| 摘要 |
A microphone system has an output and at least a first transducer with a first dynamic range, a second transducer with a second dynamic range different than the first dynamic range, and coupling system to selectively couple the output of one of the first transducer or the second transducer to the system output, depending on the magnitude of the input sound signal, to produce a system with a dynamic range greater than the dynamic range of either individual transducer. A method of operating a microphone system includes detecting whether a transducer output crosses a threshold, and if so then selectively coupling another transducer's output to the system output. The threshold may change as a function of which transducer is coupled to the system output. The system and methods may also combine the outputs of more than one transducer in a weighted sum during transition from one transducer output to another, as a function of time or as a function of the amplitude of the incident audio signal. Methods of operating the system may include equalizing the outputs of two or more transducers prior to coupling one or more outputs to the system output. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method of operating a microphone system for processing an incident audio signal and generating a system output, the method comprising:
generating a first un-delayed signal output by a first microphone, the first un-delayed signal having a first dynamic range, wherein the first dynamic range has a first noise floor and a first top-end; generating a second un-delayed signal output by a second microphone, the second un-delayed signal having a second dynamic range, wherein the second dynamic range has a second noise floor and a second top-end, and wherein the first noise floor is less than the second noise floor, the second top-end is greater than the first top end, and wherein the first dynamic range overlaps the second dynamic range; responsive to the first un-delayed signal, generating a first delayed signal, output by a first delay block and coupling the first delayed signal onto the system output using a selector, the selector responsive to the first un-delayed signal and the first delayed signal; responsive to the second un-delayed signal, generating a second delayed signal, output by a second delay block and coupling the second un-delayed signal and the second delayed signal to the selector; comparing the first un-delayed signal to a first threshold; as determined by the comparing step, using the selector, selecting to couple one of the first delayed signal and second delayed signal to the system output; and repeating the generating, comparing and selecting steps. |
