A sound card
By introducing a single primary switch key and prompt element into the sound card, the problem of complex traditional sound card operation interfaces is solved, achieving simplified operation and an intuitive and convenient user experience.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUANGDONG DINGCHUANG SMART MANUFACTURING CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-24
AI Technical Summary
Traditional sound card interfaces, with each output channel equipped with independent controls, present non-professional users with too many controls, making operation complex and unintuitive.
The system uses the same first toggle key to cycle through multiple adjustment objects. By combining adjustment keys and prompts, the number of controls is reduced, and the prompts provide real-time feedback on the operation steps, simplifying the user interface.
The user interface has been simplified, improving the convenience and intuitiveness of operation and reducing the need for users to memorize operation procedures.
Smart Images
Figure CN224553767U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of audio technology, and in particular to a sound card. Background Technology
[0002] A sound card, also known as an audio card, is a key device for audio signal processing. With the continuous development of the internet and entertainment industry, external sound cards can work together with users' mobile devices (such as mobile phones and tablets). Users can adjust sound effects through the controls on the sound card, bringing them a rich audio experience.
[0003] In traditional sound card designs, each output channel typically has its own independent control for adjustment, following a "one channel, one control" layout principle. While this design meets the needs of professional users for fine-tuning multiple output channels (such as main output, monitor output, and effects monitor), it also significantly increases the number of control panels on the control panel. For non-professional users, who often only need basic controls, advanced functions may remain unused, and too many controls can make the interface appear overly complex. Utility Model Content
[0004] In view of the above-mentioned existing situation, this application provides a sound card that can improve the problem of too many operation controls in existing sound cards.
[0005] This utility model provides a sound card, comprising: a housing; a first switching key disposed in the housing for cyclically switching among multiple adjustment objects, wherein the first switching key selects at least one adjustment object each time; an adjustment key disposed in the housing for adjusting the control value of the adjustment object selected by the first switching key; and a prompting element disposed in the housing for prompting the current adjustment object and the current control value.
[0006] Optionally, the first switching key includes a button, and the adjustment key includes a knob; the button is located in the middle of the knob.
[0007] Optionally, the button and the knob are arranged in concentric circles.
[0008] Optionally, the first switch key can also be used to switch to two adjustment objects simultaneously.
[0009] Optionally, the prompting element is a display screen or an indicator light.
[0010] Optionally, the indicator is an indicator light with gradient light, which is used to switch the light intensity and / or color according to the current control value.
[0011] Optionally, the sound card has multiple output ports, which are used to connect multiple external devices; the sound card also includes a second switch key; the second switch key is used to cycle through the multiple output ports, and the second switch key selects at least one external device each time.
[0012] Optionally, the first switching key includes one of a spring button, a rocker button, and a multi-gear selection button, and the second switching key includes one of a spring button, a rocker button, and a multi-gear selection button.
[0013] Optionally, the sound card includes multiple adjustment keys, which include knobs and / or sliders.
[0014] Optionally, the multiple adjustment keys include at least one of a potentiometer knob, an encoder knob, a potentiometer push rod, and an encoder push rod.
[0015] The sound card of this utility model includes a housing, a first switch key, adjustment keys, and a prompting component. The first switch key is used to cycle through multiple adjustment objects, and at least one adjustment object is selected at a time. The adjustment keys are used to adjust the control value of the selected adjustment object. The prompting component indicates the current adjustment object and the current control value. Thus, the same first switch key can select different adjustment objects. Unlike traditional sound cards that require separate controls for each adjustment object, the sound card provided in this application reduces the number of controls, simplifies the user interface, and avoids an overly complex interface. Furthermore, the sound card provided in this application also includes a prompting component that provides real-time feedback on the operation steps, eliminating the need for users to memorize operation procedures and making operation more intuitive and convenient. Attached Figure Description
[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0017] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals in the following description denote the same parts.
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of the sound card involved in this application.
[0019] Figure 2 This is another overall structural diagram of the sound card involved in this application.
[0020] Figure 3 This is a control flowchart of the sound card involved in this application.
[0021] Figure 4 This is another control flowchart of the sound card involved in this application.
[0022] Reference numerals: 1. Housing; 2. First switch key; 21. Button; 22. Multi-level selection button; 3. Adjustment key; 31. Push rod; 32. Knob; 4. Prompt; 41. Display screen; 42. Indicator light; 5. Output port; 6. Second switch key. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The preferred embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and repeated descriptions are omitted. Furthermore, the drawings are merely schematic diagrams, and the proportions of the components or their shapes may differ from actual dimensions. It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.
[0024] It should also be noted that when a component is described as "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intervening component present. When a component is described as "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component present.
[0025] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides a sound card, comprising a housing 1, a first switch key 2, adjustment keys 3, and a prompting component 4. The first switch key 2, located on the housing 1, is used to cycle through multiple adjustment objects, and at least one adjustment object is selected at a time. The adjustment keys 3, located on the housing 1, are used to adjust the control value of the adjustment object selected by the first switch key 2. The prompting component 4, located on the housing 1, indicates the current adjustment object and the current control value. Thus, the same first switch key 2 can select different adjustment objects. Unlike traditional sound cards that require separate controls for each adjustment object, the sound card provided in this application reduces the number of controls, simplifies the user interface, and avoids overly complex interfaces. Furthermore, the sound card provided in this application also includes the prompting component 4, which provides real-time feedback on the operation steps, eliminating the need for users to memorize operation procedures and making operation more intuitive and convenient.
[0026] It should be noted that the adjustment objects defined in this application can be main output, monitor output, microphone input, sound effect mode, etc. Specifically, the first switch key 2 can cycle through multiple adjustment objects. Each press of the first switch key 2 switches to the next adjustment object until the last object is reached, at which point it returns to the initial adjustment object, and so on. When switching, if the current setting is main output, switching again will switch to monitor output. If no further switching is needed, the selected adjustment object remains, and then the adjustment key 3 can be used to adjust the selected monitor output.
[0027] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments, the first switching key 2 includes a button 21, and the adjustment key 3 includes a knob 32; the button 21 is located in the middle of the knob 32. Specifically, the button 21 can be pressed or released towards the inside of the housing 1, and the knob 32 will not interfere with the button 21 when it rotates. Thus, the design of the button 21 and the knob 32 in this embodiment can save space and further simplify the operating interface. In some embodiments, the button 21 can be set as a square, oval, or other irregular shape.
[0028] In some embodiments, the button 21 and the knob 32 are arranged concentrically. Therefore, the button 21 is cylindrical, and a small gap can exist between the button 21 and the knob 32, allowing the button 21 to be pressed flexibly and the knob 32 to be rotated flexibly. This allows the button 21 and the knob 32 to fit together more closely, resulting in a more compact and concise user interface structure.
[0029] In some embodiments, the first switch key 2 is also used to switch to two adjustment objects simultaneously. For ease of description, the switching sequence of the first switch key 2 is divided into a first cycle and a second cycle. The first cycle switches to only one adjustment object at a time, while the second cycle can switch to two adjustment objects at a time. For example, if the current adjustment object is the main output, the first switch key 2 can select one of the adjustment objects—main output, monitor output, or microphone input—in the first cycle. If no selection is made in the first cycle, pressing the first switch key 2 again will enter the second cycle. In the second cycle, each press of the first switch key 2 will select two adjustment objects simultaneously. If no selection is made in the second cycle, pressing the first switch key 2 again will return to the first cycle. Therefore, in more professional scenarios such as recording, this sound card can accommodate professional users for rapid sound effect adjustments.
[0030] Reference Figure 3 In this application, adjusting the sound card may include the following steps:
[0031] In its initial state, the sound card will default to selecting an adjustment object, and the prompt 4 will indicate the currently selected adjustment object and its adjustment status;
[0032] Touch the first switch key 2 to switch the adjustment object. After selecting the adjustment object, the prompt 4 will indicate the currently selected adjustment object.
[0033] Touch the adjustment key 3 to adjust the control amount of the object being adjusted, and the prompt 4 will indicate the current adjustment change.
[0034] Specifically, in some embodiments, if the sound card controller detects that the first switching key 2 and the adjustment key 3 are touched simultaneously, it prioritizes switching the adjustment object and then executes the control quantity input by the adjustment key 3 to adjust the control quantity of the adjustment object. It can be understood that if the first switching key 2 has not yet selected an adjustment object, the control quantity input by the adjustment key 3 will be temporarily stored until the adjustment object is selected before the adjustment of the control quantity is executed. This avoids erroneously triggering the adjustment of any adjustment object during the cyclic selection process of the first switching key 2.
[0035] In some embodiments, the first switching key 2 can be a button 21. The button 21 can be selected with a spring with higher stiffness to increase the restoring force of the button 21, making the button 21 more stable when pressed and released, reducing vibration, and reducing the error switching of the adjustment object caused by the button 21 shaking.
[0036] In some embodiments, when the sound card controller detects a change in the state of button 21, it delays for a preset time before performing the switching action. Specifically, the delay time can be 10ms, 15ms, etc. After the delay, the controller detects the state of button 21 again. If the state of button 21 remains unchanged after the delay, it is considered a valid switching operation, and the sound card controller performs the switching action.
[0037] In some embodiments, the first switch key 2 may include a short press state and a long press state. In the short press state, the first switch key 2 can switch the adjustment object; in the long press state, the sound card can enter an advanced adjustment mode. For example, a user can switch to the main output by short pressing the first switch key 2, which has a default step value of 1dB. However, if the user long presses the first switch key 2 again, the default step value of the main output changes to 1.5dB. In this way, the volume of the main output can be quickly adjusted in some usage scenarios.
[0038] In some embodiments, the sound card can automatically revert to the last used adjustment settings after a restart. This eliminates the need for users to repeatedly select settings for frequently used adjustments, improving user experience and operational efficiency.
[0039] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3In some embodiments, the sound card has multiple output ports 5, which are used to connect multiple external devices. The sound card also includes a second switching key; the second switching key is used to cycle through the multiple output ports 5, and each time the second switching key selects at least one external device. Thus, the sound card can connect to multiple external devices, and the second switching key can select one or more external devices. Specifically, the method of selecting an external device with the second switching key is similar to that of selecting an adjustment object with the first switching key 2, and will not be described again here. The external devices can be OTG mobile phones, tablets, monitoring headphones, etc.
[0040] In some embodiments, the prompt 4 can be a display screen 41. Thus, displaying the currently selected object on the display screen 41 provides the user with clear and intuitive visual feedback. The user can easily view the currently selected adjustment object and control value on the display screen 41.
[0041] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the sound card can also be an indicator light 42. Specifically, different patterns can be engraved on the surface of the housing 1, each corresponding to an indicator light 42. Each pattern corresponds to a different adjustment object. When the first switch key 2 switches to a different adjustment object, the corresponding indicator light 42 lights up, allowing the user to intuitively understand the selected adjustment object. In addition, the indicator light 42 can also have different brightness variations, providing feedback on the current control value when the user adjusts it using the adjustment key 3.
[0042] In some embodiments, the sound card can also emit a prompt tone to indicate to the user the adjustment object being switched and the control value.
[0043] In some embodiments, the indicator light 42 has a gradient light, which is used to switch the light intensity and / or color according to the current control value. Specifically, the gradient light can provide a continuously changing light effect, with the light providing a gradient from weak to strong, or from cool to warm colors. The user can judge the magnitude or direction of the control value based on the change in light. For example, a light from weak to strong can indicate a volume increase; a light from cool to warm colors can indicate a volume increase. Thus, this adjustable gradient light operation is somewhat interesting, and the user can intuitively feel the adjustment of the control value.
[0044] In some embodiments, the first switch key 2 includes one of a spring-loaded button, a rocker button, and a multi-level selection button, and the second switch key 6 includes one of a spring-loaded button, a rocker button, and a multi-level selection button 21. (Refer to...) Figure 2 Among them, the multi-level selection button can also be in the form of a knob, and rotating it to each level corresponds to each adjustment object.
[0045] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the sound card includes multiple adjustment keys 3, which include knobs 32 and / or sliders 31. In some embodiments, the multiple adjustment keys 3 include at least one of a potentiometer knob, an encoder knob, a potentiometer slider, and an encoder slider. Specifically, the selection can be made according to design requirements to make the user interface as simple and aesthetically pleasing as possible.
[0046] In summary, in the sound card used in this application, the same first switch key 2 can select different adjustment objects. Unlike traditional sound cards that require separate controls for each adjustment object, the sound card provided in this application reduces the number of controls, simplifies the operation interface, and avoids an overly complex interface. Furthermore, the sound card provided in this application also has a prompt 4, which provides real-time feedback on the operation steps, eliminating the need for users to memorize the operation process and making the operation more intuitive and convenient.
[0047] In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0048] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.
[0049] The embodiments, implementation methods, and related technical features of this application can be combined and substituted for each other without conflict.
[0050] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this application without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this application.
[0051] Although the present invention has been specifically described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, it is to be understood that the above description does not limit the present invention in any way. Those skilled in the art can make modifications and variations to the present invention as needed without departing from the essential spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A sound card, characterized in that, include: case; A first switching key is provided on the housing for cyclically switching between multiple adjustment objects, and the first switching key selects at least one adjustment object each time; An adjustment key, located in the housing, is used to adjust the control value of the adjustment object selected by the first switching key; A prompting element, located on the housing, is used to indicate the current adjustment object and the current control value.
2. The sound card according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first switching key includes a button, and the adjustment key includes a knob; The button is located in the middle of the knob.
3. The sound card according to claim 2, characterized in that, The buttons and the knob are arranged in concentric circles.
4. The sound card according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first switch key is also used to switch between two adjustment objects simultaneously.
5. The sound card according to claim 1, characterized in that, The notification device is a display screen or an indicator light.
6. The sound card according to claim 5, characterized in that, The indicator is a light source with gradient light, and the light source is used to switch the light intensity and / or color according to the current control value.
7. The sound card according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sound card has multiple output ports, which are used to connect multiple external devices. The sound card also includes a second switching key; The second switching key is used to cycle through the multiple output ports, and the second switching key selects at least one external device each time.
8. The sound card according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first switching key includes one of a spring button, a rocker button, and a multi-level selection button, and the second switching key includes one of a spring button, a rocker button, and a multi-level selection button.
9. The sound card according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sound card includes multiple adjustment keys, which include knobs and / or sliders.
10. The sound card according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple adjustment keys include at least one of a potentiometer knob, an encoder knob, a potentiometer push rod, and an encoder push rod.