JP2000075871A - Voice reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice reproducing device that the sound volume of a guide is made small when a operator becomes accustomed to the operation and the operation is conducted without feeling troublesome for the voice guide and feeling harsh, by providing a means to adjust the sound volume of the guide by voice. SOLUTION: A recording medium 11, into which voice information is recorded in a random access possible manner, is mounted on a voice reproducing device 30. The device 30 reproduces the voice information read from the medium 11 as voice and conducts a guide by voice for every necessary operation including the retrieval operation that retrieves the voice information recorded in the medium 11. The device 30 is provided with sound volume adjusting sections 32 and 36 which adjust only the sound volume of the voice guide independent of the reproduced sound volume of the voice information read from the medium 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio reproducing apparatus for reading audio information from a recording medium and reproducing it as audio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A CD-ROM can be mentioned as an example of a storage medium in which audio information is recorded so as to be randomly accessible. Among audio playback devices for playing CD-ROM discs, an audio text information playback device is developed as a substitute for a cassette tape that can only be accessed sequentially, especially for the visually impaired or the like to enjoy reading comfortably. It was done. Such a method of using the text information reproducing apparatus should not be limited to a blind person. For example, the instruction manuals of various electric devices that need to be read can be stored on a CD-ROM. If necessary, it becomes possible to directly access and read a necessary place at random, so that usability is greatly improved. In addition, even in the case of a general literature book, how many minutes after the recording start position of the text information recorded on the CD-ROM, such as the chapter, the section, or the page, for each layer of the chapter, section, section, etc. It is possible to freely directly access an arbitrary reproduction position from various different directions, thereby improving usability.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a text information reproducing apparatus 10 as an example of an audio reproducing apparatus, and an outline of the operation will be described. In this example, the recording medium that can be randomly accessed will be described using a CD-ROM, but other than this, a floppy disk,
There is an IC card configured with a semiconductor storage element such as a RAM. A CD-ROM disk (hereinafter simply referred to as a disk) 11 is mounted in a disk mounting section 12.
The sentence information data recorded by the optical pickup 14 is read from the disk 11 in the disk mounting unit 12. The sentence information data read by the optical pickup 14 is input to the demodulation circuit 16. In this demodulation circuit 16, when writing to the disk 11, the EFM
(Eight to Fourteen Modula
(tion) EFM demodulation of the modulated data. The EFM modulation is always performed when data is written on a CD-ROM, and the time of long pits or no pits on the tracks of the disk 11 is long by changing the order of the original data before writing. This is performed so as not to be provided, and is intended to facilitate reading when reading by an optical pickup. The sentence information data demodulated by the demodulation circuit 16 is
D / A for D / A (digital / analog) conversion
The signal is input to the converter 18. D / A converter 1
At step 8, the digital data read from the disk 11 is converted into analog data.

The text information data converted into analog data by the D / A converter 18 is input to an amplifier circuit 19. The amplifying circuit 19 amplifies input text information data. The amplified text information data is input to the volume controller 20. The volume controller 20 is connected to a volume 21 that can be adjusted by the user, and adjusts the volume so that the text information can be heard from the speaker 22 at the volume adjusted by adjusting the volume 21. The sentence information data whose volume has been adjusted
The sound is output from the speaker 22 as sound.

In the text information reproducing apparatus 10, a voice guide (hereinafter simply referred to as a voice guide) is used.
Is performed each time various operations such as a search operation for searching for text information data recorded in the disk 11 are performed when the disk 11 is attached or detached. As described above, since the voice guidance is performed, even when a person who is visually impaired is operating the text information reproducing apparatus 10, the state in which the apparatus 10 is currently operating is described. Since the judgment is easy, the usability can be improved. The guide content (voice guide data) of the voice guide is stored in the ROM 24 as digital data. The output of the voice guide data from the ROM 24 is performed by the control unit 26. That is, when the control unit 26 detects the attachment / detachment of the disk 11, the search operation for searching the text information recorded in the disk 11, the occurrence of an emergency, or various other operations by the user, the audio guide corresponding to each operation is provided. Select data and store the corresponding voice guide data in ROM 24
Withdraw from The voice guide data extracted from the ROM 24 is input to the D / A converter 29. The D / A converter 29 converts the audio guide data into analog data. The voice guide data that has passed through the D / A converter 29 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 23 and output from the speaker 27 as voice.

Next, an example of the contents of the voice guide will be described.
For example, when the user presses any key (not shown) while the disc 11 is not inserted into the mounting section 12 of the text information reproducing apparatus 10, a voice guide saying "there is no disc" is played. . Also, the disk 11
When a reading error of the disk 11 occurs during the reproduction of the audio data, an audio guide "Read error" is played. Furthermore, not only guides as audio,
A beep sound such as “beep” or “push” is also included in the concept of the audio guide here. Many other types of contents of the voice guide are stored in the ROM 24, but the description of the contents of the other guides is omitted here.

[0007]

In the above-described audio reproducing apparatus, when a disc is attached or detached or various operations are performed, an audio guide is provided for each operation. However, there is a problem that, when the user becomes accustomed to the operation, the user may feel annoying or annoying when a voice guide flows every time the operation is performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem. An object of the present invention is to reduce the volume of the guide when the user is used to the operation by providing the volume of the voice guide so as to be adjustable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sentence information reproducing apparatus which can be operated without troublesome and unpleasant voice guidance.

[0009]

The present invention has the following arrangement to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, according to the audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the storage medium in which the audio information is recorded in a randomly accessible manner is mounted, and the audio information read from the storage medium is reproduced as audio, and when the recording medium is attached or detached. In a sound reproducing apparatus that performs voice guidance at every necessary operation including a search operation for searching for sound information recorded in the recording medium, the sound reproduction apparatus is independent of the reproduction volume of the sound information read from the recording medium. And a guide volume control unit that controls only the volume of the guide by voice. By adopting this configuration, even if the user is accustomed to the operation of the audio playback device, adjustment can be performed to reduce only the volume of the audio guide, so that the audio guide is not bothersome and annoying. I can't feel it. In addition, since a control unit is provided for detecting the reproduction volume of the audio information and setting the volume of the guide by the audio so as not to exceed the reproduction volume level of the detected audio information, the reproduction of the audio information is prevented. The audio guide can be played without the need. Further, the guide by voice in the event of an emergency cannot be adjusted by the guide volume control unit, and is provided so that the volume is controlled by the reproduction volume control unit that controls the reproduction volume of the audio information read from the recording medium. Therefore, even when the volume of the voice guide is considerably reduced, the user can be surely aware of the occurrence of an emergency. In addition, the guide volume control unit includes:
Even when the volume of the sound guide is adjusted to the minimum volume, the sound guide is set so as not to be in a silence state. Mistakes can be reduced.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an audio reproducing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration of the audio reproducing apparatus will be described based on the block diagram. Further, as the audio reproduction apparatus described here, a text information reproduction apparatus using voice will be described in the same manner as that described in the related art. Note that the same components as those of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. First, the flow of text information data read from the disk 11 of the text information reproducing device 30 will be described. The sentence information data read from the disk 11 is converted into analog data through a demodulation circuit 16 and a D / A converter 18, and is converted into analog data.
After being amplified by, input to the volume controller 32.

Next, the flow of the voice guide data extracted from the ROM will be described. Voice guide data, which is the guide content of the voice guide, is stored in the ROM 24. The control unit 26 connected to the ROM 24 detects various operations and the like, selects voice guide data corresponding to the detected operations, and stores the corresponding voice guide data in the ROM 2.
Withdraw from 4. The voice guide data extracted from the ROM 24 is converted to analog data via a D / A converter 29. The audio guide data converted to analog data is amplified by the amplifier circuit 23 and then input to the volume controller 32.

The volume controller 32 is a component provided so as to be capable of independently controlling the volume of a plurality of input audio signals. That is, two volumes, a main volume 34 and a guidance volume 36, are connected to the volume controller 32, and the volume can be adjusted for the sentence information data and the voice guide data, respectively. Note that the guide volume control unit is a concept including the volume controller 32 and the guidance volume 36. Also, the playback volume adjustment unit
The concept includes a volume controller 32 and a main volume 34. The sentence information data whose volume has been adjusted by the volume controller 32 is output as audio from the speaker 22, and
The voice guide data whose volume has been adjusted by 2 is output from the speaker 27 as voice. Thus, the volume controller 32 and the guidance volume 36
Is provided, so that not only the sentence information but also the volume of the voice guide can be adjusted. When the user is accustomed to the operation of the text information reproducing apparatus 30, the volume of the voice guide is adjusted and the voice guide is adjusted. Can be prevented from being bothered.

Here, the volume controller 32 according to the present embodiment also has a control means capable of linking the volume of the voice guide with the volume of the sentence information. That is, the volume controller 32 can detect the volume of the current text information set by the main volume 34 and can set the detected volume of the text information to be the maximum volume of the voice guide. However,
Strictly speaking, in this embodiment, the set value of the main volume 34 is detected instead of detecting the volume of the sentence information. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
The vertical axis indicates the volume level [dB], and the horizontal axis indicates the adjustment range of each volume. In this embodiment, the main volume 34 can be adjusted in 32 steps, and the maximum value of the main volume 34 is indicated by 32 values on the horizontal axis. The guidance volume 36 can be adjusted in eight steps. The value A on the horizontal axis is the current set value of the main volume 34. When setting the adjustment range of the volume level of the guidance volume 36, the volume controller 32 detects the value A on the horizontal axis and sets the guidance volume 3
Assuming that the maximum value of the setting range of 6 is A, the volume is set in 8 steps from A to the direction in which the volume level decreases.
In other words, the volume of the guidance volume 36 can be adjusted in a range of eight stages below A (the range indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 2). In this case, the guidance volume 36
Can be set at the position of the B stage within the range of the oblique line. As described above, since the maximum volume of the voice guide is set so as not to exceed the volume of the current text information, the content of the text information can be prevented from being disturbed by the voice guide.

The volume controller 32 is set so that the volume does not become 0 even when the guidance volume 36 for determining the volume of the voice guide is set to the minimum volume. That is, as shown in FIG.
Assuming that the current setting value of the main volume 34 is A ',
The setting range of the sound volume level of the guidance volume 36 is a range in which the sound volume level is lowered by eight steps from A '.
If ≦ 8 (the shaded portion in FIG. 2), the minimum value of the setting range of the volume level of the guidance volume 36 should be 0, and the volume should also be 0. However, if the volume of the voice guide is completely reduced to 0, the current operation contents and the like become unclear, no matter how much the user may become accustomed to the operation. Certainty cannot be ensured. Therefore, even when the setting of the guidance volume 36 is minimized, the predetermined set value C is set at a position corresponding to the minimum volume of the voice guide so that the volume level does not become 0.

Further, the voice guide at the time of occurrence of an emergency may not be provided to be adjustable by the guidance volume 36, but may be adjusted by the main volume 34. That is, when detecting the occurrence of an emergency, the control unit 26 extracts voice guide data corresponding to the generated emergency from the ROM 24, and transmits the voice guide data to the volume controller 32 via the D / A converter 29. The control unit 26 controls the volume so that the volume of the voice guide transmitted from the D / A converter 29 on the voice guide side via the amplifier circuit 23 to the speaker 27 at the volume set by the main volume 34. The controller 32 is instructed. As described above, by adjusting the volume of the voice guide at the time of occurrence of an emergency by the main volume 34, even when the volume of the voice guide is considerably reduced by the guidance volume 36, the user is notified of the emergency. The occurrence can always be notified. Examples of such emergencies are "unreadable disc" when a non-playable disc is inserted into the disc mount, "read error" when a disc reading error occurs, and when the battery level is low. "Battery depleted" when it becomes, etc. can be given.

FIG. 3 shows a text information reproducing apparatus as another embodiment of the audio reproducing apparatus. Note that the same components as those of the conventional technology and the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the text information reproducing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 3, a volume controller 42 for adjusting the volume of the text information and a volume controller 44 for adjusting the volume of the voice guide are provided separately. The volume controller 42 for adjusting the volume of the sentence information is connected to the main volume 45 and sets the volume. A volume controller 44 for adjusting the volume of the volume guide is connected to a guidance volume 46, and the volume is set. Note that the guide volume control section is a concept including the volume controller 44 and the guidance volume 46. Thus, the volume controller 44 and the guidance volume 4 for adjusting the volume of the voice guide are provided.
6, the volume of the voice guide can be adjusted so as to be reduced independently of the sentence information, so that the operation can be performed without bothering the voice guide and feeling uncomfortable.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it should be noted that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course.

[0018]

According to the audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention, when a recording medium is attached / detached, an audio guide is provided for each necessary operation including a search operation for searching for audio information recorded in the recording medium. The audio playback device that performs the audio playback device includes a guide volume adjustment unit that adjusts only the volume of the audio guide, which can adjust the volume independently of the playback volume of the audio information read from the recording medium. Even if the user becomes accustomed, the user can make adjustments to reduce only the volume of the audio guide, so that the operation can be performed without bothering the user with the audio guide and feeling uncomfortable. In addition, since a control unit is provided for detecting the reproduction volume of the audio information and setting the volume of the guide by the audio so as not to exceed the reproduction volume level of the detected audio information, the reproduction of the audio information is prevented. The audio guide can be played without the need. Furthermore, since the guide by voice in the event of an emergency cannot be adjusted by the guide volume control unit, it is provided so that the volume is controlled by the reproduction volume control unit that controls the reproduction volume of the audio information read from the recording medium. Even when the volume of the voice guide is considerably reduced, the user can be surely aware of the occurrence of an emergency. The guide volume control unit is set so that when the volume of the voice guide is adjusted to the minimum volume, the sound will not be silenced. It is possible to clarify the contents and the like, and to ensure the certainty of the operation especially for the visually impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an audio reproducing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a volume level and an adjustment range of each volume.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of another embodiment of the audio reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a conventional audio reproducing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 disc 12 mounting unit 14 optical pickup 16 demodulation circuit 18 D / A converter 19 amplifying circuit 20 volume controller 22 speaker 23 amplifying circuit 24 ROM 26 control unit 27 speaker 29 D / A converter 30 text information reproducing device 32 volume controller 34 main volume 36 Guidance volume 40 Text information playback device 42 Volume controller 44 Volume controller 45 Main volume 46 Guidance volume

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium on which audio information is recorded so as to be randomly accessible is mounted, and the audio information read from the recording medium is reproduced as audio, and is recorded in the recording medium when the recording medium is attached or detached. A sound reproduction device that performs voice guidance at each required operation including a search operation for searching for sound information, wherein the sound volume can be adjusted independently of the reproduction volume of the sound information read from the recording medium. A sound reproducing device comprising a guide sound volume adjusting unit for adjusting only the sound volume of a guide according to the present invention. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for detecting a reproduction volume of the audio information, and setting a volume of the voice guide so as not to exceed a reproduction volume level of the detected audio information. Item 2. The audio reproducing device according to Item 1. 3. An audio guide in the event of an emergency,
The volume control unit is configured to be unable to be adjusted by the guide volume control unit, and to be controlled by a reproduction volume control unit configured to control a reproduction volume of audio information read from the recording medium. Audio playback device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide sound volume adjusting unit is set so as not to be in a silence state even when the sound volume of the voice guide is adjusted to a minimum sound volume. 3. The audio reproduction device according to 3.