JP2002169461A - Language lesson device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance operability by integrally mounting a small recording medium of learning software and its operating keys on a microphone. SOLUTION: A language lesson device 10 has a main body device 14 on which a microphone 16 is integrally mounted. A small recording medium 18 in which learning software is recorded is freely attachable/detachable to/from the device 14. Keys 22A to 22U of an operation device 24 which is incorporated to the microphone 16 are used to control reproducing of lesson segments.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a language lesson apparatus, and more particularly to a language lesson apparatus capable of transmitting and outputting an audio signal and an image signal to a display device provided with audio output means such as a television. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a language lesson apparatus utilizing learning software including image information, there is a conventional language lesson apparatus in which a video tape or a video disk is reproduced by a player.

[0003]

These are compared with small-sized recording media such as SmartMedia (registered trademark) which have been put into practical use recently, and are large and inconvenient to carry, such as video tape recorders, DVDs or CDs (compact discs). ) Is inconvenient in handling and portability.

Further, these recording media do not record the utterance of the user, but merely supply voice and image information unilaterally and repeatedly, and are not useful for language lessons. Is low.

[0005] In particular, these video tape recorders, D
When a language lesson is performed using a VD or the like, the mounting, removal, replacement, and operation of the recording medium are complicated, which has been a barrier for starting the lesson easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the recording medium is small in size, easy to handle, easy to put on and take off, and can start a lesson easily. It is another object of the present invention to provide a language lesson apparatus capable of outputting and reproducing a user's voice from a display apparatus.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a main unit which can be connected to a display device provided with an audio output means by one of a cable and a radio, and which transmits an audio signal and an image signal to the display device and outputs the audio signal and the image signal. A handheld operable microphone integrally provided with the main body device and outputting the input user's voice as an audio signal to the display device via the main body device; and a language lesson provided in the main body device. A portable small-sized recording medium on which learning software including a plurality of segments composed of audio signals and image signals is recorded is detachable, and
A reading device for a small recording medium capable of reading audio and image signals recorded thereon; and a microphone provided integrally with the microphone, wherein the reading device reads audio and image signals from the small recording medium. The above object is attained by a language lesson apparatus comprising: an operation device having a plurality of keys for controlling a process of outputting to the display device.

The microphone is sized so that a user can hold it with one hand, and the operating device is arranged such that the plurality of keys can be operated by the thumb of one hand while holding the microphone with one hand. May be performed.

Further, the main unit is provided with a microphone sound recording device for recording a user's voice input to the microphone as a sound signal, and the operation device is configured to transmit the sound signal to the microphone sound recording device. A microphone sound recording key for a recording operation and a microphone sound reproduction key for an operation of outputting a recorded sound signal to the display device via the main device may be provided.

Further, the microphone sound recording device is composed of the reading device for the small recording medium and a small recording medium mounted on the reading device, and is capable of writing an audio signal inputted to the microphone to the small recording medium. You may make it.

The microphone sound recording device may be provided in the main unit separately from the small recording medium reading device and the small recording medium mounted thereon.

Still further, caption data corresponding to an audio signal is recorded in the image signal in the learning software, and the reading device for a small recording medium reads out the caption data in the image signal of the small recording medium. The display device may be capable of displaying characters corresponding to an audio signal via the main device.

The learning software has a plurality of lesson sections. At least one of the sections includes a normal-speed foreign language segment, a slow-speed foreign language segment, and a foreign language segment. May be provided so as to be selectable.

Further, the operating device includes at least a selection key for selecting a desired lesson section from the learning software, and a start / stop for controlling reproduction / stop of a voice signal and an image signal of the selected lesson section. A key and a volume key for adjusting the reproduction volume of the audio signal may be included.

[0015] The operation device may further include a speed selection key for adjusting a reproduction speed of the audio signal of the selected lesson section.

Further, the operating device includes a selection key for selecting a desired lesson section from the learning software;
A segment selection key for selecting one of a normal speed foreign language segment, a slow speed foreign language segment, and a native language translation segment corresponding to the foreign language from the selected lesson section may be provided.

Further, the reading device for a small recording medium can read the accompaniment music tone and the background image signal from a small recording medium on which the signal of the accompaniment music tone and the background image for karaoke are recorded. The key may also serve as a karaoke operation key for performing an operation for mixing an audio signal of a karaoke accompaniment tone and an audio signal of a song sung by the user in accordance with the accompaniment tone and outputting the mixed signal to the display device. Good.

The karaoke operation keys include a music selection key,
A song selection key and a pitch adjustment key may be included, and the selection key may double as the song selection key.

[0019] Further, the small recording medium records a signal of an accompaniment music tone for karaoke and a background image. The key may also serve as a key for performing an operation for mixing voice signals of a song and outputting the mixed signal to the display device.

In the present invention, the small recording medium in which the learning software including the audio signal and the image signal for the language lesson is recorded can be detachably attached to a hand-operable microphone. By operating the keys of the operation device, operations such as selecting and reproducing a desired lesson segment, adjusting the volume of reproduced sound, and the like can be facilitated with one hand.

Further, the user can inject a voice from a handheld microphone and output the voice on a display device provided with a voice output means.

Furthermore, a karaoke software is incorporated in the small recording medium of the language lesson apparatus, and the operation of the karaoke software can be performed by a key of a microphone operating device. It can also be used as

[0023]

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

As shown in FIG. 1, a language lesson apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connectable to a television apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a TV apparatus), and sends an audio signal and an image signal to the TV apparatus 12. A main unit 14 for outputting
A hand-held microphone 16 provided integrally with the main body device 14 for outputting the input voice of the user as an audio signal to the TV device 12 through the main body device 14; A portable small-sized recording medium 18 on which learning software including a plurality of segments composed of signals and image signals is recorded;
4, a reading device 20 for a small recording medium to which the small recording medium 18 can be attached and detached and from which audio signals and image signals recorded therein can be read.
And a plurality of keys 22 </ b> A to 22 </ b> U which are provided integrally with the microphone 16 and control a process of reading the audio signal and the image signal of the small recording medium 18 by the reading device 20 and outputting the read signal to the TV device 12. Operating device 24.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12A denotes a display of the TV set 12, and 12B denotes a speaker.

The microphone 16 is sized so that the user can hold it with one hand. The plurality of keys 22A to 22U of the operating device 24 can be operated by the thumb of one hand while holding the microphone 16 with one hand. It is arranged as possible.

The main unit 14 is provided with a microphone sound recording device 26 for recording a user's voice input to the microphone 16 as a sound signal. FIG.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, LCD).

Next, referring to FIG.
The function of 2U will be described.

The keys 22A to 22J are so-called numeric keys, and are numeric keys on which numerals 1, 2, 3,..., 9, and 0 are arranged. A number is chosen.

In FIG. 1, the lowermost keys 22S, 2S
2T and 22U are a power on key, a power off key, and a start / stop key, respectively.

A key 22K is a lesson section reservation key, a key 22L is a cancel key, a key 22M is a down scroll key, a key 22N is a mode setting key, and a key 22O.
Indicates an up scroll key, key 22P indicates a segment selection key, key 22Q indicates a microphone key, and key 22R indicates a speed adjustment key.

The keys 22A, 22B, and 22C are used for recording an audio signal to the microphone audio recording device 26 when the microphone recording mode is selected by the mode setting key 22N, and are recorded. A microphone audio reproduction key for outputting the audio signal to the TV device 12 via the main unit 14 and an erasing key for erasing the recorded audio signal.

Next, the contents recorded on the small recording medium 18 will be described with reference to Table 1.

[0034]

[Table 1]

The learning software recorded on the small recording medium 18 includes an audio signal, a background image signal, and caption data corresponding to the audio signal. Are also recorded.

The lesson sections are assigned, for example, 125 selection numbers as shown in Table 1, and are selected by the numbers set by the ten keys 22A to 22J of the operation device 24.

The speech signal in the lesson section is composed of a normal-speed foreign language segment A, a slow-speed foreign language segment B,
And the native language translation segment C corresponding to the foreign language is stored, and any one of them can be selected by the segment selection key 22P.

The image signal includes caption data of the foreign language character corresponding to the audio signal, in addition to a moving image or still image signal serving as a background corresponding to the situation of the audio signal.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main unit 14 includes a CPU 30, a bus 32, a recording medium interface (I / F) 34 connected to the CPU 30 via the bus 32, and a program storage ROM 36. , A RAM 38 for temporarily storing directories, audio information, and image information, and an operation key I for the operation device 24.
/ F 40 and D / A converter 42
It is connected to PU30.

The analog output of the D / A converter 42 is connected to an amplifier (not shown) of the TV device 12.

Next, the operation of the language lesson apparatus 10 will be described.

First, a small recording medium 18 on which predetermined language learning software is recorded is set in the small recording medium reading device 20.

The microphone 16 is connected to the connection terminal 1 in advance.
7 to the TV device 12. Next, the device is turned on by pressing the power-on key 22S.

As a result, the reading device for small recording medium 20 reads the directory from the small recording medium 18 and stores it in the RAM 38.

Next, the ten keys 22A to 22J are operated, or the lower scroll key 22M or the upper scroll key 22 is operated.
By operating O, the section number of the lesson in the learning software is selected. At this time, the lesson number is LCD2
8 is displayed. At the same time, it is also displayed on the display 12A.

When the desired section number is displayed,
The lesson section reservation key 22K is operated to reserve the section of the number. Specifically, by operating the lesson section reservation key 22K, the contents of the corresponding section of the small recording medium 18 are stored in the RAM 38.

In this way, one or more lesson sections are reserved, and the lesson is started by operating the start / stop key 22U.

At this time, the segment selection key 22P is operated to select the normal speed foreign language segment A, the slow speed foreign language segment B or the native language segment C corresponding to the foreign language in the selected section.

When started by the start / stop key 22U, an image signal including caption data of the selected section recorded in the RAM 38 is read, and characters corresponding to the audio signal are displayed on the display 12A together with the image. Is displayed. Also, segment selection key 2
The sound of any of the segments selected in 2P is output from the speaker 12B.

The volume of the reproduced sound from the speaker 12B is set to the volume adjustment mode by the setting key 22N, and the lower scroll key 22M or the upper scroll key 2 is set.
Operate and adjust 20.

When the user outputs his / her own voice from the speaker 12B, the microphone key 22Q is turned on. or,
When recording and reproducing the microphone sound, first, the mode setting key 22N is used to set the microphone recording / reproducing mode, and then the microphone sound recording key 22A is operated to enable recording, and the microphone 16 blows its own voice.

Next, when the microphone sound reproduction key 22B is operated, the user's sound is reproduced from the speaker 12B.
In the case of erasing, the erasing key 22C is operated.

Next, a case where the language lesson apparatus 10 is used as a karaoke apparatus will be described.

In this case, the small recording medium 18 is provided with a plurality of sections as shown in Table 2, and each section records signals of one karaoke accompaniment music and background image. The directory corresponding to each section is also recorded.

[0055]

[Table 2]

The lyrics of the background image signal in each section are recorded as caption data.

The ten keys 22A to 22J are used to select a section (song number) in the same manner as in the case of a language lesson, whereby a desired song can be selected. Similarly, the lesson section reservation key 22K is a song reservation key,
Becomes

When used as a karaoke apparatus, the segment selection key 22P is used as a pitch adjustment key.

The cancel key 22L is used to cancel the reservation of the music selected by the lesson section reservation key 22K, in the same manner as in the case of the language lesson.

When the microphone key 22Q is turned on, the user's voice input via the microphone 16 is reproduced by being superimposed on this voice while the accompaniment tone is reproduced from the speaker 12B. Things.

The speed adjustment key 22R is used to increase or decrease the reproduction speed of the accompaniment tone and the background image signal.

In the above embodiment, when the microphone sound recording key 22A is turned on, the sound input from the microphone 16 is recorded in the microphone sound recording device 26, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not
Other recording device, for example, a reading device 20 for a small recording medium
May be recorded on the small-sized recording medium 18 set in the recording medium.

Further, image information and audio information including caption data recorded on the small recording medium 18,
The microphone sound is output from the display 12A and the speaker 12B of the TV device 12,
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be a display and a speaker different from the TV device 12.

Further, the main unit 14 and the TV 12
Are connected by a cord, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be connected wirelessly. In this case, as shown in FIG.
4, a television wave oscillation device 44 and an antenna 45, a TV
Antennas 46 are provided on the device 12 side, respectively.
Similarly to the signal received by the V device, a wireless signal may be output to the TV device 12 so as to be reproduced by the TV device 12.

[0065]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, a reading device for a small recording medium is provided integrally with a handheld microphone, from which audio information and image information are output to a display, a speaker or the like of a TV device. You can easily take language lessons.

The keys of the operating device are provided integrally with the microphone and can be operated with one hand, and the various keys of the operating device are also configured as keys for karaoke operation. Can be easily converted to a karaoke device by using the software for karaoke.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a language lesson device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a partially enlarged manner.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing keys of the operation device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system in the language learning lesson apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view similar to FIG. 1, showing an example of an embodiment in which the main body of the language lesson device and the TV device are wirelessly connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Language lesson apparatus 12 ... TV apparatus 12A ... Display 12B ... Speaker 14 ... Main body apparatus 16 ... Microphone 18 ... Small recording medium 20 ... Small recording medium reading apparatus 22A-22U ... Key 22A ... Microphone sound recording key 22B ... Microphone sound Reproduction keys 22A to 22J Numeric keys 22K Lesson section reservation key 22P Segment selection key 22Q Microphone key 22S Power on key 22T Power off key 22U Start / stop key 24 Operating device 26 Microphone voice recording device 28 LCD 44 … TV wave generator 46… Antenna

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04R 1/04 G10L 9/18 J

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A main unit which can be connected to a display device provided with an audio output means by one of a cable and a radio and sends and outputs an audio signal and an image signal to the display device, and this main unit is integrally formed. And a hand-held microphone that outputs the input user's voice as an audio signal to the display device through the main unit, and a microphone and a voice signal for language lessons provided in the main unit. A portable small-sized recording medium on which learning software including a plurality of segments is recorded, and a reading device for a small-sized recording medium capable of reading an audio signal and an image signal recorded thereon, and the microphone The audio signal and the image signal of the small recording medium are read by the reading device. Language lessons apparatus comprising a, an operating device having a plurality of keys for controlling a process to be output to the display device out. 2. The microphone according to claim 1, wherein the microphone is sized so that a user can hold the microphone with one hand, and the operating device is configured to hold the microphone with one hand and to use the plurality of thumbs with the thumb of the one hand. A language lesson device characterized by being arranged so that keys can be operated. 3. The microphone device according to claim 1, wherein the main unit is provided with a microphone voice recording device for recording a voice of a user input to the microphone as a voice signal, and the operation device is provided with the microphone voice. A microphone audio recording key for recording an audio signal to the recording device; and a microphone audio reproduction key for an operation of outputting the recorded audio signal to the display device via the main device. Characteristic language lesson equipment. 4. The microphone sound recording device according to claim 3, wherein the microphone sound recording device comprises the reading device for the small recording medium and a small recording medium attached to the small recording medium, and converts the audio signal input to the microphone into the small recording medium. A language lesson device characterized in that it can be written to. 5. The microphone sound recording device according to claim 3, wherein the microphone sound recording device is provided in the main unit separately from the small recording medium reading device and the small recording medium mounted thereon. Language lesson equipment. 6. The small-sized recording medium reading device according to claim 1, wherein caption data corresponding to an audio signal is recorded in the image signal in the learning software. Wherein the caption data in the image signal is read out and characters corresponding to the audio signal can be displayed on the display device via the main body device. 7. The learning software according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lesson sections are provided in the learning software, and the audio signal of at least one of the sections includes a normal-speed foreign language segment, A language lesson apparatus characterized in that a slow-speed foreign language segment and a native language translation segment corresponding to the foreign language are provided so as to be selectable. 8. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device includes at least a selection key for selecting a target lesson section from the learning software, and reproduction of an audio signal and an image signal of the selected lesson section. A language lesson apparatus comprising a start / stop key for controlling start / stop and a volume key for adjusting a reproduction volume of an audio signal. 9. The language lesson apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the operation device further comprises a speed selection key for adjusting a reproduction speed of the audio signal of the selected lesson section. 10. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein the operating device includes a selection key for selecting a target lesson section from the learning software, a normal-speed foreign language segment, and a slow-speed foreign language segment from the selected lesson section. And a segment selection key for selecting one of the native language translation segments corresponding to the foreign language. 11. The reading apparatus for a small recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the reading of the accompaniment music tone and the background image signal from the small recording medium on which the signal of the accompaniment music tone and the background image for karaoke are recorded. The key of the operating device is readable and the key of the operating device is a karaoke device that performs an operation for mixing the audio signal of the karaoke accompaniment tone and the audio signal of the song sung by the user in accordance with the accompaniment tone and outputting the mixed signal to the display device. A language lesson device, which is also configured as an operation key. 12. The language lesson apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the karaoke operation keys include a music selection key, a music selection reservation key, and a pitch adjustment key, and the selection key doubles as the music selection key. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The small recording medium records a signal of an accompaniment tone for karaoke and a background image, and keys of the operating device operate an audio signal of an accompaniment tone of karaoke and an audio signal of a song that the user sings to the accompaniment tone. A language lesson apparatus, which is also configured as a key for performing an operation for mixing and outputting the result to the display apparatus.