IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,966,022
Granted Patent B1
US 10,966,022 · App. 16/017,908 · Granted Mar 30, 2021

Sound source localization using multiple microphone arrays

Inventors: Wai C. Chu (San Jose, CA); Edward Dietz Crump (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
H04R3/005G10L25/78H04R2420/03H04R2430/21
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,966,022
App. No.
16/017,908
Filed
Jun 25, 2018
Granted
Mar 30, 2021
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2654
USPC
381/92
Abstract

An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. Multiple microphone arrays of different physical sizes are used to acquire signals for spatial tracking of one or more sound sources within the environment. A first array with a larger size may be used to track an object beyond a threshold distance, while a second array having a size smaller than the first may be used to track the object up to the threshold distance. By selecting different sized arrays, accuracy of the spatial location is improved.

Claims (48)

1. A method comprising:

determining a zone associated with a first device having at least a first microphone, wherein:

the zone comprises a physical environment, the first device, and a second device; and

the first device is designated as having a higher priority, as compared to the second device, with respect to processing audio data associated with the zone;

receiving first audio data from the first device;

receiving second audio data from the second device having at least a second microphone;

determining, based at least in part on the second audio data being associated with the zone, that the first audio data from the first device is to be processed; and

determining, based at least in part on the second audio data being associated with the zone, that the second audio data from the second device is to be at least one of discarded or disregarded.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising determining that the first device is mobile and that the second device is stationary.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising determining that the first device is stationary and that the second device is mobile.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the first device has a first plurality of microphones that include the first microphone and that function as a first microphone array; and

determining that the second device has a second plurality of microphones that include the second microphone and that function as a second microphone array.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising determining that the first device is configured to output at least one of audio data via one or more speakers of the first device or visual data via one or more displays of the first device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising determining that the second device is configured to output at least one of audio data via one or more speakers of the second device or visual data via one or more displays of the second device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein determining the zone further comprises identifying a region of a room that is associated with the first device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the first audio data and the second audio data, one or more first audio attributes and one or more second audio attributes; and

determining, based at least in part on the one or more first audio attributes and the one or more second audio attributes, that the second audio data is associated with the zone.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the first audio data and the second audio data, one or more first audio attributes and one or more second audio attributes; and

determining, based at least in part on the one or more first audio attributes and the one or more second audio attributes, that the second audio data is associated with the zone.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein determining that the first audio data from the first device is to be processed further comprises determining that the second audio data is acquired within the zone, wherein the zone is defined by a threshold distance and an origin associated with the first device.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

computer-readable media storing one or more computer executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform operations comprising:

determining a zone associated with a first device having at least a first microphone, wherein:

the zone comprises a physical environment, the first device, and a second device; and

the first device is designated as having a higher priority, as compared to the second device, with respect to processing audio data associated with the zone;

receiving first audio data from the first device;

receiving second audio data from the second device having at least a second microphone;

determining, based at least in part on the second audio data being associated with the zone, that the first audio data from the first device is to be processed; and

determining, based at least in part on the second audio data being associated with the zone, that additional audio data associated with the second device is not to be acquired.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, based at least in part on the first audio data and the second audio data, one or more first audio attributes and one or more second audio attributes; and

determining, based at least in part on the one or more first audio attributes and the one or more second audio attributes, that the second audio data is associated with the zone.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, based at least in part on the first audio data and the second audio data, one or more first audio attributes and one or more second audio attributes; and

determining, based at least in part on the one or more first audio attributes and the one or more second audio attributes, that the second audio data is associated with the zone.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first device has a first plurality of microphones that include the first microphone and that function as a first microphone array; and

determining that the second device has a second plurality of microphones that include the second microphone and that function as a second microphone array.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the first device is mobile and that the second device is stationary.

16. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the first device is stationary and that the second device is mobile.

17. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the first device is configured to output at least one of audio data via one or more speakers of the first device or visual data via one or more displays of the first device.

18. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the second device is configured to output at least one of audio data via one or more speakers of the second device or visual data via one or more displays of the second device.

19. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein determining that the first audio data is to be processed further comprises determining that the first device is designated as a data source for the zone.

20. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein determining that the additional audio data is not to be acquired further comprises determining that the second audio data is acquired within the zone, wherein the zone is defined by a threshold distance and an origin associated with the first device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: RAWLES LLC
To: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 046197/0314 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: CHU, WAI C.; CRUMP, EDWARD DIETZ
To: RAWLES LLC
Reel/Frame 046427/0886 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15344350 · Nov 4, 2016
Continuation 14658001 · Mar 13, 2015
Continuation 13305189 · Nov 28, 2011
Cited By (7)
US 12,289,528 US 12,395,794 US 12,395,803 US 12,425,787 US 12,563,158 US 12,621,572 US 12,677,068