JPH08162864A - Sound volume controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain rough adjustment and fine adjustment of sound volume by changing the operation method of keys. CONSTITUTION: When an UP key 5 is operated within a prescribed time after a DOWN key 6 is operated, a sound volume is increased by an amount each less than a usual sound volume change, and when the UP key 5 is operated after the lapse of a prescribed time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, a sound volume is increased based on a usual sound volume change. In the case of fine-adjusting a sound volume, the UP key 5 is operated within a prescribed time after the DOWN key 6 is operated and conversely in the case of rough adjustment of a sound volume, the UP key 5 is operated after the lapse of a prescribed time after the DOWN key 6 is operated and then both the rough adjustment and the fine adjustment are executed by using the same key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a volume control device for digitally adjusting the volume output from a speaker of various audio equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a volume control device for digitally changing the volume of sound output from a tuner, a cassette deck or the like. A conventional digital volume control device of this type includes an UP key for increasing the volume and a DOWN key for reducing the volume, and when any switch is operated once, the volume is increased step by step. It is designed to increase or decrease, and these UP key and D
The OWN key is usually composed of a push button type switch. In addition, how many decibels (dB) each step is made differs depending on the configuration of the device, etc., and in the case of FIG. Increases or decreases by 10 dB, and as the number of steps increases, the amount of increase or decrease gradually decreases,
When it exceeds, it changes by 1 dB.

In this way, the amount of increase / decrease is reduced as the number of steps increases. If the amount of increase / decrease is only 1 dB when the number of steps is 1, the operator must operate the switch many times. On the contrary, if the number of steps exceeds 10, and if the number of steps is changed by 10 dB, the volume becomes too high or too low.

[0004]

In the digital volume control device as described above, the volume can be changed stepwise depending on the number of times the switch is operated, so that the volume setting is simpler than that of the conventional analog volume control device. And there is an advantage that it can be done quickly. However, in this type of conventional digital volume control device, since the volume increase / decrease amount when the UP key or DOWN key is operated once is fixed, only a fixed volume level can be set, and fine adjustment of the volume is possible. There is a problem that you cannot do it.

In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to reduce the volume increase / decrease per key operation. However, if the volume increase / decrease is reduced, the number of times the key is operated increases. However, the operability is reduced. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the UP key and the DOWN key are rotated instead of the push button type, and the volume is increased or decreased by one step each time the key is rotated by a predetermined angle. When the key is rotated, the key operation when changing the volume greatly is easier than when using the push button type, but the mechanism of the rotary key is generally more complicated than that of the push button type. Also, the key itself may become large. In addition, push-button type keys are now widely used, and it is desirable that these existing push-button type keys can be used as they are.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a volume control device capable of performing rough adjustment and fine adjustment of the volume by changing the operation method of the keys.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment. According to the present invention, an UP key 5 for instructing an increase in volume of an electric device for outputting a voice, and an electric device The present invention is applied to a volume control device provided with a DOWN key 6 for instructing a volume reduction, and volume control means 4, 8 for stepwise increasing or decreasing the volume of an electric device according to the operation of the UP key 5 and the DOWN key 6, If the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, the DOWN
The volume control means 4 and 8 are configured so that the increase amount of the volume is smaller than that when the UP key 5 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed after the N key 6 was operated. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the volume control device according to the first aspect, when the UP key 5 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the DOWN key 6 was operated, the volume is increased in predetermined step units. When the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, the volume control means 4 and 8 are operated to increase the volume for each intermediate step unit obtained by further dividing the step unit. It is what constitutes. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the volume control device according to the second aspect, when the volume level immediately before the UP key 5 is operated is in the middle of the step unit, the volume level is closest to the previous volume level. The sound volume control means 4 and 8 are configured to increase the sound volume in steps. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the UP key 5 for instructing to increase the volume of the electric device that outputs a sound, the DOWN key 6 for instructing to decrease the volume of the electric device, and the operation of the UP key 5 and the DOWN key 6 It is applied to a volume control device provided with volume control means 4 and 8 for increasing / decreasing the volume of an electric device in a stepwise manner, and when the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated. , The volume control means 4 and 8 are configured so that the amount of decrease in volume is smaller than that when the DOWN key 6 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed after the UP key 5 was operated. The invention according to claim 5 is the volume control device according to claim 4, wherein U
When the DOWN key 6 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the P key 5 was operated, the volume is decreased in units of a predetermined step, and the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated. Then, the volume control means 4 and 8 are configured to reduce the volume for each intermediate step unit obtained by further dividing the step unit.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the volume control device according to the fifth aspect, when the volume level immediately before the DOWN key 6 is operated is in the middle of the step unit, the volume level is closest to the previous volume level. The volume control means 4 and 8 are configured so as to reduce the volume up to the step unit.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, the U key is operated after the predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated.
By making the volume increase amount smaller than that when the P key 5 is operated, it is possible to finely adjust the volume when the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated. , When the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, it is possible to roughly adjust the volume. According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the UP key 5 is operated after the DOWN key 6 has been operated for a predetermined period of time or later, the volume is increased by a predetermined step unit to perform the coarse adjustment of the volume, and the DOWN When the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the key 6 is operated, the volume is increased in each intermediate step unit to finely adjust the volume. In the invention according to claim 3, if the volume level immediately before the UP key 5 is operated is the intermediate level, the volume is increased to the step unit closest to the intermediate level, thereby performing the fine adjustment and the coarse adjustment of the volume. Make sure that no inconvenience occurs when doing either of the above. In the invention according to claim 4, the DO key is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated.
When the WN key 6 is operated, the volume decrease amount is set to be smaller than that when the DOWN key 6 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed after the UP key 5 was operated. The volume can be finely adjusted if the DOWN key 6 is operated within the time, and the volume can be roughly adjusted if the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated. And According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the DOWN key 6 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed after the UP key 5 was operated, the volume is reduced by a predetermined step unit, and the volume is roughly adjusted.
When the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the P key 5 is operated, the volume is decreased in each intermediate step unit to finely adjust the volume. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, if the volume level immediately before the DOWN key 6 is operated is the intermediate level, the volume is reduced to the step unit closest to the intermediate level, thereby performing the fine adjustment and the coarse adjustment of the volume. Make sure that no inconvenience occurs when doing either of the above.

Incidentally, in the section of means and action for solving the above-mentioned problems for explaining the constitution of the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments are used to make the present invention easy to understand. It is not limited to.

[0010]

【Example】

-First Embodiment- Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the volume control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a digital volume control device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a tuner for receiving AM or FM broadcasting, 2 is an audio cassette deck, and 3 is an audio switching circuit for switching and outputting an audio signal output from either the tuner 1 or the cassette deck 2. . Reference numeral 4 denotes an electronic volume IC that digitally adjusts the signal level of the audio signal output from the audio switching circuit 3, to which an UP key 5 for increasing the signal level and a DOWN key 6 for decreasing the signal level are connected. There is. UP key 5
The DOWN key 6 and the DOWN key 6 are both push button type switches.

Reference numeral 7 is a voice output circuit for amplifying the output of the electronic volume IC 4 to output a voice, and 8 is a CPU for performing the processing of FIG. 3 which will be described later, and controls the voice switching circuit 3 and the electronic volume IC 4. Reference numeral 9 is a ROM that stores volume change data of the electronic volume IC 4. In this embodiment, two types of volume change data are provided as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). FIG. 2 (a) is data showing the volume change amount during normal operation, and FIG. 2 (b) is fine adjustment. It is additional data when performing.

"Number of steps" shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b)
Is determined by the number of times the UP key 5 or the DOWN key 6 is operated, and the “attenuation amount” indicates the volume adjustment amount in the electronic volume IC 4. Hereinafter, the volume level set by FIG. 2B will be referred to as an intermediate level. As shown in FIG.
When the number of steps is small, the amount of attenuation changes by 10 dB, when the number of steps is large, the amount of change of the attenuation is gradually reduced, and when the number of steps exceeds 10, the amount of change of the attenuation is 1 dB. In this way, by changing the amount of change in the attenuation amount depending on the number of steps, the UP keys 5 and D
The number of times the OWN key 6 is operated can be reduced. In addition,
The value of the attenuation amount corresponding to the number of steps is shown in FIGS.
Not limited to.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 8. The CPU 8 starts the operation of FIG. 3 when a main switch (not shown) is turned on. The operation of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. In step S1 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the DOWN key 6 has been operated. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S2 and it is determined whether or not the UP key 5 has been operated. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S1, and if the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not the step counter value is the maximum value. Here, the step counter is a value indicating the total number of times the UP key 5 or the DOWN key 6 has been operated, and corresponds to the number of steps in FIGS. 2A and 2B. If the step counter value is the maximum value, it indicates that the volume level is the maximum, and in this case, the volume cannot be further raised.
Return to 1. On the other hand, when the step counter value is not the maximum value, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether a timer (not shown) inside the CPU 8 is operating. This timer is DOWN
This is for measuring the time from when the key 6 is operated to when the UP key 5 is operated, and the measurement is automatically stopped when a predetermined time, for example, 0.5 seconds has elapsed since the operation started.

If it is determined in step S4 that the timer is operating, the process proceeds to step S5, and the timer is stopped. In step S6, the step counter is set to "0.
Count up only 5 ”. That is, when the timer is operating, the DOWN key is pressed immediately after the UP key 5 is operated.
This indicates that the N key 6 has been operated. In this case, since it can be determined that the operator desires fine adjustment, the step counter of the step counter is selected so that the intermediate level shown in FIG. 2B can be selected. Reduce the count-up amount.

If the determination in step S4 is negative, the process proceeds to step S7 and it is determined whether or not the current volume level is an intermediate level. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S6 to increment the step counter by "0.5", and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S8 to increment the step number by "1". Step S6 or S
When the process of step 8 is completed, the process proceeds to step S9, where the attenuation amount corresponding to the step counter value (step number) is
Select from (a) and (b), send the selected attenuation amount to the electronic volume IC 4, and return to step S1. As a result, the voice output circuit 7 outputs a voice having a volume corresponding to the step counter value.

If the determination in step S1 is affirmative, the flow advances to step S10 to determine whether the step counter value is the minimum value. If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to step S1, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S11. Step S1
At 1, it is determined whether the step counter value is in the range of 2 to 10. The determination in step S11 is provided because the intermediate level in FIG.
This is because it is provided only in the range, and when the intermediate level is provided outside the range of 1 to 10, the determination range in step S11 may be changed correspondingly.

When the determination in step S11 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S12, and it is determined whether the step counter value indicates the intermediate level in FIG. 2B, that is, whether the current volume is the intermediate level. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S13 to activate the timer. In step S14, the step counter value is counted down by "1" and the process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, if the determination in step S11 is negative, the process proceeds to step S14. Step S
When the determination of 12 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S15, the step counter value is counted down by "0.5", and the process returns to step S9.

Summarizing the processing of FIG. 3 described above,
When the DOWN key 6 is operated, the timer is activated and the DO
The UP key 5 is pressed within a predetermined time after the WN key 6 is operated.
2 is operated, the volume level shown in FIG.
The volume is set based on the intermediate level of (b). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the volume changes by an amount (B in the figure) smaller than the normal volume change amount (A in the figure).
On the other hand, when the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, the volume is set based on the level shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, if the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the volume is once lowered, the volume can be increased by a smaller amount than usual, so that the volume can be finely adjusted. It will be possible. On the contrary, when it is not necessary to finely adjust the volume, the UP key 5 may be operated after a predetermined time has elapsed after the DOWN key 6 was operated.
The same key can be used to make fine and coarse volume adjustments.

-Second Embodiment-In the first embodiment, the sound volume can be finely adjusted when the sound volume is increased, whereas in the second embodiment described below, the sound volume is adjusted even when the sound volume is reduced. It allows fine adjustment. Since the second embodiment is common to the first embodiment except for the operation of the CPU 8, the operation of the CPU 8 will be mainly described below.

5 and 6 are flow charts showing the operation of the CPU 8 of the second embodiment. Step S101 in FIG.
Then, it is determined whether or not the DOWN key 6 has been operated.
If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S102 to determine whether the UP key 5 has been operated. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S101, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S103. After that, in steps S103 to S111, the volume increase amount when the UP key 5 is operated is set as in the first embodiment.

First, in step S103, it is determined whether or not the step counter value is the maximum value. If the determination is affirmative, the volume cannot be increased any further, so step S1.
Returning to 01, if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the step counter value is 1 to
It is determined whether it is within the range of 9. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S105, and it is determined whether the timer A is operating. The timer A is for detecting whether or not the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated.

If the determination in step S105 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S106, and it is determined whether or not the current volume level is the intermediate level. If the determination is negative, step S10
7, the timer B is operated to measure the timer for 0.5 seconds, for example. The timer B is for detecting whether or not the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated. In step S108, the step counter is incremented by "1".

If the determination in step S105 is affirmative, the flow advances to step S109 to stop the operation of timer A.
When the process of step S109 is completed and step S1
When the determination of 06 is denied, both are step S110.
And the step counter is incremented by "0.5". When the determination in step S104 is negative, the process proceeds to step S111, and it is determined whether or not the current volume level is the intermediate level. If the determination is negative, step S
If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S110. When the process of step S108 or S110 ends, the process proceeds to step S112, the attenuation amount corresponding to the step counter value is selected from FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the selected attenuation amount is sent to the electronic volume IC 4 and then step S112.
Return to 101. As a result, the volume output circuit 7 outputs a voice having a volume corresponding to the step counter value.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S101 is affirmative, the flow advances to step S113 in FIG. 6 to determine whether the step counter value is the minimum value. If the determination is affirmative, the volume cannot be reduced any further, so step S101.
If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S114.
Thereafter, in steps S114 to S121, the volume reduction amount when the DOWN key 6 is operated is set.

First, in step S114, it is determined whether or not the step counter value is within the range of 2-10. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S115 to determine whether the timer B is currently operating. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S116, and it is determined whether or not the current volume level is the intermediate level. If the determination is negative, step S11
7, the timer B is operated to start the timer measurement. In step S118, the step counter value is counted down by "1" and the process proceeds to step S112.

If the determination in step S115 is affirmative, the flow advances to step S119 to stop the operation of timer B.
When the process of step S119 is completed and step S1
If the determination in 16 is affirmative, step S120 is performed.
And proceeds to step S112 after counting down the step counter value by "0.5". On the other hand, step S
When the determination of 114 is denied, the process proceeds to step S121,
It is determined whether or not the current volume level is the intermediate level. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S118, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S120.

5 and 6 described above are summarized, when the UP key 5 is operated, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed. That is, when the DOWN key 6 is operated by a predetermined time before the UP key 5 is operated, the increase amount of the volume is reduced to finely adjust the volume, and the UP key 5 is operated for a predetermined time. If the DOWN key 6 has not been operated before, the sound volume is adjusted as usual. On the other hand, when the DOWN key 6 is operated, if the UP key 5 is operated by a predetermined time before that, the volume decrease amount is reduced to finely adjust the volume, and the DOWN key 6 is operated. If the UP key 5 has not been operated by a predetermined time before, the sound volume is adjusted as usual.

As described above, when the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated, or when the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated.
When the P key 5 is operated, the volume is finely adjusted, and when the UP key 5 or the DOWN key 6 is operated after a predetermined time, the normal volume is adjusted. Both fine adjustment and coarse adjustment of the volume can be performed without adding.

In the second embodiment, the sound volume is finely and roughly adjusted in both directions of increasing and decreasing the sound volume. However, contrary to the first embodiment, the sound volume is reduced. Only the volume fine adjustment and the coarse adjustment may be performed. In each of the above embodiments, one intermediate level is provided between each number of steps in FIG. 2A, but more intermediate levels may be provided. Further, it may be possible to separately select whether or not to set the volume of the intermediate level. In each of the above embodiments, the push button type UP switch and the DOWN
Although the example using the switch has been described, a light-sensitive or pressure-sensitive switch such as a rotary switch or a touch panel may be used. Alternatively, a switch operated by a remote controller may be used.

In the embodiment thus constructed, the electronic volume IC 4 and the CPU 8 correspond to the volume control means.

[0033]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated, a predetermined time after the DOWN key 6 is operated. After that, in order to reduce the amount of increase in the volume as compared with the case where the UP key 5 is operated, it is possible to perform both the fine adjustment and the coarse adjustment of the volume by changing the operation method of the key. According to the invention of claim 2, DOWN
When the UP key 5 is operated within a predetermined time after the key 6 is operated, the volume is changed in a unit smaller than the step unit which is the normal volume setting amount. Therefore, the intermediate level of the normal volume setting amount is set. You can set the volume to. Claim 3
According to the invention described in (1), when the volume level immediately before the UP key 5 is operated is in the middle of the step unit, the volume is once increased to the step unit. Inconvenience does not occur even when adjusting. According to the invention of claim 4, UP
DOWN key 6 within a predetermined time after key 5 is operated
When is operated, the volume decrease amount is made smaller than when the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated. Therefore, by changing the key operation method, the volume is finely adjusted. And coarse adjustment can be performed. According to the invention described in claim 5, when the DOWN key 6 is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key 5 is operated, the volume is changed in a unit smaller than the step unit which is the normal volume setting amount. Therefore, the volume can be set to an intermediate level of the normal volume setting amount. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the volume level immediately before operating the DOWN key 6 is in the middle of the step unit, the volume is once reduced to the step unit, so the volume is finely adjusted. In both cases, there will be no inconvenience when making rough adjustments.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a volume control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between the number of steps of an electronic volume and the amount of attenuation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the amount of change in volume level.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart following FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tuner 2 Cassette Deck 3 Audio Switching Circuit 4 Electronic Volume IC 5 UP Key 6 DOWN Key 7 Audio Output Circuit 8 CPU 9 ROM

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A UP key for instructing to increase the volume of an electric device that outputs a sound, a DOWN key for instructing to decrease the volume of the electric device, and the electric device in response to an operation of the UP key and the DOWN key. And a volume control unit for increasing / decreasing the volume of the D step, the volume control unit is configured to operate the D key when the UP key is operated within a predetermined time after the DOWN key is operated.
After the OWN key is operated, the U
A volume control device characterized in that the increase amount of the volume is smaller than that when the P key is operated. 2. The volume control device according to claim 1, wherein the volume control means sets a predetermined step unit when the UP key is operated after the predetermined time has elapsed since the DOWN key was operated. Increase the volume for each
Within the predetermined time after the WN key is operated, the UP
A volume control device, wherein when a key is operated, the volume is increased for each intermediate step unit obtained by further dividing the step unit. 3. The volume control device according to claim 2, wherein the volume control means, when the volume level immediately before the UP key is operated is in the middle of the step unit,
A volume control device, wherein the volume is increased to the step unit closest to the immediately preceding volume level. 4. An UP key for instructing to increase the volume of an electric device that outputs a sound, a DOWN key for instructing to decrease the volume of the electric device, and the electric device according to an operation of the UP key and the DOWN key. And a volume control device for increasing / decreasing the volume in a stepwise manner, the volume control device is configured to operate the U key when the DOWN key is operated within a predetermined time after the UP key is operated.
The DOW after the predetermined time has elapsed after the P key was operated.
A volume control device characterized by reducing the volume reduction amount as compared with the case where the N key is operated. 5. The volume control device according to claim 4, wherein the volume control means sets a predetermined step unit when the DOWN key is operated after the predetermined time has elapsed since the UP key was operated. The volume is reduced for each
Within the predetermined time after the key is operated, the DOWN
A volume control device, wherein when a key is operated, the volume is reduced for each intermediate step unit obtained by further dividing the step unit. 6. The volume control device according to claim 5, wherein the volume control means, when the volume level immediately before the DOWN key is operated is in the middle of the step unit, the volume immediately before. A volume control device, wherein the volume is reduced to the step unit closest to the level.