Patents by Inventor Minoru Tsuji

Minoru Tsuji 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: 20250240591
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an audio processing apparatus and method and a program that make it possible to obtain sound of higher quality. An acquisition unit acquires an audio signal and metadata of an object. A vector calculation unit calculates, based on a horizontal direction angle and a vertical direction angle included in the metadata of the object and indicative of an extent of a sound image, a spread vector indicative of a position in a region indicative of the extent of the sound image. A gain calculation unit calculates, based on the spread vector, a VBAP gain of the audio signal in regard to each speaker by VBAP. The present technology can be applied to an audio processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Patent number: 12294850
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an audio processing apparatus and method and a program that make it possible to obtain sound of higher quality. An acquisition unit acquires an audio signal and metadata of an object. A vector calculation unit calculates, based on a horizontal direction angle and a vertical direction angle included in the metadata of the object and indicative of an extent of a sound image, a spread vector indicative of a position in a region indicative of the extent of the sound image. A gain calculation unit calculates, based on the spread vector, a VBAP gain of the audio signal in regard to each speaker by VBAP. The present technology can be applied to an audio processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Patent number: 12289483
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an encoding device, an encoding method, a reproduction device, a reproduction method, and a program enabling each reproduction equipment to reproduce an appropriate content in a simplified manner. A content data decoding unit decodes encoded metadata and outputs zoom area information, which is included in metadata acquired as a result thereof, designating an area to be zoomed. A zoom area selecting unit selects one or a plurality of pieces of zoom area information from among the zoom area information. A video segmenting unit segments a zoom area represented by the selected zoom area information in a video based on video data and outputs zoom video data acquired as a result thereof. An audio converting unit performs an audio converting process according to the selected zoom area information for audio data and outputs zoom audio data acquired as a result thereof. The present technology can be applied to a reproduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Runyu Shi, Masayuki Nishiguchi, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20250087220
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing device and method and a program that make it possible to reduce the total number of objects while the influence on the sound quality is suppressed. The information processing device includes a pass-through object selection unit configured to acquire data of L objects and select, from the L objects, M pass-through objects whose data is to be outputted as it is, and an object generation unit configured to generate, on the basis of the data of multiple non-pass-through objects that are not the pass-through objects among the L objects, the data of N new objects, N being smaller than (L?M). The present technology can be applied to an information processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji, Yoshiaki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 12245019
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing device, method, and program that can improve encoding efficiency. A signal processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires reverb information including at least one of space reverb information specific to a space around an audio object or object reverb information specific to the audio object and an audio object signal of the audio object; and a reverb processing unit that generates a signal of a reverb component of the audio object on the basis of the reverb information and the audio object signal. The present technology can be applied to a signal processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honma, Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
  • Patent number: 12198704
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing device and method and a program that make it possible to reduce the total number of objects while the influence on the sound quality is suppressed. The information processing device includes a pass-through object selection unit configured to acquire data of L objects and select, from the L objects, M pass-through objects whose data is to be outputted as it is, and an object generation unit configured to generate, on the basis of the data of multiple non-pass-through objects that are not the pass-through objects among the L objects, the data of N new objects, N being smaller than (L?M). The present technology can be applied to an information processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji, Yoshiaki Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20250016518
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program that enable more efficient edit. The information processing apparatus includes a control unit that selects and groups a plurality of objects existing in a predetermined space, and changes the positions of the plurality of the objects while maintaining the relative positional relationship of the plurality of the grouped objects in the space. The present technology can be applied to information processing apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 12149916
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program that enable more efficient edit. The information processing apparatus includes a control unit that selects and groups a plurality of objects existing in a predetermined space, and changes the positions of the plurality of the objects while maintaining the relative positional relationship of the plurality of the grouped objects in the space. The present technology can be applied to information processing apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20240381050
    Abstract: An input unit receives input of an assumed listening position of sound of an object, which is a sound source, and outputs assumed listening position information indicating the assumed listening position. A position information correction unit corrects position information of each object on the basis of the assumed listening position information to obtain corrected position information. A gain/frequency characteristic correction unit performs gain correction and frequency characteristic correction on a waveform signal of an object on the basis of the position information and the corrected position information. A spatial acoustic characteristic addition unit further adds a spatial acoustic characteristic to the waveform signal resulting from the gain correction and the frequency characteristic correction on the basis of the position information of the object and the assumed listening position information. The present technology is applicable to an audio processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: MINORU TSUJI, TORU CHINEN
  • Patent number: 12143802
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing device, a method, and a program capable of improving transmission efficiency and efficiency in the data processing amount. A signal processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires polar coordinate position information indicating a position of a first object expressed by polar coordinates, audio data of the first object, absolute coordinate position information indicating a position of a second object expressed by absolute coordinates, and audio data of the second object; a coordinate conversion unit that converts the absolute coordinate position information into polar coordinate position information indicating a position of the second object; and a rendering processing unit that performs rendering processing on the basis of the polar coordinate position information and the audio data of the first object and the polar coordinate position information and the audio data of the second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Patent number: 12100381
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing device, a signal processing method, and a program that enable implementation of more effective distance feeling control. The signal processing device includes a reverb processing unit that generates a signal of a reverb component on the basis of object audio data of an audio object and a reverb parameter for the audio object. The present technology can be applied to a signal processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Takao Fukui, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 12096202
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an audio processing apparatus and method and a program that make it possible to obtain sound of higher quality. An acquisition unit acquires an audio signal and metadata of an object. A vector calculation unit calculates, based on a horizontal direction angle and a vertical direction angle included in the metadata of the object and indicative of an extent of a sound image, a spread vector indicative of a position in a region indicative of the extent of the sound image. A gain calculation unit calculates, based on the spread vector, a VBAP gain of the audio signal in regard to each speaker by VBAP. The present technology can be applied to an audio processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Patent number: 12096201
    Abstract: An input unit receives input of an assumed listening position of sound of an object, which is a sound source, and outputs assumed listening position information indicating the assumed listening position. A position information correction unit corrects position information of each object on the basis of the assumed listening position information to obtain corrected position information. A gain/frequency characteristic correction unit performs gain correction and frequency characteristic correction on a waveform signal of an object on the basis of the position information and the corrected position information. A spatial acoustic characteristic addition unit further adds a spatial acoustic characteristic to the waveform signal resulting from the gain correction and the frequency characteristic correction on the basis of the position information of the object and the assumed listening position information. The present technology is applicable to an audio processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
  • Publication number: 20240298137
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an audio processing apparatus and method and a program that make it possible to obtain sound of higher quality. An acquisition unit acquires an audio signal and metadata of an object. A vector calculation unit calculates, based on a horizontal direction angle and a vertical direction angle included in the metadata of the object and indicative of an extent of a sound image, a spread vector indicative of a position in a region indicative of the extent of the sound image. A gain calculation unit calculates, based on the spread vector, a VBAP gain of the audio signal in regard to each speaker by VBAP. The present technology can be applied to an audio processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Patent number: 12081962
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for achieving reduction of a processing load on a distribution side along with reduction of a transfer volume of information. The information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires low accuracy position information having first accuracy and indicating a position of an object within a space where a user is located and acquires additional information for obtaining position information that has second accuracy higher than the first accuracy, indicates the position of the object within the space, and corresponds to a position of the user and a position information calculation unit that obtains the position information on the basis of the low accuracy position information and the additional information. The present technology is applicable to an information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20240223985
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program capable of realizing content reproduction based on an intention of a content creator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Minoru Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20240153516
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing device and method, and a program making it possible to reduce the computational complexity of decoding at low cost. A signal processing device includes: a priority information generation unit configured to generate priority information about an audio object on the basis of a plurality of elements expressing a feature of the audio object. The present technology may be applied to an encoding device and a decoding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20240146981
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an encoding device, an encoding method, a reproduction device, a reproduction method, and a program enabling each reproduction equipment to reproduce an appropriate content in a simplified manner. A content data decoding unit decodes encoded metadata and outputs zoom area information, which is included in metadata acquired as a result thereof, designating an area to be zoomed. A zoom area selecting unit selects one or a plurality of pieces of zoom area information from among the zoom area information. A video segmenting unit segments a zoom area represented by the selected zoom area information in a video based on video data and outputs zoom video data acquired as a result thereof. An audio converting unit performs an audio converting process according to the selected zoom area information for audio data and outputs zoom audio data acquired as a result thereof. The present technology can be applied to a reproduction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Sonny Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Runyu Shi, Masayuki Nishiguchi, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11974117
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing device and method, a reproduction device and method, and a program that are capable of performing gain correction more easily. An information processing device includes a gain correction value decision unit that decides a correction value of a gain value for performing gain correction on an audio signal of an audio object in accordance with a direction of the audio object viewed from a listener. The present technology can be applied to a gain decision device and a reproduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Yuki Yamamoto, Akihito Nakai
  • Publication number: 20240073639
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program that enable more efficient edit. The information processing apparatus includes a control unit that selects and groups a plurality of objects existing in a predetermined space, and changes the positions of the plurality of the objects while maintaining the relative positional relationship of the plurality of the grouped objects in the space. The present technology can be applied to information processing apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Yuki Yamamoto