JP5510072B2 - Speaker device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a speaker device for connecting a portable audio player.

  Portable audio players are widely used. A portable audio player is a player used by a user to listen to music while walking or on a train, and is an audio player dedicated to an earphone that reproduces music stored in a built-in hard disk or flash memory and outputs it to the earphone. .

  However, in scenes where there is no need to listen to music with earphones, such as in a room, there is a need to listen to music reproduced by a portable audio player through a speaker. For this reason, a speaker device that connects a portable audio player, amplifies music reproduced by the portable audio player, and emits the sound from the speaker has been put into practical use.

JP-A-6-162746

  As described above, the main application of the portable audio player is a device that is carried by a user and plays music with an earphone, and the speaker device is only used with a portable audio player connected from time to time. For this reason, since it is inefficient to use the speaker device dedicated to the portable audio player, an audio input terminal (AUX terminal) is further provided in addition to the connection portion (dock) for connecting the portable audio player, and other devices are provided. It is conceivable that the audio signal reproduced by can be emitted from the speaker.

  For example, it is conceivable to connect a notebook computer and use it as an external speaker of the notebook computer. As a result, the sound of the notebook computer can be emitted from the high-quality speaker of the speaker device instead of the cheap speaker built in the notebook computer.

  In this way, when the speaker device is a device that can also emit sound from a device other than the portable audio player that is sometimes connected, it matches the sound output by the other device while the portable audio player is not connected. When the volume of the speaker device is adjusted and a portable audio player is connected, the music is emitted at an unexpectedly high volume, or played with a sound that is so small that it cannot be heard.

  Even if the volume has been changed in accordance with the sound of another device, the present invention can provide a volume that is optimal for the music played by the portable audio player when a portable audio player that is a high priority device is connected. An object of the present invention is to provide a speaker device that can reset the value.

  As an apparatus that precedes in this field, as shown in Patent Document 1, adjustment values of functions (volume, sound quality, balance, etc.) are stored for each input source, and stored according to the selected source. Some functions are read and set.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playback device connection unit to which an audio playback device is detachably connected, the audio playback device connected to the playback device connection unit, and audio for inputting an audio signal from another audio source. An amplifier including an electronic volume unit for adjusting the volume of an audio signal to be output, a volume adjustment operator for receiving a volume value adjustment operation by a user, and the electronic volume in accordance with an operation of the volume adjustment operator A speaker unit comprising: a control unit that controls a volume value set in the unit;
Further provided a volume value storage unit that stores volume values read from the electronic volume unit, when the front Symbol audio reproducing apparatus is removed from the reproducing device connecting unit, wherein the control unit, of the electronic volume section at that time storing the volume value to the volume value storage unit, when the front Symbol audio playback device is connected to the reproducing apparatus connecting unit, the audio amplifier, an audio signal and the other audio source of the audio signals of the audio playback device And the control unit converts the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit into the electronic volume instead of the volume value set for the other audio source at that time. It is set to a part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the control unit sets the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit to the electronic volume unit, the volume value of the electronic volume unit at that time is the volume When the volume value is larger than the volume value stored in the value storage unit, the volume value of the electronic volume unit is immediately changed to the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit, and the volume value of the electronic volume unit at that time is When the volume value is smaller than the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit, the volume value of the electronic volume unit is gradually shifted to the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the audio playback device is connected to the playback device connection unit, the control unit stores the volume value of the electronic volume unit at that time. When the volume value stored in the storage unit is smaller than a predetermined value by a predetermined value or more, the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit is not set in the electronic volume unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, a plurality of reproduction device connection units to which different types of audio reproduction devices are connected are provided, and a volume value storage unit corresponding to each reproduction device connection unit is provided. It is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control unit sets a priority order for the plurality of playback device connection units, and when an audio playback device is connected to any one of the playback device connection units, the control unit has a higher priority than the playback device connection unit. Setting the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit corresponding to the playback device connection unit in the electronic volume unit on the condition that no audio playback device is connected to the playback device connection unit of higher priority It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, even when the volume value is changed in accordance with another audio source while the audio playback device is removed, the audio playback device is connected immediately before the audio playback device is connected. Since the volume value can be restored to the time (when removed), the music is not played back at unexpectedly high or low volume.

The block diagram of the speaker apparatus which is embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of the speaker apparatus The figure explaining the control aspect of the electronic volume circuit by a control part

  A speaker device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the speaker device.

  The speaker device 1 includes an amplifier 12 that amplifies an input audio signal, and a control unit (microcomputer) 10 that controls the operation of the speaker device 1 such as controlling the gain (volume, volume) of the amplifier. A portable player connection unit 13 and an audio input terminal (AUX terminal) 14 are connected to the amplifier 12. In addition, a volume value storage unit 11 is connected (or built in) to the control unit 10 and a volume adjustment button 15 is connected. A speaker 16 is connected to the amplifier 12. A portable audio player 1 is connected to the portable player connection unit 13, and another audio playback device (notebook personal computer in this embodiment) 3 is connected to the audio input terminal 14.

  This speaker device 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing, speakers 16 are provided on the left and right of the front panel of the housing, respectively, and a volume adjustment button 15 is provided at the center of the front panel. A portable player connection unit 13 is provided on the upper surface of the housing. The portable player connection unit 13 has a connector shape (so-called dock) in which a connection terminal provided on the bottom surface of the portable audio player 2 is directly inserted without a cable. Further, an audio input terminal 14 is provided on the rear panel of the housing.

  An audio signal is input to the amplifier 12 from a portable player connection unit 13 and an audio input terminal (AUX terminal) 14. The amplifier 12 amplifies the audio signal reproduced by the portable audio player 2 connected to the portable player connection unit 13 and outputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker 16, and the audio signal reproduced by the audio reproduction device 3 connected to the audio input terminal 14. Is output to the speaker 16. When both the portable audio player 2 and the audio reproduction device 3 are connected, the audio signals reproduced by both devices are mixed and output to the speaker 16. When the other audio playback device 3 is a notebook computer, the audio signal such as an alert sound generated by the notebook computer and the audio signal of the music played by the portable audio player 2 hardly conflict with each other. Because.

  As for the mixing ratio, all audio signals may be added and combined at 100%, or the audio signals may be combined at 50% (voltage ratio) so that the combined volume becomes 100%. The synthesis ratio is not limited to 50%.

  The control unit 10 monitors the impedance of the portable player connecting unit 13 and the audio input terminal 14, and whether the portable audio player 2 is connected to the portable player connecting unit 13 and the audio playback device 3 is connected to the audio input terminal 14. Detect whether it has been.

  The amplifier 12 has an electronic volume circuit 12A. The electronic volume circuit 12A is controlled by the control unit 10. When the volume adjustment button 15 is operated by the user, the control unit 10 controls the volume value of the electronic volume circuit 12A up and down according to the operation. As a result, the gain (volume) of the audio signal output from the amplifier 12 is controlled up and down.

  When the portable audio player 2 is detached from the portable player connection unit 13, the volume setting value at that time is stored in the volume value storage unit 11 as a storage value M. When the portable audio player 2 is connected to the portable player connection unit 13 again, the volume value (volume storage value M) stored in the volume value storage unit 11 is read and set in the electronic volume circuit 12A. Thus, the portable player connection unit 13 (portable audio player 2) is treated as an audio input unit (device) that has priority over the audio input terminal 14 (audio playback device 3). Thus, no matter what volume control is performed while the portable audio player 2 is removed (not connected), when the portable audio player 2 is connected, The music of the portable audio player 2 can be reproduced with the volume value, and sudden loud and small sounds can be prevented.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 10 of the speaker device 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a control mode of the electronic volume circuit 12A by the control unit 10.

  First, FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing an operation when the portable audio player 2 connected to the portable player connection unit 13 is removed. This process is executed when it is detected that the portable audio player 2 has been removed due to a change in the impedance of the portable player connection unit 13 (output impedance of the portable audio player 2 → ∞). The control unit 10 stores the volume value set in the electronic volume circuit 12A of the amplifier 12 at that time in the volume value storage unit 11 (S11). Then, it is determined whether or not the audio playback device 3 is connected to the audio input terminal 14 (S12). If the audio playback device 3 is connected (YES in S12), the operation is terminated as it is (while the power is on). If the audio playback device 3 is not connected (NO in S12), it is not necessary to operate the amplifier 12, so the power of the amplifier 12 is turned off (S13), and the operation ends.

  FIG. 2B is a flowchart showing an operation when the portable audio player 2 is connected to the portable player connection unit 13. This process is executed when it is detected that the portable audio player 2 is connected by a change in the impedance of the portable player connection unit 13 (∞ → output impedance of the portable audio player 2). First, it is determined whether the power of the amplifier 12 is on (S21). This is because the amplifier 12 is powered off when neither the portable audio player 2 nor the audio playback device 3 is connected. If the power is off (NO in S21), the power of the amplifier 12 is turned on (S22), and the process proceeds to S23. If the amplifier 12 is powered on (YES in S21), the process proceeds directly to S23.

  In S23, the volume value (volume storage value M) stored in the volume value storage unit 11 is read. At the same time, the volume value (volume setting value N) currently set in the electronic volume circuit 12A is read (S24). Then, the volume storage value M and the volume setting value N are compared (S25).

  If both values are the same as a result of the comparison, the operation is terminated without doing anything. If the volume setting value N is larger than the volume storage value M as a result of the comparison, the volume value of the electronic volume circuit 12A is immediately reduced from the volume setting value N to the volume storage value M (S26: FIG. 3 a)). This is to prevent the music of the portable audio player 2 from ringing at an unexpectedly high volume.

  As a result of comparison, if the volume setting value N is smaller than the volume storage value M, if the difference is within a certain control range (for example, within −10 dB) (YES in S27), the electronic The volume value of the volume circuit 12A is gradually increased from the volume setting value N to the volume storage value M (S28: see b in FIG. 3). The reason why the volume value (volume) is gradually increased is to prevent the user from being surprised when the volume suddenly increases.

  On the other hand, if the volume setting value N is smaller than the volume storage value M but the difference is outside the control range (NO in S27), the operation is terminated without changing the volume value (see c in FIG. 3). This is because when the current volume value is extremely small, there may be a special reason such that the sound cannot be increased, so it is better not to increase the volume without user operation. Even in this case, the volume value of the electronic volume circuit 12A may be increased from the volume setting value N to the volume storage value M by a specific user operation. The specific user operation is, for example, pressing the + button and the − button of the volume adjustment button 15 at the same time.

  FIG. 2C is a flowchart showing an operation when the volume adjustment button 15 is operated. This operation is executed when the operation of the volume adjustment button 15 is detected. In this flowchart, the volume value of the electronic volume circuit 12A is increased from the volume setting value N to the volume storage value M when it is detected that the + button and the − button of the volume adjustment button 15 are simultaneously pressed.

  First, it is determined whether or not the + button and the-button are pressed simultaneously (S15). If they are not simultaneously pressed (NO in S15), the volume value of the electronic volume circuit 12A is increased or decreased according to the operation of the + button or the-button (S16). On the other hand, if the + button and the − button are pressed simultaneously (YES in S15), the volume value (volume storage value M) is read from the volume value storage unit 11 (S17), and this value is set in the electronic volume circuit 12A. (S18). Thereby, whatever the volume value at that time can be restored to the volume value when the portable audio player 2 is connected (when the previous connection is released).

  In the present embodiment, the (other) audio playback device 3 connected to the audio input terminal 14 is not limited to a notebook computer. In addition, the speaker device 1 of the present embodiment includes an audio input terminal 14 so that an audio reproduction device 3 (other than the portable audio player 2) can be connected, and other than the audio signal of the music reproduced by the portable audio player 2 from the outside. However, the external audio signal input unit may be only the portable player connection unit 13 and other audio signals may be reproduced by a built-in circuit (for example, an FM tuner). .

  Two or more priority audio input units may be provided. For example, a plurality of different types of portable audio player connection units may be provided, and a volume value storage unit may be provided corresponding to each connection unit. In this case, when priority is not set for a plurality of connection units, every time a portable audio player is connected to each connection unit, the electronic volume is stored in the volume storage value stored for the connected portable audio player. The volume circuit 12A may be controlled. That is, the electronic volume circuit 12A may be controlled by the volume storage value of the portable audio player connected last.

  Further, when two or more priority audio input units are provided and priority is set for a plurality of connection units, the following control is performed. When a portable audio player is connected to a certain connection unit and a portable audio player with a higher priority is not already connected, the volume storage value stored for the connected portable audio player To control the electronic volume circuit 12A. When a portable audio player is connected to a certain connection section, if a portable audio player with a higher priority than that is already connected, nothing is done for the current connection.

  In the above embodiment, whether or not the portable audio player 2 and the audio playback device 3 are connected to the portable player connection unit 13 and the audio input terminal 14 is determined based on the resistance value (impedance) between the terminals. The determination may be made based on the potential difference between the terminals. When it is determined by the resistance value, it can be determined that the portable audio player 2 and the audio playback device 3 are connected even if the power is turned off. Can be determined to be connected only when the power of the connected device is turned on.

  Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of audio signals are mixed, but a selector that selectively selects any one of the audio signals is provided, and when the playback device is connected to the priority audio input unit, The selection of the audio signal may be switched to the playback device and the volume value may be controlled.

  When the portable audio player 2 is connected, it is not necessary to restore only the volume value to the previous setting. For example, the setting contents of the equalizer may be restored to the previous setting contents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Speaker apparatus 2 Portable audio player 3 (Other) audio reproduction apparatus 10 Control part 11 Volume value storage part 12 (Audio) amplifier 12A Electronic volume circuit 13 Portable player connection part 14 Audio input terminal (AUX terminal)
15 Volume adjustment button 16 Speaker

Claims (5)

A playback device connection unit to which the audio playback device is detachably connected;
An audio amplifier that inputs an audio signal from the audio playback device connected to the playback device connection unit and other audio sources, and includes an electronic volume unit that adjusts the volume of the output audio signal;
A volume control operator for accepting a user volume value adjustment operation;
A control unit that controls a volume value set in the electronic volume unit in accordance with an operation of the volume adjustment operator;
A speaker device comprising:
A volume value storage unit for storing the volume value read from the electronic volume unit;
When the pre-Symbol audio reproducing apparatus has been removed from the reproducing device connecting unit, wherein the control unit stores the volume value of the electronic volume section at that time to the volume value storage unit,
When the pre-Symbol audio reproduction apparatus connected to the reproducing apparatus connecting unit, the audio amplifier, and mixes the audio signal and the audio signal of the other audio source of the audio reproduction apparatus to output, the control unit A speaker device that sets a volume value stored in the volume value storage unit in the electronic volume unit instead of a volume value set for the other audio source at that time .   When the control unit sets the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit to the electronic volume unit, the volume value of the electronic volume unit at that time is larger than the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit Immediately changes the volume value of the electronic volume unit to the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit, and the volume value of the electronic volume unit at that time is smaller than the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit The speaker device according to claim 1, wherein the volume value of the electronic volume unit is gradually shifted to the volume value stored in the volume value storage unit.   When the audio playback device is connected to the playback device connection unit, the control unit is configured such that the volume value of the electronic volume unit at that time is smaller than a volume value stored in the volume value storage unit by a predetermined value or more. The speaker device according to claim 1, wherein a process of setting a volume value stored in the volume value storage unit to the electronic volume unit is not performed.   4. The speaker according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of playback device connection units to which different types of audio playback devices are connected, and a volume value storage unit corresponding to each playback device connection unit. apparatus. The controller is
Setting priorities to the plurality of playback device connections,
When an audio playback device is connected to any playback device connection unit, the playback device connection is performed on the condition that the audio playback device is not connected to a playback device connection unit having a higher priority than the playback device connection unit. The speaker device according to claim 4, wherein a volume value stored in a volume value storage unit corresponding to the unit is set in the electronic volume unit.

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