JP5182026B2 - Audio signal processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for switching acoustic processing without a sense of incongruity.

  In recent years, it has become possible to enjoy various contents with high sound quality by connecting an AV amplifier or the like to a display device such as a television device and emitting sound from an external speaker. In such an AV amplifier, a sound field effect can be given by various acoustic processing. The viewer can change the setting to a desired sound field effect according to the content to be viewed. However, when switching the sound field effect, the setting in a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) that performs acoustic processing, noise at the time of switching The sound is muted to prevent it.

By the way, when the content is changed by switching channels or the like, it is necessary to recognize what the changed content is on the AV amplifier side in order to perform acoustic processing according to the content. Therefore, for example, by acquiring an electronic program guide using broadcast radio waves received by the television apparatus, the genre of the content to be viewed is acquired, and this genre is notified to the AV amplifier. There has been proposed a technique for causing an AV amplifier to perform acoustic processing for giving a sound field effect corresponding to the genre (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2008-35339 A

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing, in a time series, the relationship between the display on the television apparatus in the prior art and the sound emission from the AV amplifier. In the prior art, after the broadcast channel is changed, the genre is specified in the television apparatus, and the genre information is transmitted to the AV amplifier. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, genre information may be transmitted after a while after a broadcast channel change instruction is given.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, since the display on the television apparatus is switched to “program G”, for example, genre information is transmitted after the passage of Ta, and then the setting change process of the sound field effect is performed. The audio is muted for a predetermined time (“Tb” in FIG. 6) while watching the video, and there is a sense of incongruity. Further, in the AV amplifier, it is not possible to recognize whether or not the channel has been switched until the genre information is received, so that the sound is continuously emitted with the setting of the immediately preceding sound field effect, which is uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when content to be viewed is changed by switching channels, it is possible to switch to acoustic processing according to the genre of the content without a sense of incongruity. An object is to provide an audio signal processing device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a communication unit that communicates with a display device that displays a content broadcast on a set channel, genre information indicating a genre of the content, and the content is broadcast. Program information acquisition means for acquiring program information in which time information indicating the time is associated with each channel, storage means for storing program information acquired by the program information acquisition means, and the display device Channel information acquisition means for acquiring channel information for specifying a channel, time specifying means for specifying the time at which channel information was acquired by the channel information acquisition means, and program information stored in the storage means, According to the channel information acquired by the channel information acquiring means and the time specifying means. The genre information is specified according to the time specified in the above, the setting means for setting the sound processing mode according to the genre information, and the sound processing mode set by the setting means for the input audio signal There is provided an audio signal processing apparatus characterized by comprising an audio processing means for performing an appropriate acoustic process and outputting the result.

  In another preferred aspect, the communication means further receives an audio signal from the display device, and the audio signal input to the acoustic processing means is an audio signal received by the communication means. And

  In another preferred aspect, the communication means further receives channel information from the display device, receives acquisition time information indicating a time corresponding to the reception of the channel information, and receives the channel information acquisition means. The channel information acquired by is the channel information received by the communication means, and the time specifying means specifies the time when the channel information was acquired according to the acquisition time information. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when the content to view is changed by the switching of a channel, the audio signal processing apparatus which can perform switching to the acoustic processing according to the genre of the content without a sense of incongruity can be provided. .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an AV system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the AV system 1 includes a television device 10, an AV amplifier 20, and a remote controller 30. The television apparatus 10 and the AV amplifier 20 are connected by a communication cable such as an HDMI (registered trademark) cable, for example. The remote controller 30 is a remote operation means that is provided with operation buttons for performing channel number designation, volume value designation, and the like, and transmits an operation signal corresponding to the operation by wireless communication using infrared rays or the like. Hereinafter, configurations of the television device 10 and the AV amplifier 20 will be described.

  The television apparatus 10 includes a channel setting unit 100, a tuner 101, a video processing unit 102, an audio processing unit 103, a communication unit 104, a display unit 110, and a sound emitting unit 120. The channel setting unit 100 receives an operation signal for designating a channel number from the remote controller 30 by wireless communication. Then, when receiving the operation signal, the channel setting unit 100 sets the channel number designated by the operation signal to the tuner 101 as a broadcast channel to be received. Also, channel information Ch indicating the channel number is output to the communication unit 104.

  The channel setting unit 100 has received the operation signal from the remote controller 30 and has recognized the designated channel number. However, the channel setting unit 100 outputs an operation signal indicating the channel by the operation of designating the channel number. The channel setting unit 100 provided in the television device 10 may recognize a channel number designated by an operation signal from the operation unit.

  The tuner 101 acquires a received signal from an antenna or the like that receives a broadcast radio wave including a video signal and an audio signal, and outputs a video signal Sgin and an audio signal Sain corresponding to the broadcast channel set in the channel setting unit 100. The video signal Sgin and the audio signal Sain indicate contents broadcast on the set broadcast channel. Further, program information Pg indicating an electronic program guide is acquired from the broadcast radio wave and stored. The program information Pg is output to the communication unit 104 in response to a request from the communication unit 104. Furthermore, the program information Pg may be stored in a storage unit (not shown).

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide indicated by the program information Pg. As shown in FIG. 2, this electronic program guide includes genre information indicating the genre of the content and time information indicating the time at which the content is broadcast, which are broadcast channels (in this example, channel numbers CH1, CH2, It is a table associated with each CH3). Here, the contents indicate programs A, B, C,... In FIG. 2, and the genre indicates SPORTS, CINEMA,.

  Therefore, according to the electronic program guide shown in FIG. 2, when the time is “11:50”, the content is “program B”, the genre is “CINEMA”, and similarly “CH2” is “CH2”. "Program D", "VARIETY", and "CH3" indicate "Program G" and "SPORTS". In this example, one genre corresponds to each content, but another genre may correspond to a part of time in each content. For example, in “program F”, the genre may be “SPORTS” between “10:30” and “10:45”.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The video processing unit 102 acquires the video signal Sgin output from the tuner 101, and outputs a display signal Sgout obtained by performing video output processing on the video signal Sgin. When the broadcast channel is switched, the image is muted by inserting a black screen over the mute time Tm after switching in order to prevent display disturbance on the display unit 110 described later.

  The display unit 110 is a display device having a display screen such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 110 receives a display signal Sgout output from the video processing unit 102 and displays an image corresponding to the display signal Sgout. Display on the screen.

  The audio processing unit 103 is, for example, a DSP, acquires the audio signal Sain output from the tuner 101, and outputs an audio signal Sak obtained by performing decoding processing, acoustic processing, and delay processing on the audio signal Sain. In this example, when the broadcast channel is switched, the audio processing unit 103 outputs an audio signal Sak so that the audio is muted for the above-described mute time Tm after switching, thereby muting the image and muting the audio. Are in the same period. Note that this period does not necessarily coincide.

  Also, the audio processing unit 103 outputs the audio signal Sain acquired from the tuner 101 to the communication unit 104 as it is in response to a request from the communication unit 104 described later. At this time, the output of the audio signal Sak to the sound emitting unit 120 may be stopped. Note that the request from the communication unit 104 may be made to the tuner 101, and the audio signal Sain may be directly output from the tuner 101 to the communication unit 104.

  The sound emitting unit 120 includes a D / A converter, an amplifier, and a speaker. The sound emitting unit 120 receives the audio signal Sak from the sound processing unit 103, performs digital-analog conversion and amplification processing, and emits sound from the speaker. Note that, in the television device 10, display for display in the video processing unit 102 and the audio processing unit 103 is performed so as not to cause a shift between the display related to the video signal Sgin output from the tuner 101 and the sound emission related to the audio signal Sain. Assume that the output of the signal Sgout and the audio signal Sak is controlled.

  The communication unit 104 has a connection terminal for connecting an HDMI cable or the like, is connected to the AV amplifier 20 for communication, and exchanges various signals. In this example, the communication unit 104 requests the tuner 101 to output program information Pg in response to a request from the AV amplifier 20, and transmits the program information Pg output from the tuner 101 to the AV amplifier 20. .

  In response to a request from the AV amplifier 20, the communication unit 104 transmits the audio signal Sain output from the audio processing unit 103 or the tuner 101 and the channel information Ch output from the channel setting unit 100 to the AV amplifier 20. Start. Further, the mute time Tm may be transmitted in response to a request from the AV amplifier 20. The above is the description of the configuration of the television device 10.

  The AV amplifier 20 includes an audio signal processing unit 21, a communication unit 22, a sound emitting unit 23, and a time measuring unit 24. The communication unit 22 has a connection terminal for connecting an HDMI cable or the like, and communicates by connecting to the television apparatus 10 to exchange various signals. In this example, the communication unit 22 requests the television apparatus 10 to transmit program information Pg, and to start transmission of the audio signal Sain and channel information Ch. Thus, when the program information Pg, the audio signal Sain, and the channel information Ch are received from the television apparatus 10, they are output to the audio signal processing unit 21, respectively. Here, in this example, the request for transmission of the program information Pg is made every predetermined time.

  The sound emitting unit 23 includes a D / A converter, an amplifier, and a plurality of speakers. Each of the speakers is installed at a predetermined position and emits sound, thereby allowing 5.1ch, 7.1ch or more channels. An environment in which audio signals can be reproduced is configured. The sound emitting unit 23 receives an audio signal Saout corresponding to each speaker from the audio signal processing unit 21, performs digital-analog conversion and amplification processing, and emits sound from each speaker. Thereby, from the speaker of the sound emission part 23, various sound field effects can be given with respect to a user. By configuring the speaker array unit with a subwoofer and a plurality of speakers, a plurality of beamed sounds are emitted, and the reflection on the wall surface of the room where the speaker array unit is installed is used to reach the user. May be.

  The time measuring unit 24 has a clock indicating the current time, and outputs current time information indicating the time at the time of receiving the request in response to a request from the setting unit 213 described later.

  The audio signal processing unit 21 is a DSP, for example, and performs predetermined acoustic processing on the audio signal Sain input from the communication unit 22 and outputs it as an audio signal Saout. Hereinafter, the configuration of the audio signal processing unit 21 will be described. The audio signal processing unit 21 includes a program information acquisition unit 210, a storage unit 211, a Ch information acquisition unit 212, a setting unit 213, and an acoustic processing unit 214.

  The program information acquisition unit 210 acquires the program information Pg from the communication unit 22 and stores it in the storage unit 211. If the program information Pg is already stored, the program information Pg that has acquired the program information Pg is stored. Update to The storage unit 211 stores the latest program information Pg acquired by the program information acquisition unit 210. The Ch information acquisition unit 212 acquires channel information Ch from the communication unit 22 and notifies the setting unit 213 of the channel number indicated by the channel information Ch.

  The setting unit 213 sends the sound field to the sound processing unit 214 according to the channel number notified from the Ch information acquisition unit 212, the current time information acquired from the time measurement unit 24, and the program information Pg stored in the storage unit 211. Set the effect. The setting unit 213 stores a correspondence table in which genres and sound field effects are associated with each other. Hereinafter, the flow of setting the sound field effect will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of setting the sound field effect in the setting unit 213. First, the setting unit 213 determines whether or not there is a channel number notification from the Ch information acquisition unit 212 (step S10), and continues this determination until there is a notification (step S10; NO). When the setting unit 213 acquires the channel number notified from the Ch information acquisition unit 212 (step S10; YES), the setting unit 213 requests the timer unit 24 to output the current time information and acquires the current time information. Thus, the time when the channel information Ch is acquired by the Ch information acquisition unit 212 is specified (step S20).

  Then, the setting unit 213 refers to the program information Pg stored in the storage unit 211 and identifies the genre of the content received in the television device 10 according to the notified channel number and the identified time ( Step S30). For example, if the program information Pg is as shown in FIG. 2 and the channel number is “CH3” and the specified time is “11:50”, the specified genre is SPORTS (content is “ Program G ").

  Then, the setting unit 213 determines whether or not the specified genre has changed from the previously specified genre (step S40). If there is no change (step S40; NO), the sound field to the sound processing unit 214 is determined. The process returns to step S10 without setting the effect. On the other hand, when the genre is changed (step S40; YES), the setting unit 213 refers to the correspondence table and sets the sound field effect corresponding to the specified genre in the acoustic processing unit 214 (step S50). . Then, the process returns to step S10. The above is the description of the setting unit 213.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The sound processing unit 214 acquires the audio signal Sain from the communication unit 22, performs sound processing according to the sound field effect set by the setting unit 213, and outputs the audio signal Saout. In the sound processing unit 214, the audio signal is prevented from causing a shift between the display related to the video signal Sgin output from the tuner 101 in the television apparatus 10 and the sound emission of the audio signal Saout in the sound emission unit 23. Assume that the output of Saout is controlled. This is because the video output processing time from when the video signal Sgin is output from the tuner 101 to when the video signal Sgin is displayed is displayed through the communication units 104 and 22 or by operating the operation unit (not shown). It may be set in advance in the processing unit 214.

  In addition, when the sound field effect set by the setting unit 213 is changed, the sound processing unit 214 mutes the sound to prevent noise output at least during the period required for the sound field effect setting change process. To control the output. In this example, the acoustic processing unit 214 acquires a predetermined signal when the Ch information acquisition unit 212 acquires the channel information Ch and changes from the channel number of the channel information Ch acquired last time. In addition, the sound processing unit 214 sets the mute time Tm through the communication units 104 and 22 or by operation of an operation unit (not shown). Then, the acoustic processing unit 214 controls the output of the audio signal Saout so that the sound is muted until the mute time Tm elapses after the predetermined signal is acquired.

  Thereby, in this example, it can be set as the period when the mute of the image in the television apparatus 10 performed by switching the channel and the mute of the sound in the AV amplifier 20 coincide. Note that the periods do not necessarily coincide with each other, that is, the predetermined signal may not be acquired and the setting may be muted as long as the setting change process is being performed.

  Next, a specific example of the operation of the AV system 1, particularly the operation of the AV amplifier 20, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the display on the television device 10 and the sound emission from the AV amplifier 20 in time series. First, it is assumed that the user is viewing the content “program B” of the channel number “CH1”, and the sound processing unit 214 of the AV amplifier 20 has a sound field corresponding to the genre “CINEMA” of “program B”. It is assumed that the effect “CINEMA mode” is set.

  Then, the user operates the remote controller 30 at time “11:50”, designates the channel number “CH3”, and gives an instruction to change the channel. Thereby, in the television apparatus 10, the screen is muted for the mute time Tm, and the display is changed to the content “program G” of “CH3” in “11:50”.

  On the other hand, when the AV amplifier 20 acquires the channel information Ch, the setting unit 213 acquires the current time information and refers to the program information Pg stored in the storage unit 211, thereby specifying the genre (in FIG. 4). Corresponding to “specific processing”) and the genre is specified as “SPORTS”. Then, the sound processing unit 214 performs a sound field effect setting change process to “SPORTS mode” (corresponding to “setting process” in FIG. 4). It is desirable that the processing time required for the specific processing is equal to or less than the mute time Tm, and further, it is desirable that the total processing time required for the specific processing and the setting processing is equal to or less than the mute time Tm. That is, it is desirable that the total processing time required for the specifying process and the setting process is set so that the difference time Tc in FIG. 5 is “0” or more.

  Accordingly, the audio signal to which the sound field effect of the “SPORTS mode” is given from the sound emitting unit 23 of the AV amplifier 20 at a timing substantially coincident with the display start of “program G” on the display unit 110 of the television apparatus 10. Saout sound emission is started.

  As described above, in the AV system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the AV amplifier 20 acquires the program information Pg from the television device 10 in advance and stores it, and when the channel is switched, Channel information Ch can be transmitted to the AV amplifier 20 together with the channel switching process. Therefore, the AV amplifier 20 can quickly specify the genre corresponding to the content after channel switching, and can switch to the setting of the sound field effect corresponding to the genre and emit the audio signal Saout. Therefore, since the sound field effect setting can be changed while the screen is muted when switching the display, it is possible to prevent the sound from being muted during the display. You can also.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can be implemented in various aspects as follows.

<Modification 1>
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the AV system 1 is configured to receive the operation signal from the remote controller 30 in the television device 10, but may be another mode.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, an AV system 1A having an AV amplifier 20A that receives an operation signal from the remote controller 30 and a television device 10A that does not receive the operation signal may be used. In this case, the Ch information acquisition unit 212 of the AV amplifier 20A may receive an operation signal from the remote controller 30 and acquire it as channel information Ch indicating the designated channel number. Then, the Ch information acquisition unit 212 may transmit the channel information Ch to the television device 10 via the communication unit 22 so that the channel setting unit 100 recognizes the channel number.

  As another mode, as shown in FIG. 5C, an AV system 1B having a television device 10B that receives an operation signal from the remote controller 30 and an AV amplifier 20B may be used. In this case, transmission of the channel information Ch from the television device 10B becomes unnecessary, so that the channel setting unit 100 of the television device 10B does not need to output the channel information Ch. In addition, the Ch information acquisition unit 212 in the AV amplifier 20B can acquire the channel information Ch by the operation signal of the remote controller 30 in the same manner as the AV amplifier 20A described above, and thus does not need to acquire from the communication unit 22.

  Thus, the channel information Ch acquired by the Ch information acquisition unit 212 can be acquired not only from the communication unit 22 as in the embodiment but also in various modes as in the above example. And whatever channel information Ch is acquired, the recognition of the channel numbers in the television apparatus 10 and the AV amplifier 20 is the same.

<Modification 2>
In the embodiment described above, the program information acquisition unit 210 in the AV amplifier 20 has been acquired from the television device 10 via the communication unit 22, but may be acquired from other than the television device 10. In this case, for example, the AV amplifier 20 may be provided with a tuner capable of receiving the program information Pg, or may be provided with a network connection means for connecting to a server that provides the program information Pg. The program information Pg received by the network connection means may be acquired.

<Modification 3>
In the above-described embodiment, the time related to the acquisition of the channel information Ch specified by the setting unit 213 is performed by acquiring the current time information from the time measuring unit 24, but may be acquired in another manner. Good. For example, when the channel information Ch is transmitted from the television apparatus 10 to the AV amplifier 20, the time information indicating the output time is transmitted corresponding to the transmission of the channel information Ch. In this case, the time related to the acquisition of the channel information Ch may be specified according to the time information received corresponding to the channel information Ch.

<Modification 4>
In the above-described embodiment, the setting unit 213 specifies the time related to the acquisition of the channel information Ch by acquiring the current time information from the time measuring unit 24. However, the setting unit 213 has a fixed time at the time indicated by the current time information. It may be specified by performing the correction. For example, the time for performing this correction may be set according to the above-described video output processing time. In this way, the deviation between the genre related to the content displayed on the television apparatus 10 with a delay of the video output processing time from the actual time and the genre related to the content indicated by the program information Pg at that time is corrected. Can do. That is, at 12:00, the content at the time before the video output processing time from 12:00 is displayed, so the time axis on the display and the time axis on the program information Pg can be matched. .

<Modification 5>
In the embodiment described above, when changing the setting of the sound field effect, the sound is once muted. The audio signal to which the sound field effect before the change is given by the crossfade process and the audio signal to which the sound field effect after the change is given may be switched.

<Modification 6>
In the embodiment described above, the setting unit 213 acquires current time information from the time measuring unit 24 at predetermined time intervals, refers to the program information Pg stored in the storage unit 211, and determines the current time information and the latest channel. When the genre specified by the information Ch changes, the setting of the sound field effect of the acoustic processing unit 214 may be changed according to the genre. For example, when viewing the “program D” of “CH2” and the time indicated by the current time information becomes “12:00”, the setting unit 213 sets the sound field effect in the acoustic processing unit 214. It is only necessary to change from “VARIETY mode” to “SPORTS mode”.

<Modification 7>
In the above-described embodiment, when the tuner 101 is provided in an STB (Set-top box) or the like outside the television device 10, the television device 10 acquires the video signal Sgin and the audio signal Sain by wireless communication or the like. The AV amplifier 20 may acquire the audio signal Sain directly from the tuner 101 provided outside. In this case, the channel information Ch and the program information Pg may be acquired from the tuner 101 provided outside.

<Modification 8>
In the above-described embodiment, when the sound emitting unit 23 constitutes a speaker array unit and emits a plurality of beamed sounds, the emission of the beam is performed according to the genre corresponding to the content after channel switching. For example, the number of beams, the emission direction, and the like may be changed. In this case, the setting unit 213 may store a table in which genres and beam emission modes are associated with each other, and set the beam emission mode corresponding to the specified genre in the acoustic processing unit 214. . Then, the acoustic processing unit 214 performs signal processing such as delay processing on the acquired audio signal Sain according to the set beam emission mode, and generates an audio signal corresponding to each speaker of the speaker array unit. And supply to each.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the AV system which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the program information which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the setting part which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the sound field effect setting which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the AV system which concerns on the modification 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the sound field effect setting which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A, 1B ... AV system, 10, 10A, 10B ... TV device, 100 ... channel setting unit, 101 ... tuner, 102 ... video processing unit, 103 ... audio processing unit, 104 ... communication unit, 110 ... display unit, 120 ... Sound emitting unit, 20, 20A, 20B ... AV amplifier, 21 ... Audio signal processing unit, 22 ... Communication unit, 23 ... Sound emitting unit, 24 ... Timekeeping unit, 210 ... Program information obtaining unit, 211 ... Storage unit, 212 ... Ch information acquisition unit, 213 ... Setting unit, 214 ... Sound processing unit, 30 ... Remote control

Claims (3)

Communication means for communicating with a display device for performing display related to content broadcast in a set channel;
Program information acquisition means for acquiring program information in which genre information indicating a genre of content and time information indicating the time when the content is broadcast are associated with each channel;
Storage means for storing program information acquired by the program information acquisition means;
Channel information acquisition means for acquiring channel information after switching before performing content display after switching when a channel set in the display device is switched ;
Time specifying means for specifying the time when the channel information is acquired by the channel information acquiring means;
Referring to the program information stored in the storage means, the genre information is specified according to the channel information acquired by the channel information acquisition means and the time specified by the time specifying means, and the genre information is determined Setting means for setting the acoustic processing mode;
The audio signal input after the channel switching is subjected to acoustic processing according to the acoustic processing mode set by the setting means, and the audio signal subjected to the acoustic processing at a timing when the display device starts displaying the content after switching. a sound processing means for outputting,
An audio signal processing apparatus comprising: The communication means further receives an audio signal from the display device,
The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal input to the acoustic processing unit is an audio signal received by the communication unit. The communication means further receives channel information from the display device, and receives acquisition time information indicating a time corresponding to the reception of the channel information,
The channel information acquired by the channel information acquisition means is channel information received by the communication means,
The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time specifying unit specifies a time at which the channel information is acquired according to the acquisition time information.

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