JP2002027586A - Information processing apparatus, display apparatus and speaker system used for the information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention relates to a speaker system, and an object of the present invention is to control the degree of confidentiality of output sound by a user's intention. An information processing apparatus capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, the electrodynamic type speaker having little directivity capable of reproducing the audio signal output from the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus A super directional parametric speaker that outputs an audio signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the oscilloscope into a signal in a frequency band higher than the audible band and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; and the electrodynamic type reproduces the audio signal. An information processing apparatus comprising: a speaker; and switching means for switching between the parametric speaker and the speaker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a speaker connected to an information processing device such as a personal computer, and more particularly to a speaker used in a personal computer used in a business environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a means for emitting voices and musical sounds generated by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, an electrodynamic loudspeaker which emits an audible sound as it is has been used. However, a personal computer having a sound function realized by a device called a sound card that emits voices and musical sounds,
Usually, it is common for personal computers used in hobbies and the like. This is to reproduce various warning sounds emitted by personalizing customized warning sounds etc.
This is because it is common to emit musical sounds such as D mainly in the field of hobbies.

On the other hand, personal computers used in business environments rarely customize warning sounds and the like, and there is a strong tendency that relatively simple sounds such as beeps are sufficient.
Playing this beep did not require the use of sound features. For this reason, most of the personal computers for business use do not have a sound card installed from the beginning, and even if a sound card is installed, most speakers are sold separately.

[0004]

However, with the spread of OA equipment in recent years, one personal computer per person has been used in many business environments, and usage patterns have become extremely diversified even in business environments. I have. In particular, the content to be reproduced including sound on a personal computer has been diversified drastically, and there have been cases where the above sound function is required even in a business environment.

For example, in the past, contents based on audio information were limited to hobbies such as data CDs attached to magazines, but recently, various kinds of catalogs, product introductions, company information, etc. necessary for work have been introduced. As information has been digitized, the information has been developed not only from texts and images but also from voice.

[0006] Further, with the improvement of the network environment used by personal computers, it has become necessary to reproduce audio information or image information with audio in a business environment, which is called streaming broadcasting. further,
The use of personal computers in business environments is not limited to this, and conferences using telephone lines have been the mainstream in the past,
There has been a case where a telephone conference or a video conference using a network is used instead of a telephone at a seat.

As another example, only books such as libraries are conventionally handled, and even in an environment where quietness is required, information that cannot be referred to without using a personal computer is not available with the recent computerization. Is occurring. In addition, physical media such as video tapes have changed to large ones, and some operations such as digital libraries that collectively store digital information in a server and refer to the information stored on a server with a personal computer connected via a network have emerged. In some cases, a personal computer is installed in a library or the like for reference to such information.

[0008] As the sound function which has been unnecessary conventionally is used as described above, it is necessary to confirm operation, confirm erroneous operation and processing error, and to notify of the arrival of a mail in the creation of a document, a drawing or an image. In some cases, acoustic information is used.

[0009] Thus, if the sound information to be heard not only by the user of the personal computer, such as a streaming broadcast of the president's greeting, but also by people around the room, the dynamic speaker used in the ordinary personal computer Although there is no problem with the use of such information, it is not preferable that sound information that should not be heard to the surroundings or sound information that should be heard only by the user of the personal computer leak to the surroundings. In particular, only the user should hear the mail ringtone or the sound that informs the user of an erroneous operation or error.
It's confusing to make sounds that people around you can hear.

[0010] When a large number of people are working in a quiet environment, making a loud sound may be a noise to surrounding people. For this reason, in a library or the like, it is common to wear headphones, but there is a restriction that services cannot be provided to users who have innocence. In addition, when used in a business environment, even if you can still put up with headphones for audio conferencing that is played continuously for a specific short period of time, wear headphones until error sounds and warning sounds Attempting to listen is always a physical constraint while working on a personal computer, which is bothersome and impractical.

On the other hand, there is a parametric speaker as means for solving the inconvenience of headphones. The theory of this parametric loudspeaker has been around for a long time, and its application has not been generally used with only a few ideas. In addition, since the sound function of the personal computer is used for various purposes by different users, it may be used in a way that demands high sound quality, and instead of having super directivity, high frequency distortion is large and bass cannot be reproduced sufficiently. It is difficult to adopt only the parametric speaker having the disadvantage that it is difficult to adopt, and as a practical matter, a personal computer using the parametric speaker has not been sold.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a need to listen to high-quality sound information and use of specific sounds without informing surrounding people. In order to respond to the needs that only people need to listen to, etc., it is necessary to emit sound over a wide area with little directivity, and to have directivity and not leak sound to the surroundings as necessary. It is an object to provide an information processing device that can be properly used.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, and comprising an audio signal having little directivity capable of reproducing an audio signal output from the information processing apparatus. An electric speaker, a super-directional parametric speaker that outputs an audio signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the information processing device into a signal in a frequency band higher than an audible band, and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus comprising: a switching unit that enables switching between the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker for reproducing an audio signal.

Here, from the viewpoints of ease of installation and adjustment of the direction of directivity, the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker are incorporated in a single housing, and are separated from the information processing device and the display device. Is preferred. However, if importance is placed on ease of installation, it may be incorporated in the housing of the information processing device or the housing of a display device used as a set with the information processing device. However, the electrodynamic type speaker and the parametric speaker are provided in separate housings, or one of them, especially the parametric speaker, is created as a separate housing from the information processing device and the display device, and the user arranges them according to the usage form. May be made available.

The parametric loudspeaker uses a large number of ultrasonic transmitting elements such as 5 to 20, for example.
Ultrasonic sound obtained by modulating an audio signal into a signal in a frequency band higher than the audible band may be output by those ultrasonic transmitting elements.

The information processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer or a workstation, but may be a set-top box or the like specially designed for a specific use such as an Internet Web browser.
This is an information processing device used for various purposes that differ depending on the user.

In the present invention, the switching means includes, for example, a changeover switch for exclusively turning on / off a power supply of an electrodynamic loudspeaker and a parametric loudspeaker, and an audio signal output from an information processing apparatus for outputting an electrodynamic loudspeaker and a parametric speaker. It is possible to use a physical changeover switch that exclusively switches a path to be sent to the speaker, or an electronic switch that can be changed by receiving a control signal output by software processing of the information processing device.

Further, the switching means is not limited to a switch. For example, a volume balance which can be switched steplessly by symmetrically changing the amplification factors of an electrodynamic speaker and a parametric speaker, or by changing them individually. Can be used.

Further, the speaker system of the present invention may include a display means for indicating which speaker is currently operating. As the display means, for example, an LED may be used. In addition to the case of displaying with one LED, the operating speaker may be displayed with two or more LEDs. Further, when adjusting the volume balance between the two speakers, a display means may be provided so as to indicate the volume balance in gradation. This display means is preferably provided in the same housing as the speaker, but may be one of the screen displays of a display device attached to a personal computer or the like.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a configuration diagram of an embodiment. Here, the information processing apparatus includes a parametric speaker (3a, 3b) having a high directivity, and an electrodynamic speaker that can directly emit sound over a wide area and has little directivity in the speaker housings (2a, 2b). A speaker (4a, 4b) is housed therein, and a changeover switch (5a, 5b) for exclusively switching between these two types of speakers is provided.

The speaker housing is connected to the audio output terminal 11 of the personal computer 1 to constitute an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. That is, the switch (5a, 5b) and the audio output terminal 11 are connected, and the parametric speaker 3
Either a, 3b or the electrodynamic loudspeakers 4a, 4b are connected to the audio output terminal 11 via the changeover switches (5a, 5b).

FIG. 1 schematically shows a stereo speaker system in which two speaker housings are arranged on the left and right sides of the personal computer 1, and whether the audio output terminal 11 is a different terminal on the right and left. However, these terminals are not limited to the left and right independent terminals, and those obtained by combining the left and right into one jack such as a stereo pin jack may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to the stereo type, and only one speaker housing may be connected to the personal computer 1.
It may just be connected to.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the speaker housing (2a, 2b) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Parametric speakers (3a, 3b) and electrodynamic speakers (4a, 4)
b) and the changeover switches (5a, 5b) are mounted at predetermined positions on the housing, but the positions are not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. . In addition, the user may be able to adjust the directions of the two speakers. For example, if the parametric speakers (3a, 3b) can be adjusted so as to be directed toward the user at the center of the personal computer, the confidentiality can be further improved.

In FIG. 2, changeover switches 5a, 5b
Is shown as a push type switch, but is not limited to this. For example, the push-type switch is set to “secret mode” when Push ON is set, and is set to “normal mode” when Push OFF is set. Here, the “secret mode” refers to a state in which the parametric speakers 3 a and 3 b are connected to the personal computer 1 and the electrodynamic speakers 4 a and 4 b are not connected. Conversely, the "normal mode" refers to a state in which the electrodynamic speakers 4a and 4b are connected to the personal computer 1, and the parametric speakers 3a and 3b are not connected. In this embodiment, the user simply performs an easy operation by himself,
The two types of speakers can be switched as needed.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
Shown is one with an activation display section added. The activation display unit is a display indicating which speaker can output sound at present. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, an LED is provided beside each speaker 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b.
15 and 16 may be provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a speaker housing provided with a manual push-type changeover switch, but here, the changeover switches 5 a and 5 b are operated by operation on the personal computer 1.
2 shows a speaker housing capable of switching between the two. The personal computer 1 has an audio output terminal 11 and changeover switches 5a and 5
A control signal output terminal 12 for operating b is provided.

Switching control for connecting the terminals 51 and 52 of the changeover switches 5a and 5b or connecting the terminals 51 and 53 according to a control signal output from the control signal output terminal 12 of the personal computer 1. Is performed.

If necessary, amplifiers 13 and 14 are provided between the parametric speakers 3a and 3b, the electrodynamic speakers 4a and 4b, and the switches 5a and 5b. The output of the control signal output from the control signal output terminal 12 of the personal computer 1 can be controlled by key input or mouse operation in the personal computer 1.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention. Here, an adjustment volume is provided instead of the changeover switch of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the speaker that emits sound is switched to either the electrodynamic speaker or the parametric speaker. In this embodiment, however, sound is output from both speakers and the volume is adjusted. It is.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which one adjustment volume 6 is provided in the speaker housings 2a and 2b. When the control knob 6 is turned to the left, the sound is output only from the "normal mode", that is, only the electrodynamic speakers 4a and 4b are turned. And the sound emitted from the parametric speakers 3a and 3b gradually increases. When it is turned all the way to the right, it is in "secret mode" in which sound is output only from the parametric speakers 3a and 3b.

According to this embodiment, the switching between the two speakers can be adjusted not only in a binary manner but also in an analog manner.
While producing a highly directional sound with parametric speakers,
It is possible to cope with a situation in which voice and music are desired to be slightly heard even at a position slightly off the sound axis of the parametric speaker.

Although FIG. 5 shows a case where the volume of both speakers is controlled by one adjustment volume, the volumes for adjusting the volume of the electrodynamic speakers 4a and 4b and the volume of the parametric speakers 3a and 3b are separately provided. May be provided.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, an embodiment is shown in which a volume circuit 7 that can be controlled by the personal computer 1 is provided in a speaker housing. The audio signal output from the audio output terminal 11 of the personal computer 1 is sent to the parametric speakers 3a and 3b and the electrodynamic speakers 4a and 4b via the amplifiers 17 and 18, respectively.

On the other hand, the control signal output terminal 12 of the personal computer 1
Is supplied to the volume circuit 7.
The volume circuit 7 adjusts the amplifiers 17 and 18 so as to achieve a predetermined volume balance in response to the control signal. The control signal may be set by key input of the personal computer 1 or mouse operation. According to this, the same sound can be output from both the electrodynamic type speaker and the parametric speaker with the volume balance intended by the user.

For example, when the user of the personal computer 1 is working on document creation, or when the output sound is mainly an operation error sound or a mail ringtone, the volume circuit 7 is set to the “secret mode”. Make settings so that audio is output. In this way, the output sound is heard only by the user, and does not bother others. Conversely, if you want to be heard by people around you other than the user, such as music, set the volume balance between "normal mode" and "incognito mode" and use at an appropriate volume And the same person can hear the same sound.

If so-called voice data such as music and sound data which can be heard only by the user, such as an operation error sound or a mail ringtone, can be separately output from the personal computer 1, the voice data is output from the electrodynamic speaker 4a. , 4b, and the acoustic data may be output from the parametric speakers 3a, 3b.

In this case, the volume circuit 7 does not need to be provided in the speaker housing, and the personal computer 1 may directly control the output of audio data and audio data. In this case, it is preferable to provide a terminal for outputting audio data and a terminal for outputting audio data to the personal computer 1 separately.

Further, which sound is to be used as audio data or audio data may be set in advance by the user using the personal computer 1. In this way, the confidentiality of the audio data that only the user can listen to by the intention of the user can be secured, and the audio data that can be heard by the surrounding people can be output with a loud sound.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a configuration diagram of a speaker system provided with an audio balance display. Here, in the volume balance display 8, as shown in the figure, a plurality of LEDs are arranged in parallel, and a predetermined number of LEDs are turned on corresponding to the volume balance. According to this, it is possible to easily visually check the current volume balance ratio.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. (Supplementary Note 1) An information processing device capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, comprising: an electrodynamic type speaker having little directivity capable of reproducing an audio signal output from the information processing device; A super directional parametric speaker that outputs an audio signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the oscilloscope into a signal in a frequency band higher than the audible band and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; and the electrodynamic type reproduces the audio signal. An information processing apparatus comprising: a speaker; and switching means for switching between the parametric speaker and the speaker. (Supplementary Note 2) A display device connected to an information processing device capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, wherein the electrodynamic speaker has almost no directivity capable of reproducing the audio signal output from the information processing device. A super-directional parametric speaker that outputs an audio signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the information processing device into a signal in a frequency band higher than an audible band and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; A display device capable of switching between the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker for reproduction. (Supplementary Note 3) A speaker system connected to an information processing device capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, wherein the dynamic type speaker having little directivity capable of reproducing the audio signal output from the information processing device. A super-directional parametric speaker that outputs an audio signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the information processing device into a signal in a frequency band higher than an audible band and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; A speaker system capable of switching between the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker for reproduction. (Supplementary Note 4) The apparatus according to Supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker are incorporated in the same housing. (Supplementary Note 5) The parametric speaker is 5 to 20.
Using an ultrasonic transmission element of the above, to those ultrasonic transmission elements, at a frequency higher than the audible band audio signal, and output ultrasonic sound modulated to the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transmission element, 5. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein (Supplementary note 6) The apparatus according to Supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein the information processing device is any one of a personal computer, a workstation, and a set-top box. (Supplementary note 7) The apparatus according to Supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the switching unit includes a switch circuit that exclusively switches between the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker. (Supplementary Note 8) The switching unit includes an adjusting unit that can output the volume of each of the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker at an arbitrary volume. The adjusting unit individually or symmetrically adjusts the volume balance of the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker. 7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adjustment is performed dynamically. (Supplementary note 9) The apparatus according to Supplementary notes 1 to 8, further comprising display means for displaying operation states of the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker. (Supplementary note 10) The apparatus according to Supplementary notes 8 and 9, wherein the display means displays the volume balance of the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker in a gradation manner.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention enables the output sound to be heard only by the user, or to be heard by surrounding persons, according to the user's intention. Can be easily set. Further, by providing the volume balance adjusting means, the degree of confidentiality of the output sound can be easily controlled by the user's intention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the speaker housing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram in which an activation display unit is added to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram in which a volume balance display is provided in a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2a, 2b Speaker housing 3a, 3b Parametric speaker 4a, 4b Electrodynamic speaker 5a, 5b Switch 6 Adjustment volume 7 Volume circuit 8 Volume balance display 11 Audio output terminal 12 Control signal output terminal 13, 14 Amplifier 15, 16 Activation display part 17, 18 Amplifier 51 terminal 52 terminal 53 terminal

Claims (3)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, comprising: an electrodynamic type speaker having little directivity capable of reproducing an audio signal output from the information processing apparatus; A super-directional parametric speaker that outputs an audio signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the device into a signal in a frequency band higher than an audible band and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; An information processing apparatus comprising: a speaker configured to switch between a rectangular speaker and the parametric speaker. 2. A display device connected to an information processing device capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, the electrodynamic type having little directivity capable of reproducing the audio signal output from the information processing device. A speaker, a super-directional parametric speaker that outputs an acoustic signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the information processing device into a signal in a frequency band higher than an audible band, and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; and the audio signal. A display device capable of switching between the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker for reproduction of the sound. 3. A loudspeaker system connected to an information processing device capable of outputting an audio signal to a speaker, wherein the electrodynamic type has almost no directivity capable of reproducing the audio signal output from the information processing device. A speaker, a super-directional parametric speaker that outputs an acoustic signal obtained by modulating an audio signal output from the information processing device into a signal in a frequency band higher than an audible band, and reproduces and outputs the audio signal; and the audio signal. A speaker system capable of switching between the electrodynamic speaker and the parametric speaker for reproducing the sound.