Patent ID: 8130977
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a cluster of at least three microphones for at least two channel inputs of an audio system, each of the microphones being an N th -order microphone where N≧1, the cluster being positionable in an arbitrary orientation relative to the audio system, the method comprising: storing a plurality of stored orientations for the cluster; processing calibration signal inputs received from each of the microphones in response to audio emitted with the audio system by using each of the stored orientations; comparing each of the processed calibration signal inputs with each other; automatically determining the arbitrary orientation of the cluster with respect to the audio system by selecting one of the stored orientations based on the comparison; determining first and second weightings to be applied to operational signal input generated by each microphone, the first weightings corresponding to the determined arbitrary orientation relative to a first of the at least two channel inputs of the audio system; the second weightings corresponding to the determined arbitrary orientation relative to a second of the at least two channel inputs of the audio system; producing first channel input for the audio system by: weighting the operational signal input generated by each microphone by its corresponding first weighting, and combining the first weighted signal inputs of the microphones; and producing second channel input for the audio system by: weighting the operational signal input generated by each microphone by its corresponding second weighting, and combining the second weighted signal inputs of the microphones.