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: 20210409892
    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: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20210377691
    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: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honma, Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
  • Patent number: 11170796
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an encoding apparatus, an encoding method, a decoding apparatus, a decoding method, and a program for obtaining sound of higher quality. An audio signal decoding section decodes encoded audio data to acquire an audio signal of each object. A metadata decoding section decodes encoded metadata to acquire a plurality of metadata about each object in each frame of the audio signal. A gain calculating section calculates VBAP gains of each object in the audio signal for each speaker based on the metadata. An audio signal generating section generates an audio signal to be fed to each speaker by having the audio signal of each object multiplied by the corresponding VBAP gain and by adding up the multiplied audio signals. The present technology may be applied to decoding apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11159905
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus and method that are capable of reproducing sound at an optional listening position with a high sense of reality. The signal processing apparatus includes a rendering unit that generates reproduction data of sound at an optional listening position in a target space on the basis of recording signals of microphones attached to a plurality of moving bodies in the target space. The present technology can be applied to a reproduction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi Namba, Masashi Fujihara, Makoto Akune, Koyuru Okimoto, Toru Chinen, Kohei Asada, Kazunobu Ookuri, Masayoshi Noguchi, Minoru Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20210329397
    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: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11140505
    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: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20210272576
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing device and method, and a program capable of reducing a code amount. The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires space information regarding a position and a size of a child space within a parent space and position information in the child space indicating a position of an object within the child space, the child space being included in the parent space, and the object being included in the child space; and a calculation unit that calculates position information in the parent space indicating a position of the object within the parent space on the basis of the space information and the position information in the child space. The present technology can be applied to a signal processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji, Hiroyuki Honma, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11109179
    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: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honma, Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
  • Patent number: 11074921
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing device and an information processing method that enable reduction of an amount of data to be transmitted in transmission of data of a plurality of audio objects. An information processing device according to one aspect of the present technology combines audio objects with sounds that are undistinguishable at a predetermined supposed listening position among a plurality of audio objects for the predetermined supposed listening position among a plurality of supposed listening positions and transmits data of a combined audio object obtained by the combination, along with data of other audio objects with sounds that are distinguishable at the predetermined supposed listening position. The present technology can be applied to a device that can process object-based audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20210195363
    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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honma, Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
  • Publication number: 20210176581
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus and method, and a program that can easily determine a localization position of a sound image. A signal processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire information associated with a localization position of a sound image of an audio object in a listening space specified in a state where the listening space viewed from a listening position is displayed; and a generation unit configured to generate a bit stream on the basis of the information associated with the localization position. The present technology can be applied to the signal processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20210176582
    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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki HATANAKA, Toru CHINEN, Minoru TSUJI, Yuki YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210118466
    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: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Yamamoto, Toru Chinen, Minoru Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20210029485
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus and method, and a program that are capable of reproducing sound at an optional listening position with a high sense of reality. The signal processing apparatus includes a rendering unit that generates reproduction data of sound at an optional listening position in a target space on the basis of recording signals of microphones attached to a plurality of moving bodies in the target space. The present technology can be applied to a reproduction apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: RYUICHI NAMBA, MASASHI FUJIHARA, MAKOTO AKUNE, KOYURU OKIMOTO, TORU CHINEN, KOHEI ASADA, KAZUNOBU OOKURI, MASAYOSHI NOGUCHI, MINORU TSUJI
  • Publication number: 20210021951
    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: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: MINORU TSUJI, TORU CHINEN
  • Patent number: 10812925
    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: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen
  • Publication number: 20200327879
    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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Takao Fukui, Mitsuyuki Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20200288261
    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: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: MINORU TSUJI, TORU CHINEN
  • Publication number: 20200221146
    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: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tsuji, Toru Chinen, Runyu Shi, Masayuki Nishiguchi, Yuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10708707
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an audio processing apparatus and method and a program that are configured to adjust audio characteristics more easily. This audio processing apparatus has a display control unit configured, on the basis of object positional information of an audio object, to cause a display unit to display an audio object information image indicative of a position of the audio object and a selection unit configured to select the predetermined audio object from among one or a plurality of the audio objects. The present technology is applicable to video/audio processing apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Honma, Minoru Tsuji