IP Library Granted Patent US 12,412,594
Granted Patent B2
US 12,412,594 · App. 18/160,857 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Audio processing system, audio processing device, and audio processing method

Inventors: Tomofumi Yamanashi (Kanagawa, JP); Naoya Mochiki (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
G10L21/028G10L15/22G10L2015/223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,412,594
App. No.
18/160,857
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio processing system includes a memory, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory, and, when executing a program stored in the memory, performs: receiving a first voice that is a voice uttered by a first speaker; determining whether or not a position of the first speaker can be identified; and outputting, to a target device, a voice command that is specified by a voice and is a signal for controlling the target device, the processor limiting output of a speaker position command related to a position of a speaker among the voice command in a case where the processor determines that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified.

Claims (28)

1. An audio processing system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor that is coupled to the memory, and, when executing a program stored in the memory, performs:

receiving a first voice that is a voice uttered by a first speaker;

determining whether or not a position of the first speaker can be identified; and

outputting, to a target device, a voice command that is specified by a voice and is a signal for controlling the target device, the processor limiting output of a speaker position command related to a position of a speaker among the voice command in a case where the processor determines that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified,

wherein the processor raises a priority of an output of a driver seat command related to a driver seat among the speaker position command in a case where the processor determines that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified.

2. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor does not output the speaker position command in a case where the processor determines that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified.

3. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor receives a voice including the first voice output from a plurality of microphones including a first microphone and a second microphone associated with the first microphone,

the processor performs detection of presence or absence of a failure in the plurality of microphones, and determines whether or not a position of the first speaker can be identified based on a result of the detection, and

the processor does not output a speaker position command specified by a voice input from the second microphone among the speaker position command in a case where the processor detects a failure of the first microphone and determines that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified.

4. The audio processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the processor further performs comparing audio signals of the plurality of microphones, to identify the position of the first speaker who has uttered the first voice.

5. The audio processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the processor determines that the failure has occurred in a case where a difference between a level of an audio signal output from the first microphone and a level of an audio signal output from the second microphone is equal to or larger than a threshold.

6. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor further performs determining whether the first voice is a voice of a registrant registered in advance, and

the processor outputs the speaker position command on condition that the processor determines that the first voice is a voice of the registrant.

7. The audio processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the processor outputs the speaker position command in which processing to be executed is determined according to the position of the speaker.

8. The audio processing system according to claim 6 , wherein in a case where the processor detects a failure of a microphone, thereby determining that the position of the speaker cannot be identified, the processor limits the output of the speaker position command of a voice input from a microphone associated with the failed microphone.

9. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further performs directivity control to emphasize a voice in a direction from a target.

10. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further performs cancelling an audio component other than a voice uttered by a speaker, based on a reference signal indicating a specific audio component.

11. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further performs cancellation processing of canceling a voice from a direction other than a direction from a target.

12. An audio processing method comprising:

an inputting step that receives a first voice uttered by a first speaker;

a determining step that determines whether or not a position of the first speaker can be identified; and

an outputting step that outputs, to a target device, a voice command that is specified by a voice and is a signal for controlling the target device, wherein

the outputting step limits output of a speaker position command related to a position of a speaker among the voice command in a case where it is determined, in the determining step, that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified,

wherein the processor raises a priority of an output of a driver seat command related to a driver seat among the speaker position command in a case where the processor determines that the position of the first speaker cannot be identified.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0752 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2023
From: YAMANASHI, TOMOFUMI; MOCHIKI, NAOYA
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064380/0507 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-157743 · Sep 18, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021016088 · Apr 20, 2021
Related Publication 20230178093A1 · Jun 8, 2023
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