Surrey: Acoustic source separation and localisation

Licensing opportunity

Scientists at Surrey University say they have developed a real-time solution to the ‘cocktail party’ noise problem of and sound localisation. The technology provides real-time separation and localisation of simultaneously active sound sources.

It can be used in practically all applications where separating and listening to individual sound sources, or removing unwanted sounds is needed. Sound sources can be isolated for individual reproduction or suppression in the presence of noise and other interfering sounds.

The main features are:

• Small, lightweight microphone array;

• Real-time separation with less than one fortieth of a second delay;

• Small number of audio channels - advantageous in interfacing, storage and processing;

• Automatic localisation and separation of multiple sources in horizontal and vertical axes;

• Tracking and isolating a moving sound source;

• 3D symmetry in operation; no preferred direction of operation;

• Broadband operation, that is full audio range;

• High quality binaural spatial reproduction of the separated sounds.

• User interaction for real-time parameter changing for fine adjustment of sound quality.

• The potential applications include:

• Surveillance and security CCTV systems that automatically point to sounds and listen, carry out automatic keyword/threat detection in noisy environments such as airports

• Mobile phones, environmental noise, interference suppression on mobile devices

• Improved voice capturing and recognition in cars

• Immersive, remote collaboration, hands-free teleconferencing

For more information, contact Martyn Buxton-Hoare, Assistant Director - Technology Transfer: +44 1483 68-3670, [email protected].