JP2000114893A - Volume controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent unexpected fluctuation in the control quantity of sound volume or the like caused by the fluctuation or noise in power source. SOLUTION: This device is composed of an operating means 1 capable of slide operation or rotary operation, an operating position detecting means 2 for detecting the operating position of the operating means 1, an arithmetic means 4 for determining the control quantity of a control object based on the operating position detected from the operating position detecting means 2, and a control means 6 for controlling the control object corresponding to that control quantity. In this case, a hysteresis is set between the upward and downward directions of a threshold value for determining the control quantity and further, the threshold value is changed corresponding to the operating position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a volume control device, and more particularly, to a volume control device for adjusting the level of an output signal (for example, adjusting the volume of an audio signal) in an audio mixer, an adjustment table, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A volume control device generally has operating means capable of manually performing a sliding operation, a rotating operation, and the like. A variable resistor is linked to the operating means, and the operating means is operated from the variable resistor. Output the voltage according to the position,
By adjusting the level of an output signal from a radio or television device based on the voltage value, a desired sound volume or the like can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a conventional volume control device used for adjusting the volume of an audio device using an electronic volume.

[0004] In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes operation means, which is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction by manual operation, and instructs the volume at the operation position. A reference voltage _Vref is applied to a variable resistor 12 having a movable contact 13 interlocked with the operating means 11, and a voltage V _IN according to the sliding position of the movable contact 13, that is, the operating position of the operating means 11, is A. / D converter 14.

The voltage V _IN is converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 14, and is converted into a digital value by a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer).
The microcomputer 15 determines the volume value S based on the digital value.
The volume value S is output to the electronic volume 16.

The electronic volume 16 is connected to an auto-radio function 17a, a television function 17b, a CD function 17c, and a cassette function 17d. The level of an output signal from any of these functions is adjusted (volume adjustment).
Is performed by the electronic volume 16 according to the volume value S from the microcomputer 15. That is, the audio volume is adjusted based on the volume value S, and the adjusted volume is output from the speaker 19 via the amplifier 18.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the voltage V _IN and the volume value S (1, 2,...) In the above-described volume control device. Is set to hysteresis. That is, the upward threshold values U ₂ , U ₃ ,... (ΔV = ΔU = U _k −U
_k-1 ) and threshold values D ₁ , D ₂ ,... (ΔV = ΔD =
D _k -D _k-1 ) has a width Δv (<ΔV).

In this graph, for example, from the state where the voltage V _IN is P _X and the volume value S is “3”, the operating means 11 is operated to increase the voltage V _IN to the threshold value U ₄ (V in the figure). ₁ )
And that the volume value S becomes “4”.
From this state, in order to lower the volume value S to “3”, it is necessary to reduce the voltage V _IN by Δv (V _{2 in the} figure) and lower it to the threshold value D ₃ .

Further, lower the voltage V _IN to the threshold D _3, from the lowered state until the volume value S is "3", the raise until the volume value S "4", on the contrary, increase Δv min voltage V _IN (V _{3 in the} figure).

[0010]

In the conventional volume control device shown in FIG. 4, a hysteresis is set between the upward direction and the downward direction in the threshold value. The variation α of _IN makes it possible to some extent to prevent the volume value S from being changed without permission against the user's will. An example is shown below.

In general, the user operates the operating means 11 so as to attain a desired sound volume value S. Therefore, it is considered that the operation is terminated when the desired sound volume value S is reached. voltage V _iN corresponding to, for example, P _D1 (= D ₁
−β), P _U2 (= U ₂ + β), P _D2 (= D ₂ −β), P
_{U3 (= U 3 + β)} , ... to become. β is a minute value.

At the end of such an operation, for example, the voltage V
_In order to raise the volume value S to “5” from the state where _IN is P _U4 (the volume value S is “4”), the voltage V _{IN is set} to V ₄ (Δv <V
₄ <ΔV), and conversely, the volume value S
To decrease until the "3", it must be the voltage V _IN to reduce V ₅ (> Δv) minutes. That is, in the case of a general operation, at least the voltage V _{IN corresponding to the} difference Δv between the threshold values is used.
Does not occur, there is no change in the volume value S.

Therefore, if Δv is set so as to be larger than the fluctuation α of the voltage V _IN due to fluctuations in the power supply or noise, it is possible that the volume value S will change without intention of the user. rare.

[0014] In practice, however, voltage V _IN corresponds to the operation end _{time, P D1, P U2, P} D2, P U3, not necessarily ... is, naturally also be a P _Y and P _Z Conceivable.

If the voltage V _IN is P _Y and the volume value S is “3”, that is, if the voltage V _IN is near the threshold (if the volume value S is “4”, the voltage V _IN Reaches U ₄ , the volume value S does not change, so that the voltage V _IN
Cannot be said to be near the threshold value), and the volume value S rises to “4” due to the minute fluctuation of U ₄ −P _Y. If the change is caused by the operation of the operation means 11 by the user, no problem occurs. However, if the change is caused by noise or the like, the volume value S is changed without permission of the user. This gives the user a sense of incongruity and is inconvenient to use.

Similarly, when the voltage V _IN is P _Z and the sound volume value S is “3”, the sound volume value S drops to “2” due to a minute fluctuation of P _Z −D ₂ minutes. I will.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a volume control device capable of reliably preventing an unexpected change in an adjustment amount such as a volume due to a power supply change or noise. And

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects To achieve the above object, a volume control device (1) according to the present invention.
Operating means capable of performing a sliding operation, a rotating operation, and the like; operating position detecting means for detecting an operating position of the operating means; and adjusting an adjustment target based on the operating position detected from the operating position detecting means. In a volume control device including an arithmetic unit for determining an amount and an adjusting unit for adjusting the object to be adjusted according to the adjustment amount, a threshold for determining the adjustment amount may be set between an upward direction and a downward direction. And a control means for changing the threshold value according to the operation position.

According to the volume control device (1),
Since a buffer region is provided in the threshold value for determining the adjustment amount, as described in the section of “Problems to be Solved by the Invention”, in the case of general operation, power fluctuation and noise It is possible to reliably prevent an unexpected change in the adjustment amount such as the volume due to the above. Further, the threshold value is changed in accordance with the operation position on which the adjustment amount is determined, so that the voltage V _IN becomes close to the threshold value as shown in FIG. When the operation position exists at a position, for example, when the operation position exists at a position where the voltage V _IN is P _Y and the volume value S becomes “3”, the threshold U ₄ is increased. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent an unexpected change in the adjustment amount such as the volume due to noise or the like, in addition to the case of the general operation described above.

Further, in the volume control device (2) according to the present invention, in the volume control device (1), the control means may be configured such that a difference between the threshold value and a digital conversion value obtained from the operation position is equal to or more than a predetermined value. It is characterized in that the threshold value is changed so that

In the above volume control device (1), the threshold is changed in accordance with the operation position to prevent an unexpected change in the adjustment amount due to noise or the like. It may not make sense if it is within the range that can be adversely affected.

Therefore, in the volume control device (2), the difference between the threshold value and the digital conversion value obtained from the operation position is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, that is, out of a range where the difference can be adversely affected by noise or the like. The above problem is solved by changing the threshold value.

Further, the volume control device (3) according to the present invention, in the volume control device (1) or (2), activates the control means only when the operation position has not fluctuated for a predetermined time or more. It is characterized by having operation control means for performing such control.

The above volume control device (1) or (2)
In the above, in order to prevent an unexpected change in the adjustment amount due to noise or the like, the threshold value is changed according to the operation position. However, in any case, the threshold value is changed. Then, there is a possibility that the adjustment of the adjustment target cannot be performed as requested by the user.

Therefore, the volume control device (3) solves the above problem by changing the threshold value only when the operation position has not fluctuated for a predetermined time or more.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a volume control device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a volume control device according to the embodiment (1). 1 in the figure
Indicates an operation means, and the operation means 1 is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction by manual operation, and indicates an adjustment amount to be adjusted at the operation position. In addition,
Here, a slide type is employed as the operation means 1, but a rotary type or the like may be employed. The operation position detection means 2 detects the operation position of the operation means 1, and outputs the detection information to an operation circuit 3 including an operation means 4 and a control means 5.

The calculating means 4 determines the adjustment amount of the object to be adjusted based on the detection information. However, a hysteresis is set between the upward direction and the downward direction in the threshold value for determining the adjustment amount. The control means 5 changes the threshold value according to the detection information, and outputs the threshold value to the arithmetic means 4. The adjusting means 6 adjusts the adjustment target according to the adjustment amount determined by the calculating means 4.

The specific configuration of the volume control device shown in FIG. 1 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. However, the microcomputer 15 here has a function of changing a threshold value for determining the sound volume value S according to the operation position of the operation means 11.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the voltage V _IN and the volume value S in the above-described volume control device. The configuration is substantially the same as the graph shown in FIG. Description is omitted.

The operation of the microcomputer 15 in the volume control device according to the embodiment (1) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. However, V here
_IN is a voltage V _IN according to the operation position of the operation means 11 is A /
It is described as a value converted into a digital value by the D converter 14.

First, in step 1, a threshold value L _UP corresponding to the sound volume increasing direction and a threshold value L _DOWN corresponding to the decreasing direction are calculated from the following equations (1) and (2).
Move on to

[0033]

[Equation 1] L _UP ← ΔV × S + Δv / 2

[0034]

L _DOWN ← ΔV × (S−1) −Δv / 2 In step 2, V _IN is fetched from the A / D converter 14, and then in step 3, the volume operation by the operating means 11 is performed. It is determined whether or not V _IN has changed. If it is determined that V _IN has not changed, the process proceeds to step 4. On the other hand, if it is determined that V _IN has changed, the process proceeds to step 9.

In step 4, it is determined whether or not V _IN has not changed for t seconds or more. If it is determined that there is no change for t seconds or more, the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if it is determined that the time is not longer than t seconds, the process returns to step 2.

In step 5, it is determined whether or not the difference between the threshold value L _UP and V _IN is less than a predetermined value T. Here, the predetermined value T is set so as to be outside a range that may be adversely affected by noise or the like. If it is determined that the difference is less than the predetermined value T, the process proceeds to step 6, where the threshold value L _UP is set to a value obtained by adding the predetermined value T to _VIN , and the process returns to step 2. As a result, the threshold values L _UP and V
The difference from _IN can be set to a predetermined value T or more. On the other hand, if it is determined that the value is not less than the predetermined value T, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step 7, it is determined whether or not the difference between the threshold value L _DOWN and V _IN is less than a predetermined value T. If it is determined that the predetermined value T is less than the predetermined value T, the process proceeds to step 8, and the threshold value L _DOWN is set to a value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value T from _VIN . As a result, the difference between the threshold value L _DOWN and V _IN can be set to the predetermined value T or more. On the other hand, if it is determined that the difference is not less than the predetermined value T, the process returns to step S2.

In step 9, it is determined whether or not V _IN is _{equal to} or greater than a threshold value L _UP . If it is determined that the difference is equal to or _larger than the threshold value L _UP , the process proceeds to step 10, where 1 is added to the volume value S, and the process returns to step 1. As a result, the level of the sound output from the speaker 19 increases by one. On the other hand, if it is determined that the difference is not more than the threshold value L _UP , the process proceeds to step S11.

In step 11, it is determined whether or not V _IN is equal to or less than a threshold value L _DOWN . If it is determined that the difference is equal to or smaller than the threshold value L _DOWN , the process proceeds to step 12, where 1 is subtracted from the volume value S, and the process returns to step 1. As a result, the level of the sound output from the speaker 19 is reduced by one. On the other hand, if it is determined that the difference is not smaller than the threshold value L _DOWN , the process returns to step S2.

As described above, as shown in Expressions 1 and 2, the threshold value L _UP and the threshold value L
_{Since a} hysteresis (for Δv) is set between _DOWN and _DOWN , as described in the section of “Problems to be Solved by the Invention”, in the case of general operation, power supply fluctuation, noise, etc. Unexpected fluctuation of the sound volume value S can be reliably prevented.

Further, the threshold values L _UP , L _DOWN are determined according to the operating position of the operating means 11 on which the sound volume value S is determined.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the operation position is located at a position where the voltage V _IN is close to the threshold value, for example, the voltage V _IN is P _Y and the volume value S is “3”. When the operation position exists at a position where
_By changing _UP from U ₄ to P _Y + T (U ₄ ′ in the figure), unexpected changes in the volume value S due to noise or the like can be reliably prevented in addition to the above-described general operation. it can.

That is, it is possible to reliably prevent unexpected fluctuations in the volume value S due to fluctuations in the power supply, noise, and the like for all operations.

In steps 5 to 8, the operation means 11 is used to prevent an unexpected change in the volume value S due to noise or the like.
The threshold values L _UP and L _DOWN are changed according to the operation position (voltage V _IN ). However, even when the user is operating the operation means 11, the threshold value L is also changed according to the operation position. _UP ,
If L _DOWN is changed, desired volume adjustment may not be performed.

[0044] For example, from the state the voltage V _IN is and volume value S is "4" is P _A, when the user trying to increase the volume value S, and operates the operation unit 11 in the upward direction, the voltage V _IN Increases to P _B (<threshold value U ₅ ), and the threshold value L _UP
When the difference between (= U ₅ ) and P _B becomes smaller than the predetermined value T, the threshold value L _UP becomes P _B + T, as in the operations in steps 4 and 5.
(U ₅ ′ in the figure), and since the width of the predetermined value T always exists between the voltage V _IN and the threshold value L _UP , the volume value S can be permanently raised to “5”. I can no longer do it.

Therefore, as in the operations of steps 2 and 3, the threshold values L _UP and L _DOWN are changed only when the operation by the operating means 11 has not been performed for a predetermined time t or more. The above problem can be prevented from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a volume control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a relationship between a voltage V _IN and a volume value S in the volume control device according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a microcomputer 15 in the volume control device according to the embodiment (1).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a conventional volume control device used for adjusting the volume of an audio device using an electronic volume.

5 is a graph showing an example of a relationship between a voltage V _IN and a volume value S in the volume control device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 Operating means 2 Operating position detecting means 3 Arithmetic circuit 4 Arithmetic means 5 Control means 6 Adjusting means 12 Variable resistor 13 Movable contact 14 A / D converter 15 Microcomputer 16 Electronic volume 18 Amplifier 19 Speaker

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operation unit capable of performing a slide operation, a rotation operation, and the like, an operation position detection unit that detects an operation position of the operation unit, and an adjustment based on the operation position detected by the operation position detection unit In a volume control device including a calculation unit that determines an adjustment amount of an object and an adjustment unit that adjusts the adjustment object in accordance with the adjustment amount, a threshold for determining the adjustment amount may be an upward direction and a downward direction. And a control means for changing the threshold value according to the operation position. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the threshold value such that a difference between the threshold value and a digital conversion value obtained from the operation position is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Volume control unit. 3. An operation control means for controlling the operation of the control means only when the operation position has not fluctuated for a predetermined time or more.
Or the volume control device according to claim 2.