Microphone array device, conference system including microphone array device and method of controlling a microphone array device

A microphone array device comprising:

• a plurality of microphone capsules arranged in or on a board;
• and
• a processing unit comprising one or more hardware processors configured to:
• receive output signals of the microphone capsules;
• dynamically steer an audio beam based on the received output signals of the microphone capsules;
• generate and provide an audio output signal based on the received output signals of the microphone capsules;
• and
• implement a mode control unit;
• wherein the processing unit is further configured to operate in one of at least two different modes selected by the mode control unit, the modes including at least a dynamic beam mode and a default beam mode, wherein the microphone array device continuously detects audio sources in a detection area, and
• wherein in the dynamic beam mode at least one focused audio beam is formed that points towards a detected audio source according to the dynamical steering based on the received output signals of the microphone capsules, and wherein in the dynamic beam mode an acoustic transmission path from at least one loudspeaker via said focused audio beam to said plurality of microphone capsules varies according to said dynamical steering, and
• wherein in the default beam mode a broader audio beam is formed that covers substantially a default detection area of the microphone array device, and wherein in the default beam mode an acoustic transmission path from the at least one loudspeaker via said broader audio beam to said plurality of microphone capsules is constant, and wherein the broader audio beam is independent from the received output signal of the microphone capsules;
• wherein the mode control unit selects the default beam mode if no audio source is detected in the detection area or if an audio signal is replayed via at least one loudspeaker within the detection area,
• wherein the mode control unit selects the dynamic beam mode if an audio source is detected in the detection area and no audio signal is replayed via the at least one loudspeaker within the detection area, and
• wherein the mode control unit selects the default beam mode if for a predefined time no audio source is detected in the detection area.

A method of controlling a microphone array device that has a plurality of microphone capsules and that is adapted for forming a steerable audio beam for acquiring audio signals, the method comprising

• receiving output signals of the microphone capsules;
• dynamically steering the audio beam based on the received output signal of the microphone capsules;
• receiving a mode control signal;
• analyzing the output signals of the microphone capsules to detect silence;
• and
• in response to the mode control signal and to the detected silence, selecting an operating mode for at least the audio beam steering, wherein a first operating mode is a dynamic beam mode in which the output signals of the microphone capsules are dynamically steered to form a beam that points at a current main audio source and in which an acoustic transmission path from a given spatial point via said beam to said plurality of microphone capsules varies according to the dynamic steering, and a second operating mode is a default beam mode in which one or more of the output signals of the microphone capsules are combined to form a broader directivity pattern that points at a default detection area and in which the acoustic transmission path from the given spatial point via said beam is constant.