Methods and apparatuses are provided for photoacoustic imaging. One such apparatus may include an ultrasound-on-a-chip device attached to a housing, an optical emitter attached to the housing, and a controller enclosed at least partially in the housing. The ultrasound-on-a-chip device may include a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The optical emitter may include an array of diodes arranged at a periphery of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The controller may be configured to control the optical emitter to emit pulses of light, to control the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to detect ultrasonic waves emitted from a target to be imaged in response to exposure to the pulses of light, and to convert the ultrasonic waves to digital signals. For example, the optical emitter may be controlled to emit chirped optical pulses. The digital signals may be processed by the controller to produce image-formation data.

An acoustic vector sensor (AVS) includes one or more sensitive elements arranged in an orthogonal configuration to provide high-sensitivity directional performance. The one more sensitive elements may be seismometers arranged in a pendulum-type configuration. The AVS further includes a hydrophone.

Provided are sound direction detection sensors capable of detecting an input direction of sound and electronic apparatuses including the same. A sound direction detection sensor includes a sound inlet receiving input sound, a sound outlet outputting the sound input through the sound inlet, and a plurality of directional vibrators arranged between the sound inlet and the sound outlet in such a manner that at least one directional vibrator selectively reacts based on a direction of the sound input through the sound inlet, wherein a direction perpendicular to a direction of a directional vibrator having a lowest output in magnitude among the plurality of directional vibrators is determined as an input direction of the sound.

A method of dynamically generating an acoustic noise map of an industrial zone to be used for protecting operators within the zone from exposure to acoustic noise above a safety threshold, the method comprising collecting acoustic noise data using a network of wireless acoustic sensors located within said zone, generating an acoustic noise map using the collected noise data and a numerical model of the propagation of acoustic noise within the zone.

A device for the acquisition and conditioning of a sound signal generated by a source of an internal combustion engine and comprising a box-shaped support body having a first measuring assembly and a second measuring assembly; wherein the first measuring assembly is provided with at least two first microphones which lie on a first plane and are configured for the detection of a first acoustic signal generated by the source along a first provenance direction; and wherein the second measuring assembly is provided with at least a second microphone arranged on a second plane configured for the detection of a second acoustic signal generated by the source along a second provenance direction different from the first provenance direction.

The present invention discloses an acoustic camera which comprises an array of arranged microphones. The microphone arrangement can be organized in planar or non-planar form. The device can be handheld, and it comprises a touch screen for interacting with the user. The acoustic camera measures acoustic signal intensities in the pointed direction and simultaneously takes an optical image of the measured area, and shows the acoustic signal strengths with the taken image on the screen. The device analyzes the acoustic signals and makes a classification for the sound based on the analysis. If necessary, an alarm is given by the acoustic camera. Besides the handheld manual use, the device can be fixed on a immobile structure or fixed to a movable or rotatable device or a vehicle, such as to a drone.

Provided are sound direction detection sensors capable of detecting an input direction of sound and electronic apparatuses including the same. A sound direction detection sensor includes a sound inlet receiving input sound, a sound outlet outputting the sound input through the sound inlet, and a plurality of directional vibrators arranged between the sound inlet and the sound outlet in such a manner that at least one directional vibrator selectively reacts based on a direction of the sound input through the sound inlet, wherein a direction perpendicular to a direction of a directional vibrator having a lowest output in magnitude among the plurality of directional vibrators is determined as an input direction of the sound.

A flying object detection system includes a sensor including a microphone array configured to collect a sound in a first detection area of a monitoring area, a radar configured to measure a distance to a flying object by detecting the flying object in flight in a second detection area of the monitoring area, and a control device configured to detect presence or absence of the flying object based on sound data on the sound in the first detection area collected by the microphone array, and configured to receive the distance to the flying object. The control device is configured to display information on a position of the flying object viewed from arrangement places of the sensor and the radar based on the distance to the flying object and a detection output of the flying object by the radar on a first monitor.

Methods and apparatuses for noise management are disclosed. In one example, a method includes receiving a plurality of noise level measurements. The method includes receiving a plurality of location data. In one example, the method further includes adjusting an environmental parameter utilizing the noise level measurements. In one example, the method further includes providing location services to a user directing the user to a geographical area having a lower noise level.

Disclosed embodiments may relate to systems and methods for monitoring and/or mapping noise data from a plurality of noise monitoring devices. In some embodiments, the plurality of noise monitoring devices may include hearing protection devices configured to detect noise, and typically may communicate such noise data (which may also include location) so that the noise data can be pooled. The pooled noise data from the plurality of noise monitoring devices may then be used to the benefit of one or more of such noise monitoring devices.