JPH1117473A - Sound volume adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower the sound volume of a TV receiver or the like to an appropriate sound volume by one easy operation of a remote control transmitter. SOLUTION: In order to slightly lower the sound volume of the TV receiver or the like, the 'sound reduction key' of the remote control transmitter 1 is pressed. Signals from the remote control transmitter are received by a light receiving part 2, converted into electric signals and discriminated as the signals of the sound reduction key in a discrimination part 4, the data of a sound reduction rate (for instance, 3 steps in the case that a sound volume adjustment range is 64 steps) are read from a memory part 3 through a control part 11 and sound signals from a terminal 5 are narrowed by a sound volume adjustment part 6 and outputted from a sound output part 7. The data of the memory part can be rewritten to the data from a setting part 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a volume control device, and more particularly to a device for lowering the volume of a TV receiver or the like by a key operation of a remote control device (hereinafter abbreviated as "remote control").

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the volume of a TV receiver or the like is adjusted by operating a remote control key. Some remote controls have a mute key in addition to a volume up / down key. TV
Some receivers and the like are provided with a so-called last memory function for storing setting conditions immediately before the last power-off,
For example, when the power is turned on while a family member is sleeping, the sound is output at the loud volume heard during the day, and the volume down key must be pressed in a hurry, and the loud sound will continue to be emitted until the desired volume is reached There's a problem. Operation of the mute key results in no sound. The same applies to a case where it is desired to quickly reduce the volume for telephone or customer service.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control transmitter with a function of lowering the volume by a key operation in a required step so that sound can be appropriately reduced by one-touch operation.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention adjusts the volume of a TV receiver or the like by operating a key of a remote controller. A noise reduction key, a determination unit that determines a signal of the noise reduction key in a TV receiver, a memory unit that stores a set noise reduction ratio, a volume adjustment unit that performs volume adjustment, Section, a control section for controlling the memory section and the volume adjustment section, read the data of the sound reduction ratio from the memory section based on the signal from the determination section, and reduce the volume at the corresponding rate via the volume adjustment section. It is intended to provide a sound volume control device which has been described.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a volume control device according to the present invention,
A remote control for controlling the volume of a TV receiver or the like is provided with a sound reduction key for lowering a required amount from the current volume, and a TV receiver or the like is provided with a determination unit to determine a signal generated by operating the sound reduction key, and a memory unit. The data of the sound reduction ratio is read out, and the sound volume is reduced at a ratio corresponding to the data by the sound volume adjustment unit. The remote control is provided with a plurality of sound reduction keys so that sound can be reduced at different levels. Alternatively, the stereo identification signal output from the audio signal demodulation circuit of the TV receiver is determined, and the volume is reduced. In this case, the sound volume before the sound reduction is restored by the disappearance of the stereo identification signal, or the sound volume before the sound reduction is restored after the set required time elapses. The variable sound volume based on the determination of the stereo identification signal can be switched by operating a key provided on the TV receiver. The sound reduction ratio stored in the memory unit can be rewritten by operating a setting key.

[0006]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a sound volume adjusting device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of a volume control device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a remote control transmitter for transmitting a signal by infrared rays according to a key operation. 2 and later are provided on the TV receiver,
Is a light receiving section, which receives infrared rays from the remote control transmitter 1,
Convert to electrical signals. Reference numeral 3 denotes a memory unit for storing data of the set sound reduction ratio. Reference numeral 4 denotes a discriminating unit which discriminates a key operated by the remote control transmitter 1 based on a signal from the light receiving unit 2 and discriminates data of a corresponding sound reduction ratio from data read from the memory unit 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a terminal for inputting an audio signal. Reference numeral 6 denotes a sound volume adjustment unit that reduces the sound of the audio signal from the terminal 5 at a ratio based on the signal from the determination unit 4. Reference numeral 7 denotes an audio output unit which outputs audio based on a signal from the volume control unit 6.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a setting unit which is set when data of the sound reduction ratio stored in the memory unit 3 is rewritten. Reference numeral 9 denotes an on-screen processing unit which processes a volume level into a signal for on-screen display based on a signal from the setting unit 8. 10 is a display unit,
On-screen display is performed on the screen of the TV receiver based on the signal from the on-screen processing unit 9. A control unit 11 controls each unit.

Next, the operation of the volume control device according to the present invention will be described. When the user wants to make the volume “slightly lower” while watching the TV receiver, he presses the sound reduction key of the remote control transmitter 1. An infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 1 is received by the light receiving unit 2 of the TV receiver, converted into an electric signal, and converted into an electric signal.
The signal is input to the determination unit 4 via the. Then, data of the sound reduction ratio is read out from the memory unit 3 via the control unit 11, and a signal is output to the volume control unit 6,
The current level of the audio signal from the terminal 5 is narrowed down by a required ratio, and is amplified and output by the audio output unit 7. For example, this volume reduction is 64 when the volume adjustment range of the volume adjustment unit 6 is 0 to 63.
In the case of a step, the sound volume is set so as to be three steps below the current volume. In order to restore the volume, the sound reduction key is pressed again to read out the data of the sound reduction ratio from the memory unit 3, and the sound volume is increased by the sound volume adjustment unit 6 at the corresponding ratio. Return to

The sound reduction ratio stored in the memory unit 3 may be rewritten by a user operation. That is,
The setting unit 8 switches the TV receiver to a "sound reduction setting" mode or the like, and reduces the volume (number of steps) by operating a volume down key or the like.
Is set, and the data in the memory unit 3 is rewritten to this data. In this case, the signal of the volume display is input to the on-screen processing unit 9 by switching to the “sound reduction setting” mode, and is processed into an on-screen display signal such as a number or a scale.
The sound is input to the display unit 10 and displayed on the screen, so that the sound reduction level is set while watching the screen. After inputting the sound reduction data,
When the required time has elapsed, the data in the memory unit 3 is rewritten with new data.

In the above description, the remote control transmitter 1 is provided with one sound reduction key. As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the volume up / down key 21 and the sound reduction key 22, a plurality of sound reduction keys are provided. It may be provided. That is, for example, a “CM” key 23 that lowers the volume by three steps during a commercial broadcast, a “denwa” key 24 that lowers the volume by ten steps so as not to disturb the telephone, and a 13 that does not hinder sleep.
"Oyasumi" key 25 for lowering the step volume. Then, data of a sound reduction ratio corresponding to each of the sound reduction keys (23, 24, 25) is stored in the memory unit 3, and the sound reduction key operated by the determination unit 4 is determined based on a signal from the light receiving unit 2. Then, the corresponding sound reduction ratio is determined based on the data read from the memory unit 3, and the volume adjustment unit 6 determines that the “CM” key 23 has 3 steps, the “Denwa” key 24 has 10 steps, and “ In the case of the "Oyasumi" key 25, the volume is reduced in 13 steps. Press the same key again to return to the original volume. Note that the above is an example in which a plurality of sound reduction keys are provided. However, only one sound reduction key is used. Volume. Note that the number of steps is an example, and is not limited to these values.

[0010] The volume of a TV broadcast is higher in stereo than in monaural. This is particularly remarkable when a surround function is provided and the surround level is increased. Then, the discrimination unit 4 discriminates the stereo identification signal output from the audio signal demodulation circuit of the TV receiver, reads out the sound reduction ratio data (3 steps down, etc.) from the memory unit 3, and adjusts the volume by the volume adjustment unit 6. Lower. Then, when it is determined by the audio signal demodulation circuit that the stereo identification signal has disappeared, the data of the sound reduction ratio is read from the memory unit 3, and the sound volume is increased at the corresponding ratio by the sound volume adjustment unit 6 to return to the sound volume before the sound reduction. . Alternatively, a clock section is provided, and the time is started by the determination of the stereo identification signal by the determination section 4, and the required time (for example,
A signal may be set to be output after the elapse of 30 seconds or the like, and the volume from the clock section may be increased by the volume adjustment section 6 to the volume before sound reduction. This method is useful if the audio of the program is monaural and the audio of the commercial broadcast is stereo.
It helps to keep the volume of commercials from getting too loud compared to the volume of programs. In this case, the discrimination unit 4 is provided in the TV receiver.
A key is provided for setting whether or not to vary the volume according to the determination of the stereo identification signal by the user, so that the key can be selected.

[0011]

As described above, according to the sound volume adjusting device of the present invention, it is difficult to hear the telephone call by the sound of the TV receiver, and immediately after the TV receiver is turned on while the family member is sleeping. When a loud sound is heard, etc., the volume can be lowered to an appropriate volume by one-touch operation of the key of the remote control transmitter.If you want to obtain an appropriate volume without turning off the sound, you need to keep pressing the volume down key Absent. In addition, a device that automatically suppresses an increase in volume when audio is switched from monaural to stereo can prevent sudden increase in volume in commercial broadcasting during a monaural audio program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of a volume control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part of an example of a remote control transmitter of the volume control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control transmitter 2 Light-receiving part 3 Memory part 4 Discrimination part 6 Volume control part 7 Audio output part 8 Setting part 9 On-screen processing part 10 Display part 11 Control part 21-25 Keys of remote control transmitter

Claims (8)

[Claims] An apparatus for adjusting the volume of a TV receiver or the like by operating a key of a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is provided with a sound reduction key for lowering a current volume by a required amount, and the TV receiver and the like are provided. A determination unit that determines a signal of the sound reduction key, a memory unit that stores a set sound reduction ratio, and a volume adjustment unit that performs volume adjustment.
A control unit for controlling the discriminating unit, the memory unit, and a volume adjusting unit; reading data of a sound reduction ratio from the memory unit based on a signal from the discriminating unit; and lowering the volume at a corresponding ratio via the volume adjusting unit. Volume control device. 2. The discrimination section discriminates a stereo identification signal output from an audio signal demodulation circuit of a TV receiver, reads data of a set sound reduction ratio from the memory section, and controls a volume by the volume control section. The volume control device according to claim 1, wherein the volume control device is configured to lower the volume. 3. When the stereo identification signal from the audio signal demodulation circuit disappears, the data of the sound reduction ratio is read from the memory unit, and the sound volume is increased by the sound volume adjustment unit at a ratio corresponding to the data. The volume control device according to claim 2. 4. A clock unit for starting timekeeping by judging the stereo identification signal by the judging unit and outputting a signal when a required time elapses, wherein the signal from the clock unit reduces the time from the memory unit. 3. The sound volume adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the data of the sound ratio is read, and the sound volume is increased by the sound volume adjusting unit at a ratio corresponding to the data. 5. The TV receiver or the like further comprising a key for setting whether or not to change the volume in accordance with the determination of the stereo identification signal by the determination unit. Volume control device. 6. The TV receiver or the like, further comprising a setting section for setting a sound reduction ratio, wherein data in the memory section is rewritten with data from the setting section. The volume control device according to claim 4. 7. The remote control device is provided with a plurality of sound reduction keys for lowering a current volume at a plurality of different levels, and the TV receiver or the like stores a sound reduction ratio corresponding to each of the sound reduction keys. A memory unit is provided, the signal of each sound reduction key is determined by the determination unit, the corresponding sound reduction ratio is determined by data read from the memory unit, and the volume is adjusted by the volume adjustment unit based on the signal from the determination unit. Claim 1 that is lowered
The volume control device described in the above. 8. The remote control device is provided with one sound reduction key, the TV receiver or the like is provided with a memory unit for storing a sound reduction ratio set for each number of times the sound reduction key is operated, and the discrimination unit performs sound reduction. 2. The volume control unit according to claim 1, wherein the number of key operations is determined, a sound reduction ratio corresponding to the number of operations of the sound reduction key is determined from a memory unit, and the volume is reduced by the volume control unit based on a signal from the determination unit. Volume control device.