Efficient Sound-Source Localization system using low cost TDOA computation

This paper presents VLSI design for sound-source localization by computing time difference of arrival (TDOA). Real-time computation yet few logic element consumption are targeted for this architecture. This system supports to recognize sound direction in 3 dimensional space by utilizing 4 sound sensors. In order to determine sound direction, we propose efficient cross-correlation method for TDOA computation and an optimized binary tree adder. The design is implemented in Altera Cyclone II FPGA with Verilog HDL coding. For 2 sound series computation, this system only consumes 5942 logic elements which are established by 5246 combinational functions and 1213 dedicated logic registers. The full processing time needs 128 clock cycles which is only 5.12 μs by using 25 MHz clock frequency. In addition, the proposed design can distinguish non-linear 64 points of direction per 90 degree.