JP2001326559A - Tuner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of up/down keys concerning tuning in an audio device with a tuner. SOLUTION: A preset channel up/down key functions also as an up/down key for a frequency scanning mode. The preset channel up/down key usually functions as the preset channel up/down key and within a prescribed time after a user operates a switch key for a tuning mode, the preset channel up/down key functions as the up/down key for the frequency scanning mode. During the period (to be called 'period S', hereafter) while, the preset channel up/down key functions as the up/down key for the frequency scanning mode, when the user operates the preset channel up/down key, the period S is extended by a prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tuning device such as a tuner, and more particularly to a tuning device capable of reducing the number of keys.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an audio device such as a car radio, a preset channel up / down key is operated for tuning and a frequency scan mode (frequency scan mode and tuning mode are described later with reference to FIG. 7). ) Up / down key may be operated. In channel selection by operating the preset channel up / down keys, the user sets the desired broadcast station frequency in each channel in advance, and the user
The user operates the preset channel up / down key until the program of the broadcast station desired to be listened to flows from the speaker. In the frequency scan mode, there are auto tuning and manual tuning. In the auto tuning, the user only needs to operate the up / down key for the frequency scan mode up / down once by touching or the like, and the receiving frequency is automatically adjusted. When scanning is performed on the ascending side or descending side, and the frequency of the radio wave having a predetermined electric field strength or more is detected, the scanning is stopped and the program of the broadcast station of the reception frequency flows from the speaker. In the manual tuning, the user operates the up / down key for the frequency scan mode up or down little by little to change the tuning reception frequency little by little, and searches for a program to listen to, or When the user knows the frequency of the broadcast station that he / she wants to listen to, he or she keeps operating the frequency scan mode up / down key little by little until the tuning reception frequency becomes the frequency of the broadcast station.

[0003] Normally, a user selects a channel using a preset channel up / down key. However, when setting a reception frequency of a desired broadcast station to each channel of the preset channel up / down key, the frequency scan mode up / down is used. A down key is required. Also,
When the tuning reception frequency is changed by auto tuning, the broadcast station whose electric field strength of the radio wave of the reception frequency is less than the reference value at the time of the change will be omitted from the search. Manual tuning is needed to address the users you think. Therefore, it is difficult to omit the up / down key for the frequency scan mode.

[0004]

In a conventional audio device, a preset channel up / down key and a frequency scan mode up / down key are separately required, and the total number of keys increases accordingly.
It is difficult to secure the key arrangement space for the preset channel up / down key and the frequency scan mode up / down key in the remote control and audio equipment with a small operation key array area of the main unit, or many keys are arranged in a small space. And it has spoiled aesthetics.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tuning apparatus which overcomes the above-mentioned problems.

[0006]

According to the channel selecting apparatus of the present invention, the frequency of each broadcasting station selected in advance is set as a preset channel, and a common up / down key is used to sequentially tune the tuning frequency to that of each preset channel. It is shared by a preset channel up / down key for switching and a frequency scan mode up / down key for scanning a tuning frequency to select a broadcast station.

[0007] This tuning apparatus is applicable not only to the case of selecting a radio broadcast station, but also to the case of selecting a television broadcast station. That is, this tuning device can be installed not only in a radio tuner but also in a television tuner. The radio tuner equipped with the tuning device is, for example, a car radio, a component stereo or a system stereo installed in a home or the like, or a portable audio device.

The tuning mode switching key is composed of a pair of an up key and a down key. Generally, the up key and the down key of the tuning mode switching key are generally a preset channel up / down key and a frequency scan mode. The up key and the down key of the up / down key are respectively made to correspond. The switching of the preset channel up / down key and the frequency scan mode up / down key in the up / down key is performed based on the operation of the channel selection mode switching key as described later. When the key and the down key are pressed at the same time for a predetermined time, a method of alternately switching to the preset channel up / down key and the frequency scan mode up / down key can be adopted.

In this manner, by sharing the up / down key with the preset channel up / down key and the frequency scan mode up / down key, the total number of keys required for the channel selection device can be reduced, and the area of the operation key array section can be reduced. The preset channel up / down key and the frequency scan mode up / down key can be arranged without any trouble even for AV equipment having a small size, and the design of the operation unit of the AV equipment can be improved.

According to the tuning apparatus of the present invention, in the tuning mode, an automatic tuning for automatically searching for a broadcasting station of a radio wave having a predetermined electric field strength or more, and a manual tuning for manually changing a tuning frequency by a user. A station is prepared, and the tuning mode is alternately switched to auto tuning and manual tuning by operating the tuning mode switching key.
Normally, it functions as a preset channel up / down key, and functions as a frequency scan mode up / down key within a predetermined time T1 from when the tuning mode switching key is operated.

When the user normally operates the up / down key, it functions as a preset channel up / down key. However, when the user operates the channel selection mode switching key, within a predetermined time T1 from the time of the operation,
When the user operates the up / down key, the up / down key functions as an up / down key for the frequency scan mode. Thus, the preset channel up / down key for the up / down key and the up / down key for the frequency scan mode can be properly used without any trouble.

According to the channel selection device of the present invention, the channel selection mode switching key is operated during the period P in which the up / down key functions as the preset channel up / down key. When the up / down key is switched to a period S functioning as an up / down key for the frequency scan mode, the first channel selection mode in the period S is set to the previous channel selection mode.

In the channel selection mode, there are an automatic channel selection and a manual channel selection. Therefore, the switching key for the channel selection mode is operated during the period P, so that when the period P is switched to the period S, the automatic selection is performed. The problem is whether to select a tuning mode or a tuning mode. Since the user often uses the same channel selection mode as the previous channel selection mode, the user may set the first channel selection mode switched from the period P to the period S to the same channel selection mode as the previous one. The user can prevent confusion about the use of the up / down key as the up / down key for the frequency scan mode at this time.

According to the tuning apparatus of the present invention, the switching key for the tuning mode is operated during the period P in which the up / down key functions as the preset channel up / down key. , When the up / down key is switched to a period S functioning as an up / down key for the frequency scan mode, the first channel selection mode in the period S is set to automatic channel selection.

In the channel selection mode, there are an automatic channel selection and a manual channel selection. Therefore, during the period P, the switching key for the channel selection mode is operated, so that when the period P is switched to the period S, In this case, there is a problem as to which of the auto tuning mode and the manual tuning mode to use. The general user tends to use the auto tuning more frequently than the manual tuning when using the frequency scan mode up / down key, and the up / down key is used for the frequency scan mode up / down key. By setting the first tuning mode switched to use as
Convenience can be improved.

According to the tuning apparatus of the present invention, when the tuning mode switching key is operated during the period S in which the up / down key functions as the frequency scanning mode up / down key, the tuning mode is selected. Is switched.

In this manner, in the period S, it is possible to smoothly switch between the operation at the time of automatic channel selection and the operation of manual channel selection for the operation of the up / down key for the frequency scan mode.

According to the tuning apparatus of the present invention, when the up / down key is operated during the period S in which the up / down key functions as the up / down key for the frequency scan mode, the tuning mode is automatically set. When tuning,
The period S is extended from the end of the search for the broadcasting station to a predetermined time T2.

T2 may be equal to T1.

The user searches for a broadcasting station by automatic channel selection, finds a predetermined broadcasting station, and watches or listens to the broadcast station for a while (when the channel selection device is applied to a television tuner) or listens (when the channel selection device is used). When the apparatus is applied to a radio tuner.), If the user does not like it, it is common to search another broadcast station again by automatic tuning. In such a case, if the operation of the up / down key has been switched from the frequency scan mode up / down key to the preset channel up / down key, the channel selection mode switching key must be operated again. This is inconvenient for the user. In this tuning apparatus, the period S is extended from the end of the search for the broadcasting station by the automatic tuning to a predetermined time T2, so that such inconvenience can be solved.

According to the tuning apparatus of the present invention, when the up / down key is operated during the period S in which the up / down key functions as the up / down key for the frequency scan mode, the tuning mode is set to the manual mode. When the channel is selected, the period S is extended from the end of the operation of the up / down key by the user to a predetermined time T3.

T3 may be equal to T2.

The user searches for a broadcasting station by manual tuning, finds a predetermined broadcasting station, and watches it for a while (when the tuning apparatus is applied to a television tuner).
Or, if the user listens (when the tuning device is applied to a radio tuner) and does not like it, it is common to search for another broadcasting station again by manual tuning. In such a case, if the operation of the up / down key has been switched from the frequency scan mode up / down key to the preset channel up / down key, the channel selection mode switching key must be operated again. This is inconvenient for the user, and in this tuning device, the period S is extended from the end of the search for the broadcasting station by manual tuning to a predetermined time T3, so that such inconvenience can be solved.

According to the channel selection apparatus of the present invention, the up / down key currently functions as (a) the preset channel up / down key, and (b) the frequency in the channel selection mode of the automatic channel selection. The function of the up / down key for the scan mode and the function of the up / down key for the frequency scan mode in the manual tuning mode are displayed on the display unit. It has become.

The display unit indicates whether the current operation on the up / down key is (a), (b), or (c), so that the user can view the display without any trouble. It is possible to know the current operation of the up / down key and smoothly switch to the desired one of (a), (b), and (c).

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following description is for an audio device that integrates a CD player or the like with a radio tuner. The key arrangement section of the remote controller of the audio equipment includes a preset channel up / down key, an operation key for switching between FM and AM bands, and a switching for a channel selection mode for switching a channel selection mode between automatic channel selection and manual channel selection. Various keys such as keys are provided. The important point is that the preset channel up / down key also functions as the frequency scan mode up / down key.

First, the relationship among the channel selection mode, frequency mode, display, and operation will be described with reference to FIG. The tuning mode includes auto tuning (AUTO) and manual tuning (M
ANUAL). The frequency scan mode includes a normal mode (NORMAL) and an automatic tuning mode (AUTO T).
UNING) and manual tuning (MANUALALTU)
NING). The normal state of the frequency scan mode refers to a state in which no frequency operation is performed, that is, a state in which frequency scanning (frequency scanning) is stopped. There are two frequency scan modes for automatic tuning, normal and automatic tuning, and two frequency scanning modes for manual tuning, normal and manual tuning. The display includes a normal display, a MANUAL display, and an AUTO display. A11, A13, and A14 in FIG.
Is exemplified. The remarks of FIG. 7 will be described in detail in a flowchart described later.

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic flowchart of the channel selection control. Blocks A, B, and C are sequentially circulated. In block A, display control on the display of the audio device is performed. Block B
Then, a predetermined process is performed for a key operation by the user. In block C, a timer process is performed.

FIG. 2 is a detailed flowchart of the display control block A of FIG. Note that the current channel selection in the audio device is 3 preset channels (10 or more presets of radio broadcast stations are possible in the audio device, and the actual display of the 3 channels is “03” and the tens place. 0 is added.)
The receiving frequency is assumed to be 80.0 MHz.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are detailed flowcharts of the first, second and third ranges for the processing block B for the key operation by the user in FIG. FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart of the timer processing block C of FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a typical operation when the up key is operated out of the paired up and down keys of the preset channel up / down key, and a flowchart when the down key is operated is shown in FIG. Although omitted, the flowchart when the down key is operated is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the frequency UP is set to the frequency DOWN and the Bch Pch = Pch + 1 is set to the Pch.
= Pch-1.

First, normal operation will be described.
Normally, the preset channel up / down key functions as an original preset channel up / down key. At normal time, the auto / manual 5 second display timer is not operating, and in FIG. 2, A10 passes through NO, and the normal display in A11,
That is, two-stage description of “03 80.0 MHz” and “TUNER” is performed. The display "TUNER" indicates that the preset channel up / down key is not used as the frequency scan mode up / down key for the operation of the preset channel up / down key, but is used as the original preset channel up / down key. State to the user. In addition, auto /
Since the manual 5 second display timer is not running, A18 passes without any processing, and A19 passes with NO. Normally, B10 passes through NO in FIG. 3 unless the auto / manual key as the channel selection mode switching key is operated. When the auto / manual key as the channel selection mode switching key is operated in a normal state, it will be described later. Normally, if the user does not operate the preset channel up / down key, the flow passes through B30 of FIG. 4 with NO, but the user passes the preset channel up / down key (in the flowchart, the preset channel up / down key). By operating the preset channel up key, it is determined whether or not the preset channel up key (Pch UP key) in B30 is ON, and NO is determined in B31 and B38.
And the preset channel Pch at B45
Is incremented by one, and the memory data (= the reception frequency data of the Pch) for the updated Pch is substituted for the frequency data R in B46. In addition,
The frequency data R determines the current tuning frequency of the tuner, and the radio broadcast of the frequency set in the frequency data R is the radio broadcast output from the speaker. In FIG. 5, in B50, it is determined whether the preset channel up key has been turned off, that is, whether or not the pressing operation of the preset channel up key has been released. In B51, the frequency scan mode is manual tuning (MANUAL TUNING). It is determined whether or not. Normally, when the preset channel up key is not operated, that is, when B30 in FIG.
When the vehicle has passed through O, the vehicle passes through B50 with NO. When it is normal and the preset channel up key is operated, that is, the vehicle passes through B45 and B46 in FIG. When the up key is turned off, that is, when the pressing operation of the preset channel up key is released, the control passes B50 with YES, and
While the preset channel up / down key is functioning as the original function of the preset channel up / down key, there is no frequency scan mode.
1 passes with NO. In C10 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the frequency up timer has timed out, that is, a predetermined time ΔT (ΔT is 2
It is determined whether or not 00 msec or 500 msec has been measured. Normally, the frequency up timer is not operating and C10 passes with NO.

The case where the user operates the auto / manual key in a normal state (hereinafter referred to as "case X1") will be described. In case X1, B10 in FIG.
In case X1, the display on the display unit is the normal display (A11 in FIG. 2), so the determination in B12 in FIG. 3 is: whether the display on the display unit is "AUTO", and Judgment of B18: The display on the display section is "M"
Both the determinations as to whether or not "AUAL" is being displayed are passed with NO, and as a result, the automatic / manual 5-second display timer is started immediately after resetting the automatic / manual 5-second display timer in B23. Inside, "Case X
2 ". In case X2, that is, while the auto / manual 5 second display timer is operating, the preset channel up / down key is not used as a preset channel up / down key, but as a frequency scan mode up / down key, as described later. Function.

In case X2, each time the display unit passes the display control block A, the display unit performs the display process in the channel selection mode. That is, in case X2, the determination in A10 is YES, and in A12, it is determined whether the channel selection mode is the automatic channel selection. The first tuning mode when switching from case X1 to case X2 is the last last tuning mode in which the preset channel up / down key functions as the frequency scan mode up / down key (this last tuning mode). The mode information is stored in the predetermined memory M, and is called from the predetermined memory M at the time of the determination of A12), or is automatically selected. The audio device is shipped with the predetermined memory M
The channel selection mode information stored in is set to automatic channel selection. In case X2, assuming that the channel selection mode is the automatic channel selection, A12 passes with YES, and in A14,
On the audio display section, "03 80.0 MHz" and "AUTO" are displayed in two steps as an indication of AUTO (auto tuning). Further, in case X2, if the tuning mode is manual tuning, A1
The determination of No. 2 is NO, and in A13, the audio display section displays two rows of "03 80.0 MHz" and "MANUAL" as a display of MANUAL (manual channel selection).

In case X2, the processing of the auto / manual 5-second display timer is performed every time the display control block A is passed. That is, in A18 of FIG. 2, the count value of the auto / manual 5 second display timer (this count value means the elapsed time from when the auto / manual 5 second display timer is reset and started) is set to a predetermined amount (this value is referred to as the time). The predetermined amount means that a predetermined time has elapsed.) In A19, it is determined whether or not the auto / manual 5 second display timer has measured 5 seconds. If the determination is NO, the block A is terminated, and if the determination is YES,
Proceed to A20. At A20, the counting of the auto / manual 5 second display timer is stopped. By stopping the count of the auto / manual 5 second display timer, the preset channel up / down key functions not as the frequency scan mode up / down key but as the original preset channel up / down key.

In case X2, the preset channel up / down key functions as the frequency scan mode up / down key as described above, and every time the user operates the auto / manual key, the channel selection mode is set to auto selection. The mode is alternately switched to the station and manual tuning.
That is, when the user operates the auto / manual key, the determination in B10 of FIG. 3 is YES, whether the auto / manual key is turned on (operated), and B12.
It is determined whether or not the automatic channel selection display (A14 in FIG. 2) is being performed, and the manual channel selection display in B18 (A1 in FIG.
3) A determination is made as to whether it is medium or not. If the automatic tuning is being displayed in the tuning mode, the tuning mode is switched to the manual tuning in B13. If manual tuning is being displayed in the tuning mode, B1
At 9, the tuning mode is switched to auto tuning.
After the processing of B14 or B19, in B23, the automatic / manual 5 second display timer is reset and immediately started.

As described above, in case X2, the preset channel up / down key functions as a frequency scan mode up / down key.
Accordingly, in case X2, when the user operates the preset channel up key, the determination of B30: the determination as to whether the preset channel up key is turned on (pressed) is YES, and the determination of B31: automatic channel selection. Judgment as to whether or not display is being performed (A14 in FIG. 2), and B3
Judgment of 5: Judgment is made as to whether or not it is during manual channel selection display (A13 in FIG. 2). If auto tuning is displayed, B
The determination at 31 is YES, the process proceeds to B32, and the frequency scan mode is set to auto tuning (AUTOTUNING). If the manual channel selection is being displayed, the determination at B35 becomes YES, the process proceeds to B36, and the frequency scan mode is set to manual tuning (MANUAL TUNIN).
G). The specific processing of the automatic tuning and the manual tuning in the frequency scan mode will be described later with reference to FIG. After B32 or B36, proceed to B39. In B39, the frequency up timer is started. Hereinafter, the operation of the frequency up timer is referred to as case X3. The frequency up timer is used in C10, C20, and the like described later. In B40, the automatic / manual 5-second display timer is started immediately after resetting.

In case X3, when the preset channel up key is turned off (to turn off, the pressing operation of the preset channel up key (Pch UP key) is released in this audio device).
Determination in B50: It is determined whether or not the preset channel up key is off, and the determination in B51 is:
A determination is made as to whether the frequency scan mode is in manual tuning. In the case of the automatic tuning, the block B is immediately terminated, and in the case of the manual tuning, the frequency scan mode is set to normal (NORMAL: normal: in response to the operation of the user's preset channel up / down key, the execution and stop of the scan are performed). (B5)
2) The frequency up timer is stopped (B53), and the auto / manual 5-second display timer is reset and immediately started (B54). Thus, during manual tuning, when the user turns off the preset channel up key, the frequency up timer stops, and the increase in the reception frequency for channel selection stops.

In case X3, when the frequency up timer measures the elapse of a predetermined time of, for example, 200 msec or 500 msec, the determination in C10 in FIG. 6 is YES: it is determined whether the frequency up timer has timed out, and C11 and C12 are determined. , And C30. That is, in C11, it is determined whether or not the frequency scan mode is in automatic tuning. In C12, it is determined whether or not a broadcast station is being received, in other words, the radio wave of the currently tuned reception frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined electric field strength. Is determined, and in C30, it is determined whether the frequency scan mode is in manual tuning. When the frequency scan mode is the automatic tuning and the radio wave of the currently tuned reception frequency is equal to or higher than the predetermined electric field strength, the determinations of C11 and C12 are both YES, and the process proceeds to C13 and C14. In C13, the frequency scan mode is changed from auto tuning to normal, and in C14, the frequency up timer is stopped, that is, scanning of the reception frequency to be tuned is stopped. Regarding the operation of the frequency up timer, C14
Is paired with C21. When the frequency scan mode is auto tuning and the radio wave of the currently tuned reception frequency is lower than the predetermined electric field strength, the determinations of C11 and C12 are YES and NO, respectively, and the tuning reception frequency is set to a predetermined amount (C20). The predetermined amount is, for example, 0.1 MHz for FM scanning, and 9 KH for AM scanning, for example.
z. ), Raise the frequency, reset the frequency up timer in C21, and immediately start, that is, measure the elapsed time from the current time by the frequency up timer to calculate the timing of the next frequency up. When the frequency scan mode is in manual tuning, C
The determinations at 11 and C30 are NO and YES, respectively, and the processes at C20 and C21 described above are performed. C14 or C
Subsequent to 21, the automatic / manual 5 second display timer is reset immediately after the reset in C33, that is, the elapsed time from the current time is automatically / manually calculated to calculate the timing for terminating the function of the frequency scan mode up / down key. Measure with a 5-second display timer. C
Even if a predetermined tuning is obtained by auto tuning in auto tuning or manual tuning in manual tuning by the processing of the auto / manual 5 second display timer in 33, the user presets within 5 seconds from the obtained time. When the channel up key is re-scanned, the automatic tuning in the automatic tuning and the manual tuning in the manual tuning are continued.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic flowchart for tuning control.

FIG. 2 is a detailed flowchart of a display control block A of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart of a first range of a processing block B for a key operation by a user in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of a second range of a processing block B for a key operation by a user in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart of a third range of a processing block B for a key operation by the user in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart of a timer processing block C of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship among a channel selection mode, a frequency mode, a display, and an operation.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A preset channel up / down key for sequentially switching a tuning frequency to that of each preset channel with a common up / down key serving as a preset channel using a frequency of each broadcasting station selected in advance;
A tuning apparatus shared with a frequency scan mode up / down key for selecting a broadcasting station by scanning a tuning frequency. 2. An auto-selection mode for automatically searching for a broadcast station of a radio wave having a predetermined electric field strength or more, and a manual-selection mode in which a user manually changes a tuning frequency. By operating the mode switching key, the tuning mode is alternately switched between auto tuning and manual tuning, and the up / down key usually functions as a preset channel up / down key,
A predetermined time T1 from the time when the tuning key switching key is operated.
2. The channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the function within the range functions as an up / down key for a frequency scan mode. 3. A period P in which the up / down key functions as a preset channel up / down key.
Then, when the channel selection mode switching key is operated, thereby switching from the period P to the period S in which the up / down key functions as the frequency scan mode up / down key, 3. The tuning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first tuning mode in the period S is set to a previous tuning mode. 4. A period P in which the up / down key functions as a preset channel up / down key.
Then, when the channel selection mode switching key is operated, thereby switching from the period P to the period S in which the up / down key functions as the frequency scan mode up / down key, 3. The tuning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first tuning mode in the period S is set to auto tuning. 5. A tuning mode is switched when the tuning mode switching key is operated during a period S in which the up / down key functions as a frequency scanning mode up / down key. Claim 3 or 4
The channel selection device as described. 6. When the up / down key is operated during a period S in which the up / down key functions as an up / down key for a frequency scan mode, if the tuning mode is auto tuning, 6. The channel selection device according to claim 5, wherein the period S is extended from the end of the search for the broadcasting station to a predetermined time T2. 7. When the up / down key is operated during a period S in which the up / down key functions as an up / down key for a frequency scan mode, if the tuning mode is manual tuning, From the end of the operation of the up / down key by the user until a predetermined time T3.
7. The channel selection device according to claim 5, wherein the period S is extended. 8. The up / down key currently functions as (a) a preset channel up / down key, and (b) an up / down key for a frequency scan mode in a channel selection mode of an automatic channel selection. The function of (c) functioning as an up / down key for the frequency scan mode in the tuning mode of manual tuning is displayed on the display unit. The tuning device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein