Minimum variance method by aggregated microphones

This paper introduces the minimum variance method that utilizes the transfer characteristics of several microphones located at a same place, namely aggregated microphones. In this paper, we firstly show that the microphone array system and the proposed aggregated microphone system can be described in the same framework. We then apply the minimum variance method to the method that utilizes the transfer characteristics of the microphones placed at a same location and compare the performance of the proposed method with the microphone array. It is easy to miniaturize the system because all of the microphones are placed at a same location. This feature is considered to be useful in the practical applications. The experimental results obtained in an ordinary room are shown to verify the validity of the proposed method.