Patent ID: 8363512
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating a location of a sound source, comprising the steps of: (a) sampling sound information and image information simultaneously using a sound/image sampling unit incorporating a group of microphones in pairs of microphones arranged at a predetermined interval on straight lines bisecting at right angles and an image pickup device configured to sample images in the direction of the sound source; (b) storing sound pressure waveform data which is sound pressure signals of the sampled sound and image data which is the sampled image information respectively in a storage device; (c) extracting the sound pressure waveform data from the storage device and displaying a graph of a time-series waveform of sound pressure level; (d) designating a temporal position on the graph at which to perform calculation to estimate the direction of a sound source; (e) estimating the direction of a sound source by calculating the arrival time differences between the sound pressure signals of the sound sampled by the pairs of microphones, using sound pressure waveform data for a predetermined calculation time length having the designated temporal position therein; (f) creating a sound source position estimation image having a graphic showing the estimated direction of a sound source by combining the estimated direction of a sound source with the image data sampled during the calculation time; and (g) estimating the location of a sound source using the sound source position estimation image.