JP2011154138A - Masker sound generation apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a high masking effect in a room without making a person in the room feel uncomfortable. <P>SOLUTION: In an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) unit 33, frequencies of the lowest side and the highest side of a frequency band in which power is a threshold or more in the average spectrum of a sound signal X are set to cut-off frequencies fc<SB>L</SB>and fc<SB>H</SB>of LPFs 41 and 44, a BPF 43 and HPFs 42 and 45. The sound signal X is input to the LPF 41, the HPF 42 and the BPF 43. Then, an arrangement order changed signal X<SB>B</SB>' in which the arrangement order of an output signal X<SB>B</SB>of the BPF 43 is changed, and noise signals y<SB>L</SB>' and y<SB>H</SB>' output from noise output units 35 and 36, are added, and the addition result is output from the speaker 94 of a room 92 as a masker sound signal M. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for generating a masker sound and preventing sound leakage.

  The masking effect is that when two kinds of sound signals are propagated in the same space, the person in the space can change the sound characteristics (frequency components, time waveforms, etc.) of the two kinds of sound signals. This is a phenomenon that makes it difficult to notice the sound signal. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for preventing leakage of speech using this masking effect. In the masking system disclosed in this document, a sound signal indicating sound collected by a microphone in one adjacent room is set as a target sound signal to be masked. This masking system then scrambles the target sound signal for each group of signals for one syllable, rearranges the divided sections, and uses the scrambled sound signal as a masker sound signal for the other room. Radiates from the speaker. According to this technology, the target sound signal and the masker sound signal having the sound characteristics close to the target sound signal are radiated. Therefore, the person in the room from which the masker sound signal was radiated is masked. Hearing becomes difficult.

JP 2008-233671 A

However, in this type of masking system, a sound signal having a characteristic close to the sound to be masked is used as a masker sound signal that is means for masking the sound. For this reason, when the radiation destination of the masker sound signal is a room in a quiet environment with little conversational sound and background noise, there is a problem that an unpleasant impression is given to the person in the room.
The present invention has been devised under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a high masking effect without making a person in the room uncomfortable.

  The present invention divides a sound signal into a first band signal including a component of a first frequency band and a second band signal including a component of a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. Same as the band dividing means, the arrangement order changing means for outputting the arrangement order changing signal obtained by changing the arrangement order of the first band signals divided by the band dividing means, and the second band signal divided by the band dividing means Noise output means for outputting a noise signal including a noise component in a frequency band, and addition for outputting a masker sound signal obtained by adding the arrangement order change signal output by the arrangement order change means and the noise signal output by the noise output means And a masker sound generating device.

  In the present invention, by setting the frequency band having a large power in the power spectrum of the sound signal to be masked as the first frequency band, only the characteristics of the frequency component having the large power are similar to those of the masking target. A masker sound signal can be generated. Then, by radiating a masker sound signal having such characteristics into the room, a high masking effect can be obtained without making the person in the room uncomfortable.

  In addition, the present invention provides a computer with a second band including a sound signal, a first band signal including a first frequency band component, and a second frequency band component different from the first frequency band. A band dividing unit that divides the signal into signals, an arrangement order changing unit that outputs an arrangement order changing signal obtained by changing the arrangement order of the first band signals divided by the band dividing unit, and a second divided by the band dividing unit. Noise output means for outputting a noise signal including a noise component in the same frequency band as the band signal, and a masker sound obtained by adding the arrangement order change signal output by the arrangement order change means and the noise signal output by the noise output means A program for realizing an adding means for outputting a signal is provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the average spectrum calculated by the setting part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the same masker sound production | generation apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows the structure of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the average spectrum calculated by the setting part of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is other Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the average spectrum calculated by the setting part of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is other Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process which the arrangement | sequence order change part of the masker sound production | generation apparatus which is other Embodiment of this invention performs.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a masking system including a masker sound generating device 10, a microphone 93, and a speaker 94 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The masker sound generation device 10 in this system generates a masker sound signal M that makes it difficult to hear the voice of the speaker (referred to as target sound) in one of the two rooms 91 and 92 partitioned by the wall 90. , A device that outputs to the other room 92.

  The masker sound generation device 10 stores the sound signal X collected by the microphone 93 in the room 91 in the sound memory 19 as the sound data S, and the masker sound signal M using the sound data S in the sound memory 19 as a material. Generate and output. The sound data S used as the material of the masking sound signal M may be the voice of the speaker in the room 91 or the voice of another person, but at least the voice data S of the same gender as the voice of the speaker in the room 91 is used. It is preferable to use it.

  The operation unit 50 of the masker sound generation device 10 performs an operation for instructing data recording, an operation for selecting one of the sound data S in the sound memory 19 as a material for the masker sound signal M, and a story in the room 91. An operation for selecting a person's gender, an operation for instructing generation of a masker sound signal M, and the like are accepted.

  The analog waveform signal of the sound collected by the microphone 93 fixed in the room 91 is input to the A / D conversion unit 11. The A / D converter 11 converts the analog waveform signal into a digital signal and outputs it as a sound signal X. When the operation for instructing the data recording and the operation for selecting the gender are performed by the operation unit 50, the writing control unit 15 uses the speech duration length T1 (T1 is used to speak a sentence at a normal speech speed). The sound signal X output from the A / D converter 11 during the time required (for example, T1 = 30 seconds) is set as the audio data S, and an identifier indicating the gender specified by the operation unit 50 is added. Write to the audio memory 19. When the operation unit 50 performs an operation of selecting the gender and the type of the audio data S and an operation of instructing the generation of the masker sound signal M by the operation unit 50, the data supply control unit 70 operates in the audio memory 19 by the operation of the operation unit 50. Is read out, and the read out audio data S is supplied to the control unit 12 as a sound signal X.

  The control unit 12 performs signal processing on the sound signal X input from the data supply control unit 70 to generate a masker sound signal M corresponding to the utterance time length T1 and writes the generated masker sound signal M in the buffer 17. The signal processing by the control unit 12 will be described later. The sound generation control unit 18 repeats the process of reading the masker sound signal M for the utterance time length T1 written in the buffer 17 by the control unit 12 and outputting it to the D / A conversion unit 14. The D / A conversion unit 14 converts the masker sound signal M output from the sound generation control unit 18 into an analog waveform signal, and outputs the analog waveform signal to the speaker 94 fixed in the room 92. The masker sound signal M is emitted from the speaker 94 as a masker sound.

  The control unit 12 includes a CPU 20, a RAM 21, and a ROM 22. The CPU 20 executes the sound generation program 23 stored in the ROM 22 while using the RAM 21 as a work area. The sound generation program 23 is a program that causes the CPU 20 to realize the functions of the noise generating unit 31, the band dividing unit 32, the noise output units 35 and 36, the arrangement order changing unit 37, and the adding unit 38.

The noise generator 31 starts generating the noise signal Y when an operation for instructing the generation of the masker sound signal M is performed by the operation unit 50. The noise signal Y is a sample sequence of white noise. The noise signal Y and the sound signal X that is the output signal of the data supply control unit 70 are input to the band dividing unit 32. The band dividing unit 32 converts the sound signal X into three types of band signals X _B , each including a component of the first frequency band W1 and components of the second frequency band W2L and W2H on the low frequency side and the high frequency side thereof. It plays the role of dividing into X _L and X _H and the role of dividing the noise signal Y into two types of band signals Y _L and Y _H each containing components of the second frequency bands W2L and W2H.

More specifically, the band dividing unit 32 includes five types of filters: an LPF (Low Pass Filter) 41, an HPF (High Pass Filter) 42, a BPF (Band Pass Filter) 43, an LPF 44, and an HPF 45. Yes. The BPF 43 outputs a signal in a frequency band (frequency band W1) between the cutoff frequency fc _L and the cutoff frequency fc _H (fc _H > fc _L ) in the sound signal X as the band signal X _B. LPF41 outputs a signal of a frequency band lower than the cut-off frequency fc _L in the sound signal X (frequency band W2L) as the band signal _{X L.} HPF42 outputs a signal of the frequency band higher than the cut-off frequency fc _H in the sound signal X (frequency band W2H) as the band signal _{X H.} LPF44 outputs a signal cutoff at the noise signal Y frequency fc _L lower than the frequency band (frequency band W2L) as the band signal _{Y L.} HPF45 outputs a signal cutoff at the noise signal Y frequency fc _H higher than frequency band (frequency band W2H) as the band signal _{Y H.}

Setting unit 34, LPF 41 those gender selected by operating the operation unit 50 of the cut-off frequency fc _L and fc _H for voice cutoff frequency fc _L and fc _H and men for female voice, HPF 42 , BPF43, LPF44, and HPF45. Here, the cutoff frequency fc _L and fc _H for voice cutoff frequency fc _L and fc _H and men for women speech power spectrum of a standard female voice and a standard male voice power Each spectrum is obtained as follows. 2A is a diagram showing a power spectrum of a standard female voice, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a power spectrum of a standard male voice. As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the center of gravity of the waveform of the power spectrum of female speech is located higher than that of male speech. In the present embodiment, the lower limit and upper limit frequencies of the band having a power equal to or higher than the threshold Th in the power spectrum of the standard female voice shown in FIG. 2 (A) are set as the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc for female voice. _{Let H} be. Further, the lower limit and upper limit frequencies of the band having power equal to or higher than the threshold Th in the standard male voice power spectrum shown in FIG. 2B are cut off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for male voice. .

In Figure 1, the output signal _{X B} of BPF43 is input to the sequential order changing unit 37. The arrangement order changing unit 37 outputs an arrangement order changing signal X _B ′ obtained by changing the arrangement order of the output signal X _B of the BPF 43. The arrangement order change section 37, as shown in FIG. 3, the data utterance duration T1 (T1 = 30 seconds) from the supply control unit 70 via the BPF43 inputted partial utterance duration band signals _{X B} of T2 ( For example, it is divided into 6 groups each having T2 = 5 seconds, and a series of sound samples forming each of the time lengths T2 is converted into a sound generation time length T3 (T3 is a time length corresponding to the sound generation time of one syllable). : For example, the frame is divided into frames k (k = 1 to N) having a fixed length of T3 = 100 milliseconds. For example, when T2 = 5 seconds and T3 = 100 milliseconds, the number N of frames in the speech time length T2 is 5 / 0.1 = 50. Then, the arrangement order changing unit 37 rearranges the N frames k (k = 1 to N) within the utterance time length T2, and arranges the signals obtained by rearranging the frames k (k = 1 to N). Output as X _B '. The rearrangement of the frames k (k = 1 to N) by the arrangement order changing unit 37 is performed by any one of the following seven modes a to g.

a. Within the time length T2, each frame k (k = 1 to N) is moved to a position different from the original position, and the frame located before and after each frame k is rearranged. (Fig. 4).
b. Within the time length T2, each frame k (k = 1 to N) is moved to a position different from the original position, and for each part of the frame k (k = 1 to N), each frame k The frame located before and after the frame is made different by rearrangement (FIG. 5).
c. Within the time length T2, a part of the frame k (k = 1 to N) is moved to a position different from the original position, and for each moving frame k, the front of each frame k is moved. The frame located at and the frame located later are made different by rearrangement (FIG. 6).
d. Within the time length T2, N−m (m <N) frames k from the beginning of the frame k (k = 1 to N) are moved backward by m frames, and these N−m frames k The remaining frame k is moved to its original position (FIG. 7).
e. Within the time length T2, Nm (m <N) frames k from the end of the frame k (k = 1 to N) are moved forward by m frames, and the Nm frames k are moved forward. The remaining frame k is moved to the original position (FIG. 8).
f. Within the time length T2, the frames k (k = 1 to N) are set to two sets from the beginning, and the front-rear relations of the frames k of the sets are switched (FIG. 9).
g. Within the time length T2, the arrangement order of frame 1 → frame 2... Frame N−1 → frame N is reversed to frame N → frame N−1... Frame 2 → frame 1 (FIG. 10).

In FIG. 1, output signals X _L and Y _L of the LPFs 41 and 44 are input to the noise output unit 35. The noise output unit 35 amplifies the output signal Y _L of the LPF 44 so as to have a sound energy equal to the sound of the output signal X _L of the LPF 41, and outputs it as a noise signal Y _L ′. To be more specific, the noise output unit 35, every time the signal _{X L} time length T2 minutes LPF41 is input, the mean square of the amplitude of the time length T2 minutes signal _{X L} (signal _{X L} is energy of the time length T2-minute time of the sound that indicates the average) obtaining the EX _L. Also, the noise output unit 35, every time the signal _{Y L} of the time length T2 minutes LPF44 is input, the time length T2 minutes signal _{Y L} 2 mean square of the amplitude (signal _{Y L} is the sound indicated energy Time average of time length T2) EY _L is obtained. The noise output unit 35 multiplies these values EX _L and EY _L output signal of the time length T2 min output the gain G obtained by substituting the LPF44 to the following equation (1) to _{Y L,} the multiplication result Is output as a noise signal Y _L ′ of time length T2.
G = EX _L / EY _L (1)

The output signals X _H and Y _H of the HPFs 42 and 45 are input to the noise output unit 36. Noise output unit 36 amplifies the output signal _{Y H} of HPF45 to have the energy of the output signal _{X H} sound equal sound of HPF 42, and outputs a noise signal _{Y H} '. The specific procedure for generating the noise signal Y _H ′ in the noise output unit 36 is the same as the specific procedure for generating the noise signal Y _L ′ in the noise output unit 35.

The adding unit 38 adds the signal X _B ′ output from the arrangement order changing unit 37 for each time length T2 and the signals Y _L ′ and Y _H ′ output from the noise output units 35 and 36 for each time length T2. The addition result is output as a masker sound signal M. The masker sound signal M output from the adder 38 is written into the buffer 17. The masker sound signal M is emitted from the speaker 94 after being converted by the D / A converter 14.

  According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to generate a masker sound signal M in which only a frequency component having a large power has characteristics similar to that of a speaker's voice in the room 91. By radiating the masker sound signal M from the speaker 94 to the room 92, a high masking effect can be obtained without making the person in the room 92 uncomfortable.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a masking system including a masker sound generation device 10A, a microphone 93, and a speaker 94 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the same elements as those of the masker sound generation device 10 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The masking sound generating apparatus 10A, LPF 41 based on the power spectrum of the audio data S itself as the material of the masking sound signal M, HPF42, BPF43, LPF44, and sets the cutoff frequency fc _L and fc _H of HPF45. In this masker sound generating device 10A, a delay unit 71 is interposed between the data supply control unit 70 and the BPF 43, LPF 41, and HPF 42 in the band dividing unit 32, and between the data supply control unit 70 and the setting unit 34A. An FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) unit 33 is inserted in the center. The delay unit 71 gives a delay of time length T1 to the output signal X of the data supply control unit 70, and then outputs it to the BPF 43, LPF 41, and HPF 42. The FFT unit 33 performs the FFT on the sound sample for the time length T3 every time the sound sample for the time length T3 (T3 = 100 msec) is output from the data supply control unit 70, and obtains the power spectrum obtained by the FFT. Output.

In the power spectrum output from the FFT unit 33, the setting unit 34A sets the frequency band in which the power is equal to or higher than the threshold as the first frequency band W1, and sets the lower limit and upper limit frequencies of the first frequency band W1 as the cutoff frequency fc. LPF41,44 as _L and fc _H, is set to BPF 43, and HPF42,45. More specifically, the setting unit 34A waits for the output of the power spectrum column for the time length T1 that is the length of the audio data S from the FFT unit 33, and the time average of these power spectra (hereinafter referred to as the power spectrum). (Referred to as average spectrum). Then, the setting unit 34A sequentially scans the power of each frequency component in the average spectrum from the low frequency side, and sets the lowest frequency having power equal to or higher than the threshold Th to the cutoff frequency fc in the LPFs 41 and 44 and the BPF 43. _{Let L} be. The setting unit 34A sequentially scans the power of each frequency component in the average spectrum from the high frequency side, and sets the highest frequency having power equal to or higher than the threshold Th to the cutoff frequency fc _H in the HPFs 42 and 45 and the BPF 43. And

  According to the present embodiment described above, a masking effect can be obtained without making the person in the room 92 uncomfortable.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a masking system including a masker sound generation device 10B, a microphone 93, and a speaker 94 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 12, the same elements as those of the masker sound generation apparatuses 10 and 10A of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The masking sound generating apparatus 10B, the updating of the latest cutoff and the sound signal X using the generation and power spectrum of the signal X masking sound signal M to the material frequency fc _L and fc _H taken by the microphone 93 Perform in real time. The masker sound generation device 10B does not include the writing control unit 15, the audio memory 19, and the data supply control unit 70. In the masker sound generation device 10 </ b> B, the output signal X of the A / D conversion unit 11 is input to the delay unit 71 and the FFT unit 33. The roles of the delay unit 71 and the FFT unit 33 are the same as those of the second embodiment.

Each time the power spectrum is output from the FFT unit 34, the setting unit 34B obtains a moving average (hereinafter referred to as a moving average spectrum) of the power spectrum for the time length T1 including the output power spectrum. Then, every time the moving average spectrum for the latest time length T1 is obtained, the setting unit 34B sets the LPF 41 and the cut-off frequency fc _L as the lowest frequency in the band having power equal to or higher than the threshold Th in the moving average spectrum. 44 and BPF 43 are set, and the highest frequency is set in the HPFs 42 and 45 and the BPF 43 as the cut-off frequency fc _H.

  According to the present embodiment described above, even when an unspecified number of people enter and leave the room 91 and use the room 91, a high masking effect can be obtained without making the person in the room 92 uncomfortable.

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a masking system including a masker sound generation device 10C and a speaker 94 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 13, the same elements as those of the masker sound generation devices 10, 10A, and 10B of the first, second, and third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The masker sound generation device 10C generates a masker sound signal M using standard female and male voices as materials. The masker sound generation device 10 </ b> C does not include the A / D conversion unit 11 and the writing control unit 15. The audio memory 19 stores in advance audio data SF indicating a standard female time length T1 and audio data SM indicating a standard male time length T1. In the present embodiment, when a woman is selected as the gender of the speaker in the room 91 by the operation of the operation unit 50, the setting unit 34 sets the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for the female voice to LPF 41, HPF 42, The data supply control unit 70 reads out the audio data SF from the audio memory 19 and supplies the audio data SF to the HPF 42, the BPF 43, and the LPF 44 by setting the BPF 43, the LPF 44, and the HPF 45. When male is selected as the gender of the speaker in the room 91, the setting unit 34 sets the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for male voice to LPF 41, HPF 42, BPF 43, LPF 44, and HPF 45, The data supply control unit 70 reads the audio data SM from the audio memory 19 and supplies it to the HPF 42, BPF 43, and LPF 44.

  In the present embodiment described above, when a woman is selected as the gender of a speaker in the room 91, a masker sound signal M for a female speaker is generated from voice data SF prepared in advance. When selected, a masker sound signal M for a male speaker is generated from the voice data SM prepared in advance. Therefore, even when the sound in the room 91 cannot be collected using the microphone 93, a high masking effect can be obtained without making the person in the room 92 uncomfortable.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention may have other embodiments. For example, it is as follows.
(1) In the first to fourth embodiments, the setting unit 34 has controls such as a volume and a knob, and a speaker in the room 91 sets the cutoff frequencies fc _L and fc _H through operation of the controls. Manual setting may be possible. According to this embodiment, the speaker in the room 91 increases the bandwidth between the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _{H when} the background noise level in the room 92 is high, and the background noise in the room 92 is reduced. Depending on the acoustic environment of the room 92, the frequency components of the masker sound signal M emitted to the room 92 are narrowed such that the bandwidth between the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H is narrowed when the volume is low. Can be adjusted. Further, the masker sound generation device 10, 10 </ b> A, or 10 </ b> B in the first to third embodiments includes a detection unit that detects the volume of background noise in the room 92, and the setting unit 34 detects the volume detected by the detection unit. Depending on, the bandwidth between the cutoff frequencies fc _L and fc _H may be changed.

(2) In the first embodiment, a masker sound signal M1 resembling a female voice and a masker sound signal M2 resembling a male voice are generated, and the masker sound signal M1 obtained by adding the masker sound signals M1 and M2 is stored in the room. Sound may be emitted from 92 speakers 94. According to this embodiment, even if a female speaker and a male speaker are speaking simultaneously in the room 91, a high masking effect can be obtained without making the person in the room 92 uncomfortable.

In this case, two types of masker sound signals M1 and M2 are preferably generated as follows. First, LPF 41, 44, BPF 43, HPF 42, 45 and LPF 41 ', 44', BPF 43 ', HPF 42', 45 'are provided in the band dividing unit 32 of the masker sound generating apparatus 10 shown in FIG. Further, cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for female voice are set in LPF 41, 44, BPF 43, HPF 42, 45, and cut for male voice is set in LPF 41 ', 44', BPF 43 ', HPF 42', 45 '. The off frequencies fc _L and fc _H are set. Then, the sound signal X of the female voice is supplied to the LPF 41, BPF 43, and HPF 42 in the band dividing unit 32 to generate the masker sound signal M1, and the LPF 41 ', BPF 43', and HPF 42 'in the same unit 32 are also connected to the male signal. An audio sound signal X is supplied to generate a masker sound signal M2, and a sum of these two types of signals M1 and M2 is emitted from the speaker 94 in the room 92 as a masker sound signal M.

Further, two types of masker sound signals M1 and M2 may be generated as follows. First, the LPF 41 is set with the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for female voice set in the LPF 41, 44, BPF 43, HPF 42, 45 for a time length T4 (for example, T4 = 5/2 seconds). , BPF 43 and HPF 42 are supplied with a female sound signal X, and a masker sound signal M1 is generated. The masker sound signal M1 is stored in the buffer. During the next time length T4, the male audio sound signal X is sent to the LPF 41, BPF 43, HPF 42 while the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for male voice are set in the LPF 41, 44, BPF 43, HPF 42, 45. To generate a masker sound signal M2. Then, a sum of the masker sound signal M2 and the masker sound signal M1 written in the buffer is emitted as a masker sound signal M from the speaker 94 in the room 92. The above processing is repeated every time length 2 × (T4).

(3) In the first embodiment, it is determined whether the sound source of the target sound is female or male, and the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for female and the cut for male are determined according to the determination result. The off frequencies fc _L and fc _H may be switched. This embodiment is realized as follows. First, when the generation of the masker sound signal M is started, the sound signal X collected by the microphone 93 is subjected to FFT, and the FFT processing result is analyzed by a predetermined algorithm, so that the speaker in the room 91 is a woman. Determine if you are male or male. When the speaker in the room 91 is a woman, the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for the female voice are set in the LPFs 41, 44, BPF 43, HPF 42, 45, and the female memory 19 The audio data S is read, and a masker sound signal M is generated using the audio data S as a material. When the speaker in the room 91 is a male, the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H for male voice are set in the LPFs 41, 44, BPF 43, HPF 42, 45, and male voice data is stored from the voice memory 19. S is read, and a masker sound signal M is generated using the audio data S as a material.

(4) In the third embodiment, each time the power spectrum is output from the FFT unit 33, the setting unit 34B updates the cutoff frequencies fc _L and fc _H using the latest output power spectrum. Also good. The setting unit 34B may gradually change the cutoff frequencies fc _L and fc _H from the previously obtained value to the currently obtained value over a predetermined time length.

(5) In the third embodiment, the cutoff of the LPFs 41 and 44, the BPF 43, the HPFs 42 and 45 based on the average spectrum for the first time length T1 after the operation for instructing the generation of the masker sound signal M is performed. The frequencies fc _L and fc _H are set, and thereafter, the masker sound signal M may be generated without switching the cutoff frequencies fc _L and fc _H.

(6) In the fourth embodiment, male and female voice data SF and SM are stored in the voice memory 19. However, three or more types of audio data S may be stored in the audio memory 19. This embodiment is realized as follows. The voice data S of various voices having different genders and languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, etc.) is stored in the voice memory 19 in association with the power spectrum of the voice waveform indicated by each voice data S. Then, when generating the masker sound signal M, the sound signal X of the target sound picked up by the microphone 93 is subjected to FFT, and the sound data S associated with the one closest to the power spectrum obtained by the FFT is stored in the sound memory 19. The masker sound signal M is generated using the audio data S as a material. Further, a plurality of types of audio data S having different languages are stored in the audio memory 19, and a material having a language selected by operating the operation unit 50 among the plurality of types of audio data S in the audio memory 19 is used. A masker sound signal M may be generated.

(7) In the third embodiment, the arrangement order changing unit 37 selects the above-described aspect a to aspect g as a random number for each time length T1 or time length T2, and the frame k (k = 1 to 1) in the selected aspect. The arrangement order of N) may be changed. In addition, the switching of the arrangement order change mode may be performed in a period different from the time length T1 or the time length T2, or the mode switching timing itself may be determined at random.

(8) In the first to fourth embodiments, the arrangement order changing unit 37 determines the movement destination of each frame k according to the power spectrum of each frame k dividing the sound signal X and other analysis results. Also good. This embodiment is realized as follows. First, the arrangement order changing unit 37 divides the sound signal X into frames k (k = 1 to N), and then analyzes each of the frames k (k = 1 to N). ) Is divided into a frame k in a section corresponding to a vowel and a frame k in a section corresponding to a consonant. Then, the positions of the frames k in the section corresponding to the vowel in the frame k (k = 1 to N) are randomly changed, and the positions of the frames k in the section corresponding to the consonant are randomly changed.

(9) In the first to fourth embodiments, the present invention is applied to the prevention of sound leakage between the two rooms 91 and 92 partitioned by the wall 90. However, the present invention is applied to an application in which it is difficult to hear a sound generated in one region A (or B) of the two regions A and B where the wall 90 or the like is not interposed between the other regions B (or A). May be. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a purpose of making it difficult to hear each speaker's voice in a communication device (for example, a mobile phone, an IP phone, an interphone, etc.) that realizes a call between people in different spaces. . In this embodiment, for example, the communication device includes the masker sound generation device 10, 10A, 10B, or 10C of the first to fourth embodiments, and the masker sound generation device 10, 10A, 10B, or 10C is the speaker. This can be realized by emitting a masker sound signal M generated from speech around the speaker. In this case, it is more preferable to prevent the situation where the masker sound signal M is transmitted to the other party of the call and the conversation is confused by attaching the earphone to the speaker or controlling the directivity of the speaker of the call device.

(10) In the second and third embodiments, the setting units 34A and 34B have the lowest frequency band and the high frequency band of the frequency band in which the power is equal to or higher than the threshold Th in the average spectrum (or moving average spectrum) of the sound signal X. The frequencies on the side were defined as cutoff frequencies fc _L and fc _H. However, the threshold Th used for determining the cut-off frequencies fc _L and fc _H may be different between the high frequency side and the low frequency side. This embodiment is realized as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 14, the setting unit 34A (or 34B) uses the threshold Th′1 for determining the cutoff frequency fc _L , and uses the threshold Th′2 (Th′2 ≠) for determining the cutoff frequency fc _H. Th′1) is used. Then, the setting unit 34A (or 34B) sequentially scans the power of each frequency component in the average spectrum (or moving average spectrum) of the sound signal X from the low frequency side, and has the lowest power having a power equal to or higher than the threshold Th′1. The frequency on the band side is set as a cut-off frequency fc _L in the LPFs 41 and 44 and the BPF 43. The setting unit 34A (or 34B) scans the power of each frequency component in the average spectrum (or moving average spectrum) in order from the high frequency side, and the highest frequency having the power equal to or higher than the threshold Th′2. Is a cutoff frequency fc _H in the HPFs 42 and 45 and the BPF 43. In this case, the thresholds Th′1 and Th′2 may be optimized in consideration of human auditory characteristics (loudness characteristics (sensitivity on the frequency axis) and critical band (resolution on the frequency axis)).

(11) In the first to fourth embodiments, the band division section 32, a sound signal X, and the band signal X _B containing components of the first frequency band W1, the high frequency side of the first frequency band W1 and it is divided into two types of band signals X _L and X _H containing second frequency band W2L and components W2H lower frequency. However, the sound signal X may be divided into two or more types of band signals for each of the first frequency band W1 and the second frequency bands W2L and W2H. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the band dividing unit 32 has a threshold value when the waveform of the average spectrum (or moving average spectrum) of the sound signal X repeats undulations across the threshold value Th ″. A plurality of bands (three in the example of FIG. 15) having a power equal to or greater than Th ″ are defined as the first frequency band W1-i (i = 1 to 3), and the lower band side of the band W1-1, the band W1- 1 and the band W1-2, the band W1-2 and the band W1-3, and the four bands on the high frequency side of the band W1-3 are set to the second frequency band W2-j (j = 1 to 4). And The band dividing unit 32 includes seven types of band signals XW1-i (i = 1 to 1) each of the sound signal X including the components of the bands W1-i (i = 1 to 3) and W2-j (j = 1 to 5). 3) and XW2-j (j = 1 to 4). In addition, an arrangement order change signal XW1′-i (i = i = i) obtained by changing the arrangement order of the band signals XW1-i (i = 1 to 3) by a plurality of arrangement order changing sections 37 provided in the subsequent stage of the band dividing section 32. 1 to 3) and a noise signal XW2 ′ including the same frequency component as that of the band signal XW2-j (j = 1 to 4) by a plurality of noise output units 35 and 36 provided at the subsequent stage of the unit 32. -J (j = 1 to 4) is generated. A signal obtained by adding these signals XW1′-i (i = 1 to 3) and XW2′-j (j = 1 to 4) is defined as a masker sound signal M.

(12) In the first to fourth embodiments, the noise output units 35 and 36 output the output signals Y _L and Y _H of the LPF 44 and the HPF 45 as noise signals Y _L and Y _H as they are without amplifying and adding them. The unit 38 may add the two types of noise signals Y _L and Y _H and the output signal X _B ′ of the arrangement order changing unit 37.

(13) In the above first to fourth embodiments, the arrangement order changing unit 37 divides the band signals _{X B} Frame k (k = 1,2 ... N) , separated by a frame k (k = 1, 2 ... The sequence was changed by rearranging N). However, instead of rearranging the frames k (k = 1, 2,..., N), the arrangement order of a series of sound samples forming each of the frames k may be changed. Further, the change of the arrangement order according to the arrangement order changing section 37, as shown in FIG. 16, frame k sort previous signal X _B (k = 1 to 6) of the signal X _B after partially sorted ' You may carry out in the aspect which appears two or more in.

(14) In the first to fourth embodiments, a masker sound signal M for a predetermined time length is generated and stored in the memory in the masker sound generators 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, and the masker sound generator When the 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C are activated later, the masker sound signal M stored in the memory may be read and emitted to the room 92.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A, 10B, 10C ... Masker sound production | generation apparatus, 11 ... A / D conversion part, 12 ... Control part, 14 ... D / A conversion part, 17 ... Buffer, 15 ... Write control part, 18 ... Sound generation control part , 19 ... voice memory, 20 ... CPU, 21 ... RAM, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... sound generation program, 32 ... band dividing unit, 33 ... FFT unit, 34 ... setting unit, 35, 36 ... noise output unit, 37 ... Arrangement order changing unit, 38 ... adding unit, 41, 44 ... LPF, 42,45 ... HPF, 43 ... BPF, 50 ... operating unit, 70 ... data supply control unit, 71 ... delaying unit, 90 ... wall, 91,92 ... room, 93 ... microphone, 94 ... speaker.

Claims (4)

Band dividing means for dividing the sound signal into a first band signal including a component of a first frequency band and a second band signal including a component of a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; ,
An arrangement order changing means for outputting an arrangement order change signal obtained by changing the arrangement order of the first band signals divided by the band dividing means;
Noise output means for outputting a noise signal including a noise component in the same frequency band as the second band signal divided by the band dividing means;
A masker sound generating apparatus comprising: an adding means for outputting a masker sound signal obtained by adding the array order changing signal output from the array order changing means and the noise signal output from the noise output means. The band dividing means includes
The high frequency side and the low frequency side of the first frequency band are defined as the second frequency band, and two types of band signals each including components of these frequency bands are divided as the second band signal. ,
The noise output means includes
2. The masker according to claim 1, wherein two types of noise signals including noise components in the same frequency band as each of the two types of band signals divided by the band dividing unit as the second band signals are output. Sound generator. Spectrum calculating means for calculating a power spectrum of the sound signal;
The power spectrum calculated by the spectrum calculating means comprises setting means for setting one or a plurality of frequency bands having power equal to or higher than a threshold as the first frequency band. The masker sound generation device described. On the computer,
Band dividing means for dividing the sound signal into a first band signal including a component of a first frequency band and a second band signal including a component of a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; ,
An arrangement order changing means for outputting an arrangement order change signal obtained by changing the arrangement order of the first band signals divided by the band dividing means;
Noise output means for outputting a noise signal including a noise component in the same frequency band as the second band signal divided by the band dividing means;
A program for realizing an addition means for outputting a masker sound signal obtained by adding the arrangement order change signal output by the arrangement order change means and the noise signal output by the noise output means.

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