System and method for a monolithic directional microphone array

A system for a directional microphone, said system comprising:

• (a) a plurality of monolithic detection units for detecting sound information and performing local signal processing on said sound information, wherein each of said plurality of monolithic detection units includes:
• (i) an integrated transducer for receiving acoustic waves, and responsive thereto, for generating a signal representing sound information of said waves;
• (ii) a processor, coupled to the transducer, for receiving the sound information and performing local digital signal processing on the sound information by generating a spatially directed virtual array directed to focus on at least one of a certain frequency bandwidth or sound information emanating from a specific spatial location to generate locally processed sound information;
• (b) a base unit, coupled to the plurality of monolithic detection units, for receiving a pre-processed local sound information from at least one of said plurality of monolithic detection units and forperforming global signal processing on the pre-processed local sound information, said base unit including a processor for receiving the pre-processed local sound information and performing global digital signal processing on the pre-processed local sound information by generating a global virtual array directed to focus on at least one of a certain frequency bandwidth or sound information emanating from a specific spatial location to generate globally processed sound information;
• and
• (c) a communication means for communicating between said plurality of monolithic detection units and said base unit, each of said detection units being capable of communicating with another detection unit and said base unit, said base unit being capable of transmitting instructions to each of said detection units.