JP6022241B2 - SOUND QUALITY ADJUSTING DEVICE AND SOUND QUALITY ADJUSTING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sound quality adjusting device and a sound quality adjusting method, and more particularly to a sound quality adjusting device that adjusts a sound quality by changing a frequency characteristic of an audio signal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, audio equipment including a sound quality adjusting device called an equalizer has been widely provided. The equalizer adjusts the sound quality by changing the frequency characteristics of the audio signal, and there are two types of equalizers, a parametric equalizer and a graphic equalizer. In the parametric equalizer, it is possible to finely adjust the sound quality over a plurality of items such as the center frequency, the frequency bandwidth (Q value representing the steepness of the curve), and the volume.

  Usually, an equalizer is provided with a rotary or sliding operation element corresponding to each of a plurality of adjustable frequency bands. The user adjusts the sound quality by manually operating an operator in a desired frequency band. However, if you do not have specialized acoustic knowledge, you will not know how the sound quality will change if you adjust which frequency band, so the general user can adjust the sound quality as desired. There was a problem that it was difficult. For this reason, it is general that several presets recommended by the manufacturer are prepared and the user selects one of them.

  In addition, by adjusting the sound quality based on a quantitative correspondence model between a physical quantity (frequency characteristic of an acoustic device) and a psychological quantity (a sound quality expressed by a user expressed in a psychological language), for example, “glossy sound” An invention has been proposed in which a frequency characteristic is automatically adjusted in accordance with a psychological expression by simply instructing a user such as “powerful sound” (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). .

JP-A-8-298418 JP-A-9-51239

  As a service expected in the future for in-vehicle audio equipment, it is considered to distribute sound parameters adjusted to the best condition for each vehicle type via the Internet and automatically set the sound parameters in an equalizer.

  However, when it comes to the end, even in the same vehicle type, the room acoustics vary depending on the material such as the vehicle seat and interior material, the type of speaker used, and the like. Therefore, even if the sound parameter is adjusted to the best condition for each vehicle type, if it is used in an actual vehicle, the sound quality may not be as intended. It is almost impossible for a general user to correct the delicate gap in the sound quality by manual operation of the equalizer.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and even if sound parameters adjusted for each vehicle type are set in an equalizer, adjustment of sound quality that does not become as intended, expert sound knowledge is required. The purpose is to make it easy even for users who do not have it.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, after obtaining and setting sound parameters adjusted for each vehicle type , only the frequency band in which the sound parameters are set is an image of sound quality adjusted in each frequency band. Is displayed, a sound quality adjustment operation is received, and among the set sound parameters, a sound parameter related to a frequency band desired by the user who has received the operation is corrected.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, even when a sound parameter adjusted for each vehicle type is set, the sound quality does not become as intended depending on the material of the vehicle seat or interior material, the type of speaker used, etc. In order to adjust the sound quality, the user selects the desired psychological language from the displayed psychological languages according to the psychology of the user who wants to adjust the sound quality. Sound parameters relating to the frequency band associated with the target language can be corrected. Thereby, even when the sound parameter adjusted for each vehicle type is set in the equalizer, the sound quality that does not become as intended can be easily adjusted even by a user who does not have specialized acoustic knowledge.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the sound quality adjustment apparatus by this embodiment. It is an image figure which shows an example of the sound parameter which the parameter setting part of this embodiment acquires from a server. It is a figure which shows an example of the adjustment model memorize | stored in the adjustment model memory | storage part of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the adjustment operation reception screen displayed by the adjustment operation reception part of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the parameter correction performed by the parameter correction part of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the sound quality adjustment apparatus by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of parameter correction by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of parameter correction by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of parameter correction by this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the sound quality adjustment apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, a parametric equalizer 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as an equalizer 10) is used as an example of a sound quality adjustment device. Moreover, the equalizer 10 of this embodiment shall be mounted in the vehicle-mounted audio equipment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the equalizer 10 of the present embodiment includes, as its functional configuration, a parameter setting unit 1, a parameter storage unit 2, a sound quality adjustment unit 3, an adjustment model storage unit 4, an adjustment operation reception unit 5, and a parameter correction unit. 6. Note that the functions of the parameter setting unit 1, the sound quality adjustment unit 3, the adjustment operation reception unit 5, and the parameter correction unit 6 are actually configured by including a CPU or MPU of a computer, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and are stored in the RAM or the ROM. It can be realized by operating the programmed program.

  The parameter setting unit 1 obtains and sets a sound parameter adjusted for each vehicle type from the outside. In the present embodiment, the parameter setting unit 1 acquires sound parameters from the server 100 via the Internet 200. The sound parameter acquired here is a parameter for adjusting the frequency characteristic of the audio signal at a specific frequency, and specifically, an adjustment value related to the center frequency, the Q value, the volume, and the like.

  The sound parameters for each vehicle type are those that have sound expertise and that are more “good sound” (heavy bass, audio, etc.), assuming specific characteristics of the vehicle type (speaker size, interior material, etc.) The value is adjusted so that it can be heard easily. FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing an example of a sound parameter acquired by the parameter setting unit 1 from the server 100. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that frequency characteristics can be adjusted for five bands by setting sound parameters.

  The parameter storage unit 2 stores the sound parameters set by the parameter setting unit 1. The sound quality adjusting unit 3 adjusts and outputs the frequency characteristics of the input audio signal according to the sound parameters stored in the parameter storage unit 2.

  The adjustment model storage unit 4 associates a plurality of frequency bands obtained by dividing 0 to 20 KHz including an audible frequency range into predetermined frequencies and a language representing an image of sound quality adjusted in each frequency band, and Is stored as an adjustment model. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the adjustment model. For convenience of later explanation, FIG. 3 also shows an image of sound parameters set by the parameter setting unit 1.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the frequency range of 0 to 20 KHz is divided into 10 frequency bands (hereinafter, each of the 10 frequency bands is referred to as “divided band”). Then, for each divided band, how the sound quality felt by the user when the volume is increased or decreased is defined by a psychological language with a negative image. For example, in the divided band with the lowest frequency, a psychological language is defined in association with “there is a sense of pressure” when the volume is increased and “does not resonate” when the volume is decreased.

  The adjustment operation reception unit 5 displays a psychological language corresponding to each divided band stored in the adjustment model storage unit 4 on a display (not shown), and receives an operation for sound quality adjustment. Here, the adjustment operation accepting unit 5 is a psychological language corresponding to the divided band in which the sound parameter is set by the parameter setting unit 1 among the ten divided bands stored as the adjustment model in the adjustment model storage unit 4. It is preferable to receive an operation for sound quality adjustment by displaying only on the display.

  It is assumed that the divided band in which the sound parameter is set is a divided band to which the center frequency of the frequency band adjusted by the sound parameter belongs. In the example of FIG. 3, the second, third, fifth, eighth, and ninth divided bands counted from a low frequency are divided bands in which sound parameters are set. The adjustment operation receiving unit 5 displays a psychological language associated with the five divided bands on the display and receives an operation for sound quality adjustment.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the adjustment operation reception screen displayed on the display. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a psychological language (a psychological language representing a negative image of sound quality when the volume is increased, a psychological language indicating a negative image of sound quality when the volume is decreased) in one divided band on one screen. And a psychological language indicating that the sound quality is just good are displayed as user interfaces (operation buttons) that can be touch-operated. When any one of the operation buttons is touched, the screen shifts to an adjustment operation reception screen regarding the next divided band.

  When the adjustment operation accepting unit 5 accepts an operation for sound quality adjustment related to a user-desired divided band, the parameter correction unit 6 out of the sound parameters set in the parameter storage unit 2 by the parameter setting unit 1 The sound parameters related to the divided bands are corrected, and the stored contents of the parameter storage unit 2 are updated. Here, the sound parameter relating to the user-desired divided band refers to a sound parameter for adjusting the frequency characteristics of a frequency band in which the center frequency exists in the divided band.

  For example, the parameter correction unit 6 performs a correction to increase or decrease the volume (dB) for the sound parameter related to the designated divided band. Here, in the adjustment operation reception screen displayed by the adjustment operation reception unit 5, when the operation button of the psychological language representing the sound quality image when the volume is increased is touched, the parameter correction unit 6 sets the volume to a predetermined amount. The sound parameter is corrected so that it is only lowered. On the other hand, when the psychological language operation button representing the sound quality image when the volume is lowered is touched, the parameter correction unit 6 corrects the sound parameter so that the volume is increased by a predetermined amount.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of parameter correction performed by the parameter correction unit 6. As shown in FIG. 5, when the “Sound is too heavy” operation button is touched on the adjustment operation acceptance screen regarding the second divided band counted from the low frequency, the parameter correction unit 6 sets the volume to a predetermined amount. Correct the sound parameters to lower only. On the other hand, when the operation button “no sound is heavy” is touched, the parameter correction unit 6 corrects the sound parameter so as to increase the volume by a predetermined amount.

  Next, the operation of the equalizer 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the equalizer 10 according to the present embodiment. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is started when the power of the audio equipment equipped with the equalizer 10 is turned on.

  First, the parameter setting unit 1 acquires the sound parameters adjusted for each vehicle type from the server 100 and sets them in the parameter storage unit 2 (step S1). After the sound parameters are set, a sound reproduction process (for example, reproduction of a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc.) is executed by the acoustic device in accordance with a user operation (step S2). As a result, the user confirms whether the sound quality is satisfactory as adjusted by the set sound parameter.

  When the sound quality is not satisfactory and the user wants to fine-tune the sound quality, the user performs an operation for displaying the adjustment operation reception screen. In response to this user operation, the adjustment operation reception unit 5 refers to the adjustment model stored in the adjustment model storage unit 4 and is stored in the parameter storage unit 2 among the divided bands of the adjustment model. An adjustment operation reception screen using a psychological language corresponding to the divided band to which the sound parameter belongs is displayed on the display (step S3). First, an adjustment operation acceptance screen regarding the first divided band counted from the lowest frequency is displayed.

  Here, the adjustment operation accepting unit 5 operates for sound quality adjustment (operation buttons of a psychological language representing a sound quality image when the volume is increased, or a psychological language representing a sound quality image when the volume is decreased. It is determined whether or not an operation button touch operation) has been received (step S4). When the adjustment operation reception unit 5 determines that the operation has been received, the parameter correction unit 6 increases the volume of the sound parameter corresponding to the divided band displayed on the adjustment operation reception screen according to the content of the operation. Or it correct | amends so that it may reduce (step S5).

  After correcting the sound parameter for a certain divided band, the adjustment operation receiving unit 5 determines whether or not an unadjusted divided band remains among the five adjustable divided bands (step S6). If an unadjusted divided band remains, the process returns to step S3, and the adjustment operation reception unit 5 displays an adjustment operation reception screen regarding the next divided band. If the adjustment operation receiving unit 5 determines that the operation for adjusting the sound quality has not been received in step S4, that is, the touch operation of the operation button “just right” has been received, the process proceeds to step S6. .

  In step S6, when the adjustment operation receiving unit 5 determines that there is no unadjusted divided band remaining, that is, the adjustment operation receiving screen regarding all five divided bands has been displayed, the adjustment operation receiving unit 5 It is determined whether or not an operation for ending the fine adjustment is accepted (step S7).

  Here, when the operation for ending the fine adjustment is not received, the process returns to step S3, and the adjustment operation reception unit 5 displays the adjustment operation reception screen regarding the first divided band counted from the lowest frequency. Redisplay. Thereafter, by repeating the same process as described above, the volume of the sound parameter in the desired divided band can be increased or decreased by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when an operation for ending fine adjustment is accepted, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is ended.

  As described above in detail, in this embodiment, after the parameter setting unit 1 acquires the sound parameter adjusted for each vehicle type from the server 100 and sets it in the parameter storage unit 2, the volume is increased or decreased in each divided band. A psychological language representing how the sound quality felt by the user sometimes changes is displayed, and an operation for sound quality adjustment is received by the adjustment operation receiving unit 5. Then, among the sound parameters set in the parameter storage unit 2, the sound parameter relating to the desired divided band of the user who accepted the operation is corrected.

  Even when the sound parameters adjusted for each vehicle type are acquired from the server 100 and set, the vehicle assumed when generating the sound parameters and the actual vehicle in which the sound parameters are set, seats, interior materials, etc. Therefore, the sound quality may not be as intended by the user.

  On the other hand, according to the equalizer 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the psychological language displayed on the adjustment operation reception screen matches the user's psychology of how to adjust the sound quality. By selecting a desired psychological language and performing an operation for sound quality adjustment, it is possible to correct a sound parameter related to a divided band associated with the psychological language. Thereby, even when a sound parameter adjusted for each vehicle type is set in the equalizer 10, the sound quality that does not become as intended can be easily adjusted even by a user who does not have specialized acoustic knowledge.

  In the above-described embodiment, the parameter correction unit 6 has been described as an example in which the sound parameter related to the designated divided band is corrected to increase or decrease the volume, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is possible to correct at least one parameter of the center frequency, the Q value, and the volume, which are parameters that can be adjusted by the parametric equalizer. For example, in addition to the volume, the center frequency and the Q value may be corrected according to a predetermined rule.

  As an example, instead of adjusting only the volume as shown in FIG. 7A, the volume and Q value may be adjusted as shown in FIG. 7B. Specifically, when the volume is increased, it is possible to adjust to a sound quality with a greater sense of volume by simultaneously reducing the Q value. On the contrary, when the volume is lowered, the sound quality can be adjusted to a lower volume by increasing the Q value at the same time.

  As another example, when the frequency band of vocal sound is included in the divided band where the sound parameter is set and the adjustment is made to emphasize the vocal sound, the center frequency is adjusted in the direction according to the gender of the vocal. May be shifted. Usually, the voice of male vocals has a center frequency around 500 Hz, and the voice of female vocals has a center frequency around 800 Hz.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the frequency band of the vocal sound is included in the divided band in which the sound parameter is set, the adjustment operation accepting unit 5 Operation buttons of “male vocal emphasis”, “female vocal emphasis”, “enhance both”, and “just right” are displayed. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the center frequency is lowered when “male vocal emphasis” is selected, and the center frequency is increased when “female vocal emphasis” is selected. When “emphasize both” is selected, the Q value is decreased to widen the frequency band, and the volume is reduced so that the volume at the peak portion does not become too high.

  Furthermore, as another example, the sound volume, the Q value, and the center frequency may be adjusted according to whether sound cracking or chattering is occurring. For example, a small car or the like may use a speaker having a small diameter, and if the bass is too loud, the sound may be broken or chatter may be generated from the interior.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9A, the user is inquired as to whether or not sound cracking or chatter noise is generated on the adjustment operation acceptance screen. Then, when an operation button indicating that sound cracking or chattering sound is being touched, the volume, Q value, and center frequency are adjusted as shown in FIG. 9B. That is, the center frequency is changed and the volume is reduced so that an excessive load is not applied to the speaker and the interior is not resonated. Moreover, since the presence of the bass is somewhat lost due to this correspondence, the sense of volume is compensated by reducing the Q value and widening the bandwidth.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which displays the operation button regarding one division area on one adjustment operation reception screen, this invention is not limited to this. For example, all the operation buttons related to the five divided bands may be collectively displayed on one adjustment operation reception screen.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which corrects the value of a sound parameter by predetermined amount whenever it touches an operation button once, this invention is not limited to this. For example, a user interface that imitates a rotary or slide type operator is displayed on the adjustment operation reception screen together with a psychological language, and the user operates the operator by a desired amount to change the value of the sound parameter at a time. It may be possible to correct only a desired amount.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example from which the parameter setting part 1 acquires the sound parameter from the server 100 first, this invention is not limited to this. For example, sound parameters may be obtained via a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory.

  Moreover, although the parametric equalizer was mentioned and demonstrated as an example of the sound quality adjustment apparatus in the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, a graphic equalizer may be used.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which applies a sound quality adjustment apparatus to the audio equipment for vehicle mounting, this invention is not limited to this. That is, since the gist of the present invention is to finely adjust the sound parameter after obtaining and setting the sound parameter from the outside, the sound device is not limited to being mounted on a vehicle as long as it is an acoustic device used for such a purpose.

  In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Parameter setting part 2 Parameter memory | storage part 3 Sound quality adjustment part 4 Adjustment model memory | storage part 5 Adjustment operation reception part 6 Parameter correction | amendment part 10 Sound quality adjustment apparatus (equalizer)

Claims (3)

A parameter setting unit that acquires and sets sound parameters adjusted for each vehicle type;
An adjustment model storage unit that associates a plurality of frequency bands obtained by dividing an audible frequency range with a language that represents an image of sound quality adjusted in each frequency band, and stores the association as an adjustment model;
Of the plurality of frequency bands stored as the adjustment model in the adjustment model storage unit, only the frequency band in which the sound parameter is set by the parameter setting unit is stored in the adjustment model storage unit. An adjustment operation reception unit that displays a language corresponding to the frequency band and receives an operation for sound quality adjustment;
A parameter for correcting the sound parameter related to the user-desired frequency band among the sound parameters set by the parameter setting unit when an operation for sound quality adjustment related to the user-desired frequency band is received by the adjustment operation receiving unit A sound quality adjusting device comprising a correction unit. The sound quality adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter correction unit corrects at least one parameter of a center frequency, a Q value, and a volume. A first step in which a parameter setting unit of the sound quality adjusting device acquires and sets a sound parameter adjusted for each vehicle type;
With reference to the adjustment model in which the adjustment operation reception unit of the sound quality adjustment device stores a plurality of frequency bands obtained by dividing the audible frequency range in association with a language representing an image of sound quality adjusted in each frequency band, Of the plurality of frequency bands stored as the adjustment model, the language corresponding to each frequency band of the adjustment model is displayed only for the frequency band in which the sound parameter is set in the first step. A second step of accepting an operation for sound quality adjustment;
In the second step, when an operation for sound quality adjustment relating to a user desired frequency band is received, the parameter correction unit of the sound quality adjustment device includes the user among the sound parameters set in the first step. And a third step of correcting a sound parameter relating to a desired frequency band.

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