Sony patents speakers that make virtual training partners sound real
Sony has been granted a patent for a sound system that uses ultrasonic speakers to project audio from a virtual training partner. The circuitry tracks the real user's head position and uses beamforming to bounce sound off walls or ceilings, keeping the virtual voice anchored in a specific spot even if the user moves.
In the filing’s own words
The present disclosure generally pertains to sound signal generation circuitry, configured to: obtain a position of a virtual user and sound of the virtual user, the virtual user representing a training partner of a real user; and generate, based on the position of the virtual user and the sound of the virtual user, a control signal for at least two loudspeakers positioned in a real space, such that the at least two loudspeakers generate sound representing the virtual user at a predetermined position relative to the real user in the real space.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. Sound signal generation circuitry, configured to: obtain a position of a virtual user and sound of the virtual user, the virtual user representing a training partner of a real user; and generate, based on the position of the virtual user, the sound of the virtual user, and a head position of the real user, a control signal for at least two loudspeakers positioned in a real space, such that the at least two loudspeakers generate sound representing the virtual user at a predetermined position relative to the real user in the real space, wherein the head position of the real user includes at least a head height, the at least two loudspeakers are adjacent to each other and disposed in a same sound box that is fixed at a location spaced apart from the real user, the sound is generated to be perceived by the real user as originating from the predetermined position of the virtual user independent of head movement of the real user, the at least two loudspeakers include ultrasonic loudspeakers, and the control signal causes the ultrasonic loudspeakers to apply beamforming to project the sound via at least one of a ceiling reflection or a wall reflection to the real user.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Sound signal generation circuitry and sound signal generation method
- Patent number
- US12772016B2
- Application number
- 17696891
- Filed
- Mar 17, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 18
Classified under
H04S 7/304 Electricity & electronicsH04R 1/10 Electricity & electronicsH04R 3/00 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Audio & voice
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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.