JPH03125599A - Multi-channel audio reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain audio reproduction suitable for each broadcast form of an audio signal in response to the number of reproduction speakers by recognizing number of the speakers in response to the depression of an output device confirmation button and distributing a broadcast audio signal in response to the channel number of the signal. CONSTITUTION:A switch I13 selects whether or not an output of a signal processing circuit I12 is fed to adders I14, I17 and a switch II16 selects whether or not an output of a signal processing circuit II15 is fed to the adders I14, II17, and both the switches are controlled by an output device confirmation button 18. When the output device confirmation button 18 designates, e.g. a 'center' button 20, the switch I13 is conductive and when the output device confirmation button 18 designates a 'rear' button 21, the switch II16 is conductive. Thus, even when the configuration of a multi-channel audio reproducing device is not complete by 100%, all channel audio signals are available for listening.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a multi-channel audio reproduction device, and in particular, is capable of performing appropriate reproduction even when the number of channels of a sound source and the number of reproduction speakers are different. The present invention relates to a multi-channel audio playback device.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a conventional four-channel multi-channel audio reproducing apparatus, which is an audio reproducing system used in, for example, a high-definition television (HDTV). In the figure, 1 is an HDTV tuner, 2 is an audio demodulation circuit connected to this HDTV tuner 1, 3.4.5.6 is a power amplifier connected to this audio demodulation circuit 2, and 7, 8, 9.10 are Speakers 11 connected to the power amplifiers 3, 4, 5, and 6 are test listeners of this multi-channel audio reproduction device.

In the figure, the symbols RC and L are written on the output part of the audio reprint circuit 2.
, S is an abbreviation of the audio channel name, and the correspondence is as follows.

R...Right channel audio C...Center channel audio L...Left channel audio S...Rear channel audio (surround channel audio) Next, the operation will be explained. The broadcast wave demodulated by the HDTV tuner 1 is then demodulated for the audio part by the audio demodulation circuit 2, and output as analog audio signals of four channels R, C, L, and S. R,C.

The L and S audio signals are reproduced through amplifiers 3, 4, and 5°6 and speakers 78 and 910, respectively, so that the listener 11 can enjoy 4-channel audio reproduction.

Furthermore, various formats of audio broadcasting in HDTV broadcasting using four channels have been considered, including one shown in No. 6, for example. In monaural broadcasting, audio with the same content and equal audio is broadcast on the R channel and L channel, and in stereo broadcasting, stereo audio is broadcast using the R and L channels, and monaural 1+
In monaural 2 broadcasting, monaural 1 audio, which is the first monaural audio, is streamed from the R channel, and monaural 2 audio, which is the second monaural audio, is streamed from the L channel, and in 3-1 broadcasting, the monaural 2 audio, which is the first monaural audio, is streamed from the L channel. Four channels of audio are streamed: right channel audio from the R channel, center channel audio from the C channel, and rear channel audio from the S channel.

Therefore, when receiving a 3-1 broadcast, all four amplifiers and speakers are used for reproduction, but in the broadcasting formats ■, ■, and ■ in FIG. 6, amplifier 3. Amplifier 5. Reproduction is performed using speakers 7 and 9, and other amplifiers and speakers are not used.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional multi-channel audio playback devices are configured as described above, so in order to receive broadcasts, it is necessary to have an amplifier and speakers that support 4-channel audio, and the conventional 2-channel audio playback that supports stereo playback is There was a problem in that this device could not reproduce center channel audio or rear channel audio.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of this invention, and is a multi-channel audio system that can reproduce audio suitable for each audio broadcast format according to the number of reproduction speakers connected to the multi-channel audio reproduction device. The purpose is to obtain a playback device.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The multi-channel audio playback device according to the present invention recognizes the number of speakers connected within the system, and if the number is less than the number of channels of audio being broadcast,
The sound of a channel that does not have a corresponding speaker is reproduced from a speaker for reproduction of another channel.

[Effect]

The multi-channel audio playback device according to the present invention recognizes the number of speakers using the output device confirmation button, and distributes the broadcast audio signals according to the number of channels.

[Example〕 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a multi-channel audio reproduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 12 is a signal processing circuit connected to the audio demodulation circuit 2, and 13 is connected to this signal processing circuit 112. switch I, 15 is a signal processing circuit connected to the audio demodulation circuit 2; The adder I, 17 is the audio demodulation circuit 2. switch 11
3. Adder 1 connected to switch 16; 18 is an output confirmation button connected to switch 113 and switch I 16;

In the figure, the same parts as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Next, the operation will be explained.

When the broadcast signal format is stereo, the audio signals demodulated by the audio demodulation circuit 2 are R channel and L channel audio signals, and the audio signals are sent to the adder 114. The signal is transmitted to the amplifier 35 via the adder [17]. Thereafter, the reproduced sound is perceived by the listener 11 in the same manner as in the conventional example.

Further, in this case, since no other inputs are made to adder 114 and adder l117, pure R channel and L channel stereo sounds are reproduced.

On the other hand, when the broadcast format is 3-1 above, the output of the audio demodulation circuit 2 is the R channel and 1. In addition to the channel C
Channel and S channel are also output. In this case, C
The channel audio signal passes through signal processing circuit 112 and switch 113 and is applied to adder 114 and adder 1117. Similarly, the S channel audio signal is applied to the signal processing circuit [15 and the adder 114 and the adder] 117 through the switch [16]. The output of adder 114 is sent to amplifier 3. The output of the adder [17 is passed through the speaker 7 to the amplifier 5. Since each is played through the speaker 9,
The trial listener can hear not only the R channel audio but also the C channel audio and the S channel audio from the right direction. Similarly, along with L channel audio, C channel audio and S channel audio can also be heard from the left side. Of course, in this case, the C channel audio is not simply reproduced from the speakers 7 and 9 with the same content as the original signal, but is instead reproduced from the left and right speakers to have the same effect as the center channel speaker 8. The contents are processed by the signal processing circuit 112. The processing content is, for example, attenuation of 1/J2, so that the sound reproduced from the two left and right speakers, speaker 7 and speaker 9, is at the same sound pressure level as that assumed to be reproduced by center channel speaker 8. The listener 11 perceives the sound to be heard from the center of the left and right speakers. Therefore, in this case, the circuit of the signal processing circuit 112 is composed of a single eyebrow attenuator.

Similarly, the S channel audio is also processed by the signal processing circuit H15 and then reproduced, but the processing in this case is somewhat complicated, and requires a circuit composed of, for example, a phase inversion circuit and an attenuation circuit. As a result, the S channel audio, which has a different phase and is appropriately attenuated, is reproduced from the front left and right channel speakers 7 and 9, so that the listener 11 can feel a surround sound.

Now, the gist of the present invention is that such an operation is selected depending on the number of output devices connected to the system, and this operation will be explained next.

The output of the signal processing circuit 112 is sent to the adder 114 and the adder I.
[The switch 113 selects whether or not to transmit the output of the signal processing circuit lT15 to the adder 114 and the adder l117.[16, both switches output Device confirmation button 1
8.

This output device confirmation button 18 is, for example, a "stereo" button 19. and a center button 20 as shown in FIG.
．． and a "rear" button 21. By designating the "center" button 20, the switch 113 becomes conductive, and by designating the "rear button 21, the switch T116 becomes conductive. The stereo buttons 19 are provided for confirmation and are not necessary. These switches are installed on the front panel or other panel surface of the device to allow the user to check the connection status of the amplifier or speakers. Operate the buttons accordingly.

In addition, in the above embodiment, three buttons arranged on the front of the device are shown as the output device confirmation button 18, but this is the third button.
As shown in the figure, the output connection button 22 corresponds to the output bin jack 23 which is the output for the amplifier normally located on the back of the device.
The operator may operate the corresponding button for each one connected to the output bin jack.

Further, this type of device has an internal amplifier, and the output form may be a speaker output rather than a pin jack due to the cost of the device. In such a device, as shown in FIG. 4, the output connection button 2 corresponding to the speaker output 24 is
2 and operate in the same manner to obtain the same effect.

In addition, in devices equipped with the above-mentioned bottle jack, the same effect can be achieved even if the output connection button is not operated manually, but the switch is automatically activated when the bottle jack is inserted. Obtainable.

Further, in the above embodiment, one output device, that is, a speaker is connected to each audio channel, but the present invention may be applied to a plurality of output devices or speakers.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a button for confirming the connection of an audio output device is disposed so that an unconnected audio channel signal can be distributed to an already connected audio channel signal, so that a multi-channel audio playback device can be configured. This allows you to hear audio from all channels even when the channels are not 100% complete.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a multi-channel audio playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an output device confirmation button in this invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing this output device confirmation button. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the button, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of this output device confirmation button, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional multi-channel audio playback device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an excerpt of audio signal broadcast format variations in high-definition television broadcasting. 1...HDTV tuner, 2...audio demodulation circuit, 3
5... Amplifier, 7.9... Speaker, 11... Listener, 12... Signal processing circuit I, 13... Switch I, 14... Adder ■, 15... Signal Processing circuit ■,
16...Switch ■, 17...Adder ■, 18...
・Output device confirmation button, 19 is stereo button, 20 is center button 1 2 button, 21 is rear button, 22 is output connection button, button,
23 is the output pin jack, 24 is the speaker output. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An audio demodulation circuit that handles multi-channel audio signals,
A multi-channel audio playback device comprising an audio output device that amplifies the power of the audio signal and plays the audio signal, the audio signal of a channel to which a corresponding audio output device is not connected among the audio signals output from the audio demodulation circuit is processed. a signal processing circuit that passes or blocks the output of the signal processing circuit; a signal processing circuit that passes or blocks the output of the signal processing circuit; an audio signal of a channel to which a corresponding audio output device is connected among the audio signals output from the audio demodulation circuit; an adder that receives the outputs of the audio signals as input, adds them together, and outputs the result to the corresponding audio output device; and an adder that recognizes the number of audio output devices connected in the system, and adds the sum and outputs the result to the corresponding audio output device; an operating means for opening and closing the switch, and when the number of audio output devices connected in the system is less than the number of audio signal channels, the audio signal of the channel to which the corresponding audio output device is not connected is provided. A multi-channel audio reproducing device, characterized in that the audio signal is reproduced by an audio output device for reproducing audio signals of other channels.