The systems, devices, and processes described herein may identify a beam of a voice-controlled device that is directed toward a reflective surface, such as a wall. The beams may be created by a beamformer. An acoustic echo canceller (AEC) may create filter coefficients for a reference sound. The filter coefficients may be analyzed to identify beams that include multiple peaks. The multiple peaks may indicate presence of one or more reflective surfaces. Using the amplitude and the time delay between the peaks, the device may determine that it is close to a reflective surface in a direction of the beam.

This disclosure describes an apparatus and method of an embodiment of an invention that is improves Direction of Arrival (DOA) determinations. This embodiment of the apparatus includes a plurality of microphones coupled together as a microphone array used for beamforming, the plurality of microphones are positioned at predetermined locations and produce audio signals to be used to form a directional pickup pattern; a processor, memory, storage, and a power supply operably coupled to the microphone array, the processor configured to execute the following steps: processing an algorithm for a Direction of Arrival (DOA) determination; supplemental processing that improves the DOA processing.

An approaching vehicle detection apparatus includes: a sound information detection unit configured to detect sound information around an own vehicle; a sound source detection unit configured to detect a sound source around the own vehicle based on the detected sound information; an approaching vehicle determination unit configured to determine whether the sound source is a vehicle approaching the own vehicle; and a vehicle state changing unit configured to change a vehicle state of the own vehicle to a vehicle state where the own vehicle sound is able to be suppressed when the own vehicle sound generated from the own vehicle is able to be suppressed by changing the vehicle state of the own vehicle.

An approaching vehicle detection apparatus includes: a sound information detection unit configured to detect sound information around an own vehicle; a sound source detection unit configured to detect a sound source around the own vehicle based on the detected sound information; an approaching vehicle determination unit configured to determine whether the sound source is a vehicle approaching the own vehicle; and a vehicle state changing unit configured to change a vehicle state of the own vehicle to a vehicle state where the own vehicle sound is able to be suppressed when the own vehicle sound generated from the own vehicle is able to be suppressed by changing the vehicle state of the own vehicle.

Disclosed is a sound source detection device 1 which compares information of sound collected by sound collectors 13, 14, 15, and 16 to detect a predetermined sound source. The sound source detection device 1 includes a target determination unit 22 which arranges sound collectors at the same distance from a noise source inside a mobile object to determine a detection-target region of a sound source, and a sound source detection unit 25 which detects the direction of the predetermined sound source using information of sound of the detection-target region determined by the target determination unit 22. Accordingly, the sound source detection unit 25 does not determine sound input to the sound collectors 13, 14, 15, and 16 at the same timing as a detection target, making it possible to eliminate the influence of a noise source other than a sound source inside the mobile object in advance.

Disclosed is a sound source detection device 1 which compares information of sound collected by sound collectors 13, 14, 15, and 16 to detect a predetermined sound source. The sound source detection device 1 includes a target determination unit 22 which arranges sound collectors at the same distance from a noise source inside a mobile object to determine a detection-target region of a sound source, and a sound source detection unit 25 which detects the direction of the predetermined sound source using information of sound of the detection-target region determined by the target determination unit 22. Accordingly, the sound source detection unit 25 does not determine sound input to the sound collectors 13, 14, 15, and 16 at the same timing as a detection target, making it possible to eliminate the influence of a noise source other than a sound source inside the mobile object in advance.

Provided are a sonar device, signal processing method, and recording medium which contribute to improvement in target signal detection ability of an operator. The sonar device comprises a signal detection processing unit and a noise suppression processing unit. The signal detection processing unit calculates a direction vector for each frequency cell and also calculates a resultant vector direction obtained by summing up the direction vectors of all the frequency cells. The noise suppression processing unit calculates, for each frequency cell, the difference between the resultant vector orientation and the signal direction of the frequency cell, and performs a first noise suppression process for suppressing stationary noises included in a received signal such that the noise suppression effect be smaller on a signal of a frequency cell whose signal direction has a smaller difference from the resultant vector direction, and be larger on a signal of a frequency cell whose signal direction has a larger difference from the resultant vector direction.

Provided are a sonar device, signal processing method, and recording medium which contribute to improvement in target signal detection ability of an operator. The sonar device comprises a signal detection processing unit and a noise suppression processing unit. The signal detection processing unit calculates a direction vector for each frequency cell and also calculates a resultant vector direction obtained by summing up the direction vectors of all the frequency cells. The noise suppression processing unit calculates, for each frequency cell, the difference between the resultant vector orientation and the signal direction of the frequency cell, and performs a first noise suppression process for suppressing stationary noises included in a received signal such that the noise suppression effect be smaller on a signal of a frequency cell whose signal direction has a smaller difference from the resultant vector direction, and be larger on a signal of a frequency cell whose signal direction has a larger difference from the resultant vector direction.

A wearable badge for an employee that records and transmits audio from client interactions with the professional, comprising two microphones and two microphone channels that focus one microphone on the speech of the employee and the other microphone on the speech of the customer, making diarizing easier. The wearable badge also comprises a module to determine whether or not the employee is maintaining an appropriate social distance with customers.

A wearable badge for an employee that records and transmits audio from client interactions with the professional, comprising two microphones and two microphone channels that focus one microphone on the speech of the employee and the other microphone on the speech of the customer, making diarizing easier. The wearable badge also comprises a module to determine whether or not the employee is maintaining an appropriate social distance with customers.