# US 11,310,621 B2 · Signal processing device and signal processing method for performing sound localization processing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,621 B2 - Document ID: US11310621B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/884,806 - Filed: 2020-05-27 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Socionext Inc. - Applicants: Socionext Inc. - Inventors: Kazutaka Abe; Shuji Miyasaka; Katsumi Kobayashi; Yoshitaka Mizuno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310621B2 ## CPC - H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)} - H04S 7/307: {Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control (H04S7/301 takes precedence)} - H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - 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 5/00: Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation - H04S 7/00: Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control - H04S 7/303: {Tracking of listener position or orientation} - 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 signal processing device includes one or more filter processors that perform sound localization processing of an input acoustic signal and generate output signals; a coefficient setter that sets, for the filter processors, a plurality of filter coefficients for use in the filter processors; an output data selector that selects, out of the output signals subjected to the sound localization processing by the filter processors, output signals to be output to a left speaker and a right speaker; a time measurer that monitors a time for switching the output signals; and a controller that causes the output data selector to select the output signals in accordance with the time for switching the output signals. The plurality of filter coefficients include filter coefficients generated under a plurality of hearing conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal processing device for controlling sound localization, the signal processing device comprising: one or more filter processors that perform sound localization processing of an input acoustic signal and generate output signals; a coefficient setter that sets, for the one or more filter processors, a plurality of filter coefficients for use in the one or more filter processors; an output data selector that selects, out of the output signals subjected to the sound localization processing by the one or more filter processors, an output signal to be output to a speaker; a time measurer that monitors a time for switching the output signals; and a controller that causes the output data selector to select the output signal in accordance with the time for switching the output signals, wherein the plurality of filter coefficients include filter coefficients generated under a plurality of hearing conditions, the plurality of hearing conditions corresponding to a plurality of different hearing positions, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signal processing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of hearing conditions include at least information on a hearing position to which a hearer is likely to move. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The signal processing device according to claim 1, wherein the output data selector includes one or more gain adjusters that adjust gains of the output signals subjected to the sound localization processing to select the output signal to be output to the speaker. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The signal processing device according to claim 3, wherein the speaker includes a first speaker and a second speaker in positions different from each other, and the output data selector includes: a first adder that adds, out of the output signals whose gains are adjusted, an output signal to be output through the first speaker; and a second adder that adds, out of the output signals whose gains are adjusted, an output signal to be output through the second speaker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The signal processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an auxiliary information input that inputs auxiliary information on two ear positions or a seated position of the hearer for selecting a range of the plurality of filter coefficients set by the coefficient setter; an auxiliary information analyzer that analyzes the auxiliary information input; and a coefficient range selector that selects the range of the plurality of filter coefficients set by the coefficient setter based on a result of analysis by the auxiliary information analyzer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The signal processing device according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary information input inputs, as one of the plurality of filter coefficients, a position of a seat on which the hearer is seated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The signal processing device according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary information input inputs, as the plurality of filter coefficients, image information including the auxiliary information on the two ear positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The signal processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acoustic signal analyzer that analyzes the input acoustic signal and inputs the time for switching to the output data selector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The signal processing device according to claim 8, wherein the acoustic signal analyzer includes: a power detector that detects a power of the input acoustic signal; and a determiner that determines whether the power of the input acoustic signal is greater than or equal to a threshold. ### Claim 10 A signal processing method of controlling sound localization, the signal processing method comprising: filtering, by one or more filter processors, an input acoustic signal through sound localization and generating output signals; setting, by a coefficient setter, for the one or more filter processors, a plurality of filter coefficients for use in the one or more filter processors; selecting, by a data selection processor, out of the output signals subjected to the sound localization processing by the one or more filter processors, an output signal to be output to a speaker; monitoring, by a time measurer, a time for switching the output signals; and causing, by a controller, the data selection processor to select the output signal in accordance with the time for switching the output signals, wherein the plurality of filter coefficients include filter coefficients generated under a plurality of hearing conditions, the plurality of hearing conditions corresponding to a plurality of different hearing positions, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The signal processing method according to claim 10, further comprising: obtaining auxiliary information; and analyzing, by an auxiliary information analyzer, the auxiliary information, and selecting a coefficient range of the plurality of filter coefficients. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The signal processing method according to claim 10, further comprising: detecting, by an acoustic signal analyzer, a power of the input acoustic signal, wherein in the causing, the controller causes the data selection processor to select the output signal based on the power detected of the input acoustic signal.