Patent ID: 8184843
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. A sound source localization apparatus comprising: one or more microphones covering all directions, and receiving signals coming from a sound source; signal selector distinguishing the received signals into those signals directly input to the microphones from the sound source (direct signals) and those signals indirectly input to the microphones from the sound source (indirect signals); a first localizing unit identifying a candidate region at which the sound source is present using locations of the microphones receiving direct signals; and a second localizing unit selecting a point in the candidate region as a candidate location of the sound source, drawing, from the candidate location, one or more virtual tangent lines contacting with the circumference of the sound source localization apparatus, placing locations of the microphones receiving indirect signals on the virtual tangent lines, and localizing the sound source on the basis of signals passing through the microphones receiving direct signals and through the virtual locations of the microphones receiving indirect signals.