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.

Arrangements for communication and/or noise attenuation within an aircraft, and aircraft and methods for making aircraft including such arrangements are provided. In one example, an arrangement includes an array of first microphones cooperatively configured to be directed towards a first aircraft operator when disposed in a first cockpit seat to receive a first communication input from the first aircraft operator. An array of first speakers is cooperatively configured to be directed towards the first aircraft operator when disposed in the first cockpit seat to provide a first communication output to the first aircraft operator.

An audio processing system includes at least one first microphone, at least one adaptive filter, and a processor. The at least one first microphone acquires a first audio signal and outputs a first signal based on the first audio signal. The first audio signal includes at least one of a first audio component generated at a first position and a second audio component generated at a second position different from the first position. The first signal is input to the at least one adaptive filter. The at least one adaptive filter outputs a passing signal based on the first signal. The processor, when executing a program stored in a memory, performs: making a determination of which of the first audio component and the second audio component the first audio signal includes more; and controlling a filter coefficient of the adaptive filter based on a result of the determination.

A communication system with a noise cancellation (NC) assembly providing adaptive or dynamic noise cancellation. The NC assembly includes a localizer module determining, during a communication session (active speaking or during idle times), a location of the active talker. The NC assembly includes a beam generator forming a beam in the determined direction of the active talker to enhance the active talker speech. Once the NC assembly has determined the position of the active talker, the NC assembly assigns a microphone of the microphone array or generated beam in that active direction to be the “active signal” source. The NC assembly assigns a second microphone or beam to be the noise source for NC purposes, and this source may be selected to be in acoustic shadow of the first microphone used as the active signal source or may be the farthest away in its position from the active talker's position.

A drone includes a motor, a noise receiver, a camera, a distance measure, and a directed sound beam generator. The noise receiver is configured to detect a noise caused by the motor. The camera is configured to capture an image of an area when the drone is in the air. The distance measure is configured to measure a distance between the drone and a particular point in the captured image. The directed sound beam generator is configured to emit a sound beam that is directed to a particular direction. The drone further includes a processor configured to analyze the detected noise to determine a frequency spectrum of the detected noise. The processor is further configured to analyze the captured image to identify a target, and cause the directed sound beam generator to emit a sound beam to actively cancel at least a portion of the noise directed to the target.

A communication system with a noise cancellation (NC) assembly providing adaptive or dynamic noise cancellation. The NC assembly includes a localizer module determining, during a communication session (active speaking or during idle times), a location of the active talker. The NC assembly includes a beam generator forming a beam in the determined direction of the active talker to enhance the active talker speech. Once the NC assembly has determined the position of the active talker, the NC assembly assigns a microphone of the microphone array or generated beam in that active direction to be the “active signal” source. The NC assembly assigns a second microphone or beam to be the noise source for NC purposes, and this source may be selected to be in acoustic shadow of the first microphone used as the active signal source or may be the farthest away in its position from the active talker's position.

Image data relating to real-world objects or persons is collected from a scene while collecting audio data relating to the real-world objects or persons from the same scene. The audio data is used to derive sound objects corresponding to the real-world objects or persons. The image data is used to derive video objects corresponding to the real-world objects or persons. Based on the sound objects and the video objects, candidate salient objects are generated. A salient object is selected from among the candidate salient objects. Perceptual enhancement operations are performed on the selected salient object.

A method for providing directed transmission of sound waves, through modulation on an ultrasonic carrier, may comprise connecting, at least one directed sound source to an audio system, emitting, via the at least one directed sound source, audio from the audio system, wherein the emitting comprises emitting medium frequency audio sound waves and higher frequency audio sound waves. The audio may be selected via a master control unit, which may be operatively coupled to a mobile application. In many embodiments, a first audio selection is configured to be heard only through a first directed sound source, and a second audio selection is configured to be heard only through a second directed sound source.

In-car communication and hands-free talking with good sound quality are realized. An echo cancelation apparatus (4) is for use in a vehicle in which microphones (M1, M2) and loudspeakers (S1, S2) are disposed in acoustic regions (100, 200). A loudspeaker (S1) and a microphone (M1) are disposed in a first acoustic region (100), and a loudspeaker (S2) and a microphone (M2) are disposed in a second acoustic region (200). An acoustic signal picked up by the microphone (M1) disposed in the first acoustic region (100) is emitted from the loudspeaker (S2) disposed in the second acoustic region (200). An acoustic signal picked up by the microphone (M2) disposed in the second acoustic region (200) is emitted from the loudspeaker (S1) disposed in the first acoustic region (100). The microphone (M1) is designed to hardly collect a sound emitted from the loudspeaker (S2).

A sonar transducer assembly is provided including a transducer configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into an underwater environment, a housing that holds the transducer, at least one electrical cable that enables electrical signals to be transmitted between the transducer and a computing device, and a conductive enclosure disposed around at least a portion of the transducer and electrically connected to a ground line of the electrical cable to create a shielded volume. The conductive enclosure reduces an electromagnetic field within the shielded volume.