JP2007336210A - Volume controller of audio device mounted on vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To not only avoid a situation that sounds are suddenly reproduced with a large volume which a user doesn't intend, in response to power restart, but also eliminate a need of troublesome volume setting without giving the user a sense of incongruity. <P>SOLUTION: When an accessory power source of a vehicle is turned on again a prescribed time after power-off (timer monitor part 2) or door lock of the vehicle is detected (door lock detection part 3), a volume controller (volume setting part 4) of an audio device mounted on the vehicle compares an input volume level detected just before power-off with a reference sound level and performs control to forcibly change an output volume level to the reference volume level when determining that the input volume level is higher than the reference volume level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a volume control device for in-vehicle audio equipment having a playback source such as a radio, a CD, an MD, and a tape.

Car audio equipment such as radio, CD (Compact Disc), MD (Mini Disk), tape, etc., the volume level during operation is sequentially stored and updated, and when the accessory power is turned off (OFF), the volume level immediately before that is Stored in internal memory.
When the accessory power source is turned on again (ON), the volume level immediately before the accessory power source is turned off is set as the output volume level according to the volume level stored in the memory.

  For this reason, after driving with the volume of the car audio raised in a relatively loud noise environment, turn off the ignition key to stop in the service area, etc., and then turn on the ignition key to restart. When the power is turned on again, a volume that is considerably larger than the volume intended by the user (viewer including the driver) is output. In this case, the user must set the volume again to an appropriate level.

  In order to avoid the inconvenience described above, the volume level at the time of accessory power ON and the previous power OFF is compared with the reference volume level. If the input volume level is higher than the reference volume level, the output volume level is set to the reference volume level. There is known a volume control device that forcibly attenuates the sound level.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-16457 (paragraphs “0007” to “0012”, FIG. 2)

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, for example, when the user is used to a relatively large volume, when the ignition key is immediately turned OFF / ON by an engine stall or the like, If the accessory power supply is temporarily turned off due to a short conversation, etc., the volume level will be forcibly changed to the reference volume level. It was very inconvenient because it required operation.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and by performing conditioning to enable control for forcibly changing and setting the volume level to the reference volume level, when power is turned on again To obtain a volume control device for an in-vehicle audio device that avoids a situation in which sound is suddenly reproduced at a loud volume that is not intended by the user, and that does not give the user a sense of incongruity and eliminates annoying volume setting operation. With the goal.

  The volume control device for an in-vehicle audio device according to the present invention is used when a predetermined time elapses after the vehicle is turned off and then turned on again, or when a vehicle door lock is detected after the power is turned off. The input volume level detected immediately before the power is turned off is compared with the reference volume level, and when it is determined that the input volume level is greater than the reference volume level, the output volume level is forcibly set to the reference volume level. A volume setting unit to be changed.

  According to the present invention, in order to enable the control for forcibly changing the volume level to the reference volume level, it is determined that the user has gone out of the vehicle by detecting the door lock, or the power is turned off. By performing conditioning when a predetermined time elapses from when the power is turned on again, when the power is turned on again, the situation where the sound is suddenly reproduced at a loud volume unintended by the user is avoided, and the user is used to the loud volume. Therefore, the sound volume is not forcibly attenuated, so that the operator is free from troublesome sound volume setting operations without giving the operator a sense of incongruity.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a volume control device for an in-vehicle audio apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a volume control device for an on-vehicle audio device includes a power ON / OFF detection unit 1, a timer monitoring unit 2, a door lock detection unit 3, a volume setting unit 4, an operation unit 5, and a volume control unit. 6, an audio output unit 7, and a speaker 8 (SP8).

The power ON / OFF detection unit 1 detects ON / OFF of the accessory (ACC) power supply and supplies the result to the timer monitoring unit 2 and the door lock detection unit 3. The timer monitoring unit 2 monitors the time from when the ACC power is turned off to when it is turned on again (ON), and supplies the time-out signal to the volume setting unit 4.
The door lock detection unit 3 monitors the output of the connected door lock sensor and the output from the power ON / OFF detection unit 1 to detect whether the door lock is activated while the ACC power is OFF. The result is supplied to the volume setting unit 4.

  The volume setting unit 4 determines that the timer monitoring unit 2 takes a predetermined time from when the ACC power supply of the vehicle is turned off to when it is turned on again, or the door lock detection unit 3 detects the door lock of the vehicle. Only when the input volume level just before the ACC power is turned off is compared with the reference volume level, and it is determined that the input volume level is greater than the reference volume level, the output volume level is forcibly changed to the reference volume level. To set and output to the volume control unit 6.

The volume control unit 6 controls (amplifies / attenuates) the audio volume according to the output volume level set by the volume setting unit 4 to control the audio output unit 7. The audio output unit 7 outputs audio under volume control by the audio control unit 6 and reproduces it via SP8.
The operation unit 5 sets and inputs a reference volume level to the volume setting unit 4 by a user operation, or enables or disables the above-described volume level forced change function by the volume setting unit 4. Is used as an input means for setting and input.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an expanded function of the internal configuration of the volume setting unit 4 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the volume setting unit 4 includes a volume detection unit 41, a threshold storage unit 42, a volume comparison unit 43, an attenuation amount control unit 44, a reference value setting unit 45, and an output switching unit 46. The

The volume detector 41 detects the input volume level (the volume level immediately before the power is turned off before) and supplies it to the volume comparator 43.
In addition, the reference volume level stored in the threshold value storage unit 42 is supplied to the volume comparison unit 43, and the comparison result is supplied to the attenuation amount control unit 44. Note that the comparison operation by the sound volume comparison unit 43 is performed when a predetermined time has elapsed from when the vehicle power is turned off by the timer monitoring unit 2 until the vehicle is turned on again, or when the vehicle is turned off by the door lock detection unit 3. It is executed when the door lock is detected.

When the volume comparison unit 43 determines that the input volume level is greater than the reference volume level, the attenuation amount control unit 44 attenuates the output volume level and forcibly changes it to the reference volume level, or When it is determined that the level is smaller than or equal to the reference volume level, the output volume level is set in the volume control unit 6 and reflected in the volume control by the volume control unit 6.
The reference value setting unit 45 provides a user interface for writing the reference volume level in the threshold storage unit 42. Specifically, the reference value setting unit 45 displays a message for setting and inputting a reference volume level on a display device (not shown), and acquires the reference volume level input by the user operating the operation unit 5. To the threshold storage unit 42. At this time, the reference value setting unit 45 may write different reference volume levels in the threshold storage unit 42 for each source (radio, CD, MD, tape) to be reproduced or for each genre.

  The output switching unit 46 outputs the input volume level detected by the volume detection unit 41 as it is to the volume control unit 6 by the user's input operation via the operation unit 5 or changes the setting by the volume setting unit 4. The output volume level thus output is output to the volume control unit 6 or switched.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart quoted for explaining the operation of the volume control device of the in-vehicle audio apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the operation of the volume control apparatus for the in-vehicle audio apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the ACC power is turned off by the user, the power ON / OFF detection unit 1 detects this (step ST301 “YES”), the timer monitoring unit 2 starts monitoring the timer, and the door lock detection unit 3 is also activated. Is done. (Step ST302)
Thereafter, when the ACC-ON is performed (step ST303), the timer and door lock detection are stopped (step ST304), and the door lock detection unit 3 monitors the connected door sensor monitored while ACC-OFF. If the door lock is detected, the user recognizes that the user is away from the vehicle and validates the volume change by the volume setting unit 4. (Step ST305 “YES”) When the door lock detection unit 3 has not detected the door lock while it was ACC-OFF, it is recognized that the user has not left the vehicle (Step ST307). If the elapsed time from ACC-OFF to ACC-ON has timed out ("YES" in step ST306), the volume change by the volume setting unit 4 is validated. If not timed out, the user determines that the user is used to the original set volume, and sets the volume as it is (step ST112).

As described above, when a time-out is detected (step ST306 “YES”), the sound volume setting unit 4 detects, in the sound volume detection unit 41, the sound volume level immediately before the power is turned off first as the input sound volume level (V1). Then, it is supplied to the volume comparison unit 43 (step ST307).
In addition, the reference volume level (reference value: V0) for each source being played is read from the threshold value storage unit 42 and output to the volume comparison unit 43, and the comparison operation between the two is performed (step) ST308).

When it is determined that the input volume level is higher than the reference volume level as a result of the comparison calculation by the volume comparison unit 43 (V1> V0), the attenuation amount control unit 44 changes the output volume level to the reference volume level. Then, attenuation control is performed on the amount obtained by subtracting the reference volume level from the input volume level, and the reference volume level (VOL = V0) is set and output to the volume control unit 6 via the output switching unit 46 (step ST309).
On the other hand, in the determination process of step ST307, when the volume comparison unit 43 determines that the input volume level is smaller than or equal to the reference volume level (V1 ≦ V0), the attenuation process by the attenuation amount control unit 44 is passed through, The input volume level detected by the volume detection unit 41 is set and output to the volume control unit 6 via the output switching unit 46 as it is (VOL = V1) (step ST312).

The volume control unit 6 controls (amplifies / attenuates) the audio volume according to the output volume level set by the volume setting unit 4 to control the audio output unit 7 (step ST310). The audio output unit 7 controls the audio volume. Audio is output under volume control by the unit 6 and reproduced via SP8 (step ST311).
As described above, when the time-out or the door lock is detected and the user can recognize that he / she has left the vehicle, the sound volume V1 immediately before the power is turned off is attenuated to the reference sound volume level V0 and reproduced. It is possible to prevent the sound from being played at a loud volume unintended by the user, and within a predetermined time without leaving the vehicle, the user recognizes that the user is still used to the volume immediately before the power is turned off. Thus, since the sound is reproduced with the volume V1 immediately before the power is turned off, the operator does not feel uncomfortable. In addition, there is no need to reset the volume.

The reference value setting unit 45 provides a user interface for writing the reference volume level to the threshold storage unit 42, displays a message for setting and inputting the reference volume level on a display device (not shown), and the user Is acquired by operating the operation unit 5 and stored in the threshold storage unit 42 in advance. At this time, a reference volume level may be set for each source to be reproduced or for each reproduction genre. As a result, a user-friendly volume control device can be provided.
Further, it is assumed that the output switching unit 46 is set so that the output from the attenuation amount control unit 44 is enabled by default. The user may enable ON / OFF switching of the volume change setting function by the volume setting unit 4 by operating the operation unit 5 as necessary. At this time, ON / OFF setting by the operation unit 5 controls the output switching unit 46, and either the attenuation amount control unit 44 output or the volume detection unit 41 output is supplied to the volume control unit 6. This makes it possible to provide a volume control device that is more convenient to use.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to avoid an unpleasant feeling that a sound is suddenly reproduced at a large volume that is not intended by the user when the power is turned on again. Thus, the sound volume is not forcibly attenuated in a state in which the user has become accustomed to the above, and therefore, the user does not feel uncomfortable and is free from troublesome sound volume setting operations.
In the first embodiment described above, only the sound volume is set and controlled. However, the sound quality may be set and controlled, or a combination thereof may be used.

The volume setting unit 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured by an IC chip including a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, and peripheral LSIs in terms of hardware, and the microprocessor records a program recorded in the ROM. Is sequentially read and executed, the peripheral LSI including the RAM is controlled, and the ACC power supply is turned off when a predetermined time elapses after the ACC power supply is turned off and then turned on again, or when a door lock is detected. The input volume level detected immediately before is compared with the reference volume level, and when it is determined that the input volume level is greater than the reference volume level, the output volume level is forcibly changed to the reference volume level.
At this time, the reference volume level for each reproduction source held in the threshold storage unit 42 shown in FIG. 2 is allocated and stored in the RAM, and the volume detection unit 41, volume comparison unit 43, attenuation control unit 44, reference The functions of the value setting unit 45 and the output switching unit 46 are realized when the microprocessor sequentially reads out and executes a program recorded in the ROM.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the volume control apparatus of the vehicle-mounted audio apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the block diagram which expanded and showed the function of the internal structure of the volume setting part 4 shown in FIG. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of the volume control apparatus of the vehicle-mounted audio apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 power ON / OFF detection unit, 2 timer monitoring unit, 3 door lock detection unit, 4 volume setting unit, 5 operation unit, 6 volume control unit, 7 audio output unit, 8 speaker (SP), 41 volume detection unit, 42 Threshold storage unit, 43 volume comparison unit, 44 attenuation control unit, 45 reference value setting unit, 46 output switching unit.

Claims (5)

An input detected immediately before the power is turned off when a predetermined time elapses after the vehicle is turned off and then turned on again, or when a door lock of the vehicle is detected after the power is turned off. A volume setting unit that compares a volume level with a reference volume level and forcibly changes an output volume level to the reference volume level when it is determined that the input volume level is greater than the reference volume level;
A volume control apparatus for an on-vehicle audio device, comprising: The volume setting unit
A volume detector for detecting an input volume level immediately before the power is turned off;
A threshold storage unit for setting and holding the reference volume level;
When a predetermined time elapses after the vehicle is turned off and then turned on again, or when a door lock of the vehicle is detected, the detected input volume level and the reference stored in the threshold storage unit A volume comparison unit for comparing the volume level;
An attenuation control unit that attenuates an output volume level when the volume comparison unit determines that the input volume level is greater than the reference volume level, and forcibly changes the input volume level to the reference volume level;
The volume control apparatus of the vehicle-mounted audio apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: A reference value setting unit for providing a user interface for writing the reference volume level in the threshold storage unit;
The volume control device for an on-vehicle audio device according to claim 2, comprising: The reference value setting unit includes:
4. The volume control apparatus for an on-vehicle audio device according to claim 3, wherein the reference volume level is written in the threshold value storage unit for each source to be reproduced. An output switching unit for switching and outputting either an input volume level detected by the volume detection unit or an output volume level attenuated by the volume setting unit by an input operation;
A volume control unit that performs volume control based on the output volume level output by the output switching unit;
The volume control device for an on-vehicle audio device according to claim 2, comprising:

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