English 
Chinese Introduction
In the evolving landscape of audio technology, the configuration of microphone arrays significantly influences the performance of sound localization systems. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphones, known for their compact size and low power consumption, have become integral in designing efficient and accurate sound localization solutions.
Comparative Analysis of Array Geometries
The study focuses on evaluating various omnidirectional MEMS microphone array geometries, including:
- Uniform Linear Array (ULA): Offers simplicity and is effective for linear sound source detection.forum.pjrc.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
- Uniform Planar Array (UPA): Provides two-dimensional spatial resolution, suitable for applications requiring elevation and azimuth detection.
- Uniform Circular Array (UCA): Ensures 360-degree coverage, ideal for environments with sound sources from multiple directions.
- Uniform Concentric Array (UCoA): Combines multiple circular arrays to enhance spatial resolution and directivity.
Experimental validation using a prototype device built on a Raspberry Pi 5 platform with an Adafruit PCA9548 8-Channel STEMMA QT expansion board and SPH0645LM4H-B omnidirectional MEMS microphones demonstrated that similar geometric configurations can be effectively utilized for sound localization tasks at low frequencies. Notably, URA Microphone Arrays with n = 8 and d = 23 cm exhibited optimal performance.
Beamforming Algorithms and Performance Evaluation
The study also delves into beamforming algorithms, specifically delay-and-sum, differential, and superdirective methods. Differential beamforming algorithms showcased superior performance in isolating target signals within challenging acoustic environments. When combined with a Uniform Circular Array (UCA), delay-and-sum or enhanced delay-and-sum algorithms provided reliable omnidirectional coverage and balanced frequency response, making them suitable for applications requiring uniform sensitivity.
Optimizing the spacing and radius of the microphone arrays further enhanced directivity and minimized sidelobe levels, crucial for accurate sound localization.
Applications and Future Work
The insights from this comparative analysis are instrumental for designing MEMS microphone arrays in various applications, including:
- Smart Home Devices: Enhancing voice command recognition and spatial audio capture.
- Robotics: Improving environmental awareness through precise sound source localization.
- Industrial Monitoring: Detecting and localizing equipment anomalies or leaks via acoustic signals.
Future work will focus on refining array designs using sidelobe level (SLL) reduction methods to expand localization accuracy across a wider frequency range.
SISTC’s Commitment to Advanced Audio Solutions
At SISTC, we are dedicated to advancing audio technology through innovative MEMS microphone solutions. Our product line reflects the latest advancements in design and fabrication, ensuring that our clients receive components that meet the highest standards of performance and efficiency.
Explore our range of MEMS microphones on our product page.
