Abstract: An apparatus and method for localizing a sound source in a robot are provided. The apparatus includes a microphone unit implemented by one or more microphones, which picks up a sound from a three-dimensional space. The apparatus also includes a sound source localizer for determining a position of the sound source in accordance with Time-Difference of Arrivals (TDOAs) and a highest power of the sound picked up by the microphone unit. Thus, the robot can rapidly and accurately localize the sound source in the three-dimensional space with minimum dead space, using a minimum number of microphones.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 6, 2009
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2012
Assignees:
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Korea University Research and Business Foundation
Inventors:
Hyun-Soo Kim, Dong-Suk Yook, Young-Kyu Cho, Woo-Jin Choi