Patents by Inventor Koji Nageno

Koji Nageno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230388703
    Abstract: The present technique relates to an earhole-wearable sound collection device, a signal processing device, and a sound collection method for realizing sound collection at a high S/N ratio, with noise influence being reduced not by a noise reduction process. In the earhole-wearable sound collection device, a microphone that collects emitted speech voice is provided in a space that is substantially sealed off from outside and connects to an ear canal of the wearer (the speaker). With the microphone being located in the space sealed off from outside, emitted speech voice that propagates through the ear canal of the wearer is collected. In a sound collection signal obtained through the ear canal, the emitted speech voice component is dominant over the noise component particularly at low frequencies. Therefore, the S/N ratio of an emitted speech voice collection signal can be improved by extracting the low-frequency component of the sound collection signal with the use of a LPF, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: KOHEI ASADA, SHINPEI TSUCHIYA, DAIZEN KOBAYASHI, KOJI NAGENO
  • Patent number: 11765497
    Abstract: Provided are an earhole-wearable sound collection device, a signal processing device, and a sound collection method for sound collection at a high S/N ratio, with noise influence being reduced not by a noise reduction process. In the earhole-wearable sound collection device, a microphone that collects emitted speech voice is provided in a space that is substantially sealed off from outside and connects to an ear canal of the wearer (the speaker). With the microphone being located in the space sealed off from outside, emitted speech voice that propagates through the ear canal of the wearer is collected. In a sound collection signal obtained through the ear canal, the emitted speech voice component is dominant over the noise component particularly at low frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Asada, Shinpei Tsuchiya, Daizen Kobayashi, Koji Nageno
  • Patent number: 11375307
    Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuo, Takashi Ohta, Koji Nageno, Tomohiro Ito
  • Patent number: 11363366
    Abstract: There is provided a headphone device including: an external magnet type magnet unit that is disposed outside a voice coil, and vibrates the voice coil; and a diaphragm that is vibrated by vibration of the voice coil, and formed of a material in which a dome section having an outward concave shape on an inner circumference of the voice coil is continuous with an edge section outside the voice coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nageno, Kenichi Oide, Shinsuke Kanayama, Pingwee Chia, Chinngiap Heng
  • Publication number: 20220103936
    Abstract: The present technique relates to an earhole-wearable sound collection device, a signal processing device, and a sound collection method for realizing sound collection at a high S/N ratio, with noise influence being reduced not by a noise reduction process. In the earhole-wearable sound collection device, a microphone that collects emitted speech voice is provided in a space that is substantially sealed off from outside and connects to an ear canal of the wearer (the speaker). With the microphone being located in the space sealed off from outside, emitted speech voice that propagates through the ear canal of the wearer is collected. In a sound collection signal obtained through the ear canal, the emitted speech voice component is dominant over the noise component particularly at low frequencies. Therefore, the S/N ratio of an emitted speech voice collection signal can be improved by extracting the low-frequency component of the sound collection signal with the use of a LPF, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: KOHEI ASADA, SHINPEI TSUCHIYA, DAIZEN KOBAYASHI, KOJI NAGENO
  • Patent number: 11146877
    Abstract: A sound output device includes a sound generating portion that generates a sound, a sound guiding portion that takes in the sound generated in the sound generating portion from one end, and a holding portion that holds the sound guiding portion in the vicinity of the other end. The holding portion is engaged with an intertragic notch, and supports the sound guiding portion such that a sound output hole of the other end of the sound guiding portion to face a depth side of an ear canal. Even in a state where the listener wears the sound output device, the sound output device does not block an ear cavity of the listener, and the listener can listen to the ambient sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno
  • Publication number: 20210281944
    Abstract: There is provided a headphone device including: an external magnet type magnet unit that is disposed outside a voice coil, and vibrates the voice coil; and a diaphragm that is vibrated by vibration of the voice coil, and formed of a material in which a dome section having an outward concave shape on an inner circumference of the voice coil is continuous with an edge section outside the voice coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: KOJI NAGENO, KENICHI OIDE, SHINSUKE KANAYAMA, PINGWEE CHIA, CHINNGIAP HENG
  • Patent number: 11070910
    Abstract: The present technique relates to a processing device and a processing method for realizing sound collection at a high S/N ratio, with noise influence being reduced not by a noise reduction process. In the processing device, a microphone that collects emitted speech voice is provided in a space that is substantially sealed off from outside and connects to an ear canal of the wearer (the speaker). With the microphone being located in the space sealed off from outside, emitted speech voice that propagates through the ear canal of the wearer is collected. In a sound collection signal obtained through the ear canal, the emitted speech voice component is dominant over the noise component particularly at low frequencies Further, an equalizing process for reducing muffled sound that is generated when sound is collected through the ear canal is performed on the sound collection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Asada, Shinpei Tsuchiya, Daizen Kobayashi, Koji Nageno
  • Patent number: 11037544
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a sound output device includes a sound acquisition part that acquires a sound signal generated from an ambient sound, a reverb process part that performs a reverb process on the sound signal, and a sound output part that outputs a sound generated from the sound signal subjected to the reverb process, to a vicinity of an ear of a listener. This configuration allows a listener to hear sound acquired in real time to which desired reverberation is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Asada, Go Igarashi, Koji Nageno
  • Publication number: 20210006927
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a sound output device includes: a sound acquisition part configured to acquire sound to be output to the other end of a sound guide part, one end of which is arranged near an entrance of an ear canal of a listener, the sound guide part having a hollow structure; and a head-related transfer function adjustment part configured to adjust a head-related transfer function of sound captured by the sound guide part. Since the head-related transfer function adjustment part adjusts the head-related transfer function of sound captured by the sound guide part, it is possible to listen to both ambient sound and sound provided from a sound output device such that the listener does not feel strangeness even in the state in which the listener is wearing the sound output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Asada, Go Igarashi, Koji Nageno, Haruo Oba, Homare Kon
  • Patent number: 10812926
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a sound output device includes: a sound acquisition part configured to acquire sound to be output to the other end of a sound guide part, one end of which is arranged near an entrance of an ear canal of a listener, the sound guide part having a hollow structure; and a head-related transfer function adjustment part configured to adjust a head-related transfer function of sound captured by the sound guide part. Since the head-related transfer function adjustment part adjusts the head-related transfer function of sound captured by the sound guide part, it is possible to listen to both ambient sound and sound provided from a sound output device such that the listener does not feel strangeness even in the state in which the listener is wearing the sound output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Asada, Go Igarashi, Koji Nageno, Haruo Oba, Homare Kon
  • Publication number: 20200260174
    Abstract: Provided is a sound output device worn on an ear of a listener and used, and having listening characteristics of an ambient sound in a wearing state. A sound output device 100 includes a sound generating portion 110 that generates a sound, a sound guiding portion 120 that takes in the sound generated in the sound generating portion 110 from one end 121, and a holding portion 130 that holds the sound guiding portion 120 in the vicinity of the other end 122. The holding portion 130 is engaged with an intertragic notch, and supports the sound guiding portion 120 such that a sound output hole of the other end 122 of the sound guiding portion 120 to face a depth side of an ear canal. Even in a state where the listener wears the sound output device 100, the sound output device 100 does not block an ear cavity of the listener, and the listener can listen to the ambient sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: GO IGARASHI, SATOSHI SUZUKI, KOHEI ASADA, KOJI NAGENO
  • Patent number: 10735844
    Abstract: Provided is a wearable device that is worn on a human ear and mainly outputs or inputs sound. The outer casing 110 is formed into an elongated shape so as to fit the cymba conchae 306 formed between the antihelix inferior crus 302b and the crus helicis 309. The sound generating unit 120 includes a vibration element 121 and a weight 122. The vibration element 121 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the outer casing 110, and has one end fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing 110, and the other end to which a weight 122 is attached, the other hand being an open end. By applying an alternating electric field to the vibration element 121, vibration corresponding to audio is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno
  • Patent number: 10685641
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a sound output device includes a sound acquisition part that acquires a sound signal generated from an ambient sound, a reverb process part that performs a reverb process on the sound signal, and a sound output part that outputs a sound generated from the sound signal subjected to the reverb process, to a vicinity of an ear of a listener. This configuration allows a listener to hear sound acquired in real time to which desired reverberation is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Asada, Go Igarashi, Koji Nageno
  • Publication number: 20200184947
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a sound output device includes a sound acquisition part that acquires a sound signal generated from an ambient sound, a reverb process part that performs a reverb process on the sound signal, and a sound output part that outputs a sound generated from the sound signal subjected to the reverb process, to a vicinity of an ear of a listener. This configuration allows a listener to hear sound acquired in real time to which desired reverberation is added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: KOHEI ASADA, GO IGARASHI, KOJI NAGENO
  • Patent number: 10659863
    Abstract: Provided is a sound output device worn on an ear of a listener and used, and having listening characteristics of an ambient sound in a wearing state. A sound output device 100 includes a sound generating portion 110 that generates a sound, a sound guiding portion 120 that takes in the sound generated in the sound generating portion 110 from one end 121, and a holding portion 130 that holds the sound guiding portion 120 in the vicinity of the other end 122. The holding portion 130 is engaged with an intertragic notch, and supports the sound guiding portion 120 such that a sound output hole of the other end 122 of the sound guiding portion 120 to face a depth side of an ear canal. Even in a state where the listener wears the sound output device 100, the sound output device 100 does not block an ear cavity of the listener, and the listener can listen to the ambient sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno
  • Publication number: 20200068284
    Abstract: Provided is a wearable device that is worn on a human ear and mainly outputs or inputs sound. The outer casing 110 is formed into an elongated shape so as to fit the cymba conchae 306 formed between the antihelix inferior crus 302b and the crus helicis 309. The sound generating unit 120 includes a vibration element 121 and a weight 122. The vibration element 121 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the outer casing 110, and has one end fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing 110, and the other end to which a weight 122 is attached, the other hand being an open end. By applying an alternating electric field to the vibration element 121, vibration corresponding to audio is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: GO IGARASHI, KOHEI ASADA, KOJI NAGENO
  • Patent number: 10524036
    Abstract: Provided is a wearable device that is worn on a human ear and mainly outputs or inputs sound. The outer casing 110 is formed into an elongated shape so as to fit the cymba conchae 306 formed between the antihelix inferior crus 302b and the crus helicis 309. The sound generating unit 120 includes a vibration element 121 and a weight 122. The vibration element 121 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the outer casing 110, and has one end fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing 110, and the other end to which a weight 122 is attached, the other hand being an open end. By applying an alternating electric field to the vibration element 121, vibration corresponding to audio is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno
  • Publication number: 20190158945
    Abstract: Provided is a sound output device worn on an ear of a listener and used, and having listening characteristics of an ambient sound in a wearing state. A sound output device 100 includes a sound generating portion 110 that generates a sound, a sound guiding portion 120 that takes in the sound generated in the sound generating portion 110 from one end 121, and a holding portion 130 that holds the sound guiding portion 120 in the vicinity of the other end 122. The holding portion 130 is engaged with an intertragic notch, and supports the sound guiding portion 120 such that a sound output hole of the other end 122 of the sound guiding portion 120 to face a depth side of an ear canal. Even in a state where the listener wears the sound output device 100, the sound output device 100 does not block an ear cavity of the listener, and the listener can listen to the ambient sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: GO IGARASHI, SATOSHI SUZUKI, KOHEI ASADA, KOJI NAGENO
  • Patent number: 10237641
    Abstract: Provided is a sound output device worn on an ear of a listener and used, and having listening characteristics of an ambient sound in a wearing state. A sound output device 100 includes a sound generating portion 110 that generates a sound, a sound guiding portion 120 that takes in the sound generated in the sound generating portion 110 from one end 121, and a holding portion 130 that holds the sound guiding portion 120 in the vicinity of the other end 122. The holding portion 130 is engaged with an intertragic notch, and supports the sound guiding portion 120 such that a sound output hole of the other end 122 of the sound guiding portion 120 to face a depth side of an ear canal. Even in a state where the listener wears the sound output device 100, the sound output device 100 does not block an ear cavity of the listener, and the listener can listen to the ambient sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno