AUDIO DEVICE, AUDIO CONTROL METHOD, AND AUDIO CONTROL PROGRAM

Abstract

To provide an acoustic device and an acoustic control method capable of clarifying sound images.SOLUTION: An acoustic device in an embodiment includes a detection unit and an output control unit. The detection unit detects a sound image position of a first predetermined sound. The output control unit controls the output of a second predetermined sound different from the first predetermined sound so that the sound image of the second predetermined sound positions in a position that does not overlap with the sound image position of the first predetermined sound detected by the detection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1D

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an audio device. 、 Sound Control Method and Sound Control Programs Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an acoustic device that outputs acoustic signals of various sound sources, such as music and voice, from a plurality of speakers arranged in a space, such as the cabin of a vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the conventional technology, reverberation sounds are actively added to direct sounds and then reproduced, thereby obtaining reverberation sounds with a sense of distance and spaciousness. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 61-202600 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the conventional technology has room for improvement in terms of making the sound image clearer. For example, noises such as the sound of the car running or the sound of the air conditioner may be generated inside the car, and the noises may be mixed with the music or voices, making the sound image unclear.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an acoustic device capable of clarifying a sound image. 、 Sound Control Method and Sound Control Programs The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides an acoustic device comprising a detection unit and an output control unit. The detection unit detects a sound image position of a first predetermined sound. The output control unit controls the output of a second predetermined sound, which is different from the first predetermined sound, so that the sound image of the second predetermined sound is localized at a position that does not overlap with the sound image position of the first predetermined sound detected by the detection unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the sound image can be made clear. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A is a schematic explanatory diagram of sound image width and envelopment feeling. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the first wavefront law. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1C is a schematic explanatory diagram of an acoustic control method according to an embodiment. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1D is a schematic explanatory diagram of an acoustic control method according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an audio system including an audio device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of sound image position information. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reverberation characteristic information. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating the control by the output control unit. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the control by the output control unit. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating the control by the output control unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the audio device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an audio device and an audio control method disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0010] In the following, an example will be described in which the audio device according to the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle.

[0011] First, an overview of an acoustic control method using an acoustic device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 1A to 1D. Fig. 1A is a schematic explanatory diagram of a sound image width ASW and a sense of envelopment LEV. Fig. 1B is a schematic explanatory diagram of the law of the first wave front. Figs. 1C and 1D are schematic explanatory diagrams of an acoustic control method according to an embodiment.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1A, it is known that a listener L who listens to sound from a sound source S in a space can perceive two types of spatial impressions. One spatial impression is the sound image width ASW, which is defined as the "width of the apparent sound source" that is perceived as blending with the direct sound in both time and space, and the other spatial impression is the sense of envelopment LEV, which is defined as the "feeling that the listener is surrounded by sound sources other than the apparent sound source." The sound image width ASW is the width of the sound image A1 derived from the direct sound, which is the early component of the sound source signal. The sense of envelopment LEV is the sound image A2 derived from the reverberation sound (described later), which is the later component of the sound source signal.

[0013] In designing and evaluating the sound image width ASW and the sense of envelopment LEV, an index using the so-called "law of the first wave front" is sometimes used. In this index, two regions R1 and R2 are defined by two thresholds TH1 and TH2, as shown in Figure 1B.

[0014] Region R1 is a region that contains components (initial components) that mainly contain direct sound among the components contained in the sound source signal. For example, if the initial components of region R1 are large, the sound image width ASW becomes large, and the listener L may feel that the sound is diffused, and depending on the sound source, the sound quality may be evaluated as poor (unclear). Note that direct sound is, for example, sound that arrives directly from the sound source and does not include sound reflected by walls, etc.

[0015] Moreover, region R2 is a region that contains mainly reverberant components (late components) among the components contained in the sound source signal. For example, if the reverberant components in region R2 are large, the envelopment feeling LEV increases, and the listener L feels that the sound is diffused, so that the envelopment feeling is evaluated as being full. Note that reverberant sounds include, for example, the sound of the sound source reflected by a wall, etc., and are sounds that are delayed in time from the direct sound.

[0016] Although not shown in the figure, in a relatively small space such as a vehicle interior, it is difficult to separate direct sound from reverberant sound, and reverberant sound is likely to be mixed into the direct sound. In such a case, the reverberant sound component in area R2 becomes small, and the envelopment LEV becomes small. Therefore, in a small space such as a vehicle interior where direct sound and reverberant sound are mixed, the acoustic device actively adds pseudo reverberant sound to the direct sound to increase the reverberant sound component in area R2 and ensure the envelopment LEV.

[0017] Next, a sound control method using the sound device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 1C. As shown in Fig. 1C, the sound device 10 is mounted on a vehicle 1. A plurality of speakers 50a, 50b are installed in the vehicle 1. For example, the speaker 50a is installed on the front side of the vehicle 1 in the vehicle interior space, and the speaker 50b is installed on the upper side. Note that the positions at which the above-mentioned speakers 50a, 50b are installed are merely examples and are not limited, and the speakers can be installed in any position, such as the rear side, lower side, left or right side, of the vehicle 1 in the vehicle interior space.

[0018] The acoustic device 10 outputs a sound source signal to the speakers 50a, 50b, and can output a sound including the above-mentioned direct sound and pseudo reverberation sound from the speakers 50a, 50b (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "reproduced sound"). Here, the reproduced sound is, for example, a sound including music or voice, but is not limited thereto. The reproduced sound is an example of a second predetermined sound.

[0019] Furthermore, the acoustic device 10 can localize the sound image A of the reproduced sound at any position. More specifically, the acoustic device 10 can localize the sound image A1 of the direct sound and the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound at any position. For example, the acoustic device 10 can move the spatial position of the sound image A1 of the direct sound by adjusting the volume of the direct sound output from the speakers 50a and 50b. Similarly, the acoustic device 10 can move the spatial position of the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound by adjusting the volume of the reverberation sound output from the speakers 50a and 50b.

[0020] In addition, Fig. 1C shows an example in which the sound image A1 of the direct sound and the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound are localized at the same position in front of the listener L. In the example of Fig. 1C, the position of the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound is far from the head La of the listener L, so the listener L does not feel a sense of envelopment LEV in the reproduced sound. This is because, when the reproduced sound is an announcement or the like, the listener L can hear the reproduced sound more clearly without the sense of envelopment LEV.

[0021] Incidentally, noises such as running sounds and air conditioner sounds are generated inside the cabin of the vehicle 1. Therefore, depending on the noise conditions, the position of sound image B of the noise may overlap the position of sound image A of the reproduced sound. In such a case, the noise may mix with the reproduced sound, making sound image A of the reproduced sound unclear.

[0022] Therefore, the acoustic device 10 according to this embodiment is configured to be able to clarify the sound image A of the reproduced sound.

[0023] 1D, the processing of the acoustic device 10 will be specifically described below. First, the acoustic device 10 detects the position of a noise sound image B (step S1). For example, the acoustic device 10 collects sounds in the vehicle cabin using a microphone 60 provided at an appropriate position in the vehicle cabin, and detects the position of the noise sound image B by analyzing the collected sounds. Note that noise is an example of a first predetermined sound.

[0024] In the above, the position of the sound image B of the noise is detected using the microphone 60, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any detection method can be used. For example, the sound image B of the noise including the driving sound changes depending on the driving state such as the vehicle speed and the open / closed state of the window. Also, the sound image B of the noise including the air conditioner sound changes depending on the operating state of the air conditioner. Therefore, for example, the correlation between the driving state, the open / closed state of the window, the operating state of the air conditioner, and the position of the sound image B of the noise is calculated in advance through an experiment or the like, and information indicating the calculated correlation is stored in the storage unit 20 of the acoustic device 10 (see FIG. 2). Then, the acoustic device 10 may detect the position of the sound image B of the noise from the information on the correlation with the actual driving state, the open / closed state of the window, the operating state of the air conditioner, and the information on the correlation.

[0025] Next, the acoustic device 10 performs control to shift the position of the sound image A of the reproduced sound with respect to the position of the sound image B of the detected noise. For example, the acoustic device 10 controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the sound image A of the reproduced sound is localized at a position that does not overlap with the position of the sound image B of the detected noise (step S2). In detail, the acoustic device 10 controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the sound image A1 of the direct sound and the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound included in the sound image A of the reproduced sound are localized at a position that does not overlap with the position of the sound image B of the noise.

[0026] 1D, the acoustic device 10 adjusts the volume of the reproduced sound (direct sound and reverberation sound) output from the speakers 50a and 50b, thereby moving the position of the sound image A of the reproduced sound upward. Note that the direction in which the position of the sound image A is moved is not limited to upward, and can be set to any direction.

[0027] In this manner, in this embodiment, by controlling the sound output so that, for example, sound image A of the reproduced sound and sound image B of the noise are in different spatial positions, it becomes difficult for noise to mix with the reproduced sound, and therefore sound image A of the reproduced sound can be made clearer.

[0028] Next, the configuration of an audio system including the audio device 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an audio system including the audio device 10. In Fig. 2, only components necessary for explaining the features of this embodiment are shown as functional blocks, and descriptions of general components are omitted.

[0029] In other words, each component shown in Fig. 2 is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. For example, the specific form of distribution and integration of each functional block is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of it can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the audio system 100 includes an audio device 10, a sound source device 40, a speaker 50, a microphone 60, a vehicle speed sensor 70, and a display 80.

[0031] The sound source device 40 is a device that outputs a sound source signal of a sound (reproduced sound) including, for example, music or voice. The sound source signal is input to the acoustic device 10. The acoustic device 10 generates a sound source signal for output, and the signal is input to the speaker 50.

[0032] The speaker 50 outputs a reproduced sound corresponding to a sound source signal input from the acoustic device 10. For example, the speaker 50 outputs a direct sound, which is a sound source signal, or a pseudo reverberation sound generated from the sound source signal. Note that, although there are multiple speakers 50 as described above, the present invention is not limited to this and there may be only one speaker.

[0033] The microphone 60 collects sound from within the vehicle cabin. The microphone 60 outputs information related to the collected sound to the audio device 10. The vehicle speed sensor 70 detects the speed of the vehicle 1, and outputs a signal indicating the detected vehicle speed to the audio device 10.

[0034] The display 80 is mounted on the vehicle 1. The display 80 can display, for example, an image related to the sound source of the reproduced sound, which will be described later. Note that, as the display 80, a head-up display can be used, but is not limited to this.

[0035] Next, a description will be given of the audio device 10. The audio device 10 includes a storage unit 20 and a control unit 30.

[0036] The storage unit 20 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk, and in the example of FIG. 2, stores sound image position information 21 and reverberation sound characteristic information 22.

[0037] The sound image position information 21 is information on the sound image position of the sound whose sound image position is to be controlled. Specifically, for example, in the case of a direct sound or a reverberant sound contained in the reproduced sound, the sound image position is shifted so as not to overlap with the position of the sound image B of the noise, in other words, the sound image position is changed. The sound image position information 21 includes information on the sound image position after such a change.

[0038] The sound image position information 21 will now be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the sound image position information 21.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the sound image position information 21 includes items such as "sound image position of noise," "sound for changing sound image position," and "sound image position after change," and each item is associated with each other.

[0040] The "sound image position of noise" is information indicating a sound image position of noise that is assumed in advance. For example, the "sound image position of noise" includes information indicating the sound image position of noise in the vehicle cabin that is assumed under various conditions, such as the sound image position of noise that may be detected by sound collection by the microphone 60, the sound image position of noise corresponding to the vehicle speed, the sound image position of noise corresponding to the open / closed state of the window, and the sound image position of noise corresponding to the operating state of the air conditioner. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 3, for convenience, the "sound image position of noise" is abstractly described as "noise position F1," but specific information is stored in "noise position F1." Below, other information may also be abstractly described.

[0041] The "sound that changes the sound image position" is information indicating a sound that is the target of control to change the sound image position. The "sound that changes the sound image position" includes information indicating, for example, a direct sound of a reproduced sound, a pseudo reverberation sound of a reproduced sound, etc.

[0042] In this embodiment, as described below, it is also possible to make the listener L feel a sense of being enveloping in the noise by generating a pseudo reverberation sound of the noise and outputting it from the speaker 50. Since the acoustic device 10 can perform control to change the sound image position of the reverberation sound of the noise, the "sound that changes the sound image position" may include information indicating the pseudo reverberation sound of the noise.

[0043] The "changed sound image position" is information indicating a changed sound image position in the control for changing the sound image position. The "changed sound image position" includes information indicating a position that does not overlap with the corresponding "sound image position of noise" in the sound image position information 21.

[0044] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the sound image position information 21 indicates that when the sound image position of the noise is "noise position F1," the sound that changes the sound image position is "sound G1," and the sound image position after the change is "position H1."

[0045] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 2, the reverberation sound characteristics information 22 is information indicating characteristics of reverberation sound that change according to the vehicle speed. The reverberation sound characteristics information 22 will be explained with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the reverberation sound characteristics information 22.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the reverberation sound characteristics information 22 includes items such as "vehicle speed" and "reverberation sound characteristics", and each item is associated with each other.

[0047] "Vehicle speed" indicates information indicating the vehicle speed. "Reverberation sound characteristics" is information indicating the characteristics of the reverberation sound. The characteristics of the reverberation sound include, but are not limited to, the volume of the reverberation sound and the sound image position of the reverberation sound. The characteristics of the reverberation sound change depending on the vehicle speed, which will be described later.

[0048] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the reverberation sound characteristics information 22 indicates that when the vehicle speed is "vehicle speed J1", the characteristic of the reverberation sound is "characteristic K1".

[0049] Returning to the explanation of Figure 2, the control unit 30 includes an acquisition unit 31, a detection unit 32, an output control unit 33, and a display control unit 34, and includes, for example, a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), input / output ports, etc., and various circuits.

[0050] The CPU of the computer functions as the acquisition unit 31, the detection unit 32, the output control unit 33, and the display control unit 34 of the control unit 30, for example, by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM.

[0051] In addition, at least some or all of the acquisition unit 31, detection unit 32, output control unit 33 and display control unit 34 of the control unit 30 can be configured with hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0052] The acquisition unit 31 acquires a sound source signal output from the sound source device 40. Then, the acquisition unit 31 transmits the acquired sound source signal to the output control unit 33. The acquisition unit 31 acquires information on the sound collected by the microphone 60 and transmits it to the detection unit 32. The acquisition unit 31 acquires a signal indicating the vehicle speed output from the vehicle speed sensor 70 and transmits it to the detection unit 32 and the output control unit 33.

[0053] The detection unit 32 detects the position of a sound image of the noise. For example, the detection unit 32 detects the position of a sound image B of the noise by analyzing information about the sound collected by the microphone 60. The detection unit 32 transmits information indicating the position of the detected sound image B of the noise to the output control unit 33.

[0054] Note that instead of or in addition to the above-described analysis, the detection unit 32 may detect the position of the noise sound image B based on the driving conditions such as the vehicle speed, the open / closed state of the windows, the operating state of the air conditioner, etc. For example, as described above, the detection unit 32 may detect the position of the noise sound image B based on information indicating a correlation between the actual driving conditions, the open / closed state of the windows, the operating state of the air conditioner, and information calculated and stored in advance.

[0055] The output control unit 33 controls the output of the reproduced sound. Specifically, the output control unit 33 generates a sound source signal for output, including a direct sound and a pseudo reverberation sound, based on a sound source signal of the reproduced sound of the sound source device 40, and outputs the signal to the speaker 50. As a result, the reproduced sound corresponding to the sound source signal is output from the speaker 50. The output control unit 33 can generate the reverberation sound by using, for example, a filter. As the filter, for example, a FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filter, an IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) filter, or the like can be used, but is not limited thereto.

[0056] Also, for example, the output control unit 33 reads out the sound image position information 21 from the storage unit 20, and controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the sound image A of the reproduced sound is localized at a position that does not overlap (is shifted from) the position of the sound image B of the detected noise (see FIG. 1D). In other words, the output control unit 33 controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the position of the sound image A of the reproduced sound and the position of the sound image B of the noise are separated by a predetermined distance or more. Note that the predetermined distance is set to a value that prevents the reproduced sound from mixing with the noise, but is not limited to this and can be set to any value.

[0057] In this way, in the output control unit 33 of this embodiment, the output of the reproduced sound is controlled so that, for example, sound image A of the reproduced sound and sound image B of the noise are in different spatial positions, making it difficult for noise to mix with the reproduced sound, thereby making it possible to clarify the sound image A of the reproduced sound.

[0058] Furthermore, the output control unit 33 may control the output of the reproduced sound so that, for example, when a window in the vehicle compartment is open, the sound image A of the reproduced sound is localized in the space near the window on the opposite side to the open window. This makes it difficult for the reproduced sound to mix with noise coming in through the window, thereby making the sound image A of the reproduced sound clearer.

[0059] The reproduced sound includes a direct sound and a pseudo reverberation sound. Therefore, the output control unit 33 localizes both the sound image A1 of the direct sound and the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound at positions that do not overlap with the position of the sound image B of the noise, but is not limited to this. In other words, the output control unit 33 may localize either the sound image A1 of the direct sound or the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound at a position that does not overlap with the position of the sound image B of the noise. Even in such a case, it is possible to clarify the sound image A of the reproduced sound.

[0060] The output control unit 33 may also control the output of the reproduced sound so that the position of the sound image A1 of the direct sound does not overlap with the position of the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound. Such control will be described with reference to Fig. 5A. Fig. 5A and Figs. 5B and 5C, which will be described later, are all diagrams for explaining the control by the output control unit 33.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 5A, the output control unit 33 may localize both the sound image A1 of the direct sound of the reproduced sound and the sound image A2 of the reverberant sound at positions that do not overlap with the position of the sound image B of the noise, and may localize the sound image A2 of the reverberant sound in a predetermined range D that includes the head La of the listener L.

[0062] As a result, the sound image A1 of the direct sound of the reproduced sound, the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound, and the sound image B of the noise are positioned so as not to overlap with one another, so that the direct sound of the reproduced sound, the reverberation sound, and the noise are less likely to mix with one another, and therefore the sound images A1, A2 of the direct sound of the reproduced sound, the reverberation sound, etc. can be made clear. In addition, by localizing the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound in a predetermined range D including the head La of the listener L, the listener L can feel a sufficient sense of being surrounded LEV.

[0063] The output control unit 33 may also read the reverberation sound characteristics information 22 and control the output of the reproduced sound so as to change the characteristics of the reverberation sound in accordance with the vehicle speed.

[0064] Here, the characteristics of vehicle speed and reverberation will be explained. First, vehicle speed is correlated with noise, including running sounds. More specifically, noise increases as vehicle speed increases. When noise increases, for example, listener L has difficulty hearing reverberation sounds included in the reproduced sound, and this may result in a decrease in the sense of envelopment LEV.

[0065] Therefore, in the output control unit 33 according to the present embodiment, the characteristics of the reverberation sound are changed according to the vehicle speed. For example, the output control unit 33 controls the output of the reproduced sound by increasing the volume of the reverberation sound (one example of the characteristics of the reverberation sound) as the vehicle speed increases.

[0066] As a result, even if the noise level increases as the vehicle speed increases, the listener L can hear the reverberation contained in the reproduced sound, and therefore the decrease in the sense of envelopment LEV can be suppressed.

[0067] Furthermore, the output control section 33 may control the output of the reproduced sound so as to change the position of the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound (one example of the characteristics of the reverberation sound) in accordance with the vehicle speed. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5B.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 5B, as the vehicle speed increases, the noise increases and the position of the noise sound image B also moves up. This is because the noise that changes with the vehicle speed comes from the road surface (road noise), and therefore the noise moves up from below as the vehicle speed increases. The position of the noise sound image B may reach a predetermined range D that includes the head La of the listener L.

[0069] In this way, when the position of the noise sound image B overlaps with the specified range D, the output control unit 33 controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the reverberation sound image A2 is localized around the specified range D, more specifically, so that the reverberation sound image A2 is localized above the specified range D.

[0070] As a result, even if the position of the noise sound image B rises as the vehicle speed increases and reaches a predetermined range D including the head La of the listener L, the noise is less likely to mix with the reverberation sound, and the reverberation sound image A2 can be made clearer, i.e., the decrease in the sense of envelopment LEV can be suppressed.

[0071] As described above, the output control unit 33 can also perform control to generate pseudo reverberation sounds of noise and change the sound image position of the reverberation sounds. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5C.

[0072] 5C, for example, when a sound image A1 of a direct sound of a reproduced sound and a sound image A2 of a reverberation sound are localized at a similar position in front of a listener L, there is no sound image in a predetermined range D including the head La of the listener L, and the space is left empty. In such a case, the output control unit 33 may generate a pseudo reverberation sound using a filter for noise such as an air conditioner sound, and localize a sound image B2 of the reverberation sound in the predetermined range D. At this time, the sound image B2 of the reverberation sound of the noise and the sound image A2 of the reverberation sound of the reproduced sound are prevented from interfering with each other.

[0073] This makes it possible to make the listener L feel a sense of envelopment in the noise by using pseudo reverberation sounds. Since the noise in this case is air-conditioner sound, the sense of envelopment LEV of the air-conditioner sound can improve and assist in controlling the comfort of the sound quality and the sensible temperature for the listener L.

[0074] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 2, the display control unit 34 performs display control of the display 80. Here, the display 80 is a head-up display, and can project an image (picture) 81 onto the windshield 2 or outside the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 5C.

[0075] The display control unit 34 controls the display 80 to display, for example, an image 81 relating to the sound source of the reproduced sound on the windshield 2 or outside the vehicle. An example of such an image 81 is an image of a mouth uttering the announcement sound when the reproduced sound is an announcement sound, or an image of the instrument when the reproduced sound is the sound of a musical instrument.

[0076] In this way, by displaying the image 81 relating to the sound source of the reproduced sound on the windshield 2 or outside the vehicle, the listener L is more likely to perceive the sound image A of the reproduced sound (for example, the sound image A1 of the direct sound) as being near the windshield 2 or outside the vehicle. Therefore, the position of the sound image A of the reproduced sound perceived by the listener L and the position of the sound image B of the noise become further apart, so that the reproduced sound is less likely to be mixed with the noise, and therefore the sound image A of the reproduced sound can be made even clearer.

[0077] Next, a specific processing procedure in the audio device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the audio device 10.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 30 of the acoustic device 10 detects the position of a noise sound image B based on, for example, information about a sound collected by the microphone 60 (step S10).

[0079] Next, the control unit 30 controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the sound image A of the reproduced sound is localized at a position that does not overlap with the position of the sound image B of the detected noise (step S11).

[0080] As described above, the acoustic device 10 according to the embodiment includes a detection unit 32 and an output control unit 33. The detection unit 32 detects the sound image position of noise (an example of a first predetermined sound). The output control unit 33 controls the output of the reproduced sound so that the sound image of a reproduced sound (an example of a second predetermined sound) different from the noise is localized at a position that does not overlap with the sound image position of the noise detected by the detection unit 32. This makes it possible to clarify the sound image.

[0081] Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10 Sound equipment 30 Control section 31 Acquisition Department 32 Detection unit 33 Output control section 34 Display control section

Claims

1. An audio device equipped with a computer, The computer includes: Detecting a sound image position of a first predetermined sound; Controlling an output of the second predetermined sound such that a sound image of the second predetermined sound including a direct sound and a pseudo reverberant sound is localized at a position that does not overlap with the sound image position of the detected first predetermined sound; When the sound image position of the first predetermined sound does not overlap with a predetermined range including the head of the listener of the second predetermined sound, an output of the second predetermined sound is controlled so that the sound image of the reverberation sound is localized in the predetermined range, and when the sound image position of the first predetermined sound overlaps with the predetermined range, an output of the second predetermined sound is controlled so that the sound image of the reverberation sound is localized in the periphery of the predetermined range. sound equipment.

2. A computer-implemented acoustic control method, comprising: Detecting a sound image position of a first predetermined sound; Controlling an output of the second predetermined sound such that a sound image of the second predetermined sound including a direct sound and a pseudo reverberant sound is localized at a position that does not overlap with the sound image position of the detected first predetermined sound; When the sound image position of the first predetermined sound does not overlap with a predetermined range including the head of the listener of the second predetermined sound, an output of the second predetermined sound is controlled so that the sound image of the reverberation sound is localized in the predetermined range, and when the sound image position of the first predetermined sound overlaps with the predetermined range, an output of the second predetermined sound is controlled so that the sound image of the reverberation sound is localized in the periphery of the predetermined range. Acoustic control methods.

3. An acoustic control program executed by a computer, comprising: Detecting a sound image position of a first predetermined sound; Controlling an output of the second predetermined sound such that a sound image of the second predetermined sound including a direct sound and a pseudo reverberant sound is localized at a position that does not overlap with the sound image position of the detected first predetermined sound; When the sound image position of the first predetermined sound does not overlap with a predetermined range including the head of the listener of the second predetermined sound, an output of the second predetermined sound is controlled so that the sound image of the reverberation sound is localized in the predetermined range, and when the sound image position of the first predetermined sound overlaps with the predetermined range, an output of the second predetermined sound is controlled so that the sound image of the reverberation sound is localized in the periphery of the predetermined range. Sound control program.

Images