Sound reproduction system and sound quality control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11693621-B2
Application number	US-202117210368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2021
Priority date	Mar 25, 2020
Publication date	Jul 4, 2023
Grant date	Jul 4, 2023

Abstract

A device system includes an acoustic device, a sensor, and a sound processor. The acoustic device is configured to be worn by a user. A sensor is configured to detect a movement of a shielding object. The sound processor is configured to generate sound with a first sound quality for a block state in which the shielding object blocks a virtual sound source localized on an opposite side of the shielding object and emit the sound from the acoustic device. The sound processor is further configured to change a sound quality of the sound from the first sound quality to a second sound quality for a non-block state in which the shielding object does not block the virtual sound source, in response to the sensor detecting that the shielding object moves from a position blocking the virtual sound source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sound reproduction system comprising:
an acoustic device configured to be worn by a user;
a sensor configured to detect a movement of a shielding object; and
a sound processor configured to generate sound with a first sound quality for a block state in which the shielding object blocks a virtual sound source localized on an opposite side of the shielding object and emit the sound from the acoustic device, the sound processor being further configured to change a sound quality of the sound from the first sound quality to a second sound quality for a non-block state in which the shielding object does not block the virtual sound source, in response to the sensor detecting that the shielding object moves from a position blocking the virtual sound source,
the shielding object being a wall that separates a first space in which the user is present and a second space in which the virtual sound source is localized, and a door provided on the wall,
the sensor being configured to detect an opening and closing of the door, and detect a degree of the opening and closing of the door, and
the sound processor being further configured to generate sound with a sound quality obtained by cross-fading the first sound quality and the second sound quality, in accordance with the degree of the opening and closing of the door detected by the sensor.

2. The sound reproduction system according to claim 1 , wherein
when a localization position of the virtual sound source comes into direct view of the user as a result of a movement of at least one or more of the shielding object, the user, or the virtual sound source, the sound processor is further configured to generate a sound with a third sound quality for a state in which the localization position of the virtual sound source comes into the direct view, instead of the second sound quality.

3. A sound reproduction system comprising:
an acoustic device configured to be worn by a user;
a sensor configured to detect a movement of a shielding object; and
a sound processor configured to generate sound with a first sound quality for a block state in which the shielding object blocks a virtual sound source localized on an opposite side of the shielding object and emit the sound from the acoustic device, the sound processor being further configured to change a sound quality of the sound from the first sound quality to a second sound quality for a non-block state in which the shielding object does not block the virtual sound source, in response to the sensor detecting that the shielding object moves from a position blocking the virtual sound source,
the shielding object being a wall that separates a first space in which the user is present and a second space in which the virtual sound source is localized, and a door provided on the wall,
the sensor being configured to detect an opening and closing of the door, and
the sound processor being further configured to generate the sound with the second sound quality that is filtered by
impulse response in the second space of the virtual sound source at a position of an open door, and
a head-related transfer function from the position of the open door to the user.

4. The sound reproduction system according to claim 3 , wherein
when a localization position of the virtual sound source comes into direct view of the user as a result of a movement of at least one or more of the shielding object, the user, or the virtual sound source, the sound processor is further configured to generate a sound with a third sound quality for a state in which the localization position of the virtual sound source comes into the direct view, instead of the second sound quality.

5. A sound quality control method comprising:
generating sound with a first sound quality for a block state in which a shielding object blocks a virtual sound source localized on an opposite side of the shielding object and emitting the sound from an acoustic device, by a sound reproduction system including the acoustic device configured to be worn by a user and a sensor configured to detect a movement of the shielding object, the shielding object being a wall that separates a first space in which the user is present and a second space in which the virtual sound source is localized, and a door provided on the wall, the sensor being configured to detect an opening and closing of the door and a degree of the opening and closing of the door;
changing, by the sound reproduction system, a sound quality of the sound from the first sound quality to a second sound quality for a non-block state in which the shielding object does not block the virtual sound source, in response to the sensor detecting that the shielding object moves from a position blocking the virtual sound source; and
generating sound with a sound quality obtained by cross-fading the first sound quality and the second sound quality, in accordance with the degree of the opening and closing of the door detected by the sensor.

6. The sound quality control method according to claim 5 , further comprising
generating a sound with a third sound quality for a state in which a localization position of the virtual sound source is in direct view of the user, instead of the second sound quality, when the user is in a position in which the localization position of the virtual sound source is in direct view.

7. A sound quality control method comprising:
generating sound with a first sound quality for a block state in which a shielding object blocks a virtual sound source localized on an opposite side of the shielding object and emitting the sound from an acoustic device, by a sound reproduction system including the acoustic device configured to be worn by a user and a sensor configured to detect a movement of the shielding object, the shielding object being a wall that separates a first space in which the user is present and a second space in which the virtual sound source is localized, and a door provided on the wall, the sensor being configured to detect an opening and closing of the door;
changing, by the sound reproduction system, a sound quality of the sound from the first sound quality to a second sound quality for a non-block state in which the shielding object does not block the virtual sound source, in response to the sensor detecting that the shielding object moves from a position blocking the virtual sound source; and
generating the sound with the second sound quality that is filtered using impulse response in the second space of the virtual sound source at a position of an open door, and a head-related transfer function from the position of the open door to the user.

8. The sound quality control method according to claim 7 , further comprising
generating a sound with a third sound quality for a state in which a localization position of the virtual sound source is in direct view of the user, instead of the second sound quality, when the user is in a position in which the localization position of the virtual sound source is in direct view.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• Tada Yukio
• Kumehara Kazuya
• Arita Mitsuki

Classifications

• H04S7/306 Primary

  For headphones · CPC title

• G10L15/22

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G10L2015/223

  Execution procedure of a spoken command · CPC title

• G01C21/3629

  Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech (text to speech systems per se G10L13/00) · CPC title