JP2003152574A - Av receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an AV receiver, capable of adding and reducing functions according as a user desires, and efficiently executing abnormality diagnosis and its countermeasures, when failure is produced. SOLUTION: This AV receiver is provided with a selector 15 for switching a plurality of input signals, such as a voice signal and/or a video signal so that the signal from the selector 15 can be outputted, after prescribed signal processing and amplification. This AV receiver is mounted with a memory card drive 3 for executing reading of information recorded in a memory card 2 and the writing of information in the memory card 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an AV receiver which enables customization of functions and settings, failure diagnosis, and coping therewith.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a tuner, a CD (compact disc) player, a VCR (video cassette recorder), etc. are connected to switch audio signals and video signals input from these devices, and a predetermined input signal AV receivers that perform signal processing and amplification and output the signals have become widespread.

On the other hand, among recording media for recording / storing information (data), recording media using a semiconductor memory are becoming popular. There is a so-called memory card as a recording medium using this semiconductor memory. This memory card is small and lightweight and very easy to handle, and it is also convenient for carrying recorded information (data). Recently, the speed of data communication and the development of memory cards with large-capacity memory have advanced, and music, images, etc. It is also used as a medium for recording various information.

An example of using this memory card is a memory card compatible headphone stereo. This is a medium in which a conventional medium such as a cassette tape and a CD (compact disc) is replaced with a memory card.

[0005]

Among the conventional AV receivers described above, those having a surround playback function are common, but the types of surround mode are limited due to the initial settings at the time of factory shipment. Is usually fixed and cannot be updated, and even if there is a new function to add or a function to delete because it is unnecessary, it could not be freely changed. Further, the AV receiver upgrade service is not suited to the wishes of each user, only by rewriting it into a single program with new functions.

In addition, since the conventional AV receiver does not have a backup medium, for example, it is impossible to back up memory data such as various settings, tuners, surround modes, levels, etc. Memory data may be erased due to the cause of.
In this case, it is necessary for the user to re-set while remembering the settings before they disappeared.

Further, when the AV receiver fails,
Since the user does not know the cause of the failure, he / she will contact the manufacturer, but in most cases, the AV receiver body will be sent to the manufacturer for repair. And once sent to the manufacturer for repair, it may take several weeks before it is returned to the user.

In view of the above points, the present invention proposes an AV receiver capable of adding / deleting functions according to the wishes of a user and efficiently diagnosing and coping with an abnormality at the time of failure. .

[0009]

The present invention has a selector for switching a plurality of input signals such as audio signals and / or video signals, and performs predetermined signal processing and amplification on the signals from this selector and outputs the signals. In such an AV receiver, a memory card drive for reading information recorded in the memory card and writing information in the memory card is mounted, and this memory card is suitable for personal use. The function and setting information of the AV receiver is stored for each individual, and the function and setting information stored in the memory card allows the AV receiver to be customized to the desired function and setting of each individual. .

According to the present invention, a memory card drive is mounted on the AV receiver, and the function and setting information of the AV receiver that suits an individual's preference is stored in a memory card unique to each individual. It is possible to customize the functions and settings desired by each person, and create an environment that is very comfortable and convenient for each person.

Further, the present invention has a selector for switching a plurality of input signals such as audio signals and / or video signals,
An AV receiver adapted to perform predetermined signal processing and amplification on the signal from the selector and output the signal should be equipped with a memory card drive for reading information recorded on the memory card and writing information on the memory card. In this memory card, failure information at the time of this AV receiver failure is stored, and based on this failure information stored in this memory card, the failure diagnosis of this AV receiver and its countermeasure are performed. It was done.

According to the present invention, since the memory card drive is mounted on the AV receiver and the failure information at the time of failure of the AV receiver is stored in the memory card, the failure diagnosis and the failure diagnosis are performed based on the failure information. It is possible to deal efficiently.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The AV of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
An example of the embodiment of the receiver will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an AV receiver main body, and 10 denotes, for example, a VCR (video cassette recorder).
Audio signal and video signal, 11 is an audio signal from a CD (Compact Disc) player, and 12
Indicates an input terminal to which an audio signal and a video signal from a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player are input, respectively.

In the AV receiver body 1, for example, a VC
The signals from the R, CD player, and DVD player are supplied, and the radio waves received by the antenna 8 are taken into the tuner 9 built in the AV receiver body 1 via the feeder. In the example of FIG. 1, for simplification, the audio signal and the video signal are expressed without distinction.

The analog signal supplied from the above VCR and tuner 9 is supplied to the A / D converter 13, and this A / D converter 13
The selector 1 outputs the digital signal output from the D converter 13.
Supply to 5.

Signals from the CD player, the DVD player and the memory card drive 3 are DIR (Digital
It is supplied to the selector 15 through the Interface Receiver) 14.

Here, the signals from the VCR and the tuner 9 are analog signals. However, if the signals are digital circuits of the internal signal processing system inside the equipment, these signals are A / D converters. DIR1 without going through 13
4 to supply.

In this memory card drive 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the memory card 2 is loaded from the memory card slot 3a provided on the front panel 20 of the AV receiver main body 1, and the information stored in the memory card 2 is stored. The reading and writing of information to the memory card 2 and the communication with a memory card microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a memory card microcomputer) 4 are performed.

The memory card microcomputer 4 communicates the information of the memory card 2 with a master microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a master microcomputer) 5 and controls the memory card drive 3.

The master microcomputer 5 communicates information with the memory card microcomputer 4 and writes and reads information to and from the flash memory 6. Also, key input on the front panel 20, reading of each encoder,
It decodes signals from a remote controller (remote control switch) and controls the display tube 7 for displaying information provided on the front panel 20.

The flash memory 6 constitutes a ROM and stores data such as the function and settings of the AV receiver.

Then, the audio signal of the function selected by the user is selected from the audio signals from, for example, the FM broadcast signal from the tuner 9 supplied to the selector 15 and the VCR, the CD player, the DVD player and the memory card drive 3. The audio signal is switched as described above,
For example, DSP (digital signal) that performs surround processing
processor) 16.

In the DSP 16, for example, Dolby Digital (registered trademark) or DTS (registered trademark) is decoded, and then surround processing such as DCS (registered trademark) is performed to obtain a sound with a sense of presence. It is a thing.

The audio signal supplied to the DSP 16 is subjected to surround processing according to the surround mode desired by the user, and then supplied to the D / A converter 17. This surround mode can be selected by the item of the display menu of the display tube 7 on the front panel 20. For example,
A plurality of surround mode patterns such as a movie theater and a concert hall may be prepared, and the user may determine a desired surround mode from among them.

In the D / A converter 17, the audio signal which has been subjected to the surround processing is converted into an analog signal and the amplifier 18 is provided.
Supply to. The amplifier 18 is configured so that the audio signal is amplified in accordance with the adjustment value of the electronic volume 20f, supplied to the speaker 19, and emitted from the speaker 19.

For example, when the above-mentioned arbitrary audio signal is being reproduced, if the video signal of the VCR, the memory card 2 or the like is supplied to the display 30 such as a liquid crystal display, the image can be enjoyed simultaneously with the audio.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic external view of the example of the embodiment of the AV receiver of this example as seen from the front side. In FIG. 2, 7 is a display tube provided on the panel 20 of the AV receiver main body 1, and 3a is a memory card slot into which the memory card 2 is inserted and mounted in the memory card drive 3. Further, 20a is a power switch for turning on / off the power of the AV receiver, 20b is a cursor key for moving a cursor (not shown) on the display menu screen up, down, left and right, 20c is a menu key for selecting a menu in the display menu, Reference numeral 20d is a selection key for confirming the item selected by the cursor key 20b, 20e is an input selector switch for switching the function, and 20f is, for example, an electronic volume for adjusting the volume emitted from an external speaker.

A setting menu is prepared as one of the display menus of the display tube 7. When an item to be set, for example, a surround mode is set, "surround mode setting" is displayed from the setting menu and displayed. The setting can be performed by operating each key on the front panel 20 from the option and selecting a desired surround mode. In addition to the setting menu, the display tube 7
Various information such as tuner frequency preset name, function selection status, song number and its title are displayed.

Next, a basic operation method of the AV receiver of FIG. 1 configured as described above will be described.

First, the front panel 2 of the AV receiver body 1
After pressing the power switch 20a above 0 to turn the power on, the menu key 20c on the front panel 20 displays the function selection menu from the display menu of the display tube 7, for example.

Then, the input changeover switch 20e is operated to select "MEMORY CARD" in the function selection menu, as shown in FIG. If the memory card 2 is attached to the memory card slot 3a, the master microcomputer 5 instructs the selector 15 to switch the video and audio to the memory card 2. Then, the selector 15 selects the signal of the memory card 2 from the memory card drive 3, and the function is switched to the memory card 2.

When the function is switched to the memory card 2, the master microcomputer 5 reads out the contents of the memory card 2 from the memory card microcomputer 4, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the first song number "1" and its title "HELL
O "is displayed on the display tube 7. Here, when the selection key 20d on the front panel 20 is pressed, the master microcomputer 5 sends a PLAY command to the memory card microcomputer 4 to reproduce the memory card 2. Done.

Alternatively, when it is not desired to reproduce from the beginning of the file, for example, the cursor key 2 on the panel 20
0b may be operated to select a desired file and then reproduce the file. At this time, similarly to the above, the selected music piece number and the title corresponding thereto are displayed on the display tube 7.

When the selection key 20d is pressed during reproduction of the memory card 2, the master microcomputer 5 sends a stop command to the memory card microcomputer 4 to stop the reproduction. When the right and left cursor keys 20b are pressed, the master microcomputer 5 causes the memory card microcomputer 4 to
The AMS +/- command is sent to, and the music is advanced and returned.

For the function switching, for example, the master microcomputer 5 issues an instruction to automatically switch the function by detecting that a storage medium is mounted in the drive of each reproducing apparatus, and display on the display tube 7. You may do so.

The basic operation of the keys at the time of switching the function and reproducing as described above can be performed in the same procedure for other functions than the memory card 2. If the reproduced data is image data,
At the same time as the sound is reproduced, a moving image or a still image is displayed on the display 30.

Next, a method of backing up, for example, a tuner frequency preset memory, a broadcast station name preset memory, a surround mode memory, etc. will be described.

First, the menu key 20c on the front panel 20 of the AV receiver main body 1 is operated to display "memory backup" (not shown) from the setting menu on the display menu of the display tube 7. When the cursor key 20b is operated from the YES / NO option and YES is selected and the backup is started by pressing the selection key 20d, the memory data stored in the flash memory 6 is saved in the memory card 2 by the command of the master microcomputer 5. To be done. At this time, for example, "E" is displayed on the display tube 7 during backup.
"XEUTE" and "COMPL at the end of backup
Display as "ETE".

Further, for example, when data such as music and images stored in the memory card 2 is loaded into the AV receiver, the menu key 20c on the panel 20 is operated to select "from the display menu item of the display tube 7". Memory load ”
(Not shown) is displayed. When the cursor key 20b is operated from the choices of YES / NO and YES is selected and the selection key 20d is pressed to start memory loading, the memory data stored in the memory card 2 is stored in the flash memory 6 by the instruction of the master microcomputer 5. Remembered. At this time, for example, “EXEC
UTE ”and“ COMPLET ”at the end of backup
Display "E".

When upgrading the function and setting information of the AV receiver, "upgrade" (not shown) is displayed from the display menu item of the display tube 7 on the panel 20. If you select YES by operating the cursor key 20b from the YES / NO options, select key 20b
When the upgrade is started by pressing, the program data stored in the flash memory 6 is updated by the program data in the memory card 2 according to a command from the master microcomputer 5. At this time, the display tube 7 displays, for example, "EXECUTE" during backup and "COMPLETE" at the end of backup.

Customization of each function and setting information will be described as a method of using the memory card in this example.

First, customization of the preset state of the AV receiver of this example will be described. For example, even in a family, various settings of the AV receiver that suit individual tastes are stored in a memory card that is unique to each person. Then, each person loads data such as a surround mode, an equalizer characteristic, a tuner preset, a preset name of a tuner and a function, and the like from each memory card when using each person.

As described above, the AV receiver can always be customized to the preference of each person, which is very convenient for each user.

Customization of required functions of the AV receiver of this example will be described. For example, some individuals do not need or are not able to fully use the function with a complex multi-limb such as the upper model of a general AV receiver. Therefore, in order to make it easy to use, each person in the family customizes only the necessary function, each person stores the customized function in a unique memory card, and loads it from the memory card as needed when using it.

As described above, only the function required by each person of the AV receiver can be customized, which is very convenient for each user.

Data conversion of reverberation cancellation information peculiar to each room will be described. For example, when the AV receiver main body 1 of this example is used by moving it from one room to another, listening to the originally set surround playback sound in the destination room may give a completely different and uncomfortable feeling. is there. That is, each room has its own reverberation characteristic, and the user hears the sound to which the reverberation characteristic of the destination room is added in addition to the set surround reproduction sound.

Therefore, if the data regarding the reverberation characteristic of each room is stored in the memory card and the reverberation characteristic is canceled according to the environment in which the AV receiver main body 1 of this embodiment is installed, the reverberation characteristic is emitted from the speaker 19. You can enjoy the pure surround sound that is played.

Further, data conversion of head-related transfer function information peculiar to each person will be described. For example, the 3D mode, which is one of the sound field modes for producing a realistic sensation that is often installed in AV receivers in recent years, is effective when the head related transfer function information of the viewer is very well suited to the preset one. In Although,
However, the effect varies considerably among individuals.

Therefore, if the head-related transfer function of each person in the family is measured and the information is stored in a memory card specific to each person, the effective 3D mode coefficient for each person can be instantly called. You can

As information storage, in addition to the method of measuring the transfer function on the spot, a plurality of coefficient data suitable for the shape of the face such as the shape of the head and the shape of the ear are prepared in advance. , It is possible to load and use an appropriate one from among them.

As described above, by storing and storing personal information such as the head shape in the memory card, it is possible to enjoy the sound field mode most suitable for each person, for example, the 3D mode.

When the power supply is turned on, when the memory card 2 in which the data such as the function and setting information of each individual is backed up is inserted into the memory card slot 3a and the power switch 20a is pushed, the individual preference Data such as functions and setting information of is loaded from the memory card 2,
It may be considered that an AV receiver suitable for each individual is instantly constructed.

Next, as a method of using the memory card in the present example, a fault diagnosis of the AV receiver and its countermeasure will be described.

For example, when the AV receiver of this example fails, a predetermined check routine is run for each abnormal symptom at the time of the failure so that the abnormal state can be diagnosed. . Table 1 shows examples of abnormal symptoms that may occur at the time of failure and a check routine that should be performed at that time. With respect to the abnormal symptoms of (1) to (8), the content indicated by the right arrow shows the corresponding check routine.

[0056]

[Table 1]

Here, for example, "defective analysis mode" is prepared as an item of the display menu of the display tube 7 of the AV receiver main body 1 so that an example of a symptom of an abnormality is displayed on the display tube 7 at the time of failure. The user operates the cursor key 20b to select the symptom of the relevant abnormality, and presses the selection key 20d to determine it. Then, the predetermined check routine runs and the result is written in the memory card.

For example, if the abnormal symptom is "tuner has stopped receiving" in Table 2 (1), the operation of the tuner pack is checked. Then, the memory card in which the checked result is recorded is sent from the customer to, for example, the maintenance center of the manufacturer.

At the maintenance center,
By analyzing the contents of the check result of the shipped memory card 2, the defective part is identified, and it is judged whether the AV receiver body 1 should be sent for repair or the software version upgrade should be taken. It is possible to contact.

If, for example, the user has a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) that the user has instead of sending the memory card 2 in which the result of running the check routine is recorded to the manufacturer, the PC and the memory card 2 are You may make it connect and transmit the check result of an abnormality diagnosis to a manufacturer through networks, such as the internet. In this case, the upgraded software will be delivered to the customer via the network.

As described above, the trouble analysis can be performed only by exchanging the memory card 2 in which the check result of the abnormality diagnosis is recorded at the time of failure between the customer and the manufacturer. Therefore, the AV receiver set is repaired as in the conventional case. It is possible to easily diagnose and deal with the abnormality without having to put out the error, and to improve the efficiency of the failure analysis.

Further, for example, a memory card in which a repair program or recovery information for a slight failure of the AV receiver is written is packaged with the AV receiver at the time of sale. Then, by following the procedure of the repair program written in this memory card at the time of failure, the required software is upgraded or recovered according to the failure status, and the user can do it himself without requesting repair from the manufacturer. It may be possible to repair the AV receiver.

By the way, the receiver main body 1 is provided with TCP / TCP such as 10BASE-T / 100BASE-TX.
When the module for realizing the connection with the IP network is installed, the AV receiver can directly send the abnormality diagnosis check result data via the network without using the memory card as a medium.

Further, for example, the upgraded software can be directly downloaded from the network to the AV receiver without a PC in hand.

When the AV receiver is provided with a network connection function, for example, a website of the manufacturer is opened on the Internet, and a site is provided for each model of the AV receiver, in which a repair program for minor failures can be downloaded. To do. The user displays the site on, for example, the display 30, confirms that the model owned by the user and the corresponding failure item are present, and downloads the repair program for the failure to the memory card 2. Then, for example, it is conceivable that the necessary software is upgraded by proceeding with the work according to the procedure of the downloaded repair program, and the AV receiver can be repaired by itself without requesting the repair from the manufacturer.

When the AV receiver is provided with the network connection function, for example, the user previously registers the user ID with the manufacturer when the AV receiver is purchased,
It is possible to upgrade the functions and setting information by downloading the data such as software and setting information from the server prepared by the manufacturer through the network after the access authentication by the ID and the password.

When the AV receiver is provided with a network connection function, for example, P
No need to download music data through C,
It can be directly downloaded to a recording medium such as a memory card 2 and a CD connected to the AV receiver. Therefore, the work of dubbing music data once downloaded to the PC onto a medium such as a CD can be omitted, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

When the AV receiver is provided with the network connection function, the memory card 2 is replaced by the DSP.
It is also conceivable to use it in the DELAY RAM for performing delay processing for the extended function of surround processing in 16.

The present invention is not limited to the above example,
It goes without saying that various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, a memory card drive is mounted on the AV receiver, and the function and setting information of the mounted AV receiver which suits an individual's preference is stored in a memory card specific to each individual. Therefore, it is possible to customize the functions and settings desired by each person, and it is possible to construct an environment that is very comfortable and convenient for each person.

According to the present invention, since the memory card drive is mounted on the AV receiver and the failure information at the time of the failure of the AV receiver is stored in the memory card, the failure diagnosis and the failure diagnosis are performed based on the failure information. It is possible to deal efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an embodiment of an AV receiver of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of an embodiment of an AV receiver according to the present invention as viewed from the front side.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... ・ AV receiver body, 2 ... Memory card, 3 ...
Memory card drive, 3a ... Memory card slot, 4 ... Memory card microcomputer, 5 ... Master microcomputer, 6 ... Flash memory, 7 ... Display tube, 15 ...
..Selector, 16 ... DSP, 18 ... Amplifier, 19 ...
..Speaker, 20 ... Front panel, 20e ... Input selector switch

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsuhiro Kishi             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation F term (reference) 5B058 CA01 KA02 KA04 KA06 KA08                       KA28 YA13                 5K061 AA09 BB00 BB19 JJ06 JJ07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An AV receiver having a selector for switching a plurality of input signals such as an audio signal and / or a video signal, and performing predetermined signal processing and amplification on a signal from the selector and outputting the signal. An AV receiver comprising a memory card drive for reading information recorded in a memory card and writing information in the memory card. 2. The AV receiver according to claim 1, wherein the memory card stores the function and setting information of the AV receiver which suits an individual for each individual, and the function stored in the memory card, Depending on the setting information, the A
An AV receiver characterized in that the V receiver is customized to a desired function and setting of each individual. 3. The AV receiver according to claim 1, wherein failure information when the AV receiver fails is stored in the memory card, and failure diagnosis of the AV receiver is performed based on the failure information stored in the memory card. And an AV receiver characterized in that it is adapted to deal with it. 4. The AV receiver according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a communication means with a network is provided.