JP2004222077A - Electronic volume control method and electronic volume controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a volume control which does not cause a discomfort due to discrete volume change to a viewer, and enable a volume control wherein the operational intent of a user is reflected. <P>SOLUTION: A microcomputer 10 determines not only rotation angle (pulse count) of a rotary encoder 11 but also cumulative pulse count (operation value) by considering velocity coefficient deduced based on rotational speed. In target value setting processing, when a target value is updated based on the cumulative pulse value, upperlimit of a value added to the target value is restricted to 3 in the case that a volume value is at least usual volume, so that overshoot by redundant operation is prevented, and coping with incorrect operation is realized. When a volume value is focused (faded) to the target value, focusing is performed quickly by big step in non-audible zone, and step value of one time of volume change is reduced as volume becomes large in audible zone, so that generation of an unnatural volume change is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in an electronic volume control system using an encoder.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional electronic volume control circuit using the rotary encoder linearly controls the electronic volume based on the number of pulses generated by the rotary encoder, so that the output audio signal is raised from the mute state to the normal volume, or from the audible volume to the mute state. There was a problem that the operability to mute was not good.
[0003]
In view of this, there has been proposed one that controls the volume by determining the amount of change based on the operation speed of the rotary encoder and the current volume level (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-28525
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above prior art, since the determined volume control value is directly input and set to the electronic volume, there is a problem that the volume of the electronic volume suddenly changes, resulting in a discontinuous and difficult to hear volume change. . In addition, if the operation speed is reflected in the volume control, the volume can be changed quickly. On the other hand, if an unfamiliar user operates, there is a problem that the volume adjustment is excessive (overshoot).
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to realize volume control that does not cause discomfort due to discontinuous volume changes for the viewer, and to enable volume control that reflects the user's operation intention.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a method for controlling a control value of an electronic volume using an encoder that generates a number of pulses corresponding to a user's operation amount,
A speed detection procedure for determining the speed coefficient based on the operating speed of the encoder;
An operation value calculation procedure for calculating an operation value by multiplying the number of pulses generated by the encoder and the speed coefficient;
This is a procedure for increasing or decreasing the target value based on the operation value, and subtracts the step value set according to the magnitude of the operation value at that time from the operation value, and also sets the setting according to the control value at that time A target value setting procedure for adding a value that limits the upper limit of the set step value to the target value,
A fade step value is determined according to the magnitude of the control value at that time and the difference between the control value and the target value, and the control value is increased or decreased by the fade step value, thereby converging the control value to the target value. The going fade procedure,
It is characterized by having.
[0008]
The present invention also includes an encoder that generates a number of pulses according to a user's operation amount;
A speed detection procedure for determining a speed coefficient based on the operation speed of the encoder, an operation value calculation procedure for calculating an operation value by multiplying the speed coefficient by the number of pulses generated by the encoder, and a target value is increased or decreased based on this operation value A value obtained by subtracting the step value set according to the magnitude of the operation value at that time from the operation value and limiting the upper limit of the set step value according to the control value at that time The fade value is determined according to the target value setting procedure for adding the value to the target value, the magnitude of the control value at that time, and the difference between the control value and the target value, and the control value is increased or decreased by this fade step value. A control unit for executing a fade procedure for converging the control value to the target value,
It is provided with.
[0009]
≪Action≫
In the present invention, a “target value” for volume control is calculated based on an “operation value” determined in accordance with the operation of the encoder by the user, and a parameter for the volume control operation of the electronic volume, that is, the volume of the output signal The “value” is controlled to converge to the “target value”.
[0010]
The speed detection procedure and the operation value calculation procedure can contribute to the determination of the operation value. Therefore, when operating quickly, the operation value can be increased even with the same operation amount than when operating slowly. On the other hand, when the operation is performed slowly, the operation value can be reduced even with the same operation amount than when the operation is performed quickly. For this reason, it is possible to reflect the user's operation mode in which the user moves quickly when he wants to greatly change the volume and slowly moves when he wants to finely adjust the volume.
[0011]
In the target value setting procedure, the step value set according to the operation value is subtracted from the operation value, and the step value is added to the target value to reflect the operation value in the target value. At this time, the current step value from the operation value is not necessarily added to the target value as it is, but the upper limit of the step value is limited according to the control value at that time. That is, when the control value is large, the step value added to the target value is small regardless of the step value subtracted from the operation value. As a result, when the control value (volume) is large, even if the user operates the encoder quickly and greatly and the operation value increases, not all of it is reflected in the target value, and the user's operation slips. The target value is set in a manner. Thereby, a desired control value (volume) can be set as intended by the user without overshooting.
[0012]
Here, as a mode for limiting the upper limit of the step value according to the control value, there is a control mode by the following volume area. When the volume is smaller than the normal volume (for example, −50 dB) which is a control value often used by the user, the step value subtracted from the operation value without limiting the upper limit is added to the target value as it is and the normal volume range (for example − 50 dB or more but less than −15 dB), the upper limit of the step value to be added to the target value is gently limited, and in a large volume range (for example, −15 dB or more), the upper limit is strictly limited. In this way, the volume can be quickly increased from the mute (non-audible) range to the normal volume according to the user's operation, and the volume change due to the operation is not sensitive in the normal volume range. Therefore, it is possible to make fine adjustments, and further, in a large sound volume range, it is possible to reduce the responsiveness to operations so as not to accidentally output a large sound. As described above, according to this procedure, both user operability and safety can be achieved.
[0013]
In the fade procedure, when setting the fade step value, it is possible to promptly follow the target value set by the user's operation by considering the difference between the target value and the control value. Further, when setting the fade step value, the control value is taken into consideration, and in the non-audible range (for example, less than -70 dB), the control is performed by controlling in a large step according to the difference between the target value and the control value. In the audible range (for example, −70 dB or more), the fade step value is sequentially decreased in accordance with the volume, thereby making the unnaturalness due to the discontinuous volume change unique to the electronic volume inconspicuous. be able to. Thus, according to this procedure, it is possible to achieve both the followability of the control value (volume) with respect to the operation value and the natural volume change.
[0014]
As described above, according to the present invention, the operability of the user, in particular, quickness when the volume is increased from the non-audible range, and a delicate operation in the normal volume range, as well as a large volume It is possible to realize the safety of the operation in the range and the smoothness of the volume change in the audible range.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An AV amplifier volume control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the volume control apparatus. The volume control unit of the AV amplifier 1 is provided with a microcomputer 10, a rotary encoder 11, and an electronic volume LSI (hereinafter simply referred to as “electronic volume”) 12 as illustrated. The microcomputer 10 may be dedicated to volume control, or may be used in combination with other processing (for example, display control). The rotary encoder 11 is provided with a rotation knob (not shown). When the user rotates the rotation knob, a pulse corresponding to the rotation direction and rotation angle is output from the rotary encoder 11. The electronic volume 12 is a hybrid LSI incorporating a VCA that is an analog circuit, and attenuates (or amplifies) and outputs an input audio signal. The attenuation amount is set by a volume value (control value) which is a volume control parameter input from the microcomputer 10 and can be controlled in 200 steps from -99.5 dB to 0 dB.
[0017]
When the rotary encoder 11 is operated to generate a pulse (when the A / B status transitions), the pulse is read by the microcomputer 10. The microcomputer 10 determines the volume control parameter based on the count value of the pulse and the rotation speed. Then, by setting this volume control parameter to the electronic volume 12, the volume of the audio signal output from the electronic volume 12 is controlled.
[0018]
Hereinafter, processing operations executed by the microcomputer 10 will be described. The microcomputer 10 detects a rotation of the rotary encoder 11 and calculates a cumulative pulse value (operation value) (FIG. 2), and a target value setting process (FIG. 2) for setting a target value based on the cumulative pulse value. 3) and a fade process (FIG. 4) for converging the volume control parameter (control value) to the target value is executed in parallel. These three processes operate independently while passing the accumulated pulse value (operation value), the target value, and the volume value (control value).
[0019]
In the pulse processing operation, the cumulative pulse value (operation value) is determined in consideration of not only the rotation angle (number of pulses) of the rotary encoder 11 but also the speed coefficient calculated based on the rotation speed. Specifically, the rotational speed is calculated from the number of pulses generated in a certain time, and this rotational speed is converted into 11 stages of speed coefficients (1 to 11).
[0020]
In the target value setting process, the target value is updated based on the accumulated pulse value. Basically, the processing operation of subtracting the accumulated pulse value from the accumulated pulse value by a predetermined step value and adding it to the target value is repeated every 50 ms to move the accumulated pulse value to the target value. In the case of −50 dB) or more, the upper limit of the value added to the target value in one processing operation is limited to 3. Therefore, at this time, when the step value subtracted from the accumulated pulse value is larger than 3, slip (deviation) is generated by the difference. This slip prevents overshoot due to excessive operation by the user. When the volume value is equal to or greater than the high volume range (−15 dB), the upper limit of the value to be added to the target value in one processing operation is limited to 1. This slip prevents a sudden increase in volume even if there is an incorrect operation at high volume.
[0021]
The fade process is a process executed every 10 ms. That is, the target value setting process is executed five times at intervals of one execution. In this process, the volume value for controlling the electronic volume 12 is made to follow the target value. The fade step value to be added for this follow-up is set to 5 depending on the difference from the target value in the non-audible range (−71 dB or less). Steps, 3 steps or 1 step, and in the audible range below normal volume (-70 dB to -51 dB), 3 steps or 1 step depending on the difference from the target value, and above normal volume (-50 dB), the fade step value Limited to one step. In this way, as the volume increases, the step value of one volume change is reduced so that an unnatural volume change does not occur.
[0022]
Hereinafter, the processing operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pulse processing operation. In s1 to s3, the process waits until the A / B status of the rotary encoder 11 changes by one cycle. When the A / B status of the rotary encoder changes by one cycle (s3), the rotation direction is determined based on the status change state (s4), and the calculated rotation direction is determined as the clockwise status (s5) or counterclockwise status (s6). ).
[0023]
Here, the clockwise status means an increase in volume, and the counterclockwise status means a decrease in volume. In the following description, clockwise / counterclockwise is described without distinction, but in the case of a clockwise status, all processing is a positive value, and processing is performed so that the volume (volume value) is finally increased. In the case of the counterclockwise status, processing is performed so that the sound volume is finally reduced.
[0024]
In s7, it is determined whether the speed sampling timer is enabled. The speed sampling timer is a timer that times up in 200 ms, and determines the rotational speed of the pulse encoder according to how many encoder pulses are generated during this timer count period. If an encoder pulse is detected when this timer is in an invalid state, this timer is started and activated in an operation of s9. If the encoder pulse is not detected for a predetermined time (3 seconds) after the time is up (when the processing of FIG. 2 is not executed), the state is set to an invalid state.
[0025]
If the speed sampling timer is invalid, the process proceeds to s9, where the cumulative pulse accumulator that stores the cumulative pulse value and the counter that stores the (raw) pulse value generated by the rotary encoder are reset (set to 1) and rotated. The direction (clockwise / counterclockwise) status is saved (s9), the speed sampling timer is started (s12), the target value setting process is called (s13), and the standby operation (s1 to s3) is returned.
[0026]
On the other hand, when the speed sampling timer is in the valid state (s7), it is determined whether the currently detected rotation direction is the same as the stored rotation direction status (s8). If they are the same, the operation proceeds to the operation of s10 or less. If it is turned in the reverse direction, it cancels the volume change in the previous direction and discards the accumulated pulse value so far, as in the case of newly detecting the encoder pulse from the invalid state of the timer, The cumulative pulse accumulator and counter are reset, the rotational direction status is saved (s9), the speed sampling timer is started (s12), the target value setting process is called (s13), and the standby operation (s1 to s3) is entered. Return.
[0027]
If the speed sampling timer is valid, it is determined whether the timer has expired (s10). When the time is up, the number of encoder pulses counted by the counter during the sampling time during which the timer was operating is converted as a rotational speed to obtain a speed coefficient (1 to 11), and this speed coefficient is counted as the counted number of encoder pulses. The multiplied value is added to the cumulative pulse accumulator (s11). Note that the counter that counts the number of raw pulses in the process of s11 is cleared and reset, but the cumulative pulse accumulator is not reset, and the cumulative pulse value is cumulatively added. Thereafter, the speed sampling timer is restarted (s12), the target value setting process is called (s13), and the process returns to the standby operation (s1 to s3).
[0028]
If the speed sampling timer has not expired at s10, 1 is added to the counter (s14), the target value setting process (FIG. 3) is called (s13), and the standby operation (s1 to s3) is returned. .
[0029]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the target value setting processing operation. This target value setting process is executed when a call is made from the pulse processing operation of FIG. 2 or when the value of the cumulative pulse accumulator is not zero. In the target value setting process, the value of the cumulative pulse accumulator and the right / left-handed status written in the pulse processing operation of FIG. 2 are referred to.
[0030]
First, it is determined whether there is a call from the pulse processing operation (s20), or whether the value of the cumulative pulse accumulator is not 0 (s21). If any judgment is affirmative, the operation proceeds to s22 or less. If both judgments are negative, the routine waits in this judgment routine.
[0031]
When the operation proceeds to s22 or less, first, the contents of the accumulated pulse accumulator (accumulated pulse value) are determined (s22 to s24). When the accumulated pulse value is 7 or more (s22), a step value that is a step for changing the target value is set to 7 (s25). When the accumulated pulse value is less than 7 and 5 or more (s23), the step value is set to 5 (s26). If the cumulative pulse value is less than 5 and 3 or more (s24), the step value is set to 3 (s27). If the accumulated pulse value is less than 3 (s24), the step value is set to 1 (s28), and the set step value is subtracted from the accumulated pulse accumulator (accumulated pulse value) (s29).
[0032]
Next, the process proceeds to a process for updating the target value. First, the rotational direction status stored in the process of FIG. 2 is checked (s30). In the case of controlling the clockwise status, that is, volume up (volume increase), the upper limit of the step value is limited according to the current volume value. That is, when the control value is large, the step value added to the target value is small regardless of the step value subtracted from the operation value. As a result, when the control value (volume) is large, even if the user operates the encoder quickly and greatly and the operation value increases, not all of it is reflected in the target value, and the user's operation slips. The target value is set in a manner. Thereby, a desired control value (volume) can be set as intended by the user without overshooting.
[0033]
When the rotation direction status is a counterclockwise status, that is, volume down (volume reduction) control, the step values set in s22 to s28 are added to the target value as they are regardless of the current volume value ( s39). Then, the fade process (FIG. 4) is called (s40).
[0034]
Next, processing in the case of a clockwise status will be described sequentially. First, the current volume value is determined (s33, s34). If the volume value is smaller than −50 dB (s33), the step values set in s22 to s28 are added to the target value as they are (s39). Then, the fade process is called (s40).
[0035]
On the other hand, when the volume value is smaller than −15 dB and larger than −50 dB (s34), the set step value is judged (s37), and when the step value is set larger than 3, After rewriting the step value to 3, proceed to s39. On the other hand, if the step value is 3 or less, the process proceeds directly to s39. That is, since the range of the volume value from −50 dB to −15 dB is a normal volume range that is normally used by the user, the target value is more than the step value (s25, s26, s27) obtained from the accumulated pulse value so as not to overshoot. The step value added to is reduced.
[0036]
If the volume value is -15 dB or more, the step value is forcibly set to 1 (s36), and the process proceeds to s39. This is because the volume value range of −15 dB or more is a large volume range, and if the accumulated pulse value is reflected in the target value as it is, the volume may become extremely large. The value is forced to 1.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the fade processing operation. This operation is processing for causing the volume value of the electronic volume 12 to follow the target value set in the operation of FIG. First, it is determined whether the current mute is being performed (s50). If it is muted, the volume value is not controlled. When not being muted, it is determined whether there is a call from the target value setting process operation (s51), or whether the volume value does not match the target value, that is, whether the fade process still remains (s53). When a call is made from the target value setting processing operation, the target value newly set in the processing of FIG. 3 is fetched (s52), and the operation proceeds to s55 or lower. If the volume value does not coincide with the target value at s53, the operation proceeds to s55 or less. When both judgments are negative, the process waits in a loop of a series of judgment routines s50, s51, and s53.
[0038]
In s55, the current volume value (control value: volume) is determined. If the current volume value is −71 dB or less and the difference from the target value is 5 steps or more (s56), the volume value is increased or decreased with respect to the electronic volume by 5 steps (s57). If the difference is 3 steps or more and less than 5 steps (s59), the volume value is increased or decreased with respect to the electronic volume by 3 steps (s60), and if the difference from the target value is less than 3 steps (s59), The volume value is increased or decreased with respect to the electronic volume by one step (s61).
[0039]
Note that this process is executed every 10 ms and is repeated sufficiently finely than the target value setting process, so that a sufficiently large volume change can be realized even by five steps.
[0040]
If the current volume value is -70 dB to -51 dB and the difference from the target value is 3 steps or more (s59), the volume value is increased or decreased with respect to the electronic volume by 3 steps (s60). If the difference from the target value is less than 3 steps (s59), the volume value is increased or decreased with respect to the electronic volume by one step (s61). Further, when the current volume value is −50 dB or more, the volume value is increased or decreased by one step regardless of the difference from the target value (s61). Then, the volume value set in the electronic volume 12 is stored as the current value (s58).
[0041]
In this way, in the non-audible range of less than -70 dB, the followability is improved by controlling the volume value with the fade step value of up to 5 steps considering the difference between the target value and the volume value, and the audible range of -70 dB or more. Then, by gradually decreasing the fade step value according to the volume value, the unnaturalness due to the discontinuous volume change specific to the electronic volume can be made inconspicuous.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the operability of the user, in particular, the speed when the volume is increased from the non-audible range, and the subtle operation in the normal volume range, and the large volume range are enabled. It is possible to realize the safety of the operation and smoothness of the volume change in the audible range.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a volume control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a pulse processing operation of the volume control apparatus. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the fade processing operation of the volume control apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... AV amplifier, 10 ... Microcomputer, 11 ... Rotary encoder, 12 ... Electronic volume LSI

Claims (2)

A method of controlling a control value of an electronic volume using an encoder that generates a number of pulses corresponding to a user's operation amount,
A speed detection procedure for determining the speed coefficient based on the operating speed of the encoder;
An operation value calculation procedure for calculating an operation value by multiplying the number of pulses generated by the encoder and the speed coefficient;
This is a procedure for increasing or decreasing the target value based on the operation value, and subtracts the step value set according to the magnitude of the operation value at that time from the operation value, and also sets the setting according to the control value at that time A target value setting procedure for adding a value that limits the upper limit of the set step value to the target value,
A fade step value is determined according to the magnitude of the control value at that time and the difference between the control value and the target value, and the control value is increased or decreased by the fade step value, thereby converging the control value to the target value. The going fade procedure,
An electronic volume control method comprising: An encoder that generates a number of pulses according to the amount of user operation;
Speed detection procedure to determine the speed coefficient based on the operating speed of the encoder,
An operation value calculation procedure for calculating an operation value by multiplying the speed coefficient by the number of pulses generated by the encoder,
This is a procedure for increasing or decreasing the target value based on the operation value, and subtracts the step value set according to the magnitude of the operation value at that time from the operation value, and also sets the setting according to the control value at that time A target value setting procedure for adding a value that limits the upper limit of the set step value to the target value, and
A fade step value is determined according to the magnitude of the control value at that time and the difference between the control value and the target value, and the control value is increased or decreased by the fade step value, thereby converging the control value to the target value. Going fade procedure,
A control unit for executing
Electronic volume control device equipped with.

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