AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND AUDIO SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20200137510A1
• Filed: 10/21/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: IKEGAYA, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 11,102,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/509 Microphone arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/569 using the instant speaker's algorithm speech detection per se G10L25/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

An audio signal processing method includes selecting a channel group of at least two channels according to a predetermined reference, from among audio signals of at least three channels; and controlling a gain of the audio signal of each channel of the selected channel group, according to a volume level of the audio signal of each channel of the channel group.

Claims

1. An audio signal processing apparatus comprising:

a selector that selects a channel group of at least two channels according to a predetermined reference, from among audio signals of at least three channels; and

a gain controller that controls a gain of the audio signal of each channel of the channel group selected by the selector, according to a volume level of the audio signal of each channel of the channel group.

2. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mixing processor that mixes the audio signals.

3. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mixing processor mixes the audio signal of each channel of the channel group that has been gain-adjusted by the gain controller.

4. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selector selects the channel group based on the volume level of each channel of the at least three channels.

5. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selector selects the at least two channels that are at a highest volume level among the at least three channels.

6. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of microphones; and

a beam former that forms at least three sound collection beams using sound collection signals of the plurality of microphones, and outputs the at least three sound collection beams as audio signals of the at least three channels.

7. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the selector does not select sound collection beams in which sound collection directions thereof are adjacent to each other, among the at least three sound collection beams.

8. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the beam former forms a sound collection beam, among the at least three sound collection beams, for each predetermined area.

9. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of microphones are configured as a ceiling tile.

10. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ceiling tile is configured to be replaceable.

11. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of microphones are arranged in an array in a plane.

12. An audio signal processing apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories having program instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the audio signal processing apparatus to;

select a channel group of at least two channels according to a predetermined reference, from among audio signals of at least three channels; and

control a gain of the audio signal of each channel of the selected channel group, according to a volume level of the audio signal of each channel of the channel group.

13. An audio signal processing method comprising:

one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors;

selecting a channel group of at least two channels according to a predetermined reference, from among audio signals of at least three channels; and

controlling a gain of the audio signal of each channel of the selected channel group, according to a volume level of the audio signal of each channel of the channel group.

14. The audio signal processing method according to claim 13, further comprising mixing the audio signals.

15. The audio signal processing method according to claim 14, wherein the mixing of the audio signals includes mixing the audio signal of each channel of the channel group that has been gain-adjusted by the controlling of the gain.

16. The audio signal processing method according to claim 13, wherein the selecting of the channel group selects the channel group based on the volume level of each channel of the at least three channels.

17. The audio signal processing method according to claim 16, wherein the selecting of the channel group selects the at least two channels that are at a highest volume level among the at least three channels.

18. The audio signal processing method according to claim 13, further comprising:

forming at least three sound collection beams using sound collection signals of a plurality of microphones; and

outputting the at least three sound collection beams as audio signals of the at least three channels.

19. The audio signal processing method according to claim 18, the selecting of the channel group does not select sound collection beams in which sound collection directions thereof are adjacent to each other, among the at least three sound collection beams.

20. The audio signal processing method according to claim 18, further comprising forming a sound collection beam, among the at least three sound collection beams, for each predetermined area.