KR20100042702A - Apparatus and method for audio level controlling in image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an external signal input unit for receiving an audio signal from the outside; A tuner unit for receiving a broadcast signal; A controller configured to compensate the level of the audio signal by comparing the level of the audio signal input from the external signal input unit with a preset output level of the speaker; A voice processor configured to compensate the input audio signal according to a control signal of the controller; An audio output unit configured to output an audio signal compensated through the voice processing unit; And a memory unit for storing the rated output level of the audio output unit and storing the compensated audio level information. Therefore, the present invention detects the level of the audio signal input through the external device and attenuates the audio signal level to suit the maximum output level of the audio output unit. In addition, even if the audio signal level input through the external device is different, it is suitable for the user to listen to the audio output within a range that does not damage the audio output unit.

Description

Apparatus and method for audio level controlling in image display device}

The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for adjusting an audio signal of an image display device.

Generally, a TV is included in a video display device. The TV is tuned and demodulated into a voice and a video by tuning and demodulating a broadcast signal according to a channel selected by a user among broadcast signals transmitted from a broadcasting station. It is a video device that outputs through speech.

In recent years, as a video display device has been developed with the development of TV technology, a method of transmitting broadcast signals has been developed, and accordingly, interest in digital TV using a digital transmission method has increased. Digital TVs transmit analog broadcast signals in digital form, minimizing the effects of noise and facilitating the reproduction of the original image.

Such a video display device has been added with additional functions as a way to enhance the convenience of viewers. As one of such additional functions, the video display device is connected to various external devices through input / output terminals so that the video and internet can be accessed from the external device. Enable the use of information and the like. The user can adjust the audio signal to be output at the appropriate level of volume desired by the user when viewing information from the external external audio / video device through a television.

However, the size of the audio signal inputted from the external device to the external input / output terminal of the image display device is not constant. This is due to the specification of the external device. As a result, when the user uses this information from an external device, it is troublesome to adjust the level of an external audio signal.

In addition, even though audio of a normal input level is input, normal audio may not be output as audio of a level outside a predetermined standard is output or exceeded to a reference level range that can be output from a speaker.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for adjusting an audio signal of a projection display device that can be adjusted to suit the output level of a preset speaker when an audio signal is input through an external device.

An image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is an external signal input unit for receiving an audio signal from the outside; A tuner unit for receiving a broadcast signal; A controller configured to compensate the level of the audio signal by comparing the level of the audio signal input from the external signal input unit with a preset output level of the speaker; A voice processor configured to compensate the input audio signal according to a control signal of the controller; An audio output unit configured to output an audio signal compensated through the voice processing unit; And a memory unit for storing the rated output level of the audio output unit and storing the compensated audio level information.

As described above, the present invention detects the level of the audio signal input through the external device and attenuates the audio signal level to suit the maximum output level of the audio output unit.

Therefore, even if the audio signal level input through the external device is different, it is suitable for the user to listen and the audio can be output within a range that does not damage the audio output unit.

In addition, even if the user does not adjust the volume according to the cumbersome input of the audio signal, the user can conveniently adjust the size of the audio signal according to a preset condition to provide convenience to the user and realize accurate audio output.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing an audio signal adjusting apparatus of a video display device to which the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a receiver 110, a processor 120, an outputter 130, a controller 140, and a user interface 141. If necessary, the storage unit 150 may be further provided.

The receiving unit 100 may include an external signal input unit 111 and a tuner unit 112, and the processing unit 120 may include an image / audio signal switching unit 121, an A / D converter 122, and an MPEG decoder. And an image / audio signal processor 123 and an image memory unit 124, wherein the output unit 130 includes an image signal output unit 131, a display module 132, and an audio signal output unit 133. And a speaker 134, and the controller 140 may include a central processing unit 142 and a control memory unit 143, and the storage unit 150 may include a PVR control unit 151. And a storage medium 152.

The external signal input unit 111 receives an external signal received from an external device such as a digital versatile disk (DVD), a set top box, a camcorder, etc., and provides the external signal to the video / audio signal switching unit 121. . In particular, the external signal input unit 111 according to an embodiment of the present invention receives an audio signal of the external device through a connection with an external device and performs a function of compensating or adjusting the audio signal in the voice signal processing unit 123. .

The tuner unit 112 tunes at least one channel according to the control signal of the central processing unit 142, and decodes and / or separates the video / audio / data signals received through the tuned channel to the video / audio signal. The switching unit 121 and the like. For reference, the data signal includes EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information including information such as a start time and an end time of a broadcast program broadcasted in each channel.

The tuner unit 112 includes an analog tuner 112a for receiving an analog signal, a digital tuner 112d for receiving a digital signal, an analog decoder 112b (for example, an NTSC decoder) for decoding an analog signal, and a digital signal for decoding. And a digital decoder 112e (for example, a VSB decoder). For reference, the video / audio signal output through the VSB decoder has a form of a transport stream (TS).

The video / audio signal switching unit 121 selects at least one of the channels provided from the external signal input unit 111 and the tuner unit 112 and separates the video / audio signal of the channel as necessary. Afterwards, the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 are provided. The video / audio signal switching unit 121 may include a demultiplexer capable of separating video / audio / data signals.

When the signal selected by the video / audio signal switching unit 121 is an analog signal, after the video signal and the audio signal of the analog signal are separated, the analog video signal is converted into a digital video signal by the A / D converter 122. The converted audio signal may be provided to the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123, and the analog audio signal may be provided to the audio signal output unit 133. When the signal selected by the video / audio signal switching unit 121 is a digital signal, both the video signal and the audio signal of the digital signal may be provided to the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processing unit 123.

The MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processing unit 123 reconstruct and process the video / audio stream among the output signals of the video / audio signal switching unit 121 to video / audio data, and process the processed video signal. Is provided to the video signal output unit 131, and the processed audio signal is provided to the audio signal output unit 133. In addition, the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 may mix the OSD data provided by the central processor 142 with the restored and processed video signals.

In particular, when the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 are manually determined in the channel selection method determination step, the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 display the collected images of the channels on the screen in a predetermined manner.

When the images of the collected channels are displayed on the screen S, the collected channels and the currently selected channel are displayed in a small size on the screen, and one of the smaller channels is transmitted through the user interface unit 141. The image may be selected according to the control signal to be displayed on the screen.

The MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor according to an embodiment of the present invention detect an audio level from an external device input from the external signal input unit 111 and set the audio level from the tuner unit 112 or the user interface unit 141. Check. Thus, a function of compensating or attenuating the input audio level is performed so as not to exceed the maximum output level of the speaker 134.

The video memory unit 124 provides a memory area required for decoding and signal processing of the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123. In particular, this portion and / or the control memory unit 143 may be used in a search step for finding another channel that broadcasts the same content. In order to compare the content identity of two or more channels when the symbol use step and the image comparison step are performed, Used.

The video signal output unit 131 may include an LVDS receiver. The video signal output from the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 may be output through the display module 132. The audio signal output unit 133 processes the audio signal output from the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 through the speaker 134.

The user interface 141 may be, for example, a local key button attached to a remote controller or an image device, and receives various commands and information from a user, converts them into control signals, and transmits them to a central processing unit 142. .

Among the commands input through the user interface unit 141, particularly, commands that are deeply related to the present invention include a command regarding a channel selection method and a command about selecting and selecting a channel in a manual channel selection step.

The central processing unit 142 controls the tuner unit 112, the video / audio signal switching unit 121, the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processing unit 123, and other components of the video device 100 as necessary. Elements can also be designed and connected to control. The control memory 143 stores information input by a user and / or data generated and managed by the central processing unit 143.

The PVR controller 151 may control the video / audio signal output from the video / audio signal switching unit 121 and / or the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processing unit 123 under the control of the central processing unit 142. May be stored in the storage medium 152, and the image / audio signal stored in the storage medium 152 may be read and provided to the MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123.

2 is a detailed block diagram of an MPEG decoder and a video / audio signal processor 123 for audio adjustment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The MPEG decoder and the video / audio signal processor 123 receive an audio signal through the broadcast signal or the external signal input unit 111 received from the receiver 110 and input the input level detector 125 to detect the level of the corresponding audio signal. Include. In addition, the attenuator 126 is configured to attenuate the external input audio level according to the external input audio level detected by the input level detector 125 and the preset main volume level. In particular, the attenuator 126 may include an arithmetic unit 127 that calculates the attenuation level through the audio level set according to the external input audio level and the user request or the input of the broadcast signal in order to attenuate the external input audio level.

 Although not shown, a switching unit may be further provided to selectively output external input audio or broadcast signal audio. It may also include an amplifier 128 for amplifying an audio level with respect to an external signal input or an input of a broadcast signal.

As described above, the operation of adjusting the audio signal through the configuration of the image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The controller 140 performs an image output mode for receiving and outputting an image or audio signal from the tuner unit 110 or the external signal input unit 111. An embodiment of the present invention has been described with an example of operating in an image output mode, but may operate in a state of detecting an initial audio signal input in a standby mode.

The controller 140 detects the audio input when the input and output audio signal is changed by the channel switching or the request for switching the image output mode during the image play mode.

The controller 140 determines whether an external input audio signal is present through the external signal input unit 111. In operation 315, when the controller 140 detects that an external signal is input, the controller 140 determines whether an external signal is present. The voice input level detector 124 checks the level of the external input audio under the control of the controller 140 (step 320).

The calculating unit 125 of the voice processing unit 123 performs an operation of adding up the audio input level set by the user or the audio output level set by the input of the broadcast signal and the external input audio level. In addition, the maximum audio output level of the speaker 134 stored in the memory unit 143 is checked to calculate the attenuation value of the calculated audio level so as not to exceed the speaker maximum audio output level. (320 steps)

The controller 140 determines whether the value of the external input audio level and the preset main volume level is equal to or less than the speaker maximum output level according to the result calculated by the calculator 125 (step 325). The attenuator 124 of the processor 123 causes the external input audio level to be attenuated by a predetermined level in order to output audio at the maximum output level value. In operation 330, the controller 140 controls the attenuated audio level. Output through the speaker 134.

The audio level compensation operation may be performed when a periodic setting or an input mode change or a volume control request signal from a user is detected.

1 is a block diagram of a video display device to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a detailed block diagram of a video display device for audio level compensation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of adjusting an audio signal of an image display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (8)

An external signal input unit for receiving an audio signal from the outside; A tuner unit for receiving a broadcast signal; A controller configured to compensate the level of the audio signal by comparing the level of the audio signal input from the external signal input unit with a preset output level of the speaker; A voice processor configured to compensate the input audio signal according to a control signal of the controller; An audio output unit configured to output an audio signal compensated through the voice processing unit; And a memory unit configured to store a rated output level of the audio output unit and to store the compensated audio level information. The audio signal adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory unit stores maximum output level information of the audio output unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice processing unit An audio level detector for detecting a level of the external input audio; An attenuator for compensating the detected audio level; And an audio mixer for calculating and outputting the attenuated audio level and a preset audio level. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the audio processor compensates the sum of the external input audio and the RF input audio so as not to exceed the output level of the audio output unit. The audio adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the audio processor further comprises a switching unit capable of selectively outputting audio input from an external device or audio input from RF.  Detecting an input audio level; Determining whether the detected external input audio level exceeds a preset audio output level; And compensating for the external input audio level according to the determination result. The method of claim 6, wherein the compensating of the audio level comprises: calculating an audio output level including the preset RF audio level and an external input audio level; Determining whether the calculated result value is equal to or less than a maximum output level of a preset audio output unit; And attenuating the external input audio level according to the determination result. The method of claim 6, wherein the audio signal level detecting step And determining at least one of an RF signal and an external input signal, and determining a maximum output level of the input signal.

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