JPH0623059Y2 - Volume control device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Outline] The maximum and minimum volume changing means for changing the maximum and minimum volume levels that can be adjusted by the volume level adjusting section for adjusting the volume level of the electrical equipment, and the volume level setting switch are operated. And a mode switching unit for selecting whether to adjust the volume level to a predetermined level or to change the maximum and minimum volume levels. It is possible to change the setting of the volume level adjustment range.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a volume adjusting device for adjusting a volume level of an electrical component to a predetermined level.

For example, in a vehicle-mounted electric component, the volume adjusting device is provided so that the volume level can be quickly adjusted to a desired level even while the vehicle is running.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional volume adjusting means.
For example, in a vehicle-mounted electric component, a volume level setting switch 1 for setting a desired volume level is usually installed on the entire surface. As the volume level setting switch 1, a touch switch or the like that can be operated only by touching with a finger is generally used so that the switch operation can be easily performed even while traveling.

When the volume level setting switch 1 is operated, a switch position data signal S _sw indicating the current touch position of the switch is output.
Is output. The switch position data signal S _sw is converted by the volume data signal generating means 2 into a volume data signal S _v corresponding to the switch position data signal S _sw .
The volume data signal generating means 2 is usually realized by a CPU of a microcomputer. Further, when the volume data signal _Sv is input to the volume level adjusting unit 3, for example, the electronic volume, the resistance value in the electronic volume automatically changes according to the volume data signal _Sv , and finally the volume is increased. The level adjustment signal S _r is output. The volume level adjustment signal S _r can be used to change the gain of the amplifier 9 of the vehicle-mounted electric component to adjust the volume level of music or the like transmitted from the speaker 9'to a predetermined level.

As described above, in the related art, the volume level setting switch 1 that can be operated by only touching a finger, for example, the amplifier 9 of the electrical component is operated by the touch position of the touch switch so that it is not necessary to look at the operation portion during traveling. The volume level was instantly adjusted by automatically changing the gain of the.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

As described above, conventionally, it has been considered that a touch switch that is easy to operate can be used to quickly achieve a desired sound volume level. On the other hand, however, it has been found that the touch switch operates by simply touching its operating portion with a finger, which causes the following inconvenience.

In other words, the touch position of the touch switch may be erroneously set to the vicinity of the maximum volume level or the minimum volume level. Generally, the volume level adjustment range in the volume level adjusting unit 3 is already determined by the manufacturer, and the user cannot freely change it according to his or her preference or need. Therefore, when the volume level of the electrical component is adjusted to around the maximum volume level due to an erroneous operation of the touch switch, it may be offensive to some users. On the other hand, when adjusted to around the minimum volume level, it may be difficult for some users to hear. In either case, the user may feel uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a volume adjusting device that does not cause a user discomfort even when the setting position of the volume level setting switch 1 such as a touch switch is incorrect. It is what

[Means for Solving the Problems]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention. The same components as those described above are designated by the same reference numerals.

Here, the maximum volume changing means 4 and the minimum volume changing means 5 for changing the maximum volume level and the minimum volume level adjustable by the volume level adjusting section 3 are provided. Further, a mode switching unit 6 is provided on the output side of the volume level setting switch 1. The mode switching unit 6 operates the volume level setting switch 1 to select whether to adjust the volume level of the electrical component to a predetermined level or change the maximum volume level and the minimum volume level. The maximum volume changing means 4, the minimum volume changing means 5, and the mode switching section 6 constitute a volume adjusting device of the present invention.

[Action]

In FIG. 1, when the user thinks it necessary, by operating the volume level setting switch 1 after switching the mode switching section 6, the maximum volume level and the minimum volume level in the volume level adjusting section 3 are reset. It is possible.

That is, in the present invention, the volume level adjustment range of the electrical components can be freely set and changed according to the user's preference and need, so that even if the switch operation is erroneous, the required maximum and minimum are exceeded. No volume is provided to the user.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a position embodiment of the present invention.
Here, the touch switch 10 described above is used as the volume level setting switch 1. However, since the touch switch 10 only coarsely sets the volume level at every 10 dB, for example, it is preferable to provide the up / down switch 11 for fine adjustment as an auxiliary. The up / down switch 11 is composed of a pair of push button switches, and sets the volume level accurately according to the time during which these push button switches are operated, and outputs it as a switch position data auxiliary signal _S'sw . Further, the maximum and minimum volume changing means 4 and 5 are realized by the CPU 7 of the microcomputer together with the volume data signal generating means 2. In this case, when changing the maximum and minimum volume levels, it is necessary to set these levels accurately, so it is desirable to operate only the up / down switch 11. Further, a mode changeover switch 60 is provided as the mode changeover unit 6, and a selection signal S _se is _sent from the mode changeover switch 60.
Input to CPU7. In the CPU 7, the switch position data signal S _sw and the switch position data auxiliary signal S ′ _sw are converted into a volume data signal S _v for adjusting the current volume level, or the switch position is _detected according to the selection signal S _se. The data auxiliary signal _S'sw is converted into a maximum and minimum volume data signal for changing the maximum and minimum volume levels. All the conversion of the above data signals is performed by software in the CPU 7. Further, the CPU 7 is additionally provided with a storage unit 8 including a plurality of RAMs for storing the maximum and minimum volume levels. Further, as the volume level adjusting unit 3, an electronic volume 30 for automatically adjusting the gain of the amplifier 9 by digitally changing the resistance value is provided as in the conventional case. The electronic volume 30 is an IC type in which a plurality of resistance patterns and a plurality of small switch elements formed between these resistance patterns are mounted on a small board. In this case, unless the volume control signal is applied from the outside, the variable range of the resistance value of the electronic volume 30 is fixed. However, if, as the volume control signal, the maximum and minimum volume data signals from the maximum and minimum volume changing means 4 and 5 are sent into the electronic volume 30 to forcefully open and close a part of the small switch element, The variable range of the resistance value can be forcibly changed. Furthermore, timing of operation start and end of the amplifier 9 is controlled by a control signal S _c from CPU 7. In addition, it is preferable to provide a display unit 12 for displaying the panel in the segment format and the decibel value so that the volume level adjusted by the amplifier 9 can be confirmed. In this case, it is practically desirable to construct a touch panel in which the touch switch 10 is integrated on the panel surface of the display unit 12. Then,
The operation of the microcomputer in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing procedures for changing the maximum volume level and the minimum volume level, respectively. In FIG. 3A, when it is desired to change the maximum and minimum volume levels, the mode changeover switch 60 is operated to inform the microcomputer that the setting of the maximum and minimum volume levels should be changed (step a). At the same time, the up / down switch 11 is operated (step b) to send the switch position data auxiliary signal _S'sw to the microcomputer. In this microcomputer, the switch position data auxiliary signal _S'sw is converted into the maximum volume data signal and input to the electronic volume 30 (step c). It is confirmed on the display unit 12 whether the maximum volume level adjusted by the electronic volume control 30 matches the desired level (step d). If they do not match, the operations of steps b and c are repeated. If they match, the mode changeover switch 60 is operated again to notify the microcomputer that the maximum volume level setting change has been completed. At the same time, the maximum volume level after the setting change is stored in the base unit 8 (step e).

Then, in FIG. 3B, the minimum volume level is adjusted this time by the up / down switch 11 and the electronic volume control 30 (steps f and g), as in steps b and c. It is confirmed whether this minimum volume level matches the desired level (step h), and if they do not match, the operations of steps f and g are repeated. If they match, the mode changeover switch 60 is operated again to inform the microcomputer that the minimum volume level setting change has been completed. At the same time, the minimum volume level is stored in the storage unit 8 (step f). This storage unit 8
An intermediate point of the volume level on the touch switch 10 is set by software in the microcomputer based on the maximum and minimum volume levels respectively stored in separate RAMs (step j). For example, in FIG. 4, the maximum and minimum volume levels are -20 dB and -6, respectively.
After changing the setting to 0 dB, intermediate points are set at 4 dB intervals at equal intervals. Simultaneously with the completion of the setting of the intermediate point, the mode changeover switch 60 is operated again to restore the microcomputer to the state where the maximum and minimum volume levels do not change even if the up / down switch 11 is operated. Then, in FIG. 3B, when the apparatus is in operation (step k) and it is desired to change the setting of the maximum and minimum volume levels, the operations of steps a to j may be performed again. In this case, the mode switch 60
Is operated multiple times to change the maximum and minimum volume level settings. Instead, the microcomputer reads the time when the up / down switch 11 etc. is released, and if the time is longer than a certain amount, the next You may make it advance to the step of.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the first initial data setting method in FIG. 3A. In this case, the procedure for changing the minimum volume level setting is the same as in FIG. In FIG. 5, when the apparatus is started up, initial data such as constant maximum and minimum volume levels are set by a ROM designated in advance (step m). After that, only when the user thinks it necessary, the same operation as that in steps a to e in FIG. 3A and the operation in steps f to k in FIG. 3B are performed to change the setting of the initial data. However, when the device is stopped, the maximum and minimum volume level data after the setting change is lost.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for further explaining the second initial data setting method. Here, even when the apparatus is stopped, the data of the maximum and minimum volume levels after the setting change is stored in the storage unit 8 as it is by the backup power source or the like. If you then restart the device,
It is checked whether or not the data of the previous setting change is stored in the specific address of the storage unit 8 (step l). If the previous data is included, after setting the previous data as the initial data, it is determined whether or not to change the setting of the maximum and minimum volume levels (step a). If the previous data is not entered, as in Fig. 5,
Initial data is set by a ROM designated in advance (step m). That is, in this case, unlike FIG. 5,
Even if the device is accidentally stopped, the maximum and minimum volume level data before the stop is retained.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, a volume control device capable of freely setting and changing the control range of the volume level of electrical equipment according to the user's preference and need is realized. The user does not feel any discomfort even if the user makes an erroneous operation such as. The volume adjusting device of the present invention is particularly effective for in-vehicle electrical components.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a principle configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing a maximum volume level setting changing procedure, and FIG. 3B is a minimum volume level. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a setting change procedure, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a maximum and minimum volume level setting change procedure, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the first initial data setting method, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the initial data setting method, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional volume adjusting means. 1 ... Volume level setting switch, 3 ... Volume level adjusting unit, 4 ... Maximum volume changing unit, 5 ... Minimum volume changing unit, 6 ... Mode switching unit, 7 ... CPU, 60 ... Mode switching switch .

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A volume level setting switch (1) for setting a volume level of an electrical component, and a switch position data signal (S _sw ) output from the volume level setting switch (1).
Volume level adjustment unit for adjusting the predetermined level and the corresponding volume data signal volume data signal generating means for generating the (S _{v) (2),} the volume level of the electrical equipment based on the sound volume data signal (S _v) to ( And a maximum volume means (4) and a minimum volume change means (5) for changing the maximum volume level and the minimum volume level adjustable by the volume level adjusting section (3), respectively. And a mode switching section (6) for selecting whether to adjust the volume level to the predetermined level or to change the maximum volume level and the minimum volume level by operating the volume level setting switch (1). A characteristic volume control device.