A new approach to tackle noise issue in miniature directional microphones: bio-inspired mechanical coupling

Haijun Liu; Miao Yu

doi:10.1117/12.847820

31 March 2010 A new approach to tackle noise issue in miniature directional microphones: bio-inspired mechanical coupling

Haijun Liu, Miao Yu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7647, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2010; 76470P (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.847820
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

When using microphone array for sound source localization, the most fundamental step is to estimate the time difference of arrival (TDOA) between different microphones. Since TDOA is proportional to the microphone separation, the localization performance degrades with decreasing size relative to the sound wavelength. To address the size constraint of conventional directional microphones, a new approach is sought by utilizing the mechanical coupling mechanism found in the superacute ears of the parasitic fly Ormia ochracea. Previously, we have presented a novel bio-inspired directional microphone consisting of two circular clamped membranes structurally coupled by a center pivoted bridge, and demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally that the fly ear mechanism is replicable in a man-made structure. The emphasis of this article is on theoretical analysis of the thermal noise floor of the bio-inspired directional microphones. Using an equivalent two degrees-of-freedom model, the mechanical-thermal noise limit of the structurally coupled microphone is estimated and compared with those obtained for a single omni-directional microphone and a conventional microphone pair. Parametric studies are also conducted to investigate the effects of key normalized parameters on the noise floor and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Citation Download Citation

Haijun Liu and Miao Yu "A new approach to tackle noise issue in miniature directional microphones: bio-inspired mechanical coupling", Proc. SPIE 7647, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2010, 76470P (31 March 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.847820

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