Abstract: A sound capture device is disclosed, including plural microphone capsules, distributed over portion P of sphere S circumscribed between two or three planes perpendicular to each other, the three planes intersecting at a point corresponding to the center of the sphere S, and the two planes intersecting at a straight line passing through the center of the sphere S, and the sphere portion P being such that P=n S/8, with n=1,2; and a processing unit connected to the capsules to receive the signals captured by the capsules. The processing unit is arranged to matrix the signals in an ambisonic representation which retains only the ambisonic components associated with spherical harmonics that are symmetrical in relation to at least two of the aforementioned planes, and process a matrix thus obtained to identify a sound source surrounding the sphere portion and interpret a sound signal from the source.

Abstract: An identification device, method and system for identifying a scene in an environment. The environment includes at least one sound capture device. The identification device is configured to identify the scene based on at least two sounds captured in the environment. Each of the at least two sounds are associated respectively with at least one sound class. The scene is identified by taking account of a chronological order in which the at least two sounds were captured.

Abstract: A sound capture device is disclosed, including plural microphone capsules, distributed over portion P of sphere S circumscribed between two or three planes perpendicular to each other, the three planes intersecting at a point corresponding to the center of the sphere S, and the two planes intersecting at a straight line passing through the center of the sphere S, and the sphere portion P being such that P=n S/8, with n=1,2; and a processing unit connected to the capsules to receive the signals captured by the capsules. The processing unit is arranged to matrix the signals in an ambisonic representation which retains only the ambisonic components associated with spherical harmonics that are symmetrical in relation to at least two of the aforementioned planes, and process a matrix thus obtained to identify a sound source surrounding the sphere portion and interpret a sound signal from the source.

Abstract: Methods are described of monitoring or supervising objects, particularly non-communicating objects. A detector for detecting complex states of objects is described, the detector comprising an analyzer configured to determine an object-related complex state depending on recognition of a least one sound emitted by the object. The recognized sound allows the detector to determine the complex state of an object. This complex state of the object may include an abnormal operating state of the object or a state of the object that is not related to its operation. For example, the complex state of the object may include its position on a surface, in a volume, or the identity of the person having handled the object.

Abstract: An identification device, method and system for identifying a scene in an environment. The environment includes at least one sound capture device. The identification device is configured to identify the scene based on at least two sounds captured in the environment. Each of the at least two sounds are associated respectively with at least one sound class. The scene is identified by taking account of a chronological order in which the at least two sounds were captured.