Method and apparatus for detecting and controlling the orientation of a virtual microphone
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones;
a sensor; and
a processor configured to;
combine and process signals from the microphone array to create a virtual microphone;
determine a use mode of the electronic device;
based on output of the sensor, determine an orientation of the electronic device relative to an orientation of a head of a user; and
adjust an orientation of the virtual microphone based on the determined use mode and on the orientation of the electronic device relative to the orientation of the head of the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling the orientation of a virtual microphone, which is carried out on an electronic device, includes combining and processing signals from a microphone array to create a virtual microphone; receiving data from a sensor of the electronic device; determining, based on the received data, a mode in which the electronic device is being used; and based on the determined mode, directionally orienting the virtual microphone. Possible use modes include a) a stowed use mode, in which the criterion is the electronic device being substantially enclosed by surrounding material; b) a handset (alternately, private) use mode, in which the criterion is the electronic device being held proximate to a user; and c) a handheld (alternately, speakerphone) use mode, in which the criterion is the electronic device being held away from a user.
13 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An electronic device comprising:
-
a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphones; a sensor; and a processor configured to; combine and process signals from the microphone array to create a virtual microphone; determine a use mode of the electronic device; based on output of the sensor, determine an orientation of the electronic device relative to an orientation of a head of a user; and adjust an orientation of the virtual microphone based on the determined use mode and on the orientation of the electronic device relative to the orientation of the head of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for controlling orientation of a virtual microphone on an electronic device, the method comprising:
-
combining and processing signals from a microphone array to create the virtual microphone; determining, according to a predefined criterion, a use mode for the electronic device, the use mode being selected from the group consisting of; a) a stowed use mode, in which the criterion is the electronic device being substantially enclosed by surrounding material, b) a handset use mode, in which the criterion is the electronic device being held proximate to a user, and c) a handheld use mode in which the criterion is the electronic device being held away from a user, when the device is in the stowed use mode, adjusting the virtual microphone to be omnidirectional; when the device is in the handset use mode, adjusting the virtual microphone by beamforming the microphone array in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the electronic device based on sensed input from a sensor of the electronic device; and when the device is in the handheld use mode, adjusting the virtual microphone by beamforming the array in a direction based on sensed input from a sensor of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for controlling the orientation of a virtual microphone on an electronic device, the method comprising:
-
combining and processing signals from a microphone array to create the virtual microphone; receiving real world coordinate orientation data from a sensor of the electronic device; determining, based on the real world coordinate orientation data, that the electronic device is being used in a handheld use mode; and based on determining that the electronic device is being used in the handheld use mode, directionally orienting the virtual microphone by beamforming microphones of the microphone array at an angle relative to an earth horizon based on the real world coordinate orientation data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification