JP2003204600A - Multi-channel reproduction acoustic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-channel reproduction acoustic apparatus capable of solving a problem of complexity of setting to signal processing with respect to each sound channel because the number of sound channels and the type of them are increased attendant on multi-channel tendency of sound sources. <P>SOLUTION: The multi-channel reproduction acoustic apparatus detects speaker information of a speaker system connected to the apparatus, extracts signal information including the number and type of sound channels of a sound source signal, and automatically selects and executes the signal processing with respect to each sound channel of the sound source signal in response to the speaker system and the signal information based on the detected speaker information and the extracted signal information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is based on the detection result of signal information including the number and type of audio channels to be reproduced, and speaker information including the number and characteristics of speakers.
The present invention relates to a multi-channel reproducing audio device capable of automatically selecting the optimum signal processing for a sound source to be reproduced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional audio device. In the figure, 1 is a sound source recorded on a sound source data recording medium such as a DVD, 2 is a signal processing unit, and 3 is a signal processor. An amplifier unit, 4 is a microcomputer, 5 is a speaker, 6 is an operation key, and 7 is a display unit. 4a
Is a signal information input unit for inputting the number of channels of audio channels included in the sound source 1 and band information to the microcomputer 4, and 4b is a voice for setting the signal processing mode performed in the signal processing unit 2. It is an output selection unit.

Next, the operation will be described. For example, in a multi-channel sound reproducing device such as Dolby Digital, the signal processing unit 2 extracts the number of channels and the band information of the audio channels included in the sound source 1 from the multi-channel signal of the sound source 1, and the microcomputer 4 Is input to the signal information input section 4a and the content is displayed on the display section 7. From the display result displayed on the display unit 7, the user determines the form of voice output according to the arrangement and characteristics of the speaker 5 connected to the audio equipment, and the voice output selection unit 4b is operated by the input operation from the operation key 6. To control signal processing in the signal processing unit 2.

[0004]

Since the conventional multi-channel reproducing audio equipment is configured as described above, when a user connects a plurality of speakers and reproduces an audio signal, the audio equipment and the speakers are connected to each other. Although it is necessary to wire, the positions and characteristics of the speakers to be connected to the audio equipment are specified, and the arrangement, number and type of the speakers to be connected, and the number of audio channels in all bands of the sound source to be reproduced. It is necessary for the user to recognize whether or not the audio channel of the sound source to be reproduced has only a specific frequency. In addition, the user must operate the operation keys 6 to control the audio output selection unit 4b and set the signal processing by the signal processing unit 2. Particularly, as the sound source 1 becomes multi-channel, There is a problem that the number and types increase and the setting of the signal processing unit 2 becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a multi-channel reproducing audio device capable of automating and simplifying the setting work of signal processing for a multi-channel sound source. And

[0006]

A multi-channel reproducing audio device according to the present invention extracts speaker information for detecting speaker information of a speaker system and signal information including the number and type of audio channels of a sound source signal. Signal processing for each audio channel of the sound source signal according to the speaker system and the signal information, based on the signal information extraction means, the speaker information detected by the speaker information detection means, and the signal information extracted by the signal information extraction means. And a signal processing selection executing means for selecting and executing.

In the multi-channel reproducing audio equipment according to the present invention, the speaker information detecting means detects the speaker information including the number, types and characteristics of the speakers constituting the speaker system by giving a frequency sweep signal to each speaker. It was done like this.

In the multi-channel reproducing audio equipment according to the present invention, the sound channel of the sound source signal is such that the left reproducing sound channel, the right reproducing sound channel, the center reproducing sound channel, the low sound reproducing sound channel, and the surround left reproducing sound channel. It includes either a channel or an audio channel for surround right reproduction.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multi-channel reproducing audio device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a sound source containing multi-channel signals, 2 is a digital signal processor (DS), for example.
P) is a signal processing unit (signal information extraction means, signal processing selection execution means). The signal processing unit 2 extracts the signal information including the number and types of the sound channels of the sound source 1, the sound source signals of the sound channels, and the band components of the high tone range, the middle tone range, and the low tone range. Reference numerals 3a to 3f denote amplifier units, which amplify a sound source signal for each sound channel of the sound source 1 (up to 6 sound channels are provided in Dolby Digital). 4 is a microcomputer. 5a to 5f are the amplifiers 3a to 3
1 is a speaker that outputs the sound source signal of each channel amplified by f, and FIG. 1 shows a speaker system in which six speakers are connected. For example, the speaker 5a is the left speaker and the speaker 5b is the right speaker. The speaker and the speaker 5c are the central speaker and the speaker 5.
d is a speaker for bass, speaker 5e is a speaker for the left side of the surround, speaker 5f is a speaker for the right side of the surround, and shows a state in which a speaker system for reproducing a sound source composed of these six speakers is connected. . Reference numeral 6 denotes an operation key for giving an instruction to the microcomputer 4, and a user operates the operation key 6 to input an instruction given to the microcomputer 4. A display unit 7 displays various information output from the microcomputer 4. 8a to 8f are amplifier units 3a
Is a current detection unit (speaker information detection means) for detecting the amount of each inflowing current of 3 to 3f, and 8a is an amplifier unit 3a.
Current detecting section for detecting the amount of inflow current of the
b, a current detector for detecting the inflow current amount, 8c for detecting the inflow current amount of the amplifier unit 3c, 8d for detecting the inflow current amount of the amplifier unit 3d, 8e for the amplifier unit 3e. A current detector that detects the amount of inflow current, and 8f is a current detector that detects the amount of inflow current of the amplifier 3f.

Further, in the microcomputer 4,
Reference numeral 4a denotes a signal including the number and types of audio channels of the multi-channel signal included in the sound source 1 obtained by the signal processing unit 2, the high frequency range, the middle frequency range, and the low frequency range of the sound source signal of each audio channel. It is a signal information input unit for inputting information. Reference numeral 4b denotes each audio channel in the signal processing unit 2 so that an audio output in an optimum output form can be obtained based on the signal information input to the signal information input unit 4a and the speaker information detected by the speaker information detection unit 4c. Is an audio output selection unit that selects and controls signal processing to be performed on. Reference numeral 4c is a speaker information detection unit for detecting speaker information, and AD-converts the current value supplied to the speakers 5a to 5f detected by the current detection units 8a to 8f.

Next, the operation will be described. In the following description, the case of using a Dolby digital signal widely used as a sound source of a multi-channel acoustic signal will be described. Dolby digital signals can have up to 6 audio channels from 1 channel (monophonic)
Audio channels up to the channel are provided. One of these channels is a low-frequency-only audio channel. When a Dolby digital signal is input from the sound source 1 to the signal processing unit 2, the signal processing unit 2 detects signal information including the number and type of audio channels included in the input Dolby digital signal, and the detection result. Is input to the signal information input unit 4a of the microcomputer 4. Here, the number of audio channels included in the sound source 1 is
For example, the following reproduction form patterns are classified. (A) L (left), R (right) (b) L, R, C (center) (c) L, R, WF (woofer) (d) L, R, C, WF (e) L, R , LS (surround left), RS (surround right) (f) L, R, LS, RS, C (ki) L, R, LS, RS, C, WF where L (left) is the audio for left reproduction Channel, R (right)
Is an audio channel for right reproduction, C (center) is an audio channel for center reproduction, WF is an audio channel for bass reproduction,
LS (surround left) indicates an audio channel for surround left reproduction, RS (surround right) indicates an audio channel for surround right reproduction, and a total of 6 channels are provided for the audio channel of the Dolby digital signal.

Since this multi-channel reproduction audio equipment is intended for multi-channel reproduction, it has a maximum of 6 channels of audio channel output. Depending on the presence / absence of speaker connection, the type of speaker connected, and the arrangement,
It is possible to select and output the reproduction mode pattern of each audio channel from (a) to (g) above. The reproduction form pattern (a) is the reproduction form pattern of the audio channel output when the speaker system with the left speaker and the right speaker is actually connected, and the reproduction form pattern (a) is the left speaker and the right speaker. The playback form pattern of the audio channel output when the speaker system with the speaker in the center is actually connected, and the playback form pattern (c) is the speaker system with the left speaker, the right speaker, and the bass speaker. The playback form pattern of the audio channel that is output when the device is connected to, the playback form pattern (d) is that the speaker system with the left speaker, the right speaker, the center speaker, and the bass speaker is actually connected. Playback pattern and playback type of the audio channel output when The pattern (e) is a reproduction pattern and a reproduction pattern of the audio channel output when the speaker system including the left speaker, the right speaker, the surround left speaker, and the surround right speaker is actually connected. (F) is a reproduction mode pattern and reproduction of the audio channel that is output when the speaker system including the left speaker, the right speaker, the center speaker, the surround left speaker, and the surround right speaker is actually connected. The form pattern (K) is output when the speaker system including the left speaker, the right speaker, the center speaker, the bass speaker, the surround left speaker, and the surround right speaker is actually connected. Show the playback pattern of the audio channel That.

Now, a method of detecting the number of speakers actually connected and the characteristics of the speakers, which are the types of the speakers, will be described. The output circuit of the multi-channel reproduction audio equipment shown in FIG. 1 is prepared for six systems for multi-channel reproduction, where the amplifier unit 3a and the speaker 5a connected thereto are one system. Amplifier section 3a to 3f
In order to detect the presence / absence of connection of the speakers 5a to 5f with respect to, the current values flowing into the amplifiers 3a to 3f are detected by the current detectors 8a to 8f. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of current detection for detecting whether or not the speaker 5a is connected, for example. As shown in this explanatory diagram, when the speaker 5a is not connected, the current flowing into the amplifier section 3a is only the quiescent state current of the amplifier, so-called idling current, which shows a constant current value and is used. The amplifier has a known current value because it is fixed. Using this idling current as a reference, if a test signal is input to the amplifier section 3a when the speaker is connected, the amplifier section 3a
Since the current flowing into the speaker increases, the speaker connection can be confirmed by this change. Actually, the current detection unit 8a can be configured by using a method such as inserting a shunt resistor in series with the power supply line to the amplifier unit 3a to detect the amount of voltage drop, a detection coil, or the like. It is possible to detect whether the speaker 5a is connected or not by AD-converting and inputting the voltage drop amount and the voltage value output from the detection coil obtained here into the speaker information detection unit 4c of the microcomputer 4. In this way, it is possible to determine whether or not the other speakers 5b to 5f are connected to the amplifier units 3b to 3f, respectively.

Further, as an example for generating the test signal, for example, the speaker information detecting section 4c can be operated by the operation key 6 to generate the test signal inside the signal processing section 2. If this test signal is not a single tone but a low-frequency sweep signal of 20 to 200 Hz, for example, in the case of speaker connection, FIG.
As shown in, since the impedance peculiar to the speaker rises in the vicinity of the resonance frequency fo in the low range, the amplifier unit 3
Since the current flowing into the speaker decreases, it is possible to determine whether or not the connected speaker is a speaker for bass reproduction by determining the inflow characteristic of the current with respect to the frequency of the frequency sweep signal. I can.

As described above, the number of audio channels included in the Dolby digital signal input to the signal information input unit 4a, L (left), R (right), C (center), WF, L.
The speaker information about the types of audio channels such as S and RS, the speaker types such as the presence or absence of the speaker connection obtained from the speaker information detection unit 4c, and whether or not the speaker is a bass reproduction speaker is selected as the audio output selection. Each is led to the section 4b. The audio output selection unit 4b compares the reproduction pattern shown in the above (A) to (K) according to the number and type of the audio channels included in the sound source 1 with the speaker information, and is actually connected. The reproduction mode pattern of the audio channel for the multi-channel reproduction most suitable for the speaker system is selected and displayed on the display unit 7. Also, the selected reproduction form pattern is sent to the signal processing unit 2, and the form of signal processing for each audio channel performed by the signal processing unit 2 is controlled so that optimum multi-channel reproduction is performed.

Explaining a concrete example, for example, when the sound source 1 is a 5.1 ch signal of a Dolby digital signal, the number of speakers of the speaker system actually connected to the multi-channel reproducing audio equipment, If the type is a speaker system with left speaker, right speaker, center speaker, bass speaker, surround left speaker, and surround right speaker, it is actually connected. The selection control of the reproduction mode pattern of the audio channel shown in the above (k), which is optimum for the speaker system, is performed. In this case, the signal processing unit 2 performs signal processing on the sound source signal of each audio channel, which is most suitable for the speaker system actually connected, with the reproduction mode pattern of the audio channel shown in (K) above.

If the speaker system actually connected to the multi-channel reproducing audio equipment is a speaker on the left side, a speaker on the right side, a speaker in the center,
A speaker for bass, a speaker for the left side of the surround,
It is not composed of surround right speakers,
In the case of a speaker system having a configuration different from this, the audio output selection unit 4b is most effective as a multi-channel reproduction for the speaker system actually connected in the reproduction form pattern other than the above (K). It operates so as to select the reproduction pattern obtained.

In the above description, the optimum reproduction mode pattern for the actually connected speaker system is automatically selected. However, another display mode pattern can be selected according to the user's judgment. 7 also has a function of displaying a selectable reproduction form pattern.

In addition, 5.1 of the Dolby digital signal
In the ch signal, 0.1 ch indicates an audio channel dedicated to low tone, and this is an output described as WF (woofer) in the reproduction mode pattern. If the speaker actually connected to the amplifier section that is in charge of the channel of the sound source signal reproduced by the low-pitched speaker is a small-caliber speaker, that is, a small-output speaker,
It is possible to display an error on the display unit 7 when the speaker information detection unit 4c determines that it is inappropriate for low-pitched sound reproduction. Even in such a connected state, it is also possible to display the next candidate reproduction form pattern on the display unit so that the user can reproduce it, and operate the user to select it with the operation key 6. In the case where the speaker actually connected to the amplifier unit that is in charge of the channel of the sound source signal reproduced by the low-pitched speaker is, for example, the high-pitched speaker, and the speaker system actually connected is described above. If the reproduction form pattern No. does not match any of the reproduction form patterns (a) to (g), the contents are displayed as a warning on the display unit 7.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the multi-channel reproducing audio equipment of the first embodiment from the detection of signal information and speaker information of the multi-channel signal included in the sound source 1 to the selection decision of the signal processing. Yes, the operation will be described below based on this flowchart. First, in step ST1, the speaker information of the connected speaker system is detected by the speaker information detecting unit 4c.
From the speaker system, the speaker information including the presence / absence of the speaker connection, the characteristics of the connected speaker, and the reproduction band information are acquired, and the configuration pattern of the speaker system currently arranged and connected is stored in the memory ( (Not shown). In the subsequent step ST2, a reproduction form pattern most suitable for the signal information is created from the content of the detection result of the signal information of the sound source 1 in the signal processing unit 2.

In the next step ST3, step ST1
The speaker information (configuration of the speaker system currently arranged and connected) acquired in step S2 is compared with the reproduction form pattern created in step ST2. Here, if the configuration of the currently connected speaker system matches the reproduction form pattern created in step ST2, the reproduction form pattern is selected from the reproduction form patterns (a) to (ki), and the sound output is performed. The selection unit 4b sends it to the signal processing unit 2. The case where the configuration of the currently connected speaker system and the reproduction form pattern created in step ST2 match is the case where the number of audio channels of the sound source signal and the configuration of the connected speaker system match. For example, the sound source 1 is a Dolby digital signal of 5.1 ch, that is, a signal of 6 channels, whereas the speaker system has a left speaker, a right speaker, a center speaker, and a bass speaker. , A surround left speaker and a surround right speaker are provided, which corresponds to the 5.1-channel sound source signal of the Dolby digital signal. Alternatively, when the sound source 1 has two audio channels corresponding to left and right speakers, the configuration of the speaker system is such that the two channels include a left speaker and a right speaker. This is a case where it has a configuration corresponding to the sound source signal of.

If the comparison results in step ST3 do not match, error processing is performed in step ST5. The result of this error processing is output to the display unit 7. An example of a case where the comparison results do not match is when the number and types of audio channels of the sound source signal do not match the configuration of the speaker system. For example, in the case where the sound source 1 has 5.1 ch of Dolby digital signal, that is, 6 audio channels, the above speaker system has a configuration of a left speaker, a right speaker, a center speaker, and a low-pitched speaker. No speaker, surround left speaker, or surround right speaker. Alternatively, in the case where the sound source 1 has two audio channels corresponding to the left and right speakers, the configuration of the speaker system includes only one speaker and the two channels This is a case where the structure does not correspond to the sound source signal.

If the comparison results in step ST3 match, the process proceeds to step ST4. In step ST4, in the signal processing unit 2, a speaker system actually connected to the sound source 1 including reproduction processing of each audio channel based on the reproduction form pattern sent from the audio output selection unit 4b. The optimum signal processing for and is determined and executed.

Even if the error processing in step ST5 is executed, if reproduction is possible to some extent by the speaker system actually connected, a reproduction mode within a range reproducible by such a speaker system. The pattern can be selected by the user or automatically. As a configuration for automatically or automatically selecting a reproduction form pattern that can be reproduced by the speaker system that is actually connected, as a step ST6 following the step ST5, for example, the sound source 1
Is a Dolby digital signal of 5.1 ch, that is, a signal of 6 channels, but the speaker system actually connected has only a left speaker, a right speaker, and a bass speaker as a first example. If
As a second example, assuming a case of a speaker system including a central speaker and a bass speaker, in the case of the first example, the reproduction form pattern (a) is presented to the user. , Prompting the user to select or automatically selecting, and in the case of the second example, presenting the reproduction form patterns (C), (D), and (K) to the user, and selecting the user. Urge. In the case of the second example, the user selects the reproduction form patterns (c), (d),
The reproduction form pattern selected from (g) is sent to the signal processing unit 2. Alternatively, the reproduction pattern (C),
From (d) and (g), a reproduction form pattern in a range that can be reproduced to some extent is automatically selected and sent to the signal processing unit 2. The automatic selection method in this case can be realized by, for example, prioritizing each reproduction form pattern in advance.

When the reproduction form pattern is selected and sent to the signal processing unit 2 in step ST6, the signal processing unit 2 performs signal processing according to the reproduction form pattern in subsequent step ST4. In the signal processing performed by the signal processing unit 2 in this case, for example, the transmitted reproduction form pattern is represented by the reproduction form pattern (d), and the speaker system actually connected is the central speaker. If it is composed of a bass speaker, it is a signal process for reproducing a monophonic audio channel and supplying it to the central speaker, and a signal process for reproducing a bass audio channel and supplying it to the bass speaker. . Further, for example, when the left speaker is connected instead of the central speaker, a monophonic audio channel is reproduced and supplied to the left speaker, and each audio is output according to the signal information and the speaker information. It is also possible to select and execute signal processing such as distribution and blocking of channel signals.

Therefore, the signal processing for each audio channel of the sound source can be automatically determined based on the result of comparison between the speaker information, which is the configuration of the speaker system, and the reproduction pattern that is most suitable for the signal information of the sound source. , Multi-channel sound source 1 like Dolby Digital signal
On the other hand, there is an effect that a multi-channel reproducing acoustic device can be obtained in which the setting of the signal processing performed by the signal processing unit 2 is simplified and is not complicated.

Further, the arrangement, number and type of speakers connected to the multi-channel reproduction audio equipment are detected by the speaker information detecting section 4c and the like, and existing speaker wiring can be used for the detection of speaker information. Since there is no need to prepare a dedicated speaker for, it is possible to simplify the system configuration for detecting speaker information.
This has the effect of simplifying the setting operation of signal processing that tends to be complicated for the multi-channel sound source 1 such as a Dolby digital signal.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the speaker information detecting means for detecting the speaker information of the speaker system and the signal information extracting means for extracting the signal information including the number and types of the audio channels of the sound source signal. And based on the speaker information detected by the speaker information detecting means and the signal information extracted by the signal information extracting means, the signal processing for each audio channel of the sound source signal according to the speaker system and the signal information is selected and executed. Signal processing selection executing means for performing signal processing on multi-channel sound source signals, and signal processing that is likely to be complicated in a multi-channel playback audio device that supplies to a speaker system for each audio channel. This has the effect of simplifying the setting operation of.

According to the present invention, since the speaker information including the number, type and characteristics of the speakers is detected by applying the frequency sweep signal to each speaker, the existing speaker wiring is used for detecting the speaker information. It is also possible to detect the speaker information easily without the need to prepare a special speaker, and to output the reproduced signal to the speaker system by performing signal processing on the multi-channel sound source and outputting it to the speaker system. There is an effect that the setting operation of the signal processing, which becomes complicated, can be simplified.

According to the present invention, the audio channel of the sound source signal is the audio channel for left reproduction, the audio channel for right reproduction, the audio channel for center reproduction, the audio channel for bass reproduction, the audio channel for surround left reproduction, and the surround right reproduction. Since any one of the audio channels for audio is included, the signal processing is performed on the multi-channel sound source signal, and the signal processing becomes complicated in the multi-channel reproduction audio equipment which supplies each audio channel to the speaker system. This has the effect of simplifying the setting operation of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multi-channel reproducing audio device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the multi-channel reproducing audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of current detection for detecting the presence / absence of speaker connection in the multi-channel reproducing audio device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a conventional audio device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 sound source, 2 signal processing section (signal information extracting means, signal processing selection executing means), 8a to 8f current detecting section (speaker information detecting means).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a multi-channel reproducing audio device that performs signal processing on a multi-channel sound source signal and supplies the sound source signal of each audio channel to a speaker system, speaker information for detecting speaker information of the speaker system. A detection unit, a signal information extraction unit that extracts signal information including the number and type of the audio channels, the speaker information detected by the speaker information detection unit, and the signal information extracted by the signal information extraction unit. And a signal processing selection executing means for selecting and executing signal processing for each of the audio channels according to the speaker system and the signal information. 2. The speaker information detecting means detects the speaker information including the number, types and characteristics of the speakers constituting the speaker system by giving a frequency sweep signal to each speaker. Multi-channel playback audio equipment. 3. The audio channel is any one of a left playback audio channel, a right playback audio channel, a center playback audio channel, a bass playback audio channel, a surround left playback audio channel, and a surround right playback audio channel. The multi-channel reproducing audio equipment according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: