JP2005045533A - Voice reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve nonconformance when a feeling of expansion or a feeling of sound is unnecessary in a voice reproducing device which is used by combining it with a flat display panel and has a plurality of speakers. <P>SOLUTION: In the case of viewing television news especially at night by the voice reproducing device which is used by combining it with the display panel 16 for reproducing videos and uses a plurality of speakers 11-14 including sound speakers 13, 14, supply of sound signals to the front speakers 11, 12 is interrupted and the sound signals to be originally reproduced by the front speakers 11, 12 are supplied to the rear speakers 13, 14 to generate sound from a position close to a listener 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an audio reproducing apparatus having at least a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.

  In order to reproduce music and the like with a wide sound and high-quality sound, a multi-channel sound reproducing apparatus is provided. For example, there has been proposed an audio reproduction device including a pair of left and right front speakers on the front side and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers on the rear side. Furthermore, a 5.1-channel sound reproducing device that includes a pair of left and right front speakers, a pair of left and right rear speakers, a front center speaker, and a low-frequency woofer has been proposed.

  Such a multi-channel audio reproducing apparatus is often used in combination with a flat display panel. In particular, when used in combination with a large display panel, the listener enjoys sound while watching the video on the display panel at a position relatively distant from the display panel. This means that the distance between the front speaker and the listener is increased. Therefore, the sound from the front speaker cannot be sufficiently heard unless the volume of the front speaker is increased. For this reason, in a 4-channel or 5.1-channel audio reproduction device, the audio output of the left and right front speakers is relatively large.

  Since the sound output of the front speaker is thus large, the sound of the front speaker may be noisy, especially when the surroundings are quiet, such as at night. Further, when watching television broadcast news or the like using the display panel, it is not particularly necessary to have a sense of spread in the audio output. Therefore, the multi-channel audio reproducing apparatus as described above does not necessarily constitute an optimal audio environment at night or when reproducing TV sound, especially when watching news or the like.

  As a prior art similar to the present application, there is JP-A-2-299395. In this publication, a plurality of source audio signals are simultaneously switched to the front side and rear side channels by controlling the source channel switching circuit by operating a switch to switch to the front side and rear side channels, respectively. A control circuit that controls the output to each speaker is provided. The control circuit turns on the power source other than the current output source by operating the switch and controls the switching of the source channel switching circuit. An in-vehicle audio apparatus is disclosed in which two types of source signals are divided into a front side and a rear side, and audio signals from a plurality of sources are simultaneously output to front and rear speakers. Yes.

  Although such an audio device enables two types of audio sources to be reproduced simultaneously on the front-side and rear-side speakers, the above-described 4-channel or 5.1-channel audio device can be used at night. The problem of the incompatibility of the audio reproduction device when listening to the annoyance of the front speakers or TV news cannot be solved.

JP-A-2-299395 JP 2002-191100 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-4500 JP-A-62-283799

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an audio reproduction device that makes it difficult for the audio output of the front speakers to be felt loud, especially when enjoying a television at night by a reproduction device having at least a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers Is to provide.

  Still another problem of the present application is to eliminate the incompatibility of the multi-channel audio reproduction device when reproducing audio that does not require a sense of sound image spread, such as television broadcast news.

The main invention of the present application is an audio playback device having a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.
The present invention relates to an audio reproducing apparatus comprising switching means for supplying audio signals to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.

  Here, the switching means may prevent the pair of left and right front speakers from reproducing sound when the sound signal to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers is supplied to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers. preferable. Preferably, the switching means is a changeover switch connected to a signal line for supplying an audio signal to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.

Another main invention of the present application is an audio playback device having a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.
Audio signals to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers are supplied to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers, and audio signals to be supplied to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers are supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers. The present invention relates to a sound reproducing device characterized in that switching means for switching to supply is provided.

  Here, it is preferable that the switching means is a switching switch connected to a signal line for supplying an audio signal to the pair of left and right front speakers and the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers. Further, it is preferable that a variable resistor is connected in series with the changeover switch, and the magnitude of the audio signal is adjusted by the variable resistor. Further, it is preferable that a bass speaker is further provided, and the level of the sound output of the bass speaker is adjusted in conjunction with the switching by the switching means.

Still another main invention of the present application is an audio playback device having a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.
A pillow speaker and switching means are provided, and when the switching means is switched, an audio signal to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers is supplied to the pillow speaker, and the pair of left and right front speakers and the pair of left and right rear speakers. Alternatively, the present invention relates to an audio reproduction device characterized in that an audio signal to a surround speaker is blocked.

  Here, the switching means is preferably an open / close switch connected to a signal line for supplying an audio signal to the pillow speaker. Moreover, it is preferable that the pillow speaker is attached to the backrest of the sofa.

  According to the main invention of the present application, the audio signal to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers is reproduced by the pair of left and right rear speakers or the surround speakers by the switching means. Therefore, the listener can listen to the sound with the rear speaker or the surround speaker arranged at a close position without listening to the sound reproduced with the front speaker at a distant position. No need to play.

  According to another main invention of the present application, it is possible to reverse the audio signals supplied to the pair of front speakers and the pair of rear speakers or the surround speakers by the switching means. Therefore, when the listener listens to a sound that does not require a feeling of spread at a position close to the rear speaker or the surround speaker, the rear speaker or the surround speaker can listen to the sound that is originally reproduced on the front speaker, and the front speaker. Originally, it is possible to reproduce and listen to the sound reproduced by the rear speaker or the surround speaker.

  According to still another main invention of the present application, by switching the switching means, it is possible to listen to the sound reproduced from the pair of left and right front speakers by the pillow speaker. In addition, at this time, the pair of left and right front speakers and the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers do not reproduce the sound, so that it is possible to listen to the sound with the minimum volume by the pillow speaker.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a sound reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sound reproducing apparatus includes a left front speaker 11, a right front speaker 12, and a left rear speaker. The speaker 13 is composed of four speakers, a right rear speaker 14. The left and right rear speakers 13 and 14 also serve as surround speakers. An audio source 15 for supplying an audio signal to these speakers 11 to 14 is provided, and a flat display panel 16 is erected between the left and right front speakers 11 and 12. Then, the listener 20 sits on the sofa 21 arranged between the four speakers 11 to 14 so as to face the display panel 16 and listens to the sound reproduced by the four speakers 11 to 14 while looking at the display panel 16. become.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a circuit block of such a sound reproducing apparatus. As an audio source 15, a radio tuner 25, a TV tuner 26, a disc player 27, a tape player 28, etc. are prepared, and these are select switches 29. Is connected to the A / D converter 30. A decoder / D / A converter 31 is connected to the next stage of the A / D converter 30.

  The FL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 is connected to the left front speaker 11 through a series circuit of a variable resistor 35 and an amplifier 36. The FR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 is connected to the right front speaker 12 through a series circuit of a resistor 37 and an amplifier 38. The SL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 is connected to the left rear speaker 13 via a series circuit of a variable resistor 39 and an amplifier 40. Further, the SR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 is connected to the right rear speaker 14 through a series circuit of a variable resistor 41 and an amplifier 42.

  A changeover switch 45 is provided between the SL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 and the variable resistor 39, and the changeover switch 45 connects the movable contact between the SL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 and the FL. Switching to the terminal. A changeover switch 46 is connected between the SR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 and the variable resistor 41. The movable contact of the changeover switch 46 is connected to the SR terminal and the FR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31. And switching to.

  The system further includes an operation input unit 47 for switching the speakers 11 to 14, and the operation input unit 47 is connected to the control unit 48. The control unit 48 controls the switching of the pair of changeover switches 45, 46, and further adjusts the volume of the four variable resistors 35, 37, 39, 41.

  Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the normal use state, that is, when the four speakers 11 to 14 are reproduced using their original functions, the control unit 48 switches as shown in FIG. 2 according to the selection operation of the operation input unit 47 by the listener 20. The switches 45 and 46 are switched to the SL terminal and SR terminal sides of the decoder / D / A converter 31 as indicated by dotted lines. Further, the levels of the four variable resistors 35, 37, 39, 41 are set to normal proper levels.

  In this state, the display panel 16 reproduces any one of the video signal from the TV tuner, the video signal reproduced by the disc player 27, and the video signal reproduced by the tape player 28. At the same time, the left and right front speakers 11 and 12 and the rear speakers 13 and 14 can reproduce sound, and the user can enjoy the sound while reproducing the image on the display panel 16 in a normal use state.

  On the other hand, for example, when watching television broadcast news on the display panel 16 at midnight, the listener 20 switches the operation input unit 47, and the control unit 48 switches the switches 45 and 46 to the decoder / D / A converter, respectively. 31 is switched to the FL terminal and the FR terminal, respectively. At this time, the variable resistors 35 and 37 are largely throttled, thereby substantially cutting off the supply of audio signals to the front speakers 11 and 12.

  Therefore, in this case, after the audio signal obtained by the TV tuner 26 is digitally converted by the A / D converter 30 and signal processing is performed by the decoder / D / A converter 31, the pair of left and right rear speakers 13, 14 will be reproduced. In particular, the front-side audio signal that should be reproduced by the front speakers 11 and 12 is reproduced by the pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14, and the front speakers 11 and 12 do not reproduce the sound.

  Therefore, when watching television news at midnight, the sound is listened to from the pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14 that are behind the listener 20 and are normally reproduced by the front speakers 11 and 12. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to listen to TV news quietly at night, and there is no unnecessary surround power, and it is not possible to reproduce a sound with a sense of spread. In other words, when watching television news at midnight, it becomes possible to eliminate the incompatibility of the sound reproduction.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, in addition to a pair of left and right front speakers 11 and 12 and a pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14, a woofer 51 which is a low-frequency speaker is further added to constitute a sound reproducing device from five speakers. A woofer 51 is connected to the W terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 via a series circuit of a variable resistor 52 and an amplifier 53.

  In this embodiment, in addition to the changeover switches 45 and 46 connected to the signal lines for supplying the audio signals to the rear speakers 13 and 14, the changeover switch is also provided for the signal lines for supplying the audio signals to the front speakers 11 and 12. 55 and 56 are connected. The changeover switch 55 is for switching between the FL terminal and the SL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31. On the other hand, the changeover switch 56 switches between the FR terminal and the SR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31.

  In the configuration as described above, when listening to sound in a normal use state using this system, the listener 20 operates the operation input unit 47 and the control unit 48 controls the four changeover switches 55, 56, 45, 46. Are switched to the dotted line positions shown in FIG. That is, the movable contact of the changeover switch 55 is changed over to the FL terminal side of the decoder / D / A converter 31. Further, the movable contact of the changeover switch 56 is changed over to the FR contact of the decoder / D / A converter 31. Further, the movable contact of the changeover switch 45 is changed over to the SL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31. Further, the movable contact of the changeover switch 46 is changed over to the SR contact of the decoder / D / A converter 31.

  At this time, the control unit 48 sets the levels of the five variable resistors 35, 37, 39, 41, 52 to substantially proper intermediate positions in accordance with instructions from the operation input unit 47. As a result, a front audio signal is reproduced by the pair of left and right front speakers 11, 12, and a surround sound is reproduced by the pair of left and right rear speakers 13, 14. In addition, low-frequency sound is reproduced by the woofer 51. For this reason, for example, when a video signal reproduced by the disc player 27 is reproduced on the display panel 16 and the video is enjoyed, it is possible to reproduce a sound with a sense of breadth and surround power.

  On the other hand, when the music is enjoyed quietly at night, the listener 20 operates the operation input unit 47 and the control unit 48 switches the change-over switches 55, 56, 45, and 46 to the solid line positions shown in FIG. . That is, the movable contact of the changeover switch 55 is changed over to the SL terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31. The movable contact of the changeover switch 56 is changed over to the SR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31. The movable contact of the changeover switch 45 is switched to the FL contact of the decoder / D / A converter 31. The movable contact of the changeover switch 46 is changed over to the FR terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31. At this time, the levels of the variable resistors 35, 37, 39, 41 and 52 are also adjusted via the control unit 48. That is, the resistance values of these variable resistors 35, 37, 39, 41, 52 are adjusted so that the sound volume level is appropriate according to the environment used and the preference of the listener 20.

  Therefore, in this case, the pair of left and right front speakers 11 and 12 and the pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14 reproduce audio signals opposite to each other. That is, the audio signals to be reproduced by the front speakers 11, 12 are reproduced by the rear speakers 13, 14, and the surround sound to be reproduced by the rear speakers 13, 14 is reproduced by the front speakers 11, 12. To do. By reversing the sound output of the front speakers 11 and 12 and the rear speakers 13 and 14 as described above, it is possible to give the listener 20 a feeling of comfort while providing a surround effect. Therefore, suitable audio reproduction is performed when listening to music quietly before going to bed. Since the sound of the woofer 51 resonates, it is preferable to suppress the output.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a sound reproducing apparatus is constituted by a pair of left and right front speakers 11 and 12, a pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14, and a pillow speaker 58. The pillow speaker 58 is attached to the backrest portion of the sofa 21 as shown in FIG.

  The P terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31 shown in FIG. 6 is connected to a pillow speaker 58 via a series circuit of a variable resistor 59 and an amplifier 60. An open / close switch 61 is connected between the variable resistor 59 and the P terminal of the decoder / D / A converter 31.

  Also here, a control unit 48 that performs a control operation according to an instruction from the operation input unit 47 is provided, and the control unit 48 controls the opening / closing of the opening / closing switch 61. Further, the control unit 48 includes variable resistors 35 and 37 connected to the audio signal supply circuits of the pair of left and right front speakers 11 and 12, and variable resistors 39 and 41 connected to the audio supply circuits of the pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14. The level is adjusted.

  In the above configuration, the control unit 48 opens the open / close switch 61 in accordance with an instruction from the operation input unit 47 in a normal use state. Therefore, normally, audio is reproduced by the pair of left and right front speakers 11 and 12 and the pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14 in a state where no audio signal is supplied to the pillow switch 58. In particular, the rear speakers 13 and 14 generate a surround effect, and reproduce sound with a powerful surround sound and a sense of spaciousness as a whole.

  On the other hand, when the television is quietly enjoyed at midnight, the listener 20 operates the operation input unit 47, and the control unit 48 narrows the audio signals for the front speakers 11 and 12 through the variable resistors 35 and 37. Substantially cut off. Further, the sound of the rear speakers 13 and 14 is narrowed down by narrowing the variable resistors 39 and 41 by the control unit 48. Accordingly, the supply of audio signals is substantially cut off to the pair of left and right front speakers 11 and 12 and the pair of left and right rear speakers 13 and 14.

  Then, the control unit 48 closes the open / close switch 61 and sets the variable resistor 59 to an appropriate intermediate level. Therefore, the audio signal is reproduced only from the pillow speaker 58. For example, the pillow speaker 58 is supplied with an audio signal on which audio signals to be supplied to the left and right front speakers 11 and 12 are superimposed. It is also possible to provide a pair of left and right pillow speakers 58 and arrange these pillow speakers so as to be positioned on the left and right sides of the listener 20.

  Although the invention included in the present application has been described with the illustrated embodiment, the invention included in the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the invention included in the present application. Is possible. For example, various changes can be made to the number and arrangement of speakers in the above-described embodiment. Further, the functions of the operation input unit 47 and the control unit 48 may be incorporated in a remote commander of a television receiver including a display panel, and a speaker to be selected may be displayed on the display panel 16.

The present invention can be widely applied to multi-channel audio devices having at least a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.

It is a top view which shows the audio | voice reproduction apparatus of 1st Embodiment.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the audio | voice reproduction apparatus.

It is a top view of the audio | voice reproduction apparatus of 2nd Embodiment.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the audio | voice reproduction apparatus.

It is a top view of the audio | voice reproduction apparatus of 3rd Embodiment.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the audio | voice reproduction apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

11. Front speaker (L), 12 Front speaker (R), 13 Rear speaker (L), 14 Rear speaker (R), 15 Audio source, 16 Display panel, 20 ...... Listener, 21 ... Sofa, 25 ... Radio tuner, 26 ... TV tuner, 27 ... Disc player, 28 ... Tape player, 29 ... Select switch, 30 ... A / D converter, 31 ... Decoder / D / A converter, 35 ... Variable resistor, 36 ... Amplifier, 37 ... Variable resistor, 38 ... Amplifier, 39 ... Variable resistor, 40 ... Amplifier, 41 ... Variable resistor, 42 ... Amplifier, 45, 46 ... changeover switch, 47 ... operation input section, 48 ... control unit, 51 ... woofer (loudspeaker), 52 ... variable resistance, 53 ... amplifier, 55 56, changeover switch, 58, pillow speaker, 59, variable resistance, 60, amplifier, 61, open / close switch

Claims (10)

In a sound reproducing device having a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers,
An audio reproducing apparatus comprising switching means for supplying audio signals to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers.   The switching means prevents the pair of left and right front speakers from reproducing sound when the sound signal to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers is supplied to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers. The sound reproducing device according to claim 1.   2. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is a changeover switch connected to a signal line for supplying an audio signal to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers. In a sound reproducing device having a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers,
Audio signals to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers are supplied to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers, and audio signals to be supplied to the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers are supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers. A sound reproducing apparatus comprising switching means for switching to supply.   5. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switching means is a changeover switch connected to a signal line for supplying an audio signal to the pair of left and right front speakers and the pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers. .   5. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a variable resistor is connected in series with the changeover switch, and the magnitude of the audio signal is adjusted by the variable resistor.   5. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a low-frequency speaker, wherein the level of the audio output of the low-frequency speaker is adjusted in conjunction with the switching by the switching means. In a sound reproducing device having a pair of left and right front speakers and a pair of left and right rear speakers or surround speakers,
A pillow speaker and switching means are provided, and when the switching means is switched, an audio signal to be supplied to the pair of left and right front speakers is supplied to the pillow speaker, and the pair of left and right front speakers and the pair of left and right rear speakers. Or the audio | voice reproduction apparatus characterized by the audio | voice signal with respect to a surround speaker being interrupted | blocked.   9. The sound reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the switching means is an open / close switch connected to a signal line for supplying a sound signal to the pillow speaker. The sound reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pillow speaker is attached to a backrest of a sofa.

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