JP2019176353A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus capable of maintaining a state before an error operation even when a potentiometer is operated in improper.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus includes: an acquisition part that acquires information in regards to an output value of a potentiometer; and a first information storage part that stores information in regards to the output value acquired by the acquisition part as first information. After the first information is stored in the first information storage part, the acquisition part acquires the information in regards to the output value of the potentiometer as second information, compares the first information with the second information. If there is a difference, the second information is stored into a control parameter storage part as a control parameter of the electronic apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having a potentiometer.

  There is a pocket type sound collector as shown in FIG. 1 in order to assist hearing ability of an elderly person who is far from the ear. A sound collector (electronic device) 1 includes a sound collector body 2 and an earphone microphone 10. The sound collector body 2 includes a power switch 6, a power lamp 3, a jack 4, a mode switching button 8, a mode lamp 7, a volume 9, and a clip 5. The earphone microphone 10 includes an earphone 11, a sound collecting microphone 12, and a plug 13. The plug 13 is connected to the jack 4 for use.

  A surrounding sound is collected by a sound collecting microphone 12 built in the earphone 11, amplified by an amplifier built in the sound collector main body 2, and reproduced by the earphone 11. The sound collecting microphones 12 are respectively disposed on the two earphones 11, and can collect sound in two-channel stereo and reproduce it in two-channel stereo. The volume to be reproduced is adjusted with the volume 9.

  The sound collector 1 can not only simply increase the volume to supplement the hearing ability, but also adjust the frequency characteristics of the reproduced sound to make it easier to hear. With the mode switching button 8, it is possible to adjust the reproduced sound to a frequency characteristic suitable for each application, for example, for conversation, for watching TV, or for telephone. The user can confirm which mode is selected by the emission color of the mode lamp 7. The user can use the sound collector main body 2 while being fixed to a breast pocket or the like by the clip 5.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the back surface of the sound collector main body 2. A battery 16 that drives the sound collector main body 2 is housed in a battery box 17. Inside the battery box 17, a left / right balance adjustment knob 15 for adjusting the left / right balance of the reproduction volume is arranged. The left / right balance adjustment knob 15 has a disc-shaped thumb wheel. The left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is connected to a potentiometer (not shown). The battery box 17 is closed by the battery lid 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the right and left balance adjustment knob 15 displays “right”, “left”, and the like on the thumb wheel so that it can be easily seen what balance is set.

  Since the volume 9 is often adjusted according to the ambient noise level and the like, it is arranged outside the sound collector main body 2 so that it can be easily adjusted even during use. On the other hand, the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is rarely adjusted once it is adjusted. In order to prevent accidental touching and turning during use, the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is disposed inside the battery box 17. When in use, the battery lid 14 is closed, so the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 cannot be touched.

  However, when the user replaces the battery 16, the user may accidentally touch the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 and rotate it without realizing it. Since the user did not recognize the operation, there was a case that one of the sounds did not come out or that one of the sounds was reduced to be a malfunction.

  In order to prevent accidental rotation, there is a method in which the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is a semi-fixed resistor that can be rotated by an adjusting screwdriver instead of the thumbwheel as shown in FIG. However, for the elderly who are the main users of the sound collector, the work of turning the small screw of the semi-fixed resistor was often difficult.

  In some cases, a rotary encoder is used instead of a potentiometer. When the battery 16 is removed, that is, when power is not supplied, the rotary encoder does not output a signal, so that the output balance setting value does not change even if the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is touched by mistake. However, if the left and right balance adjustment knob 15 is touched while the battery 16 is not removed during the battery 16 replacement operation, the above-described problem occurs.

  Furthermore, since the rotary encoder only outputs information on the rotation angle, it is impossible to visually recognize the state in which the left / right balance is set by displaying the thumbwheel. For this reason, for example, when the middle point of the left / right balance is set, there is a method of performing notification using a lamp display or a display device (a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device), but this causes an increase in cost. In addition, the method of notifying that the midpoint is set by sound is unlikely to cause a cost increase, but there is also a problem that it is difficult to identify the midpoint as compared with the case where a lamp display or a display device is provided. .

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for detecting a rotation angle using a variable resistor and storing the detected rotation angle.

JP-A-5-283957

  As described above, there is a problem that when the potentiometer is erroneously operated without the user's knowledge, the state in which the output changes may be mistaken for a failure.

  This invention is made in view of such a subject, and provides the electronic device which can maintain the state before an erroneous operation, even when a potentiometer is operated incorrectly.

  The electronic device of the present invention has an acquisition unit that acquires information about an output value of a potentiometer, and a first information storage unit that stores information about the output value acquired by the acquisition unit as first information, After storing the first information in the first information storage unit, the acquisition unit acquires information on the output value of the potentiometer as second information, compares the first information with the second information, If there is, the second information is stored in a control parameter storage unit as a control parameter of the electronic device.

  According to the present invention, even when the potentiometer is erroneously operated, the state before the erroneous operation can be maintained.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the electronic device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the sound collector will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is also applied to a portable electronic device such as a portable music terminal and equipped with a potentiometer adjusting means. It is possible. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to devices other than portable electronic devices as long as they are provided with adjusting means using a potentiometer. The adjustment by the potentiometer is not limited to the left / right volume balance, but can be applied to volume adjustment, brightness adjustment of a display device, and the like. Furthermore, the knob for adjusting the potentiometer may not be disposed in the battery box, and may be disposed on the outer surface of the electronic device.

  The appearance of the sound collector (electronic device) according to the embodiment of the present invention and the function as the sound collector are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 described in the background art. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the sound collector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The sound collector 1 amplifies, adjusts frequency characteristics, and adjusts left / right balance, and reproduces the sound signals from the two channels collected by the sound collecting microphone 12 disposed in the earphone 11 from the earphone 11. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a portion for performing this amplification, frequency characteristic adjustment, and left / right balance adjustment.

  The circuit shown in FIG. 4 includes a microcontroller unit (hereinafter referred to as MCU) 23, a digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as DSP) 20, a potentiometer 26, and amplifiers 21 and 22. The MCU 23 has a nonvolatile memory 25 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24, and controls the entire sound collector 1 by a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory 25. The RAM 24 functions as a main memory for the MCU 23.

  The audio signal collected by the sound collecting microphone 12 is input to an input unit (not shown) of the DSP 20, and volume adjustment, frequency characteristic adjustment, and left / right balance adjustment are performed by the DSP 20. The left channel output of the DSP 20 is output from the Lch OUT terminal, amplified by the amplifier 21, and output from L OUT, and this output is connected to the left earphone 11. Similarly, the right channel output is output from the Rch OUT terminal, amplified by the amplifier 22, and the output of R OUT is connected to the right earphone 11.

  The DSP 20 is controlled by the MCU 23 based on a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory 25. Communication between the MCU 23 and the DSP 20 is performed by a control signal such as SPI or I2C. Although not shown, the volume adjustment is performed by inputting the output value of the volume 9 to the MCU 23, performing A / D conversion, and then sending a control signal from the MCU 23 to the DSP 20. Further, although not shown, the output signal of the mode switching button 8 is input to the MCU 23, and the DSP 20 is controlled so that the frequency characteristics are adjusted to the frequency characteristic selected by the mode switching button 8.

  The output balance of the left and right channels is adjusted by the DSP 20 and output from the above-mentioned Lch OUT and Rch OUT. The left / right balance adjustment is based on the output of the potentiometer 26. The potentiometer 26 is connected to fixed power supplies VCC and GND. By turning the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 connected to the potentiometer 26, the output potential changes. Note that the potentiometer 26 only needs to be connected between two different fixed potentials, and therefore one of the potentiometers 26 does not have to be GND. The potentiometer 26 is not limited to a rotary potentiometer that rotates the knob, and may be a linear potentiometer that slides the knob.

  A divided voltage value that is an output potential of the potentiometer 26 is input to an ADC (analog / digital converter) input terminal of the MCU 23. The input output value of the potentiometer 26 is A / D converted, and the A / D converted value is stored in the RAM 24. Based on the stored A / D conversion value, the output balance setting value determined by the flowchart of FIG. 5 described later controls the DSP 20 to determine the left and right balance adjustment.

  A specific operation for determining the left / right balance adjustment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the sound collector 1 is shipped from the factory, the output balance setting value set so that the left / right output balance is equal to the left / right is stored in the nonvolatile memory 25. The potentiometer 26 is also set at a position where the display of the thumbwheel is equal to the left and right, that is, the center. After inserting the battery 16, the user closes the battery cover 14 and turns on the power switch 6 (S1). The MCU 23 reads the factory output balance value stored in the nonvolatile memory 25 (S2). The sound that is first output from the earphone 11 of the sound collector 1 has a left-right equal balance based on the output balance setting value (control parameter) at the time of shipment from the factory.

  Next, the partial pressure value, which is the output of the potentiometer 26, is input to the MCU 23, the A / D converted A / D converted value is read, and stored in the RAM 24 (first information storage unit) as the A / D converted stored value. (S3). The stored A / D conversion stored value becomes the initial value of the A / D conversion value. Subsequently, the A / D conversion value is further read (S4). The read A / D conversion value (second information) is compared with the A / D conversion storage value (first information) stored in the RAM 24 (S5). If they match, it is determined that there is no change (S5: No), and the process returns to A / D conversion value reading (S4).

  If the read A / D conversion value is different from the A / D conversion stored value stored in the RAM 24, it is determined that the A / D conversion value has changed (S5: Yes). A change in the A / D conversion value means that the potentiometer 26 has been turned for some reason, and the output partial pressure value has changed.

  When there is a change in the A / D conversion value (S5: Yes), the A / D conversion value at that time is stored in the RAM 24 as an A / D conversion storage value (S6). Further, the A / D conversion value is read (S7). If the A / D conversion stored value stored in step S6 is the same as the A / D conversion value read in step S7, it can be determined that the potentiometer 26 was not operated during steps S6 to S7 (S8: No). . After determining that there is no change in the A / D conversion value in step S8 (S8: No), it is determined whether there is no change in the A / D conversion value for a predetermined time (S9). Since the reading of the A / D conversion value is performed at a predetermined time interval, for example, at an interval of 10 milliseconds, the predetermined number of readings are performed, for example, 100 to 300 times are read. It can be determined that the A / D conversion value has not changed for a predetermined time. When it is determined that there is no change (S9: Yes), the A / D conversion stored value stored at that time is overwritten with the output balance set value stored in the nonvolatile memory 25 (control parameter storage unit) ( S10). The overwritten output balance setting value is reflected in the left / right balance of the reproduced sound from the earphone.

  If there is a change in the A / D conversion value after a predetermined time (S9: No), the process returns to S7, and steps S7 to S9 are repeated until the A / D conversion value does not change within the predetermined time. During this time, if a change occurs in the A / D conversion value (S8: Yes), the process returns to step S6.

  The flowchart of FIG. 5 continues until the power is turned off. If the power is turned off by turning off the power switch 6 or the battery 16 is removed, and then turned on again, the process is restarted from step S1.

  Consider that the user opens the battery lid 14 and replaces the battery 16 without turning off the power switch 6. It is assumed that the user has turned the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 without noticing when removing the battery 16. By turning the left / right balance adjustment knob 15, the partial pressure value of the output of the potentiometer 26 changes, and the A / D conversion value (S4) read by the MCU 23 also changes (S5: Yes). However, since the battery 16 should be removed immediately, the power is turned off before reaching the step of S9 for determining a change in the A / D conversion value at a predetermined time. Therefore, the A / D conversion value changed by an erroneous operation is not overwritten on the output balance setting value (S10). Therefore, after inserting a new battery 16, closing the battery cover 14, and turning on the power switch 6, the left and right output balances are determined based on the output balance setting values stored in the nonvolatile memory 25 before battery replacement. It is determined. Therefore, even if an incorrect operation is performed when the battery 16 is removed, it is possible to prevent the right and left output balance from changing and the user from mistaking it as a failure.

  Also, when the power switch 6 is a mechanical switch and the power is turned on when the battery 16 is inserted, the flowchart of FIG. 5 is started from step S1. Even if an erroneous operation is performed when the battery is removed, the left / right balance is determined based on the output balance setting value stored in the nonvolatile memory 25 during the previous use, and thus it is possible to prevent the user from misinterpreting it as a failure.

  The above-mentioned predetermined time can be arbitrarily set, but is usually about several seconds. If the time is set too long, the response of the left / right balance adjustment is deteriorated and may be difficult to use. Therefore, it is preferably set to about 1 to 3 seconds.

  Next, consider that the user performs battery replacement work after turning off the power switch 6. Since the A / D conversion value of the output of the potentiometer 26 cannot be obtained by turning off the power switch 6, even if the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is accidentally turned, the output balance stored in the non-volatile memory 25 is not obtained. The set value does not change. Since the battery 16 is inserted, the battery cover 14 is closed, and the power switch 6 is turned on, the output balance setting value stored in the nonvolatile memory 25 is read (S2). Sound is output in balance. Therefore, it can prevent that a user misunderstands that it is a failure.

  In the above-described embodiment, the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 has been described as being disposed in the battery box 17, but is not limited thereto. The present invention is also effective when the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is disposed in the vicinity of the battery box 17 or when the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is disposed at a place where the left / right balance adjustment knob 15 is easily touched by mistake when replacing the battery.

(Modification)
In the above-described flowchart, even when the potentiometer 26 is turned by an erroneous operation that the user is not aware of when replacing the battery, the output balance setting value is not affected. However, the left and right balance adjustment states are displayed on the thumb wheel of the potentiometer 26 as shown in FIG. Since the left / right balance adjustment is not frequently performed, there is no problem in many cases. However, depending on the user, there may be a sense of incongruity when the display of the thumbwheel and the actual left / right balance differ greatly.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the modification. An S11 step is added between the steps S3 and S4 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 already described. The partial pressure value, which is the output of the potentiometer 26, is read (S3), and this value is compared with the output balance setting value stored in the nonvolatile memory 25 (S11). If the difference between them is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S11: No), it can be determined that the display of the thumb wheel of the potentiometer 26 is significantly different from the actual left and right output balance. The predetermined range can be arbitrarily set, and is a value corresponding to, for example, about 45 degrees in the angle of the thumb wheel.

  When the difference between the output balance set value and the A / D conversion stored value is larger than the predetermined value (S11: No), the process returns to S3, and the determination of S11 is repeated until the deviation falls within the predetermined range. When the difference is within the predetermined range (S11: Yes), the process proceeds to S4. The following is the same as FIG.

  If the thumbwheel display is significantly different from the actual left / right output balance, the user turns the thumbwheel to reduce the difference. Steps S11 and S3 are repeated until the difference reaches the predetermined range, and the A / D conversion stored value when the difference falls within the predetermined range is determined as the subsequent change in the A / D conversion value (S5). It becomes the standard. Thereby, the difference between the display of the thumb wheel and the actual left / right balance can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. It is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be suitably employed in an electronic device having a potentiometer.

1 ... Sound collector (electronic equipment)
2 ... Sound collector body 3 ... Power lamp 4 ... Jack 5 ... Clip 6 ... Power switch 7 ... Mode lamp 8 ... Mode switch button 9 ... Volume 10 ... Earphone microphone 11 ... Earphone 12 ... Sound collecting microphone 13 ... Plug 14 ... Battery Lid 15 ... Left / right balance adjustment knob 16 ... Battery 17 ... Battery box 20 ... Digital signal processor (DSP)
21, 22 ... Amplifier 23 ... Microcontroller unit (MCU)
24 ... RAM
25 ... Nonvolatile memory 26 ... Potentiometer

Claims (9)

An acquisition unit for acquiring information about the output value of the potentiometer;
A first information storage unit that stores information about the output value acquired by the acquisition unit as first information;
And having
After storing the first information in the first information storage unit, the acquisition unit acquires information on the output value of the potentiometer as second information, compares the first information with the second information, If there is, the second information is stored in a control parameter storage unit as a control parameter of the electronic device.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first information is compared with the second information and there is no difference, the acquisition unit acquires information on an output value of the potentiometer as the second information. .   The first information and the second information are compared, and if there is a difference, the two information is stored in the control parameter storage unit as the control parameter on condition that the second information does not change for a predetermined time. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an initial value of the control parameter is stored in the control parameter storage unit when the power is turned on for the first time.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit for operating the potentiometer includes a display unit having a display corresponding to the output value of the potentiometer.   The second information is acquired on condition that a difference between the stored control parameter and the first information acquired by the acquiring unit is within a predetermined range. Electronic equipment.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit that operates the potentiometer is disposed in the vicinity of a battery that drives the electronic device.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit that operates the potentiometer is disposed in a battery box that houses a battery that drives the electronic device. A method for controlling an electronic device having a potentiometer,
Acquiring information related to the output value of the potentiometer and storing the information as first information in a first information storage unit;
After the step of storing in the first information storage unit, obtaining information on the output value of the potentiometer as second information;
Comparing the first information and the second information;
If there is a difference between the first information and the second information as a result of the comparing step, storing the second information in a control parameter storage unit as a control parameter of the electronic device;
A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: