Patent ID: 6161434
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G01N,G01S

Abstract:
Method of detecting and/or locating a sound source by means of transducers organized in arrays comprising first, second and third transducer arrays, whereby a spatial correspondence is provided between said first and second transducer arrays, the method comprising a passive initial step in which acoustic signals received by reception transducers of the first array are sensed, and electric signals produced by the reception transducers of the first array in response to said acoustic signals are stored, wherein the passive initial step is followed by the steps of:(a) time reversing and amplifying at least one time window of each electric signal stored in the passive initial step in order to produce excitation signals;(b) applying the excitation signals to respective emission transducers of the second array;(c) sensing acoustic echo signals received by reception transducers of the third array, and storing electric signals produced by the reception transducers of the third array in response to said acoustic echo signals; and(d) using the electric signals stored in step (c) to detect the possible presence of a reflecting sound source.