JPH09307386A - Vacuum tube amplifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the durability of vacuum tubes, to improve the operability and to interface the amplifier with a digital peripheral equipment by using the vacuum tube amplifier for amplifying an audio signal and allowing a computer control section to conduct various control and protection operation or the like. SOLUTION: An audio signal received from an input terminal 11 is pre-amplified by using a vacuum tube 12, an equalizer amplifier 21 is used to provide a desired frequency characteristic to the signal and an electronic volume 22 adjusts a level to be a prescribed level. Furthermore, a vacuum tube 13 is used to amplify the resulting signal and the result is outputted via an output transformer 14. A microcomputer 23 controls the equalizer amplifier 21 and the electronic volume 22 through the input by an up-down switch 25 and a changeover switch 26 and a display result of a liquid crystal display section 24. The microcomputer 23 is provided with a self-diagnosis function such as detection of an overload and an overcurrent or the like. Moreover, the microcomputer 23 controls indication of voltage and current of each section, indication of sound volume and sound quality and display of a warming-up time and exchanges a digital signal with an external device via an external terminal 27.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum tube amplifier for amplifying an audio signal by using a vacuum tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of vacuum tube low-frequency amplifiers (audio amplifiers), which are constituted only by vacuum tubes, which have reached their heyday in the 1930s, are known to date. This vacuum tube amplifier has a sound quality unique to a vacuum tube, unlike an amplifier using a modern semiconductor, and therefore many fans still exist. In addition, the shape of the vacuum tube and the brightness during operation give it a high-class and retro feel.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional vacuum tube amplifier, since the circuit is composed of only vacuum tubes, it is difficult to perform fine control of the sound quality. Further, there is a problem that it does not have a self-diagnosis function for detecting an overload, an overcurrent, etc., and it is difficult to perform processing such as displaying an operating state and shaping a signal. Further, in the conventional vacuum tube amplifier, since all signal processing is performed by an analog method, there is a problem that it is not possible to connect with peripheral devices which are premised on digital signal processing, which exists at present.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vacuum tube amplifier that can perform complex signal processing while maintaining the original sound quality and appearance of a vacuum tube and that can be connected to digital peripheral devices.

[0005]

The vacuum amplifier of the present invention comprises:
It is characterized by comprising a vacuum tube amplifying section for amplifying a signal by using a vacuum tube, and a computer control section for controlling the vacuum tube amplifying section.

[0006]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an example of a vacuum tube amplifier according to the present invention. In the example shown in FIG.
The vacuum tube amplifier 1 of the present invention includes a vacuum tube amplifying section 2 for amplifying an audio signal which is an analog signal, operations such as a bias level of the vacuum tube amplifying section 2, and an equalizer amplifier, an electronic volume, a display section, and external peripheral equipment. And a computer control unit 3 for controlling input / output between and.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum tube amplification unit 2
Is an input terminal 11 for inputting an audio signal,
A vacuum tube 12 for amplifying the audio signal input from the input terminal 11 to a level at which signal processing can be performed, and a vacuum tube 13 for amplifying the audio signal processed by the computer control unit 3 to a final output level, An output transformer 14 for connecting a speaker or the like (not shown). As the analog circuit using the resistors and capacitors around the vacuum tubes 12 and 13, any of conventionally known circuits can be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the computer control section 3 includes an equalizer amplifier 21 for arbitrarily controlling the characteristics for each frequency, an electronic volume 22 for adjusting the signal level, and a vacuum tube 13 of the vacuum tube amplification section 2. , A liquid crystal display unit 24 for displaying a signal processing result, an up / down switch 25 and a changeover switch 26 for inputting control information to the microcomputer 23, It is composed of a terminal 27 for connecting to an external peripheral device, an infrared amplifier 28 and an infrared phototransistor 29 for remote control operation. The computer controller 3 can naturally process the signal as a digital signal. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the equalizer amplifier 21 has an A / D converter (not shown) and the electronic volume 22 has a D / D converter (not shown). It can also be configured to have an A converter.

In the vacuum tube amplifier 1 of the present invention shown in FIG.
From the input terminal 11, a CD player, a record player,
Input an audio signal such as a tuner. The input audio signal is temporarily amplified by the vacuum tube 12 to a level at which it can be processed in the subsequent stage. The audio signal amplified by the vacuum tube 12 is converted into a desired frequency characteristic by the equalizer amplifier 21. Equalizer amplifier 21
The audio signal converted into the desired frequency characteristic by is adjusted to a predetermined level by the electronic volume 22.

The audio signal thus processed is finally amplified by the vacuum tube 13 and the output transformer 1
4 is supplied to audio signal output means such as a speaker and headphones. The control of the equalizer amplifier 21 and the electronic volume 22 is performed by the microcomputer 23 based on the input of the up / down switch 25 and the changeover switch 26 and the level display result for each frequency on the liquid crystal display unit 24, for example.

In the above-described vacuum tube amplifier 1 of the present invention, the vacuum tube amplifying section 2 is used to simply amplify the audio signal.
Since the computer control unit 3 is used to control the signal level, the frequency characteristic, etc., a method of appropriately detecting an overload and an overcurrent due to an output short circuit and cutting the signal by the electronic volume 22 through the microcomputer 23, etc. These can be controlled automatically.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the external appearance of the vacuum tube amplifier 1 of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the chassis 31
A power transformer 32 and an output transformer 3 for the power supply
Each circuit component such as 3 and the vacuum tubes 12 and 13 are directly installed without a cover. Further, the front panel 34 of the chassis 31 is provided with an up / down switch 25, a liquid crystal display unit 24, and a changeover switch 26. In this example, the knobs have a modern amplifier configuration,
Anyone can use it easily. Information can be input by selecting a desired function with the changeover switch 26, and the level can be easily adjusted by pushing the up / down switch 25 to a desired level. Alternatively, these controls may be performed by a personal computer connected via the external terminal 27.

Since the vacuum tube amplifier 1 of the present invention has the computer control unit 3, in addition to the on-board equipment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, equipment such as a VU meter, a spectrum meter, and an optical cable is installed. be able to.

Further, as control display contents on the liquid crystal display unit 24, a warm-up time display, an input switching display, a bias current / voltage display of each vacuum tube,
Display of voltage and current of each vacuum tube, display of volume and sound quality, display of amplification factor, display of total usage time, trademark, creation date,
It is possible to add a demo display such as the name of the vacuum tube, a display of usage instructions, and a display of the self-diagnosis result.

Further, in the computer control unit 3,
Infrared remote control, power on / off control, input switching control, volume control, sound quality control, self-diagnosis control can also be performed. It is also possible to provide the computer control unit 3 with a digital signal processing circuit and add other functions such as construction of a surround system, signal shaping and analysis.

As described above, since the vacuum tube amplifier 1 of the present invention has the computer control unit 3 as compared with the conventional vacuum tube amplifier, it becomes possible to use a device such as a remote controller and the operability. In addition to being excellent, it is possible to obtain optimum operation of the vacuum tube by performing program control. Further, a self-diagnosis function is provided so that a vacuum tube failure or the like can be detected, and it is possible to prevent productivity from being reduced due to variations in the vacuum tube. Furthermore,
Since the optimum operation of the vacuum tube can be selected, the durability of the vacuum tube can be improved.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the computer control unit is configured to perform various control operations, protection operations and the like by utilizing the characteristics of the conventional vacuum tube amplifier. While maintaining the original sound quality and appearance of a vacuum tube that cannot be produced by a semiconductor amplifier, it is possible to obtain higher quality sound by computer control and improve operability. It is also possible to improve the productivity and durability of the vacuum tube by providing a self-diagnosis function and displaying the operating state of the vacuum tube. Further, it is possible to perform interface with digital equipment, support for high-fidelity sound source by photoelectric transmission, surround by digital signal processing, signal shaping and analysis.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a vacuum tube amplifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance of a vacuum tube amplifier according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Vacuum tube amplifier 2 Vacuum tube amplifier 3 Computer controller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vacuum tube amplifier, comprising: a vacuum tube amplifying section for amplifying a signal using a vacuum tube; and a computer control section for controlling the vacuum tube amplifying section. 2. The computer control unit, an equalizer amplifier for arbitrarily controlling characteristics for each frequency, an electronic volume for adjusting a signal level, a liquid crystal display unit for displaying a signal processing result, and 2. The vacuum tube amplifier according to claim 1, wherein bias control of the vacuum tube amplification section and control of the equalizer amplifier, electronic volume control and liquid crystal display section are performed. 3. The vacuum tube amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the computer control unit has a self-diagnosis function such as overload detection and overcurrent detection. 4. The computer control unit is provided with an external peripheral device connection means so that digital signals can be exchanged between the computer control unit and the external peripheral device to externally control each function of the vacuum tube amplifier. The vacuum tube amplifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured.