JP2002165152A - Volume control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a volume control apparatus for automatic an suitable control of output volume, irrespective of record levels which differ for each program, thus making it unnecessary for a viewer to control volume, when a program is changed or a commercial is put on in a television broadcast. SOLUTION: Volume is controlled to an optimum volume level using volume level setting means and program information detection means, according to the previously set volume level and program content.

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 for automatically adjusting a volume level of an input audio signal to an appropriate value in a television receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a current television broadcast, since a recording level differs for each program, a viewer obtains an appropriate volume by manually adjusting the volume.

[0003]

However, as described above, in the current television broadcasting, the recording level is different for each program. Therefore, even if an appropriate volume is set, the volume is readjusted every time the program is switched. There must be. Even in the same program, in a program such as a movie, in which the volume difference between the conversation and the sound effect is large, even if the volume is set so that the conversation can be heard at an appropriate volume, a large sound effect is suddenly output. Sometimes it is necessary to readjust the volume in a hurry. Furthermore, in a variety program of news or live broadcasting, the recording level is not appropriate, and the volume changes during a conversation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has as its object to provide a sound volume adjusting device for automatically adjusting an output sound volume to an optimum level regardless of a recording level. With the goal.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The first invention (claim 1)
Corresponds to) a volume adjusting means for adjusting the volume of an audio signal, a volume level detecting means for detecting a volume level of an audio output signal, a volume level setting means for setting an arbitrary volume level, and acquiring program information. A control section for controlling the volume adjusting section based on a program information acquiring section, a detection signal from the volume level detecting section, a set value from the volume level setting section, and a program type from the program information acquiring section. Wherein the volume is adjusted adaptively based on the program information and the volume level set value.

A second invention (corresponding to claim 2) is a first invention.
In the volume control device of the present invention, further comprising an audio mode detecting means for detecting an audio mode, and outputting the current audio mode to the control unit, from the audio mode and program information,
This is a volume control device characterized by detecting the time of CM and adjusting the volume.

[0007] According to such a configuration, the output volume is automatically adjusted to an optimum level by changing the output characteristic based on the program information and the preset volume level with respect to the current volume. Can be.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) First, the configuration of a volume control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the volume control device according to the first embodiment. In the figure, a volume adjusting means 101 adjusts the volume level of an input audio signal. The volume level detecting means 102 detects the maximum volume and the minimum volume of the audio output signal within the last 15 seconds. The volume level setting means 103 is for setting a desired volume for the viewer, and is updated every time the viewer sets a new value. Program information acquisition means 10
Reference numeral 4 is for detecting a type of a program such as a drama, a movie, a sport, and a news included in an EPG (Electronic Program Guide). Control unit 10
Reference numeral 5 denotes a volume adjusting unit 10 based on a detection signal from the volume level detecting unit 102, an installation value from the volume level setting unit 103, and program information from the program information acquiring unit 104.
1 makes the input / output characteristics variable and controls the volume output means 101.

Next, the operation of the sound volume adjusting device thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
3 shows the input / output characteristics of the volume control means 101.
As shown by the solid line in the figure, when the level of the input audio signal is the value α set by the volume level setting means 103, the output gain is set to 1, and when the level of the input audio signal is the high level, When the gain is reduced (<1) and the level of the input audio signal is small, the gain is increased (1).
<). On the other hand, when the level of the input audio signal is in an extremely small range as indicated by S, the gain is reduced to prevent an increase in noise. Further, when the level of the input audio signal is in an extremely large range as indicated by L, clipping is performed.

Here, the input level thresholds a and b for determining the ranges of S, M and L are determined from the detection signal detected by the volume level detecting means 102 and the set value set by the volume level setting means 103. Then, the range of M is determined so as to be within the range of the maximum value and the minimum value of the volume level in the past 15 seconds and to fall within ± x of the set value of the volume level setting means 103. x is derived from a table in which the set value set by the volume level setting means 103 is a parameter, and decreases as the set value of the volume level setting means 103 decreases. The reason why the maximum and minimum values detected in the past 15 seconds detected by the volume level detecting means 102 are not exceeded is to avoid a sudden volume change, and is effective for suppressing a volume increase during CM. FIG. 3 shows output characteristics when the set value is β (<α).
Shown in Further, the inclination of the range of the output characteristic M is determined by the program type acquired from the program information acquisition unit 104,
If the program type has a wide dynamic range of the recording level such as a movie, the slope of the output characteristic is reduced. This solves the problem that conversation is small and difficult to hear compared to sound effects. The output characteristics at this time are shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically adjust the output volume to an optimum level regardless of the recording level.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a volume controller according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The volume control device according to the present embodiment is similar to the volume control device according to the first embodiment.
The configuration according to the third aspect is characterized in that a voice mode detecting means for detecting a voice mode from a voice input signal and outputting a current voice mode to the control unit is further provided. The same blocks as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The audio mode detection means 501 detects from the audio input signal whether the audio mode of the current program is monaural, stereo, or two languages. The program information acquisition means 104 acquires the program audio mode in the EPG data in addition to the program type.

If the audio mode detected by the audio mode detection means 501 and the audio mode detected by the program information acquisition means 104 match, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed. On the other hand, if the two modes are different even though the program has not been changed, the gain of the output characteristic of the volume adjusting means 101 is reduced, assuming that the mode is CM.

As described above, by comparing the difference between the actual audio mode and the audio mode in the program information, it is possible to determine whether or not the commercial is active, to reduce the gain during the commercial, and to suppress malfunction.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the maximum and minimum volume detection periods of the volume level detection means 102 are set to the past 15 seconds, but may be other periods.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the output volume is automatically adjusted to the optimum level by changing the output characteristics based on the program information and the preset volume level with respect to the current volume. This eliminates the need for the viewer to manually adjust the volume when changing programs and commercials.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a volume control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing input / output characteristics of a volume control unit used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing input / output characteristics of a volume control unit used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing input / output characteristics of a volume control unit used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a volume control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Volume adjustment means 102 Volume level detection means 103 Volume level setting means 104 Program information acquisition means 105 Control part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A volume adjusting means for adjusting the volume of an audio signal, a volume level detecting means for detecting a volume level of an audio output signal, a volume level setting means for setting an arbitrary volume level, and acquiring program information. A control section for controlling the volume adjusting section based on a program information acquiring section, a detection signal from the volume level detecting section, a set value from the volume level setting section, and a program type from the program information acquiring section. And a volume controller that adaptively controls the volume. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising audio mode detection means for detecting an audio mode of an audio input signal and outputting a current audio mode to said control unit. 2. The sound volume adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said variable is variable.