Sound source identification for precision information equipment having many kinds of sound sources

Abstract

These days, precision information equipment having multifunction with high qualities in an office environment is demanded. Sound quality in this equipment has become a very important factor in addition to reduction of the sound-pressure level. MFP (multifunction peripheral) has many functional parts and operational modes, so it makes uncomfortable transient sounds in one cycle. The primary sound section to decide the sound quality of the MFP was estimated by sound quality evaluation as in previous research. Main uncomfortable sounds could be confirmed at the steady-state sound section as the single copy mode and at the particular transient sound section in one cycle as the ten-times continuous copies mode. So, it is necessary to identify the position of uncomfortable sound sources at each mode for comfortable sound design. Principal component analysis (PCA) using acceleration measured by accelerometers and sound pressure measured by microphones is applied to identify the number of sound sources. Sound-pressure distribution in one cycle from the MFP having many kinds of sound sources can be measured by microphone array at each moment. As a result, the sound source position can be identified by using PCA and sound-pressure distribution.