Sound Capture from Spatial Volumes - Parallel Processing of Three-Dimensional Arrays of Sensors

Flanagan High-quality sound pick up in enclosures, such as meeting rooms and auditoria, is central to effective teleconferencing by large groups separated by distance. The basic goal of this research is the exploration of the potential of using sensors in 3D configurations to achieve spatial volume selectivity, and hence, high quality sound pick up comparable to that enjoyed when the speakers are face-to-face in the same room. Both beamforming and matched field processing are being examined, with detailed computer studies preceding measurements, and experiments in real rooms.