JPH06276457A - Sound volume control method for acoustic equipment or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a small sound volume output at first when a television receiver switch is closed at midnight or in the early morning by providing a control section setting a sound volume to a predetermined level or below and then outputting resulting sound outward when power is applied within a specific time zone to the method. CONSTITUTION:An audio signal separated by a reception circuit 11 is detected by an audio detection circuit 17 and an audio signal is outputted from a speaker 20 via a low frequency amplifier circuit 18 including a sound volume adjustment circuit. A control section 19 recognizes time information of a television receiver and a set mode or the like to control a reception circuit 11 and the low frequency amplifier circuit 18. When a timer reaches a set time, the control section gives a control signal to the reception circuit 11 to apply power to the television receiver. When a time zone from p.m. 1:00 hour to a.m. 7:00 hour is set as an early morning specific time and the current time is within the specific time zone, whether or not a sound volume is a predetermined volume or below is discriminated. When the sound volume exceeds a predetermined value, the sound is outputted after its sound volume is decreased to be a predetermined value or below.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a control method suitable for application to a television or the like which outputs sound from a speaker or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Acoustic equipment such as televisions, videos and audios are used in general households.

Recently, a clock is provided in each of the above devices,
Those used for displaying the current time and for timers that turn on the power of audio equipment at a set time have been commercialized and spread.

[0004]

By the way, while the ambient noise such as the sound of the car during the daytime and the noise of the construction can be heard, these devices are used with a loud noise and the power is turned off as it is. When the power is turned on again during a time when it cannot be heard, a loud sound similar to a loud sound during the daytime will be output.

Then, the sound becomes noise to the surroundings,
Especially in apartments and condominiums, it was a nuisance to the neighborhood.

Further, when a sudden loud noise is heard, especially in the middle of the night or early morning, it may disturb the sleep of the people around, which may be a problem.

[0007] Further, when the child is playing tricks to maximize the output level of the sound, it is inconvenient because the person who turns on the TV and the people around it must urgently reduce the sound. It was

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention, a control unit for recognizing time information and changing the volume level is provided, and when the power is turned on within a specific time, the volume is controlled by the control unit. Since it is set to a certain level or less and then output to the outside, when the TV is turned on at midnight or early morning, a small volume is output at first.

[0009]

For example, when the power of the television is turned on from midnight to early morning, the control unit 19 which sends a control signal to the low frequency amplification circuit 18 including the volume control circuit, is other than the power activation by the timer. When it is determined, a signal that lowers the audio level to a certain level is sent out, and based on this signal, the audio that has been lowered to a certain level is output, so no sudden loud sound is output. It is possible to prevent annoying neighbors.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention applied to a television will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of an image receiving device (hereinafter referred to as a TV).

Reference numeral 1 denotes a TV body, which includes a picture tube 2, a power key for turning on / off a power source, and an up volume key 4.
a, a down volume key 4b, a channel up key 5a, a channel down key 5b, a timer set key 6, a time set key 7, and time setting keys 8a, 8
b, an enter key 9, and a display unit 10 are provided.

When the up volume key 4a (down volume key 4b) is pressed, the output volume can be increased (decreased), and when the channel up key 5a (channel down key 5b) is pressed, the frequency of the channel is high (low). Switch to the next channel.

The time set key 7 is a key used, for example, when the current time is deviated, and the time can be adjusted by pressing this key and then the time setting key 8a (8b). Then, for example, when the enter key 9 is pressed according to the time signal or the like, the time can be accurately adjusted.

Further, by pressing the timer set key 6 and then the time setting keys 8a and 8b, the desired time for the timer operation can be adjusted. If the enter key 9 is pressed after setting the desired time, the set time can be adjusted. TV on time
It can be set so that the power is turned on. Next time you want to set the timer again at the same time, the timer set key 6
When the user wants to release the timer from the state where the timer is set, the timer set key 6 can be pressed again.

The display unit 10 can display information such as the current time and the timer set time.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a TV showing an example of this embodiment.

Reference numeral 11 in the drawing denotes a receiving circuit, which receives a TV signal from the antenna and separates this TV signal into a video signal and an audio signal.

The video signal output from the reception circuit 11 is detected by the video detection circuit 13 which constitutes the video signal processing circuit 12, and is sent to the picture tube 16 via the video amplification circuit 14. In the picture tube 16, the video signal is controlled by the sync signal of the sync deflection circuit 15 and an image can be output.

The voice signal separated by the receiving circuit 11 is voice-detected by the voice detecting circuit 17, and is output as a voice signal from the speaker 20 through the low frequency amplifying circuit 18 including the volume adjusting circuit.

The control unit 19 is a control unit for recognizing the time information of the TV 1, the set mode and the like, and controlling the receiving circuit 11 and the low frequency amplifying circuit 18. For example, when the timer reaches the set time, it operates so as to output a control signal to the receiving circuit 11 and power on the TV 1.

Next, the control by the control unit 19 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power of the TV 1 is turned on, the image is output as it is, and before the control signal is output to the low frequency amplification circuit 18 including the volume adjustment circuit to output the sound, it is first checked whether the clock is set. If not set, the sound is also output at the volume before the power is turned on (steps 21 to 23, 29).

If the clock has already been set, it is next determined whether or not the power is turned on by the timer. When the power is turned on by the timer, the TV may be used as a substitute for the alarm clock. If it is, the voice is output as it is at the volume before the power is turned on, and if it is not the timer, the current time is confirmed (step 24).

Assuming now that the specific time from midnight to early morning is from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am, when the current time is in this period, it is determined whether or not the volume is above a certain value (step 25). Here, the constant value is a small volume value that does not disturb the outside even when the surroundings are quiet.

When the volume exceeds the fixed value, the volume is lowered to the fixed value before the voice is output (steps 26 to 28). After that, the user can set the volume to their liking.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the TV has a function of setting a clock is shown, but it is possible to connect a VTR capable of setting the time to the TV, an audio device and the like to manage the power supply. It can also be used as a system, and the device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, from 11:00 pm to 7 am
By the time, when the power of the TV 1 is turned on by a means other than the timer, the sound is output after the volume becomes low. At this time, the user sets a key for setting the clock, for example. The setting may be changed by a key operation such as 7-9. Also, the volume may be set to a certain value or less when the power is turned on. The volume level may also be set by the user depending on the state of ambient noise.

Further, in the present embodiment, the TV set by the user is used for explanation, but the TV set may be set by the TV set automatically from the information contained in the signal. It is not limited to the embodiment.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the power of the TV is turned on during a time period when it is considered that a loud noise causes annoyance to the surroundings, for example, from midnight to early morning. The control unit 19 which sends a control signal to the low frequency amplification circuit 18 including the adjustment circuit sends a signal for lowering the audio level to a certain level when it is determined that the power is not turned on by the timer, and based on this signal. Since the sound reduced to a certain level is output, a loud sound is not output suddenly, and it is possible to prevent annoyance in the neighborhood.

Also, when the volume of the TV may be changed significantly due to the mischief of a small child, when the power is turned on, the control signal from the control section 19 is always used to adjust the volume of the low frequency amplifier circuit 18. If you control the circuit so that the volume is low and then the sound is output, you can prevent the sudden output of a loud sound from being surprising.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a TV showing an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a TV showing an example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 TV 11 receiver circuit 12 video processing circuit 16 picture tube 17 audio detector circuit 18 low frequency amplifier circuit 19 control unit 20 speaker

Claims (1)

A control unit for recognizing time information and varying a sound volume level is provided, and when the power is turned on within a specific time, the sound volume is controlled to be below a certain level and then output to the outside. A volume control method for audio equipment and the like characterized by the above. 1.