Radio and volume change method therefor

Abstract

To easily perform a volume change operation in accordance with whether a handsfree speech function of a radio is on or off.SOLUTION: A radio comprises: a volume knob 2 for changing into a volume value corresponding to a rotation angle; a volume change key 3 which changes the volume value by pressing a key; on / off switch means 4 which switches on / off of a handsfree speech function; and control means 5 which controls the radio. The control means 5 monitors the on / off of the handsfree speech function, makes the volume change by operating the volume knob 2 possible when the handsfree speech function is on, and makes the volume change by using the volume change key 3 possible when the handsfree speech function is off.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for changing a volume value in a radio device having a hands-free calling function. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a way to change the volume value of a wireless device such as a mobile phone, which can reduce the playback volume of the content, etc., when a call is received while the user is viewing the video or audio of the content, etc. Also, in a wireless device having multiple audio output destinations, when both the audio of the call and the audio of the content, etc., are output to the respective audio output destinations during a call, a device is known that allows the user to set the volume of the content, etc., to their liking (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4369400 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The radio device disclosed in Patent Document 1 changes the audio output of multiple audio output destinations according to a volume setting value that is pre-associated with each audio output destination, but does not allow easy setting of the volume setting value.

[0005] Conventional handheld radios only have one means of changing the volume; either by rotating a volume knob on the top of the main unit to change the volume value according to the rotation position, or by setting a pressable key on the side of the main unit as a volume change key to change the volume value.

[0006] The volume change means using the volume knob changes the volume value according to the rotational position of the volume knob, and is therefore suitable for grasping and changing the volume value while the radio is fixed to the chest, waist, etc. On the other hand, when the volume change means uses the keys on the side of the radio body, it is suitable for changing the volume by pressing the keys on the side of the body while holding the radio to the ear like a telephone receiver.

[0007] However, in a radio that has both a walkie-talkie function and a telephone function (particularly an IP telephone function), if the volume change means is a volume knob, when changing the volume value while holding the radio to the ear like a telephone receiver, it is difficult to see the volume knob, and it is necessary to move the hand that is not holding the radio to the volume knob, making it difficult to change the volume value.On the other hand, if the volume change key is on the side of the main unit, there is a problem that when the volume value is changed while the radio is fixed to the chest or waist, the screen display showing the volume value is difficult to see, making it difficult to grasp the volume value.

[0008] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a radio and a volume changing method thereof that enable easy operation to change the volume value depending on whether the hands-free calling function is on or off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a wireless device including a control means, a volume knob that changes a first volume value according to a rotation angle, and a volume change key that changes a second volume value by pressing the key, The control means controls the on / off of the hands-free calling function, and when the hands-free calling function is on, enables the first volume value to be changed by operating the volume knob, and when the hands-free calling function is off, enables the second volume value to be changed by the volume change key.

[0010] It is preferable that the wireless device has a transceiver function and a telephone function, and the control means turns on the hands-free function when a call using the transceiver function starts, and turns off the hands-free function when a call using the telephone function starts.

[0011] It is preferable that the wireless device further comprises an on / off switching means operable by a user, and the control means switches the hands-free calling function on / off when the on / off switching means is operated during a call.

[0012] In the above wireless device, it is preferable that the control means turns on the hands-free calling function when the call is ended.

[0013] In the above radio, it is preferable that the volume knob is provided on the top surface of the radio body, and the volume change key is provided on a side surface of the radio body.

[0014] The present invention also provides a method for changing the volume of a radio device having a hands-free calling function that can be freely switched on and off, comprising the steps of: When the hands-free function is on, you can change the volume by rotating the volume knob. When the hands-free function is off, the volume is changed by pressing the volume change key. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the radio or the volume changing method thereof of the present invention, when the hands-free calling function is on, the radio can be used as a transceiver away from the face for talking, and the first volume value can be easily changed by operating the volume knob. On the other hand, when the hands-free calling function is off, the radio can be used as a telephone to talk by holding it to the ear, and the second volume value can be easily changed by operating the volume change key with the fingers of the hand holding the radio. Therefore, compared with a conventional radio that only has a volume knob for changing the volume, when the radio is used as a telephone to the ear, it is no longer necessary to reach out to the volume knob with the hand not holding the radio, and the volume value can be easily changed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1A is a side view of a radio device having a transceiver function and a telephone function according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration related to changing the volume of a control unit of the wireless device. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart showing a volume change operation performed by operating the volume knob of the radio. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a volume change operation performed by operating a volume change key of the radio. [Diagram 5] 4A to 4C are diagrams showing examples of state transitions of a hands-free calling function by a control unit of the wireless device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, a radio having a transceiver function and a telephone function (particularly, an IP telephone function) according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for changing the volume thereof will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) show a side and a front view of a radio 1 according to an embodiment. In the figures, the radio 1 includes a volume knob 2 for changing the volume to a first volume value according to a rotation angle, a volume change key 3 for changing the volume to a second volume value by pressing it, a call key 4a set as an on / off switching means 4 for switching a hands-free call function on / off, and a control means 5 for controlling the radio 1. Here, the hands-free call function is a function that allows a user to talk with the radio 1 away from the face when it is on. On the other hand, when the hands-free call function is off, it is suitable for a user to talk with the radio 1 held up to the ear. For example, the hands-free calling function can have different volume values ​​when it is on and off, so that when the hands-free calling function is on, the volume value can be suitable for the user to talk with radio 1 away from the face, and when the hands-free calling function is off, the volume value can be suitable for the user to talk with radio 1 held to the ear.

[0018] The volume knob 2 is provided on the top surface of the exterior case of the radio 1 (hereinafter referred to as the radio body) so as to protrude therefrom, and is shaped so as to be easily gripped and turned with the fingers. A volume scale may be displayed on the top surface of the radio body along the direction of rotation of the knob. The volume change key 3 is provided on the side surface of the radio body (the left side surface when the radio body is viewed from the front) and acts to increase the volume value by one step when the upper part of the key is pressed, and to decrease the volume value by one step when the lower part of the key is pressed. The volume change key 3 may be shaped like a tumbler or may be a button divided into two parts, upper and lower, and is desirably located in a position that is easy to operate with the free fingers when the radio body is held from the rear side by the fingers on the left and right side portions.

[0019] In this embodiment, the hands-free calling function ON / OFF switching means 4 is set to a call key 4a among the various operation buttons 6. This call key 4a is a key that is pressed when receiving or making a call in order to use the wireless device 1 as a telephone, and is set so that the hands-free calling function can be switched ON / OFF by pressing and holding it for a long time.

[0020] The radio 1 has various operation buttons 6 and an LCD display 7 on the front of the main body, a control means 5, a speaker 8, and a microphone 9 inside the main body, and a belt clip 10 and a battery 11 attached to the back of the main body. The various operation buttons 6 include an on-hook key 4b for ending a telephone call, numeric keys, menu selection buttons, etc. A PTT (Push To Talk) key 12 that is pressed when talking using the transceiver function is provided adjacent to the volume change key 3 on the side of the radio main body. An antenna 13 is provided adjacent to the volume knob 2 on the top of the radio main body. The LCD display 7 displays the volume value when either the volume knob 2 or the volume change key 3 is operated, and also displays whether the hands-free calling function is on or off.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a schematic configuration related to the volume change of the control means 5 of the radio 1. In Fig. 2, the control means 5 is composed of a CPU 51, a memory 52 composed of a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (random access memory) that store programs for radio operation and volume change processing, user settings including the volume value, and a codec IC 53 for changing the volume. The CPU 51 monitors the states of the volume knob 2, the volume change key 3, and the talk key 4a (means 4 for switching the hands-free talk function on / off) at a predetermined cycle as a volume change process, increases or decreases the volume value based on the amount of operation of the volume knob 2 or the volume change key 3 according to the on / off of the hands-free talk function of the radio 1, notifies the codec IC 53, and outputs to the speaker 8.

[0022] In detail, the CPU 51 has a first volume value that is changed by the volume knob 2 when the hands-free calling function is on, and a second volume value that is changed by the volume change key 3 when the hands-free calling function is off, and converts each volume value into a register value of the codec IC 53 corresponding to the volume value and notifies the codec IC 53, thereby changing the volume of the sound output from the speaker 8.

[0023] The first volume value is a volume value that corresponds to the rotation angle of the knob and is directly monitored by the CPU 51 in sequence, and the second volume value is stored in the memory 52.

[0024] Here, the radio 1 is set as a basic operation such that the hands-free function is turned on when the transceiver function is used, and turned off when the telephone function is used. When the hands-free function is turned on, the first volume value can be changed by operating the volume knob 2 on the top surface of the radio body, and when the hands-free function is turned off, it automatically switches to the volume change key 3 on the side of the radio body, and the second volume value can be changed by operating the volume knob 2 on the top surface of the radio body.

[0025] As an operation different from the basic operation described above, the hands-free calling function can be switched on / off by pressing and holding the call key 4a during a call, and when the call ends, the device transitions to a standby state, and when a call using the transceiver function or the call function starts again, the device can be configured to automatically return to the basic operation. The end of a call here may be, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed without transmission / reception when the transceiver function is used, or when the power (on-hook) key 4b is pressed or the call is disconnected when the telephone function is used. For example, if the basic operation when the transceiver function is used is the hands-free calling function on, the hands-free calling function can be turned off by pressing and holding the call key 4a, and when the call ends with the hands-free calling function off, the device can automatically return to the basic operation, and the hands-free calling function can be turned on again when a call using the transceiver function starts again.

[0026] Also, while the user is pressing the PTT (Push To Talk) key 12 to use the walkie-talkie function, the CPU 51 determines that the hands-free function is on. Also, the hands-free function can be set to be turned off when the user operates the numeric keypad to use the telephone function.

[0027] Fig. 3 shows the operation of changing the first volume value by operating the volume knob 2. In Fig. 3, the CPU 51 periodically converts the input voltage from the volume knob 2 into an AD value, and when the volume knob 2 is rotated, the input voltage value is AD converted (#1) and the first volume value is updated according to the converted value (#2). When the hands-free function is on (ON at #3), the CPU 51 converts the updated first volume value into a register value of the codec IC 53 (#4), notifies the codec IC 53 of this (#5), and changes the first volume value. When the hands-free function is off (OFF at #3), the CPU 51 does not notify the codec IC 53 of the updated first volume value and does not change the volume.

[0028] Fig. 4 shows the operation of changing the second volume value by operating the volume change key 3. In Fig. 4, when the user presses the volume change key 3 (#11), the CPU 51 monitors the on / off state of the hands-free calling function, and when the hands-free calling function is on (ON at #12), the CPU 51 does not perform the process of changing the second volume value by pressing the volume change key 3. When the hands-free calling function is off (OFF at #12), the CPU 51 performs the process of changing the volume by pressing the volume change key 3. In the volume change process, the CPU 51 increments or decrements the second volume value stored in the memory 52 by 1 (#13), converts the updated second volume value into a register value of the codec IC 53 (#14), notifies the codec IC 53 of this (#15), and changes the volume.

[0029] As described above, the basic operation of the radio 1 is that the hands-free function is on when the transceiver function is used and off when the telephone function is used, so when the hands-free function is on (when the transceiver function is used), the first volume value is changed according to the rotation angle of the volume knob 2, but operation using the volume change key 3 is not accepted. Also, when the hands-free function is off (when the telephone function is used), operation of the volume change key 3 is automatically enabled when a telephone call starts, and pressing the volume change key 3 is accepted to change the second volume value, but rotation of the volume knob 2 updates the volume to the first volume value according to the rotation angle, but does not change the volume.

[0030] In a conventional radio having only a volume knob as a volume changing means, when talking with the radio held to the ear, the hand not holding the radio must reach to the volume knob and turn the knob to change the volume, which is not an easy operation. In contrast, according to the radio 1 of this embodiment, when talking with the radio 1 held to the ear as a telephone, the volume changing means automatically switches to the volume change key 3, so the operation is simple, as the key 3 can be pressed down with the fingers of the hand holding the radio 1. In addition, when talking with the radio 1 away from the face as a transceiver, the volume value can be changed by rotating the volume knob 2. Thus, the volume value can be easily changed whether talking with the radio 1 held to the ear or away from the face.

[0031] An example of the transition of the hands-free state by the control means of the radio 1 will be described below with reference to Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, when the radio 1 is powered on, it goes into a standby state and the hands-free call function is turned on (hereinafter, referred to as ON) (#30). In this standby state, operation of the volume knob 2 is valid, but operation of the volume change key 3 (referred to as a side key in Fig. 5) and long press operation of the talk key 4a (ON / OFF switching means 4) are invalid. When the PTT key 12 is pressed from the standby state to transmit wirelessly (#31), it goes into a wireless call state by the transceiver function with the hands-free call function ON as the transceiver function (#32).

[0032] In this state of wireless communication using the transceiver function, it is possible to change the first volume value by operating the volume knob 2 (#33). In this state, if the talk key 4a is pressed and held (#34), the hands-free call function is switched off (hereinafter referred to as OFF) while still in the state of wireless communication using the transceiver function (#35). In this state, it is possible to change the second volume value by operating the side key (#36). If the PTT key 12 is released from being pressed during wireless communication using the transceiver function, the wireless communication ends (#37) and the state returns to standby. Even when the radio 1 is in standby and receives a wireless call (#38), it returns to wireless communication using the transceiver function with the hands-free call function ON (#32).

[0033] When the radio 1 is in standby mode (#30), if a phone number is entered and the call key 4a is pressed to make a call (#41), the radio enters a call making state using the telephone function with the hands-free call function OFF (#42). If the call is answered by the other device (#43), the radio enters a call making state using the telephone function with the hands-free call function OFF (#44). In the call making state using the telephone function (#42) described above, the second volume value can be changed by operating the side key (#45). If the call key 4a is pressed and held down (#46) in this call making state using the telephone function, the radio switches to the hands-free call function ON while still in the call making state using the telephone function (#47). In this state, the first volume value can be changed by operating the volume knob 2 (#48).

[0034] When the other party answers the call in the above-mentioned telephone function with the hands-free function ON (#47), the state changes to a telephone call state using the telephone function with the hands-free function ON (#50). In the above-mentioned telephone call state using the telephone function with the hands-free function OFF (#44), the second volume value can be changed by operating the side key (#51). Also, in the telephone call state using the telephone function with the hands-free function ON (#50), the first volume value can be changed by operating the volume knob 2 (#53). Between the telephone call state using the telephone function with the hands-free function OFF (#44) and the telephone call state using the telephone function with the hands-free function ON (#50), it is possible to switch between them by pressing and holding the call key 4a (#52). When the on-hook key 4b is pressed from the telephone call state using the telephone function (#50), the telephone call state using the telephone function ends (#54), and the radio 1 enters a standby state (#30).

[0035] When the radio 1 is in standby mode (#30) and receives an incoming call from the other device (#55), it enters a state in which the hands-free call function is ON and the call is received by the telephone function (#56), and the volume can be changed by operating the volume knob 2 (#57). When the call key 4a is pressed to answer the call by the telephone function (#58) in this state in which the call is received by the telephone function, the hands-free call function is automatically switched OFF and the call is received by the telephone function (#44). If the other device is also a similar radio, the call is not made directly between the radio devices, but via the wireless controller (server) or SIP server. The above is an example of the transition of the hands-free state, and can be changed as appropriate.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the above, the volume knob 2 is provided on the top surface of the radio body, and the volume change key 3 is provided on the side of the radio body, but they can be arranged in any manner as long as it is suitable for changing the volume value when using the transceiver function and the telephone function. In addition, as the on / off switching means 4 for the hands-free calling function, a long press of the call key 4a among the various operation buttons 6 is shown in the above, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be arranged in any manner.

[0037] Also, the radio 1 may have only a transceiver function or only a telephone function by changing the settings from the basic operation. Also, if the radio 1 has a configuration in which audio output is output from an earphone jack instead of a speaker, when audio is output from the earphone jack, the volume change means does not need to be switched and only the operation of changing the first volume value by the volume knob 2 is valid. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Radio 2 Volume knob 3 Volume change key (side key) 4. How to turn hands-free calling on / off 4a Talk key (on / off switch) 4b On-hook key 5. Control Means 51 CPU 52 Memory 53 Codec IC 6 Various operation buttons 7 LCD display 8 speakers 9. Mike 10 Belt Clip 11. Battery 12 PTT key 13 Antenna

Claims

1. A control means; a volume knob that changes a first volume value according to a rotation angle; a volume change key for changing the second volume value by pressing the key; In a radio device comprising: The control means controls the on / off of the hands-free calling function, and when the hands-free calling function is on, enables the first volume value to be changed by operating the volume knob, and when the hands-free calling function is off, enables the second volume value to be changed by the volume change key.

2. The radio has a transceiver function and a telephone function, 2. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said control means turns on said hands-free function when a call using said transceiver function starts, and turns off said hands-free function when a call using said telephone function starts.

3. the radio further comprises an on / off switching means operable by a user; 3. The wireless device according to claim 2, wherein the control means switches the hands-free calling function on and off when the on / off switching means is operated during a call.

4. 4. The wireless device according to claim 3, wherein said control means turns on said hands-free function when a call is ended.

5. the volume knob is provided on a top surface of the body of the radio; 5. The radio according to claim 1, wherein the volume change key is provided on a side surface of a main body of the radio.

6. A method for changing the volume of a radio having a hands-free calling function that can be freely switched on and off, comprising: When the hands-free function is on, you can change the volume by rotating the volume knob. A method for changing the volume of a radio by pressing a volume change key when the hands-free calling function is off.

Images