Acoustic localization of a speaker

US8204248B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Nuance Communications, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Tim Haulick · Blaubeuren, DE
• Gerhard Uwe Schmidt · Ulm, DE
• Markus Buck · Biberach, DE
• Tobias Wolff · Neu-Ulm, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 17, 2008
• Grant date: Jun 19, 2012
• Expiry date: Apr 20, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04S7/305
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system locates a speaker in a room containing a loudspeaker and a microphone array. The loudspeaker transmits a sound that is partly reflected by a speaker. The microphone array detects the reflected sound and converts the sound into a microphone signal. A processor determines the speaker's direction relative to the microphone array, the speaker's distance from the microphone array, or both, based on the characteristics of the microphone signals.