Sound localization system for teleconferencing using self-steering microphone arrays

A station for transmitting and receiving audio and video signals to and from, respectively, at least one other station comprising:

• a video camera for generating a video signal representative of a video image of said station,
• a microphone array for receiving a sound from at least one of a plurality of volume zones into which said station is divided and for generating a monochannel audio signal representative of said received sound and a direction signal indicating, based on the sound detected in each of said zones, the zone at said station from which said sound originated, wherein said microphone array comprises control means for causing said microphone array to successively form a highly directional beam in each of said volume zones and, in response to detecting a sound in a particular one of said zones, outputting said direction signal indicating said particular zone.
• a display device for receiving a video signal from said other station and for displaying a video image of said other station, and
• a loudspeaker control device for receiving a monochannel audio signal and a direction signal from said other station, for selecting a virtual location on said displayed video image depending on said received direction signal, and for generating stereo sound from said received monochannel audio signal which stereo sound is perceived as emanating from said virtual location on said displayed video image.

A teleconferencing system comprising:

• a first station including
• video camera means for generating a video signal representative of a video image of said first station, and
• a microphone array for receiving a sound from at least one of a plurality of fixed, non-overlapping zones into which said first station is divided, and for generating a monochannel audio signal representative of said received sound and a direction signal indicating, based on the sound detected in each of said zones, a zone of said first station in which said sound originated, wherein said microphone array comprises control means for causing said microphone array to successively form a highly directional beam in each of said volume zones and, in response to detecting a sound in a particular one of said zones, outputting said direction signal indicating said particular zone, and
• a second station including
• a display device for receiving said video signal from said first station and for displaying a video image of said first station, and
• a loudspeaker control device for receiving said monochannel audio signal and said direction signal from said first station, for selecting a virtual location on said displayed video image depending on said received direction signal, and for generating stereo sound from said received monochannel audio signal which stereo sound emanates from said virtual location on said displayed video image.