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US 2016/0080867 A1Published application
Microphone array for acoustic source separation
AssigneeUniversity of Surrey
InventorDavid Nugent
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AssigneeUniversity of Surrey
InventorDavid Nugent
Estimating the term…
A system for directionally selective sound reception comprises an array of pressure sensors (120a, 120c) each arranged to output a pressure signal indicative of pressure, and a processor arranged to receive the pressure signals. The sensor array comprises a support (130) supporting the four sensors. Two of the sensors are mounted on one side of the support and at least a third sensor is supported on an opposite side of the support. The sound pressure difference measured between the first sensor and the second sensor caused by sound arriving at the array from a direction parallel to the support (130) is dependent on the distance between the first and second sensors and the nature of material in the space between the first and second sensors. The sound pressure difference measured between the first and third sensors caused by sound travelling perpendicular to the support is dependent on the distance between the first and third sensors. The nature of material in the space between the first and third sensors, and the spacings and the materials are selected such that the sound pressure differences are substantially equal.
A system for directionally selective sound reception comprising an array of pressure sensors each arranged to output a pressure signal indicative of pressure, and processing means arranged to receive the pressure signals, the sensor array comprising support means supporting the four sensors, a first one and a second one of the sensors being mounted on one side of the support means and at least a third sensor being supported on an opposite side of the support means, wherein the sound pressure difference measured between the first sensor to the second sensor caused by sound arriving at the array from a direction parallel to the support means is dependent on the distance between the first and second sensors and the nature of material in the space between the first and second sensors, and the sound pressure difference measured between the first and third sensors caused by sound travelling perpendicular to the support means is dependent on the distance between the first and third sensors and the nature of material in the space between the first and third sensors, and the spacings and the materials are selected such that the sound pressure differences are substantially equal.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein one of the sound pressure differences is no more than 50%, preferably no more than 25% and more preferably no more than 10% higher than the other.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein one of the sound pressure differences is no more than 5% higher than the other.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein the spacing between the first and second sensors is greater than the distance between the first and third sensors.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein a barrier is provided between the first and second sensors.
A system for directionally selective sound reception comprising an array of pressure sensors each arranged to output a pressure signal indicative of pressure, and processing means arranged to receive the pressure signals, the sensor array comprising support means supporting the four sensors, a first one and a second one of the sensors being mounted on one side of the support means and at least a third sensor being supported on an opposite side of the support means, wherein the spacing between the first and second sensors in the direction parallel to the plane of the substrate, is greater than the distance between the first and third sensors in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein the support means is substantially planar, having two opposite sides that are parallel to each other.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein each of the sensors has a sensing centre point, and the sensing centre points of the four sensors are arranged at the non-adjacent corners of an imaginary rectangular cuboid.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein the support means comprises a flat member with the two surfaces being on opposite sides of the member.
A device having a front face and a rear face and including a system according to any foregoing claim, wherein each of the microphones faces perpendicular to one of the faces.
A system for directionally selective sound reception comprising an array of pressure sensors each arranged to output a pressure signal indicative of pressure, and processing means arranged to receive the pressure signals, the sensor array comprising support means supporting the four sensors, at least two of sensors being arranged to face in one direction, the system including a barrier located between said two of the sensors.
A system according to any foregoing claim further comprising a housing in which the array is located.
A system for directionally selective sound reception comprising an array of pressure sensors each arranged to output a pressure signal indicative of pressure, and processing means arranged to receive the pressure signals, the sensor array comprising support means and four sensors supported on the support means, at least two of sensors being orientated parallel to each other, the sensors being arranged to sense pressure at respective sensing points, the sensing points being equidistant from each other and from a central point, and an enclosure extending around the array and defining four apertures each being associated with a respective one of the sensors, wherein the apertures are arranged such that each of them lies on a line extending out from the centre point through a respective one of the sensing points.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein two of the sensors face in one direction, and two of the sensors face in an opposite direction.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein the support means has two surfaces, which are parallel to each other, each of said surfaces having at least one of the sensors mounted on it.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein the support means comprises a flat member with the two surfaces being on opposite sides of the member.
A system according to any foregoing claim wherein each of the sensors has a sensing centre point, and the sensing centre points of the four sensors are arranged such that each of them is equidistant from each of the other three.
A device having a front face and a rear face and including a system according to any foregoing claim, wherein each of the microphones faces perpendicular to one of the faces.
A system for directionally selective sound reception comprising an array of pressure sensors each arranged to output a pressure signal indicative of pressure, and processing means arranged to receive the pressure signals, the sensor array comprising support means having two opposite sides and four sensors, at least two of sensors being supported on one side of the support means, and a barrier located between said two of the sensors.
A system substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
A system substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS. 10, 10a, 11, 11a, 12a and 12b of the accompanying drawings.
A system substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
A system substantially as described herein with reference to FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 22 or FIG. 23 of the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.