JP2722581B2 - Sound equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to all audio devices that output audio signals, such as a radio, a cassette tape recorder with a radio, a stereo playback device with a compact disc player, and a television.

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a portion related to the present invention of a conventional acoustic device. 1 is an amplification degree varying means, 2 is a volume adjusting means, 3
Is an amplifier, and 4 is a speaker.

FIG. 3 shows that the user operates the sound volume adjusting means 2 to attenuate an input audio signal to a required signal level in order to obtain a desired sound volume in the audio device, inputs the signal to the amplifier 3 and outputs the desired signal from the speaker 4. I was getting a loud sound signal.

However, according to such a conventional acoustic device,
After completing the operation of the volume control means 2 so as to obtain an audio signal of a desired volume which is neither too loud nor too low for the user to listen to, the input audio signal becomes much louder than before, or conversely, If the sound becomes much smaller, the volume of the sound signal from the speaker 4 changes too much or too low, and the user operates the volume adjusting means 2 again to obtain the desired volume. There was a problem that it had to be adjusted frequently.

Such a problem can be confirmed by phenomena such as a sudden change in the input audio signal when switching the input audio signal such as a radio or a tape, and when viewing a radio program or a television program, when a commercial is played.

In view of the above problems, the present invention suppresses a change in volume of an output audio signal even when an input audio signal largely changes,
It is intended to keep the volume desired by the user almost constant.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, an audio device of the present invention includes a sound volume adjusting device for adjusting an output of an acoustic signal, and a signal level of an input audio signal coupled to the audio volume adjusting device. Amplification variable means for variably outputting the output audio signal, driving means for driving the amplification variable means, input level detection means for detecting the signal level of the input audio signal, and detection of the signal level of the output audio signal Output level detecting means for
Setting means for inputting that the volume has been set by the volume adjusting means, setting output storage means for storing the output of the output level detecting means at the time of setting the volume by the setting means, output of the input level detecting means, An output of the output level detection means for detecting an attenuation ratio according to the current setting of the amplification degree variable means; and an output of the setting output storage means and an output of the output level detection means for comparing the output of the output level detection means. Output comparing means for outputting a detected output difference; attenuation ratio storing means for storing the output of the attenuation ratio detecting means at the time of setting by the setting means or at the time of output of the output comparing means; A damping ratio to be set is set so that the detected output difference falls within a certain range, and the damping ratio output from the damping ratio storage means stored at the time of setting by the setting means is calculated. And a drive amount setting means for calculating a drive amount of the amplification degree varying means from the calculated attenuation ratio to be set, and driving the drive means by a drive control signal output from the drive amount setting means. , The amplification degree varying means is controlled to the attenuation ratio to be set.

According to the sound signal of the present invention, the set output level set by the user sound adjusting means and the setting means by the above configuration is compared with the current output level from the output level detecting means, and the difference between the set / detected output is obtained. If the difference is not within a certain range, an attenuation ratio to be set is calculated so that the difference between the set / detected output is within a certain range, and the amplification degree is varied from the attenuation ratio output at the time of setting and the attenuation ratio to be set. By calculating the drive amount of the means and driving the drive means, by controlling the amplification degree variable means to the attenuation ratio to be set,
The sound device operates so that the sound output of the sound device is substantially equal to the volume set by the user.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an acoustic device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a main part in an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an amplification degree varying means which can be realized by a variable resistor, an electronic volume element, a digital attenuator, a digital filter, etc., but is shown as a variable resistor in this example. Reference numeral 2 denotes a volume control means which is directly operated by a user to adjust the volume, and is shown as a control knob for connecting variable resistors in this embodiment. 3
Amplifies a signal obtained by attenuating an input audio signal by an amplification variable means 1 with an amplifier. Reference numeral 4 denotes a speaker for generating an acoustic signal based on the output signal of the amplifier 3.
Numeral 5 designates an increase or decrease in the amount of attenuation of the amplification degree varying means 1 by a control signal inputted by the driving means. In this example, the attenuation is shown as an electric motor. Numeral 6 denotes a volume changing means, an amplification degree changing means 1, a volume adjusting means 2, and a driving means 5.
In this example, what is called an electric volume device is shown. Reference numeral 7 denotes a setting means for inputting that the user has completed the setting of the sound volume to a desired sound volume. In this example, the switch is shown as a switch. Reference numeral 8 denotes an input level detecting means for converting the signal level of the input audio signal into a format convenient for later judgment processing, and calculates and outputs an average value, an effective value, a peak value, and the like of the signal level in a certain period. Reference numeral 9 denotes an output level detecting means for converting the signal level of the output audio signal into a format convenient for later judgment processing. The average value, effective value, peak value, etc. of the signal level in a certain period are obtained and output. . Numeral 10 denotes a setting output storing means for storing a value corresponding to the output value of the output level detecting means 9 when the setting means 7 is pressed. Numeral 11 denotes an attenuation ratio detecting means for obtaining the attenuation ratio of the amplification degree varying means 1 from the output of the input level detecting means 8 and the output of the output level detecting means 9.

Numeral 12 denotes an attenuation ratio storage unit which stores the attenuation ratio detected by the attenuation ratio detection unit 11 when the volume is set by the setting unit 7 or when an output from the output comparison unit 13 described later is output. An output comparing means 13 compares and determines the output of the setting output storage means 10 and the output of the output level detecting means 9 and, if the setting / detection output difference is not within a certain range, the setting / detection output. Outputs the difference. Numeral 14 denotes a drive amount setting means which calculates an attenuation ratio to be set so that the setting / detection output difference is within a certain range, based on the output of the setting / detection output difference signal of the output comparing means 13, and sets the setting means 7 From the set angle of the amplification degree variable means 1 at the time of output of the attenuation ratio of the attenuation ratio storage means 12 stored at the time of the setting, the amplification degree variable means 1 necessary to obtain the calculated attenuation ratio to be set is obtained.
The drive amount for setting the set angle is calculated. The drive of the driving means 5 is controlled by the output of the driving amount setting means 14 so that the current attenuation ratio approaches the attenuation ratio to be set, and the volume approaches the volume desired by the user. Reference numeral 15 denotes a microcomputer for realizing the functions of the setting output storage means 10, the attenuation ratio detection means 11, the attenuation ratio storage means 12, the output comparison means 13, and the drive amount setting means 14.

Regarding the operation of the acoustic device configured as described above,
A description will be given along with a flowchart showing the main part of the processing operation of the microcomputer of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

First, it is assumed that power supply necessary for microcomputer operation and initial setting operation required have been completed.

First, at step 20, it is determined whether or not the setting means 7 has been turned ON. When the user turns on the setting unit 7 when operating the volume adjustment unit 2 and determining that the volume from the speaker 4 has reached an appropriate level, the process proceeds from step 20 to step 21,
The signal level _vo of the output audio signal at that time is converted by the output level detecting means 9 into a form that can be easily processed by the microcomputer 15 (for example, signal level data within a certain period is averaged and converted into digital data format). Things _Do
Enter and remember. This is the function of the setting output storage means 10. Next, at step 22, the attenuation ratio is detected, and at step 23, the attenuation ratio is stored. That conversion by the input level detector 8 a signal level v _i of the input speech signal to a manageable form in the microcomputer 15 (for example, converts the signal level data within a certain period of time by averaging the form of digital data) obtained by type, and stores obtained as D _o / D _i = the damping ratio with the output data D _i of the output level detecting means 9.

This is the function of the attenuation ratio detection means 11 and the attenuation ratio storage means 12. The above damping ratio can be used as information for determining the volume position setting angle alpha ₁ at that point in the amplification factor changing means 1.

Its To determine the volume position setting angle alpha ₁ may be matched to the change characteristics of the damping ratio for alpha rotational angle of the amplification factor changing means 1 the magnitude of the damping ratio. For example, in this example, it is assumed that the rotatable angle of the amplification degree varying means 1 is 300 degrees and the change characteristic of the attenuation ratio with respect to the rotation angle α is inversely proportional to the rotation angle α. _{Assuming that the} current D _o / D _i = damping ratio is 1/2, the current rotation angle α can be calculated as 300 × ＝= 150 degrees, and the calculated rotation angle α is the aforementioned volume. Position setting angle α
It becomes ₁ .

Next, in step 24, (setting output)-(output level) is calculated. That is, the output data of the output level detection means 9 is subtracted from the output data of the setting output storage means 10, and the sign of the result and the magnitude of the absolute value, that is, the difference between the setting output and the detection output (setting / detection output difference) Is calculated. It is step 25 that determines whether or not the setting / detection output difference is within a certain range. If the determination is within a predetermined range, the process returns to step 24, and if not, the next step is performed. The process proceeds to step 26, but the determination in step 25 is performed by the output comparing means 13. Here, the necessity of determining whether or not the above-described setting / detection output difference is within a certain range and making it within the range will be described. For example, if the current output level is only slightly lower than the set output, there is no need to drive the volume changing means 6 to match the set output, and at the level where the current input level is considered to be completely silence. If the volume changing means 6 is driven in order to match the current output level with the set output, the volume position of the amplification degree varying means 1 becomes the maximum position, and when the next higher level input audio signal is inputted, the speaker This is to prevent the volume position from being raised beyond a certain angle when the input level is below a certain level, since a large volume is output from 4. For this reason, it is necessary to consider the output of the input level detecting means 8 in the calculation and setting of the driving amount by the driving amount setting means 14. On the other hand, if the current output level is much higher than the set output level, or if the current output level is not silent but is much smaller than the set output, the process proceeds from step 25 to step 26 and thereafter to change the volume. The processing is advanced so as to drive the means 6 to make the current output level equal to the set output level.

In step 26, an attenuation ratio to be newly set is calculated. First, in step 27, a drive amount for moving the amplification degree varying means 1 to a volume setting position necessary to obtain an attenuation ratio to be set is calculated. First, to calculate the damping ratio to be set in step 26, volume position setting angle alpha ₁ which is set to date, damping ratio than the output of the damping ratio storage means 12 stored in the time setting by the setting means 7 = 1/2, α ₁ = 150 degrees is obtained as described above.
Whether the current output level is much can calculated volume position setting angle alpha ₂ to be set if divided. Now, assuming that the ratio between the current output level output from the output level detecting means 9 and the set output level stored in the set output storage means 10 is 3: 2, the set output level set by the setting means 7 To match the current output level, the attenuation ratio should be set to 2/3 of the attenuation ratio at the time of setting.
It is sufficient to set the attenuation ratio to (2/3) = 1/3. This step
The calculation of the damping ratio to be set in 26 is performed by the drive amount setting means 14. Also, volume positioning angle alpha ₂ needed to obtain a damping ratio to be set at that time can be calculated to be 300 degrees × 1/3 = 100 degrees. Next, at step 27, the volume changing means 6
In order to change the volume position, the driving direction of the motor of the driving means 5 and the driving time, that is, the driving amount, are calculated. The calculation in step 27 is also performed by the driving amount setting means 14. To calculate the driving amount, it is only necessary to know the amount of change in the rotation angle α of the volume of the amplification degree changing means 1 during a certain period of time when the driving means 5 is driven, that is, the rotation angle speed. In this example, the rotational angular velocity is 25 [degrees / second]
, It can be calculated that a drive time of (150−100) / 25 = 2 [sec] is required to change the rotation angle α from 150 degrees to 100 degrees. Angle α
It can be seen that the direction is to decrease.

Next, at step 28, the drive amount calculated at step 27 is output to the drive means 5 to drive the volume change means 6.

In step 29, it is determined whether or not the current damping ratio has reached the damping ratio to be set.As a result of executing step 28, it is determined whether or not the volume position has reached the position to be set. This is performed by determining whether or not the current attenuation ratio based on the output of the means 11 has reached the attenuation ratio to be set calculated in step 26. If the damping ratio is correct, the process returns to step 23, where the damping ratio is stored, and the above-described operation processing is performed again. The determination in step 29 is necessary for the following reasons. In this example, an electric volume device is used as the volume changing means 6, and the rotational angular velocity at the time of driving is usually influenced by the fluctuation of the power supply voltage for driving, the change of the ambient temperature, the driving direction, and the like. Naturally, there may be variations between parts. In addition, the variation characteristics of the attenuation ratio with respect to the volume position α of the amplification degree varying means 1 generally have large variations among components. For this reason, in step 29, the above-mentioned component variation and characteristic change are absorbed to make the correct attenuation ratio, that is, the correct volume position.

As described above, in steps 26 to 29, the function of the driving amount setting means is realized, and the setting /
A damping ratio to be set is calculated so that the detected output difference falls within a certain range, and the damping ratio output of the damping ratio storage means 12 stored at the time of setting by the setting means 7 and the calculated damping ratio to be set. Then, a drive amount for which the amplification variable means 1 is to be changed is calculated, and the drive means 5 is driven by a drive control signal output according to the calculated drive amount, thereby setting the amplification variable means 1. This is to control to a power attenuation ratio.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the set output level set by the user with the volume adjustment unit and the setting unit,
The current output level from the output level detecting means is compared with the present output level, and if the setting / detection output difference is not within a certain range, the attenuation ratio to be set is set so that the setting / detection output difference falls within a certain range. In addition to the calculation, the drive amount of the amplification variable means is calculated from the attenuation ratio output set by the setting means and the attenuation ratio to be set, and the drive means is driven to thereby set the attenuation to be set for the amplification variable means. By controlling the ratio, it is possible to provide an acoustic device that operates so that the acoustic output of the acoustic device is substantially equal to the volume set by the user.

In this embodiment, an electric volume device is used as the volume changing means, but a device that can instantaneously set an accurate attenuation ratio, such as an electronic volume device, a digital attenuator, or a digital filter, may be used. In this case, the attenuation ratio detecting means can be omitted.

As described above, the present invention provides a sound volume adjusting means for adjusting the output of an audio signal, and an amplification degree coupled to the sound volume adjusting means for varying the signal level of an input audio signal and outputting the signal as an output audio signal. Variable means, driving means for driving the amplification degree varying means, input level detecting means for detecting a signal level of an input audio signal, output level detecting means for detecting a signal level of an output audio signal, and the sound volume adjusting means Setting means for inputting that the volume has been set by the setting means, setting output storage means for storing the output of the output level detecting means at the time of setting the volume by the setting means, and setting the output of the input level detecting means to the output level detecting means. Attenuation ratio detection means for detecting the attenuation ratio set by the current amplification degree varying means based on the output of the amplification degree variable means, the output of the set output storage means and the output level detection means. Output comparing means for comparing the output of the stage and outputting the setting / detection output difference, and damping ratio storing means for storing the output of the damping ratio detecting means at the time of setting by the setting means or at the time of output of the output comparing means; The output of the output comparing means calculates an attenuation ratio to be set so that the set / detected output difference falls within a certain range, and the attenuation ratio output of the attenuation ratio storage means stored at the time of setting by the setting means and the attenuation ratio. A drive amount setting means for calculating a drive amount of the amplification degree varying means from the calculated attenuation ratio to be set, and driving the drive means by a drive control signal output from the drive amount setting means, thereby increasing the amplification. Since the variable degree means is configured to control the attenuation ratio to be set, the sound level is automatically changed so that the output level of the sound signal maintains substantially the same level as the volume set by the user. It is possible to realize an acoustic device for driving and controlling.

As a result, when the user enjoys a radio program using the midnight sound device and the commercial becomes commercial, the volume suddenly increases, or when the audio input signal is played as the output signal of the compact disc player, a loud sound suddenly comes out of the speaker. Output or BGM compact disc
Instead, if you are enjoying with a small sound, the compact disc has a large dynamic range, so the audio device that solves the inconvenience that the music performance part of Fortissimo is too small to hear at the pianissimo music performance part even if the volume is appropriate is solved. Once you set the volume to the desired level, you only need to perform various music sources without having to perform any cumbersome volume adjustment operations.Easy to use, easy to use, easy to enjoy music, etc. It has an excellent effect that it can be used as an acoustic device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an audio apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a main part of a processing operation of a microcomputer in the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a conventional audio apparatus. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Amplification degree variable means, 2 ... Volume adjustment means, 3 ... Amplifier, 5 ... Drive means, 6 ... Volume change means, 7 ... Setting means, 8 ... Input level detection means, 9 ... Output level detecting means 10, setting output storage means 11, attenuation ratio detecting means 12, attenuation ratio storing means 13, output comparing means 14,
... Drive amount setting means.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A volume adjusting means for adjusting an output of an audio signal, an amplification variable means coupled to the volume adjusting means for varying a signal level of an input audio signal and outputting the output as an output audio signal, Driving means for driving the degree varying means, input level detecting means for detecting the signal level of the input audio signal, output level detecting means for detecting the signal level of the output audio signal, and volume setting by the volume adjusting means. Setting means for inputting the output, setting output storage means for storing the output of the output level detecting means at the time of volume setting by the setting means, Attenuation ratio detection means for detecting an attenuation ratio by setting the amplification degree variable means,
Output comparing means for comparing the output of the setting output storing means with the output of the output level detecting means and outputting a setting / detection output difference, and detecting the attenuation ratio at the time of setting by the setting means or at the time of output of the output comparing means A damping ratio storing means for storing an output of the means, and an output of the output comparing means for calculating an attenuation ratio to be set so that the setting / detection output difference falls within a certain range, and storing the setting at the time of setting by the setting means. A drive amount setting means for calculating a drive amount of the amplification degree varying means from the obtained damping ratio output of the damping ratio storage means and the calculated damping ratio to be set, and a drive output from the drive amount setting means. An acoustic device, wherein a driving means is driven by a control signal to control an amplification degree varying means to an attenuation ratio to be set. 2. A volume adjusting means for adjusting an output of an audio signal, an amplification variable means coupled to the volume adjusting means for varying a signal level of an input audio signal and outputting the signal as an output audio signal, Driving means for driving the degree varying means, input level detecting means for detecting the signal level of the input audio signal, output level detecting means for detecting the signal level of the output audio signal, and volume setting by the volume adjusting means. Setting means for inputting a signal, and control means for receiving signals from the input level detecting means, output level detecting means, and setting means and outputting a drive control signal for driving the driving means. The output of the output level detecting means at the time of setting the volume by the setting means is stored as a setting output, and the output of the input level detecting means and the output of the output level detecting means are stored. With the force, the attenuation ratio of the amplification degree variable means currently being set is detected, and the set output and the output of the output level detection means are compared to determine whether the difference between the set / detected output is within a certain range. In order to calculate the attenuation ratio to be set so that the output difference falls within a certain range from the set / detected output difference, and to drive to the volume position of the amplification variable means necessary to obtain the set attenuation ratio. A command to drive the driving unit is issued to drive the amplification degree variable unit, and it is configured to determine whether or not the detected current attenuation ratio has reached the attenuation ratio to be set. An acoustic device characterized in that it is configured to control the attenuation ratio to be used.