Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof

• US 9,947,363 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Moon, Joo-Hyun, Kim, Eung-Ha, Kim, Tai-Hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US14/467,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20150055798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 381 92, 381119, 379 8803, 348370, 3482314, 704275, 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/8006 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single aerial system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10537 Audio or video recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A method for voice recording and an electronic device thereof are provided. The method includes determining a voice recording mode from among a plurality of voice recording modes, determining a voice beamforming direction according to the determined voice recording mode, and recording voice signals based on the determined voice beamforming direction.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device including a plurality of microphones, the method comprising:

receiving an input for selecting a voice recording mode among a plurality of voice recording modes, wherein each of the plurality of voice recording modes respectively corresponds to at least one voice beamforming direction determined based on a number of at least one sound source and a location of each of the at least one sound source;

controlling a microphone array based on the at least one voice beamforming direction corresponding to the selected voice recording mode, wherein the microphone array includes the plurality of microphones;

recording at least one sound signal by using the controlled microphone array; and

displaying a visual effect for indicating that the at least one sound signal is being recorded based on the at least one voice beamforming direction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual effect is displayed during recording of the at least one sound signal or before recording of the at least one sound signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of voice recording modes comprises a general mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from omni-directions, an interview mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from a sound source disposed in front of the electronic device, a dialog mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from a first sound source disposed in front of the electronic device and a second sound source disposed in rear of the electronic device, and a voice memo mode for converting at least one sound signal into a text and displaying the text.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a speaking person direction in which a speaking person is disposed;

selecting a speaker corresponding to the determined speaking person direction from among a plurality of speakers of the electronic device; and

outputting the at least one sound signal during recording through the selected speaker.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a plurality of microphones;

a mode selection unit configured to receive an input for selecting a voice recording mode among a plurality of voice recording modes, wherein each voice recording mode respectively corresponds to at least one voice beamforming direction determined based on a number of at least one sound source and a location of each of the at least one sound source;

a sound beamforming setting unit configured to control a microphone array based on the at least one voice beamforming direction corresponding to the selected voice recording mode, wherein the microphone array includes the plurality of microphones;

a control unit configured to record at least one sound signal by using the controlled microphone array; and

a display unit configured to display a visual effect for indicating that the at least one sound signal is being recorded based on the at least one voice beamforming direction.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the display unit is further configured to display the visual effect during recording of the at least one sound signal or before recording of the at least one sound signal.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of voice recording modes is one of a general mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from omni-directions, an interview mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from a sound source disposed in front of the electronic device, a dialog mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from a first sound source disposed in front of the electronic device and a second sound source disposed in rear of the electronic device, and a voice memo mode for converting at least one sound signal into a text and displaying the text.

8. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

determine a direction in which a speaking person exists,

select a speaker corresponding to the determined speaking person direction among a plurality of speakers of the electronic device, and

output the at least one sound signal during recording through the selected speaker.

9. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the sound beamforming setting unit is further configured to control a phase of the microphone array according to the determined at least one voice beamforming direction.

10. An electronic device including a plurality of microphones, the electronic device comprising:

at least one processor configured to execute at least one program;

a memory configured to store the at least one program; and

a display unit;

wherein the at least one program comprises instructions for;

receiving an input for selecting a voice recording mode among a plurality of voice recording modes, wherein each voice recording mode respectively corresponds to at least one voice beamforming direction determined based on a number of at least one sound source and a location of each of the at least one sound source;

controlling a microphone array based on the at least one voice beamforming direction corresponding to the selected voice recording mode, wherein the microphone array includes the plurality of microphones;

recording at least one sound signal by using the controlled microphone array; and

displaying a visual effect for indicating that the at least one sound signal is being recorded based on the at least one voice beamforming direction.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to display the visual effect during recording of the at least one sound signal or before recording of the at least one sound signal.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of voice recording modes comprises a general mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from omni-directions, an interview mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from a sound source disposed in front of the electronic device, a dialog mode for recording at least one sound signal incoming from a first sound source disposed in front of the electronic device and a second sound source disposed in rear of the electronic device, and a voice memo mode for converting at least one sound signal into a text and displaying the text.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the at least one program further comprises instructions to:

perform sound beamforming on one speaking person on which at least one other electronic device performs sound beamforming and acquiring a plurality of pieces of voice recording data for the one speaking person; and

select and store voice recording data having high voice quality from among the plurality of pieces of voice recording data for the one speaking person.