Abstract: A method of estimating a steering vector of a sensor array of M sensors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes estimating a steering vector of a noise source located at an angle ? degrees from a look direction of the array using a least squares estimate of the gains of the sensors in the array, defining a steering vector of a desired sound source in the look direction of the array, and estimating the steering vector by performing element-by-element multiplication of the estimated noise vector and the complex conjugate of steering vector of the desired sound source. The sensors may be microphones.

Abstract: A method of estimating a steering vector of a sensor array of M sensors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes estimating a steering vector of a noise source located at an angle 0 degrees from a look direction of the array using a least squares estimate of the gains of the sensors in the array, defining a steering vector of a desired sound source in the look direction of the array, and estimating the steering vector by performing element-by-element multiplication of the estimated noise vector and the complex conjugate of steering vector of the desired sound source. The sensors may be microphones.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for self-calibration of small-microphone arrays are described. In one embodiment, self-calibration is based upon a mathematical approximation for which a detected response by one microphone should approximately equal a combined response from plural microphones in the array. In a second embodiment, self-calibration is based upon matching gains in each of a plurality of Bark frequency bands, and applying the matched gains to frequency domain microphone signals such that the magnitude response of all the microphones in the array approximates an average magnitude response for the array. The methods and apparatus may be implemented in hearing aids or small audio devices and used to mitigate adverse aging and mechanical effects on acoustic performance of small-microphone arrays in these systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for self-calibration of small-microphone arrays are described. In one embodiment, self-calibration is based upon a mathematical approximation for which a detected response by one microphone should approximately equal a combined response from plural microphones in the array. In a second embodiment, self-calibration is based upon matching gains in each of a plurality of Bark frequency bands, and applying the matched gains to frequency domain microphone signals such that the magnitude response of all the microphones in the array approximates an average magnitude response for the array. The methods and apparatus may be implemented in hearing aids or small audio devices and used to mitigate adverse aging and mechanical effects on acoustic performance of small-microphone arrays in these systems.

Abstract: Audio acquisition systems and methods to determine a direction of arrival of an audio signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a continuous sampling stage configured to receive audio information and to generate one or more correlations from the received audio information, and a processing stage configured to receive the one or more correlations and to generate direction of arrival information for the audio information. In another embodiment, a method includes generating audio signals from an ambient acoustic environment, and performing beamforming on the generated audio signals. The method further includes calculating signal-to-interference ratios from the beamformed signals, forming correlations between the signal-to-interference ratios and audio sampling angles, selecting at least one correlation based upon predetermined selection criteria, and determining a direction of arrival for the audio signals.