JP5777154B2 - Mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, a PHS terminal device (Personal Handyphone System), and a PAD (Personal Data Assistance, Personal Digital Assistants).

  In recent years, mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones have become more multifunctional, and there are devices that can watch one-seg broadcasting and listen to downloaded music. Such portable terminal devices generally include a built-in speaker built in the main body and an external I / F unit (external interface unit) for connecting an external audio output device such as an earphone or a headphone. Accordingly, the output destination of the audio signal can be switched between the built-in speaker and the external audio output device. This switching is performed by inserting / removing the plug of the external audio output device to / from the jack (external I / F unit) of the portable terminal device.

  By the way, when switching the output destination of the audio signal from the internal speaker to an external audio output device such as an earphone, the gain is reduced for the external audio output device so as not to damage the user's ear. However, since the level of the audio signal corresponds to the volume value set at the time of switching, if the volume value set at the time of switching is large, the volume output from the external audio output device increases, and the user May surprise you.

  As a technique for solving such a problem, the following technique is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the output destination of an audio signal is switched from the built-in speaker to an external audio output device, the audio signal is once attenuated so that the volume output from the external audio output device is weak. Thereafter, the level of the audio signal is gradually increased until the volume output from the external audio output device becomes a volume corresponding to the volume value set at the time of switching.

JP 2007-134831 A

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, when switching from the internal speaker to the external audio output device, the audio signal is attenuated so that the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device is low. Thus, even when the volume value set at the time of switching is large, a large volume is output from the external audio output device, and the user is not surprised.

  However, in the technique described in the cited document 1, the level of the audio signal is automatically increased until the volume output from the external audio output device becomes a volume corresponding to the volume value set at the time of switching. Therefore, if the set volume value is large, there is a problem that the user may feel that the volume is too high.

[Object of the present invention]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal device that solves the problem that the user may feel that the volume is too high when the output destination of the audio signal is switched from the built-in speaker to the external audio output device. There is to do.

A first portable terminal device according to the present invention includes:
According to the connection state between the external interface unit and the external audio output device, a switching unit that outputs an audio signal to one of the internal audio output device built in the apparatus body and the external interface unit,
When the output destination of the audio signal is switched from the built-in audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit, the level of the audio signal is lowered, and then, among the plurality of buttons constituting the button input unit, A control unit that executes volume increase processing for increasing the level of the audio signal by a predetermined amount in accordance with a button operation of an arbitrary button.

The volume control method according to the present invention includes:
According to the connection state between the external interface unit and the external audio output device, the switching unit outputs an audio signal to one of the internal audio output device built in the apparatus main body and the external interface unit,
When the output unit of the audio signal is switched from the built-in audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit, the control unit reduces the level of the audio signal, and then a plurality of buttons constituting the button input unit A volume increasing process for increasing the level of the audio signal by a predetermined amount according to the button operation of any one of the buttons is executed.

The program according to the present invention is:
According to the connection state between the external interface unit and the external audio output device, a computer including a switching unit that outputs an audio signal to one of the built-in audio output device built in the apparatus body and the external interface unit,
When the output unit of the audio signal is switched from the built-in audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit, the level of the audio signal is lowered, and then, among the plurality of buttons constituting the button input unit, According to the button operation of an arbitrary button, it functions as a control unit that executes volume increase processing for increasing the level of the audio signal by a predetermined amount.

  According to the present invention, when the output destination of the audio signal is switched from the built-in speaker to the external audio output device, the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device can be set to a volume desired by the user with good operability.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the mobile telephone concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the control means 22 when an external audio output device is connected to the external interface unit 9. It is a figure for demonstrating a volume increase process. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the control means 22 when an external audio output device is removed from the external interface unit 9. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of a setting volume memory | storage part. It is the flowchart which showed a different part from the process which 1st Embodiment performs among the processes which the control means 22 performs in 2nd Embodiment.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment of the present invention]
Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a button input unit 1, a control unit 2, a transmission / reception unit 3, an antenna 4, a data storage unit 5, and a signal processing unit. 6, an amplifying unit 7, a switching unit 8, an external interface unit (external I / F unit) 9 such as a plug to which an external audio output device such as an earphone or a headphone is connected, and a speaker built in the mobile phone 10 and a display unit 11 such as an LCD.

  The button input unit 1 is provided with a plurality of buttons such as an on-hook (end) button, an off-hook (start) button, a dial number input button, a selection button, a volume adjustment button, and the like.

  The control unit 2 controls each part of the mobile phone, and the transmission / reception unit 3, the data storage unit 5, the signal processing unit 6, the amplification unit 7, the switching unit 8, the external interface unit 9, and the display unit 11 are connected. Has been. In addition, a push button determination unit 21, a control unit 22, a detection unit 23, and a communication control unit 24 are provided therein.

  The push button determination unit 21 in the control unit 2 has a function of detecting that the button provided in the button input unit 1 has been pressed by the user and passing the press button information indicating the pressed button to the control unit 22. Have.

  The detection unit 23 has a function of detecting that an external audio output device such as an earphone or a headphone is connected to the external interface unit 9.

  The communication control unit 24 performs various controls related to communication with the base station, such as outgoing call control and incoming call control.

  When the detecting unit 23 detects that the external audio output device is connected to the external interface unit 9, the control unit 22 switches the output destination of the audio signal from the speaker 10 to the external interface unit 9 with respect to the switching unit 8. And an output unit information indicating that the output destination is the external interface unit 9 and the output unit information to the amplifying unit 7. Note that the initial volume value may be a value that can set the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device to a level that does not damage the user's ear or surprise the user. Further, every time the push button information is input from the push button determination means 21, the control means 22 performs a volume increase process of instructing the amplifying unit 7 of a volume value that is one step higher than the volume value designated previously. Has the function to perform. However, if no push button information is input from the push button determination unit 21 for a predetermined time, the volume increase process is terminated. Further, the control means 22 has a function of inputting an audio signal to the signal processing unit 6 and displaying data on the display unit 11.

  When the detecting unit 23 detects that the external audio output device has been removed from the external interface unit 9, the control unit 22 determines the output destination of the audio signal from the external interface unit 9 to the speaker 10. And a function for instructing to switch to, and the amplification unit 7 outputs the volume value set at the time of switching from the speaker 10 to the external audio output device and the output destination information indicating that the output destination is the speaker 10 It has the function to do.

  The signal processing unit 6 has a function of converting the digital audio signal input from the control unit 2 into an analog audio signal and outputting the analog audio signal to the amplification unit 7.

  The amplifying unit 7 has a function of amplifying the audio signal input from the signal processing unit 6 with a gain corresponding to the volume value input from the control unit 2 and the output destination information and outputting the amplified signal to the switching unit 8.

  The switching unit 8 has a function of outputting the audio signal supplied from the amplification unit 7 to one of the external interface unit 9 and the speaker 10 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 2.

  The transmission / reception unit 3 has a function of controlling transmission / reception of radio waves with the radio base station. The antenna 4 has a function of actually transmitting and receiving radio waves.

  The control unit 2 can be realized by a CPU (central processing unit). When the control unit 2 is realized by a CPU, for example, the following is performed. A disk, a semiconductor memory, and other recording media recording a program for causing the CPU to function as the control unit 2 are prepared, and the CPU reads the program. The CPU realizes a push button determination means 21, a control means 22, a detection means 23, and a communication control means 24 on its own CPU by controlling its own operation according to the read program.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, an operation when an external audio output device such as an earphone or a headphone is connected to the external interface unit 9 will be described.

  When listening to music using an external audio output device such as an earphone, the user first connects the external audio output device to the external interface unit 9. Thereafter, when increasing the volume of the sound output from the external audio device, an arbitrary button provided in the button input unit 1 is pressed. As will be described later, the volume of the sound output from the external sound output device increases by a predetermined amount each time the user presses the button.

  When the detecting unit 23 detects that an external audio output device is connected to the external interface unit 9, the detecting unit 23 notifies the control unit 22 accordingly.

  Thereby, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the control means 22 indicates to the amplification unit 7 that the initial volume value when the external audio output device is connected and that the output destination of the audio signal is the external audio output device. Output destination information is output (step S21). Thereby, the amplifying unit 7 changes the level of the audio signal so that the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device becomes the volume indicated by the initial volume value.

  Next, the control means 22 instructs the switching unit 8 to switch the output destination of the audio signal from the speaker 10 to the external interface unit 9 (step S22). As a result, the switching unit 8 outputs the audio signal supplied from the amplification unit 7 to the external interface unit 9.

  Thereafter, the control means 22 starts a volume increase processing end timer (VOL timer) (step S23). This VOL timer is used to determine whether or not to end the volume increase process. Further, the time-out period of the VOL timer is not particularly specified here, but it is desirable to set the time so that the user does not feel stress. If the time-out time is too short, the volume increase process ends when the button press interval is longer than the time-out time, so the volume of the sound output from the external audio output device will be increased before reaching the volume desired by the user. There is a high risk that the increase process will end. On the other hand, if the timeout time is too long, all buttons provided in the button input unit 1 are for volume increase processing until the timeout time elapses after the button is last pressed. Therefore, even if the user tries to cause the mobile phone to perform processing other than the volume increase processing (for example, reception channel change processing), there is a high risk that the processing will not be performed. Since there are individual differences in how the stress is felt, it is desirable that the timeout time be settable by the user.

  Thereafter, the control means 22 determines whether or not the volume value output to the amplifying unit 7 is the maximum value (step S24).

  If it is determined that the maximum value is reached (YES in step S24), the control unit 22 stops the VOL timer (step S29), and then ends the volume increase process. Note that, when the volume output from the external audio output device is adjusted after the volume increase process is completed, a volume adjustment button provided on the mobile phone may be operated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the maximum value has not been reached (NO in step S24), it is determined whether or not the VOL timer has timed out (step S25).

  If it is determined that a timeout has occurred (YES in step S25), the volume increase process is terminated after performing the process in step S29 described above. On the other hand, if it is determined that the time-out has not occurred (NO in step S25), it is determined whether or not the user has pressed any button provided in the button input unit 1 (step S26). This determination is performed based on the push button information input from the push button determination unit 21.

  If it is determined in step S26 that the button has not been pressed (NO in step S26), the control unit 22 returns to the process in step S24.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the button is pressed (YES in step S26), a volume value that is one step higher than the volume value output to the previous amplification unit 7 is output to the amplification unit 7. (Step S27). For example, if the volume value previously output to the amplification unit 7 is “level 2”, the volume value “level 3” is output to the amplification unit 7. Accordingly, the amplifying unit 7 increases the level of the audio signal so that the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device corresponds to the volume value “level 3”. Thereafter, the control means 22 restarts the VOL timer (step S28) and returns to the process of step S24. As described above, in the present embodiment, the volume output from the external audio output device can be increased by a predetermined amount simply by the user pressing the arbitrary button provided on the button input unit 1. Compared to the case where the volume can be adjusted only with the volume adjustment button provided on the telephone, the volume of the sound output from the external audio output device can be made as desired by the user with better operation.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with a specific example. Assume that an earphone is connected to the external interface unit 9 while a one-segment broadcasting is being viewed at a volume value “level 8” on a mobile phone having 11 levels of volume values of level 0 to level 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the user connects the earphone to the external interface unit 9 at time t1, the processing in steps S21 and S22 described above is performed, and the output destination of the audio output is switched to the earphone and output from the earphone. The volume of the sound to be played is in accordance with the initial volume value (“level 2” in FIG. 3).

  Thereafter, when the user presses an arbitrary button provided in the button input unit 1 at times t2, t3, t4, and t5, the sound volume output from the earphone is “level 3”, “level 4”, It gradually increases to “level 5” and “level 6” (YES in step S26, S27).

  When the user determines that the volume of the sound output at time t5 is appropriate, the user stops the button operation. When the time-out time of the VOL timer elapses after the button operation is stopped (when step S25 becomes YES), the control means 22 ends the volume increase processing, and thereafter (after time t6), the button input unit 1 Each button provided in the can be used for processing other than volume increase processing.

  Next, an operation when the external audio output device is detached from the external interface unit 9 will be described.

  When detecting the external audio output device from the external interface unit 9, the detecting unit 23 in the control unit 2 notifies the control unit 22 of that fact. As a result, the control unit 22 outputs the volume value when the speaker 10 is the output destination to the amplification unit 7 and also outputs the output destination information indicating that the output destination is the speaker 10 (FIG. 4). Step S41). Thereby, the amplifying unit 7 changes the level of the audio signal so that the volume of the sound output from the speaker 10 becomes the volume indicated by the volume value. The volume value when the speaker 10 is the output destination may be recorded in the data storage unit 5 at the time of switching from the speaker 10 to an external audio output device, for example.

  Thereafter, the control means 22 instructs the switching unit 8 to switch the output destination of the audio signal from the external interface unit 9 to the speaker 10 (step S42). Thereby, the switching unit 8 supplies the audio signal supplied from the amplification unit 7 to the speaker 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the volume value is increased by one step each time the button is pressed. However, the volume value is increased by one step every time the button is continuously pressed for a certain time. You may do it. In the above-described embodiment, the volume increase process is terminated when the volume value reaches the maximum value during the volume increase process. However, the volume value when the speaker 10 is the output destination (see FIG. In the example of FIG. 3, when the volume value “level 8”) is reached, the volume increase process may be terminated. Further, although not described in the above-described embodiment, if the end button (on-hook button) is operated during the volume increase process, the volume increase process may be ended.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when the output destination of the audio signal is switched from the speaker 10 to the external audio output device, the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device can be set to a volume desired by the user with good operability. it can. This is because the control means 22 is provided to increase the volume of the sound output from the external sound output device by a predetermined amount each time the user presses an arbitrary button provided in the button input unit 1. is there.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the volume of the sound output from the external audio output device reaches the volume desired by the user, the volume increasing process is terminated without any special operation by the user. Thus, each button provided in the button input unit 1 can be used in processes other than the volume increase process. The reason is that if the button operation is not performed for a predetermined time (the VOL timer timeout time), the volume increase processing is terminated.

[Second embodiment of the present invention]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  The data storage unit 5 of the present embodiment is provided with a set volume storage unit. In the set volume storage unit, a volume value indicating the volume set by the user for each function that is a function provided in the mobile phone and for which the user can set the volume of the output audio is recorded. ing. FIG. 5 shows an example of the contents of the set volume storage unit. This example shows that the volume values when using the one-segment function, the alarm function, and the incoming call notification function are “8”, “2”, and “4”, respectively.

  Further, in the present embodiment, instead of performing the process of step S21 of FIG. 2, the processes shown in steps S61 to S63 of the flowchart of FIG. 6 are performed.

  In step S61, the control means 22 selects the smallest volume value recorded in the set volume storage unit. If the content of the set volume storage unit is as shown in FIG. 5, the control means 22 selects the volume value “2” set for the alarm function.

  In the next step S 62, the control means 22 outputs the volume value “2” selected in step S 61 and the output destination information indicating that the output destination of the audio signal is the external interface unit 9 to the amplification unit 7. To do.

  In the next step S63, the control means 22 causes the display unit 11 to increase the sound volume by one step each time the button provided on the button input unit 1 is pressed. Can be "or the current volume value (" 2 "in this example) is displayed.

  When the process of step S63 ends, the control means 22 performs the processes after step S22 described above.

[Effect of the second embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when the output destination of the audio signal is switched from the speaker 10 to the external audio output device, the volume of the audio output from the external audio output device first can be made suitable for the user. The reason is that when the output destination of the audio signal is switched to an external audio output device, the level of the audio signal is the smallest volume value among the volume values set by the user for each function that can output audio. This is because the control means 22 corresponding to the above is provided. When the volume of the sound output first when switching from the speaker 10 to the external sound output device is fixedly set, a user who cannot hear well may not be able to hear the sound. On the other hand, since the volume value set by the user is considered to indicate the volume that the user can listen to, the volume of the audio output at the time of switching is set as in this embodiment. By setting the volume corresponding to the smallest volume value among the set volume values, the above problem is eliminated.

  The present invention is preferably applied to a mobile device capable of outputting sound to the outside, such as a mobile phone, PHS, and PDA.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Button input part 2 Control part 3 Transmission / reception part 4 Antenna 5 Data storage part 6 Signal processing part 7 Amplification part 9 External interface part 10 Speaker 11 Display part 21 Press button judgment means 22 Control means 23 Detection means 24 Communication control means

Claims (7)

According to the connection state between the external interface unit and the external audio output device, a switching unit that outputs an audio signal to one of the internal audio output device built in the apparatus body and the external interface unit,
For each of the functions that the device itself has, and for each function for which the user can set the volume of the sound to be output, a storage unit in which a volume value indicating the volume set by the user for that function is recorded;
When the output unit of the audio signal is switched from the built-in audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit, the level of the audio signal is set to the smallest volume among the volume values recorded in the storage unit. A portable terminal device comprising a control unit adapted to correspond to a value . The mobile terminal device according to claim 1,
The control unit sets the level of the audio signal corresponding to the smallest volume value among the volume values recorded in the storage unit, and then arbitrarily selects one of a plurality of buttons constituting the button input unit. A portable terminal device that performs volume increase processing for increasing the level of the audio signal by a predetermined amount according to the button operation of the button . The mobile terminal device according to claim 2 ,
The control unit terminates the volume increase process when a button operation is not performed for a certain period of time. The portable terminal device according to claim 2 or 3 ,
The mobile terminal device, wherein the control unit ends the volume increase process when the level of the audio signal reaches a predetermined level. The mobile terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A display unit; and
The control unit displays a volume increasing method on the display unit when the output unit of the audio signal is switched from the built-in audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit. . For each of the functions provided in the own device and for which the user can set the volume of the sound to be output, a storage unit in which a volume value indicating the volume set by the user for the function is recorded, and a switching unit And a volume control method executed by a mobile terminal device having a control unit,
The switching unit outputs an audio signal to one of the built-in audio output device built in the apparatus body and the external interface unit according to the connection state between the external interface unit and the external audio output device,
When the output unit of the audio signal is switched from the built-in audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit, the control unit sets the level of the audio signal among the volume values recorded in the storage unit. A volume control method characterized by corresponding to the smallest volume value . For each of the functions that the device itself has and for which the user can set the volume of the sound to be output, a storage unit in which a volume value indicating the volume set by the user for that function is recorded, and an external interface depending on the connection between the parts and the external audio output device, a computer and a switching unit for outputting an audio signal to one of the internal audio output device incorporated in the apparatus main body and the external interface unit,
When the output unit of the audio signal is switched from the internal audio output device to the external interface unit by the switching unit, the level of the audio signal is set to the smallest volume value among the volume values recorded in the storage unit. A program for functioning as a control unit to make it compatible with .

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