# US 2010/0166190 A1 · Device for and a method of processing an audio signal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166190 A1 - Document ID: US20100166190A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/376,450 - Filed: 2007-08-07 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-10 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Inventors: Ronaldus Maria Aarts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166190A1 ## CPC - H04S 7/30: {Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field} - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS ## Abstract A device for processing an audio signal, wherein the device comprises a detection unit adapted for detecting a widening state of the audio signal, and a widening modification unit adapted for modifying a widening characteristic of the audio signal depending on the detected widening state of the audio signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device (100) for processing an audio signal, wherein the device (100) comprises a detection unit (108) adapted for detecting a widening state of the audio signal; a widening modification unit (107) adapted for modifying a widening characteristic of the audio signal depending on the detected widening state of the audio signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (108) is adapted for detecting whether the audio signal has previously been widened or narrowed or not. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (108) is adapted for detecting a widening parameter indicative of a degree to which the audio signal has previously been widened or narrowed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (108) is adapted for detecting the widening state of the audio signal based on a blind separation algorithm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (108) is adapted for detecting the widening state of the audio signal based on a calculation of a phase difference between components of an audio signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (108) is adapted for detecting the widening state of the audio signal based on an iterative procedure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (108) is adapted for detecting the widening state of the audio signal based on information of at least one of the group consisting of the audio signal itself, and external information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the widening modification unit (107) is adapted for widening or narrowing the audio signal in a manner to at least partially, particularly to completely, undue a previously performed widening or narrowing when the detected widening state indicates that the audio signal has previously been widened or narrowed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the widening modification unit (107) is adapted for altering a widening or narrowing of the audio signal when the detected widening state indicates that the audio signal has previously been widened or narrowed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the widening modification unit (107) is adapted for inhibiting the audio signal from widening or narrowing when the detected widening state indicates that the audio signal has previously not been widened or narrowed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, comprising a further widening modification unit (109) adapted for widening or narrowing the audio signal processed by the widening modification unit (107). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the widening modification unit (107) comprises a filter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the widening modification unit (107) is adapted to perform, selectively, one of the group consisting of stereo widening and stereo narrowing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of audio playback devices (104, 105) adapted to play back the processed audio signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal is a multiple audio channel signal, particularly a stereo signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device (100) according to claim 1, realized as at least one of the group consisting of a portable audio player, a loudspeaker, an audio surround system, a mobile phone, a headset, a loudspeaker, a hearing aid, a handsfree system, a television device, a TV set audio player, a video recorder, a monitor, a gaming device, a laptop, an audio player, a DVD player, a CD player, a harddisk-based media player, an internet radio device, a public entertainment device, an MP3 player, a hi-fi system, a vehicle entertainment device, a car entertainment device, a medical communication system, a body-worn device, a speech communication device, a home cinema system, a home theater system, an audio server, an audio client, a flat television apparatus, an ambiance creation device, and a music hall system. ### Claim 17 A method of processing an audio signal, wherein the method comprises detecting a widening state of the audio signal; modifying a widening characteristic of the audio signal depending on the detected widening state of the audio signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A computer-readable medium, in which a computer program of processing an audio signal is stored, which computer program, when being executed by a processor (103), is adapted to carry out or control a method according to claim 17. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A program element of processing an audio signal, which program element, when being executed by a processor (103), is adapted to carry out or control a method according to claim 17.