnitude difference threshold value, the magnitude difference threshold value associated with a predetermined distance from the location of the plurality of the transducers; and
causing, for a first signal of the plurality of signals, a relative gain change for a first set of frequency bands relative to a second set of frequency bands of the corresponding frequency bands of the first signal, the first set of frequency bands including frequency bands where the magnitude difference falls on one side of the magnitude difference threshold value, the second set of frequency bands including frequency bands where the magnitude difference falls on the other side of its the magnitude difference threshold value, such that the sound sources are discriminated from each other based on their distance from the transducers.
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Abstract
A method of distinguishing sound sources includes the step of transforming data, collected by at least two transducers which each react to a characteristic of an acoustic wave, into signals for each transducer location. The transducers are separated by a distance of less than about 70 mm or greater than about 90 mm. The signals are separated into a plurality of frequency bands for each transducer location. For each band a comparison is made of the relationship of the magnitudes of the signals for the transducer locations with a threshold value. A relative gain change is caused between those frequency bands whose magnitude relationship falls on one side of the threshold value and those frequency bands whose magnitude relationship falls on the other side of the threshold value. As such, sound sources are discriminated from each other based, on their distance from the transducers.
53 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of distinguishing sound sources, comprising the steps of:
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transforming data, collected by a plurality of transducers which each react to a characteristic of an acoustic wave, into a plurality of signals, one for each respective transducer, the transducers being separated by a distance of less than about 70 mm or greater than about 90 mm, the plurality of transducers having a location; separating each of the plurality of signals into a corresponding plurality of frequency bands; for each frequency, comparing a magnitude difference of corresponding frequency bands of the plurality of signals to a predetermined first magnitude difference threshold value, the magnitude difference threshold value associated with a predetermined distance from the location of the plurality of the transducers; and causing, for a first signal of the plurality of signals, a relative gain change for a first set of frequency bands relative to a second set of frequency bands of the corresponding frequency bands of the first signal, the first set of frequency bands including frequency bands where the magnitude difference falls on one side of the magnitude difference threshold value, the second set of frequency bands including frequency bands where the magnitude difference falls on the other side of its the magnitude difference threshold value, such that the sound sources are discriminated from each other based on their distance from the transducers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of discriminating between sound sources, comprising the steps of:
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transforming data, collected by a plurality of transducers which each react to a characteristic of an acoustic wave, into a plurality of signals, one for each respective transducer, the plurality of transducers having a location; separating each of the plurality of signals into a corresponding plurality of frequency bands; for each frequency, comparing a magnitude difference of corresponding frequency bands of the plurality of signals to a predetermined magnitude difference threshold value, the magnitude difference threshold value associated with a predetermined distance from the location of the plurality of the transducers; for each frequency, comparing a time difference of corresponding frequency bands of the plurality of signals to a predetermined time difference threshold value, where the time difference is the difference in time between when an acoustic wave emitted by a sound source at a distance from the location of the plurality of transducers is detected by a first transducer of the plurality of transducers and when this wave is detected by a second transducer of the plurality of transducers, where the time difference threshold value is associated with a predetermined angle relative to the location of the plurality of transducers; and causing, for a first signal of the plurality of signals, a relative gain change for a first set of frequency bands relative to a second set of frequency bands of the corresponding frequency bands of the first signal, the first set of frequency bands including frequency bands where the magnitude difference and the time difference fall on one side of respective threshold values for magnitude difference and time difference, the second set of frequency bands including frequency bands where (a) the magnitude difference falls on the other side of the respective magnitude difference threshold value, (b) the time difference falls on the other side of the respective time difference threshold value, or (c) the magnitude difference and time difference both fall on the other side of their respective magnitude difference and time difference threshold values, such that the sound sources are discriminated from each other based on their distance and angle relative to the location of the plurality of transducers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of discriminating between sound sources, comprising the steps of:
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transforming data, collected by a plurality of transducers which each react to a characteristic of an acoustic wave, into a plurality of signals, one for each respective transducer, the plurality of transducers having a location; separating each of the plurality of signals into a corresponding plurality of frequency bands; for each frequency, comparing a magnitude difference of corresponding frequency bands of the plurality of signals to a predetermined magnitude difference threshold value, the magnitude difference threshold value associated with a predetermined distance from the location of the plurality of the transducers; for each frequency, comparing a phase difference of corresponding frequency bands of the plurality of signals to a predetermined phase difference threshold value, the phase difference threshold value associated with a predetermined angle relative to the location of the plurality of transducers, causing, for a first signal of the plurality of signals, a relative gain change for a first set of frequency bands relative to a second set of frequency bands of the corresponding frequency bands of the first signal, the first set of frequency bands including frequency bands where the magnitude difference and phase difference fall on one side of respective threshold values for magnitude difference and phase difference, the second set of frequency bands including frequency bands where (a) the magnitude difference falls on the other side of the respective magnitude difference threshold value, (b) the phase difference falls on the other side of the respective phase difference threshold value, or (c) the magnitude difference and phase difference both fall on the other side of their respective magnitude difference and phase difference threshold values, such that the sound sources are discriminated from each other based on their distance and angle relative to the location of the plurality of transducers. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification