Videoconferencing system with horizontal and vertical microphone arrays

Abstract

A system and method for acoustic source location using a horizontal and vertical microphone array. Tilt sensors are provided within each array to allow full determination of the tilt of each array. Based on the acoustic source location results, an image capture device may be maneuvered to focus in the direction of the acoustic source location.

1 . A videoconference system comprising: 
 a horizontal microphone array providing an output for each microphone;    a vertical microphone array providing an output for each microphone, said horizontal and vertical arrays capable of being positioned independently of each other;    logic receiving the microphone outputs of the horizontal and vertical arrays and determining the location of an acoustic source;    a controllable image capture device; and    a controller connected to said logic and said image capture device for directing said image capture device to aim at the determined acoustic source location.    
   
   
       2 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method for image capture device tracking comprising: 
 receiving an audio signal with a horizontal microphone array and a vertical microphone array and providing microphone out signals, the horizontal and vertical arrays capable of being positioned independently of each other;    analyzing the microphone output signals from the horizontal and vertical arrays and determining the acoustic source location; and    maneuvering an image capture device to aim in the direction of the acoustic source location.    
   
   
       13 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 1  wherein the videoconferencing system further comprises one or more additional microphone pods positioned to receive sound from a far end of a conference room opposite the horizontal microphone array and vertical microphone array.  
   
   
       16 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 1  wherein the controllable image capture device comprises a camera movably mounted on a stage that includes a motor driven mechanism that pans and tilts the camera.  
   
   
       17 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal microphone array comprises a left wing, a center section and a right wing mechanically interconnected to preserve relative positions of all microphones.  
   
   
       18 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal array comprises a plurality of microphones for detecting videoconference audio, at least one microphone to detect noise from the image capture device, and at least one microphone for monitoring a speaker providing videoconference audio output.  
   
   
       19 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal array and the vertical array each include an orientation sensor comprising a single-axis liquid electrolytic capacitive sensor.  
   
   
       20 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 19  further comprising an EEPROM for storing orientation sensor response curves and offset constants.  
   
   
       21 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 19  further comprising a temperature sensor near each orientation sensor having an output connected to the logic, the logic being configured to compensate for temperature variations of the orientation sensors when determining the location of the acoustic source.  
   
   
       22 . The videoconferencing system of  claim 1  wherein the left wing, the central unit, the right wing, and the vertical body each have a separate FPGA  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 determining the orientations of the horizontal and vertical arrays, wherein the orientations are used in determining the acoustic source location, wherein determining the orientations of the horizontal and vertical arrays comprises:    determining a gravity vector pointing in the direction of gravity;    determining an orientation of a horizontal pan sensor assembly with respect to gravity; and    determining an orientation of a vertical pan sensor assembly with respect to gravity.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 measuring a temperature near each of the horizontal pan sensor assembly and the vertical pan sensor assembly; and    compensating a reading of the sensors to account for the measured temperature.