IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE
`
`In re. application of:
`Zhu, Manli
`Application No.:
`Art Unit:
`Filed:
`Examiner:
`Applicant:
`Atty. Docket No.:
`Title:
`
`Reissue of US Pat no. 8861756
`2653
`03/16/2011
`Notassigned
`Li Creative Technologies, Inc.
`CreativeTech_O1RE_US
`Microphone Array System
`
`Mail Stop Amendment
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Preliminary amendment
`
`With reference to the above-identified patent application, please amend the
`application as shown below.
`
`Amendments to the Specification begin on page 2 of this document.
`
`Amendments to the Claims begin on page 3 of this document.
`
`Remarksbegin on page 14 of this document.
`
`Page 1 of 371
`
`GOOGLEEXHIBIT 1002
`
`Page 1 of 371
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1002
`
`

`

`Amendments to the Specification
`
`Please amend the first paragraph of the specification as shown below:
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a reissue application of U.S. Patent application No.
`
`13/049,877, filed March 16, 2011 (now U.S. Patent No. 8861756), which claims the
`
`benefit of provisional patent application number 61/403,952 titled “Microphone array
`
`design and implementation for telecommunications and handheld devices”, filed on
`
`September 24, 2010 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
`
`Page 2 of 371
`
`Page 2 of 371
`
`

`

`Amendments to the Claims:
`
`Thelisting of claims provided below will replace all prior versions.
`
`1. A method for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`providing a microphone array system comprising an array of sound sensors
`
`positioned in an arbitrary configuration, a sound source localization unit, an
`
`adaptive beamforming unit, and a noise reduction unit, wherein said sound source
`
`localization unit, said adaptive beamforming unit, and said noise reduction unit
`
`are in operative communication with said array of said sound sensors;
`
`receiving said sound signals from a plurality of disparate sound sourcesby said
`
`sound sensors, wherein said received sound signals comprise said target sound
`
`signal from a target sound source amongsaid disparate sound sources, and
`
`ambientnoise signals;
`
`determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and an origin-of said
`
`array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each ofsaid sound
`
`sensors and said origin, a predefined angle between each of said sound sensors
`
`and a reference axis, and an azimuth angle between said reference axis and said
`
`target sound signal, whensaid target sound source that emits said target sound
`
`signal is in a two dimensional plane, wherein said delay is represented in terms of
`
`numberof samples, and wherein said determination of said delay enables
`
`beamforming for arbitrary numbers of said sound sensors and a plurality of
`
`arbitrary configurations of said array of said sound sensors;
`
`estimating a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by said sound source localization unit;
`
`performing adaptive beamformingforsteering a directivity pattern of said array of
`
`said sound sensorsin a direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal
`
`by said adaptive beamforming unit, wherein said adaptive beamforming unit
`
`Page 3 of 371
`
`Page 3 of 371
`
`

`

`enhancessaid target sound signal and partially suppresses said ambient noise
`
`signals; and
`
`suppressing said ambient noise signals by said noise reduction unit for further
`
`enhancing said target soundsignal.
`
`2. The method of claim 1, wherein said spatial location of said target sound signal
`
`from said target sound source is estimated using a steered response power-phase
`
`transform by said sound source localization unit.
`
`3. The method of claim 1, wherein said adaptive beamforming comprises:
`
`providing a fixed beamformer, a blocking matrix, and an adaptive filter in said
`
`adaptive beamforming unit;
`
`steering said directivity pattern of said array of said sound sensorsin said
`
`direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal from said target sound
`
`source bysaid fixed beamformer for enhancing said target sound signal, when
`
`said target sound sourceis in motion;
`
`feeding said ambient noise signals to said adaptive filter by blocking said target
`
`sound signal received from said target sound source using said blocking matrix;
`
`and
`
`adaptively filtering said ambient noise signals by said adaptive filter in response to
`
`detecting one of presence and absence ofsaid target sound signal in said sound
`
`signals received from said disparate sound sources.
`
`4. The method of claim 3, wherein said fixed beamformer performsfixed
`
`beamformingby filtering and summing output sound signals from said sound sensors.
`
`5. The method of claim 3, wherein said adaptive filtering comprises sub-band
`
`adaptive filtering performed bysaid adaptive filter, wherein said sub-band adaptive
`
`filtering comprises:
`
`Page 4 of 371
`
`Page 4 of 371
`
`

`

`providing an analysis filter bank, an adaptive filter matrix, and a synthesis filter
`
`bank in said adaptivefilter;
`
`splitting said enhanced target sound signal from said fixed beamformer and said
`
`ambient noise signals from said blocking matrix into a plurality of frequency sub-
`
`bandsby said analysis filter bank;
`
`adaptively filtering said ambient noise signals in each of said frequency sub-bands
`
`by said adaptive filter matrix in response to detecting one of presence and absence
`
`of said target soundsignal in said soundsignals received from said disparate
`
`sound sources; and
`
`synthesizing a full-band sound signal using said frequency sub-bandsof said
`
`enhancedtarget sound signal by said synthesis filter bank.
`
`6. The method of claim 3, wherein said adaptive beamforming further comprises
`
`detecting said presence of said target sound signal by an adaptation control unit
`
`providedin said adaptive beamforming unit and adjusting a step size for said adaptive
`
`filtering in responseto detecting one of said presence and said absenceofsaid target
`
`soundsignal in said soundsignals received from said disparate sound sources.
`
`7. The method of claim 1, wherein said noise reduction unit performs noise
`
`reduction by using one of a Wiener-filter based noise reduction algorithm, a spectral
`
`subtraction noise reduction algorithm, an auditory transform based noise reduction
`
`algorithm, and a model based noise reduction algorithm.
`
`8. The method of claim 1, wherein said noise reduction unit performs noise
`
`reduction in a plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein said frequency sub-bandsare
`
`employed byan analysis filter bank of said adaptive beamforming unit for sub-band
`
`adaptive beamforming.
`
`9. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`Page 5 of 371
`
`Page 5 of 371
`
`

`

`an array of sound sensors positioned in an arbitrary configuration, wherein said
`
`sound sensors receive said sound signals from a plurality of disparate sound
`
`sources, wherein said received sound signals comprise said target sound signal
`
`from a target sound source among said disparate sound sources, and ambient noise
`
`signals;
`
`a sound source localization unit that estimates a spatial location of said target
`
`sound signal from said received soundsignals, by determining a delay between
`
`each of said soundsensors and an origin of said array of said sound sensorsas a
`
`function of distance between each of said sound sensorsandsaid origin, a
`
`predefined angle between each of said sound sensors and a referenceaxis, and an
`
`azimuth angle between said reference axis and said target sound signal, when said
`
`target sound source that emits said target sound signal is in a two dimensional
`
`plane, wherein said delay is represented in terms of number of samples, and
`
`wherein said determination of said delay enables beamformingfor arbitrary
`
`numbers of said sound sensors and a plurality of arbitrary configurations of said
`
`array of said sound sensors;
`
`an adaptive beamforming unit that steers directivity pattern of said array of said
`
`sound sensorsin a direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal,
`
`wherein said adaptive beamforming unit enhances said target sound signal and
`
`partially suppresses said ambient noise signals; and
`
`a noise reduction unit that suppresses said ambient noise signals for further
`
`enhancing said target sound signal.
`
`10. The system of claim 9, wherein said sound source localization unit estimates said
`
`spatial location of said target sound signal from said target sound source using a
`
`steered response power-phase transform.
`
`11. The system of claim 9, wherein said adaptive beamforming unit comprises:
`
`Page 6 of 371
`
`Page 6 of 371
`
`

`

`a fixed beamformerthat steers said directivity pattern of said array of said sound
`
`sensors in said direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal from
`
`said target sound source for enhancing said target sound signal, when said target
`
`sound source is in motion;
`
`a blocking matrix that feeds said ambient noise signals to an adaptive filter by
`
`blocking said target sound signal received from said target sound source; and
`
`said adaptive filter that adaptively filters said ambient noise signals in response to
`
`detecting one of presence and absenceof said target sound signal in said sound
`
`signals received from said disparate sound sources.
`
`12. The system of claim 11, wherein said fixed beamformer performs fixed
`
`beamforming byfiltering and summing output sound signals from said soundsensors.
`
`13. The system of claim 11, wherein said adaptive filter comprises a set of sub-band
`
`adaptive filters comprising:
`
`an analysis filter bank that splits said enhanced target sound signal from said fixed
`
`beamformer and said ambient noise signals from said blocking matrix into a
`
`plurality of frequency sub-bands;
`
`an adaptive filter matrix that adaptively filters said ambient noise signals in each
`
`of said frequency sub-bands in response to detecting one of presence and absence
`
`of said target sound signal in said sound signals received from said disparate
`
`sound sources; and
`
`a synthesis filter bank that synthesizes a full-band sound signal using said
`
`frequency sub-bandsof said enhanced target soundsignal.
`
`14. The system of claim 9, wherein said adaptive beamforming unit further comprises
`
`an adaptation control unit that detects said presence of said target sound signal and
`
`adjusts a step size for said adaptive filtering in response to detecting one of said
`
`Page 7 of 371
`
`Page 7 of 371
`
`

`

`presence andsaid absence of said target sound signal in said sound signals received
`
`from said disparate sound sources.
`
`15. The system of claim 9, wherein said noise reduction unit is one of a Wiener-filter
`
`based noise reduction unit, a spectral subtraction noise reduction unit, an auditory
`
`transform based noise reduction unit, and a model based noise reduction unit.
`
`16. The system of claim 9, further comprising one or more audio codecsthat convert
`
`said sound signals in an analog form of said soundsignals into digital sound signals
`
`and reconverts said digital sound signals into said analog form of said soundsignals.
`
`17.
`
`The system of claim 9, wherein said noise reduction unit performs noise
`
`reduction in a plurality of frequency sub-bands employed by an analysis filter bank of
`
`said adaptive beamforming unit for sub-band adaptive beamforming.
`
`18. The system of claim 9, wherein said array of said sound sensorsis oneof a linear
`
`array of said sound sensors, a circular array of said sound sensors, and an arbitrarily
`
`distributed coplanar array of said soundsensors.
`
`19. The method of claim 1, wherein said delay (1) is determined by a formula t=fs*t,
`
`wherein fs is a sampling frequency and t is a time delay.
`
`20. A method for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`providing a microphone array system comprising an array of sound sensors
`
`positioned in an arbitrary configuration, a sound source localization unit, an
`
`adaptive beamforming unit, and a noise reduction unit, wherein said sound source
`
`localization unit, said adaptive beamforming unit, and said noise reduction unit
`
`are in operative communication with said array of said sound sensors;
`
`receiving said soundsignals from a plurality of disparate sound sources by said
`
`sound sensors, wherein said received sound signals comprise said target sound
`
`signal from a target sound source among said disparate sound sources, and
`
`Page 8 of 371
`
`Page 8 of 371
`
`

`

`ambient noise signals;
`
`determining a delay between each of said sound sensorsand an origin of said
`
`array of said sound sensorsas a function of distance between each of said sound
`
`sensors and said origin, a predefined angle between each of said sound sensors
`
`and a first reference axis, an elevation angle between a second reference axis and
`
`said target sound signal, and an azimuth angle between said first reference axis
`
`and said target soundsignal, whensaid target sound source that emits said target
`
`sound signalis in a three dimensional plane, wherein said delay is represented in
`
`terms of number of samples, and wherein said determination of said delay enables
`
`beamforming for arbitrary numbers-of said sound sensors and a plurality of
`
`arbitrary configurations of said array of said sound sensors;
`
`estimating a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by said sound sourcelocalization unit;
`
`performing adaptive beamforming forsteering a directivity pattern of said array of
`
`said sound sensors in a direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal
`
`by said adaptive beamforming unit, wherein said adaptive beamforming unit
`
`enhances said target soundsignal and partially suppresses said ambient noise
`
`signals; and
`
`suppressing said ambient noise signals by said noise reduction unit for further
`
`enhancing said target sound signal.
`
`21. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`an array of sound sensors positioned in an arbitrary configuration, wherein said
`
`sound sensors receive said sound signals from a plurality of disparate sound
`
`sources, wherein said received sound signals comprise said target sound signal
`
`from a target sound source among said disparate sound sources, and ambientnoise
`
`signals;
`
`Page 9 of 371
`
`Page 9 of 371
`
`

`

`a sound source localization unit that estimates a spatial location of said target
`
`soundsignal from said received sound signals by determining a delay between
`
`each of said sound sensors and an origin of said array of said sound sensors as a
`
`function of distance between each of said sound sensorsandsaid origin, a
`
`predefined angle between each of said sound sensors andafirst reference axis, an
`
`elevation angle between a second reference axis and said target soundsignal, and
`
`an azimuth angle betweensaid first reference axis and said target soundsignal,
`
`whensaid target sound source that emits said target soundsignal is in a three
`
`dimensional plane, wherein said delay is represented in terms of number of
`
`samples, and wherein said determination of said delay enables beamforming for
`
`arbitrary numbers-of said soundsensors andaplurality of arbitrary configurations
`
`of said array of said sound sensors;
`
`an adaptive beamforming unit that steers directivity pattern of said array of said
`
`sound sensors in a direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal,
`
`wherein said adaptive beamforming unit enhancessaid target sound signal and
`
`partially suppresses said ambient noise signals; and
`
`a noise reduction unit that suppresses said ambient noise signals for further
`
`enhancing said target sound signal.
`
`
`22. A method for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`providing a microphone array system comprising an array of sound sensors, a
`sound source localizer, a beamformer, and a noise reducer, wherein said sound
`
`source localizer, said beamformer, and said noise reducer are in operative
`
`communication with said array of said sound sensors;
`
`receiving said sound signals from a plurality of disparate sound sources by said
`
`sound sensors, wherein said received sound signals comprise said target sound
`
`signal from a target sound source among said disparate sound sources, and
`
`ambient noise signals;
`
`10
`
`Page 10 of 371
`
`Page 10 of 371
`
`

`

`determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and a reference point of
`
`said array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each ofsaid
`
`sound sensors and said reference point, a predefined angle between each of said
`
`sound sensors and a reference axis, and an azimuth angle between said reference
`
`axis and said target sound signal, whensaid target sound source that emits said
`
`target sound signal is in a two dimensional plane, wherein said delay is
`
`represented in terms of number of samples, and wherein said determination of said
`
`delay enables beamforming for two or more of said sound sensors;
`
`
`estimating a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by said sound source localizer:
`
`performing beamforming for steering a directivity pattern of said array of said
`
`sound sensors in a direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal by
`
`said beamformer, wherein said beamformer enhancessaid target sound signal and
`
`partially suppresses said ambient noise signals; and
`
`suppressing said ambient noise signals by said noise reducer for further enhancing
`
`said target soundsignal.
`
`23. The method of claim 22, wherein said beamforming comprises:
`
`providing a fixed beamformer, a blocking matrix, and an adaptive filter in said
`
`beamformer;
`
`steering said directivity pattern of said array of said sound sensors in said
`
`direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal from said target sound
`
`source by said fixed beamformer for enhancingsaid target sound signal, when
`
`said target sound source is in motion;
`
`feeding said ambient noise signals to said adaptive filter by blocking said target
`
`sound signal received from said target sound source using said blocking matrix:
`
`and
`
`11
`
`Page 11 of 371
`
`Page 11 of 371
`
`

`

`adaptively filtering said ambient noise signals by said adaptivefilter in response to
`
`detecting one of presence and absence ofsaid target sound signal in said sound
`
`signals received from said disparate sound sources.
`
`24. The method of claim 23, wherein said beamforming further comprises detecting
`
`said presence of said target sound signal by an adaptation control unit provided in said
`
`beamformer and adjusting a step size for said adaptive filtering in response to
`
`detecting one of said presence and said absence of said target sound signalin said
`
`sound signals received from said disparate sound sources.
`
`25. The method of claim 22, wherein said noise reducer performs noise reduction in a
`
`plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein said frequency sub-bands are employed by
`
`an analysis filter bank of said beamformer for sub-band adaptive beamforming.
`
`26. A system for enhancinga target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`
`an array of sound sensors, wherein said sound sensors receive said sound signals
`
`from a plurality of disparate sound sources, wherein said received sound signals
`
`comprise said target sound signal from a target sound source amongsaid disparate
`
`sound sources, and ambient noise signals;
`
`a sound source localizer that estimates a spatial location of said target sound
`
`signal from said received sound signals, by determining a delay between each of
`
`said sound sensors and a reference point of said array of said sound sensors as a
`
`function of distance between each of said sound sensors and said reference point,
`
`a predefined angle between each of said sound sensors and a reference axis, and
`
`an azimuth angle between said reference axis and said target sound signal, when
`
`said target sound source that emits said target sound signal is in a two dimensional
`
`plane, wherein said delay is represented in terms of number of samples, and
`
`wherein said determination of said delay enables beamforming for two or more of
`said sound sensors;
`
`12
`
`Page 12 of 371
`
`Page 12 of 371
`
`

`

`a beamformerthat steers directivity pattern of said array of said sound sensors in a
`
`direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal, wherein said
`
`beamformer enhances said target sound signal and partially suppresses said
`
`ambient noise signals; and
`
`
`a noise reducer that suppresses said ambient noise signals for further enhancing
`
`said target sound signal.
`
`27. The system of claim 26, wherein said beamformer further comprises an adaptation
`
`control unit that detects said presence of said target sound signal and adjusts a step
`
`size for said adaptive filtering in response to detecting one of said presence and said
`
`absence ofsaid target sound signal in said soundsignals received from said disparate
`
`sound sources.
`
`28. The system of claim 26, wherein said noise reducer performs noise reduction in a
`
`plurality of frequency sub-bands employed by an analysis filter bank of said
`
`beamformer for sub-band adaptive beamforming.
`
`29. The system of claim 26, wherein said array of said sound sensors is one of a linear
`
`array of said sound sensors and a circular array of said sound sensors.
`
`30. A method for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`providing a microphone array system comprising an array of sound sensors, a
`sound source localizer, a beamformer, and a noise reducer, wherein said sound
`
`source localizer, said beamformer, and said noise reducer are in operative
`
`communication with said array of said sound sensors;
`
`receiving said sound signals from a plurality of disparate sound sources by said
`
`sound sensors, wherein said received sound signals comprise said target sound
`
`signal from a target sound source among said disparate sound sources, and
`
`ambient noise signals;
`
`13
`
`Page 13 of 371
`
`Page 13 of 371
`
`

`

`determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and a reference point of
`
`said array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each ofsaid
`
`sound sensors and said reference point, a predefined angle between each of said
`
`sound sensorsand a first reference axis, an elevation angle between a second
`
`reference axis and said target sound signal, and an azimuth angle between said
`
`first reference axis and said target sound signal, when said target sound source that
`
`emits said target sound signal is in a three dimensional plane, wherein said delay
`
`is represented in terms of number of samples, and wherein said determination of
`
`said delay enables beamforming for two or more of said sound sensors;
`
`estimating a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by said sound source localizer;
`
`
`performing beamforming for steering a directivity pattern of said array of said
`
`sound sensors in a direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal by
`
`said beamformer, wherein said beamformer enhances said target sound signal and
`
`partially suppresses said ambient noise signals; and
`
`suppressing said ambient noise signals by said noise reducer for further enhancing
`
`said target soundsignal.
`
`
`31. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of soundsignals,
`
`comprising:
`
`an array of sound sensors, wherein said sound sensors receive said sound signals
`
`from a plurality of disparate sound sources, wherein said received sound signals
`
`comprise said target sound signal from a target sound source amongsaid disparate
`
`sound sources, and ambient noise signals;
`
`a sound source localizer that estimates a spatial location of said target sound
`
`signal from said received soundsignals by determining a delay between each of
`
`said sound sensors and a reference point of said array of said sound sensors as a
`
`function of distance between each of said sound sensors and said reference point,
`
`a predefined angle between each of said sound sensors anda first reference axis,
`
`14
`
`Page 14 of 371
`
`Page 14 of 371
`
`

`

`an elevation angle between a second reference axis and said target sound signal,
`
`and an azimuth angle between said first reference axis and said target sound
`
`signal, when said target sound source that emits said target sound signal is in a
`
`three dimensional plane, wherein said delay is represented in terms of number of
`
`samples, and wherein said determination of said delay enables beamformingfor
`
`two or more of said sound sensors;
`
`
`a beamformerthat steers directivity pattern of said array of said sound sensors in a
`
`direction of said spatial location of said target sound signal, wherein said
`
`beamformer enhances said target sound signal and partially suppresses said
`
`ambient noise signals: and
`
`a noise reducer that suppresses said ambient noise signals for further enhancing
`
`said target sound signal.
`
`32. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`an array of sound sensors, wherein said sound sensors receive said sound
`
`signals from a plurality of disparate sound sources, wherein said received
`
`sound signals comprise said target sound signal from a target sound source
`
`among said disparate sound sources, and ambient noise signals;
`
`a sound source localizer that estimates a spatial location of said target sound
`
`signal from said received sound signals by determining a delay between
`
`each of said sound sensors and a reference point of said array of said sound
`
`sensors as a function of distance between each of said sound sensors and
`
`said reference point and an angle of each of said sound sensors biased from
`a reference axis;
`
`
`a beamformer that enhances said target sound signal and suppresses said
`
`ambient noise signals; and
`
`a noise reducer that suppresses said ambient noise signals.
`
`15
`
`Page 15 of 371
`
`Page 15 of 371
`
`

`

`
`33. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`an array of sound sensors, wherein said sound sensors receive said sound
`
`signals from a plurality of disparate sound sources, wherein said received
`
`sound signals comprise said target sound signal from a target sound source
`
`among said disparate sound sources, and ambient noise signals;
`
`
`a soundsource localizer that estimates a spatial location of said target sound
`
`signal from said received sound signals by determining a delay between
`
`each of said sound sensors and a reference point of said array of said sound
`
`sensors as a function of distance between each of said sound sensors and
`
`said reference point, a predefined angle between each of said sound sensors
`
`and a reference axis and an azimuth angle between said reference axis and
`
`said target sound signal;
`
`
`a beamformerthat enhances said target sound signal and suppresses said
`
`ambient noise signals; and
`
`a noise reducer that suppresses said ambient noise signals.
`
`34. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`an array of sound sensors, wherein said sound sensors receive said sound
`
`signals from a plurality of disparate sound sources, wherein said received
`
`sound signals comprise said target sound signal from a target sound source
`
`among said disparate sound sources, and ambient noise signals;
`
`
`a sound source localizer that estimates a spatial location of said target sound
`
`signal from said received sound signals by determining a delay between
`
`each of said sound sensors and a reference point of said array of said sound
`
`sensors as a function of distance between each of said sound sensors and
`
`16
`
`Page 16 of 371
`
`Page 16 of 371
`
`

`

`said reference point, a predefined angle between each of said sound sensors
`
`and a first reference axis, an elevation angle between a second reference
`
`axis and said target sound signal and an azimuth angle between said first
`
`reference axis and said target sound signal;
`
`
`a beamformer that enhances said target sound signal and suppresses said
`
`ambient noise signals; and
`
`a noise reducer that suppresses said ambient noise signals.
`
`35. A system for enhancing a target sound signal from a plurality of sound signals,
`
`comprising:
`
`
`an array of sound sensors positioned in a non-circular configuration,
`
`wherein said sound sensors receive said sound signals from a plurality of
`
`disparate sound sources, wherein said received sound signals comprise said
`
`target sound signal from a target sound source among said disparate sound
`
`sources, and ambient noise signals;
`
`a sound source localizer that estimates a spatial location of said target sound
`
`signal from said received sound signals by determining a delay between
`
`each of said sound sensors and a reference point of said array of said sound
`
`sensors as a function of distance between each of said sound sensors and
`
`said reference point and an angle of each of said sound sensors biased from
`
`a reference axis, wherein said distance between each of said sound sensors
`
`and said reference point varies from a minimum value to a maximum value,
`
`and wherein said minimum value corresponds to zero and said maximum
`
`value is defined based on a limitation associated with size of said system:
`
`a beamformerthat enhancessaid target sound signal and suppresses said
`
`ambient noise signals; and
`
`a noise reducer that suppresses said ambient noise signals.
`
`17
`
`Page 17 of 371
`
`Page 17 of 371
`
`

`

`Remarks
`
`Amendments to specification
`
`Applicant respectfully submits that in the specification, the ‘cross-reference to
`
`related applications’ paragraph has been amendedonthefirst page of the original
`
`application after thetitle.
`
`Amendments to claims
`
`Support for the following amendmentin claim 21 “a sound source localization
`
`unit that estimates a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received
`
`sound signals by determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and an
`
`origin of said array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each of
`
`said sound sensors andsaid origin” is found in claim 1, 9 and 20 of the applicant’s
`
`patent US 8,861,756.
`
`Support for the following limitation in new claims 22, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33 and
`
`34 “determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and a reference point of
`
`said array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each of said sound
`
`sensors and said reference point” is found in column 7, lines 65-66 of the applicant’s
`
`patent US 8,861,756.
`
`Support for the following limitation in new claim 32 “a sound sourcelocalizer
`
`that estimates a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and a reference
`
`point of said array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each of
`
`said sound sensors and said reference point and an angle of each of said sound sensors
`
`biased from a reference axis” is found in column 7, lines 56-67 and column8, lines 1-
`
`21 of the applicant’s patent US 8,861,756.
`
`Support for the following limitation in new claim 33 “‘a sound source localizer
`
`that estimates a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and a reference
`
`18
`
`Page 18 of 371
`
`Page 18 of 371
`
`

`

`point of said array of said sound sensorsas a function of distance between each of
`
`said sound sensors and said reference point, a predefined angle between each ofsaid
`
`sound sensors and a reference axis and an azimuth angle between said reference axis
`
`and said target sound signal” is found in claims 1 and 9, and in column 8, lines 22-67
`
`and column 9, lines 1-11 of the applicant’s patent US 8,861,756.
`
`Support for the following limitation in new claim 34 ‘“‘a sound source localizer
`
`that estimates a spatial location of said target sound signal from said received sound
`
`signals by determining a delay between each of said sound sensors and a reference
`
`point of said array of said sound sensors as a function of distance between each of
`
`said sound sensors and said reference point, a predefined angle between each of said
`
`sound sensorsand a first reference axis, an elevation angle between a second
`
`reference axis and said target sound signal and an azimuth angle betweensaid first
`
`reference axis and said target sound signal” is found in claims 20 and 21, and column
`
`9, lines 12-67 and column 10, lines 1-67 of the applicant’s patent US 8,861,756.
`
`Support for the following limitation in new claims 32, 33 and 34 “a
`
`beamformer that enhances said target sound signal and suppresses said ambient noise
`
`signals” is found in claims 1, 9, 20 and 21 of