Sound processing apparatus, sound processing method and hearing aid

摘要

A sound processing apparatus, a sound processing method and a hearing aid efficiently emphasize the sound of an utterer regardless of the distance between microphones. The sound processing apparatus outputs a first directivity signal in which the main axis of directivity is formed in the direction of the utterer and outputs a second directivity signal in which the dead zone of directivity is formed in the direction of the utterer. The sound processing apparatus calculates the level of the first directivity signal and the level of the second directivity signal, and determines the distance to the utterer based on the level of the first directivity signal and the level of the second directivity signal. The sound processing apparatus derives a gain to be given to the first directivity signal according to the result of the determination and controls the level of the first directivity signal by using the gain.

主权项

1. A sound processing apparatus comprising:
a first directivity forming section configured to output a first directivity signal in which a main axis of directivity is formed in a direction of an utterer by using output signals from a plurality of omnidirectional microphones, respectively; a second directivity forming section configured to output a second directivity signal in which a dead zone of directivity is formed in the direction of the utterer by using the output signals from the respective omnidirectional microphones; a first level calculation section configured to calculate a level of the first directivity signal output from the first directivity forming section; a second level calculation section configured to calculate a level of the second directivity signal output from the second directivity forming section; an utterer distance determination section configured to determine a distance to the utterer based on the level of the first directivity signal and the level of the second directivity signal calculated by the first and second level calculation sections; a gain derivation section configured to derive a gain to be given to the first directivity signal according to a result of the utterer distance determination section, and a level control section configured to control the level of the first directivity signal by using the gain derived from the gain derivation section.