# US 10,873,823 B2 · Sound processing device and sound processing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,823 B2 - Document ID: US10873823B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/675,018 - Filed: 2019-11-05 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-09 - Assignees: Socionext Inc. - Applicants: Socionext Inc. - Inventors: Shuji Miyasaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873823B2 ## CPC - H04S 1/002: {Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution (control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30)} - H04S 7/301: {Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone} - H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 5/02: Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers - H04R 5/027: Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads - H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} - H04S 3/008: {in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels (data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02)} - H04S 7/30: {Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field} - H04R 2499/11: Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's - H04R 2499/15: Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops - H04S 2400/01: Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved - H04S 2400/15: Aspects of sound capture and related signal processing for recording or reproduction - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A sound processing device includes: a distance information obtaining unit which obtains information about a first distance between stereo microphones and information about a second distance between stereo loudspeakers; and a signal processing unit which processes a stereophonic audio signal collected by the stereo microphones according to the first distance and the second distance to adjust a stereo effect provided when the stereophonic audio signal is reproduced from the stereo loudspeakers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sound processing device, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain information about a first distance between stereo microphones and information about a second distance between stereo loudspeakers; and a signal processing unit configured to process a stereophonic audio signal according to the first distance and the second distance to adjust a stereo effect provided when the stereophonic audio signal is reproduced from the stereo loudspeakers, the stereophonic audio signal being collected by the stereo microphones, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to perform first signal processing on the stereophonic audio signal, when a value of a ratio of the second distance to the first distance is less than a threshold value, the first signal processing increasing the stereo effect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal processing attenuates a crosstalk component of sound output from the stereo loudspeakers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal processing increases an angle between two directions from a listener to two virtual sound sources, and the two virtual sound sources are localized by sound output from the stereo loudspeakers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal processing increases the stereo effect as the value of the ratio of the second distance to the first distance decreases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit is configured to obtain the information about the first distance via a medium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sound processing device according to claim 5, wherein the information about the first distance and the information about the second distance include an event type which is a type of a sporting event in which the stereo microphones are arranged, and the obtaining unit is configured to obtain the first distance corresponding to the event type included in the information about the first distance and the information about the second distance, by referring to event distance information which associates the event type and the first distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The sound processing device according to claim 5, wherein the information about the first distance and the information about the second distance include a value of the first distance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first distance is predetermined according to a length of an offensive and defensive direction in a playing area of a sporting event. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the stereo loudspeakers are arranged in a public viewing venue of a sporting event. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the stereo loudspeakers are included in a mobile terminal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sound processing device according to claim 1, wherein the stereo loudspeakers are included in a television receiver. ### Claim 12 A sound processing device, comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain information about a first distance between stereo microphones and information about a second distance between stereo loudspeakers; and a signal processing unit configured to process a stereophonic audio signal according to the first distance and the second distance to adjust a stereo effect provided when the stereophonic audio signal is reproduced from the stereo loudspeakers, the stereophonic audio signal being collected by the stereo microphones, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to perform second signal processing on the stereophonic audio signal, when a value of a ratio of the second distance to the first distance is greater than a threshold value, the second signal processing reducing the stereo effect. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sound processing device according to claim 12, wherein the second signal processing amplifies a crosstalk component of sound output from the stereo loudspeakers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The sound processing device according to claim 12, wherein the second signal processing reduces the stereo effect as the value of the ratio of the second distance to the first distance increases. ### Claim 15 A sound processing method, comprising: obtaining information about a first distance between stereo microphones and information about a second distance between stereo loudspeakers; and processing a stereophonic audio signal according to the first distance and the second distance to adjust a stereo effect provided when the stereophonic audio signal is reproduced from the stereo loudspeakers, the stereophonic audio signal being collected by the stereo microphones, the processing a stereophonic audio signal comprises performing first signal processing on the stereophonic audio signal, when a value of a ratio of the second distance to the first distance is less than a threshold value, the first signal processing increasing the stereo effect. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for use in a computer, the recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon for causing the computer to execute the sound processing method according to claim 15.