Patents by Inventor Yuji Hisaminato

Yuji Hisaminato 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: 11842719
    Abstract: A sound processing method obtains note data representative of a note; obtains an audio signal to be processed; specifies, in accordance with the note, an expression sample representative of a sound expression to be imparted to the note and an expression period, of the audio signal, to which the sound expression is to be imparted to the note; and specifies, in accordance with the expression sample and the expression period, a processing parameter relating to an expression imparting processing for imparting the sound expression to a portion corresponding to the expression period in the audio signal. The method then generates a processed audio signal by performing the expression imparting processing in accordance with the expression sample, the expression period, and the processing parameter to the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Merlijn Blaauw, Jordi Bonada, Ryunosuke Daido, Yuji Hisaminato
  • Patent number: 11410637
    Abstract: A voice synthesis method according to an embodiment includes altering a series of synthesis spectra in a partial period of a synthesis voice based on a series of amplitude spectrum envelope contours of a voice expression to obtain a series of altered spectra to which the voice expression has been imparted, and synthesizing a series of voice samples to which the voice expression has been imparted, based on the series of altered spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jordi Bonada, Merlijn Blaauw, Keijiro Saino, Ryunosuke Daido, Michael Wilson, Yuji Hisaminato
  • Patent number: 11289066
    Abstract: A voice synthesis method includes: sequentially acquiring voice units comprising at least one of diphone or a triphone in accordance with synthesis information for synthesizing voices; generating statistical spectral envelopes using a statistical model built by machine learning in accordance with the synthesis information for synthesizing the voices; and concatenating the sequentially acquired voice units and modifying a frequency spectral envelope of each voice unit in accordance with the generated statistical spectral envelope, thereby synthesizing a voice signal based on the concatenated voice units having the modified frequency spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Hisaminato, Ryunosuke Daido, Keijiro Saino, Jordi Bonada, Merlijn Blaauw
  • Publication number: 20210005176
    Abstract: A sound processing method obtains note data representative of a note; obtains an audio signal to be processed; specifies, in accordance with the note, an expression sample representative of a sound expression to be imparted to the note and an expression period, of the audio signal, to which the sound expression is to be imparted to the note; and specifies, in accordance with the expression sample and the expression period, a processing parameter relating to an expression imparting processing for imparting the sound expression to a portion corresponding to the expression period in the audio signal. The method then generates a processed audio signal by performing the expression imparting processing in accordance with the expression sample, the expression period, and the processing parameter to the audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Merlijn BLAAUW, Jordi BONADA, Ryunosuke DAIDO, Yuji HISAMINATO
  • Patent number: 10490181
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsubara, Junya Ura, Takehiko Kawahara, Yuji Hisaminato, Katsuji Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20190251950
    Abstract: A voice synthesis method according to an embodiment includes altering a series of synthesis spectra in a partial period of a synthesis voice based on a series of amplitude spectrum envelope contours of a voice expression to obtain a series of altered spectra to which the voice expression has been imparted, and synthesizing a series of voice samples to which the voice expression has been imparted, based on the series of altered spectra.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Jordi BONADA, Merlijn BLAAUW, Keijiro SAINO, Ryunosuke DAIDO, Michael WILSON, Yuji HISAMINATO
  • Publication number: 20190130893
    Abstract: A voice synthesis method includes: sequentially acquiring voice units in accordance with synthesis information for synthesizing voices; generating statistical spectral envelopes using a statistical model in accordance with the synthesis information for synthesizing the voices; and concatenating the sequentially acquired voice units and modifying a frequency spectral envelope of each voice unit in accordance with the generated statistical spectral envelope, thereby synthesizing a voice signal based on the concatenated voice units having the modified frequency spectra.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Yuji HISAMINATO, Ryunosuke DAIDO, Keijiro SAINO, Jordi BONADA, Merlijn BLAAUW
  • Patent number: 9685152
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsubara, Junya Ura, Takehiko Kawahara, Yuji Hisaminato, Katsuji Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20170110111
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki MATSUBARA, Junya URA, Takehiko KAWAHARA, Yuji HISAMINATO, Katsuji YOSHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9424831
    Abstract: A voice synthesizing apparatus includes a manipulation determiner configured to determine a manipulation position which is moved according to a manipulation of a user, and a voice synthesizer configured to generate, in response to an instruction to generate a voice in which a second phoneme follows a first phoneme, a voice signal so that vocalization of the first phoneme starts before the manipulation position reaches a reference position and that vocalization from the first phoneme to the second phoneme is made when the manipulation position reaches the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Hisaminato
  • Publication number: 20160086597
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a voice input section that receives a remark (a question) via a voice signal; a reply creation section that creates a voice sequence of a reply (response) to the remark; a pitch analysis section that analyzes the pitch of a first segment (e.g., word ending) of the remark; and a voice generation section (a voice synthesis section, etc.) that generates a reply, in the form of voice, represented by the voice sequence. The voice generation section controls the pitch of the entire reply in such a manner that the pitch of a second segment (e.g., word ending) of the reply assumes a predetermined pitch (e.g., five degrees down) with respect to the pitch of the first segment of the remark. Such arrangements can realize synthesis of replying voice capable of giving a natural feel to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroaki MATSUBARA, Junya URA, Takehiko KAWAHARA, Yuji HISAMINATO, Katsuji YOSHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9286906
    Abstract: In a voice processing apparatus, a processor is configured to adjust, a fundamental frequency of a first voice signal corresponding to a voice having target voice characteristics to a fundamental frequency of a second voice signal corresponding to a voice having initial voice characteristics different from the target voice characteristics. The processor is further configured to sequentially generate a processed spectrum based on a spectrum of the first voice signal and a spectrum of the second voice signal by: dividing the spectrum of the first voice signal into a plurality of harmonic band components after the fundamental frequency of the first voice signal has been adjusted; allocating each harmonic band component of the first voice signal to each harmonic frequency associated with the fundamental frequency of the second voice signal; and adjusting an envelope and phase of each harmonic band component according to the spectrum of the second voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Jordi Bonada, Merlijn Blaauw, Yuji Hisaminato
  • Publication number: 20140244262
    Abstract: A voice synthesizing apparatus includes a manipulation determiner configured to determine a manipulation position which is moved according to a manipulation of a user, and a voice synthesizer configured to generate, in response to an instruction to generate a voice in which a second phoneme follows a first phoneme, a voice signal so that vocalization of the first phoneme starts before the manipulation position reaches a reference position and that vocalization from the first phoneme to the second phoneme is made when the manipulation position reaches the reference position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji HISAMINATO
  • Publication number: 20140006018
    Abstract: In a voice processing apparatus, a processor is configured to adjust, a fundamental frequency of a first voice signal corresponding to a voice having target voice characteristics to a fundamental frequency of a second voice signal corresponding to a voice having initial voice characteristics different from the target voice characteristics. The processor is further configured to sequentially generate a processed spectrum based on a spectrum of the first voice signal and a spectrum of the second voice signal by: dividing the spectrum of the first voice signal into a plurality of harmonic band components after the fundamental frequency of the first voice signal has been adjusted; allocating each harmonic band component of the first voice signal to each harmonic frequency associated with the fundamental frequency of the second voice signal; and adjusting an envelope and phase of each harmonic band component according to the spectrum of the second voice signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Jordi BONADA, Merlijn BLAAUW, Yuji HISAMINATO
  • Patent number: 7065489
    Abstract: A voice synthesizing apparatus comprises: a memory that stores phoneme pieces having a plurality of different pitches for each phoneme represented by a same phoneme symbol; a reading device that reads a phoneme piece by using a pitch as an index; and a voice synthesizer that synthesizes a voice in accordance with the read phoneme piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hisaminato, Jordi Bonada Sanjaume
  • Publication number: 20020184032
    Abstract: A voice synthesizing apparatus comprises: a memory that stores phoneme pieces having a plurality of different pitches for each phoneme represented by a same phoneme symbol; a reading device that reads a phoneme piece by using a pitch as an index; and a voice synthesizer that synthesizes a voice in accordance with the read phoneme piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Yuji Hisaminato, Jordi Bonada Sanjaume