The sound camera visualizes the location(s) of sound and overlays that on a B&W visual camera image taken at nearly the same time. The device has a maximum resolution of 3.4 degrees, with a beamwidth (or point spread function) that inversely decreases with frequency, and with a beamwidth of ~8 degrees at 10 kHz. The Field of View (FOV) within the search area is ~68.9 degrees x ~38.7 degrees. The device records 48 kHz audio from a 16-microphone array for 0.2 seconds to collect audio data to be imaged. The device has a frame rate and data collection interval up to 3 Hz with a 0.7 second visualization lag but varies some depending on user settings.

Applications for such a device are typically high frequency leak detection. An example of it imaging sound from a sprinkler and from an air can are demonstrated in the screenshots. The device highlighting the location of a cricket is shown as well. A possible use case is the Line Of Sight (LOS) can be determined for some very high frequency bird calls (owls would be too low frequency), see photo of tree as an example. The assembled package comes with an acoustic array, camera, screen, battery with charger, and computer with necessary software. A hardened case is also provided for ease of transport and a handgrip to be attached for handling outside of the case.

The acoustic camera is designed to need as minimal of user interaction as possible. The acoustic camera starts with only 2 button clicks (one to turn on/off the battery and one to start the computer), and boot time is ~1 minute. Two additional keys are provided to control sensitivity, and another to shut down the device. Increasing sensitivity slows the refresh rate but increases the range of frequencies imaged. Which frequencies being imaged are demonstrated in a subplot to the right of the acoustic image, and sounds being imaged are those to the right of the red dashed line. The device automatically adjusts to image the most prominent components of the acoustic spectrum observed during sampling.

Other acoustic imagers/sound cameras are usually significantly more expensive, but this was avoided through careful use of computing and software algorithms.

The device has been lightly used for testing purposes.

Tripod is not included but supports the standard 1/4-20 interface used with most tripods. A tripod is highly recommended with its use!