JP2005328368A - Audio transmission system and adaptor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain a wireless audio device based on an existing portable audio device. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless audio device includes: an adaptor unit 200 connected to the audio signal output terminal 120 of a predetermined device 100; and an audio receiver unit 240 for performing radio communication with the above adaptor unit 200. The adaptor unit 200 includes: a terminal 211 connected to the audio signal output terminal 120 of the predetermined device; and a first communication section for radio transmitting the audio signal input to the terminal 211. The audio receiver unit 240 includes: a second communication section for receiving the audio signal radio transmitted from the first communication section of the adaptor unit 200; and an output section for outputting the audio signal received in the second communication section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio transmission system and an adapter device suitable for use in combination with, for example, a portable audio playback device.

  Conventionally, various audio reproducing apparatuses and audio recording / reproducing apparatuses capable of reproducing or recording audio data recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, and a semiconductor memory have been developed. In this case, some portable devices are small in size, and in the case of such portable portable models, there are those that can be remotely controlled by a remote control device.

  That is, for example, in the case of a portable audio playback device, the headphone device is connected to the playback device, and the audio played back by the headphone device is listened to, and in the middle of the cable connecting the playback device and the headphone device. Some have remote controls. In this case, communication between the remote control device and the playback device is also performed via a cable, and the playback device can be controlled by operating a key attached to the remote control device. The display based on the playback state data supplied from the playback device (for example, display of track number, playback time, disc name, song name, playback state, etc.) can be performed.

  By using such a headphone device with a remote control device, the audio device can be remotely operated by the remote control device, and the operability of the audio device is improved.

  5 and 6 show a configuration example (FIG. 5) and a shape example (FIG. 6) of an audio playback device as a portable audio device that plays back an optical disc or magneto-optical disc on which conventional digital audio data is recorded. FIG. In this example, the audio playback device 100 is configured such that a wired remote control device 140 is connected and a headphone 150 is connected to the wired remote control device 140.

  First, a description will be given of a configuration in which a disk is played back by the audio playback apparatus 100. A disk 101 mounted on the audio playback apparatus 100 is rotationally driven by a spindle motor 102, and data read from the disk by an optical pickup 103 is played back by a playback processing circuit. The data is supplied to 104 to demodulate the reproduction data. Processing in the spindle motor 102, the optical pickup 103, and the reproduction processing circuit 104 is executed based on the control of the system controller 110.

  The reproduction audio data obtained by the reproduction processing circuit 104 is supplied to a digital / analog converter 105 to convert it into an analog audio signal, and the converted analog audio signal is supplied to an analog processing circuit 106 for analog amplification such as amplification. Processing is performed, and the processed analog audio signal is supplied to the audio output terminal 121 of the terminal unit 120. The audio data played back by the audio playback device 100 is actually stereo audio data of two channels on the left and right, but is shown in one system in this specification for the sake of simplicity.

  The terminal portion 120 of this example is configured as a jack to which an integrated audio signal plug and remote control plug can be attached. That is, as a plug to be mounted, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a plug 145 in which a rod-shaped audio plug 146 and a flat remote control plug 147 are integrated can be mounted. As a terminal for remote control of the terminal unit 120 (that is, a terminal connected to the remote control plug 147), there are a terminal 122 for supplying power (here, + 5V power) to the remote control device, and a bidirectional control device. There are four terminals: a data terminal 123 for communication, a terminal 124 for obtaining key information on the remote control device side, and a ground terminal 125. When the wired remote control device 140 is not connected to the audio playback device 100 of this example, the audio output jack 121 is configured as an audio output jack that can be directly connected to the audio output terminal 121 of the terminal unit 120. The remote control plug 147 shown in FIG. 6 has various shapes depending on the manufacturer and model, and an example is shown here.

  The audio playback apparatus 100 of this example is provided with various operation keys 107 for instructing playback and the like, and the operation information of the keys 107 is supplied to the system controller 111 that is a control unit. In addition, a display unit 108 constituted by a liquid crystal display panel is arranged in the audio playback device 100, and display of a playback state and the like (for example, track number, playback time, disc name, song name, playback state) is controlled by the system controller 111 Display) is performed. There may be a configuration in which display is performed only on the wired remote control device 140 described below, and no display unit is provided on the audio playback device main body side.

  Next, the configuration of the wired remote control device 140 connected to the playback device 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wired remote control device 140 is used by being connected to the terminal unit 120 of the playback device 100. Is done. The remote control device 140 includes a controller 141 that controls the remote control device, a display unit 142 that displays various information under the control of the controller 141, a key 143 for operating the playback device, and a plug for a headphone device. And a jack 144 to be connected.

  The controller 141 and the display unit 142 are operated by the power supplied from the terminal 122 of the playback device 100. The display unit 142 includes display means such as a liquid crystal display panel, and displays information similar to the display unit 108 on the playback apparatus main body side (for example, display of track number, playback time, disc name, song name, playback status, etc.). Is to be done. The key 143 is connected to, for example, the terminal 121 and the terminal 125 of the terminal unit 120 (that is, between the power supply potential unit and the ground potential unit), and is obtained at the terminal 124 based on the operation state of the key 143. The system controller 110 can detect the operation state by changing the potential (that is, the potential detected by the key information port 112 of the system controller 110 on the playback device side). Headphone device 150 is connected to jack 144, and sound is output from left and right speaker units 151, 152 of headphone device 150.

  Here, an example of a state in which the wired remote control device 140 is connected to the audio playback device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The audio playback device 100 connects the plug 145 of the wired remote control device 140 to the terminal portion 120 with an arrow. It is connected by inserting as shown by a. In this case, the headphone device 150 is connected to the audio playback device 100 via the wired remote control device 140 by connecting the headphone device 150 to the headphone jack 144 of the wired remote control device 140. The key 143 of the wired remote control device 140 is configured to be capable of rotating in both the left and right directions as indicated by the arrow b and pressing down in the direction indicated by the arrow c, for example. Various operation instructions of the apparatus 100 can be performed, and various displays are performed on the display unit 142 using characters, graphics, and the like.

  By the way, in the case where the audio device and the remote control device are connected in a wired manner as described above, it is difficult to use the audio device and the headphone device or the remote control device apart from each other, and there is a limitation in the usage mode. For this reason, there has been conventionally proposed a wireless device incorporated in an audio device and a remote control device, which can be remotely controlled from a remote control device (wireless remote control device) by wireless connection. In addition, an audio signal that is wirelessly transmitted from an audio device and received by a small receiver connected to headphones so that the audio transmission itself is also wirelessly developed.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of this type of portable audio playback device and an example of a remote control device or headphones connected to the audio playback device. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228667 describes a wireless remote control device.
JP 2000-278769 A

  However, in order to make the headphone device and the remote control device wireless, it is necessary to incorporate a wireless device in the audio device. In particular, a user who has an audio device to which a conventional wired remote control device is connected as shown in FIG. 6 needs to replace the audio device with a built-in wireless device, which is a financial burden on the user. There is a problem that increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily make this type of audio equipment wireless.

  The present invention includes an adapter device connected to an audio signal output terminal of a predetermined device and an audio receiving device that performs wireless communication with the adapter device, and is connected to the audio signal output terminal of the predetermined device as the adapter device. And a first communication unit that wirelessly transmits an audio signal input to the terminal unit, and receives an audio signal wirelessly transmitted from the first communication unit of the adapter device as an audio receiving device. A second communication unit and an output unit that outputs an audio signal received by the second communication unit are provided.

  By doing so, by connecting the adapter device to the audio signal output terminal of the audio device, the audio device to which the adapter device is connected can wirelessly communicate with the audio receiving device, for example, the output of the audio receiving device. By connecting the headphone device to the unit, the audio device to which the adapter device is connected is made wireless.

  According to the present invention, a wireless audio system can be easily realized by using an existing audio device by simply connecting the adapter device to the audio signal output terminal of the audio device.

  In this case, the terminal portion of the adapter device is a terminal portion that is also connected to the remote control terminal of the audio device, and the remote control signal wirelessly transmitted from the communication portion on the audio receiving device side to the communication portion on the adapter device side is received. By supplying the audio device via the terminal unit, the audio receiving device also serves as a wireless remote control device, and remote control of the existing audio device can be performed.

  In addition, the terminal portion of the adapter device also receives power supply via the remote control terminal of the audio device, and the adapter device operates such as a battery by operating the communication unit in the adapter device with the supplied power. There is no need to provide a power source, and it can be used simply by connecting an adapter device.

  Furthermore, the audio receiving device has a mounting portion to which the adapter device is mounted. When the adapter device and the audio receiving device are stored, the adapter device is attached to the audio receiving device and stored in an integrated state. Can prevent the adapter device from being lost.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to FIG. 5 and FIG.

  In this example, the audio playback device 100 that is the audio device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 described in the background art section is used, and the audio playback device 100 is made wireless. The internal configuration of the audio playback device 100 has already been described and is not directly related to the processing configuration of the present example. Therefore, although not specifically described here, a terminal unit 120 as an audio output terminal included in the audio playback device 100 is provided. The audio signal plug and the remote control plug are integrated as a jack to which a terminal can be attached, and a wired remote control device 140 as shown in FIG. 6 can be connected.

  Here, in this example, instead of the wired remote control device, an adapter device 200 is connected to the terminal portion 120 as shown in FIG. 1 and an audio receiving device 240 that performs wireless communication with the adapter device 200 is provided. It is a thing. In this example, the adapter device 200 has a shape housed in a very small housing as shown in FIG. 2, and the audio receiving device 240 is connected to an audio output means such as the headphone device 150. .

  The internal configuration of the adapter device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The adapter device 200 includes a terminal unit 210 connected to the terminal unit 120 on the audio playback device 100 side. The terminal portion 210 is a terminal portion in which a terminal 211 as a plug for audio signals and terminals 212 to 215 as plugs for remote control are integrated. The terminal 211 is actually composed of three terminals and is configured as a terminal for receiving left and right two-channel stereo audio signals, but is shown here as a single system terminal for the sake of simplicity. is there. Similarly, each audio signal transmission line such as an audio signal transmission line for processing a signal obtained at the terminal 211 is also shown as one line.

  The audio signal obtained at the terminal 211 is supplied to the analog / digital converter 201, converted into digital data, and the converted digital audio data is supplied to the transmission processing unit 203 under the control of the system controller 202. Is transmitted wirelessly from the antenna 205 connected to the transmission processing unit 203. For example, a miniaturized chip antenna is used as the antenna 205.

  In the transmission processing unit 203, for example, a short-distance wireless transmission process of about several meters is performed using a relatively high frequency band such as a 2.4 GHz band as a transmission frequency. As a short-range wireless communication method using this frequency band, for example, there are a method standardized as Bluetooth (trademark) and a method put into practical use as a wireless LAN.

  In addition, the antenna 205 is connected to the reception processing unit 204 so as to receive and process a reception signal supplied via the antenna 205. The signal to be received and processed by the reception processing unit 204 is a remote control signal of the audio playback device 100 or the like. The signal received by the reception processing unit 204 is used as a remote control signal in a format to be supplied to the audio playback device 100 under the control of the system controller 202, and the remote control signal is supplied from the terminal 214 to the audio playback device 100 side.

  When a remote control signal is supplied to the audio playback device 100 side, the same operation as when a remote control signal is supplied from the wired remote control device 140 as shown in FIG. 6 is performed.

  Also, display data supplied from the terminal 123 of the audio playback device 100 via the terminal 213 of the adapter device 200 is supplied, and the system controller 202 sends the display data from the transmission processing unit 203 to the audio. Wireless transmission with data.

  As a power source for operating each circuit in the adapter device 200, a DC power source such as 5 V obtained from the terminal 122 of the audio playback device 100 to the terminal 212 of the adapter device 200 is used. The power source output from the terminal 122 of the audio playback device 100 is originally a power source for operating the wired remote control device 140 shown in FIG. Note that the audio playback device 100 uses a built-in secondary battery or the like as the power source 130.

  Next, an internal configuration of the audio receiving apparatus 240 that performs wireless communication with the adapter apparatus 200 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In the audio receiving device 240, an antenna 241 configured by a chip antenna or the like is connected to the transmission processing unit 242 and the reception processing unit 243. The reception processing unit 243 performs reception processing on the signal wirelessly transmitted from the adapter device 200 and supplies the signal to the system controller 245. The system controller 245 supplies the audio data contained in the received signal to the digital / analog converter 248 to convert it into an analog audio signal. The analog processing unit 249 converts the converted audio signal into an analog signal such as an amplified signal. The processing is performed, and the processed audio signal is supplied to a headphone device 150 connected to an output terminal (not shown) as an output unit, and output (sound emission) from the headphone device 150. Note that a configuration in which the headphone device is directly connected to the audio receiving device 240 as output means without providing an output terminal may be employed.

  The audio receiving device 240 also includes a display unit 247. When display data is included in the received data supplied to the system controller 245, the display data is supplied to the display unit 247, and the display unit 247 responds. Execute the display. Furthermore, the audio receiving device 240 includes a key 246. The keys 246 include a remote control key for operating the audio playback apparatus 100, a power switch for operating on / off of the audio receiving apparatus 240, an up key and a down key for volume adjustment, and the like. The system controller 245 detects the operation of the key 246, and performs control corresponding to the key operation.

  When a key for remote control is operated, a remote control signal for controlling the audio playback device 100 is generated. The generated remote control signal is subjected to transmission processing by the transmission processing unit 242, and is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 241. The transmission processing state in the transmission processing unit 242 may be the same processing as the transmission processing unit 203 on the adapter device 200 side, for example. Alternatively, since only a predetermined number of predetermined codes are transmitted as remote control signals, transmission processing that performs simple modulation processing or the like may be used. Alternatively, the remote control signal may be wirelessly transmitted from the audio receiving device 240 to the adapter device 200 (or the playback device 100) by another transmission method such as infrared signal transmission.

  The audio receiving device 240 includes a power source 250 using a secondary battery or the like, and power for operation is supplied from the power source 250 to each circuit in the audio receiving device 240.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing examples of shapes of the adapter device 200 and the audio receiving device 240 of this example. In this example, the adapter device 200 is configured in a small casing in which a terminal portion 210 as a plug connected to the terminal portion 120 on the audio playback device 100 side is integrally attached, and an antenna is also built-in. ing. In this small adapter device 200, the terminal unit 210 as a plug is connected to the terminal unit 120 on the audio playback device 100 side as shown by an arrow a in FIG. 2, so that the adapter device 200 itself is connected to the audio playback device 100. Is mounted and the mounted state is maintained.

  That is, the audio output jack constituting the audio output terminal 121 on the audio playback device 100 side has a conductive portion connected to the conductive portion of the plug connected to the jack with a certain contact force (elastic force). However, the adapter device 200 connected to the terminal portion 120 is held by a force about the contact force.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the audio receiving device 240 that performs wireless communication with the adapter device 200 has basically the same shape as a conventional wired remote control device. In this example, it has a horizontally long shape, and the display unit 247 can display the track number, playback time, disc name, song name, playback status, and the like in the same manner as on the playback apparatus main body side, and a plurality of keys 246. The remote control of the playback device can be performed.

  A headphone device 150 is attached to the audio receiving device 240, and the left and right speaker units 151 and 152 are attached to the user's ears, so that the audio wirelessly transmitted from the adapter device 200 can be received and listened to.

  Further, the audio receiving device 240 of this example has a shape having a mounting portion to which the adapter device 200 is mounted. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a hole 261 configured as a dummy terminal (jack) having a shape into which a terminal 211 as a plug on the adapter device 200 side can be inserted into an end surface 240 a of a housing constituting the audio receiving device 240. And a hole 262 configured as a dummy terminal (jack) having a shape into which the terminals 212 to 215 can be inserted.

  By having such a shape, when the adapter device 200 and the audio receiving device 240 are not used, both the devices 200 and 240 can be accommodated in an integrated manner. That is, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, by inserting the terminals 211 to 215 of the adapter device 200 into the holes 261 and 262 of the end surface 240 a of the audio receiving device 240, the small adapter device 200 is connected to the audio receiving device 240. Since they are integrated, it is possible to effectively prevent the adapter device 200 configured in a small size from being lost.

  Here, although it is configured as a dummy terminal, the audio receiving device 240 may be configured as an input terminal (output terminal) for directly connecting the audio receiving device 240 to the playback device 100 side with an audio cable.

  As described above, the adapter apparatus 200 and the audio receiving apparatus 240 of this example are prepared, and the adapter apparatus 200 is connected to the audio reproducing apparatus 100 so that the audio reproducing apparatus 100 functions as a wireless audio device. become. Therefore, for a user who already has the audio playback device 100, a wireless portable audio device can be obtained simply by preparing the adapter device 200 and the audio reception device 240 of this example. Is effectively utilized.

  In this case, the adapter device 200 is supplied with power by using the power supply terminal for connecting the remote control device prepared in the audio playback device 100, so there is no need to incorporate a power source such as a battery. Thus, it is possible to reduce the size and to save the trouble of battery replacement and charging.

  In the above-described embodiment, the audio receiving device 240 has a function as a remote control device. However, the audio receiving device only has a function of receiving audio data from the adapter device. May be. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, as a communication means in the adapter device 200 ′ connected to the audio playback device 100, only a transmission processing unit 203 that performs audio data transmission processing is provided, and no receiving unit is provided. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the audio receiving device 240 ′ that performs wireless communication with the adapter device 200 ′ is also provided with only a reception processing unit 243 that performs transmission processing of audio data as a communication unit, and no transmission unit. And Also, no display or key is provided. However, operation keys that are processed in the audio receiving device 240 ′, such as a power switch for turning on / off the reception of the audio signal and an up key and a down key for volume adjustment, may be provided.

  By configuring as shown in FIG. 4, the adapter device and the audio receiving device can be configured with a simpler circuit configuration than the case of the example shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, in the case where the remote control device is not built in, the audio receiving device 240 ′ may be built in the headphone device.

  In the description so far, the example in which the disk playback device is used as the audio device to which the adapter device is connected has been described. However, it is needless to say that the device having other audio output terminals can also be used. . Also, with regard to the shapes of the adapter device and the audio receiving device, the above-described embodiment shows an example, and other shapes may be employed. Also, the shape of the terminal for remote control signal of the terminal section provided in the audio device is just an example of the above-described embodiment, and may be configured as an adapter device connected to a terminal of other shape. .

It is the block diagram which showed the example of whole structure by one embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the example of the shape by one embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the example of the accommodation state by one embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the modification of one embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of the conventional audio equipment. It is the perspective view which showed the example of the shape of the apparatus of the example of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Audio reproduction apparatus, 120 ... Terminal part, 150 ... Headphone apparatus, 200, 200 '... Adapter apparatus, 201 ... Analog-digital converter, 202 ... System controller, 203 ... Transmission processing part, 204 ... Reception processing part, 205 ... Antenna, 210 ... Terminal part, 240, 240 '... Audio receiver, 241 ... Antenna, 242 ... Transmission processing part, 243 ... Reception processing part, 245 ... System controller, 246 ... Key, 247 ... Display part, 248 ... Digital・ Analog converter, 249 ... Analog processing part, 261,262 ... Adapter mounting part

Claims (7)

A terminal portion connected to an audio signal output terminal of a predetermined device;
An adapter device comprising: a first communication unit that wirelessly transmits an audio signal input to the terminal unit;
A second communication unit that receives an audio signal wirelessly transmitted from the first communication unit of the adapter device;
An audio transmission system including an audio receiving device including an output unit that outputs an audio signal received by the second communication unit. The audio transmission system according to claim 1, wherein
The terminal portion of the adapter device is a terminal portion that is also connected to a remote control terminal provided in the vicinity of the audio signal output terminal of the device. From the second communication portion of the audio receiving device, the adapter device An audio transmission system for supplying a remote control signal wirelessly transmitted to a first communication unit to the device via the terminal unit. The audio transmission system according to claim 2, wherein
The terminal unit of the adapter device is also supplied with power via a remote control terminal of the device, and the first communication unit is operated by the supplied power. The audio transmission system according to claim 1, wherein
The audio receiving device is an audio transmission system having a mounting portion to which the adapter device is mounted. A terminal portion connected to an audio signal output terminal of a predetermined device;
A communication unit that wirelessly transmits an audio signal input to the terminal unit;
An adapter device comprising: a housing that houses the terminal unit and the communication unit and is attached to the device by connecting the terminal unit to the output terminal. The adapter device according to claim 5, wherein
The terminal portion is a terminal portion connected to a remote control terminal provided in the vicinity of the audio signal output terminal of the device,
The communication unit also performs processing for receiving a remote control signal, and supplies a signal based on the received remote control signal from the terminal unit to the device via the remote control terminal. The adapter device according to claim 6, wherein
The terminal unit is also supplied with power via a remote control terminal of the device, and the communication unit is operated by the supplied power.

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