Sound image localization processing apparatus and others

A sound image localization processing apparatus, which causes two speakers disposed at the right and the left in front of a listener to output sound in accordance with a plurality of supplied sound signals, and localizes a sound image at a side of a plurality of listeners,

• the sound image localization processing apparatus, comprises:
• a signal processing device which controls a phase of a right signal indicative of sound signal which should be heard from the right side, and a left signal indicative of sound signal which should be heard from the left side, relative to a listening position of one of the listeners, and localizing a sound image at a side of one of the listeners
• a frequency-band division device which divides the processed sound signal by a predetermined frequency band, and
• a signal correction device which assigns each listener to the divided frequency band, controlling a phase of the right signal or the left signal which has been signal-processed for a listening position of the other listener, and localizing a sound image at a side of the other listener,
• wherein the listeners are disposed side-by-side opposite the two speakers, and the listeners includes a listener in a center seat for which distances to the two speakers are set to be the same as each other, and a listener in a right seat or a left seat disposed on a right side or a left side thereof,
• a frequency band to be divided by the frequency-band division means is divided into a low-frequency band, a middle-frequency band, and a high-frequency band, and
• a phase of the right signal or the left signal is controlled so that a side localization effect is given to a listener in the center seat at the low frequency band and the high frequency band, and a phase of the right signal or the left signal is controlled so that a side localization effect is given to a listener in the right seat or the left seat at the middle frequency band.

A sound image localization processing method, of causing two speakers disposed at the right and the left in front of a listener to output sound in accordance with a plurality of supplied sound signals, and localizing a sound image at a side of a plurality of listeners,

• the sound image localization processing method, comprises:
• a signal processing process of controlling a phase of a right signal indicative of sound signal which should be heard from the right side, and a left signal indicative of sound signal which should be heard from the left side, relative to a listening position of one of the listeners, and localizing a sound image at a side of one of the listeners,
• a frequency-band division process of dividing the processed sound signal by a predetermined frequency band, and
• a signal correction process of assigning each listener to the divided frequency band, controlling a phase of the right signal or the left signal which has been signal-processed for a listening position of the other listener, and localizing a sound image at a side of the other listener,
• wherein the listeners are disposed side-by-side opposite the two speakers, and the listeners includes a listener in a center seat for which distances to the two speakers are set to be the same as each other, and a listener in a right seat or a left seat disposed on a right side or a left side thereof,
• a frequency band to be divided by the frequency-band division means is divided into a low-frequency band, a middle-frequency band, and a high-frequency band, and
• a phase of the right signal or the left signal is controlled so that a side localization effect is given to a listener in the center seat at the low frequency band and the high frequency band, and a phase of the right signal or the left signal is controlled so that a side localization effect is given to a listener in the right seat or the left seat at the middle frequency band.