Toa Corporation

Tomohiro Jonan

Hiroshi Kubota

Yuichi Kageyama

Shinya Fukuda

Tsuneo Ikoma

A microphone array includes an n microphone units (where n is an integer equal to or larger than three). A first one of the microphone units includes three microphones ((-through-)) arranged in line at equal intervals. An m-th microphone unit (where m is a positive integer expressed by 1&#x3c;m&#x3c;n) includes the microphones at either end of an (m&#x2212;1)-th microphone unit, and another microphone spaced from the microphone at one end of the (m&#x2212;1)-th microphone unit by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the microphones at either end of the (m&#x2212;1)-th microphone unit, and disposed at a location on the side of the (m&#x2212;1)-th microphone unit opposite to the side where the microphone at the one end at the one end of the (m&#x2212;1)-th microphone unit is disposed. The (m+1)-th microphone unit includes the microphones at either end of an m-th microphone unit, and another microphone spaced from the microphone at one end of the m-th microphone unit by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the microphones at either end of the m-th microphone unit, and disposed at a location on the side of the (m+1)-th microphone unit opposite to the side where the microphone at the one end of the (m+1)-th microphone unit is disposed.

Microphone array including at least three microphone units

Problem to be Solved To effectively operate a microphone array provided with a sound source position estimating function. Solution A microphone control system of the present invention is realized by the use of a tablet-type computer, for example. On the display of the control system, a two-dimensional simulation diagram, for example, simulating the space in which the microphone array is disposed. An array marksimulating the exterior shape of the microphone array is displayed on the simulation diagram. Further, a sound source markindicating the position of the sound source estimated by the microphone array is displayed on the simulation diagram. Thus, an operator can intuitively find the position of the sound source in the space in which the microphone array is disposed, by referring to the simulation diagram, the array markand the sound source markdisplayed on the simulation diagram. Thus, the usage of the microphone array is improved.

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Kobe, Japan

Tomohiro Jonan