3D source localization in the spherical harmonic domain using a pseudointensity vector

Abstract

The problem of acoustic source localization is important in many acoustic signal processing applications, such as dis-tant speech acquisition and automated camera steering. In noisy and reverberant environments, the source localization problem becomes challenging and many existing algorithms deteriorate. Three-dimensional source localization presents advantages for certain applications such as beamforming, where we can steer a beam to both the desired azimuth and the desired elevation. In this paper, we present an acoustic source localization method with low computational complex-ity which, instead of using individual microphone signals, combines them to form eigenbeams. We then use the zero-and first-order eigenbeams to compute a pseudointensity vec-tor pointing in the direction of the sound source. In an exper-imental study, the proposed method’s localization accuracy is compared with that of a steered response power localiza-tion method, which uses the same eigenbeams. The results demonstrate that the proposed method has higher localization accuracy. 1.