Sound evaluation value calculation device and sound visualization device

Abstract

To calculate a sound environment in a prescribed area and each of multiple small areas obtained by dividing the prescribed area as an evaluation value of sound, and also visualize the sound distribution in the prescribed area and each small area.SOLUTION: A sound evaluation value calculation apparatus 1 which calculates an evaluation value of a sound environment includes a sound detection device 2 that detects the sound in a prescribed area 29 and a calculation device (4). The calculation device obtains the sound distribution for the prescribed area on the basis of the sound detected by the sound detection device, and calculates the evaluation value of the sound in the prescribed area and the evaluation value of the sound in each of multiple small areas 30 that are included in the prescribed area and do not overlap with each other. A sound visualization apparatus 5 includes the sound evaluation value calculation apparatus 1 and a display device 6 that displays a large area display frame 44 corresponding to the prescribed area and multiple small area display frames 45 corresponding to the multiple small areas. The display device displays the evaluation value of the sound calculated by the sound evaluation value calculation apparatus in relation to the corresponding large area display frame and multiple small area display frames.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound evaluation value calculation device and a sound visualization device for evaluating an evaluation value of a sound environment.

Background Art

[0002] When evaluating the influence of external noise on a room, there is a known system for evaluating a living environment that directly checks the noise level in the room, rather than relying on noise evaluation by a specialist researcher using the standard frequency characteristics of sound insulation grades related to sound pressure level differences. In a conventional environmental sound evaluation system, the evaluation of the sound environment in a living room or office is performed from the viewpoint that the quieter it is, the better, and the loudness (noise / sound pressure level) of the sound is used as an evaluation factor.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, a sound source visualization device that visually represents a sound pressure distribution is disclosed. The sound source visualization device includes an acoustic measurement visualization device and a microphone array having a plurality of microphones. The microphone array measures the sound emitted by the measurement object and outputs measurement data representing the sound measured by each microphone to the acoustic measurement visualization device. The acoustic measurement visualization device calculates a sound pressure distribution based on the measurement data output from the microphone array and displays the sound pressure distribution by shades of color. Thereby, the sound pressure distribution is visualized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] On the other hand, people sometimes find ambient sounds pleasant or desirable. For example, in the environmental control system described in Patent Document 2, sound content such as the sound of a babbling brook or jazz and bossa nova music is played from speakers to improve work efficiency in an office. Also, for example, when people are in a coffee shop, they may feel that it is noisy but allows them to concentrate and relax, meaning they evaluate it as a more preferable sound environment than one with quieter sounds. In other words, it is thought that the preference that people feel for a sound environment is derived from more information than can be explained by sound pressure alone. The acoustic measurement and visualization device described in Patent Document 1 visualizes the sound pressure distribution, but it does not evaluate whether that sound pressure is pleasant or noisy. Therefore, currently it is difficult to visualize the sound environment and use that sound environment as a factor in determining whether it is suitable for the activities that each individual is engaged in.

[0006] It is anticipated that there will be a growing need to understand the sound environment of specific sub-areas within a designated area and select locations suitable for the activities being conducted. Furthermore, it is anticipated that there will be a growing need to understand not only the sound environment of each sub-area, but also whether the sound environment of the entire designated area is desirable or not.

[0007] In view of the above background, the first objective of the present invention is to calculate the sound environment in a predetermined area and in each of several sub-areas divided from the predetermined area as sound evaluation values. Furthermore, the second objective of the present invention is to visualize the sound distribution of the predetermined area and each sub-area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the first problem described above, one embodiment of the present invention is a sound evaluation value calculation device (1) for calculating an evaluation value of a sound environment, comprising: a sound detection device (2) for detecting sounds in a predetermined area (29); and a calculation device (4) that determines the sound distribution for the predetermined area based on the sounds detected by the sound detection device, calculates the evaluation value of the sounds in the predetermined area based on the sound distribution of the predetermined area, and calculates the evaluation value of the sounds in each of the multiple sub-areas (30) included in the predetermined area but not overlapping with each other based on the respective sound distributions of each sub-area.

[0009] According to this embodiment, the sound environment in a predetermined area and in each of the multiple sub-areas obtained by dividing the predetermined area can be calculated as a sound evaluation value.

[0010] In the above embodiment, the computing device may calculate a representative value representing the predetermined area from the sound distribution of the predetermined area, and calculate a representative value representing each sub-area from the sound distribution of each sub-area.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the evaluation values ​​of a predetermined area and each sub-area can be calculated as appropriate values ​​that match the sound of each area.

[0012] In the above embodiment, the calculation device may correct the evaluation value of the sound by multiplying the representative value representing each small area by a correction coefficient corresponding to the distance between the sound detection device and each of the areas.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the sound attenuation caused by the difference in distance between the sound detection device and each small area can be compensated for, and the actual evaluation value in each small area can be calculated.

[0014] To solve the second problem described above, one embodiment of the present invention provides a sound visualization device (5) comprising: a sound evaluation value calculation device as described above; and a display device (6) that displays a large area display frame (44) corresponding to a predetermined area and a plurality of small area display frames (45) corresponding to a plurality of small areas, wherein the display device displays the sound evaluation value calculated by the calculation device in association with the corresponding large area display frame and the plurality of small area display frames.

[0015] According to this embodiment, the sound distribution of a predetermined area and each sub-area can be visualized.

[0016] In the sound visualization device according to the above embodiment, the display device may display a small area display frame smaller than the corresponding small area for at least some of the plurality of small areas, such that a gap is created within the large area display frame, and display the sound evaluation value of the predetermined area in the gap.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the user can easily compare the sound evaluation value of a predetermined area with the sound evaluation value of a smaller area, or compare the sound evaluation values ​​of different smaller areas.

[0018] In the sound visualization device according to the above embodiment, the display device may display the large area display frame and the multiple small area display frames individually.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the user can easily compare the sound evaluation value of a predetermined area with the sound evaluation value of a smaller area, or compare the sound evaluation values ​​of different smaller areas.

[0020] In the sound visualization device according to the above embodiment, the calculation device converts the sound evaluation value into a corresponding color (42), and the display device displays the color converted by the calculation device in the large area display frame and the small area display frame.

[0021] According to this aspect, it is possible to intuitively grasp the evaluation value of the sound in a predetermined area and the evaluation value of the sound in each of a plurality of small areas.

[0022] In the sound visualization device according to the above aspect, the sound detection device is disposed above the central portion of the predetermined area, and the plurality of small areas may include a central area (38) located directly below the sound detection device and a plurality of peripheral areas (39) disposed around the central area.

[0023] According to this aspect, the central area and the plurality of peripheral areas are arranged on the same plane. Therefore, the user can easily compare the evaluation values of the sound between the small areas.

[0024] In the above aspect, the plurality of small areas may further include a plurality of outer peripheral areas (50) disposed around the plurality of peripheral areas.

[0025] According to this aspect, the user can make a more detailed comparison between the evaluation value of the sound in the predetermined area and the evaluation value of the sound in the small area or between the evaluation values of the sound in the small areas.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] The present invention can calculate the sound environment in a predetermined area and each of a plurality of small areas obtained by dividing the predetermined area as an evaluation value of the sound. Further, the present invention can visualize the sound distribution in the predetermined area and each small area.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] Schematic Configuration Diagram of Sound Visualization Device According to First Embodiment [Figure 2] Plan View Showing Relationship between Array Microphone According to First Embodiment and Predetermined Area and Small Areas [Figure 3] Cross-Sectional View Showing Relationship between Array Microphone and Predetermined Area and Small Areas (Cross-Sectional View III-III of FIG. 3) [Figure 4]Display screen of the display device showing the large area display frame and each small area display frame according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] A display screen showing an example of sound evaluation displayed in relation to the large area display frame and the small area display frame. [Figure 6] Display screen showing other examples of sound evaluations displayed in relation to the large area display frame and the small area display frame. [Figure 7] Plan view showing the relationship between the array microphone according to the second embodiment and a predetermined area and a small area. [Figure 8] Display screen of the display device showing the large area display frame and each small area display frame according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] Display screen of the display device showing the large area display frame and each small area display frame according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0029] ≪First Embodiment≫ Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the sound evaluation value calculation device 1 and sound visualization device 5 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the sound evaluation value calculation device 1 is a device for calculating sound evaluation values ​​in a predetermined area 29 of a building (see Figure 3), and the sound visualization device 5 is a device for displaying the sound environment in a predetermined area 29 of a building (see Figure 3) using evaluation values.

[0030] The sound evaluation value calculation device 1 is equipped with an array microphone 2 as a sound detection device for detecting sound.

[0031] The array microphone 2 comprises multiple microphones 3 and a spherical frame having a substantially spherical surface as a base member. Each microphone 3 is arranged on the spherical surface of the spherical frame at substantially equal intervals in a predetermined arrangement (array) such that it faces in different directions outward, and the sound pressure on the spherical surface at each position is detected. By integrating the sound pressure signals on the spherical surface detected by the multiple microphones 3 and processing the signals, the array microphone 2 can detect sound in all directions around it. In other embodiments, the shape of the array microphone 2 is not limited; for example, each microphone 3 may be arranged in a hemispherical or rectangular frame. The arrangement of each microphone 3 is not limited to the above; for example, an array microphone 2 with directional microphones may be used to directly detect sound in different directions.

[0032] The sound evaluation value calculation device 1 further includes a computer 4 for evaluating and displaying the sound environment based on the sound detected by the array microphone 2. The sound visualization device 5 includes a display device 6 in addition to the array microphone 2 and the computer 4. The computer 4 includes an arithmetic processing unit (CPU, MPU, etc., processor) and a storage device (ROM, RAM, etc., memory), and is configured to perform various processes necessary for evaluating the sound environment. Being configured to perform various processes means that the arithmetic processing unit (processor) is programmed to read necessary data and application software from the storage device (memory) and to perform the predetermined arithmetic processing according to the software. The computer 4 may be configured as a single piece of hardware, or as a unit consisting of multiple pieces of hardware.

[0033] Computer 4 calculates the sound distribution based on the sound detected by the array microphone 2. This functional unit includes a sound distribution acquisition unit 11, a sound pressure calculation unit 12, a sound quality calculation unit 13, and a sound pressure change calculation unit 14.

[0034] The sound distribution acquisition unit 11 acquires a sound distribution based on the sound detected by the array microphone 2. Specifically, for each of the multiple measurement angles θ, the sound distribution acquisition unit 11 performs predetermined calculation and filtering on the sound detected by each microphone 3 to calculate the sound corresponding to the measurement angle θ, and then acquires the sound distribution by associating each sound with the corresponding measurement angle θ. The measurement angle θ indicates the direction in which the sound propagates toward the array microphone 2, and may be represented, for example, by the angle from the horizontal plane to the array microphone 2. Alternatively, it may be represented by the angle in the XY plane and the angle in the YZ plane of the XYZ 3D Cartesian coordinate system. The sound distribution acquisition unit 11 may also use microphones 3 having directivity corresponding to the measurement angle θ for detection.

[0035] The sound pressure calculation unit 12 calculates the loudness of the sound based on the detected sound. The sound pressure calculation unit 12 calculates the sound pressure, for example, by adding up the sound pressures detected by each microphone 3. The sound pressure calculation unit 12 may calculate the sound pressure for each sound using the average value of the sound pressures detected over a predetermined time.

[0036] The sound quality calculation unit 13 calculates sound quality based on the detected sound. Sound quality is a parameter that represents the frequency characteristics (high and low frequencies) of the detected sound. For example, the sound quality calculation unit 13 calculates sound quality (more precisely, sound quality at the placement position of the array microphone 2) using a sound obtained by superimposing sounds from different regions detected by the microphone 3. The sound quality calculation unit 13 may calculate the sound quality as the average value of the sound quality detected over a predetermined time.

[0037] The sound pressure change calculation unit 14 calculates the sound pressure change based on the detected sound change. Specifically, the sound pressure change calculation unit 14 calculates the amount of change in sound pressure per unit time calculated by the sound pressure calculation unit 12 over a predetermined period of time, and calculates the sound pressure change from these change amounts. For example, the sound pressure change calculation unit 14 calculates the sound pressure change as the integral value of the amount of change in sound pressure per unit time.

[0038] In other embodiments, the computer 4 may further include a superiority calculation unit as a functional unit for calculating sound distribution. The superiority calculation unit calculates the superiority of sound based on a plurality of sound pressures (sound pressure levels) associated with each microphone 3. The superiority calculation unit may calculate the average value of the sound pressure detected over a predetermined time for each sound as the sound present in the corresponding microphone 3, and use these sounds to calculate the superiority of sound. Sound superiority is a parameter that measures the degree of sound dispersion; a larger value indicates lower sound dispersion (higher sound superiority), and a smaller value indicates higher sound dispersion (lower sound superiority).

[0039] Furthermore, the computer 4 calculates an evaluation value of the sound in the predetermined area 29 based on the sound distribution of the predetermined area 29. In addition, the computer 4 calculates an evaluation value of the sound in each of the multiple sub-areas 30 that are included in the predetermined area 29 but do not overlap with each other, based on the sound distribution of each sub-area 30. These functional units of the computer 4 include a sound distribution extraction unit 15, a representative value calculation unit 16, a distance correction unit 17, and an evaluation value calculation unit 18.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, the room 31 contains four desks 32, office chairs 33 placed near each desk 32, a hexagonal table 34, and a shelf 35. The table 34 is positioned near the center on the right side of the room, and three chairs 36 are placed around the table 34 at equal intervals on every other side. Partitions 37 are placed between each of the desks 32 and the table 34. As shown in conjunction with Figure 3, in this embodiment, the sound visualization device 5 visualizes the sound environment around the table 34. For this purpose, the array microphone 2 is positioned on the ceiling above the table 34. In the figure, the array microphone 2 is indicated by "AR".

[0041] The predetermined area 29 and the multiple sub-areas 30 are set in advance on a predetermined horizontal plane corresponding to the height at which the sound source 48 is placed. Assuming that the sound source in the room 31 is caused by the user's activity, the predetermined horizontal plane is assumed to be located 0.5m to 2m above the floor, or more specifically, 1m to 1.5m above the floor. In this embodiment, the predetermined horizontal plane is located on the top surface of the desk 32.

[0042] The predetermined area 29 is located below the central part of the array microphone 2. In this embodiment, the predetermined area 29 is set as a circular region in plan view, whose center coincides with the center of the array microphone 2 in plan view. The predetermined area 29 includes a table 34 and three chairs 36. The predetermined area 29 also includes multiple measurement angles θ.

[0043] The small area 30 has a central area 38 and multiple peripheral areas 39. The central area 38 is set as a planar circular region whose center overlaps with the center of the array microphone 2 in a planar view and is smaller than the predetermined area 29. The multiple peripheral areas 39 are set as regions obtained by dividing the predetermined area 29 (donut-shaped in this embodiment) outside the central area 38 into eight equal parts in the circumferential direction. As a result, the central area 38 and each peripheral area 39 do not overlap with each other and are arranged on the same plane. The central area 38 and peripheral areas 39 also include multiple measurement angles θ. The central area 38 and peripheral areas 39 should be set to an area where one user can move around. In this embodiment, the central area 38 is set to include the table 34, and the peripheral area 39 is set to include the area of ​​one chair 36.

[0044] Returning to Figure 1, the sound distribution extraction unit 15 extracts the sound distribution of a predetermined area 29 and the sound distributions of multiple sub-areas 30 that are included in the predetermined area 29 but do not overlap with each other. Specifically, the sound distribution extraction unit 15 extracts a group of sounds corresponding to each of the multiple measurement angles θ included in the predetermined area 29 as the sound distribution of the predetermined area 29. The sound distribution extraction unit 15 also extracts a group of sounds corresponding to each of the multiple measurement angles θ included in each sub-area 30 as the sound distribution of each sub-area 30.

[0045] The representative value calculation unit 16 calculates a representative value that represents the predetermined area 29 from the sound distribution of the predetermined area 29, and calculates a representative value that represents each sub-area 30 from the sound distribution of each sub-area 30. In this embodiment, the average value is used as the representative value. Specifically, the representative value calculation unit 16 averages the sounds corresponding to each of the multiple measurement angles θ included in the predetermined area 29, i.e., the sound pressure, sound quality, and sound pressure change calculated as described above. The representative value calculation unit 16 also averages the sounds corresponding to each of the multiple measurement angles θ included in each sub-area 30, i.e., the sound pressure, sound quality, and sound pressure change calculated as described above. As a result, the evaluation values ​​of the predetermined area 29 and each sub-area 30 can be calculated as appropriate values ​​that match the sound of each area.

[0046] The distance correction unit 17 multiplies the average value representing each surrounding area 39 by a correction coefficient based on the distance between the sound detection device and the central area 38. Specifically, the distance correction unit 17 may correct the sound pressure calculated by the sound pressure calculation unit 12 using the following formula (1). Lb=La+20log10(rb / ra) ···(1) However, La is the sound pressure calculated by the sound pressure calculation unit 12, Lb is the sound pressure in each peripheral area 39, rb is the distance from the array microphone 2 to each peripheral area 39, and ra is the distance from the array microphone 2 to the central area 38. As a result, the distance correction unit 17 can calculate the actual evaluation value in each small area 30 by compensating for the sound attenuation caused by the difference between the distance from the array microphone 2 to the central area 38 and the distance from the array microphone 2 to the central area 38.

[0047] The evaluation value calculation unit 18 calculates an evaluation value related to sound based on the sound pressure, sound quality, and sound pressure change calculated as described above. For example, the evaluation value calculation unit 18 calculates the evaluation value by multiplying or dividing these values. Typically, the evaluation value may be a parameter in which a smaller numerical value indicates a better sound environment in a predetermined area 29. Alternatively, an optimal value may be set according to the target person or space, and the closer the evaluation value is to the optimal value, the better it is considered to be. The evaluation value calculation unit 18 may weight the values ​​used to calculate the evaluation value, or it may calculate the evaluation value by incorporating a predetermined conditional expression.

[0048] Furthermore, the computer 4 includes an evaluation value conversion unit 19 and a display control unit 20 as functional units for displaying evaluation values ​​on the display device 6. The display device 6 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0049] The evaluation value conversion unit 19 converts the sound evaluation value calculated above into a format that is easy to grasp visually. In this embodiment, the evaluation value conversion unit 19 converts the sound evaluation value into a corresponding color. Specifically, the evaluation value conversion unit 19 has pre-set divisions, which are set by dividing the range of possible sound evaluation values ​​into several parts, and hues 42 of colors corresponding to each division. The evaluation value conversion unit 19 converts the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit 18 into the hue 42 corresponding to the division containing that evaluation value. Instead of hue 42, the lightness or saturation of a color may be used for the color corresponding to each section, or a combination of hue 42, lightness, and saturation may be used.

[0050] The display control unit 20 controls the display on the display device 6. Specifically, the display control unit 20 reads a large area display frame 44 corresponding to a predetermined area 29 and a plurality of small area display frames 45 corresponding to small areas 30 from the storage device and displays them on the display device 6. The large area display frame 44 and the plurality of small area display frames 45 are display areas that have been set in the storage device in advance by the operator. The large area display frame 44 is set to be approximately the same size and shape as the predetermined area 29. Each small area display frame 45 is set to be circular in shape and smaller than the central area 38 on a predetermined horizontal plane. In other words, each small area display frame 45 is converted to be smaller than the corresponding small area 30. The display control unit 20 also displays the hue 42 of the color converted by the evaluation value conversion unit 19 on the display device 6 in association with the large area display frame 44 and the small area display frames 45. Specifically, the display control unit 20 controls the display device 6 so that the large area display frame 44 and each small area display frame 45 overlap the map 46 representing the room 31 that has been captured in advance, and so that the hues 42 corresponding to each area of ​​the large area display frame 44 and the small area display frame 45 are displayed. The map 46 representing the room 31 may be an image taken by, for example, a camera. In this case, the camera may be placed on the ceiling so as to include a predetermined area 29 in its field of view, or it may be provided on the array microphone 2.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the display device 6 displays a map 46 representing the room 31, associating it with a large area display frame 44 and each small area display frame 45. Therefore, all small area display frames 45 are placed within the large area display frame 44. Specifically, the large area display frame 44 corresponding to a predetermined area 29 and the multiple small area display frames 45 corresponding to multiple small areas 30 are displayed on top of each other. Each small area display frame 45 is set to be smaller than the corresponding small area 30, so gaps are created between adjacent small areas 30. The parts of the large area display frame 44 other than the small area display frames 45 display a hue 42 of color associated with the sound evaluation value of the predetermined area 29. The inside of each small area display frame 45 is displayed with a hue 42 of color associated with the sound evaluation value of the corresponding small area 30. In the example shown in Figure 5, the large area display frame 44 and the small area display frames 45 have outlines and are displayed with a hue 42 displayed inside the outlines, but they may also be displayed with only the corresponding hue 42 without outlines.

[0052] The sound visualization device 5 visualizes the sound evaluation of a room 31 having a sound source 48, for example as shown in Figure 5, by displaying it on the display device 6. Specifically, a predetermined area 29 is positioned to include the table 34 in order to visualize the sound evaluation around the table 34. The display device 6 displays a map 46 representing the room 31, overlaid with a large area display frame 44 and each small area display frame 45. The large area display frame 44 and each small area display frame 45 are displayed by a hue 42 that indicates the evaluation of the corresponding sound. On the right side of the map 46, the hues 42 corresponding to the evaluation value categories for each sound are displayed in stages. In this embodiment, the evaluation values ​​are divided into five categories, and the sound environment deteriorates, i.e., the evaluation becomes lower, from the lower categories with smaller evaluation values ​​to the upper categories with larger evaluation values, and the hue 42 is displayed to be closer to red as the evaluation becomes lower.

[0053] The sound source 48 is located in one of the chairs 36 arranged around the table 34 and emits sound towards the table 34. Since the sound source 48 is located within a designated area 29, the sound environment in the designated area 29 is poor. Therefore, the large area display frame 44 corresponding to the designated area 29 is displayed with a reddish hue 42, indicating the lowest sound evaluation. The central area 38, which visualizes the sound environment of the table 34, is near the sound source 48 and overlaps with the direction from which the sound is emitted. Therefore, the small area display frame 45 corresponding to the central area 38 is displayed with a hue 42 indicating a low sound evaluation equivalent to the sound evaluation in the designated area 29. The two surrounding areas 39, which visualize the sound environment near each of the two chairs 36 that do not have a sound source 48, are far from the sound source 48 but are located in the direction from which the sound is emitted. Therefore, the small area display frames 45 corresponding to the two surrounding areas 39 are displayed with a hue 42 indicating a sound evaluation one level better than the sound evaluation in the designated area 29 and the sound evaluation in the central area 38. The other six surrounding areas 39 are arranged to visualize the sound environment in areas that are far from the sound source 48 or in areas that are not in the direction from which the sound is emitted. The small area display frames 45 corresponding to the other six surrounding areas 39 are displayed with a hue 42 that indicates an improved sound evaluation compared to the sound evaluation of the two surrounding areas 39 mentioned above.

[0054] In the example shown in Figure 6, the sound source 48 is located at the position of the office chair 33, away from the table 34. That is, the sound source 48 is located outside the predetermined area 29 compared to the above. Therefore, the large area display frame 44 corresponding to the predetermined area 29 is displayed with a hue 42 that indicates a medium level of sound evaluation. Two of the eight peripheral areas 39 are located closer to the sound source 48 than the other six peripheral areas 39. Therefore, the small area display frames 45 corresponding to these two peripheral areas 39 are displayed with a hue 42 that indicates a lower level of sound evaluation than the predetermined area 29. Three of the six peripheral areas 39 are located further from the sound source 48 than the two peripheral areas 39. Therefore, the small area display frames 45 corresponding to these three peripheral areas 39 are displayed with a hue 42 that indicates a similar level of sound evaluation as the predetermined area 29. The remaining three peripheral areas 39 and the central area 38 are located even further from the sound source 48 than the three peripheral areas 39. Therefore, the small area display frames 45 corresponding to the remaining three surrounding areas 39 and the small area display frame 45 corresponding to the central area 38 are displayed with a hue 42 that indicates a higher evaluation, one level better than the sound evaluation of the predetermined area 29.

[0055] In this way, the computer 4 of the sound evaluation value calculation device 1 calculates evaluation values ​​related to the sound environment based on sound pressure, sound quality, sound pressure change, or excellence of the sound detected by the array microphone 2. The computer 4 calculates the sound evaluation value in the predetermined area 29 based on the sound distribution of the predetermined area 29, and calculates the sound evaluation value in each of the sub-areas 30 based on the respective sound distributions of each sub-area 30. Therefore, the sound evaluation value calculation device 1 can calculate the sound environment in each of the predetermined area 29 and the multiple sub-areas 30 that are divisions of the predetermined area 29 as sound evaluation values.

[0056] The sound visualization device 5 can visualize the sound distribution in a predetermined area 29 and the sound distribution in each sub-area 30 as sound evaluation values. The sound visualization device 5 can also display the sound evaluation values ​​in the predetermined area 29 and the sound evaluation values ​​in multiple sub-areas 30 together. This makes it easy for the user to compare the sound evaluation values ​​in the predetermined area 29 with the sound evaluation values ​​in each sub-area 30, or to compare the sound evaluation values ​​among the sub-areas 30 themselves. Furthermore, since the inside of the large area display frame 44 and each sub-area display frame 45 are displayed using hue 42, the user can intuitively grasp the sound evaluation values ​​in the predetermined area 29 and the sound evaluation values ​​in each of the multiple sub-areas 30.

[0057] ≪Second Embodiment≫ Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Elements identical or similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0058] In the second embodiment, the plurality of small areas 30 further include a plurality of outer peripheral areas 50 arranged around the plurality of peripheral areas 39. The predetermined area 29 in the second embodiment is set to be larger than the predetermined area 29 in the first embodiment and includes two office chairs 33 located on the table 34 side. The central area 38 in the second embodiment is set to be approximately the same size as the central area 38 in the first embodiment and includes the table 34. In the predetermined area 29 outside the central area 38 (donut-shaped in this embodiment), a boundary circle 51 is provided that divides the predetermined area 29 into two substantially equal parts in the radial direction. The peripheral area 39 is set to be a region obtained by dividing the predetermined area 29 (donut-shaped in this embodiment) inside the boundary circle 51 and outside the central area 38 into six equal parts in the circumferential direction. The outer peripheral area 50 is set to be a region obtained by dividing the predetermined area 29 (donut-shaped in this embodiment) outside the boundary circle 51 into 12 equal parts in the circumferential direction.

[0059] In the sound visualization device 5 according to the second embodiment, the user can compare the sound evaluation value in a predetermined area 29 with the sound evaluation value in a small area 30, or compare the sound evaluation values ​​of the small areas 30 with each other, in more detail. That is, more small area display frames 45 are arranged within a larger large area display frame 44 than in the first embodiment. As a result, the sound environment around the desk 32 to the left of the table 34 is also visualized, and the user can easily compare sound evaluation values ​​over a wider range.

[0060] ≪Third Embodiment≫ Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 9. Elements identical or similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0061] In the third embodiment, the display method of the large area display frame 44 and the small area display frames 45 in the display device 6 is different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the display device 6 displays the large area display frame 44 and the multiple small area display frames 45 separately. The display of the large area display frame 44 and the display of the multiple small area display frames 45 are switched according to the passage of time. Alternatively, a switch button is provided to accept an operation to switch between the display of the large area display frame 44 and the display of the multiple small area display frames 45, so that the display of the large area display frame 44 and the display of the multiple small area display frames 45 are switched according to the user's will. This allows the user to easily distinguish between the sound evaluation value of a predetermined area 29 and the sound evaluation value of each small area 30.

[0062] This concludes the description of specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be broadly modified and implemented. In each embodiment, the calculation results by the sound evaluation value calculation device 1 are visually displayed on the display device 6, but they may also be used as parameters for controlling other devices such as air conditioning or lighting. The predetermined area 29 and the multiple sub-areas 30 are not limited to areas of the room 31. For example, the predetermined area 29 and the multiple sub-areas 30 may be set to include the sound environment of an open terrace seating area of ​​a restaurant or hotel. The shape and number of the predetermined area 29, each sub-area 30, the large area display frame 44 and each sub-area display frame 45 are not limited. For example, the predetermined area 29, each sub-area 30, the large area display frame 44 and each sub-area display frame 45 may be set to be square or hexagonal. In addition, multiple array microphones 2 may be arranged, and the sound evaluation value calculation device 1 may calculate the sound obtained from the multiple array microphones 2. In this case, it is preferable to provide multiple predetermined areas 29. This allows the user to compare the predetermined areas 29 with each other. In the third embodiment, the large area display frame 44 and the multiple small area display frames 45 are displayed in a manner that switches according to the passage of time, but a map 46 displaying the large area display frame 44 and a map 46 displaying the multiple small area display frames 45 may be displayed in parallel. The specific configuration, arrangement, quantity, etc. of each component and part can be changed as appropriate, as long as it does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, not all of the components shown in the above embodiments are essential, and can be selected as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1: Sound evaluation value calculation device 2: Array microphone (sound detection device) 4: Computer (arithmetic unit) 5: Sound visualization device 6:Display device 29: Designated area 30: Small area 38: Central Area 39: Surrounding area 42: Hue (color) 44: Large area display frame 45: Small area display frame 50: Outer perimeter area

Claims

1. A sound evaluation value calculation device that calculates evaluation values ​​for the sound environment, A sound detection device that detects sounds in a predetermined area, A sound evaluation value calculation device having a calculation device that determines the sound distribution for a predetermined area based on the sound detected by the sound detection device, calculates the evaluation value of the sound in the predetermined area based on the sound distribution of the predetermined area, and calculates the evaluation value of the sound in each of a plurality of sub-areas included in the predetermined area but not overlapping with each other based on the respective sound distributions of each sub-area.

2. The sound evaluation value calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation device calculates a representative value that represents the predetermined area from the sound distribution of the predetermined area, and calculates a representative value that represents each sub-area from the sound distribution of each sub-area.

3. The sound evaluation value calculation device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation device calculates the sound evaluation value by multiplying the representative value representing each small area by a correction coefficient based on the distance between the sound detection device and each small area.

4. A sound evaluation value calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A sound visualization device comprising a display device that displays a large area display frame corresponding to the predetermined area and a plurality of small area display frames corresponding to a plurality of the small areas, The display device is a sound visualization device that displays the sound evaluation value calculated by the arithmetic unit in association with the corresponding large area display frame and a plurality of small area display frames.

5. The sound visualization device according to claim 4, wherein the display device displays a small area display frame smaller than the corresponding small area for at least some of the plurality of small areas such that a gap is created within the large area display frame, and displays the sound evaluation value of the predetermined area in the gap.

6. The sound visualization device according to claim 4, wherein the display device individually displays the large area display frame and a plurality of the small area display frames.

7. The aforementioned computing device converts the sound evaluation value into a corresponding color. The sound visualization device according to claim 5, wherein the display device displays the color converted by the calculation device in the large area display frame and the small area display frame.

8. The sound detection device is positioned above the center of the predetermined area. The sound visualization device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of sub-areas include a central area located directly below the sound detection device and a plurality of peripheral areas arranged around the central area.

9. The sound visualization device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of sub-areas further include a plurality of outer peripheral areas arranged around the plurality of surrounding areas.

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