U.S. patent application number 13/428802 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-19 for audio/video device having a volume control function for an external audio reproduction unit by using volume control buttons of a remote controller and volume control method therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jae-Hoon LEE.
Application Number | 20120182478 13/428802 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34587954 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120182478 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Jae-Hoon |
July 19, 2012 |
AUDIO/VIDEO DEVICE HAVING A VOLUME CONTROL FUNCTION FOR AN EXTERNAL
AUDIO REPRODUCTION UNIT BY USING VOLUME CONTROL BUTTONS OF A REMOTE
CONTROLLER AND VOLUME CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR
Abstract
An audio/video (A/V) device having a volume control function for
external audio reproduction units by using volume control buttons
of a remote controller is provided. The A/V device includes
speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting an audio
signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing and
amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio signal
to the speakers or the audio output port, a memory unit for storing
volume control values, and a control unit for applying to the audio
signal processing unit any of the volume control values stored in
the memory based on whether the external audio reproduction unit is
plugged in the audio output port. The control unit controls the
audio signal processing unit to adjust the volume control values
for the audio output port by the volume control buttons when the
external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output
port.
Inventors: |
LEE; Jae-Hoon; (Seoul,
KR) |
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
34587954 |
Appl. No.: |
13/428802 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12652892 |
Jan 6, 2010 |
8165320 |
|
|
13428802 |
|
|
|
|
10849137 |
May 20, 2004 |
7672470 |
|
|
12652892 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/563 ;
348/E5.099 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 5/04 20130101; H04R
5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/563 ;
348/E05.099 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/445 20110101
H04N005/445 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 21, 2003 |
KR |
2003-82851 |
Claims
1. An audio/video (A/V) device comprising: a display; at least one
speaker; an audio output port which outputs an audio signal to an
audio output port; an audio signal processing unit which amplifies
the audio signal and outputs the amplified audio signal to one of
the at least one speaker and the audio output port; a memory unit
which stores volume control values corresponding to the audio
output port and the at least one speaker; and a control unit which
one of the volume control values stored in the memory in response
to the external speakers being plugged into the audio output port,
controls the audio signal processing unit to change the one volume
control values in response to the external speakers being plugged
into the audio output port, and controls the display to display an
indicator corresponding to the changed one of the volume control
values in response to the external speakers being plugged into the
audio output port.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation Application of application Ser. No.
12/652,892, filed Jan. 6, 2010, which is a Continuation Application
of application Ser. No. 10/849,137, filed May 20, 2004, and issued
as U.S. Pat. No. 7,672,470, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C
.sctn.119 from Korean patent Application No. 2003-82851, filed on
Nov. 21, 2003, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a volume control method for
audio/video devices and an audio/video device using the method.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a volume
control method for audio/video devices and an audio/video device,
capable of controlling the volume of an external audio reproduction
unit by use of volume control buttons of a remote controller
without a separate On-screen display (OSD) menu window when the
external audio reproduction unit such as an earphone, a headset, or
speakers is plugged in.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, the audio/video (A/V) device such as a
television set, a projection TV, an LCD TV, and a home theater
reproduces an audio signal through built-in speakers when receiving
and reproducing the broadcast signal, and the A/V device controls
its volume by use of a remote controller for controlling the
speakers. When a user wants to listen to a broadcast by plugging an
external audio reproduction unit such as a headset or an earphone
in an A/V device, he or she can not directly control the volume
level for the external audio reproduction unit by using the volume
control buttons of a remote controller, but controls the volume
level for the external audio reproduction unit on an OSD menu
window provided on the A/V device.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an audio reproduction unit of a
conventional A/V device, which conceptually depicts connections of
speakers and an external audio reproduction unit.
[0007] The audio reproduction unit of an A/V device has an
amplification unit 10 for amplifying an input audio signal, a
switch 20 for switching an output of the amplification unit 10, and
speakers 30. An audio signal output from the amplification unit 10
is reproduced through the speakers 30 or a headset 40. The switch
20 is built in a headphone jack constructed to generally disconnect
the amplification unit 10 with the speakers 30 when the headset 40
is plugged in the A/V device. That is, when the male connector of a
headset 40 is inserted into the headphone jack, the amplification
unit 10 and the speakers 30 are disconnected from each other, and
an audio signal output from the amplification unit 10 is applied to
the headset 40. When the male connector is not inserted into the
headphone jack, the output signal of the amplification unit 10 is
applied only to the speakers 30. The audio reproduction unit
constructed as above applies an audio signal to the speakers 30 and
the headset 40 in the same signal level. In general, the speakers
30 have the impedance of 4.OMEGA..about.8.OMEGA., whereas the
headset 40 has the impedance of 16.OMEGA..about.32.OMEGA..
Accordingly, when the volume level set for the speakers 30 is
applied to the headset 40, an audio signal is reproduced by the
headset 40 and the speakers 30 in a different volume level. As a
result, a viewer is inconvenienced not only in properly controlling
the volume level whenever plugging the headset in an A/V device,
but also in setting the volume level for the speakers 30 again when
releasing the headset 40 from the A/V device.
[0008] FIG. 2A is a view illustrating another audio reproduction
unit provided in a conventional A/V device.
[0009] The audio reproduction unit shown in FIG. 2A partially
solves the problem of the audio reproduction unit shown in FIG. 1.
That is, the audio reproduction unit solves the problem of
separately setting the volume levels of the speakers and the
headset, which is characterized in that volume values on speakers
54 and a headset 55 are stored in an electrically erasable and
programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 51. The audio reproduction
unit enables a processor 52 (receiving information from key input
unit 53) to detect the plugging of a headset 55 into an
amplification unit 50 and apply a volume value for the headset 55
to the amplification unit 50, so as to enable the amplification
unit 50 to output an audio signal in a proper volume level when a
viewer plugs or unplugs the headset 55 into or from the output port
of the amplification unit 50. The A/V device having the audio
reproduction unit stores in the EEPROM 51 the latest volume values,
that is, the latest volume values for the speakers 54 and the
headset 55 that a viewer sets to the A/V device.
[0010] However, even though the volume values for the headset 55 is
stored in the EEPROM 51, the viewer loads a separate OSD menu
window on a display unit (not shown) of the A/V device, and
increases or decreases the volume value set for the headset 55 on
the display unit, when the viewer wants to change the volume
value.
[0011] FIG. 2B is a view illustrating a volume-setting process for
the headset 55 of the A/V device of FIG. 2A.
[0012] To control the volume level for the headset 55 shown in FIG.
2A, the viewer has the OSD menu window 60 displayed on the display
unit, and adjusts the volume level with an input device such as a
remote controller (not shown). In the OSD menu window 60, the
viewer chooses an Audio menu 61 and a headset adjustment option 62a
for adjusting the volume level for a headset, and increases or
decreases the volume level of the headset 55 through a volume
control menu window 62b displayed on the OSD menu window 60. In
controlling the volume level for the headset 55, the viewer
experiences inconvenience and not-too-easy operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention has been developed in order to solve
the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the
conventional arrangement. An aspect of the present invention is to
provide an audio/video device and a volume control method
facilitating volume controls of an external audio reproduction unit
by using volume control buttons of a remote controller.
[0014] The foregoing and other aspects and advantages are
substantially realized by providing an audio/video (A/V) device
including speakers, an audio output port for externally outputting
an audio signal, an audio signal processing unit for reproducing
and amplifying the audio signal and applying the amplified audio
signal to any of the speakers or the audio output port, a memory
unit for storing volume control values corresponding to the audio
output port and the speakers, and a control unit for applying to
the audio signal processing unit any of the volume control values
stored in the memory based on whether the external audio
reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port. The control
unit controls the audio signal processing unit to increase or
decrease the volume control values for the audio output port by the
volume control buttons provided on the remote controller when the
external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output
port.
[0015] The A/V device may further include a display unit for
reproducing a video signal. The control unit controls the display
unit to display a volume control menu window for increasing or
decreasing the volume control values when detecting the external
audio reproduction unit plugged in the audio output port.
[0016] The volume control menu window is displayed on a portion of
an image reproduction area of the display unit when the external
audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port.
[0017] The volume control menu window for the external audio
reproduction unit is converted to a volume control menu window for
the speakers when the external audio reproduction unit is unplugged
from the audio output port.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
external audio reproduction unit is any of a headset, an earphone,
and the speakers.
[0019] Furthermore, an aspect of the present invention is to
provide a volume control method for an A/V device having speakers
for reproducing an audio signal, an audio output port for
externally outputting the audio signal, and a display unit for
reproducing images, includes steps of detecting whether an external
audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio output port,
displaying on the display unit a volume control menu window for
controlling volume levels to be output from the audio output port
when the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in the audio
output port, and increasing or decreasing the volume level for the
external audio reproduction unit plugged in the audio output port
on the volume control menu window by using volume control buttons
of a remote controller for controlling the A/V device.
[0020] In displaying the volume control menu window on the display
unit, a previously stored volume value for the external audio
reproduction unit is displayed on the display unit.
[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
previously stored volume value is the latest volume value set for
the external audio reproduction unit during operations of the A/V
device.
[0022] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
step of displaying the volume control menu window on the display
unit converts the volume control menu window on the display unit to
a volume control menu window for the speakers when the external
audio reproduction unit is released from the audio output port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The above aspects and features of the present invention will
be more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an audio reproduction unit of
a conventional audio/video device;
[0025] FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating another audio
reproduction unit of the conventional audio/video device;
[0026] FIG. 2B is a view illustrating a volume control process for
a headset for the audio/video device of FIG. 2A;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a volume control method for an
audio/video device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the audio/video
device of FIG. 3;
[0029] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are views illustrating an OSD menu
window displayed on a screen depending on whether a headset is
plugged in; and
[0030] FIG. 6 is a flow chart for controlling the volume level for
an external audio reproduction unit by using volume control buttons
of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE, NON-LIMITING
EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The present invention will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a volume control method for an A/V device
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] An A/V device 100 controls volume levels and sets channels
by using a remote controller 400, and the main body of the A/V
device 100 is provided with an audio output port in which an
external audio reproduction unit such as a headset 300 is plugged.
The main body of the A/V device 100 has a power switch,
channel-setting buttons, volume control buttons, a headset jack, a
screen 150, and speakers 161. If the headset 300 is not plugged in
the headset jack by using a male connector 301, an audio signal is
reproduced through the speakers 161 provided on the main body of
the A/V device 100. If a viewer plugs the headset 300 in the
headset jack, an On-screen display (OSD) menu window 150a for
controlling the volume level for the headset 300 is displayed on
the bottom of the screen, that is, of a display unit 150. If the
viewer presses volume control buttons 403 and 404 provided on the
remote controller 400, the cursor on the OSD menu window 150a moves
so that the magnitude of an audio signal applied to the headset 300
increases and decreases. In FIG. 3, the cursor 151a indicates that
the volume level is set to "30". If the viewer unplugs the headset
300 from the A/V device 100, an OSD menu window (not shown) for
controlling the volume level for the speakers 161 is displayed on
the bottom of the display unit 150. Thus, the viewer can control
the volume level for the speakers 161 by using the volume control
buttons 403 and 404 provided on the remote controller 400.
Therefore, the viewer does not have to control the volume level for
the headset 300 with a complicated OSD as shown in FIG. 2B. The
viewer can conveniently control the volume level of the headset 300
by using the remote controller 400 at the same time that the viewer
plugs the headset 300 in the headset jack provided on the A/V
device 100.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the A/V device 100 of
FIG. 3, which will be described together with FIG. 3 as below.
[0035] The A/V device 100 has a tuner 110, a signal separation unit
120, a video signal processing unit 130, an audio signal processing
unit 140, a screen 150, speakers 161, an audio output port 162, a
processor 170, an OSD processing unit 180, a ROM 190, and a key
input unit 200.
[0036] The tuner 110 receives broadcast signals, and selects any of
the broadcast signals received according to the channel-setting
keys 401 and 402 provided on the remote controller 400. The signal
separation unit 120 separates a video signal and an audio signal
from a broadcast signal selected by the tuner 110. The separated
video signal is applied to the video signal processing unit 130,
and the audio signal is applied to the audio signal processing unit
140. The video signal processing unit 130 decodes and applies an
input video signal to the screen 150, and the audio signal
processing unit 140 amplifies and outputs the input audio signal to
the speakers 161. The output terminal of the audio signal
processing unit 140 is connected together with the speakers 161 and
the audio output port 162. If a headset, an earphone, or external
speakers (not shown) are plugged in the audio output port 162, any
audio signal is not applied to the speakers 161. That is, the audio
signal processing unit 140 applies the audio signal to any of the
speakers 161 and the audio output port 162.
[0037] The processor 170 controls the overall functions of the A/V
device 100, and controls the video signal processing unit 130, the
audio signal processing unit 140, and the tuner 110, by using a
control signal. For example, when the viewer sends a control signal
for channel changes to the key input unit 200 by using the remote
controller 400, the key input unit 200 receives and applies the
control signal to the processor 170, and the processor 170 responds
to the control signal and controls to change channels broadcasted
from tuner 110. If the viewer increments or decrements a contrast
value or a luminance value for an image displayed on the screen
150, the processor 170 controls the video signal processing unit
130, using the control signal sent by the remote controller 400, so
as to change the contrast value or the luminance value for the
image output on the screen 150. Furthermore, when an external audio
reproduction unit such as a headset 300 is plugged in the audio
output port 162, the processor 170 loads a volume setting value for
the headset 300 that is built in the ROM 190 in response to the
plugging of the headset 300, and controls the audio signal
processing unit 140 based on the volume-setting value to change the
level of an audio signal output from the audio signal processing
unit 140 to the audio output port 162. Simultaneously, the
processor 170 controls the OSD processing unit 180 to display on
the screen 150 an OSD menu window such as the window 150a enabling
the viewer to see whether the headset 300 is plugged in. The OSD
menu window such as the window 150a displayed on the screen 150 by
the OSD processing unit 180 enables the viewer to control the
volume to a certain level with the volume control buttons 403 and
404 provided on the remote controller 400.
[0038] The ROM 190 stores the latest volume values, that is, the
respective volume values for the speakers 161 and the headset 300
that the viewer sets to the A/V device 100. The stored values are
displayed on the OSD menu window such as the window 150a, and the
displayed values can be immediately changed through the volume
control buttons 403 and 404 provided on the remote controller
400.
[0039] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate OSD menu windows displayed on
the screen 150 depending on whether the headset 300 is plugged
in.
[0040] FIG. 5A illustrates an OSD menu window 150a when the headset
300 is plugged in the A/V device 100. The OSD menu window 150a for
controlling the volume level for a headset 300 is displayed on the
bottom of the screen 150 at the same time that the headset 300 is
plugged in. The viewer presses the volume control buttons 403 and
404 provided on the remote controller 400, looking at the displayed
OSD menu window 150a, to control the volume level for an external
audio reproduction unit such as the headset 300.
[0041] Next, FIG. 5B illustrates an OSD menu window 150b displayed
on the screen 150 when the headset 300 is unplugged from the A/V
device 100. The OSD menu window 150b for controlling the volume
level for the speakers 161 provided in the A/V device 100 is
displayed on the bottom of the screen 150. If the viewer presses
the volume control buttons 403 and 404 provided on the remote
controller 400, the volume level for the speakers 161 is controlled
and the controlled volume value is stored in the ROM 190. Hence,
the viewer can easily control the level of an audio signal to be
reproduced through the speakers 161 or the headset 300 by pressing
the volume control buttons 403 and 404 provided on the remote
controller 400 without having to pay attention to whether the
headset 300 is plugged in.
[0042] FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining a volume control
method for external audio reproduction units such as a headset
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] If the A/V device 100 is powered on at step S300, the
processor 170 determines whether an external audio reproduction
unit such as a headset or an earphone is plugged in the A/V device
100 at step S310. The audio output port 162 connected to the output
terminal of the audio signal processing unit 140 may determine
whether the external audio reproduction unit is plugged in.
[0044] For example, when the headset 300 is plugged in the audio
output port 162 by using the male connector 301, a sensor (not
shown) detects whether the headset 300 is plugged in. The sensor is
mounted inside the audio output port 162 to detect the plugging of
a headset 300. When the headset 300 is plugged in the audio output
port 162, the processor 170 can detect the plug-in of the headset
300 through changes of the impedance or currents of the audio
output port 162.
[0045] If an external audio reproduction unit such as the headset
300 is plugged in the A/V device 100, the processor 170 loads a
volume control value corresponding to the headset 300 out of the
volume control values stored in the ROM 190, and applies the volume
control value to the audio signal processing unit 140 to decrease
or increase the amplification degree of the audio signal processing
unit 140 at step S320.
[0046] The processor 170 controls the OSD processing unit 180 to
apply an OSD menu window from the OSD processing unit 180 to the
video signal processing unit 130 so that the viewer can increment
or decrement the volume level for the headset 300 at step S330. If
any external audio reproduction unit is not plugged in the audio
output port 162, the processor 170 loads a volume control value
corresponding to the speakers 161 out of the volume control values
stored in the ROM 190, and applies the loaded volume control value
to the audio signal processing unit 140 so as to increase or
decrease the amplification degree of the audio signal processing
unit 140 at step S340.
[0047] Next, the processor 170 controls the OSD processing unit 180
to apply the OSD menu window from the OSD processing unit 180 to
the video signal processing unit 130 so that the viewer can
increase or decrease the volume level of the speakers 161 at step
S350.
[0048] If the OSD menu 150a or 150b is loaded on the screen 150 to
enable a user to control the volume level for the headset 300 or
the speakers 161, the processor 170 stands by for the inputs of the
volume control buttons of the remote controller 400 which are used
for volume controls at step S360. Pressing the volume control
buttons 403 and 404 provided on the remote controller 400, the
viewer can move the cursor 151a on the OSD menu window 150a or 150b
back and forth to change the volume control value stored in the ROM
190. Simultaneously, the amplification degree of the audio signal
processing unit 140 is changed according to the changed volume
control values at step S370.
[0049] If no input occurs by the volume control buttons of the
remote controller 400 when the OSD menu window 150a or 150b is
displayed on the screen 150, the processor 170 stands by for a
predetermined time such as 5 seconds, and checks if the inputs are
applied from the volume control buttons 403 and 404 within a
predetermined time such as five seconds at step S380.
[0050] If there exists an input of a control signal from the volume
control buttons 403 and 404 within the predetermined time as a
result of the check, the processor 170 changes the volume control
values of the ROM 190 set for the speakers 161 and the headset 300
according to the inputted control signal corresponding to the
volume control buttons 403 and 404. Otherwise, the processor 170
turns off the OSD menu window 150a or 150b which is for volume
controls. Accordingly, the viewer does not have to check whether
the headset 300 is plugged in the A/V device 100 in order to
separately control volumes.
[0051] As described above, according to the present invention, with
respect to plugging an external audio reproduction unit such as a
headset, an earphone, and external speakers in an A/V device, the
viewer does not have to separately control volume levels for the
plugged external audio reproduction unit. When the external audio
reproduction unit is plugged in the A/V device, the present
invention displays a menu window for controlling volume levels for
the external audio reproduction unit so that the viewer can
conveniently control the volume levels on the displayed menu window
with the volume control buttons provided on the remote
controller.
[0052] The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary
and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The
present teaching can be readily applied to other types of
apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments of the
present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit
the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *