JPH1188968A - Operating tone generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the generator to generate an operating tone in response to an operated key or the like with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: An operation section 7 gives an operation signal corresponding to an operated key or the like to a microcomputer 1. The microcomputer 1 based on the operation signal controls a frequency generating circuit 2 and a PWM waveform generating circuit 5. An LPF 6 generates an attenuation signal S3 from a PWM signal S2 and controls a gain of a variable amplifier VCA 3 based on the signal S3. The VCA 3 controls the amplitude of a signal S1 from the frequency generating circuit 2 in response to the attenuation signal. The operating tone is generated by supplying a signal S4 from the VCA 3 to a speaker 4 with a simple configuration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation sound generator suitable for use as an operation device in audio / video equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the progress of computerization, in input / output units of various devices, an operation for generating an electronic sound when a key or the like is operated is performed so that a user can easily confirm the operation of the key or the like. A sound generator is provided. In such an operation sound generator, a signal of a predetermined frequency is supplied to a VCA (variable amplifier) as a sound source, and the amplitude of the signal is controlled by an attenuation signal supplied via an A / D converter. A configuration for supplying an output signal to a speaker is used.

[0003] Also, many audio / video devices are provided with a remote control device for remote control wirelessly. The remote control device is configured to encode control information and modulate the output to form a remote control output, and transmit the remote control output to a receiving unit of another device.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned operation sound generating device requires an A / D converter, which is disadvantageous not only in terms of cost but also hinders reduction in size and weight. In addition, when the operation sound generating function is added to the remote control device, it is necessary to generate a carrier wave for the remote control signal and a signal for the operation sound, respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation sound generating apparatus which has a simple structure, is advantageous in terms of cost, and can be reduced in size and weight.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is an operation sound generating apparatus which generates an operation sound when operating the operation means. Control means for generating an operation signal in response thereto, signal generation means for generating a signal having a frequency corresponding to the operation means, PWM signal generation means for generating a modulated PWM signal corresponding to the operation means, and a PWM signal. Integrating means for generating an attenuated signal by integration, variable gain means supplied with a signal from the signal generating means, the gain of which is controlled by the attenuated signal, and acoustic conversion means supplied with an output signal of the variable gain means An operation sound generating device comprising:

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation sound generating device which generates an operation sound when the operation means is operated, wherein the control means generates an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the operation means; Signal generation means for generating a signal having a frequency corresponding to the signal, remote control signal generation means for generating a remote control signal corresponding to the operation means, sound conversion means supplied with a signal from the signal generation means, The signal from the means is provided as a carrier,
An operation sound generating apparatus comprising: a modulation unit to which a remote control signal is supplied; and a remote control signal transmission unit to which an output of the modulation unit is supplied.

According to the present invention, an attenuated signal can be formed by integrating a PWM signal modulated according to an operation signal. The amplitude of the signal of the frequency corresponding to the key operated on the operation unit is controlled by the attenuation signal, and the operation sound signal is output. Therefore, there is no need to form an attenuated signal by the D / A converter, and the configuration can be simplified. Further, in the present invention, in order to generate an operation sound, a signal having a frequency corresponding to the operation means is also used as a carrier when modulating a remote control signal. Therefore, the operation sound signal and the carrier of the remote control signal can be generated by the common signal generation circuit, and the configuration can be simplified.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer (shown by a microcomputer in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, the operation sound generation device includes a microcomputer 1 as a control means, a frequency generation circuit 2, a VCA (voltage control amplifier) 3, a speaker 4 as an acoustic conversion means, a PWM waveform generation circuit 5, and an LPF (low-pass). Filter 6). For example, although not shown, the operation sound generating device is used for audio / video equipment such as a VTR with a camera-integrated liquid crystal monitor.

An operation unit 7 is connected to the microcomputer 1 via a bus 8, and an operation signal from the operation unit 7 is supplied to the microcomputer 1. The operation unit 7 is an operation switch or the like provided on the outer surface of the audio / video device.
Although not shown, other components of the audio / video device are connected to the bus 8.

The microcomputer 1 forms two control signals based on an operation signal from the operation unit 7. One control signal is supplied to the frequency generation circuit 2 and the other control signal is supplied to the PWM waveform generation circuit 5. One control signal controls ON / OFF of the frequency generation circuit 2 and the output frequency. By the other control signal, PW
The duty ratio of the PWM waveform of the M waveform generation circuit 5 is controlled.

The frequency generation circuit 2 is generated by operating a key or the like on the operation unit 7 based on a control signal from the microcomputer 1, and generates a signal of a frequency corresponding to the operated key or the like, for example, a pulse signal S1. (See FIG. 2). The signal S1 from the frequency generation circuit 2 is
When the key etc. is operated, the attenuation waveform falls and VC
It occurs continuously until the gain of A3 becomes 0.
The pulse signal S1 generated in the frequency generation circuit 2 is supplied to the input terminal of the VCA3. VCA3 is a variable gain amplifier whose gain is varied by a control voltage.

The PWM waveform generating circuit 5 forms a PWM signal S2 (see FIG. 2) modulated by a predetermined pulse width based on a control signal from the microcomputer 1. PWM
The signal S2 is controlled such that the duty ratio gradually decreases from a state where the duty ratio is large, so that no pulse is finally generated. The PWM signal S2 formed in the PWM waveform generation circuit 5 is supplied to an LPF (low-pass filter) 6.

The LPF 6 is composed of, for example, a combination of a resistor and a capacitor.
The signal S2 is integrated, and the attenuation signal S3 (FIG.
Is output. This attenuation signal S3 is supplied to the control terminal of VCA3.

The gain of the VCA 3 changes according to the level of the attenuation signal S 3 supplied to the control terminal. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, an operation sound signal S4 having an envelope similar to the waveform of the attenuation signal S3 is output from the VCA 3.
The operation sound signal S4 is supplied to the speaker 4. The audio signal is acoustically converted in the speaker 4, and the frequency corresponding to the operated key or the like and the sound of the attenuation waveform are output to the speaker 4.
Arising from Thereby, the user who operates the key can easily confirm the operation.

It is not necessary to change both the frequency of the operation sound signal and the attenuation waveform by using keys or the like, and by controlling one of them, the key operated to change the pitch of the operation sound or the length of the operation sound can be changed. It may be made to differ according to.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a control unit. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a control unit 11 as a control unit, a frequency generation circuit 12,
It comprises a VCA 13, a speaker 14, a switch circuit 15, a remote control signal generation circuit (shown by a remote control signal generation circuit in FIG. 3) 16, and a modulator 18. Another embodiment is provided in a camera-integrated VTR that transmits a reproduction signal to a television receiver wirelessly and also transmits a remote control signal for controlling the television receiver.

An operation unit 17 is connected to the control unit 11 via a bus 20, and control data corresponding to an operation of a key or the like is supplied to the control unit 11. The operation unit 17 is an operation switch or the like provided on the outer surface of the audio / video device. Although not shown, other components of the audio / video device are connected to the bus 20.

The control section 11 forms four control signals based on operation signals from the operation section 7. First control signal C
1 is supplied to the frequency generation circuit 12 and the second control signal C
2 is supplied to the VCA 13, the third control signal C3 is supplied to the switch circuit 15, and the fourth control signal C4 is supplied to the remote control signal generation circuit 16. As in the above-described embodiment, the first control signal C1 causes
The on / off and output frequency of the frequency generation circuit 2 are controlled, and the second control signal C2 is an attenuation signal, and the gain of the VCA 13 is controlled by the control signal C2.

The frequency generation circuit 12 generates a signal having a frequency corresponding to the operated key or the like, such as a pulse signal, generated by operating a key or the like on the operation unit 17 based on a control signal C1 from the control unit 11. Occurs. The signal from the frequency generation circuit 12 is continuously generated during a period from when the key or the like is operated until the attenuation waveform falls and the gain of the VCA 13 becomes zero. The pulse signal generated in the frequency generation circuit 12 is supplied to the input terminal of the switch circuit 15.

The switch circuit 15 has a third control signal C3
Is controlled by When a remote control signal is not generated, that is, when operating a key or the like to control the device itself, the input terminal is connected to one output terminal 15a, and when a remote control signal is generated, that is, the other device is controlled. In order to operate a key or the like, the input terminal is connected to the other output terminal 15b. A pulse signal from the frequency generation circuit 12 is supplied to an input terminal of the switch circuit 15. Therefore, when the remote control signal is not generated, the pulse signal is input to the VCA 13, and when the remote control signal is generated, the pulse signal is supplied to the amplitude modulator 18.

The fourth control signal C4 is supplied from the control unit 11 to the remote control signal generation circuit 16. The remote control signal generation circuit 16 forms a remote control signal of a predetermined format based on the control signal C4 from the control unit 11. The signal formed in the remote control signal generation circuit 16 is supplied to the amplitude modulator 18 as a modulation signal.

The amplitude modulator 18 performs amplitude modulation using the pulse signal selected by the switch circuit 15 as a carrier, and supplies the modulated output to an infrared light emitting diode 19. When the infrared diode 19 is driven by the modulation output, an infrared remote control signal is formed, and this signal is transmitted to a receiving unit of another device. As described above, the switch circuit 15 supplies a pulse signal to the amplitude modulator 18 when a remote control signal is generated. Therefore, in this case, no operation sound is generated.

The gain of the VCA 13 is controlled in accordance with the level of the second control signal C2 supplied to the control terminal. The amplitude of the pulse signal supplied via the switch circuit 15 is controlled by the VCA 13. The operation sound signal generated in the VCA 13 is supplied to the speaker 14. As described above, when the remote control signal is not generated, the switch circuit 15 selectively switches the pulse signal to V.
Supply to CA13. Therefore, in this case, an operation sound corresponding to the operation of the key or the like is generated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second control signal C2
Is used as the attenuation signal. The signal C2 may be formed by a PWM waveform generating circuit and an LPF as in the embodiment, or may be a simple binary signal of ON / OFF. Further, one of the frequency of the operation sound signal and the attenuation waveform may be controlled according to the operation of the key or the like.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the switch circuit 15 is provided.
5, the output pulse signal of the frequency generation circuit 12 may be supplied to both the VCA 13 and the amplitude modulator 18. In this case, the control signal C2 for the VCA 13 and the control signal C4 for the remote control signal generating circuit 16 switch between when a remote control signal is generated and when it is not generated. However, the operation sound may be generated in any case without distinguishing between when the remote control signal is generated and when it is not generated.

[0027]

According to the present invention, an attenuated operation sound signal can be generated with a simple configuration without using an A / D converter. Further, according to the present invention, a carrier wave for a remote control signal and a continuous wave for generating an operation sound can be generated by a common signal generation circuit, so that the scale of hardware can be reduced and cost can be reduced. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart used for describing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... microcomputer, 2 ... frequency generation circuit, 3 ... VCA, 4 ... speaker, 5 ... PW
M waveform generating circuit, 6 ... LPF, 11 ... control unit,
12: frequency generation circuit, 13: VCA, 15
..Switch circuits, 16 ... remote control signal generation circuits, 18 ... amplitude modulators

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Kojima 6-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operation sound generating device configured to generate an operation sound when an operation means is operated, a control means for generating an operation signal in accordance with an operation of the operation means, and a signal having a frequency corresponding to the operation means. Signal generating means for generating a modulated PWM signal corresponding to the operating means; integrating means for generating an attenuation signal by integrating the PWM signal; And a sound converting means to which an output signal of the variable gain means is supplied. 2. The operation sound generating device according to claim 1, wherein the integration means is constituted by a low-pass filter. 3. An operation sound generating device for generating an operation sound when an operation means is operated, a control means for generating an operation signal in accordance with an operation of the operation means, a signal having a frequency corresponding to the operation means. Signal generating means for generating a remote control signal corresponding to the operating means; sound converting means to which a signal from the signal generating means is supplied; and The signal is provided as a carrier,
An operation sound generating device, comprising: a modulation unit to which the remote control signal is supplied; and a remote control signal transmission unit to which an output of the modulation unit is supplied. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising switching means on an output side of said signal generating means, wherein the signal from said signal generating means is transmitted as a carrier wave to said amplitude modulating means when said remote control signal is transmitted. An operation sound generating apparatus, wherein the switching means is controlled so as to supply the signal from the signal generating means to the sound converting means when the remote control signal is not transmitted.