초록 ▼

A phased-array sound pickup apparatus has an array of directional microphones having individual directivity patterns equally oriented in a given direction. The directivity patterns of the microphones combine into the main lobe of the array. A plurality of variable delay circuits are connected to be

A phased-array sound pickup apparatus has an array of directional microphones having individual directivity patterns equally oriented in a given direction. The directivity patterns of the microphones combine into the main lobe of the array. A plurality of variable delay circuits are connected to be responsive respectively to individual signals from the microphones for providing incremental delays to the individual signals and combining the delayed signals for delivery as an output of the apparatus. A delay control circuit is coupled to the variable delay circuits for generating a delay control signal for controlling the amount of the incremental delays to cause the main lobe to be steered at an angle to the given direction as a function of the delay control signal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus comprising: an array of directional microphones having individual directivity patterns equally oriented in a given direction, said directivity patterns resulting in a main lobe, each microphone providing a signal; a plurality of digitally controlled varia

1. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus comprising: an array of directional microphones having individual directivity patterns equally oriented in a given direction, said directivity patterns resulting in a main lobe, each microphone providing a signal; a plurality of digitally controlled variable delay circuits respectively connected to said array of microphones and responsive to individual signals from said microphones, for introducing incremental delays to said individual signals and combining the delayed signals for delivery as an output of said pickup apparatus; and control signal generating means, coupled to said variable delay circuits, for generating a digital delay control signal to control the amount of said incremental delays to cause said main lobe to be steered at an angle to said given direction as a function of said control signal, said control signal generating means including means for generating an adjustable DC voltage, and means for converting said DC voltage into a binary code. 2. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including switching means for providing reversals in connections between said microphones and said variable delay circuits so that the signal from the microphone located at one end of said array is given a maximum amount of incremental delay when said switching means is in a first switched condition and a minimum amount of incremental delay when said switching means is in a second switched condition so that said main lobe is steered on either side of said given direction. 3. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said delay circuits include a tapped delay line having a plurality of taps between successive delay circuits, said taps being connected respectively to said microphones through said switching means. 4. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said switching means includes a plurality of switches respectively connecting said microphones to said delay circuits through first terminals during said first switched condition and through second terminals during said second switched condition, and wherein said control signal generating means includes means for generating a switching control signal for causing said switches to switch between said first and second terminals. 5. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said binary code has a plurality of binary digits including a first portion representing said delay control signal and a second portion representing said switching control signal. 6. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including: a television camera mounted on said microphone array for deriving a video signal from a field of view covering a range of angles in which said main lobe can be steered; display means coupled to said television camera for generating a display of said video signal on a monitor screen; and means for indicating the position of said main lobe on said monitor screen. 7. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said indicating means includes means for generating a display of a cursor on said monitor screen in response to said delay control signal. 8. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said indicating means includes means for generating a display of an angular position indicating number on said monitor screen in response to said delay control signal. 9. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said indicating means includes means for generating a display of an angular position indicating number on said monitor screen in response to said delay control signal. 10. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further including: a television camera mounted on said microphone array for deriving a video signal from a field of view covering a range of angles in which said main lobe can be steered; display means coupled to said television camera for generating a display of said video signal on said monitor screen; and means for indicating the position of said main lobe on said monitor screen. 11. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said indicating means comprises means for generating a display of a cursor on said monitor screen in response to said binary code. 12. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said indicating means includes means for generating a display of an angular position indicating number on said monitor screen in response to said binary code. 13. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said indicating means includes means for generating a display of an angular position indicating number on said monitor screen in response to said binary code. 14. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus comprising: an array of directional microphones having equally oriented individual directivity patterns, said directivity patterns resulting in a main lobe, each microphone producing a signal; a plurality of switches respectively, connected to said microphones; a tapped delay line including a plurality of digitally controlled variable delay circuits and taps provided between successive delay circuits, said taps being connected respectively to said microphones through said switches for introducing incremental delays to individual signals from said microphones so that the signal from the microphone located at one end of the array is given a maximum incremental delay when said switches are in a first switched condition, causing said main lobe to be steered on one side of a reference, and a minimum incremental delay when the switches are in a second switched condition, causing said main lobe to be steered on another side of said reference, said digitally controlled variable delay circuits and taps combining the delayed signals for generating an output of said pickup apparatus; and means, coupled to said variable delay circuits and to said switches, for generating (a) a delay control signal to control the amount of said incremental delays and (b) a switching control signal for causing said switches to be switched in one of said first and second switched conditions, said generating means including means for generating an adjustable DC voltage and means for converting said voltage into a binary code having a plurality of binary digits including a first portion representing said delay control signal and a second portion representing said switching control signal. 15. A phased-array sound pickup apparatus comprising: an array of directional microphones having individual directivity patterns equally oriented in a given direction, said directivity patterns resulting in a main lobe, each microphone providing a signal; a plurality of digitally controlled variable delay circuits respectively connected to said array of microphones and responsive to individual signals from said microphones, for introducing incremental delays to said individual signals and combining the delayed signals for delivery as an output of said apparatus; means coupled to said variable delay circuits for generating a digital delay control signal to control the amount of said incremental delays to cause said main lobe to be steered at an angle to said given direction as a function of said control signal, said generating means including means for generating an adjustable DC voltage, and means for converting said DC voltage to binary code; a television camera mounted on said microphone array for deriving a video signal from a field of view covering a range of angles in which said main lobe is steered; display means coupled to said television camera for generating a display of said video signal on a monitor screen; and means for indicating the position of said main lobe on said monitor screen.