Other

Richard Pivnicka

Alan Alexander Burns

Michael Klasco

Systems and methods for dynamic voice accentuation and reinforcement are presented herein. One embodiment comprises one or more audio input sources; one or more audio output sources; one or more band pass filters; and a processing control unit that includes an audio processing unit, and which executes a method: differentiating between audio input sources as vocal sound audio input sources and ambient noise audio input sources; increasing the gain of the vocal sound audio input sources; inverting a polarity of an ambient noise signal received by each of the ambient noise audio input sources; and adding the inverted polarity to either an output signal of at least one of the one or more audio output sources, or to an input signal of at least one of the vocal sound audio input sources, to reduce ambient noise.

Dynamic voice accentuation and reinforcement

A system of microphones, signal processors, and loudspeakers provides enhanced comprehension of speech in noisy social events where the locations of participants are relatively constrained. Speech enhancement comprises both boosting sounds moderately at higher frequencies and delaying them to match the arrival of sounds directly from speakers. Virtual loudspeakers create the illusion for each listener that the boosted sounds come from the vicinity of each talker. Video cameras determine the head positions and facing directions of participants. Subgroups of participants having at least temporary conversational affinities can be identified. Such subgroups may overlap and change. Speech from talking participants is picked up by directional microphones and filtered, sorted, and relayed selectively via loudspeakers to listening participants identified as subgroup members, reinforcing and enhancing the naturally heard speech. More weight can be given to enhancing speech between affined participants. Either conventional or parametric loudspeakers may be used.

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Woodside, CA, United States of America

Richard Pivnicka