JP2002252531A - Sound volume setting display method and acoustic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable judgment of a sound volume setting stage easily with a constitution at a low cost. SOLUTION: On the basis of a signal CV from a control unit 20, the level of an aural signal is changed with an electronic volume 16 and sound volume is adjusted. When the sound volume setting state is displayed, a transistor 262 in a sound volume setting display unit 26 is turned on by a signal Lsw from the control unit 20. When a signal Lc is in the state of high level 'H', a light emitting diode 263 is made to generate a light. In the case of low level 'L', a light emitting diode 264 is made to generate a light. In the control unit 20, the duty ratio of the signal Lc is changed in accordance with the sound volume setting. The color of a light outputted from the display unit 26 is changed in accordance with the sound volume setting state without displaying the state by using a display having a large display region. Consequently, the setting state of sound volume can be easily judged by emission color, and the acoustic device can be constituted at a low cost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a volume setting display method and an audio apparatus using the same. More specifically, by changing the light emission color of the light emitting means according to the setting state of the volume adjustment, it is possible to determine the sound volume setting state by the light emission color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional acoustic device, for example, a stereo device, a remote control transmitter (hereinafter referred to as a "remote control device") can be used to adjust the volume even from a remote position in order to facilitate operation. It has been made possible. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a conventional stereo device, in which a remote control signal RS output from a remote control device (not shown) is received by a remote control
05. Further, an operation signal PS corresponding to an operation on the operation unit 102 is supplied to the control unit 105. Control unit 1
05, the operation control signal CT, the switching control signal CS, the display signal DP, and the like based on the remote control signal RS and the operation signal PS.
A motor control signal MC is generated.

The stereo apparatus has, for example, a tuner section 110 for receiving a broadcast program, a CD section 111 for reproducing a compact disc, a tape deck section 112 for recording and reproducing using a magnetic tape, and the like. Control unit 10
The operation of each unit is controlled by the operation control signal CT from the control unit 5. The reproduced audio signal Stu from the tuner unit 110, the reproduced audio signal Scd from the CD unit 111, and the reproduced audio signal Std from the tape deck unit 112 are supplied to a signal switching unit 115.

In the signal switching section 115, one of the reproduced audio signals is selected based on the switching control signal CS from the control section 105 and supplied to one terminal of the volume 120. The other terminal of the volume 120 is grounded, and an amplifier 125 is connected to the slider.

[0005] The position of the slider of the volume 120 is variable by a motor 120a provided in the volume.
Are driven by a drive signal VD from the motor drive unit 122. In the motor drive unit 122, the control unit 105
Signal V based on the motor control signal MC supplied from the
D is generated and supplied to the motor. For this reason, the control unit supplies a motor control signal MC based on the remote control signal from the control unit 105 to the motor drive unit 122, thereby varying the position of the slider of the volume by the motor control signal MC, and The signal level of the reproduced audio signal supplied to the power supply 125 can be adjusted.

[0006] The amplifier 125 amplifies the reproduced audio signal Sa whose signal level has been adjusted by the volume control 120 and supplies the amplified audio signal Sa to the speaker 126 as an audio output signal Sout.
The reproduced sound is output from the speaker 126. Further, a display unit 108 is connected to the control unit 105, and displays information relating to the operation state of the stereo apparatus.

Here, an operation knob 121 for adjusting the sound volume as shown in FIG. 4 is fitted on the rotary shaft connected to the slider of the volume control 120.
, The position of the slider can be changed. This operation knob is provided with a reference mark 121a.
The volume setting state can be determined by the rotation position of. Further, the position of the reference mark 121a can be easily confirmed by emitting the reference mark 121a.

Further, instead of a volume for adjusting the signal level by changing the position of the slider, an electronic volume 130 capable of directly adjusting the signal level by the volume control signal CV is used as shown in FIG. When the electronic volume 130 is used, the control unit 105 controls the volume control signal CV based on the remote control signal RS and the operation signal PS.
Is generated and supplied to the electronic volume 130, the signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa supplied to the amplifier 125 can be adjusted. When the electronic volume 130 is used, the signal level of the reproduced audio signal is directly adjusted by the volume control signal CV.
When a remote control device is not used, the volume is adjusted by a volume adjustment switch provided on the operation unit 102. For this reason, the volume adjustment level cannot be determined based on the rotational position of the operation knob 121 as in the case of using the volume 120 that changes the position of the slider. For this reason, the control unit 10
The display unit 109 connected to the display unit 5 is provided with an area 109a for displaying a volume setting state.

[0009]

In the case of using a volume 120 capable of changing the position of a slider by means of a motor, the cost of parts is high because the motor 120a is also integrated, and the motor 120a is rotated forward and backward. Since the motor drive unit 122 for driving is also required, it is not possible to configure the acoustic device at low cost. Further, from a remote position, the reference mark 121a provided on the operation knob 121 is used.
Since it is difficult to recognize the sound volume, the sound volume setting state cannot be easily confirmed.

On the other hand, when the electronic volume 130 is used, if a numerical display is used so that the area 109a for displaying the volume setting state can be made small, it is possible to visually check how much the volume setting state is relative to the maximum level. Can not be easily determined. When the volume setting state is, for example, displayed as a bar so that it can be easily distinguished visually,
The area for displaying the volume setting state increases. Here, since not only the volume setting state but also various information is displayed on the display unit 109, the display area must be enlarged in order to easily read the volume setting state and various information. That is, the cost of the display unit 109 is increased. In view of the above, the present invention provides a sound volume setting display method and an audio device that can easily determine the sound volume setting state with an inexpensive configuration.

[0011]

According to the volume setting display method of the present invention, the volume of the audio signal is adjusted by changing the signal level of the audio signal and the audio signal is output. It is displayed by changing the color.

[0012] Further, the audio apparatus controls the signal level by the signal level varying means for varying and outputting the signal level of the audio signal, the light emitting means for emitting light in a plurality of colors, and the signal level varying means by the signal level varying means. In addition to controlling the sound volume, the control device includes a control unit that varies the emission color of the light emitting unit according to the setting state of the sound volume adjustment.

In the present invention, the volume of the audio signal is adjusted by varying the signal level of the audio signal with the electronic volume, and a two-color light emitting diode, for example, which illuminates the display unit, is driven according to the setting state of the electronic volume. . Here, while one of the light emitting diodes is being driven,
While the driving of the other light-emitting diode is stopped and the driving of the other light-emitting diode is stopped, the driving of the other light-emitting diode is performed. It is variable according to the setting state of the volume.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a case where the audio device is, for example, a stereo device. In FIG. 1, the stereo apparatus includes, for example, a tuner unit 11 for receiving a broadcast program, a CD unit 12 for reproducing a compact disk, a tape deck unit 13 for recording and reproducing using a magnetic tape, and the like. The operation of each unit is controlled by an operation control signal CT from the control unit 20.

A reproduction audio signal Stu obtained by receiving a broadcast program by the tuner section 11, a reproduction audio signal Scd obtained by reproducing a compact disk by the CD section 12, and a magnetic tape reproduced by the tape deck section 112. The obtained reproduced audio signal Std is supplied to the signal switching unit 15, respectively.

The signal switching section 15 selects one of the reproduced audio signals based on the switching control signal CS from the control section 20 and supplies it to the electronic volume 16. Electronic volume 1
In 6, the signal level of the reproduced audio signal selected by the signal switching unit 15 is adjusted based on the volume control signal CV from the control unit 20 and supplied to the amplifier 17 as the reproduced audio signal Sa. The amplifier 17 amplifies the reproduced audio signal Sa from the electronic volume 16 and supplies the amplified audio signal Sa to the speaker 18 as an audio output signal Sout.

A remote control receiving unit 21 and an operation unit 22 are connected to the control unit 20, and the remote control receiving unit 21 controls a remote control signal R output from a remote control device (not shown).
S is received and supplied to the control unit 20. The operation unit 22
Then, an operation signal PS corresponding to the operation is supplied to the control unit 20. In the control unit 20, the remote control signal RS and the operation signal PS
, An operation control signal CT, a switching control signal CS, and a volume control signal CV. The control unit 20 includes:
The display unit 25 is connected to a volume setting display unit 26 using light emitting diodes of a plurality of emission colors.
At 0, a display signal DP for displaying the operating state and various information is generated and supplied to the display unit 25. Further, it generates a switch signal Lsw for turning on or off the light emission operation in the volume setting display section 26 and a color control signal Lc for switching the emission color, and supplies them to the volume setting display section 26.

The switch signal Lsw is supplied to the base of an NPN transistor 262 via a resistor 261.
The emitter of the transistor 262 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the cathodes of the light emitting diodes 263 and 264. The anode of the light emitting diode 263 is connected to the resistor 26.
5 is connected to the emitter of the NPN transistor 266. The anode of the light emitting diode 264 is connected to the emitter of the NPN transistor 268 via the resistor 267.

The color control signal Lc is supplied to the base of the transistor 266 via the resistor 271 and is also supplied to the transistor 268 via the inverter 272 and the resistor 273.
Supplied to the base. The resistor 274 is connected between the base and the emitter of the transistor 266, and the collector is connected to the power supply terminal 280. A resistor 275 is connected between the base and the emitter of the transistor 268, and a collector is connected to the power supply terminal 280.

The light emitting diodes 263 and 264 of the volume setting display section 26 are mounted on, for example, a front panel of a stereo apparatus so that the emitted color can be easily checked even from a remote position.

Next, the volume setting display operation will be described. When the operation of the stereo device is started, the volume setting state stored in the control unit 20, for example, the volume setting state at the end of the operation of the stereo device is read out, and a volume control signal CV corresponding to the volume setting state is generated. And supplies it to the electronic volume 16. Therefore, the electronic volume 16
Is adjusted so that the reproduced sound output from the speaker 18 has the same level as that at the end of the operation.

Further, the signal level of the switch signal Lsw is set to the high level "H", and the transistor 262 is turned on. At this time, the light emitting diodes 263 and 264 can emit light according to the color control signal Lc.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the color control signal Lc is a signal whose duty ratio is varied according to the volume setting state. Here, when the volume is set to the minimum state, for example, the color control signal Lc becomes low level “L”,
As the volume increases, the proportion of the high level “H” increases, and when the volume is set to の of the maximum state, the periods of the high level “H” and the low level “L” become equal. When the volume is further increased, the ratio of the high level “H” is further increased, and when the volume is set to the maximum state, the color control signal Lc becomes the high level “H”.

Therefore, when the color control signal Lc is set to the high level "H", the transistor 266 is turned on, and as shown in FIG.
Light emission is performed only when the color control signal Lc is at the high level “H”. The transistor 268 includes
Since the color control signal Lc is supplied via the inverter 272, when the color control signal Lc is set to the low level “L”, the transistor 268 becomes conductive, and as shown in FIG. Light emission is performed only when the control signal Lc is driven at the low level “L”. The frequency (period) of the color control signal Lc is set to a frequency (period) at which colors separately emitted from the light emitting diodes 263 and 264 are mixed and recognized as a single color without causing color flicker. You. For example, 40Hz
The frequency is higher than the degree.

The control section 20 generates a color control signal Lc whose duty ratio is adjusted according to the volume setting state, and supplies it to the volume setting display section 26. For example, when the volume setting state is set at the center between the maximum state and the minimum state, and the periods of the high level “H” and the low level “L” are equal, the light emitting diode 263 emits red light and the light emitting diode 264
When the emission color is green, the emission color is yellow as shown in FIG. 2D.

When the volume is adjusted in the minimum direction based on the remote control signal RS or the operation signal PS, the control unit 20
Then, the signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa output from the electronic volume 16 by the volume control signal CV is reduced, and the period of the high level “H” of the color control signal Lc is shortened. At this time, the volume of the reproduced sound output from the speaker 18 decreases, and the volume setting display unit 26 changes from yellow to yellow-green. Further, when the sound volume is adjusted to the minimum state, the control unit 20 controls the reproduced sound signal S output from the electronic volume 16 by the sound volume control signal CV.
The signal level of “a” is set to “0” level, and the color control signal Lc is set to low level “L”. At this time, the output of the reproduction sound from the speaker 18 is stopped, and the emission color in the volume setting display unit 26 becomes green.

When the volume is adjusted in the maximum direction, the reproduced sound output from the speaker 18 is increased by the volume control signal CV, and the emission color of the volume setting display section 26 is changed from yellow by the color control signal Lc. When the color is changed to orange and the volume is set to the maximum state, the emission color of the volume setting display section 26 becomes red.

As described above, since the emission color of the volume setting display section 26 is changed according to the volume setting state, the volume setting state can be easily determined even from a remote position. Further, the light emitting diode 26 is controlled by the color control signal Lc.
3 and the light-emitting diode 264 is driven by a signal obtained by inverting the logical level of the color control signal Lc. The emission color can be switched. In addition, since the emission color is switched by changing the duty ratio, the emission color can be smoothly and continuously changed by continuously changing the duty ratio according to the setting state of the volume. Further, if light-emitting diodes for two-color light emission are used as the light-emitting diodes 263 and 264, it is possible to display the volume setting state only by providing one light-emitting diode on the front panel or the like of the audio device. The display area can be reduced.

In the case where the display section 25 is constituted by using, for example, a liquid crystal display element and a backlight for illuminating the display section 25 is provided, the above-mentioned volume setting display section 2 is provided.
Similarly to 6, the illumination color of the backlight may be switched according to the volume setting state. In this case, the setting state of the volume can be easily confirmed even from a remote position.

As described above, if the light emission color and the illumination color are switched in accordance with the volume setting state, the volume setting state can be displayed in a visually understandable manner. Also, there is no need to provide an area for displaying the volume setting state on the display unit. Further, since there is no need to use a motor or a display unit having a large display area, the configuration can be made at low cost. Note that the light-emitting elements, the number of light-emitting elements, the color of the light-emitting elements, and the like in the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and are not limited.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the sound level is adjusted by varying the signal level of the audio signal and output, and the emission color of the light emitting means is changed according to the setting state of the volume adjustment. For this reason, the setting state of the volume can be easily confirmed by the emission color. In the light emitting unit, light emission is performed in the first color and a second color different from the first color, and during the light emission driving in the first color, the light emission driving of the second color is stopped. While the light emission driving of the first color is stopped, the light emission driving of the second color is performed, and the ratio between the light emission driving period of the first color and the light emission driving period of the second color in a predetermined period is adjusted. Is controlled in accordance with the setting state of, the emission color indicating the setting state of the volume can be smoothly and continuously changed.
Further, since the light emitting means is used for illuminating the display unit, the setting state of the volume can be easily confirmed even from a remote position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an acoustic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a volume setting display operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional acoustic device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional volume setting display method.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration of the acoustic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 110 Tuner section 12, 111 CD section 13, 112 Tape deck section 15, 115 Signal switching section 16, 130 Electronic volume 17, 125 Amplifier 18, 126 Speaker 20, 105 Control section 21, 101 Remote control receiving section 22, 102 Operation Units 25, 108, 109 Display unit 26 Volume setting display unit 120 Volume 120a Motor 121 Operation knob 121a Reference mark 122 Motor drive unit 263,264 Light emitting diode

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI theme coat II (reference) // G09G 3/16 G09G 3/16 Z F term (reference) 5C080 AA07 BB09 DD01 DD27 EE30 JJ02 JJ04 KK43 5J100 AA09 AA23 BA10 BC06 CA01 CA03 CA05 CA34 DA06 EA02 FA00 GA05 GA09 GA11 5K048 AA04 BA02 DA01 DB01 DC01 EB12 FB05 FB16 HA07 HA21 HA24

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sound volume setting display, wherein the sound volume is adjusted by changing and outputting a signal level of an audio signal, and a light emission color of a light emitting means is changed according to a setting state of the sound volume adjustment. Method. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting means includes a first color and the first color.
Light emission is performed in a second color different from the first color. During the light emission drive in the first color, the light emission drive in the second color is stopped, and the light emission drive in the first color is stopped. Performs light emission driving in the second color, and controls the ratio between the light emission driving period in the first color and the light emission driving period in the second color in a predetermined period, and 2. The color of light emitted from the light source is varied.
The indicated volume setting display method. 3. The volume setting display method according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting means is used for illuminating a display unit. 4. A signal level varying means for varying and outputting a signal level of an audio signal; a light emitting means for emitting light in a plurality of colors; and a signal level varying operation by the signal level varying means is controlled to adjust a sound volume. An acoustic device, comprising: a control unit that performs the light emission color of the light emitting unit according to a setting state of the volume adjustment. 5. The light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting element that emits light in a first color and a second light-emitting element that emits light in a second color different from the first color, In the light emitting means, while the first light emitting element is being driven, the driving of the second light emitting element is stopped and the first light emitting element is stopped.
The second light emitting element is driven while the light emitting element is stopped, and the control means controls the ratio between the driving period of the first light emitting element and the driving period of the second light emitting element during a predetermined period. 5. The color of light emitted from said light emitting means is varied by controlling the light emitting device in accordance with the setting state of said volume adjustment.
An acoustic device as described. 6. The acoustic device according to claim 4, further comprising a display unit, wherein illumination of the display unit is performed by the light emitting unit.