Patents by Inventor Noriaki Tawada

Noriaki Tawada 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).

  • Patent number: 11363374
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus that processes a plurality of audio signals obtained by acquiring a sound in a target area by performing sound acquisition by a plurality of sound acquisition units, comprising: a specification unit configured to specify a position of a sound source in the target area and positions and directivities of the plurality of sound acquisition units; and a selection unit configured to select, among the plurality of audio signals based on the sound acquisition by the plurality of sound acquisition units, an audio signal to be played back based on a degree of misalignment of the directivity of each of the plurality of sound acquisition units with respect to the specified position of the sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 10939224
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a data acquisition unit to acquire pieces of acoustic data based on sound collection performed by sound collection units at different positions, a setting unit configured to set a virtual sound source position corresponding to a piece of acquired acoustic data for each acquired piece, based on a sound collection position and correlation information indicating a correlation between the piece of acoustic data and another piece of acoustic data, the virtual sound source position set so an imbalance between virtual sound source positions respectively corresponding to the pieces of acoustic data is smaller than an imbalance between sound collection positions, and a generation unit configured to generate audio playback data for reproducing a sound for a virtual listening position, by processing piece(s) of acquired acoustic data based on the virtual listening position and the virtual sound source positions set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20200314581
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a data acquisition unit to acquire pieces of acoustic data based on sound collection performed by sound collection units at different positions, a setting unit configured to set a virtual sound source position corresponding to a piece of acquired acoustic data for each acquired piece, based on a sound collection position and correlation information indicating a correlation between the piece of acoustic data and another piece of acoustic data, the virtual sound source position set so an imbalance between virtual sound source positions respectively corresponding to the pieces of acoustic data is smaller than an imbalance between sound collection positions, and a generation unit configured to generate audio playback data for reproducing a sound for a virtual listening position, by processing piece(s) of acquired acoustic data based on the virtual listening position and the virtual sound source positions set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 10747492
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for controlling an audio signal related to playback of sound to be performed together with playback of video that is based on a video signal is provided. The apparatus obtains information indicating a speed of the video at a point in time that is included in a playback period of the video signal, and controls, in a case where the speed of the video changes from a standard speed to a speed that differs from the standard speed at a specific point in time included in the playback period of the video signal, the audio signal based on the information obtained by the obtaining unit, such that a volume parameter for controlling a playback volume of the audio signal after the specific point in time differs from the volume parameter before the specific point in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 10715914
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus that generates a reproducing signal from an input audio signal includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information about an arrangement of a plurality of speakers used for reproduction of a sound that is based on the reproducing signal, a specifying unit that specifies a target range for localization of a sound corresponding to the input audio signal, a setting unit that sets a plurality of virtual sound sources used for localization of a sound based on the specified target range based on the acquired information about the arrangement of the plurality of speakers, and a generation unit that generates the reproducing signal by processing the input audio signal based on setting of the plurality of virtual sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20200169807
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus that processes a plurality of audio signals obtained by acquiring a sound in a target area by performing sound acquisition by a plurality of sound acquisition units, comprising: a specification unit configured to specify a position of a sound source in the target area and positions and directivities of the plurality of sound acquisition units; and a selection unit configured to select, among the plurality of audio signals based on the sound acquisition by the plurality of sound acquisition units, an audio signal to be played back based on a degree of misalignment of the directivity of each of the plurality of sound acquisition units with respect to the specified position of the sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 10547961
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a sound collection signal based on collection of sounds in a sound collection target region by a plurality of microphones; an identification unit configured to identify a position or a region corresponding to an object in the sound collection target region; and a generation unit configured to generate a plurality of acoustic signals corresponding to a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing the sound collection target region based on the identified position or the identified region, using the acquired sound collection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kyohei Kitazawa, Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 10448178
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about directivity of a sound collection unit that collects sound from a sound-collection target area, and a control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a display image in which an area image and a range image are superimposed on one another, the area image representing the sound-collection target area, and the range image having a shape expressing a sound collection range according to the directivity of the sound collection unit identified by the information acquired by the acquisition unit and representing loudness of sound in the sound collection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20190238980
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus that generates a reproducing signal from an input audio signal includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information about an arrangement of a plurality of speakers used for reproduction of a sound that is based on the reproducing signal, a specifying unit that specifies a target range for localization of a sound corresponding to the input audio signal, a setting unit that sets a plurality of virtual sound sources used for localization of a sound based on the specified target range based on the acquired information about the arrangement of the plurality of speakers, and a generation unit that generates the reproducing signal by processing the input audio signal based on setting of the plurality of virtual sound sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20190018641
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for controlling an audio signal related to playback of sound to be performed together with playback of video that is based on a video signal is provided. The apparatus obtains information indicating a speed of the video at a point in time that is included in a playback period of the video signal, and controls, in a case where the speed of the video changes from a standard speed to a speed that differs from the standard speed at a specific point in time included in the playback period of the video signal, the audio signal based on the information obtained by the obtaining unit, such that a volume parameter for controlling a playback volume of the audio signal after the specific point in time differs from the volume parameter before the specific point in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 9998822
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing apparatus advantageous in terms of sound source separation performance. The signal processing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide audio signal acquired by a plurality of audio acquisition units into components of a plurality of different frequency bands, and a processing unit configured to form, based on the audio signal, a plurality of directional beams having different directivities in accordance with a target direction and a target width. Each of the plurality of directional beams has directivities in different directions for the respective components of the frequency bands divided by the dividing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 9967660
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain direction sounds in respective directivity directions from audio signals picked up by a plurality of sound pickup units, and a control unit configured to control, in accordance with a frequency of the direction sounds obtained by the obtaining unit, a directivity direction count indicating the number of directivity directions corresponding to the direction sounds obtained by the obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20180115852
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a sound collection signal based on collection of sounds in a sound collection target region by a plurality of microphones; an identification unit configured to identify a position or a region corresponding to an object in the sound collection target region; and a generation unit configured to generate a plurality of acoustic signals corresponding to a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing the sound collection target region based on the identified position or the identified region, using the acquired sound collection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kyohei Kitazawa, Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20180007481
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about directivity of a sound collection unit that collects sound from a sound-collection target area, and a control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a display image in which an area image and a range image are superimposed on one another, the area image representing the sound-collection target area, and the range image having a shape expressing a sound collection range according to the directivity of the sound collection unit identified by the information acquired by the acquisition unit and representing loudness of sound in the sound collection range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20170374453
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing apparatus advantageous in terms of sound source separation performance. The signal processing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide audio signal acquired by a plurality of audio acquisition units into components of a plurality of different frequency bands, and a processing unit configured to form, based on the audio signal, a plurality of directional beams having different directivities in accordance with a target direction and a target width. Each of the plurality of directional beams has directivities in different directions for the respective components of the frequency bands divided by the dividing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Noriaki TAWADA
  • Patent number: 9781509
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus acquires an audio signal of channels using a sound acquisition unit, at least a part of which is within a housing of the apparatus, and obtains an audio signal of channels from a microphone provided outside the housing. The apparatus processes an audio signal in accordance with a first propagation characteristic indicating propagation of sound associated with a direction of a sound source, in a case of processing an audio signal acquired by the sound acquisition unit and processes an audio signal in accordance with a second propagation characteristic different from the first propagation characteristic, in a case of processing an audio signal obtained by the microphone. The signal processing apparatus estimates a sound source direction using an audio signal processed by the first processing unit or an audio signal processed by the second processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 9704505
    Abstract: An audio separating apparatus obtains a matrix by performing time-frequency conversion on an input audio signal. The audio separating apparatus divides the obtained matrix into at least a basis matrix and an activity matrix, and classifies base spectra that configure the respective columns of the basis matrix into first base spectra corresponding to a target sound and second base spectra corresponding to a non-target sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Publication number: 20170064444
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain direction sounds in respective directivity directions from audio signals picked up by a plurality of sound pickup units, and a control unit configured to control, in accordance with a frequency of the direction sounds obtained by the obtaining unit, a directivity direction count indicating the number of directivity directions corresponding to the direction sounds obtained by the obtaining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Noriaki TAWADA
  • Patent number: 9538288
    Abstract: An impulse response between a sound-producing source and a listening point in an acoustic space is measured. A frequency characteristic serving as the processing target of sound field correction is derived from the impulse response. A level difference at a boundary frequency between a level representing a low frequency band and a level representing middle and high frequency bands is calculated for the low frequency band equal to or lower than the boundary frequency and the middle and high frequency bands higher than the boundary frequency in the frequency characteristic. The level of a target characteristic in the low frequency band in the frequency characteristic is decided to set the level difference after sound field correction to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada
  • Patent number: 9280985
    Abstract: A noise suppression apparatus selectively uses an adaptive beamformer and fixed beamformer for each frequency. A direction of a null of the fixed beamformer is determined from a direction of a null automatically formed by the adaptive beamformer. Filter coefficients of the adaptive beamformer based on an output power minimization rule are calculated by a minimum norm method using a norm of the filter coefficients as a constraint. The above selection is made based on, for example, a depth of a null automatically formed by the adaptive beamformer in the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Tawada