Signal generating apparatus, vehicle, and computer-implemented method of generating signals

A vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of loudspeakers;
• a seat;
• and
• a signal generating apparatus, wherein the signal generating apparatus includes:
• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• a processor communicatively connected to the memory and configured to execute the stored instructions to function as:
• a first generator configured to generate a processed signal by adjusting frequency characteristics of an audio signal representative of a sound from a virtual sound source based on a Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) corresponding to a target position of the virtual sound source;
• and
• a second generator configured to:
• generate, based on the processed signal, a plurality of output signals in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of loudspeakers;
• and
• perform panning processing to adjust a level of each output signal of the plurality of output signals based on the target position,
• wherein the HRTF corresponding to the target position defines a position in a front-back direction of the seat in sound image localization imaged in accordance with sounds emitted from the plurality of loudspeakers based on the plurality of output signals, and
• wherein the panning processing defines a position in a left-right direction of the seat in the sound image localization.

A signal generating apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• a processor communicatively connected to the memory and configured to execute the stored instructions to function as:
• a signal processor configured to:
• generate, based on an audio signal representative of a sound from a virtual sound source, a plurality of signals in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of loudspeakers;
• and
• generate a plurality of processed signals by performing panning processing to adjust a level of each signal of the plurality of signals based on a target position of the virtual sound source;
• and
• a generator configured to generate a plurality of output signals by adjusting frequency characteristics of the plurality of processed signals based on a Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) corresponding to the target position,
• wherein the HRTF corresponding to the target position defines a position in a front-back direction of a seat in sound image localization imaged in accordance with sounds emitted from the plurality of loudspeakers based on the plurality of output signals, and
• wherein the panning processing defines a position in a left-right direction of the seat in the sound image localization.

A computer-implemented method of generating signals, the method comprising:

• generating a processed signal by adjusting frequency characteristics of an audio signal representative of a sound from a virtual sound source based on a Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) corresponding to a target position of the virtual sound source;
• generating, based on the processed signal, a plurality of output signals in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of loudspeakers;
• and
• performing panning processing to adjust a level of each output signal of the plurality of output signals based on the target position,
• wherein the HRTF corresponding to the target position defines a position in a front-back direction of a seat in sound image localization imaged in accordance with sounds emitted from the plurality of loudspeakers based on the plurality of output signals, and
• wherein the panning processing defines a position in a left-right direction of the seat in the sound image localization.