METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SOURCE LOCATION ESTIMATION FROM MICROPHONE-ARRAY TIME-DELAY ESTIMATES

摘要

Apparatus for determining the location of a signal-generating source (e.g., a conferee in a telephone conference) includes at least three sensors (e.g., microphones) arranged in a plurality of sets, each having two or more sensors. A surface-finding element responds to receipt at each sensor set of signals (e.g., speech) from the source for identifying a geometric surface (e.g., the surface of a hyperboloid or cone) representing potential locations of the source as a function of sensor locations and time difference of arrival of the signals. A location- approximating element coupled to two or more of the sets identifies a line that further defines potential source locations at the intersection of the surfaces. A location signal representing those potential locations is generated in accord with parameters of that line. Further functionality generates generating the location signal as a function of closest intersections the plural ones of the aforementioned lines.