Sony patents audio tech that adjusts sound position for 3D listening
Sony has been granted a patent for an audio processing device that adjusts how sound is heard based on where the listener thinks a sound source is located. The system corrects the position of the sound and applies specific volume and frequency changes to create a more accurate 3D audio experience. It then converts these multi-channel signals into standard two-channel audio for playback.
In the filing’s own words
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.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An audio processing device, comprising: a position information correction unit configured to calculate corrected position information that indicates a first position of a sound source relative to a listening position at which sound from the sound source is heard, wherein the corrected position information is calculated based on position information and listening position information, the position information indicates a second position of the sound source relative to a standard listening position, and the listening position information indicates the listening position; and a generation unit configured to: perform three-dimensional vector base amplitude panning (VBAP) on a waveform signal of the sound source to generate reproduction signals on M channels, wherein the M is three or more, and the reproduction signals on the M channels are generated based on the corrected position information supplied from the position information correction unit; and convert the reproduction signals on the M channels into reproduction signals on two channels.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
- Official title
- Audio processing device and method therefor
- Patent number
- US12739587B2
- Application number
- 18784323
- Filed
- Jul 25, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 15
Classified under
H04S 7/302 Electricity & electronicsH04S 3/008 Electricity & electronicsH04S 7/307 Electricity & electronicsH04R 1/40 Electricity & electronicsH04S 2400/01 Electricity & electronicsH04S 2400/11 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Audio & voice
- Sony patents headphones that pause noise cancelling when someone talks to you Sep 8, 2026
- Sony patents system to place virtual sounds in real rooms Sep 3, 2026
- Sony patents virtual audio that spreads out overlapping voices Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents method to make virtual audio sound more natural Sep 8, 2026
- Sony patents audio system that adjusts sound based on hearing feedback Sep 15, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.