Patent · US Expired

Locating an audio source

US6593956B1 · kind B1 · utility

350Cited by
36References
64Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 1998
Grant dateJul 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2430/20
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system, such as a video conferencing system, is provided which includes an image pickup device, an audio pickup device, and an audio source locator. The image pickup device generates image signals representative of an image, while the audio pickup device generates audio signals representative of sound from an audio source, such as speaking person. The audio source locator processes the image signals and audio signals to determine a direction of the audio source relative to a reference point. The system can further determine a location of the audio source relative to the reference point. The reference point can be a camera. The system can use the direction or location information to frame a proper camera shot which would include the audio source.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.