JP2002252530A - Signal level displaying method and acoustic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp a signal level easily and display it with high efficiency. SOLUTION: A signal level of an aural signal Sa or a signal level of, e.g. a low-pass component from the aural signal Sa, is detected with an analyzer 16 and informed to a control unit 20, which forms a color control signal Lc in accordance with the detected signal level and supplies the signal Lc to an illumination part 30 for lighting a display part 25. In the case of level display, a transistor 302 of the illumination part 30 is turned on by a signal Lsw from the control unit 20. On the basis of the color control signal Lc, an illumination driving circuit 306 controls the emission operation of light emitting diodes 303-305 different in emission color, and the color of a light outputted from the illumination part 30 is changed in accordance with the signal level. The signal level can be discriminated with illumination color of the display 25. When the low-pass component of the signal level is detected with the analyzer 16, tempo of a regenerative tone can be displayed by switching the illumination color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a signal level display method and an audio device using the same. More specifically, a signal level of an audio signal or a signal level of each frequency component is detected from the audio signal, and the color of illumination of the display unit is changed according to the detected signal level.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional audio device, for example, a stereo device has a tuner function, a function of reproducing a compact disk, a function of recording and reproducing a mini-disc, and a function of recording and reproducing a cassette tape. For this reason, various information is displayed on the display unit of the stereo device according to each function. For example, when the tuner function is selected, the currently selected broadcast wave or received frequency is displayed. When the compact disk playback function is selected, the total number of songs, the total playing time, the number of playing songs, and the number of playing songs are displayed. The elapsed time of the song and the like are displayed. Further, when the recording / reproducing function of the mini-disc is selected, a display of a disc title, a track title, and the like and a display for recording and editing the title are also performed.

In addition, in the stereo apparatus, not only a display corresponding to each function, but also a display relating to a setting or a state of a reproduced sound is performed. For example, a level meter display and a spectrum analyzer display for displaying the tempo of the reproduced sound, the frequency distribution of the reproduced sound, and the like are also performed.

[0004]

By the way, if a display section having a large display area is provided to display various information on the display section as described above, the cost of the display section is increased and the stereo apparatus is downsized. Can not be converted. Further, when information is switched and displayed, the operation of switching the display must be performed in order to obtain the required information, which complicates the operation.

[0005] The information to be displayed includes information that can be identified by reading information such as a reception frequency, a reproduced music number, or a title, and signal level display by a level meter or a spectrum analyzer. There is a mixture of information that can be grasped only by visually grasping the information, and information that can be identified by reading it and information that can be grasped only by visually grasping it are displayed equally. In this case, information is not displayed efficiently. In view of the above, the present invention provides a signal level display method capable of easily grasping a signal level and efficiently displaying the signal level, and an audio device using the method.

[0006]

A signal level display method according to the present invention detects a signal level of an audio signal or a signal level of each frequency component from the audio signal, and displays the display section in accordance with the detected signal level. The color of the illumination is varied.

[0007] Further, the acoustic apparatus can detect a signal level of an audio signal for audio output or a signal level for each frequency component from the audio signal, a display means, and illuminate the display means and change the color of illumination. It has illumination means and control means for varying the illumination color of the illumination means based on the signal level detected by the detection means.

According to the present invention, a signal level of an audio signal or a signal level of, for example, a low-frequency component is detected from the audio signal, and a multicolor light emitting diode illuminating the display unit is driven in accordance with the detected signal level. Is done.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a case where the audio device is, for example, a stereo device. In FIG. 1, the stereo apparatus includes, for example, a tuner unit 11 for receiving a broadcast program, a CD unit 12 for reproducing a compact disk, a tape deck unit 13 for recording and reproducing using a magnetic tape, and the like. The operation of each unit is controlled by an operation control signal CT from the control unit 20.

A reproduction audio signal Stu obtained by receiving a broadcast program by the tuner section 11, a reproduction audio signal Scd obtained by reproducing a compact disk by the CD section 12, and a magnetic tape reproduced by the tape deck section 13 Obtained reproduced audio signal S
td is supplied to the signal switching unit 15, respectively.

The signal switching section 15 selects one of the reproduced audio signals based on the switching control signal CS from the control section 20 and supplies it to the analyzer section 16 and the electronic volume 17 as the reproduced audio signal Sa. The analyzer 16 generates a detection signal DT corresponding to the signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa and supplies the detection signal DT to the controller 20. Alternatively, a low-pass filter (for example, passing a signal in a frequency band of several tens Hz or several hundred Hz or less) or a plurality of band-pass filters having different pass bands (for example, in a frequency band having a center frequency of about several tens Hz to about 20 kHz). The analyzer unit 16 is configured using different band filters, and the detection signal DT indicating the signal level of the low-frequency component of the supplied reproduced audio signal Sa and the band limitation is performed by each band-pass filter. A detection signal DT indicating the signal level of the obtained signal is generated and supplied to the control unit 20.

In the electronic volume 17, the signal switching unit 15
The signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa selected in is adjusted based on the volume control signal CV from the control unit 20 and supplied to the amplifier 18 as the reproduced audio signal Sb. The amplifier 18 amplifies the reproduced audio signal Sb from the electronic volume 17 and supplies it to the speaker 19 as an audio output signal Sout.
The reproduced sound is output from the speaker 19.

A remote control receiving unit 21 and an operation unit 22 are connected to the control unit 20. The remote control receiving unit 21 controls a remote control signal R output from a remote control device (not shown).
S is received and supplied to the control unit 20. The operation unit 22
Then, an operation signal PS corresponding to the operation is supplied to the control unit 20. In the control unit 20, the remote control signal RS and the operation signal PS
, An operation control signal CT, a switching control signal CS, and a volume control signal CV. The control unit 20 includes:
The display unit 25 is connected, and the control unit 20 generates a display signal DP for displaying an operation state and various information, and supplies the display signal DP to the display unit 25.

Further, an illumination unit 30 for illuminating the display unit 25 is connected to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 generates a switch signal Lsw for turning on or off the lighting operation of the lighting unit 30 and a color control signal Lc for switching the lighting color, and supplies them to the lighting unit 30.

The switch signal Lsw is supplied to the base of the NPN transistor 302 via the resistor 301 of the lighting unit 30. The emitter of the transistor 302 is grounded, and the collector is connected to, for example, the cathodes of a red light emitting diode 303, a green light emitting diode 304, and a blue light emitting diode 305. The anodes of the light emitting diodes 303, 304, 305 are connected to the illumination drive circuit 306.

The illumination drive circuit 306 controls the current supplied to the light emitting diodes 303, 304 and 305 so that the illumination color is designated by the color control signal Lc supplied from the control unit 20.

Next, the lighting operation will be described. When performing the lighting operation of the display unit 25, the control unit 20 sets the signal level of the switch signal Lsw to a high level “H” to turn on the transistor 302. In the illumination drive circuit 306, the color control signal Lc from the control unit 20 is used.
, The current supplied to each of the light emitting diodes 303, 304, 305 is controlled.

Here, as the lighting operation mode of the display unit 25, for example, a normal mode, a function interlocking mode, and a music mode are provided. When the lighting operation mode is set to the normal mode, the control unit 20
Then, a color control signal Lc that specifies a preset illumination color is supplied to the illumination drive circuit 306.

In the illumination driving circuit 306, the color control signal Lc
, The current supplied to each of the light emitting diodes 303, 304, 305 is controlled. Therefore, each light emitting diode 3
The lights output from 03, 304, and 305 can be mixed to illuminate the display unit 25 with a preset color.

When the function interlocking mode is set, the control unit 20 sends a color control signal Lc indicating a color corresponding to the function selected by operating the remote control device or the operation unit 22 to the illumination driving circuit 306. Supply.
For example, when the tuner function of receiving a broadcast program and outputting a sound is selected, a color control signal Lc indicating red is supplied to the illumination drive circuit 306. Lighting drive circuit 3
06, the light emitting diode 30 based on the color control signal Lc.
3 is supplied with a current to emit red light. For this reason, the display unit 25 is illuminated in red. Similarly, when the disc reproducing function of reproducing a compact disc and outputting sound is selected, a color control signal Lc for instructing green is supplied to the illumination driving circuit 306 and the illumination driving circuit 306 is supplied.
Then, based on the color control signal Lc, the light emitting diode 30
4 is supplied with a current to emit green light. For this reason, the display unit 25 is illuminated with green. Further, when the tape reproduction function of reproducing the magnetic tape and outputting the audio is selected, the color control signal Lc for instructing blue is transmitted to the illumination driving circuit 3.
06 to drive the light emitting diode 305, the display unit 25 is illuminated with blue.

As described above, by switching the illumination color of the display unit 25 according to the function function, it is possible to easily determine which function function is selected even from a remote position.

When the music mode is selected, the control section 20 supplies the illumination drive circuit 306 with a color control signal Lc indicating a color based on the detection signal DT from the analyzer section 16. For example, when the analyzer section 16 detects the signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa to generate the detection signal DT, when the signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa is low, blue is designated to increase the signal level. The specified color is changed continuously from blue to green, yellow, orange, and red. At this time, the light emitting diodes 303 and 3
04 and 305 are mixed, the illumination color becomes the designated color, and the signal level of the reproduced audio signal Sa can be visually and easily confirmed by which color the display unit 25 is illuminated with. it can.

When the analyzer section 16 is configured using a low-pass filter, the display section 2 is similarly operated.
5 is illuminated with a color corresponding to the signal level of the low frequency component. For this reason, when the rhythm of the reproduced sound output from the speaker 19 is represented by a change in the signal level of the low-frequency component, the illumination color of the display unit 25 is changed according to the rhythm. You can easily check the tempo of the song visually. Further, if the illumination color is switched when the signal level of the low-frequency component exceeds a predetermined level, the tempo of the music can be indicated by the color switching timing. In the color switching at this time, for example, by switching to the opposite color or the like to increase the color change, it is possible to easily confirm the tempo from a position away from the tempo.

Further, when the analyzer section 16 is configured using a plurality of band-pass filters, the illumination section 30 is provided according to the number of band-pass filters.
The illumination color of each illumination unit 30 is controlled according to the signal level of the signal obtained by band-limiting each band-pass filter. For example, when five band-pass filters are used, the five illumination units 30-1 to 30-5 are arranged side by side as shown in FIG. The color control signal Lc-1 is supplied to the illumination unit 30-1 on one end side to control the color according to the signal level of the signal obtained in step (1). Further, according to the signal level of the signal obtained by the band-pass filter having the highest center frequency, the color is controlled by supplying the color control signal Lc-5 to the illumination unit 30-5 on the other end side. .

As described above, if the emission colors of the illuminating units 30-1 to 30-5 arranged side by side can be varied according to the signal level of the signal obtained by the band-pass filter, the display unit The frequency distribution of the reproduced audio signal Sa can be easily grasped visually depending on the color arrangement of the illumination light 25.

The illumination colors in the illumination units 30-1 to 30-5 may be determined in advance, and the luminous intensity in the illumination units 30-1 to 30-5 may be varied according to the signal level. good. In this case, since the frequency bands are classified by color in advance, the signal level of each frequency band can be easily grasped.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment,
Even if the display area of the display unit 25 is enlarged to provide no area for signal level display or spectrum display, the display unit 2
Since the signal level, the tempo of the reproduced sound, and the frequency distribution can be displayed using the illumination color of the illumination unit 30 that illuminates 5, the audio device can be configured at low cost and can be downsized. Further, since the information is displayed in the illumination color, visually recognizable information can be easily confirmed even from a remote position.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the signal level of the audio signal or the signal level of each frequency component is detected from the audio signal, and the color of the illumination of the display unit is changed according to the detected signal level. . Therefore, the signal level and the frequency distribution of the audio signal can be determined from the illumination color of the display unit even from a distant position. Further, the signal level of the low-frequency component is detected from the audio signal, and the color of the illumination of the display unit is changed according to the signal level. Therefore, when the audio signal is a signal obtained by reproducing music or the like and the rhythm is represented by a change in the signal level of the low-frequency component, the illumination color is changed in accordance with the rhythm of the music. Therefore, the music tempo and the like can be easily confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an acoustic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of another configuration of the acoustic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 tuner section 12 CD section 13 tape deck section 15 signal switching section 16 analyzer section 17 electronic volume 18 amplifier 19 speaker 20 control section 21 remote control receiving section 22 operation section 25 display section 30, 30-1 to 30-5 lighting section 303, 304,305 Light emitting diode 306 Lighting drive circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A signal level of an audio signal or a signal level of each frequency component from the audio signal is detected, and a color of illumination of a display unit is varied according to the detected signal level. Signal level display method. 2. The signal level display method according to claim 1, wherein the signal level for each frequency component is a signal level of a low frequency component. 3. A detecting means for detecting a signal level of an audio signal for audio output or a signal level for each frequency component from the audio signal, a display means, and an illuminating means for illuminating the display means and changing a color of illumination. And a control means for varying the illumination color of the illumination means based on the signal level detected by the detection means. 4. The acoustic device according to claim 3, wherein said detecting means detects a signal level of a low-frequency component from said audio signal.