Abstract: A binaural beamformer comprising two beamforming filters may be communicatively coupled to a microphone array to generates two beamforming outputs, one for the left ear and the other for the right ear. The beamforming filters may be configured in such a way that they are orthogonal to each other to make white noise components in the binaural outputs substantially uncorrelated and desired signal components in the binaural outputs highly correlated. As a result, the human auditory system may better separate the desired signal from white noise and intelligibility of the desired signal may be improved.

Abstract: An Nth order linear differential microphone array (LDMA) with a steerable beamformer may be constructed by specifying a target beampattern for the LDMA at a steering angle ?. An Nth order polynomial associated with the target beampattern may then be generated. A relationship between the nulls of the polynomial and the steering angle ? is determined and then a value of one of the nulls is determined based on N?1 assigned values for the other nulls and the determined relationship between the nulls of the polynomial and the steering angle ?. The steerable beamformer may be generated based on the determined null value and the N?1 assigned null values. The N?1 assigned null values may be associated with the N?1 nulls of the polynomial that are of less than Nth order and the determined null value may be associated with the null of the polynomial that is of Nth order.

Abstract: An Nth order linear differential microphone array (LDMA) with a steerable beamformer may be constructed by specifying a target beampattern for the LDMA at a steering angle ?. An Nth order polynomial associated with the target beampattern may then be generated. A relationship between the nulls of the polynomial and the steering angle ? is determined and then a value of one of the nulls is determined based on N?1 assigned values for the other nulls and the determined relationship between the nulls of the polynomial and the steering angle ?. The steerable beamformer may be generated based on the determined null value and the N?1 assigned null values. The N?1 assigned null values may be associated with the N?1 nulls of the polynomial that are of less than Nth order and the determined null value may be associated with the null of the polynomial that is of Nth order.

Abstract: A binaural beamformer comprising two beamforming filters may be communicatively coupled to a microphone array to generates two beamforming outputs, one for the left ear and the other for the right ear. The beamforming filters may be configured in such a way that they are orthogonal to each other to make white noise components in the binaural outputs substantially uncorrelated and desired signal components in the binaural outputs highly correlated. As a result, the human auditory system may better separate the desired signal from white noise and intelligibility of the desired signal may be improved.

Abstract: An Nth order linear differential microphone array (LDMA) including at most M microphones, where M is greater than N, is constructed by identifying a number K of combinations of at least (N+1) of the M microphones. A target cost function is specified based on at least one of a directivity factor, a beampattern, or a white noise gain associated with the LDMA. For each frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands: an optimal combination of microphones, from the K combinations, is determined based on an evaluation of the target cost function for the band and beamforming is performed using the determined optimal combination for the band. A union of the optimal combinations of microphones for the plurality of bands may be determined and the LDMA may be constructed, using microphones in the union, based on an evaluation of the target cost function across the plurality of bands.