Signal Processing Device for Separate Sound Fields

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in reproducing different sounds in remote and neighboring locations effectively, particularly in public spaces where distinct audio guidance is needed for specific areas.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing device that uses remote and neighboring filter units to generate sound reproduction signals, employing evanescent and propagating waves respectively, with gain adjustments and filter processing to create distinct audible regions for each sound, allowing for simultaneous reproduction of different sounds using a single speaker array.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single speaker array is used to present information in public places, then the information can be delivered to all people, but the voice is also delivered to a large indefinite number of people not requiring the information, causing loss of information privacy and relevance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to deliver information to different audiencesVSAvoidinformation reaching unintended recipients

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sound field into multiple distinct audible regions (neighboring audible region and remote audible region) using separate filter units. Each region receives processed sound signals tailored to its specific requirements, allowing different information to be delivered to different spatial zones simultaneously through a single speaker array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different filter processing (neighboring filter processing and remote filter processing) to create distinct sound characteristics in different spatial regions. The neighboring region receives sound with specific decay characteristics suitable for close proximity, while the remote region receives sound optimized for distant hearing, enabling localized information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If different sounds are reproduced in remote and neighboring locations, then specific information can be targeted to specific areas, but existing technologies cannot effectively reproduce different sounds in these regions simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation delivery precisionVSAvoidability to reproduce different sounds in different regions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sound reproduction function into separate neighboring filter processing and remote filter processing units. Each unit independently processes sound signals for its designated region, enabling simultaneous reproduction of different sounds in neighboring and remote audible regions through a single speaker array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends sound field control into the spatial dimension by creating distinct audible regions at different distances from the speaker array. By utilizing the remote audible region and neighboring audible region as separate dimensional zones, the system can deliver different information content to different spatial locations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If voice information is delivered in public places, then communication efficiency is improved, but the voice reaches people who do not require the information, causing information overload and reduced effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinformation relevance to recipient

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audience into different spatial groups (neighboring and remote regions) and delivers tailored information to each group simultaneously. This enables communication efficiency to be improved by ensuring each recipient receives relevant information, while preventing information overload by excluding irrelevant content from each recipient's audible region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables clear and separate audio communication in remote and neighboring locations by creating distinct sound pressure regions, ensuring that listeners in each area receive the intended information without interference.

Implementation Method 1

The neighboring sound reproduction signal may be a signal for generating an evanescent wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvanescent wave:

Implementation Method 2

The remote sound reproduction signal may be a signal for generating a propagating wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPropagating wave:

Data Source

PatentUS10757505B2Signal processing device, method, and program stored on a computer-readable medium, enabling a sound to be reproduced at a remote location and a different sound to be reproduced at a location neighboring the remote location

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

The present technology relates to a signal processing device, a signal processing method, and a program that enable different sounds to be reproduced in a remote location and a neighboring location.A signal processing device includes: a remote filter unit configured to generate a remote sound reproduction signal for reproducing a sound in a remote audible region, by performing filter processing on a first sound source signal using a remote sound reproduction filter coefficient; and a neighboring filter unit configured to generate a neighboring sound reproduction signal for reproducing a sound in a neighboring audible region that is different from the remote audible region, by performing filter processing on a second sound source signal using a neighboring sound reproduction filter coefficient. The present technology can be applied to a remote-neighborhood separate sound field formation device.