1. A sound processing apparatus comprising: at least four speakers; virtual speaker position determining circuitry configured to determine a position of a virtual speaker based on positions of the at least four speakers; virtual speaker gain calculating circuitry configured to calculate a gain of the virtual speaker at least by performing three-dimensional Vector Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP) based on a positional relationship among the virtual speaker, two speakers of the at least four speakers, and a sound image localization position; and gain adjusting circuitry configured to perform gain adjustment on sounds to be output from at least the two speakers based on the gain of the virtual speaker, wherein the at least four speakers are configured to output sounds to a listener according to output of the gain adjusting circuitry.

2. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein gains of the at least four speakers each have a value other than 0.

3. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the virtual speaker gain calculating circuitry is further configured to calculate gains of the two speakers of the at least four speakers based on the positional relationship among the virtual speaker, the two speakers of the at least two speakers, and the sound image localization position, and wherein the sound process apparatus further comprises: other gain calculating circuitry configured to calculate gains of other two speakers of the at least four speakers than the two speakers of the at least four speakers based on a positional relationship among the other two speakers and the virtual speaker, the gains of the other two speakers to be used for fixing a sound image at the position of the virtual speaker; and calculating circuitry configured to calculate output gains of the other two speakers based on the gains of the other two speakers and an output gain of the virtual sound outputting unit.

4. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculating circuitry is configured to calculate the output gains of the other two of the sound outputting units by multiplying the gains of the other two of the sound outputting units by the output gain of the virtual sound outputting unit.

5. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position of the virtual speaker is on a side of a polygon having the at least four speakers at corners thereof.

6. A sound processing apparatus comprising: virtual speaker position determining circuitry configured to determine a position of a virtual speaker based on positions of four speakers located near the virtual speaker; virtual speaker gain calculating circuitry configured to calculate a gain of the virtual speaker by performing three-dimensional Vector Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP) with respect to the virtual speaker and two speakers among the four speakers, based on a positional relationship among the virtual speaker, the two speakers, and a sound image localization position; and gain adjusting circuitry configured to perform gain adjustment on sounds to be output from at least the two speakers based on the gain of the virtual speaker, and to output a result of the gain adjustment to cause the four speakers to output sounds to a listener according to the result of the gain adjustment.

7. A sound processing method comprising acts of: determining a position of a virtual speaker based on positions of four speakers located near the virtual speaker; calculating a gain of the virtual speaker by performing three-dimensional Vector Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP) with respect to the virtual speaker and two speakers among the four speakers, based on a positional relationship among the virtual speaker, the two speakers, and a sound image localization position; performing gain adjustment on sounds to be output from at least the two speakers based on the gain of the virtual speaker; and causing the four speakers to output sounds to a listener according to a result of the gain adjustment. Dated this: November 17, 2022 [RITAM NARAYAN RAWAL] IN/PA 2055 Of REMFRY & SAGAR ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]

Description:AS ENCLOSED , Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A sound processing apparatus comprising:
at least four speakers;
virtual speaker position determining circuitry configured to determine a position of a virtual speaker based on positions of the at least four speakers;
virtual speaker gain calculating circuitry configured to calculate a gain of the virtual speaker at least by performing three-dimensional Vector Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP) based on a positional relationship among the virtual speaker, two speakers of the at least four speakers, and a sound image localization position; and
gain adjusting circuitry configured to perform gain adjustment on sounds to be output from at least the two speakers based on the gain of the virtual speaker, wherein the at least four speakers are configured to output sounds to a listener according to output of the gain adjusting circuitry.
2. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein gains of the at least four speakers each have a value other than 0.

3. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the virtual speaker gain calculating circuitry is further configured to calculate gains of the two speakers of the at least four speakers based on the positional relationship among the virtual speaker, the two speakers of the at least two speakers, and the sound image localization position, and wherein the sound process apparatus further comprises:
other gain calculating circuitry configured to calculate gains of other two speakers of the at least four speakers than the two speakers of the at least four speakers based on a positional relationship among the other two speakers and the virtual speaker, the gains of the other two speakers to be used for fixing a sound image at the position of the virtual speaker; and
calculating circuitry configured to calculate output gains of the other two speakers based on the gains of the other two speakers and an output gain of the virtual sound outputting unit.

4. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculating circuitry is configured to calculate the output gains of the other two of the sound outputting units by multiplying the gains of the other two of the sound outputting units by the output gain of the virtual sound outputting unit.

5. The sound processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position of the virtual speaker is on a side of a polygon having the at least four speakers at corners thereof.

6. A sound processing apparatus comprising:
virtual speaker position determining circuitry configured to determine a position of a virtual speaker based on positions of four speakers located near the virtual speaker;
virtual speaker gain calculating circuitry configured to calculate a gain of the virtual speaker by performing three-dimensional Vector Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP) with respect to the virtual speaker and two speakers among the four speakers, based on a positional relationship among the virtual speaker, the two speakers, and a sound image localization position; and
gain adjusting circuitry configured to perform gain adjustment on sounds to be output from at least the two speakers based on the gain of the virtual speaker, and to output a result of the gain adjustment to cause the four speakers to output sounds to a listener according to the result of the gain adjustment.

7. A sound processing method comprising acts of:
determining a position of a virtual speaker based on positions of four speakers located near the virtual speaker;
calculating a gain of the virtual speaker by performing three-dimensional Vector Base Amplitude Panning (VBAP) with respect to the virtual speaker and two speakers among the four speakers, based on a positional relationship among the virtual speaker, the two speakers, and a sound image localization position;
performing gain adjustment on sounds to be output from at least the two speakers based on the gain of the virtual speaker; and
causing the four speakers to output sounds to a listener according to a result of the gain adjustment.

Dated this: November 17, 2022

[RITAM NARAYAN RAWAL]
IN/PA 2055
Of REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]