Sound collecting device, and method of controlling sound collecting device

Abstract

An object is to provide a sound collecting device and a method of controlling a sound collecting device with which it is possible to easily obtain audio of a speaking person with a high level of precision while keeping the number of component parts small and preventing the structure from becoming complicated. An audio processing unit 35 judges whether or not the current mode is an operation mode (a speech mode or a conversation mode) in which audio of an occupant of the vehicle serving as a speaking person is obtained (step S1A). When the current mode is another operation mode (an audio playback mode or a head position measuring mode), the audio processing unit 35 sets the directionality of a microphone array to be directed toward the outside of the occupant or to be non-directional (steps S4A and S5A) and obtains input audio of the microphone array. In contrast, when the current mode is an operation mode (the speech mode or the conversation mode) in which audio of the occupant is obtained, the audio processing unit 35 arranges the directionality of the microphone array to be directed toward the occupant (step S2A).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.