JPH03276911A - Sound volume adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for or to reduce the sound volume setting by the user by adopting the constitution such that a reproduction sound volume is automatically adjusted based on data relating to a time and a sound volume stored in a storage means. CONSTITUTION:At application of power to a receiver 1, a CPU 22 in an arithmetic processing section 20 starts an initial setting program stored in a program ROM 25, reads current time data from a clock circuit 24 and reads data relating to a sound volume setting for the time band from a storage means 26. when the user operates sound volume keys 11, 12 of an operation section 10, the CPU 22 drives a sound volume adjustment means 6 to obtain designated reproduction sound volume by the operation and updates and stores the data relating to the designated reproduction sound volume as data relating to the sound volume setting for the time zone.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a volume control device that can reduce volume setting operations of volume control means such as a volume control device.

(Prior Art) In television and radio receivers, the user sets the playback volume by operating the volume directly or via a remote control device or the like. Even in street broadcasts and guidance broadcasts at station platforms, hospitals, and other public facilities, the person making the broadcast adjusts the playback volume.

(Problem M that the invention seeks to solve) On the other hand, the playback volume of a television or radio receiver is determined by the user's preference, the environmental sound of the installation location, ambient noise, etc. In many cases, there are certain trends depending on the time of day, such as a slightly louder volume in the evening to night for the whole family to enjoy, and a lower volume in the middle of the night.

Furthermore, the broadcast volume is often adjusted depending on the time of day in street broadcasts, information broadcasts in public facilities, and the like.

It is cumbersome to perform this operation every day to adjust the volume depending on the time of day.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a volume control device that can minimize the number of volume setting operations performed by the user.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to solve the problem, the volume control device according to claim 1 stores data related to the volume setting of the volume control means and data related to time in correspondence in the storage means. With,
The volume control device according to claim 2, further comprising an arithmetic processing unit that controls the playback volume based on the stored data, when a change input is made to the playback volume, the volume control device adjusts the playback volume according to the change input. The volume control device according to claim 3, further comprising an arithmetic processing unit that drives the volume control means to maintain a specified playback volume for a preset time period, Calculate the average playback volume data for the band and update and store this average playback volume data in the storage means, or set the basic volume data based on the average playback volume data and data related to the already stored volume setting. The volume control device according to claim 4, further comprising a calculation processing section that calculates the basic volume data by performing a correction calculation and updates and stores this basic volume data in the storage means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a calculation processing unit that performs a preset calculation based on such data and current playback volume data, and drives the volume adjustment means based on predicted volume data obtained by this calculation.

(Function) In the volume control device according to the first aspect, the playback volume at that time is automatically set based on the data stored in the storage means. Therefore, the user's volume setting operation is unnecessary or reduced.

The volume control device according to claim 2 is such that even in an automatic volume control state where the playback volume is set based on the data stored in the storage means, if the user performs a volume setting operation, the operation is performed. Priority is given to playback at the volume set by the operation for a preset time.

The volume control device according to claim 3 calculates the average playback volume for each preset time slot, and calculates the average playback volume data for each preset time slot, or the data related to the volume setting for that time slot up to the previous day. The corrected volume data obtained based on the average playback volume data is updated and stored in the storage means. Therefore, the volume setting operations performed for each time period are learned, and as the learning progresses, the number of volume setting operations decreases or becomes unnecessary.

The volume control device according to claim 4 is configured to calculate the predicted volume data based on both the data related to the stored volume setting and the current playback volume data. Even if the volume differs significantly, the volume can be automatically adjusted while maintaining the continuity of the volume change.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a receiver equipped with a volume control device according to the present invention.

The receiver 1 selects a desired frequency from among the broadcast waves received by the antenna 2 using a tuner circuit 3, amplifies it using an intermediate frequency amplification circuit 4, detects it using a detection circuit 5, extracts the audio signal, and outputs the audio signal. The audio signal is input to a low frequency amplification circuit 7 via a volume control means 6 for power amplification, and a speaker 8 is driven to reproduce the audio signal. The receiver 1 also includes an operation section 10 for setting the volume, an arithmetic processing section 20 for controlling the playback volume by driving the volume adjustment means 6 based on command input from the operation section 10, etc. It also includes a volume adjustment device 9 comprising a volume display section 30 for visually displaying the set volume.

The volume control means 6 is composed of an electronic volume. In this embodiment, the volume setting output data A output from the volume control device 9 is latched by a latch circuit 9a, and the D/A is configured to vary the human resistance 6C and feedback resistance 6d of the operational amplifier 6b based on the latched data. It consists of an electronic volume with a conversion function. In addition, this volume adjustment means 6
may be composed of a D/A converter that generates a DC voltage corresponding to the volume setting output data A, and a voltage control amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DC voltage. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a motor or the like is driven based on the volume setting output data A, and a rotating or sliding type variable resistor is operated via a gear mechanism or the like.

The operation unit 10 includes keys 11.1 for increasing and decreasing the volume.
2, various function keys 13, and a numeric keypad 14.

The arithmetic processing unit 20 includes a key manual processing circuit 21 and a CPU 22.
, an output interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as output I/F circuit) 23, a clock circuit 24, a program ROM 25, and a storage means 26. Note that the CPU 22 may be a one-chip microcomputer incorporating a program ROM 25, a storage means 26, and the like. CPU
22 and each circuit 21, 23 to 26 are connected via a bus.

The key manual processing circuit 21 scans the various keys 11 to 14 provided on the operation unit 10, detects key presses, removes chattering, and detects multiple key presses, and provides valid operation input information B to the CPU 22. It is configured like this.

The output 1/F circuit 23 transmits the volume setting output data A outputted from the CPU 22 to the volume adjusting means 26, and also transmits the volume setting output data A and other data such as time-related data C to the volume display section 30. It is configured to transmit to.

The volume display section 30 includes a volume display interface circuit 31 (
(hereinafter referred to as a volume display 1/F circuit) and a display 32. The volume display 1/F circuit 31 is connected to the arithmetic processing section 2.
It is provided with a circuit that latches various data A and C output from 0 and a circuit that drives the display 32 in accordance with the latched data. The display 32 is configured to visually display values related to time and volume using, for example, a 7-segment light emitting diode display with a plurality of digits. Note that the volume display section 30 may be configured to display the current set volume in the form of a bar graph. Furthermore, a television receiver or the like may be configured to include a CRT display control circuit or the like to display these on the CRT screen.

Next, the operation of the volume control device according to claims 1 and 2 will be explained. In addition, in this embodiment, the volume is automatically adjusted in 30-minute management units, and if the user stops operating the volume, the volume specified by the operation is maintained for that time period, and A case in which the playback volume specified by this operation is stored will be explained. It is also assumed that the storage means 26 stores data related to volume settings for each time period.

When the receiver 1 is powered on, the C in the arithmetic processing section 20
The PU 22 starts the initial setting program stored in the program RoM 25, reads the current time data from the clock circuit 24, and reads data related to the volume setting for that time period from the storage means 26. Then, the CPU 22 provides the volume setting output data A to the volume adjustment means 6 and the volume display unit 30 via the output I/F circuit 23 based on the data related to the volume setting for that time period, and sets the playback volume and Perform display.

In addition, the CPU 22 periodically monitors the time and interrupts the CPU 22 when a new time zone enters, or when the clock circuit 24 is configured to interrupt the CPU 22 every 30 minutes. When there is a playback volume, the data relating to the volume setting for a new time period is read from the storage means 26 and the reproduction volume is set. Therefore, if the data stored in the storage means 26 is such that an appropriate playback volume can be obtained in each time period, the user does not have to manually adjust the volume.

When the user operates the volume keys 11 and 12 of the operation unit 10, the CPU 22 drives the volume adjustment means 6 to achieve the playback volume specified by this operation, and also outputs data related to the time when this operation was performed and the volume setting. Data related to C
It is stored in a register within the PU 22 or in a specific area of the storage means 26. And the volume! If the volume is not changed for a predetermined period of time, for example, 5 minutes after the first verse operation is performed, the data related to the playback volume specified by the volume adjustment operation is used as the data related to the volume setting for that time period. The updated information is stored in the storage means 26. therefore,
If you want to play back at the same volume the next day, there is no need to adjust the volume. In this embodiment, when the volume adjustment 'ifJ operation is performed, the volume set thereby is valid only for that time period, and when a new time period begins, the storage means 2
It is configured to play at the volume stored in 6.

However, the CPU 22 is configured to drive the volume adjusting means 6 in a plurality of steps so that the volume at this time increases or decreases slowly.

Further, the volume control device 9 has a volume setting mode, and in this volume setting mode, the time zone and volume can be input using the function keys 13 and the numeric keypad 14, and these data can be stored in the storage means 26. can. In addition, the arithmetic processing unit 2
0 holds the currently playing volume if the storage means 26 does not store data related to the volume setting for the corresponding time period, and if no volume adjustment operation is performed during that time period. , the data related to the volume is stored in the storage means 26.
It is configured to be stored in Further, the volume adjustment device 9 is configured not to update the data related to the volume setting in the storage means 26 even if a volume adjustment operation is performed while the volume adjustment device 9 is set in the non-learning mode. In addition, in the learning mode, in addition to updating and storing the playback volume set by the volume adjustment operation as data related to the volume setting from the next day onwards, the difference between the already stored volume and the volume specified by the volume adjustment operation is The stored volume can be corrected by a value multiplied by a predetermined coefficient (e.g. station) and updated and stored, or if the difference exceeds a preset value, a limit can be placed on the value that can be updated and stored. It may also be configured to prevent extreme changes in volume.

Next, embodiments according to claims 3 and 4 will be described.

The configuration of the volume control device 9 is as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the average value of the playback volume is calculated for each time period with one hour from 00 minutes to 59 minutes of every hour as a management unit, and this average value and the information for that time period already stored in the storage means 26 are used. A predetermined calculation is performed based on the data up to the previous day, and basic volume data for determining the playback volume in that time period on the next day is determined. Then, this basic volume data is updated and stored in the storage means 26, and each time a new time zone enters, a predicted volume is calculated based on the data related to the playback volume up to that point and the basic volume data of the time zone into which it has entered. The playback volume is determined by calculation and set.

In addition, when the user performs a volume adjustment operation, the volume set by the operation is maintained at least for the time period, and even if a new time period starts, the volume cannot be used for, for example, 30 minutes from the time of the volume adjustment operation. The system is configured to give priority to the user's intention and maintain the volume set by the operation. Furthermore, users often adjust the volume too high or too low in a relatively short period of time to achieve the desired volume, so when calculating the average playback volume for that time period, it is important to note that the same volume is For example, if the duration continues for 10 minutes or more, it is considered valid data, and if it continues for less than 10 minutes, it is not used as data for calculating the average playback volume.

Additionally, in this embodiment, the playback volume is automatically corrected at 00:00 every hour, but if a new time zone enters before 30 minutes have passed since the previous volume setting, The playback volume is configured to be corrected when 30 minutes have elapsed.

Here, the explanation will proceed assuming that basic sound volume data is already stored in the storage means 26 for each time period. Note that the initial value setting of the basic sound volume data will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing changes in playback volume over a certain time period.

In FIG. 2, the vertical axis indicates the value of data related to volume setting (hereinafter simply referred to as set volume), and this value corresponds to the playback volume (sound pressure).

This figure shows that the volume is set at 20 from 7:00 pm to 7:18 pm.
, and volume adjustment operations were performed to change the set volume to 21 and 23 at 7:18 and 7:19, respectively.
At 7:20, an operation was performed to change the set volume to 15. Further, the volume was adjusted at 7:45, 47, and 50 minutes, and the time reached 8 PM.

The CPU 22 of the arithmetic processing unit 20 records the operation time every time the volume key 11 or 12 of the operation unit 10 is operated.
2, or press the volume key 11.1.
Every time 2 is operated, a soft timer in the CPU 22 is restarted, and when a new volume key 11.12 is operated, the time that the previous volume was set is determined and the time is 10 minutes. In the above case, data relating to the set volume and the time during which playback was performed at the set volume is stored in a storage area in the storage means 26 for calculating the average volume. Then, at 8 PM, the CPU 22 sequentially reads data from the storage area and calculates average volume data for this time period.

In the case of Figure 2, from 7:18 to 20 minutes and from 45 minutes to 5
Since the time for which the same volume was set up to 0 minutes is less than 10 minutes, the CPU 22 calculates the average playback volume for this time period based on the set volume for the time excluding 0 minutes. Find (WAVE)+7. If the basic volume data VOLD stored in the storage means 26 is 18, the CPU 22 calculates the basic volume data VNEW for that time period on the next day by calculating the following equation.

VNEW = VOLD 10K (VNEW - VOLD) Here, the constant is how much of the difference between the average playback volume data on the last day and the basic volume data (VOLD) calculated up to yesterday is included in the next day's basic volume data VNEW. This is a constant that determines whether to reflect.

For example, if =06, then in the case of the volume change shown in FIG.

Then, the CPU 22 reads the basic volume data (VOLD) of the new time zone (time zone of 8 PM) from the storage means 26, and combines this data (VOLD) with the current set volume data (VOLD).
Based on NOW), the following equation is calculated to calculate predicted volume data (VNEXT) for a new time slot (8 PM).

VNEXT = (VPM8-VNOW) XKK+V
NOW, that is, the playback volume is corrected by the difference between the current playback volume (VNOW) and the basic volume data (VOLD) of the entered time period multiplied by the coefficient KK.

For example, in the above case, the basic volume data (VOLD) at 8 PM is 12, and the current playback volume (VNOW) is 1.
8. If the coefficient KK is 0.2, VNEXT = (12
-18) Xo, 2 +18417.

The average playback volume (VAVE) is calculated based on the basic volume data (vot, D) for that time period and the current playback volume (VAVE).
NOW) may be calculated based on the difference (volume change amount).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the volume control device.

First, when the power is turned on to the receiver 1 etc. equipped with this volume control device 9, the arithmetic processing unit 20 reads the basic volume data (VOLD) of the time period from the storage means 26 based on the current time. to initialize the playback volume (S
1). Note that the previous playback volume (the playback volume when the power was turned off) may be used as the initial setting volume.

The arithmetic processing unit 20 monitors whether the volume adjustment operation has been performed (S2), and when the volume adjustment operation has been performed, the calculation processing unit 20 uses a register or the like in the CPU 22 to count the retention time of the volume. After starting the volume retention timer (S3), the CPU 22 monitors the time the same volume is set (S4), and if the same volume continues for more than a preset time (10 minutes in this embodiment) teeth,
Continue data acquisition for calculating average playback volume (S5)
.

Then, when entering a new time zone (56), CP
U22 calculates basic volume data and updates the calculated basic volume data (S7). Next, when entering a new time zone, the CPU 22 determines whether a preset time (30 minutes in this embodiment) has elapsed since the previous volume adjustment operation based on the count value of the volume maintenance timer. 58), if it has elapsed, the predicted volume for that time period will be calculated at the time when the new time zone has entered, and if it has not elapsed, the predicted volume for that time period will be The calculation is performed, and the volume adjusting means 6 is driven to achieve the predicted volume (S9), and then the volume holding timer is stopped (S10).

In addition, in this embodiment, when the user performs a volume adjustment operation, the volume set by that operation is maintained during that time period, but after a predetermined period of time from that operation during that time period. It may be configured such that when the time elapses, the predicted volume is calculated and set to the predicted volume.

Next, the initial value setting of the basic volume data will be explained.

In this embodiment, when the power is first turned on to the volume control device 9 or when reset manual power is applied to the CPU 22, the CPU 22 executes an initial setting process and stores each time period in the storage means 26. The configuration is such that basic volume data set in advance is written as the system initial value for each time. After writing the system initial value, for example, for about 5 days, only basic volume data is accumulated without calculating the predicted volume or adjusting the volume based on the calculation result (initial learning period), and then It is configured to perform control. Note that there is no particular need to provide an initial learning period.

As explained above, in this example, the coefficient K (K < 1) is used when calculating the basic volume data, and the coefficient KK (KK < 1) is used when calculating the predicted volume data. The learning effect can be adjusted by adjusting the size of the size.

Also, if these coefficients are set large, the amount of updates to the basic volume data and the amount of change in volume when changing the time zone will become large, so set upper limits for the amount of update and amount of change in volume, It may be configured to limit the amount of change and ensure continuity of change.

Although each embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the volume of the receiver is adjusted, the volume adjustment device according to the present invention can be used in television receivers, various audio equipment, broadcasting devices, and the like.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the volume control device according to claim 1 is configured to automatically adjust the playback volume based on the data related to the time and volume stored in the storage means.
The user's volume setting operation is unnecessary or reduced.

The volume control device according to claim 2 is configured to give priority to one manual volume setting operation even in the automatic playback volume adjustment state, so that the user's set volume is secured for a preset time and is stored thereafter. The playback is performed at a volume based on the data stored in the means. Therefore, even if the volume is temporarily changed at the user's will, there is no need to reset the volume afterwards.

The volume control device according to claim 3 obtains an average playback volume for each time period, and performs a correction calculation based on this average playback volume data or this average playback volume data and data related to the volume setting up to the previous day. Since the device is configured to update and store the corrected volume data obtained by the user, the user's volume settings are learned, and as the learning progresses, the number of volume setting operations is reduced or becomes unnecessary.

The volume control device according to claim 4 is configured to calculate the predicted volume data based on the data related to the volume setting stored in the storage means and the current playback volume data, so that the continuity of the change in the playback volume is improved. can be kept.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a receiver equipped with a volume control device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of changes in playback volume, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the volume control device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Receiver, 6...Volume adjustment means, 9...Volume adjustment device, 10... Operating unit, 20... Arithmetic processing unit,
22...CPU, 24...Clock circuit, 26...Storage means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) The data related to the volume setting of the volume adjustment means and the data related to the time are stored in a storage means in association with each other, and the volume adjustment means is adjusted based on the data related to the volume and time stored in the storage means. 1. A volume control device comprising: a calculation processing section that is driven to control a playback volume. (2) The arithmetic processing unit is configured to give priority to the change input when a playback volume change input is made, and thereby maintain the specified playback volume for a preset time. 1. The volume control device according to 1. (3) The arithmetic processing unit performs the following operations in each preset time period:
Based on the data related to the volume setting and the time that the volume was set, the average playback volume data for that time period is calculated, and the average playback volume data or the data related to the already stored volume setting and the average playback are calculated. 3. The volume adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the basic volume data obtained by performing a predetermined correction calculation based on the volume data is updated and stored in the storage means. (4) The arithmetic processing section performs a preset calculation based on the data related to the volume setting stored in the storage means and the current playback volume data, and based on the predicted volume data obtained by this calculation. 4. The volume control device according to claim 3, wherein the volume control device is configured to drive the volume control means.