CN1983804A - Audio-frequency processor and volume management - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a volume management method, comprising the following steps: periodically obtain a plurality of sampling values and current gain values of an audio signal within a first preset time period; , calculating the actual audio energy value within the first preset time period; detecting the volume level of the ambient noise; obtaining a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the ambient noise; comparing the actual audio energy value with the reference audio energy value , when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value, lower the current gain value. The invention provides a volume management system. The volume management method can not only protect the user's hearing from damage, but also enable the user to enjoy audio at an appropriate volume level when the ambient noise is large.

Description

Audio processing device and volume management method

【Technical field】

The invention relates to an audio processing device and a volume management method, in particular to a device and a method for protecting hearing by limiting the volume.

【Background technique】

With the development of digital products, handheld audio playback devices are widely used. In a noisy environment, in order to hear the desired audio signal, the user will continuously increase the volume as the ambient noise increases. However, users all have a physiological hearing limit, that is, the Loudness Discomfort Level (LDL). If the user's ears are exposed to an environment exceeding the loudness discomfort level for a long time, it will cause damage to the user's hearing.

In order to solve this problem, a volume control device and method appear on the market. The volume control device provides a volume setting table, and the volume setting table lists the gain values corresponding to each noise value. The volume control device first senses external noise, and calculates the noise level of the external noise within a preset time period; then reads a preset gain value corresponding to the noise level from the volume setting table, and The gain value adjusts the volume. That is to make the volume of the output sound of the volume control device increase or decrease with the increase or decrease of the external noise.

However, if the user is in an environment where the ambient noise changes frequently, the volume control device will frequently change the volume of the output sound. And changing the volume of the output sound frequently will make the user feel uncomfortable when enjoying music or listening to the radio. Moreover, simply considering the volume level cannot truly reflect the hearing damage caused by sounds of different amplitudes.

【Content of invention】

In view of this, it is necessary to provide a volume management method for managing the volume when an audio processing device outputs audio, comprising the steps of: periodically obtaining a plurality of samples of a digital audio signal within a first preset time period value and the current gain value; according to the plurality of sampling values and the current gain value, calculate the actual audio energy value of the digital audio signal in the first preset time period; detect the volume level of the environmental noise; according to the volume of the environmental noise obtain a reference audio energy value; compare the actual audio energy value with the reference audio energy value, and lower the current gain value when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value.

In view of this, it is necessary to provide an audio processing device including a central processing unit, a decoding unit, a volume control unit and a volume management unit. The decoding unit is used for decoding an audio file to generate a digital audio signal. The volume management unit, under the control of the central processing unit, periodically obtains a plurality of sampling values of the digital audio signal within a first preset time period, and obtains a current gain value from the volume control unit; according to the A plurality of sampling values and current gain values, calculating the actual audio energy value of the digital audio signal within the first preset time period; detecting the volume level of ambient noise; obtaining a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the environmental noise; comparing the actual audio energy value with the reference audio energy value, and lowering the current gain value when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value.

Compared with the prior art, the volume management method and the audio processing device for automatically adjusting the volume obtain the volume level of the environmental noise, and obtain a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the environmental noise. When the audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value, the current gain value is lowered. This not only protects the user's ears from damage, but also enables the user to enjoy music at an appropriate volume level when the ambient noise is relatively high. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

【Description of drawings】

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an audio processing device in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a volume management unit in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of traditionally playing audio.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of volume adjustment in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of volume adjustment in another embodiment of the present invention.

【Detailed ways】

The volume management system and method provided by the present invention can be used in audio processing devices of many electronic devices, such as car audio, home theater, audio reproduction devices, electronic reading devices, etc. The processing device is introduced.

As shown in FIG. 1 , it is a structural diagram of an audio processing device in an embodiment. The audio processing device 10 includes a storage unit 11, an input unit 12, a central processing unit 13, a decoding unit 14, a digital-to-analog converter 15, a volume control unit 16, an audio output device 17, a volume management unit 18. A microphone 19 and an analog-to-digital converter 20 .

The storage unit 11 stores a plurality of audio files and decoding programs. The input unit 12 is used for generating and sending a command signal to the central processing unit 13 in response to a user's operation. The central processing unit 13 is used to control the operation of each unit in the audio processing device, which recognizes the command signal and sends a control signal to the decoding unit 14 . The decoding unit 14 reads an audio file in response to a control signal requesting to play audio sent by the central processing unit 13 , and executes a decoding program to decode the audio file to generate a digital audio signal. The digital-to-analog converter 15 converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal. The volume control unit 16 is used to amplify the analog audio signal. The audio output device 17 is used to output the sound corresponding to the analog audio signal. The audio output device 17 can be an earphone or a speaker.

The volume management unit 18 samples the digital audio signal output by the decoding unit 14, periodically obtains a plurality of amplitude values mi within a first preset time period T1; and obtains the current gain value V from the volume control unit 16 ; Then according to the multiple amplitude values mi and the gain value V, apply a mathematical algorithm to calculate the actual audio energy value Q in the first preset time period T1, for example, the mathematical algorithm can be but not limited to: Q=[ ∑(mi*V)2/N]1/2 (wherein, i is from 1 to N), Q represents the actual audio energy value, V represents the current gain value, and N represents the value obtained within the first preset time period T1 The number of amplitude values mi of the digital audio signal.

At the same time, the microphone 19 senses the ambient noise in real time and generates an analog noise signal. The analog-to-digital converter 20 converts the analog noise signal into a digital noise signal. The volume management unit 18 calculates the volume level of the digital noise signal, and obtains a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the digital noise signal.

Wherein, the method for obtaining the reference audio energy value may be: read the reference audio energy value corresponding to the volume level in a correspondence table stored in the storage unit 11, the volume level and the volume of a plurality of environmental noises are stored in the correspondence table. Its corresponding reference audio energy value.

In addition, the method for obtaining the reference audio energy value may also be: calculate the change rate of the volume level of the digital noise signal compared to a preset noise volume level, and then generate A reference audio energy value. The reference audio energy value is appropriately increased or decreased with the increase or decrease of the ambient noise, so that in an environment with low noise, the maximum volume of the output sound is slightly lower, and in a noisy environment, the maximum volume of the output sound is slightly lower. Larger, so as to not only protect the user's hearing but also enable the user to hear the audio clearly.

Next, the volume management unit 18 compares the actual audio energy value with the reference audio energy value, and when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value, the volume management unit 18 automatically lowers the current gain value, or drives the The central processing unit 13 outputs a prompt sound to remind the user to lower the current gain value. Wherein, the automatic lowering of the current gain value may specifically be lowering a fixed gain value each time until the actual audio energy value is not greater than the reference audio energy value.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the volume management unit 18 in an embodiment. The volume management unit 18 includes: a sampling module 180 , an obtaining module 181 , a calculation module 182 , a noise processing module 183 and a gain control module 184 . The sampling module 180 periodically obtains a plurality of sampling values mi of the digital audio signal within the first preset time period T1. The obtaining module 181 is configured to obtain the current gain value from the volume control unit 16 . The calculation module 182 calculates the actual audio energy value Q within the first preset time period T1 by applying the above-mentioned mathematical algorithm according to the plurality of sampled values mi and the current gain value V. The noise processing module 183 is used for detecting the volume level of the ambient noise. The gain control module 184 obtains a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the ambient noise; compares the actual audio energy value with the reference audio energy value, and lowers the current audio energy value when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value. gain value.

As shown in Figure 3, it is a flow chart of traditionally playing audio. When the user selects an audio file to play according to the input unit 12, the input unit 12 sends a command signal requesting audio playback to the central processing unit 13, and the central processing unit 13 recognizes the command signal and sends it to the decoding unit 14. a control signal (step S30). The decoding unit 14 reads the audio file from the storage unit 11 in response to the control signal (step S31), and decodes the audio file under the control of the central processing unit 13 to generate a digital audio signal, and then the digital audio The signal is sent to the digital-to-analog converter 15 (step S32). The digital-to-analog converter 15 converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, and transmits the analog audio signal to the volume control unit 16 (step S33). The volume control unit 16 amplifies the analog audio signal according to the current gain value, and transmits the amplified analog audio signal to the audio output device 17 (step S34). The audio output device 17 outputs the sound corresponding to the analog audio signal (step S35).

As shown in FIG. 4 , it is a flow chart of volume adjustment in an embodiment. During the process of playing audio by the audio processing device, the volume management unit 18 samples the digital audio signal output by the decoding unit 14 to obtain a plurality of amplitude values mi within the first preset time period T1 (step S40); And obtain the current gain value V from the volume control unit 16 (step S41); then the volume management unit 18 calculates the actual audio energy in the first preset time period T1 according to the multiple amplitude values mi and the gain value V value Q (step S42). At the same time, the microphone 19 senses ambient noise and generates an analog noise signal (step S43). The analog-to-digital converter 20 converts the analog noise signal into a digital noise signal (step S44). The volume management unit 18 calculates the volume level of the digital noise signal (step S45), and calculates the rate of change of the volume level of the digital noise signal compared to a preset noise level (step S46), and then according to the change rate and a preset audio energy value to generate a reference audio energy value (step S47). Then the volume management unit 18 judges whether the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value (step S48)? If the actual audio energy value is not greater than the reference audio energy value, the process returns to the start step, that is, the above-mentioned process is cyclically carried out; if the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value, the volume management unit 18 automatically lowers the current gain value , and then the process returns to the start step, that is, the above-mentioned process is performed in a loop (step S49).

As shown in FIG. 5 , it is a flow chart of volume adjustment in another embodiment. During the process of playing audio by the audio processing device, the volume management unit 18 samples the digital audio signal output by the decoding unit 14, and periodically obtains a plurality of amplitude values mi within the first preset time period T1 (step S50); and obtain the current gain value V from the volume control unit 16 (step S51); then the volume management unit 18 calculates the first preset time period T1 according to the multiple amplitude values mi and the gain value V Actual audio energy value Q (step S52). At the same time, the microphone 19 senses ambient noise and generates an analog noise signal (step S53). The analog-to-digital converter 20 converts the analog noise signal into a digital noise signal (step S54). The volume management unit 18 calculates the volume level of the digital noise signal (step S55 ), and reads the reference audio energy value corresponding to the volume level of the digital noise signal in a correspondence table (step S56 ). Then the volume management unit 18 judges whether the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value (step S57)? If the actual audio energy value is not greater than the reference audio energy value, the flow returns to the initial step; if the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value, the central processing unit 13 controls the audio processing device to output a prompt sound to remind the user to adjust Lower the current gain value (step S58). Then the process returns to the start step, and continues to calculate the above-mentioned actual audio energy value and reference audio energy value, if the actual audio energy value is still greater than the reference audio energy value, the volume management unit 18 increases the gain value of the prompt sound and/or improves the prompt The output frequency of the sound; until the actual audio energy value is not greater than the reference audio energy value, the central processing unit 13 controls the audio processing device to stop outputting the prompt sound.

Claims (12)

1. A volume management method, for managing the volume when an audio processing device outputs audio, it is characterized in that, comprising steps: Periodically obtain multiple sampling values and current gain values of a digital audio signal within a preset time period; calculating an actual audio energy value of the digital audio signal within the preset time period according to the multiple sampling values and the current gain value; Detect the volume level of ambient noise; obtaining a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the ambient noise; and comparing the actual audio energy value with the reference audio energy value, and lowering the current gain value when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value. 2. The volume management method according to claim 1, wherein the method for obtaining the reference audio energy value is to provide a correspondence table, and read the reference audio energy value corresponding to the volume level of the ambient noise in the correspondence table . 3. The volume management method according to claim 1, wherein the method for obtaining the reference audio energy value is to compare the volume level of the ambient noise with a preset noise level, and calculate a rate of change; according to the change rate and a preset audio energy value to generate a reference audio energy value. 4. The volume management method according to claim 1, wherein the method of lowering the current gain value is to automatically lower the current gain value. 5. The volume management method according to claim 1, wherein the method of lowering the current gain value is to output a prompt sound to remind the user to manually lower the current gain value. 6. The volume management method according to claim 5, wherein if the actual audio energy value in the next period is still greater than the reference audio energy value, then increase the volume of the prompt sound and/or the output frequency of the prompt sound. 7. An audio processing device, comprising a central processing unit, a decoding unit, a volume control unit and a volume management unit, the decoding unit is used to decode an audio file to generate a digital audio signal; it is characterized in that: The volume management unit, under the control of the central processing unit, periodically obtains a plurality of sampling values of the digital audio signal within a preset time period, and obtains a current gain value from the volume control unit; according to the plurality of sampling values Sampling value and current gain value, calculate the actual audio energy value of the digital audio signal within the preset time period; detect the volume level of the ambient noise; obtain a reference audio energy value according to the volume level of the environmental noise; compare the actual audio energy value and the reference audio energy value, when the actual audio energy value is greater than the reference audio energy value, the current gain value is lowered. 8. The audio processing device according to claim 7, wherein the volume management unit obtains the reference audio energy value by providing a correspondence table, and reading the reference corresponding to the volume level of the ambient noise in the correspondence table. Audio energy value. 9. The audio processing device according to claim 7, wherein the volume management unit obtains the reference audio energy value by comparing the volume level of the ambient noise with a preset noise level, and calculating a rate of change ; Generate a reference audio energy value according to the change rate and a preset audio energy value. 10 . The audio processing device according to claim 7 , wherein the volume management unit lowers the current gain value, specifically, automatically lowers the current gain value. 11 . 11. The audio processing device according to claim 7, wherein the audio processing unit lowers the current gain value by outputting a prompt sound to remind the user to manually lower the current gain value. 12. The audio processing device according to claim 11, wherein if the actual audio energy value of the next period is still greater than the reference audio energy value, the volume management unit increases the volume of the prompt sound and/or the prompt sound output frequency.

Images