JP2007189515A - Audio signal adjusting device, audio system, and on-vehicle audio system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the sound volume of a low-efficiency side speaker more suitable while suppressing faults such as buzzing when audio is reproduced by a plurality of kinds of speakers differing in audio generation efficiency at the same time. <P>SOLUTION: An audio signal adjusting device adjusts audio signals supplied to the speakers differing in audio generation efficiency, e.g., at least one low-efficiency speaker and one high-efficiency speaker. The audio signal adjusting device includes a first adjusting means of adjusting the sound volume of the audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker, a second adjusting means of adjusting the sound volume of the audio signal supplied to the high-efficiency speaker, and a sound pressure level control means of setting a first sound volume level which is the sound volume level of the audio signal adjusted by the first adjusting means and supplied to the low-efficiency speaker to higher than a second sound pressure level which is the sound volume level of the audio signal adjusted by the second adjusting means and supplied to the high-efficiency speaker within predetermined ranges of command sound volume levels for the low-efficiency speaker and high-efficiency speaker according to the command sound volume levels. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sound signal adjusting apparatus that adjusts sound signals supplied to a low-efficiency speaker and a high-efficiency speaker, particularly a sound volume adjustment device, which are speakers having different sound generation efficiencies.

  For example, in an audio system mounted on a vehicle, when a sound field or a sound image is formed by speakers installed on the left and right door portions of the vehicle, the situation may not be suitable for the user (vehicle occupant) depending on the installation position, etc. There is. Therefore, in order to make the sound field and sound image formed in the vehicle more suitable, a technique for providing a flat panel speaker in front of or behind the vehicle ceiling in addition to the speakers on the left and right doors has been disclosed ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2.)

  In these technologies, in order to correct the acoustic characteristics of the door speaker, a sound panel formed in the vehicle interior is increased by providing a flat panel with a wide directivity on the ceiling of the vehicle. A suitable sound field and sound image can be formed. In addition, since flat panel speakers have a wide directivity, the synthesized sound produced by the flat panel speakers and the left and right door speakers is formed in a circular shape centering on the user, so the sound spread is excellent. ing.

Moreover, the technique regarding the vibration transducer as a vibration generator for comprising a flat panel speaker is open | released (for example, refer patent document 3). In this vibration transducer, a member to be vibrated, for example, an interior material such as a ceiling panel, is vibrated using a fluctuation of magnetic flux generated between the coil and the magnet assembly to function as a speaker.
JP 2004-168267 A JP 2004-168265 A Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-512252

  For example, when playing back sound simultaneously with a plurality of types of speakers with different sound generation efficiencies, such as the above flat panel speakers and door speakers, when the drive signal level to each speaker is the same, Volume is low and it is hard to hear sound. However, if the drive signal level of the low-efficiency speaker is set larger than that of the high-efficiency speaker, the low-efficiency speaker will be saturated first when the volume is increased, and there is a risk that problems such as sound cracking may occur. In particular, in a speaker using the above-described vibration transducer, since a ceiling panel or the like that does not necessarily have good characteristics may be used as a diaphragm, the sound generation efficiency is lower than a general cone-type speaker, There is a possibility that the problems listed in the low efficiency speaker may occur.

  In the present invention, in view of the above-described problems, when sound is reproduced simultaneously with a plurality of types of speakers having different sound generation efficiencies, the sound volume on the low-efficiency side speaker is more appropriate while suppressing problems such as sound cracking. It aims to be.

In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, the adjustment of the sound pressure level in the low-efficiency speaker and the adjustment of the sound pressure level in the high-efficiency speaker are made different according to the command sound volume level for each speaker. By doing so, it is possible to make the sound volume of the low-efficiency speaker more appropriate while suppressing problems such as sound cracking during the reproduction of sound.

  Specifically, the present invention is an audio signal adjustment apparatus that adjusts an audio signal supplied to at least one low-efficiency speaker and one high-efficiency speaker, which are speakers having different sound generation efficiencies, A first adjustment means for adjusting the volume of the audio signal supplied to the efficiency speaker; a second adjustment means for adjusting the volume of the audio signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker; and the low efficiency speaker and the high efficiency speaker. In a predetermined range of the command volume level, a first sound pressure level that is a sound pressure level of a sound signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker adjusted by the first adjustment unit according to the command volume level is set to the second sound pressure level. Sound pressure level control means for setting the sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than a second sound pressure level that is a sound pressure level of a sound signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker adjusted by the adjusting means.

  In the audio signal adjusting apparatus according to the present invention, the same audio signal is supplied to at least two types of speakers having different audio generation efficiencies, ie, a low efficiency speaker and a high efficiency speaker, and audio is reproduced. This difference in generation efficiency is due to all factors such as the structure and shape of the speaker. The volume of the audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker and the high-efficiency speaker is controlled by adjusting the sound pressure level of the audio signal supplied to the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means, respectively. The

  Here, in the audio signal adjusting device according to the present invention, the first sound pressure level that is the sound pressure level of the audio signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker adjusted by the first adjusting means by the sound pressure level control means, A predetermined range of command volume level for each speaker so that the former is higher than the latter relative to the second sound pressure level, which is the sound pressure level of the sound signal supplied to the high-efficiency speaker adjusted by the two adjusting means. In this, control is performed according to the command sound volume level. Here, the command sound volume level is a command to be output to each speaker in response to a request from the user who listens to the sound from the low-efficiency speaker and the high-efficiency speaker (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”). Say the volume level. The predetermined range is a range of the command volume level in which the first sound pressure level of the low-efficiency speaker is increased by the sound pressure level adjusting means so that a problem such as sound cracking does not occur. The range of the command volume level that does not hinder the range.

  In this way, the sound pressure level control means causes the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level to have a predetermined relative relationship, thereby causing problems such as sound cracking when the volume is increased. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user to easily hear the sound from the low-efficiency speaker.

  Here, with regard to the adjustment of the sound signal by the sound pressure level control means, more specifically, the first sound pressure level relative to the command sound volume level in a low sound volume level side of the predetermined range of the command sound volume level. Adjusting the sound pressure level of the audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker and / or the high-efficiency speaker so that the ratio is higher than the ratio of the second sound pressure level to the command volume level. In a range on the medium volume level side of the predetermined level range, the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level is substantially the same as the ratio of the second sound pressure level to the command volume level. You may make it adjust the sound pressure level of the audio | voice signal supplied to the said low efficiency speaker and / or the said high efficiency speaker.

In the low sound volume level range of the specified sound volume level, even if the first sound pressure level is set to be relatively higher than the second sound pressure level, there is room for sound generation by the low-efficiency speaker. Cracks are unlikely to occur. Therefore, in such a case, the first sound pressure level may be set as large as possible in accordance with the use state of the user. However, if the command volume level rises and becomes a medium volume level, that is, a volume level higher than the low volume level, the probability of occurrence of a malfunction in the low-efficiency speaker increases. The rate of increase of the first sound pressure level (ratio of the first sound pressure level to the commanded sound volume level) is approximately the same as the rate of increase of the second sound pressure level (ratio of the second sound pressure level to the commanded sound level) And By doing in this way, it becomes possible to maintain the volume of a low efficiency speaker more largely, suppressing the malfunction in a low efficiency speaker.

  Note that the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level are the same in the high sound volume level range of the predetermined sound volume level range, considering that the probability of occurrence of a problem with the low efficiency speaker is further increased. It is good.

  Further, with regard to another adjustment of the audio signal by the sound pressure level control means, more specifically, in the range on the low sound volume level side of the predetermined range of the command sound volume level, the first sound pressure with respect to the command sound volume level. The ratio of the level is higher than the ratio of the second sound pressure level to the command volume level, and the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level takes a maximum value in any of the ranges, and the command As the volume level increases, the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level gradually decreases, and further, the first sound pressure level falls within a range on the high volume level side of the predetermined range of the command volume level. It may be the same as the second sound pressure level.

  In the adjustment by the sound pressure level control means, the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command sound volume level decreases as the command sound volume increases, and finally the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level coincide with each other. As described above, the control by the sound pressure level control means is performed. That is, by this control, the magnitude of the first sound pressure level with respect to the second sound pressure level is gradually decreased as the command sound volume level increases. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to maintain the volume of a low efficiency speaker more largely, suppressing the malfunction in a low efficiency speaker.

  Here, in the audio signal adjustment apparatus described above, the sound pressure level control means is configured to adjust the sound pressure of the supplied audio signal to each of the low efficiency speaker and the high efficiency speaker according to the frequency of the audio signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker. Frequency characteristic adjusting means for adjusting the level, and the frequency characteristic adjusting means sets the first sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than the second sound pressure level in a predetermined frequency range of the audio signal supplied thereto. It may be.

  That is, from the viewpoint of adjusting the sound pressure level for each frequency of the audio signal by the frequency characteristic adjusting means such as an equalizer, the sound pressure level control means sets the first sound pressure level to the second level via the frequency characteristic adjusting means. It is possible to set the sound pressure level or higher so that the user can easily hear the sound from the low efficiency speaker. The predetermined frequency range is a frequency range of an audio signal for making it easier to hear sound from the low-efficiency speaker, and may be set as appropriate. Further, it does not prevent the frequency characteristic adjusting means from setting the first sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than the second sound pressure level over the entire frequency range of the user's audible range.

  Here, in the audio signal adjustment device described above, the sound pressure level control means sets the first sound pressure level to a first time during a normal time other than the predetermined time during a predetermined time when the predetermined condition is satisfied. You may make it make it still higher than one sound pressure level.

The predetermined condition is a condition that triggers the user to recognize the reproduction when the sound is reproduced by the low efficiency speaker. For example, when the reproduction of the sound is started by the low efficiency speaker, For example, when the sound source reproduced from the speaker is changed. In such a case, the user's consciousness can be directed to the low-efficiency speaker by further increasing the first sound pressure level from the normal first sound pressure level. As a result, the user can efficiently hear the sound reproduced from the low efficiency speaker. The predetermined time may be a time that is sufficient to direct the user's consciousness toward the low-efficiency speaker, and can be appropriately verified and set by an experiment or the like.

  In the audio signal adjustment device described above, the sound pressure level control means sets the first sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than the second sound pressure level for a predetermined time when a predetermined condition is satisfied. It may be.

  The predetermined condition and the predetermined time are the same as those described above. That is, by adjusting the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level by the sound pressure level control means during this predetermined time, the user's consciousness can be directed to the low efficiency speaker. Become. Therefore, after the lapse of the predetermined time, the sound from the low-efficiency speaker is recognized with the user's consciousness without adjusting the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level by the sound pressure level control means. The presence can be sustained.

  Here, in order to solve the above-described problem, the audio signal adjustment device according to the present invention is a speaker having different sound generation efficiency and is supplied to at least one low-efficiency speaker and one high-efficiency speaker. An audio signal adjusting device for adjusting a signal, wherein the first adjusting unit adjusts the volume of the audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker, and the second adjusting unit adjusts the volume of the audio signal supplied to the high-efficiency speaker. And a first sound pressure level that is a sound pressure level of a sound signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker adjusted by the first adjusting means within a predetermined range of a command sound volume level for the low efficiency speaker. The first sound pressure level control means that makes the maximum value regardless of the frequency of the sound, and the second adjustment means in a predetermined range of the command volume level for the high-efficiency speaker A second sound pressure level is the sound pressure level of the supply audio signals to the high efficiency speaker is adjusted Wait, and a second sound pressure level control means for adjusting in accordance with the frequency of the supply audio signals.

  That is, from the viewpoint of adjusting the sound pressure level for each frequency of the audio signal by adjusting frequency characteristics of an equalizer or the like, the first sound pressure level control means has a maximum value regardless of the frequency of the supplied audio signal. Thus, the first sound pressure level is set to be equal to or higher than the second sound pressure level at which the sound pressure level is adjusted for each frequency by the second sound pressure level control means. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to make it easy for a user to hear the sound from a low efficiency speaker.

  Further, in the audio signal adjustment device described above, the localization control for controlling the audio signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker so that the sound image by the audio from the high efficiency speaker is localized at a location where the low efficiency speaker is located. A means may be further provided. This localization control means makes it possible for the user to more strongly recognize the presence of the low-efficiency speaker, so that the voice from the low-efficiency speaker can be more efficiently appealed to the user's hearing.

  Here, as a low-efficiency speaker up to the above, a flat panel speaker that generates sound by vibrating a planar structure can be exemplified. In some cases, the flat panel speaker may be a structure that is relatively larger than the high-efficiency speaker. However, since the sound is generated by vibrating the planar structure, the directivity is wide. However, since the structure serving as the vibration source is large, the sound generation efficiency is relatively low. Therefore, it is possible to form a good sound field or sound image by combining a flat panel speaker and a high efficiency speaker. In such a case, the audio signal adjustment device according to the present invention is very useful.

Therefore, the sound volume is adjusted by the sound signal adjustment device according to the present invention described above, one or a plurality of sound signal supply devices that supply the sound signal to the sound signal adjustment device, and the first adjustment means of the sound signal adjustment device. One or more low-efficiency speakers to which the adjusted audio signal is supplied; and one or more high-efficiency speakers to which the audio signal whose volume is adjusted by the second adjustment means of the audio signal adjustment device; With this, it is possible to configure an audio system.

  Furthermore, this audio system can also be applied to an in-vehicle audio system mounted in the interior of a vehicle. In this case, for example, the low-efficiency speaker generates sound by vibrating the ceiling plate of the vehicle. It may be a ceiling speaker. The high-efficiency speaker may be a speaker provided in front and rear vehicle structures such as left and right door portions and / or a dashboard of the vehicle, for example, a cone type speaker.

  In the case where a plurality of types of speakers having different sound generation efficiencies are simultaneously played back, it is possible to make the sound volume of the low-efficiency speaker more appropriate while suppressing problems such as sound cracking.

  Embodiments of an audio signal adjusting device according to the present invention and an in-vehicle audio system configured by applying the audio signal adjusting device will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle audio system in a vehicle 1 on which an audio signal adjustment device 30 according to the present invention is mounted. FIG. 1 is a view of the vehicle 1 as viewed from the side, and FIG. 2 is a view of the vehicle 1 as viewed from above. Two rows of seats are provided in the interior of the vehicle 1, and a head unit 10 constituting an in-vehicle audio system is incorporated in a dashboard in front of the seats in the front row. Furthermore, an audio signal adjustment device (hereinafter referred to as “separate amplifier”) 30 according to the present invention constituting an in-vehicle audio system is disposed at the foot of the front passenger seat.

  The head unit 10 and the separately placed amplifier 30 are electrically connected to each other via an in-vehicle LAN laid in the vehicle 1. Further, the separate amplifier 30 includes a ceiling speaker 40 provided on the ceiling of the vehicle 1 and door speakers 50 provided at four locations on the left and right doors of the vehicle 1 (two left and right locations on the front door and two left and right locations on the rear door). And connected to. The ceiling speaker 40 includes a ceiling plate 40b of the vehicle 1 and an exciter 40a connected thereto. The exciter 40a is vibrated by the drive current supplied from the separate amplifier 30, so that the ceiling board 40b is excited to generate sound. On the other hand, the door speaker 50 is a so-called cone type box speaker.

  As described above, in the vehicle 1, by providing the ceiling speaker 40 in addition to the door speaker 50, it is possible to bring the sound field formed in the vehicle compartment closer to the head of the user (passenger). The use environment of the in-vehicle audio system is improved. Moreover, since the ceiling speaker 40 generates sound by exciting the relatively large ceiling plate 40b, the sound directivity of the sound is wide and the sound formed in the vehicle compartment can be given a sense of spread. Since the ceiling speaker 40 is mainly composed of the ceiling board 40b, the proportion of the space in the vehicle 1 is small, and the comfort of the room is not impaired.

However, as described above, the sound generation in the ceiling speaker 40 depends on the vibration of the ceiling board 40b by the exciter 40a, while the sound generation in the door speaker 50 depends on the cone in the ceiling speaker 40a. The sound generation efficiency is lower than the sound generation efficiency of the door speaker 50. Therefore, the separate amplifier 30 according to the present invention and the in-vehicle audio system including the same are formed in consideration that the sound generation efficiency of the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50 is different.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the in-vehicle audio system. The head unit 10 transmits / receives information to / from an operation unit (usually composed of operation buttons, a touch panel display, etc.) 11 and a separate amplifier 30 for a user in the vehicle 1 to issue a request to the in-vehicle audio system. And a control unit 13 for controlling a plurality of audio signal supply devices (hereinafter referred to as “audio sources”) provided in the head unit 10, which are connected to each other via a control bus. Has been. Further, the control unit 13 controls the switching device 20 to selectively select one audio source as an output audio source from a plurality of audio sources connected via the control bus, and to communicate with the communication unit. The audio signal from the output audio source is supplied to the separate amplifier 30 via 12.

  Here, a CD / DVD deck (hereinafter simply referred to as “CD deck”) 15 and a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 14 are provided as audio sources. When a user or the like who controls the vehicle 1 loads a music CD on which music data is recorded on the CD deck 15, the control unit 13 selects the CD deck 15 as an output audio source via the switching device 20, and music Data is sampled from the CD, and an audio signal is supplied to the separate amplifier 30. At this time, when the music CD mounted on the CD deck 15 is played for the first time in the vehicle 1, the control unit 13 converts the music data into a predetermined compressed file format such as ATRAC3 or MP3 and stores it in the HDD 14. To record. By doing so, the control unit 13 records the music data in the HDD 14, and even if the music CD is not loaded in the CD deck 15, the user can arbitrarily record the music data recorded in the HDD 14. It can be played back and heard in the vehicle 1. The reproduction of the music data recorded in the HDD 12 is decoded by the decoding unit 21 provided in the head unit 10 and converted into a music signal, which is supplied from the decoding unit 21 to the separate amplifier 30. Is done.

  Further, the head unit 10 is provided with a TV tuner 16, an AM / FM tuner 17, an MD deck 18, and a cassette deck 19 as sound sources, which are controlled by the control unit 13 via the control bus and switched. It is electrically connected to the device 20. When the user selects one of these via the operation unit 11, the control unit 13 supplies audio signals from the TV, radio, MD, and cassette media to the separate amplifier 30 and reproduces them in the vehicle 1. It is possible. Also, the audio signal obtained from each medium can be recorded in the HDD 14 as in the case of the music CD as described above.

  Next, the separate amplifier 30 adjusts a communication unit 31 that communicates with the communication unit 12 of the head unit 10 and an audio signal that is provided in the separate amplifier 30 and is supplied from the head unit 10 via the communication unit 31. The control part 32 which controls each component to perform is provided. The separate amplifier 30 includes a ceiling speaker adjustment series including a volume control unit 41, a first equalizer 42, a second equalizer 43, and a current amplification unit 44 that adjust an audio signal finally supplied to the ceiling speaker 40. And a door speaker adjustment series comprising a volume control unit 51 for adjusting an audio signal finally supplied to the door speaker 50, a first equalizer 52, a second equalizer 53, and a current amplifying unit 54. It has been.

Details of each component in the ceiling speaker adjustment series and the door speaker adjustment series will be described below. The sound volume control unit 41 and the sound volume control unit 51 control the sound pressure level with respect to the sound command sound volume level required for the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50. This command volume level is a volume of sound that a user in the vehicle cabin gives to each speaker from the operation unit 11 of the head unit 10. In this embodiment, the user can specify the command volume level in 64 levels from 0 to 63, where 0 is the minimum volume and 63 is the maximum volume. The signal of the command volume level is passed from the operation unit 11 to the control unit 32 of the separate amplifier 30 via the communication units 12 and 31, and the control unit 32 controls the volume control units 41 and 51 based on the signal.

  Here, a specific method of adjusting the sound pressure level by the sound volume control unit 41 and the sound volume control unit 51 is shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 is a table showing specific numerical values of the sound pressure levels of the door speaker 50 and the ceiling speaker 40 with respect to the command volume level, and FIG. 4 is a graph of this. A line L1 in FIG. 4 represents the transition of the sound pressure level of the door speaker 50, and the lines L2 and L3 represent the transition of the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40. The fact that there are two lines representing the transition of the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40 will be described later. Further, in this embodiment, the command volume levels are basically displayed by 5 for the sake of brevity, but the sound pressure level of each speaker with respect to the command volume levels not displayed in FIG. 5 is shown by the graph shown in FIG. Interpolated.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the sound pressure level at the ceiling speaker 40 is set higher than the sound pressure level at the door speaker 50 in the range (0 to 63) of the command volume level that can be selected by the user. . This is because the sound generation efficiency of the ceiling speaker 40 is lower than that of the door speaker 50, so that the user can easily hear the sound from the ceiling speaker 40. Furthermore, in the low sound volume level range where the command sound volume level is about 0 to 10, the ratio of the sound pressure level to the command sound volume level (hereinafter referred to as “sound pressure level ratio”) is the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40. The ratio is larger than the sound pressure level ratio of the door speaker 50. Therefore, in the graph shown in FIG. 4, in the range of the low volume level, the slopes of the lines L2 and L3 are steeper than the slope of the line L1. Thus, even if the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40 is suddenly changed, the volume command given to the ceiling speaker is a low volume command, so that the function of the ceiling speaker 40 is maintained normally without causing problems such as sound cracking. Can be done.

  Next, when the command volume level is in the range of the medium volume level from 10 to 40, the sound pressure level ratio of the ceiling speaker 40 is substantially the same as the sound pressure level ratio of the door speaker 50 and both sound pressure level ratios are set. The value of is also adjusted to be substantially constant. Therefore, in the graph shown in FIG. 4, the slopes of the lines L1, L2, and L3 are substantially constant in the range of the medium volume level, and there is linearity between the command volume level and the sound pressure level. That is, in the middle volume level range, unlike the low volume level range, the ceiling speaker 40 has a sound pressure level ratio that is about the same as that of the door speaker 50, so that problems such as sound cracking occur in the ceiling speaker 40. Suppress.

  Further, in the range of the high sound volume level from 40 to 63 (maximum value), the sound volume level of the ceiling speaker 40 is the same as the sound pressure level of the door speaker 50 at the maximum sound volume 63. The sound pressure level ratio of the ceiling speaker 40 is adjusted. Therefore, in the graph shown in FIG. 4, in the range of the high volume level, the slopes of the lines L2 and L3 are smaller than the line L1, and each line collects the sound pressure level at 0 dB at the maximum command volume level 63. Thus, by making the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40 the same as the sound pressure level of the door speaker 50, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sound cracking due to the command sound volume level approaching the maximum value.

  Next, the first equalizer 42 and the first equalizer 52 adjust the frequency characteristic of the audio signal supplied to the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50 (the characteristic of the sound pressure level with respect to the frequency). Here, a specific method of adjusting the frequency characteristics by the first equalizer 42 and the first equalizer 52 is shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the frequency of the audio signal and the amount of adjustment of the sound pressure level for each frequency for each command volume (lines L4 to L10). 7 shows an adjustment mode (represented by one of the lines L4 to L10 shown in FIG. 6) of the frequency characteristic adopted in the door speaker 50 and the adjustment of the frequency characteristic adopted in the ceiling speaker 40 with respect to the command volume level. The relationship with an aspect (it represents with either of the lines L4-L10 shown in FIG. 6) is shown.

In FIG. 6, as the command sound volume level to the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50 increases, the frequency characteristic adjustment mode adopted by each speaker tends to shift from the line L10 to the line L4. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, at the same command volume level, the frequency characteristic adjustment mode adopted by the ceiling speaker 40 is a sound pressure level that is equal to or higher than the sound pressure level in the door speaker 50 adjustment mode. Is done. For example, when the command volume level to each speaker given through the operation unit 11 of the head unit 10 is 30, the adjustment mode adopted by the door speaker 50 is represented by a line L8 from the table shown in FIG. The adjustment mode employed by the ceiling speaker 40 is represented by a line L7. Therefore, at this time, the control unit 32 controls the first equalizer 42 so that the first equalizer 42 adjusts the frequency characteristic represented by the line L7, and the first equalizer 52 adjusts the frequency characteristic represented by the line L8. The first equalizer 52 is controlled to perform the above.

  As described above, in the in-vehicle audio system including the separate amplifier 30 according to the present invention, the ceiling speaker 40 is also used for adjusting the frequency characteristics of the audio signal in consideration of the difference in the sound generation efficiency between the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50. The sound pressure level of 40 is set to be equal to or higher than the sound pressure level of the door speaker 50. This makes it easier for the user to recognize the sound from the ceiling speaker 40.

  Next, the second equalizer 43 and the second equalizer 53 also adjust the frequency characteristics (the characteristics of the sound pressure level with respect to the frequency) of the audio signals supplied to the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50. However, these do not adjust the frequency characteristics in consideration of the sound generation efficiency of the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50 as described above, but make adjustments based on user preference. Specifically, in order to achieve the frequency characteristic requested by the user via the operation unit 11 of the head unit 10, the same frequency characteristic adjustment mode is applied to the audio signals to the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50. Based on this, the control unit 32 controls the second equalizer 43 and the second equalizer 53. That is, the adjustment of the frequency characteristics performed by the second equalizers 43 and 53 is different from the adjustment of the frequency characteristics performed by the first equalizers 42 and 52, and the difference in the sound generation efficiency between the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50 is taken into consideration. Instead, the frequency characteristic of the audio signal is adjusted.

  Finally, the current amplifying unit 44 and the current amplifying unit 54 are respectively the audio signal adjusted by the volume control unit 41, the first equalizer 42, and the second equalizer 43, the volume control unit 51, the first equalizer 52, and the second. Each audio signal is amplified so that the audio signal adjusted by the equalizer 53 is large enough to drive the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50.

  As described above, by making the adjustment for the audio signal supplied to the ceiling speaker 40 different from the adjustment for the audio signal supplied to the door speaker 50, it is possible to suppress the problem of sound cracking in the ceiling speaker 40 and to reduce the ceiling speaker 40. It is possible to reproduce sound from the sound source of the head unit 10 by sufficiently compensating for the low sound generation efficiency.

  Here, FIG. 8 shows an example of a flow of volume control for an audio signal from an audio source, which is performed in an in-vehicle audio system including the separate amplifier 10 according to the present invention. This volume control is mainly executed by the control unit 32 of the separate amplifier 30. Details of the volume control will be described below.

  In S101, it is determined whether or not the in-vehicle audio system has been started up. Specifically, the control unit 13 detects that the power switch provided on the head unit 10 side is changed from the OFF state to the ON state, and the control unit 32 acquires it through the communication units 12 and 31. Then, this control part 32 determines with the vehicle-mounted audio system having been started. If it is determined in S101 that the in-vehicle audio system is started, the process proceeds to S103, and if it is determined that the in-vehicle audio system is not started, the process proceeds to S102.

  In S102, it is determined whether or not the audio source selected as the output audio source among the plurality of audio sources has been switched in the in-vehicle audio system in which the power is on. Specifically, the control unit 13 monitors the output audio source selected by the switching device 20, and when the selection destination is changed, a signal notifying that there has been a change is controlled via the communication units 12 and 31. Is transmitted to the unit 32. The controller 32 makes this determination based on the signal. If it is determined in S102 that the audio source has been switched, the process proceeds to S103. If it is determined that the audio source has not been switched, the process proceeds to S105.

  In S103, the adjustment of the sound pressure level by the volume control unit 41 and the volume control unit 51 and the adjustment of frequency characteristics by the first equalizer 42 and the first equalizer 52 are performed. At this time, the adjustment of the sound pressure level in the sound volume control unit 41 is performed by the relationship between the command sound volume level and the sound pressure level represented by the line L3 shown in FIG. 4, that is, the numerical value shown in the column “ceiling speaker VOL2” shown in FIG. Based on. The transition of the sound pressure level represented by the line L3 is set higher than the transition of the sound pressure level represented by the line L2. The sound signal from the sound source after the adjustment is supplied to the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50, and the sound is reproduced in the vehicle compartment. At this time, the user in the vehicle compartment can clearly recognize the sound from the ceiling speaker 40 as described above. When the process of S103 ends, the process proceeds to S104.

  In S104, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the processing in S103 was started. The predetermined time T1 is a time during which the process of S103 is continued, and a value suitable for the in-vehicle audio system can be set as appropriate. If it is determined that the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the process proceeds to S105. If it is determined that the predetermined time T1 has not elapsed, the process of S103 is performed again.

  In S <b> 105, the sound pressure level is adjusted by the sound volume control unit 41 and the sound volume control unit 51 and the frequency characteristics are adjusted by the first equalizer 42 and the first equalizer 52. At this time, the adjustment of the sound pressure level in the sound volume control unit 41 is performed by the relationship between the command sound volume level and the sound pressure level represented by the line L2 shown in FIG. 4, that is, the numerical value shown in the column “ceiling speaker VOL1” shown in FIG. Based on. The change in the sound pressure level represented by the line L2 is set to be lower than the change in the sound pressure level represented by the line L3. It is possible to clearly recognize the sound from the ceiling speaker 40. After the process of S105, this control is terminated.

  According to this control, it is possible to suppress the problem of sound cracking in the ceiling speaker 40 and to reproduce sound from the sound source of the head unit 10 by sufficiently compensating for the low sound generation efficiency of the ceiling speaker 40. Further, when a predetermined condition is satisfied at the time of starting the in-vehicle audio system or immediately after switching the sound source, the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40 in the volume control unit 41 is set to the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker 40 during normal reproduction. Set higher than the level. In this way, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the presence of the ceiling speaker 40 can be emphasized anew to the user in the vehicle compartment. The voice can be recognized more clearly. Once recognized, the presence of the ceiling speaker 40 is fixed in the user's consciousness, and thereafter (after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed), the sound pressure level of the ceiling speaker is adjusted to a low level (however, in this case as well, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, it does not fall below the sound pressure level of the door speaker 50.)

In addition to the volume control described above, the sound image formed by the sound from the four door speakers 50 provided in the vehicle 1 is localized at the position where the ceiling speaker 40 is present, that is, the position of the ceiling plate 40b of the vehicle. Sound image localization control may be performed. In this sound image localization control, for example, the control unit 32 raises the sound pressure level of a predetermined frequency of the audio signal with respect to the components (components not shown in FIG. 3) constituting the door speaker adjustment series. Do. An example of the predetermined frequency is 7 to 8 kHz.

  Even if only the frequency characteristics shown in FIG. 6 are adjusted for the ceiling speaker 40 and the door speaker 50 without controlling the sound pressure level by the volume control units 41 and 51 described above, the ceiling speaker 40 and the door The sound volume can be controlled in consideration of the difference in sound generation efficiency of the speaker 50. At this time, for the ceiling speaker 40 with low sound generation efficiency, the sound pressure level is based on the frequency adjustment mode indicated by the line L4 in FIG. 6 regardless of the command volume level, that is, regardless of the frequency of the sound signal. The audio signal is adjusted to −0 dB. For the door speaker 50, the frequency characteristics of the audio signal are adjusted according to the command volume level as shown in the table of FIG. Even in this way, it is possible to suppress the problem of sound cracking in the ceiling speaker 40 and to reproduce sound from the sound source of the head unit 10 by sufficiently compensating for the low sound generation efficiency of the ceiling speaker 40. Become.

1 is a first view of a vehicle on which an in-vehicle audio system configured to include an audio signal adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. It is a 2nd figure of the vehicle by which the vehicle-mounted audio system comprised including the audio | voice signal adjustment apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention is mounted. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle audio system including an audio signal adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a graph showing the relationship between a command volume level and a sound pressure level in the adjustment of the sound pressure level performed in the audio | voice signal adjustment apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a table | surface corresponding to the graph shown in FIG. It is a graph showing the relationship between a frequency and a sound pressure level in adjustment of the frequency characteristic performed in the audio | voice signal adjustment apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship between the correction | amendment mode of the frequency characteristic employ | adopted as a command volume level and a ceiling speaker and a door speaker in the audio | voice signal adjustment apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the volume control performed with the audio | voice signal adjustment apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Vehicle 10 ... Head unit 30 ... Audio signal adjustment device (separate amplifier)
32 ... Control unit 40 ... Ceiling speaker 50 ... Door speaker 41, 51 ... Volume control unit 42, 52 ... First equalizer

Claims (11)

An audio signal adjustment device for adjusting audio signals supplied to at least one low-efficiency speaker and one high-efficiency speaker, which are speakers having different sound generation efficiencies,
First adjusting means for adjusting a volume of an audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker;
Second adjusting means for adjusting the volume of the audio signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker;
The sound pressure level of the audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker is adjusted by the first adjustment means according to the command volume level in a predetermined range of the command volume level for the low-efficiency speaker and the high-efficiency speaker. A sound pressure level control means for setting a first sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than a second sound pressure level that is a sound pressure level of a sound signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker adjusted by the second adjusting means;
An audio signal adjustment device comprising: The sound pressure level control means includes
The ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level is higher than the ratio of the second sound pressure level to the command volume level in the low volume level side of the predetermined range of the command volume level. Adjusting the sound pressure level of the audio signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker and / or the high efficiency speaker;
In a range on the medium volume level side of the predetermined range of the command volume level, the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level is substantially the same as the ratio of the second sound pressure level to the command volume level. The sound signal adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein a sound pressure level of a sound signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker and / or the high efficiency speaker is adjusted. The sound pressure level control means includes
In a range on the low volume level side within the predetermined range of the command volume level, the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level is higher than the ratio of the second sound pressure level to the command volume level, and the command The ratio of the first sound pressure level to the volume level takes a maximum value in any of the ranges,
Furthermore, as the command volume level increases, the ratio of the first sound pressure level to the command volume level gradually decreases,
2. The audio signal adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the first sound pressure level is the same as the second sound pressure level in a high sound volume level side of a predetermined range of the command sound volume level. The sound pressure level control means includes frequency characteristic adjusting means for adjusting the sound pressure level of the supplied audio signal according to the frequency of the audio signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker and the high efficiency speaker,
4. The frequency characteristic adjusting means sets the first sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than the second sound pressure level in a predetermined frequency range of a supplied audio signal to each of the frequency characteristic adjusting means. The audio signal adjustment device according to any one of the above.   5. The sound pressure level control means sets the first sound pressure level to be equal to or higher than the second sound pressure level during a predetermined time when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The audio signal adjusting device according to any one of the above.   The sound pressure level control means makes the first sound pressure level higher than a normal first sound pressure level other than the predetermined time during a predetermined time when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The audio signal adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. An audio signal adjustment device for adjusting audio signals supplied to at least one low-efficiency speaker and one high-efficiency speaker, which are speakers having different sound generation efficiencies,
First adjusting means for adjusting the volume of an audio signal supplied to the low-efficiency speaker;
Second adjusting means for adjusting the volume of the audio signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker;
The first sound pressure level, which is the sound pressure level of the sound signal supplied to the low efficiency speaker, adjusted by the first adjusting means within a predetermined range of the command volume level for the low efficiency speaker, is the frequency of the supplied sound signal. Regardless of the first sound pressure level control means, which is the maximum value,
The second sound pressure level, which is the sound pressure level of the sound signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker, adjusted by the second adjusting means in a predetermined range of the command volume level for the high efficiency speaker, is the frequency of the supplied sound signal. Second sound pressure level control means to adjust according to,
An audio signal adjustment device comprising:   The apparatus further comprises a localization control means for controlling a sound signal supplied to the high efficiency speaker so that a sound image by sound from the high efficiency speaker is localized at a location where the low efficiency speaker is located. The audio signal adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   9. The audio signal adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the low-efficiency speaker is a flat panel speaker that generates sound by vibrating a planar structure. The audio signal adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
One or a plurality of audio signal supply devices for supplying an audio signal to the audio signal adjustment device;
One or a plurality of low-efficiency speakers to which an audio signal whose volume is adjusted by the first adjusting means of the audio signal adjusting device is supplied;
One or a plurality of high-efficiency speakers to which an audio signal whose volume is adjusted by the second adjusting means of the audio signal adjusting device is supplied;
An audio system comprising: The audio system according to claim 10 is an in-vehicle audio system mounted in a vehicle interior,
The in-vehicle audio system, wherein the low-efficiency speaker is a ceiling speaker that generates sound by vibrating a ceiling plate of the vehicle.

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