IP Library Granted Patent US 9,258,644
Granted Patent B2
US 9,258,644 · App. 13/560,015 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Method and apparatus for microphone beamforming

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,258,644
App. No.
13/560,015
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a camera system and an optimization system. The optimization system is configured to communicate with the camera system. At least one microphone is connected to the optimization system. The optimization system is configured to adjust a beamform of the at least one microphone based, at least in part, on camera focus information of the camera system.

Claims (30)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a camera system;

an optimization system, wherein the optimization system is configured to communicate with the camera system; and

at least one microphone connected to the optimization system;

wherein the optimization system is configured to automatically adjust a beamform of the at least one microphone based, at least in part, on focus location information of the camera system and zoom setting information of the camera system, wherein the zoom setting information is associated with an audio capture profile.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the focus location information comprises a focus location relative to the camera system.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the optimization system is configured to estimate a distance between a sound source and the camera system.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the focus information comprises a focus spot position on an image plane.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the optimization system comprises user selectable ranges for beam width adjustment of the beamform.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the optimization system is configured to produce an audio frame with a set directivity pattern.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the optimization system is configured to direct the beamform in a direction away from a center of an image capture area of the camera system.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the at least one microphone comprises at least one directional microphone, at least two omni-directional microphones, or an array of microphones.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein apparatus comprises a two camera system configured to capture a stereo image.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the camera system comprises at least one camera.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile phone.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving focus location information, wherein the focus location information corresponds to a focus location of a camera;

receiving zoom setting information, wherein the zoom setting information corresponds to a zoom setting information of the camera; and

controlling at least one microphone based, at least partially, on the focus location information and the zoom setting information;

wherein the controlling the at least one microphone further comprises automatically controlling the at least one microphone based, at least partially, on the focus location information and the zoom setting information, wherein the zoom setting information is associated with an audio capture profile.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein the focus location information comprises a focus location relative to the camera.

14. A method as in claim 12 further comprising estimating a distance between a sound source and the camera.

15. A method as in claim 12 wherein the zoom setting information comprises a user selectable audio capture profile.

16. A method as in claim 12 wherein the focus location information comprises a focus spot position on an image plane.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

code for processing focus location information, wherein the focus location information corresponds to a focus location of a camera;

code for processing zoom setting information, wherein the zoom setting information corresponds to a zoom setting information of the camera; and

code for automatically controlling at least one microphone based, at least partially, on the focus location information and the zoom setting information, wherein the zoom setting information is associated with an audio capture profile.

18. A computer program product as in claim 17 further comprising code for estimating a distance between a sound source and the camera.

19. A computer program product as in claim 17 wherein the focus location information comprises a focus spot position on an image plane.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2021
From: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
To: OT WSOU TERRIER HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056990/0081 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2018
From: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
To: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045084/0282 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2015
From: NOKIA CORPORATION
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 035232/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2012
From: MAENPAA, OSSI E.; MAKITALO, KIMMO; TAMMI, MIKKO T.; VIROLAINEN, JUSSI; KELLONIEMI, ANTTI P.
To: NOKIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028857/0160 →