Acoustic camera

What is acoustic camera?

Acoustic camera is camera with an array of microphones. Array of microphones is basically a group of microphones. Acoustic illustrates the source and intensity of the sounds.

Image 1. Acoustic camera with 32 microphones.

How it works?

General

Each microphone in the array records audio stream of their own from specific position on the camera. This creates the microphones amount of streams. The position difference is stored in memory so that other microphones audio data is filtered from other microphones in the array.

Beamforming

Because of the position of the microphone in the array, there is delays in the receiving sounds. It's dependent on the distance of the sound source and the microphone. Delays are adjusted to focus one single point in space. This is called beamforming. Area that is recorded is token as an image. The focusing process is repeated for every point in area which is recorded.

Problems/Challenges

Signal processing in acoustic camera is very hardware heavy and memory heavy. Due to this usually the digital signal processing is done after the recording.

Applications?

Acoustic camera is used to search sound sources and noise reduction. It is used for instance for cars, airplanes, helicopters, trains and structures.

Companies selling acoustic cameras

Sources

http://www.metsystem.hu/Companies/Fellner/Acoustic-camera/Image17.jpg (1. Image)

http://blog.kaistale.com/?p=246

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beamforming

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_camera

Electret microphone

Charasteristics

Electret microphone is omnidirectional. This meas that it can hear from all directions. Transistor works as transducer in the heart of the electret microphone. Electret microphone sensitivity is defined in datasheet as "(- 46 ± 2.0, ( 0 dB = 1V / Pa ) at 1K Hz)". Operating temperature the electret microphone is working is -20 to 60 degrees. Frequency rate is 100 - 10,000 Hz. Current depend on sound level. Maximum current is 0.5mA.

Transfer function of the electret microphone is the electrical force gained on the diaphragm:

F≈(E_dc+E_ac )^2-(E_dc+E_ac )^2=4E_dc E_ac
Where
E_dc = electret exhibited D.C potential
E_ac = applied signal voltage

Electret microphone is used in close range. Electret microphone quality can be made better by improving material and size.

Source of charasteristics:

http://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/datasheets/Sensors/Sound/CEM-C9745JAD462P2.54R.pdf

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Patent_3118022_-_Gerhard_M._Sessler_James_E._West_-_Bell_labs_-_electroacustic_transducer_-_foil_electret_condenser_microphone_1962_1964_-_pages_1-3.png

Material and manufacturing

Main reason to use electret microphone is low cost of manufacturing. Material choice is based on usage and low cost.

(PIC)

Electritet microphone consist of the amplifier transistor connected to the pcb. PCB can be made of silicon or ceramic. PCB is just for keep transistor inside and cancel noise coming from both sides.

Electret is a very thin polymer foil.

Aluminium cover is used to cover from dust.

Plastic is used as spacer so the air can go inside.

On top of the electret microphone is glued noise reducing porous material.

Manufacturing electret microphone is simply attaching pieces together. It can be homemade.