JPH05282129A - Information processing device that outputs sound - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that reduces discomfort without impairing the purpose of error warning. [Structure] By providing a timer 6 and a volume adjusting device 7 in a conventional circuit, the volume can be lowered after a lapse of a certain time from the start of ringing an error sound. Furthermore, the speaker 4 is used as a microphone to enable quick contact. [Effect] Even if the error is not recovered and the error sound continues to sound, the volume is lowered, so that discomfort can be suppressed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which a continuous sound is generated when an error occurs or a sound output means such as a speaker provided for other purposes is built in the information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing device such as a personal computer, an electronic cash register, a POS device or the like, a speaker or the like is built in the information processing device in order to inform the operator of a warning due to a failure of the operator device or the main body of the information processing device. Was realized. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-15683 discloses a device in which a speaker or the like is incorporated.
No. 5 publication. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of error sound generation in a conventional example. The error sound output from the speaker (sound output means) 4 continues to ring at a constant volume unless stopped by a keyboard operation or the like.

[0003]

In the prior art, once an error sound is heard, it continues to sound at a constant volume unless the operator performs an operation such as pressing the clear key.
There was a problem in that the shopper was not considered in the store and the shopper and the operator were uncomfortable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing device which does not cause operator or shopper discomfort.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, acoustic output signal generating means for generating an acoustic output signal, and acoustic output means for receiving the acoustic output signal and performing acoustic output. In the information processing device having a sound output, accepting the sound output signal, starts measuring the ringing time, and when a predetermined time elapses, a ringing time measuring timer that outputs a volume change signal. A sound volume adjusting device that receives the sound volume change signal and adjusts the sound output signal is provided, and the sound output means can change the sound output while outputting sound.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the sound output signal generating means for generating the sound output signal and the sound output means for receiving the sound output signal and outputting the sound are provided. The measurement timer receives the sound output signal, starts measuring the ringing time, and outputs a volume change signal when a predetermined time has elapsed. The volume adjusting device receives the volume change signal and adjusts the sound output signal. The sound output means can change the sound output while outputting sound.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The circuit is provided with a timer (a timer for measuring the ringing time) 6 and a volume adjusting device 7. With the circuit according to the present invention, the ringing time can be monitored by the timer 6, and after a lapse of an appropriate time, the volume can be reduced by the volume adjusting device 7 so that the operator or the like does not continue to feel uncomfortable. Also, although the volume is lowered, it does not turn off, so the error warning will not be forgotten.

Further, according to the present invention, by switching the speaker 4 to the microphone with the switch 9, it is possible to quickly connect to another place.

When an error occurs in the information processing device, an error signal 15 is sent from the main body of the information processing device to the sound output signal generating means 14. The sound output signal generating means 14 outputs the sound output signal 12, and the driver 1 having received the sound output signal 12 outputs the speaker ringing signal 2. The speaker ringing signal 2 passes through the amplifier 3, is amplified, and causes the speaker 4 to ring. At this time, a ringing time measuring signal 5 is output separately from the speaker ringing signal 2 and input to the timer 6. The timer 6 measures the time T during which the ringing time measurement signal 5 is input (the time T can be set freely)
Then, after the lapse of time T, the volume change signal 16 is output. The volume adjustment signal 7 is driven by the volume change signal 16 to lower the volume, which has the effect of alleviating the discomfort of the operator or the shopper. The sound may be selected from music, a buzzer sound, a voice of an announcer, and the like.

The volume to be adjusted here can be set arbitrarily, and in combination with the time T, it is of course possible to prevent the volume from being adjusted over time as in the conventional case.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart up to the driving of the volume adjusting device. When an error occurs in the information processing device, an error signal 15 is sent from the information processing device main body or the like to the sound output signal generating means 14. The sound output signal generating means 14 outputs the sound output signal 12, and the driver 1 having received the sound output signal 12 outputs the speaker ringing signal 2. The speaker ringing signal 2 passes through the amplifier 3 and is amplified to ring the speaker 4 (41). At this time, the ringing time measurement signal 5 is output separately from the speaker ringing signal 2 and the timer 6
Entered in. When the ringing time measuring signal 5 starts to be input, the timer 6 sets t = 0 (42). Then, the time T is measured (the time T can be freely set) (43, 4
5). After the lapse of time T, the volume change signal 16 is output (4
6).

FIG. 3 shows an example of the keyboard 8 having the speaker 4 mounted thereon.

Further, in the present embodiment, there is an effect that the speaker 9 can be switched to the microphone by the switch 9 and the abnormality can be notified when the sounding of the error sound is not stopped by the operation of the keyboard 8. After passing through the amplifier 11, the audio signal 10 generated from the microphone is transmitted to the head office and the store by wire or wirelessly.

If the speaker 4 is used as a microphone, it can be used not only for abnormalities but also for general business communication.

In this embodiment, the error is displayed by voice, but it may be displayed by light and the light amount may be decreased after a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, by attaching the ringing time measuring timer and the volume adjusting device to the information processing apparatus, it is possible to reduce the discomfort and anxiety that the error sound continues to ring. Furthermore, by switching the speaker to a microphone and using it, it is possible to contact other places quickly.

[0017]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus which does not give an operator or a shopper a feeling of discomfort.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information processing device according to the present invention.

3A is a perspective view of a keyboard having a speaker mounted thereon, and FIG. 3B is a front view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Driver 2 Error sound ringing signal 3 Amplifier 4 Speaker 5 Ringing time measuring signal 6 Timer 7 Volume adjuster 8 Keyboard 9 Changeover switch 10 Voice signal 11 Amplifier

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for outputting a sound, comprising: a sound output signal generating means for generating a sound output signal; and a sound output means for receiving the sound output signal and outputting the sound. Receive the signal directly or indirectly, start measuring the ringing time, and when a predetermined time has elapsed,
A ringing time measuring timer that outputs a volume change signal, and a volume adjusting device that receives the volume change signal and adjusts the sound output signal, and the sound output means can change the sound output while outputting sound. An information processing device that outputs a sound.