Audio transducer system and audio transducer device of the same

An audio transducer device includes an audio transducer, a controller and a direction adjusting mechanism. The audio transducer has a sound receiving surface formed with multiple sound collecting holes, and multiple microphones corresponding in position to the sound collecting holes. The controller is detachably mounted to an electronic device, and controls the microphones to cooperatively perform directional sound reception to obtain audio data. The direction adjusting mechanism interconnects an audio transducer shell and the controller such that the sound receiving surface can be rotated to a position where a normal direction thereof and an image capturing direction of the electronic device forming a desired angle therebetween.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 109122102, filed on Jun. 30, 2020.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a sound acquisition device and system, and more particularly to an audio transducer device and system that is adapted for use with an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

With the rapid advancement of relevant technology, webcasting has evolved into a very popular industry.

In order to facilitate live broadcast operations at any location, it is common for a live broadcaster to use a mobile device such as a mobile phone as an image capture device and live broadcast operating platform, and perform directional sound reception through a microphone device that is additionally installed on the mobile device.

The external microphone device can be roughly divided into two types according to their sound reception function. A first type is designed to pick up sound coming from a fixed direction (e.g., a front direction). The second type is designed to pick up sound from whichever direction that has the largest voice energy in front of it, so the sound receiving direction will change with changes in voice energy distribution. When the first type of microphone device is used, the live broadcaster must always stand within a fixed area so as to direct their voice in the fixed direction with respect to the microphone device. If the live broadcaster moves away from the fixed area, the sound reception will drop significantly. When the second type of microphone device is used, because it attempts to pick up sound from the direction with the largest voice energy in front of it, if the live broadcaster is in a noisy environment or at a place with multiple audio sources, such as in a department store, at a marketplace, on a street or at a tourist attraction, etc., the microphone device may often change its sound reception direction and be directed to an audio source other than the live broadcaster. In such a scenario, the microphone device cannot be controlled to receive sound coming from the direction of only the live broadcaster.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an audio transducer device that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the audio transducer device includes an audio transducer, a controller and a direction adjusting mechanism. The audio transducer includes a transducer shell having a sound receiving surface formed with multiple sound collecting holes, and a microphone module disposed in the transducer shell and including multiple microphones. The microphones correspond in position to the sound collecting holes of the sound receiving surface for receiving sound. The controller is to be detachably mounted and communicatively connected to an electronic device capable of capturing images and that is communicatively connected to the audio transducer. The controller is configured to control the microphones to cooperatively perform directional sound reception to obtain audio data that is to be transmitted to the electronic device. The direction adjusting mechanism interconnects the transducer shell and the controller in such a way that the transducer shell is rotatable relative to the controller for rotating the sound receiving surface to a position where a normal direction of the sound receiving surface and an image capturing direction of the electronic device form an angle as desired by a user therebetween.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide an audio transducer system that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the audio transducer system includes an audio transducer device adapted for being mounted and communicatively connected to an electronic device, and a sound pickup control module that is a software to be installed in the electronic device. The audio transducer device has a sound receiving surface to be rotated to a position where a normal direction of the sound receiving surface and an image capturing direction of the electronic device form an angle as desired by a user therebetween, and includes a microphone module. The sound receiving surface is formed with multiple sound collecting holes. The microphone module includes multiple microphones that correspond in position to the sound collecting holes of the sound receiving surface for receiving sound, and is configured to be controlled by a beamforming technology to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from a sound reception direction that corresponds to a direction data piece received by the audio transducer device. The sound pickup control module includes an image tracking unit and a sound pickup control unit. The image tracking unit is configured to track a position of a target person in a captured image based on a target feature parameter set that corresponds to the target person to obtain the direction data piece, where the captured image is an image captured by the electronic device. The sound pickup control unit is configured to control the electronic device to transmit the direction data piece to the audio transducer device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1to3, a first embodiment of the audio transducer system according to this disclosure is adapted for use with an electronic device900. The electronic device900is exemplified to include a front lens901and a rear lens902that are capable of capturing images, a screen903for displaying the images captured by the front lens901and the rear lens902, and a transmission terminal904for connection to a power source (not shown) and for data transmission. In this embodiment, the electronic device900may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a camera, a video recorder, or other devices that can perform image capture, image display, and sound recording functionalities. In some embodiments, the electronic device900may only be capable of sound recording. However, according to this disclosure, the electronic device900is not limited to those listed above.

The audio transducer system includes an audio transducer device200that is to be detachably mounted to the electronic device900, and a sound pickup control module6. In this embodiment, the sound pickup control module6may be a software program (e.g., a mobile application, but this disclosure is not limited in this respect) to be installed in the electronic device900for controlling, when executed by the electronic device900, operation of the audio transducer device200.

The audio transducer device200includes an audio transducer3, a controller4that is to be detachably mounted and communicatively connected to the electronic device900, and a direction adjusting mechanism5that interconnects the audio transducer3and the controller4in such a way that the audio transducer3is rotatable relative to the controller4.

The audio transducer3is electrically connected to the controller4via, for example but not limited to, a signal wire that extends through the direction adjusting mechanism5, and includes a transducer shell31that is rotatably mounted to the direction adjusting mechanism5, and a microphone module32that is disposed in the transducer shell31. The transducer shell31has a sound receiving surface310formed with multiple sound collecting holes, and a directional side311distant from the direction adjusting mechanism5. The microphone module32includes multiple microphones321that are arranged to correspond in position to the sound collecting holes. The microphones321can be controlled by the controller4using a beamforming technology to cooperatively perform directional sound reception.

In this embodiment, the microphone module32includes four microphones321arranged in such a way that, when the microphones321are divided into two groups, the two groups are not in point symmetry. However, this disclosure is not limited to a specific quantity of the microphones321, and the microphones321may be arranged in a symmetric pattern (e.g., a square, a rectangle, etc.) in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the microphone module32may include other numbers of microphones321, such as three, five, six, or more microphones321, which are arranged non-collinear in order to identify a direction the sound comes from. Usually, more identifying the direction the sound comes from.

The controller4includes a controller shell41that is capable of being rotatably mounted to the direction adjusting mechanism5, a control circuit42that is disposed in the controller shell41and communicatively connected to the microphone module32, and a signal terminal43that projects from and is fixed to the controller shell41and that is communicatively connected to the control circuit42. The controller4can be detachably mounted to the electronic device900by detachably inserting the signal terminal43of the controller4into the transmission terminal904of the electronic device900, so the controller4can, through the signal terminal43and the transmission terminal904, acquire electric power that is required for operation, and perform data transmission between the control circuit42and the electronic device900.

In some embodiments, the signal terminal43may conform to universal serial bus (USB) type-B, USB type-C, Lightning, etc. In this disclosure, the signal terminal43is not limited to a specific type, as long as the signal terminal43is compatible with the transmission terminal904.

The control circuit42is configured to acquire a sound reception direction from a direction data piece received from the electronic device900, to use, for example but not limited to, the beamforming technology to enhance sound reception capability of the microphones321with respect to the sound reception direction, so the microphones321cooperatively perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from the sound reception direction, and to obtain audio data by performing signal processing, for example but not limited to, filtering, noise reduction, voice extraction, etc., on sound received from the microphones321. The control circuit42then transmits the audio data to the electronic device900for use or storage thereby.

The direction adjusting mechanism5includes a body51, a first adaptation component52and a second adaptation component53. The first adaptation component52is connected between the body51and the transducer shell31in such a way that the transducer shell31is rotatable relative to the body about a central axis of the first adaptation component52. The second adaptation component53is connected between the body51and the controller shell41in such a way that the body51is rotatable relative to the controller shell41about a central axis of the second adaptation component53. By virtue of such configuration, the sound receiving surface310of the audio transducer3can be rotated to a position where a normal direction of the sound receiving surface310and an image capturing direction of the electronic device900form an angle as desired or determined by a user between the normal direction of the sound receiving surface310and an image capturing direction of the electronic device900.

In this embodiment, each of the first adaptation component52and the second adaptation component53is structured as an annular snap joint that makes two components interconnected thereby capable of performing 360-degree rotation relative to each other, and central axes of the first adaptation component52and the second adaptation component53are transverse (orthogonal in this embodiment) to each other. The first adaption component52has a first end that is fixedly mounted to the body51, and a second end that is inserted into the transducer shell31in such a way that the body51is engaged to the transducer shell31, is rotatable relative to the transducer shell31about the central axis of the first adaption component52and can be positioned at a specific position relative to the transducer shell31. The second adaption component53has a first end that is fixedly mounted to the body51, and a second end that is inserted through an adaption surface of the controller shell41into the controller shell41in such a way that the body51is engaged to the controller shell41, is rotatable relative to the controller shell41about the central axis of the second adaption component53and can be positioned at a specific position relative to the controller shell41. In this embodiment, the adaption surface of the controller shell41is adjacent to a surface of the controller shell41to which the signal terminal43is mounted, and has a normal direction that is orthogonal to an image capturing direction of the electronic device900.

In practice, positioning between the first adaption component52and the transducer shell31and positioning between the second adaption component53and the controller shell41can be realized by, for example, engagement connection between male and female engaging members, such as teeth and grooves, protrusion and recess, etc., or by virtue of frictional contact between the two components. The method and structure to achieve positioning between two components should be well known to those skilled in the art, so details thereof are omitted herein for the sake of brevity, and this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

FIG.2exemplarily shows a case where the audio transducer device200is connected to the electronic device900that captures images using the front lens901in a landscape mode, and where the audio transducer device200is disposed at a right side of the electronic device900. By virtue of the direction adjusting mechanism5, the audio transducer3and the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5can be rotated relative to the electronic device900in such a way that the audio transducer3is rotated to a position where the directional side311faces a front direction of the electronic device900, and where the sound receiving surface310is substantially horizontal and faces upward or downward. In such a condition, the audio transducer3can be controlled by the controller4to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from a horizontal direction within a range covered by an image905that is captured by the electronic device900(referred to as captured image905herein). It is noted that the captured image905may be captured using the front lens901in some embodiments, and may be captured using the rear lens902in other embodiments, and this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

FIG.4exemplarily shows a case where the audio transducer device200is connected to the electronic device900that captures images using the rear lens902in a portrait mode, and where the audio transducer device200is disposed at a bottom side of the electronic device900. The audio transducer3and the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5can be rotated relative to the electronic device900in such a way that the audio transducer3is rotated to a position where the directional side311faces a rear direction of the electronic device900, and where the sound receiving surface310is substantially horizontal and faces upward or downward. In such a condition, the audio transducer3can be controlled by the controller4to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from a horizontal direction within a range covered by an image that is captured by the rear lens902and displayed on the screen903.

When the sound receiving surface310is substantially horizontal, a normal direction of the sound receiving surface310and the image capturing direction of the electronic device900are substantially orthogonal to each other, and the microphones321would sense the sound coming from the sound reception direction at different time points, so the audio transducer3can be controlled by the controller4to perform directional sound reception using the beamforming technology. In practice, the sound receiving surface310of the audio transducer3is not required to be completely horizontal (e.g., it is not necessary for the normal direction of the sound receiving surface310to be completely orthogonal to the image capturing direction), and can be rotated relative to the first adaption component52to a slanted position, as long as the microphones321can sense the sound from the sound reception direction at different time points.

Referring toFIGS.2and3, the sound pickup control module6includes a device control unit61, a feature establishing unit62, an image tracking unit63and a sound pickup control unit64.

The device control unit61detects, via the electronic device900, whether the transmission terminal904has been communicatively connected to the audio transducer device200. Upon determining that the electronic device900has been communicatively connected to the audio transducer device200, the device control unit61controls the electronic device900to turn off a sound reception function of a microphone built in the electronic device900, and to switch to use the audio transducer device200as a sound reception device that acquires the sound for media programs that are currently executed. The media programs may include but not limited to, for example, social media programs, live broadcast programs, video recording programs, photographing programs, audio recording programs, etc.

The feature establishing unit62may use face recognition technology to analyze the captured image905and recognize human faces in the captured image905that is currently displayed on the screen903, and to use a pattern621to mark out the human faces thus recognized in the captured image905. For example, the feature establishing unit62may generate dotted frames that respectively encircle the human faces thus recognized, so a user of the electronic device900can know which human face in the captured image905is recognizable by the feature establishing unit62. When a user operates the electronic device900to select one of the human faces that are marked by the pattern621by, for example but not limited, touch operation on the screen903or triggering particular buttons, the feature establishing unit62analyzes the person that corresponds to the selected one of the human faces (referred to as selected person) in the captured image905to obtain overall features of the selected person, and establishes and stores a set of feature parameters (referred to as feature parameter set) for the selected person in the electronic device900. The overall features may include but not limited to, haircut, face shape, facial features (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, eyebrows, etc.), clothes and/or accessories the person is wearing, body type/shape, etc.

Further, the feature establishing unit62may take a snapshot for each of the persons whose feature parameter set has already been established to generate a character icon622that corresponds to the feature parameter set of the person, and causes the electronic device900to display the character icons622of the persons beside the captured image905on the screen903.

In some embodiments, the feature parameter sets that were established for some persons may be pre-stored in the electronic device900. In such a scenario, when the electronic device900starts to capture images, the feature establishing unit62may directly identify whether the captured image905contains any person that corresponds to one of the feature parameter sets. Upon finding that a person corresponding to one of the feature parameter sets is contained in the captured image905, the feature establishing unit62may immediately cause the electronic device900to display a character icon622that corresponds the person thus found on the screen903, and the step of establishing the feature parameter set may be omitted.

When one of the character icons622displayed on the screen903is selected, the image tracking unit63may analyze, based on the feature parameter set that corresponds to the selected one of the character icons622, the captured image905that is currently being displayed on the screen903to identify in the captured image905a target person that corresponds to the selected one of the character icons622. Then, the image tracking unit63may track a position of the target person in the captured image905in real time to obtain a direction data piece that corresponds to the target person. The direction data piece includes, for example but not limited to, a lateral distance between the position of the target person and a central line906that extends through a center of the captured image905in a vertical direction (with the vertical direction being dependent upon the orientation of the electronic device900at the time), an angle formed between the central line906and an extension line907that extends from a bottom of the central line906to the position of the target person, coordinates of the position of the target person in a coordinate system defined with respect to the captured image905, and so on.

The sound pickup control unit64transmits the direction data piece to the controller4, and the control circuit42of the controller4acquires the sound reception direction from the direction data piece received from the electronic device900, uses the beamforming technology to enhance sound reception capability of the microphones321with respect to the sound reception direction. As a result, the microphones321cooperatively perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from the sound reception direction. Then, the control circuit42obtains audio data by performing signal processing on the sound received from the microphones321, and transmits the audio data to the electronic device900. The sound pickup control unit64controls the electronic device900to use the audio data as an audio input for the media programs that are currently being used.

In this embodiment, the sound pickup control module6is installed in the electronic device900, and the controller4is communicatively connected to the electronic device900by inserting the signal terminal43into the transmission terminal904of the electronic device900when the audio transducer device200is used with the electronic device900. The audio transducer3and the direction adjusting mechanism5can be rotated based on the image capturing direction of the electronic device900. For example, when the electronic device900is in the portrait mode, the audio transducer3and the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5can be rotated in such a way that the directional side311faces toward the image capturing direction of the electronic device900, and the sound receiving surface310is horizontal and faces upwardly or downwardly.

When the electronic device900executes a media program that requires image capturing and sound capturing, the sound pickup control module6controls the electronic device900to turn off the microphone built in the electronic device900and to switch to use the audio transducer device200for sound reception. When the electronic device900starts to capture images, the sound pickup control module6begins to analyze the captured image905and mark human faces in the captured image905using the patterns621. After the user selects some human faces that are marked by the patterns621, the sound pickup control module6performs feature analysis on the selected persons to establish and store feature parameter sets that correspond to the selected persons, and makes the electronic device900display the character icons622that correspond to the feature parameter sets. In the case that the electronic device900has the feature parameter sets pre-stored therein, the sound pickup control module6would directly use the feature parameter sets to analyze persons in the captured image905, and, upon finding that a person corresponding to one of the feature parameter sets is captured by the captured image905, control the electronic device900to display the character icon622that corresponds to the person thus found on the screen903.

When the user intends to track the sound reception with respect to one of the persons (referred to as target person) in the captured image905, the user may select the character icon622that corresponds to the target person, so as to make the sound pickup control module6track, based on the feature parameter set that corresponds to the selected character icon622, a position of the target person in the captured image905to obtain the direction data piece that corresponds to the target person, and transmit the direction data piece to the audio transducer device200. The audio transducer device200calculates a sound reception direction based on the direction data piece, and uses beamforming technology to control the microphone module32to perform directional sound reception and voice extraction with respect to sound coming from the sound reception direction to acquire audio data. Then, the audio transducer device200transmits the audio data to the electronic device900for use or storage by the media program.

By virtue of the sound pickup control module6that tracks the position of the target person based on the corresponding feature parameter set and that controls the audio transducer device200to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from a direction corresponding to the target person, the voice of the target person can be effectively captured without moving or rotating the electronic device900. As a result, once a live broadcaster has the electronic device900set up at a spot, the live broadcaster can move freely in front of the lens that captures images as desired while, as an example, introducing tourist attractions and/or products, because the audio transducer device200can correctly perform tracked sound reception to pick up sound coming from the direction of the live broadcaster even if there are other people talking nearby. In other words, the live broadcaster will not be limited to standing in a fixed direction (e.g., the dead-front direction) from the lens of the electronic device900while broadcasting.

It is noted that, in the first embodiment, each of the first adaption component52and the second adaption component53is structured as an annular snap joint that can be inserted into the corresponding one of the transducer shell31and the controller shell41while allowing for relative rotation between the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5and the shell31/41, so the audio transducer3can be rotated to face the front side or the rear side of the electronic device900, and the sound receiving surface310can be rotated to be horizontal (“horizontal” is a directional expression that may change depending on whether the electronic device900is in the portrait or landscape mode, as is understood in an ordinarily setting) and face upward or downward (“upward” and “downward” are directional expressions that may change depending on whether the electronic device900is in the portrait or landscape mode, as are understood in an ordinarily setting).

In practice, multiple types of structures are capable of being used to realize the direction adjustment mechanism5that makes the audio transducer3rotatable relative to the electronic device900about two transverse axes. For example, universal joints, lug and pin joints, other suitable structures, or any combination thereof can also be used to interconnect the audio transducer3and the direction adjusting mechanism5to provide for the required degrees of freedom of movement, as would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, and this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

Referring toFIG.5, in another implementation, the adaption surface of the controller shell41of the controller4to which the direction adjusting mechanism5is mounted is opposite to the surface (e.g., the top surface inFIG.5) of the controller shell41where the signal terminal (not shown inFIG.5) is mounted. The second adaption component53is structured as a circular column that is inserted into the controller shell41through the adaption surface of the controller shell41and that allows the direction adjusting mechanism5to perform 360-degree rotation about the second adaption component53and be positioned relative to the controller shell41, and the first adaption component52is structured as a pin that is pivotally connected to a male lug33of the audio transducer3and two female lugs511of the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5, so the transducer shell31can perform 180-degree pivotal movement about the first adaption component52and be positioned relative to the body51. In this implementation, when the controller4is mounted to a bottom side or a top side of the electronic device900, the sound receiving surface310of the audio transducer3can be pivoted to be horizontal and face upward or downward, or be slanted forward or rearward to slightly face the image capturing direction.

Referring toFIGS.6and7, another implementation is shown to be different from that shown inFIG.5in that, inFIGS.6and7, the audio transducer3is configured such that, when the controller4is mounted to a left side or a right side of the electronic device900, the sound receiving surface310of the audio transducer3can be rotated to be horizontal and face upward or downward, or be slanted forward or rearward to slightly face the image capturing direction. For example, the audio transducer3can be rotated to make the normal direction312of the sound receiving surface310and the image capturing direction908form an angle (0) that is desired by a user in a range between 30° and 90°, so the microphones321can receive the sound from the image capturing direction908at different time points, and thus can be controlled to perform directional sound reception using the beamforming technology.

In other embodiments, the audio transducer device200can acquire the direction data piece in different manners. For example, the audio transducer device200can use the cloud technology to receive the direction data piece resulting from a remote monitoring device (not shown) that analyzes the captured image905. In such a scenario, the audio transducer device200can be used with the electronic device900without installation of the sound pickup control module6on the electronic device900.

Referring toFIGS.3,8,9and10, a second embodiment of the audio transducer system according to this disclosure is shown to differ from the first embodiment in the structural design of the audio transducer device200.

In the second embodiment, the controller4includes an installation frame44that is capable of being detachably mounted to the electronic device900, a controller shell41, and a control circuit42and a signal terminal43that are mounted to controller shell41. The audio transducer3is rotatably mounted to the installation frame44through the direction adjusting mechanism5, and is communicatively connected to the controller4through a transmission wire430. In some implementations, the communication between the audio transducer3and the controller4can be realized using a short-distance communication technology, such as Bluetooth®, but this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

In the second embodiment, the installation frame44may be an elastically expandable clamp, and can be fitted to the electronic device900by a restoring force of the installation frame44. In other implementations, the installation frame44can be made as a hook that can be mounted to the electronic device900by, for example but not limited to, hanging from a top side of the electronic device900. Many different kinds of structure are capable of making the installation frame44detachably mounted to the electronic device900, and this disclosure is not limited in this respect.

Referring toFIGS.9,10and11, when the audio transducer device200of the second embodiment is in use, the installation frame44is mounted to and positioned on the electronic device900, and the signal terminal43is inserted into the transmission terminal904(seeFIG.8) of the electronic device900. Then, the audio transducer3and the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5can be rotated based on the image capturing direction, so that the audio transducer3can be controlled to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from the scene of the captured image905.

Referring toFIGS.3,12,13and14, a third embodiment of the audio transducer system according to this disclosure is shown to differ from the second embodiment in the structural design of the audio transducer device200.

In the third embodiment, the control circuit42is disposed in the controller shell41, and the controller shell41is fixed to the installation frame44. The signal terminal43is separate from the controller shell41and is electrically connected to the control circuit42through the transmission wire430that extends into the controller shell41.

When the audio transducer device200of the third embodiment is in use, the installation frame44is mounted to and positioned on the electronic device900, and the signal terminal43is inserted into the transmission terminal904of the electronic device900. Then, the audio transducer3and the body51of the direction adjusting mechanism5can be rotated based on the image capturing direction, so that the audio transducer3can be controlled to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from the scene of the captured image905.

In some implementations, the communication between the controller4and the electronic device900can be realized using short-distance communication technology for transmission of the audio data and the direction data piece, so the signal terminal43can be omitted.

In some implementations, the direction adjusting mechanism5can be configured such that only the audio transducer3is rotatable. In such a scenario, the body51is fixed to the controller shell41or the installation frame44, and only interconnection between the body51and the audio transducer3via the first adaption component52allows the audio transducer3to rotate relative to the body51, and in turn also relative to the electronic device900(e.g., 180-degree rotation, 360-degree rotation or three-dimensional rotation), and the sound receiving surface310can thus be adjusted with respect to the electronic device900.

In summary, when the audio transducer device200is connected to the electronic device900, the microphones321are used in place of the microphone built in the electronic device900to receive sound. The structural design of the audio transducer3, the controller4and the direction adjusting mechanism5makes the audio transducer3rotatable or pivotable relative to the electronic device900, so the sound receiving surface310can be adjusted to make the microphones321receive the sound from the image capturing direction at different time points, and the controller4can thus use the beamforming technology to control the microphones321to perform directional sound reception to pick up sound coming from the sound reception direction.

Furthermore, the sound pickup control module6is configured to be installed in the electronic device900for controlling operation of the audio transducer device200, and to analyze character features of the persons in the captured image905for establishing the feature parameter sets for those persons. The feature parameter sets can be used to continuously track a target person in the captured image905and thus generate the direction data piece that corresponds to the target person. In real time, the sound pickup control module6transmits the direction data piece to the audio transducer device200, and controls the audio transducer device200to perform directional sound reception with respect to the target person based on the direction data piece. As a result, the tracking directional sound reception can be automatically performed with respect to the target person without adjusting the electronic device900to place the target person at a fixed position (e.g., middle) in the captured image905, so as to solve the problem as described for the first type of conventional microphones, which is that the target has to be at the fixed position in the captured image, and to solve the problem as described for the second type of conventional microphones, which simply performs sound reception to pick up sound coming from a direction with the greatest voice energy.