Signal processing device, signal processing method and program

Abstract

There is provided a signal processing device and method including: an audio signal acquisition portion that acquires audio signals; an external signal acquisition portion that acquires external signals; an output signal generation portion that generates output signals from the audio signals and the external signals; a mode setting portion that sets an external mode as an operation mode; and a fade control portion that controls the output signal generation portion in accordance with the operation mode. When the external mode is set, the fade control portion causes the output signal generation portion to generate the output signal for one of the right ear and the left ear of the user from at least the external signal, and also to generate the output signal for the other ear from at least the audio signal.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] The present application contains subject matter related to Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2009-026552 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 6, 2009, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to a signal processing device, a signal processing method and a program. Background technique [0004] In recent years, various mobile music players including mobile phones are widely used, and people use headphones or earphones both indoors and outdoors such as on trains or in public places. The volume of the audio from the earphones can be set to a volume suitable for each listener. However, listening to music is the purpose in many cases, and thus the volume is usually set subjectively higher relative to the surrounding noise. [0005] For example, when a user is shopping while listening to music, it is difficult for the user to hear voic...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In such cases, of course there are users who think "I don't want to interrupt what I'm listening to", "It takes time to lower the volume", "If I take off one earphone, I can't hear the music, so I don't want to take it off" , "My player is in my bag so it's not easy to operate, but I don't want to take off the headphones because then I can't listen anymore" etc.

As a result, many users suffer from having to interrupt their listening due to surrounding sounds, or feel uncomfortable due to having to take off their headphones, etc.

[0011] Furthermore, in the case of employing the earphone microphone disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. JP-A-2007-281916, since two microphones are required for a call in either case, it is not possible to interrupt listening to music or the like. Avoided

In addition, for example, not only for calls on mobile phones, but also for other situations where it is necessary to lower the sound level (also called volume and sound level), stop playback, or remove the earphones, so it is also unavoidable to interrupt listening to music, etc.

Furthermore, in cases where the earphones are only removed from one ear, for example if the music is in stereo, the audio can no longer be heard from the removed earphones, although Listening to music, etc. is not interrupted, but muted

[0012]It is more difficult to hear such ambient sounds when using the recent boom in noise-canceling players and headphones