IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,100,379
Granted Patent B2
US 12,100,379 · App. 17/635,057 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Acoustic processing apparatus and acoustic processing method

Inventors: Yushi Yamabe (Tokyo, JP); Mahendra Kodavati (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G10K11/17853G10K11/17827H04R1/1041H04R1/1083
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,100,379
App. No.
17/635,057
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an acoustic processing apparatus that includes an attachment unit, a sensor that detects deformation of the attachment unit attached to an ear portion of a user, and a control unit that switches a mode for noise cancelling in accordance with a detection result of the deformation of the attachment unit.

Claims (48)

1. An acoustic processing apparatus, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect deformation of an earpad, wherein the earpad is attachable to a user ear portion; and

a control unit configured to switch a mode for noise cancellation of a sound, wherein the mode is switched based on:

a transfer function of the sound that is emitted from a speaker and arrives at a microphone for feedback, and

the detected deformation of the earpad.

2. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a filter, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

detect a change in the transfer function based on the detected deformation of the earpad;

switch a characteristic of the filter based on the detected change in the transfer function; and

switch the mode for the noise cancellation based on the switched characteristic of the filter.

3. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the control unit is further configured to obtain, based on the switched characteristic of the filter, noise cancelling performance at one of a specific level or higher than the specific,

the noise cancelling performance at the one of the specific level or higher than the specific level is obtained in a case where the transfer function is within a specific range, and

the control unit is further configured to obtain, based on the switched characteristic of the filter, the noise cancelling performance at one of the specific level or lower than the specific level, and

the noise cancelling performance at the one of the specific level or lower than the specific level is obtained in a case where the transfer function is out of the specific range.

4. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the filter includes at least a feedback filter.

5. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the filter further includes a feedforward filter.

6. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an equalizer, wherein

the earpad is configured to reproduce a voice signal,

the equalizer is configured to perform an equalizing process for the reproduced voice signal, and

the control unit is further configured to switch a characteristic of the equalizer based on the detected change of the transfer function.

7. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:

switch a detection signal; and

detect the change of the transfer function based on the switched detection signal.

8. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the earpad is configured to reproduce a voice signal, and

the detection signal is switched based on a power of the reproduced voice signal and a level of noise.

9. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the characteristic of the filter is switched to only a specific pattern of a plurality of patterns, and

each pattern of the plurality of patterns is based on the power of the reproduced voice signal and the level of the noise.

10. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one of a distance sensor or a pressure sensor.

11. The acoustic processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acoustic processing apparatus is a headphone.

12. An acoustic processing apparatus, comprising:

a control unit configured to:

detect a change in a transfer function of a sound based on deformation of an earpad;

switch a characteristic of a filter based on the detected change in the transfer function; and

switch a mode for noise cancellation of the sound based on the switched characteristic of the filter, wherein

the control unit is further configured to switch a detection signal based on a power of a voice signal and a level of noise, and

the switched detection signal is for the detection of the change in the transfer function.

13. An acoustic processing method, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, deformation of an earpad, wherein the earpad is attachable to a user ear portion; and

switching, by a control unit, a mode for noise cancellation of a sound, wherein the mode is switched based on:

a transfer function of the sound that is emitted from a speaker and arrives at a microphone for feedback, and

the detected deformation of the earpad.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute operations, the operations comprising:

detecting deformation of an earpad, wherein the earpad is attachable to a user ear portion; and

switching a mode for noise cancellation of a sound, wherein the mode is switched based on:

a transfer function of the sound that is emitted from a speaker and arrives at a microphone for feedback, and

the detected deformation of the earpad.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: YAMABE, YUSHI; KODAVATI, MAHENDRA
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058998/0557 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-152760 · Aug 23, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220293082A1 · Sep 15, 2022