JPH04335399A - Voice output device equipped with automatic sound volume control function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To listen to a voice with proper sound volume according to the distance between a human body and the voice output device by providing a human body detection sensor and lowering the sound volume when the sensor detects the human body. CONSTITUTION:Electrodes for an electrocardiogram and cuffs for blood pressure measurement are put on a patient 12 on a bed 10 and a head-side monitor device 14 which is arranged by the bed 10 measures plural pieces of living body information on the electrocardiogram waveform, the heart rate, the blood pressure value, etc., in sequence by using those electrodes, cuffs, etc. When the infrared sensor 24 detects a supervisor 20, the supervisor 20 is relatively nearby a central monitor device 16, so a specific voice which warns that the specific living body information can not be measured or that the information is abnormal is outputted with relatively small sound volume. When the sensor 24 does not detect the supervisor 20, it is considered that the supervisor 20 is relatively distant-from the central monitor device 16 and the warning is outputted with relatively large sound volume.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio output device having a function of automatically adjusting volume.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Audio output devices that output audio representing predetermined information have been provided in the past. For example, an alarm device that outputs audible information about an abnormality detection state or failure state of a medical monitor device is an example.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the above-mentioned audio output device is usually configured so that the volume can be adjusted manually, and the volume is set to a predetermined level in advance. becomes. However, those who hear the audio (
For example, if a doctor or nurse is near the audio output device, they tend to set the volume relatively low to prevent the volume from becoming too loud, so if they move a certain distance away from the audio output device, they may not be able to hear it properly. was there.

The present invention was developed against the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide audio that allows audio to be heard at a suitable volume regardless of the distance between the person and the audio output device. The purpose is to provide an output device.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The gist of the present invention to achieve the above object is to provide an audio output device having a function of automatically adjusting the volume of audio output from audio generating means. (a) a human body detection sensor for detecting a human body within a predetermined detection distance range; and (b) a volume adjustment means for adjusting the volume to a low level in relation to the detection of a human body by the human body detection sensor. It is to include.

[0006]

[Operations and Effects of the Invention] According to the audio output device having the automatic volume adjustment function configured as described above, the volume is adjusted to a low level by the volume adjustment means in connection with the detection of a human body by the human body detection sensor. Therefore, when a human body is detected by the human body detection sensor, that is, when a person is near the audio output device, the volume is reduced, but when the human body is not detected because the human body is outside the detection distance range of the human body detection sensor, In other words, the volume is increased when the person is away from the audio output device, so the audio can be heard at a suitable volume regardless of the distance between the person and the audio output device.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a medical intensive monitoring device equipped with an alarm device, which is an example of an audio output device having an automatic volume adjustment function according to the present invention. In the figure, a patient 12 on a bed 10 is equipped with electrocardiogram electrodes, blood pressure measurement cuffs, etc. (though not shown), and these electrodes and cuffs are used to place the patient 12 on the side of the bed 10. The bedside monitor device 14 sequentially measures a plurality of types of biological information such as electrocardiographic waveforms, heart rate, and blood pressure values. A plurality of types of biological information data measured by this bedside monitor device 14 are each transmitted to a controller 18 of a central monitor device 16 provided in a monitoring room such as a nurse's station.

[0009] The controller 18 includes a CPU, a ROM
, RAM, and an I/O port, etc., and the CPU executes signal processing while utilizing the storage function of RAM according to the program stored in advance in ROM. Displays such as CRT display devices (
(not shown) are displayed sequentially. This allows the monitor 20, such as a doctor or nurse, to monitor the condition of the patient 12 based on multiple types of biological information sequentially displayed on the display.

In the central monitor device 16, a pyroelectric infrared sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as an infrared sensor) 24 is connected to the controller 18 via an amplifier 26 and an A/D converter 28. The infrared sensor 24 includes a hemispherical Fresnel lens 30 protruding from the central monitor device 16, an optical filter (not shown) whose pass band is the wavelength range of infrared rays generated from the human body, and a condensing reflector (not shown). and a sensing element. The infrared sensor 24 detects the observer 20 by using the so-called pyroelectric effect, which generates an electric charge according to a change in the surface temperature of the sensing element due to infrared rays emitted from the human body, and sends an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge, that is, an electric signal to the observer. A detection signal indicating that 20 has been detected is supplied to the controller 18 via an amplifier 26 and an A/D converter 28. Therefore, in this embodiment, the supervisor 20 corresponds to the human body in the claims, and the infrared sensor 24 constitutes a human body detection sensor. The infrared sensor 24 has a wide range of detection angles in the horizontal and vertical directions due to the presence of the Fresnel lens 30, and has a relatively large detection distance range of, for example, 5 m or more due to the presence of the condensing reflector. ing.

In the central monitor device 16, a voice synthesis circuit 32, a volume control circuit 34, and a speaker 36 are further connected in sequence to the controller 18. This speech synthesis circuit 32 includes, for example, a pulse generator as a voiced sound source, a noise generator as an unvoiced sound source, a synthesis filter for realizing vocal tract transfer characteristics according to the language,
It is configured to include a switching means provided between the pulse generator, the noise generator, and the synthesis filter to switch the connection state thereof.

The CPU of the controller 18 executes signal processing according to a program stored in advance in the ROM, and when any of a plurality of types of biological information becomes unmeasurable due to a failure or the like, or when, for example, heart rate or blood pressure value When an abnormality occurs, a predetermined signal is sequentially output to the pulse generator, synthesis filter, and switching means of the speech synthesis circuit 32, so that the synthesis filter synthesizes a predetermined alarm voice (language) corresponding to the abnormal situation. At the same time, the volume adjustment circuit 34 is controlled depending on whether or not the supervisor 20 is detected by the infrared sensor 24, and the volume of the alarm sound output from the speaker 36 is adjusted to a low level when the supervisor 20 is detected. If it does not work, make a large adjustment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the controller 18 and the volume adjustment circuit 34 constitute a volume adjustment means, and the speaker 36 constitutes a sound generation means.
8, infrared sensor 24, amplifier 26, A/D converter 28
, the audio synthesis circuit 32, the audio adjustment circuit 34, the speaker 36, and the like constitute an audio output device with an automatic volume adjustment function.

Next, the operation of the alarm device of the central monitoring device constructed as above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, step S1 is executed to determine whether any of the plural types of biological information cannot be measured. If this determination is affirmative, the subsequent step S2 is skipped and step S3 is executed, but if the determination in step S1 is negative, step S2 is executed. In this step S2, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the heart rate or blood pressure value based on whether either the heart rate or the blood pressure value exceeds a preset abnormality determination reference value. If this judgment is negative, the process returns to step S1, but if this judgment is positive, step S3 is executed.

[0015] In step S3, it is determined whether the infrared sensor 24 detects the supervisor 20 or not. When the supervisor 20 is detected by the infrared sensor 24, it means that the supervisor 20 is relatively close to the central monitoring device 16 within the detection distance range of the infrared sensor 24, so step S4 is executed. A predetermined sound (
language) is output from the speaker 34 at a relatively low volume. On the other hand, if the supervisor 20 is not detected by the infrared sensor 24, the supervisor 20 is located outside the detection distance range of the infrared sensor 24 and is relatively far away from the central monitor device 16, so step S5
is executed, and the above-mentioned warning sound is output from the speaker 34 at a relatively high volume.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the supervisor 20
When the person is near the central monitor device 16, an alarm sound indicating a predetermined abnormal situation is emitted from the speaker 3 at a low volume.
On the other hand, when the supervisor 20 is away from the central monitor device 16, the alarm sound is output from the speaker 36 at a high volume, so that the supervisor 20
The alarm sound can be heard at a suitable volume regardless of the distance from the central monitor device 16.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the human body detection sensor is constituted by the infrared sensor 24, the supervisor 20 can be suitably detected even when the interior of the surveillance room in which the central monitor device 16 is installed is dark. can do.

Further, according to this embodiment, the infrared sensor 24 as a human body detection sensor is equipped with a Fresnel lens 30 and a condensing reflector, and a relatively large detection angle range and detection distance range are ensured. Therefore, even if there is only one infrared sensor 24, the observer 20 can be suitably detected over a wide range.
The volume of the alarm sound is preferably prevented from becoming unnecessarily loud even though the central monitor device 16 is not far away from the central monitor device 16.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the infrared sensor 2
4 is output only when there is movement of the human body, so even if the supervisor 20 is near the central monitor device 16, if the supervisor 20 is asleep and does not move, the supervisor 20 will not be detected and the alarm sound will be louder. There is an advantage that it is also possible to

In the above embodiment, the human body detection sensor is composed of a pyroelectric thermal infrared sensor 24, but
For example, it can be configured using an electromotive type thermal infrared sensor or a quantum type infrared sensor, or it can also be configured using a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

Further, in the above embodiment, the speaker 36 is configured to output a predetermined language as an alarm sound, but this is not necessary. For example, the speaker 36 or a buzzer outputs a predetermined language as an alarm sound. It may be configured to output a predetermined sound. In other words, the term "sound" in the claims is used to include not only language but also sounds emitted from a buzzer or the like.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the infrared sensor 24
When the supervisor 20 is detected by the infrared sensor 24, the alarm sound is adjusted to a low level, and when the supervisor 20 is not detected, the alarm sound is adjusted to a high level. It is also possible to output a warning sound by measuring the distance and adjusting the volume to become smaller as the distance becomes shorter. In short, the volume adjusting means need only be configured to lower the volume of the audio in relation to the detection of a human body by the human body detection sensor. The distance between the supervisor 20 and the central monitor device 16 may be measured, for example, using ultrasonic waves or optically, or may be measured based on the output value or waveform pattern of the infrared sensor 24. It is possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, only one human body detection sensor is provided, but the horizontal detection angle range may be further widened by, for example, providing a plurality of human body detection sensors with different orientations. Alternatively, a plurality of human body detection sensors with different detection distance ranges are provided, and a plurality of levels of volume are predetermined according to each detection distance range so that the smaller the detection distance range, the smaller the volume is.
It can also be configured to output audio at a volume corresponding to the one with the smallest detection distance range among the human body detection sensors that have detected the human body. In the latter case, as the distance between the human body and the audio output device becomes shorter, the volume is adjusted to become smaller in stages according to the number of human body detection sensors.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the speech synthesis circuit 32
Although the audio is synthesized in the system, it is not necessary to do so, and the system may be configured to reproduce audio recorded on a magnetic tape or a semiconductor memory, for example.

[0025] In the above embodiments, the present invention was applied to an alarm device in a central monitoring device used in medical treatment. The present invention can be applied to a synchronized sound output device or a pulse wave synchronized sound output device in a pulse oximeter, or blood pressure measurement can be easily performed by inserting the arm into a cuff that is previously provided in an annular shape. When a fully automatic blood pressure monitor is placed in a place where there is a lot of traffic, the present invention is applied to a voice output device for calling on the use of the fully automatic blood pressure monitor and explaining how to use it. It is also possible to configure the device to adjust the volume to a high level, and then to decrease the volume when a person is detected and instructions on how to use the device are explained. Furthermore, it is also possible to apply the present invention to audio output devices such as radios.

[0026] In addition, various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a medical intensive monitoring device equipped with an alarm device, which is an example of an audio output device with an automatic volume adjustment function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the alarm device in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

{18 controller, 34 volume adjustment circuit}: Volume adjustment means 20 Supervisor (human body) 24 Pyroelectric infrared sensor (human body detection sensor) 36
Speaker (sound generation means) {18 controller, 24 pyroelectric infrared sensor, 26 amplifier, 28 A/D converter, 32 voice synthesis circuit, 34 volume adjustment circuit, 36 speaker}: Audio output with automatic volume adjustment function Device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An audio output device having a function of automatically adjusting the volume of audio output from audio generating means, comprising a human body detection sensor for detecting a human body within a predetermined detection distance range; An audio output device equipped with an automatic volume adjustment function, comprising: a volume adjustment unit that adjusts the volume to a low level in response to the detection of a human body by the human body detection sensor.