Millimeter wave sensor used to optimize performance of a beamforming microphone array

A method for operating a beamforming microphone array for use in a predetermined area, the method comprising:

• receiving acoustic audio signals at each of a plurality of microphones, converting the same to an electrical mic audio signal, and outputting each of the plurality of electrical mic audio signals;
• generating a user location data signal by a wave sensor system, and outputting the user location data signal, wherein the user location data signal includes location information of one or more people within the predetermined area;
• receiving both the user location data signal and plurality of echo-corrected mic audio signals at an adaptive beamforming device;
• adapting one or more beams by the adaptive beamforming device based on the user location data signal and plurality of mic audio signals wherein each of the one or more beams acquires sound from one or more specific locations in the predetermined area, wherein
• if the user location data signal indicates that there are more people than beams that can be formed, then modifying, by the adaptive beamforming circuit, one or more of the fixed beam positions to cover two or more people in the conference room such that each person is covered by at least one fixed beam;
• and
• adjusting, by the adaptive beamforming circuit, a beam width and shape to cover two or more people in the conference room.

A method for operating a beamforming microphone array for use in a predetermined area, the method comprising:

• receiving acoustic audio signals at each of a plurality of microphones, converting the same to an electrical mic audio signal, and outputting each of the plurality of electrical mic audio signals;
• generating a user location data signal by a wave sensor system, and outputting the user location data signal, wherein the user location data signal includes location information of one or more people within the predetermined area;
• receiving both the user location data signal and plurality of echo-corrected mic audio signals at an adaptive beamforming device;
• adapting one or more beams by the adaptive beamforming device based on the user location data signal and plurality of mic audio signals wherein each of the one or more beams acquires sound from one or more specific locations in the predetermined area;
• removing, by an active noise reduction circuit, noise from an output of the adaptive beamforming circuit, and outputting a noise reduced audio signal;
• and
• receiving, by an Ethernet communication device, a far end audio signal from a remote location and outputting the same to one or more speakers and to each of the acoustic echo cancellation devices.