Volume control system and volume control method

Abstract

To effectively restrain an output in large volume unintended by a user.SOLUTION: A volume control system includes two earphones, and a radio terminal. The radio terminal receives an input operation of a volume upper limit of the earphones and transmits it to the earphones. When it is determined that a current volume is not the volume upper limit based on the reception of a first continuation operation in which a user operation continues for a first predetermined time or more, the earphones increase the current volume, continues the first continuation operation, and determines whether or not a second continuation operation, in which the user operation by an input part continues for a second predetermined time or more, is received. When it is determined that the second continuation operation is received, the earphones further determine whether or not the current volume is the volume upper limit. When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit, the earphones increase the current volume, or when it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit, the earphones skip processing of increasing the current volume.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a volume control system and a volume control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a head mounted display having a display unit that displays images for the left and right eyes, an audio output unit that outputs audio accompanying the images, a user operation unit that allows the user to control the audio output from the audio output unit, a wearing sensor that detects whether or not the observer is wearing the device, and a control unit that controls adjustment of the volume in response to volume operation via the user operation unit depending on the detection result of the wearing sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-93663 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure has been devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and aims to provide a volume control system and a volume control method that more effectively suppresses the output of a large volume unintended by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure provides a volume control system including two earphones having an input unit capable of accepting user operations, and a wireless terminal capable of communicating with the earphones, wherein the wireless terminal accepts an input operation of a volume upper limit value for the earphones and transmits it to the earphones, the earphones store the volume upper limit value, and when it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value based on acceptance of a first continuing operation in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a first predetermined time or more, the earphones increase the current volume and continue the first continuing operation, determine whether or not the user operation by the input unit has been accepted in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a second predetermined time or more, when it is determined that the second continuing operation has been accepted, further determine whether or not the current volume is the volume upper limit value, and when it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value, the current volume is increased, and when it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit value, the earphones omit the process of increasing the current volume.

[0006] The present disclosure also provides a volume control method performed by a system including two earphones having an input unit capable of accepting user operations and a wireless terminal capable of communicating with the earphones, the volume control method comprising: accepting an input operation of a volume upper limit value of the earphones; storing the volume upper limit value; if it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value based on acceptance of a first continuing operation in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a first predetermined time or more, increasing the current volume, and determining whether or not a second continuing operation has been accepted in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a second predetermined time or more, if it is determined that the second continuing operation has been accepted, further determining whether or not the current volume is the volume upper limit value; if it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value, increasing the current volume; and if it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit value, omitting the process of increasing the current volume.

[0007] These comprehensive or specific aspects may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium, or may be realized as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to more effectively suppress the output of a high volume unintentionally by the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an earphone according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a rear view of an earphone according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] Block diagram of an earphone according to an embodiment [Figure 4] Block diagram of a smartphone according to an embodiment [Diagram 5] Figure showing an example of the transition of the volume upper limit setting screen [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of volume control in an embodiment. [Figure 7] A flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of the earphone according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of conventional volume control. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Background to this disclosure) Recently, a style has emerged in which users insert completely wireless earphones (hereinafter referred to as "earphones"), also known as True Wireless Stereo (TWS), into both their left and right ears. Such earphones are equipped with a touch sensor (e.g., touch sensor TCL shown in FIG. 1) that can accept user operations, and can accept an operation to adjust the volume of the sound output based on the number of touches on the touch sensor or the duration of the touch operation. For example, the earphones can continuously increase the volume of the sound output based on the duration of a long press operation of continuously touching the touch sensor detected by the touch sensor.

[0011] Here, an example of volume control of the above-mentioned conventional earphones will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of conventional volume control. Note that the volume values ​​"40" to "100" and the time of the long press operation shown in Fig. 8 are examples for making the explanation easier to understand, and are not limited to these.

[0012] The user starts operating the touch sensor at the timing of "long press operation start" shown in Fig. 8. When the earphones continue to detect the touch operation on the touch sensor for 1.0 second, they determine that it is a long press operation and execute the first volume control to increase the volume from the currently set volume of "40" to the next highest volume of "50". After the long press operation is determined, the earphones execute volume control to increase the volume by "10" every time the long press operation continues for 0.5 seconds. The earphones repeatedly execute the above-mentioned volume control until the long press operation ends, and execute volume control until the earphones set the volume to the maximum value of "100", which is the maximum volume that the earphones can output.

[0013] In this way, when the earphone detects continuous contact of the user's fingers with the touch sensor, the earphone executes volume control to continue increasing the volume. Therefore, when the earphone is removed from both ears and not stored in the cradle, but is carried in the user's pocket, bag, or hand, for example, and the user's fingers touch the touch sensor, there is a possibility that the user may accept an unintended volume adjustment operation. In such a case, the earphone may output sound at an unintended volume the next time sound is played, which may damage the user's ears.

[0014] Patent Document 1 discloses a head mounted display that can prevent the above-mentioned volume control by disabling the operation of increasing the volume when the display is not worn, that is, the long press operation for increasing the volume, thereby suppressing the output of a high volume of sound when the user resumes viewing (when the sound output resumes). However, Patent Document 1 leaves room for improvement in view of the need to protect the user's ears when increasing the volume while the user is wearing the head mounted display.

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings as appropriate, an embodiment in which a volume control system and a volume control method are specifically disclosed in the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters and duplicated description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0016] First, the hardware configuration of the earphones 1L and 1R will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a diagram showing a front view of the earphones 1L and 1R. Figure 2 is a diagram showing a rear view of the earphones 1L and 1R.

[0017] For convenience of explanation, the axis perpendicular to the surface of the touch sensor TCL of the earphone 1L as shown in FIG. 1 is defined as the Z axis. The axis perpendicular to the Z axis (i.e., parallel to the touch sensor TCL of the earphone 1L) and extending from the earphone 1L to the earphone 1R is defined as the Y axis. The axis perpendicular to the Y axis and the Z axis is defined as the X axis. In this embodiment, the orientation of the earphone 1L in FIG. 1 is defined as a front view. These directional expressions are used for convenience of explanation and are not intended to limit the posture of the structure during actual use. The same applies to other drawings.

[0018] In this embodiment, the left earphone 1L and the right earphone 1R of the pair of left and right earphones 1L and 1R have the same configuration. The same components are represented by adding "L" to the end of the reference numerals for the left earphone 1L and "R" to the end of the reference numerals for the right earphone 1R. In the following description, only the left earphone 1L will be described, and the description of the other right earphone 1R will be omitted.

[0019] The earphones 1 are two earphones 1L and 1R that are fitted to the left and right ears of a user, respectively, and each have a plurality of earpieces of different sizes interchangeably fitted to one end thereof.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the earphone 1L is an inner-type acoustic device that is worn in the user's ear and receives sound data (e.g., music data) transmitted wirelessly (e.g., short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark)) from an external device such as a smartphone or a portable audio player owned by the user. The earphone 1L acoustically outputs a sound signal based on the received sound data. When the earphone 1L is not in use, it is placed in a cradle (not shown), which is a charging case. When the battery B1L (FIG. 3) built into the earphone 1L is not fully charged, for example, and the earphone 1L is placed in a predetermined place on the cradle, the battery B1L built into the earphone is charged based on the power transmitted from the cradle.

[0021] The earphone 1L has a housing HOL as a structural member. The housing HOL is made of a composite material such as synthetic resin, metal, and ceramic.

[0022] The earphone 1L has an earpiece IPL attached to the body of the earphone 1L. For example, the earphone 1L is held in a state where it is inserted inside the ear canal of the user's ear by the earpiece IPL, and this held state is the earphone 1L in use.

[0023] The earpiece IPL is formed of a flexible material such as silicone, and is injection molded to have an inner cylinder (not shown) and an outer cylinder (not shown). The earpiece IPL is fixed by inserting its inner cylinder into a mounting cylindrical portion of the housing HOL, and is provided replaceably (detachably) with respect to the mounting cylindrical portion of the housing HOL. The earpiece IPL is attached to the user's ear canal by its outer cylinder, and elastically deforms according to the shape of the ear canal into which it is attached. This elastic deformation holds the earpiece IPL in the user's ear canal. The earpiece IPL has a number of different sizes. The earpiece IPL is attached to the left ear of the user by attaching one of the earpieces of a number of different sizes to the earphone 1L.

[0024] The touch sensor TCL is provided on one end of the housing HOL opposite to the end where the earpiece IPL is arranged, as shown in FIG. 1. The touch sensor TCL is a sensor element having a touch sensor function that detects an input operation (e.g., a touch operation) by a user. The sensor element is, for example, an electrode of a capacitive touch sensor. The touch sensor TCL may be formed, for example, as a perfectly circular surface, or may be formed, for example, as an elliptical surface. The touch sensor TCL may also be formed as a rectangular surface.

[0025] Based on touch operations, the earphone 1L executes instructions to an external device such as play, stop, forward, and back, pairing operation instructions for wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) with an external device such as a smartphone, volume control (adjustment) of the sound output from the speaker SP1L, etc. Note that only the volume control of the sound will be described here, and other operations will be omitted.

[0026] Specifically, when a long-time touch operation (so-called long press operation) is performed, the earphone 1L executes volume control to increase the volume of the sound output from the speaker SP1L based on the duration of the long press operation.

[0027] The speaker SP1L is disposed in the cylindrical mounting portion of the housing HOL as shown in FIG. 2. The speaker SP1L is an electronic component that acoustically outputs sound data wirelessly transmitted from an external device. Inside the housing HOL, the front surface of the speaker SP1L (in other words, the sound emitting surface from which the acoustically output sound is emitted) faces the cylindrical mounting portion of the housing HOL covered by the earpiece IPL. As a result, the sound acoustically output from the speaker SP1L is transmitted from the user's ear canal (e.g., the outer ear portion) to the inner ear and eardrum inside, allowing the user to hear the sound.

[0028] The wearing sensor SEL is configured by a device that detects whether the earphone 1L is worn on the left ear of the user, and is configured using, for example, an infrared sensor or an electrostatic sensor. In the case of an infrared sensor, if the earphone 1L is worn on the left ear of the user, the wearing sensor SEL can detect the wearing of the earphone 1L on the left ear of the user by receiving infrared rays that are irradiated from the wearing sensor SEL and reflected inside the left ear. Also, if the earphone 1L is not worn on the left ear of the user, the wearing sensor SEL can detect the non-wearing of the earphone 1L on the left ear of the user by not receiving infrared rays that are irradiated from the wearing sensor SEL and reflected.

[0029] On the other hand, in the case of a capacitive sensor, if the earphone 1L is worn on the left ear of the user, the wearing sensor SEL can detect the wearing of the earphone on the left ear of the user by determining that a change in capacitance according to the distance to the inside of the left ear of the user is greater than a threshold value held by the wearing sensor SEL. If the earphone 1L is not worn on the left ear of the user, the wearing sensor SEL can detect that the earphone 1L is not worn on the left ear of the user by determining that a change in capacitance value is smaller than a threshold value held by the wearing sensor SEL. The wearing sensor SEL is provided at a position facing the ear canal when the earphone 1L is inserted in the left ear of the user and on the rear side of the touch sensor TCL.

[0030] Next, a block diagram of the earphones will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the earphones according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of each of the pair of left and right earphones 1L and 1R shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In the following, the configuration of the earphone 1L of the pair of left and right earphones 1L and 1R will be described, but the configuration of the earphone 1R is the same as that of the earphone 1L. Therefore, in FIG. 3 as well, the description of the earphone 1R will be omitted.

[0031] The volume control system 100 includes an earphone 1L, an earphone 1R, and a smartphone F1.

[0032] The touch sensor TCL is communicatively connected to the earphone control unit S2L ​​and outputs a signal related to a touch operation performed by the user to the earphone control unit S2L.

[0033] The wearing sensor SEL is communicatively connected to the earphone control unit S2L, and outputs a signal regarding whether or not the user's ear and the earphone 1L are in contact with each other to the earphone control unit S2L.

[0034] The power monitoring unit 13L is configured using, for example, a semiconductor chip. The power monitoring unit 13L has a battery B1L and measures the remaining charge of the battery B1L. The battery B1L is, for example, a lithium ion battery. The power monitoring unit 13L outputs information related to the measured remaining charge of the battery B1L to the earphone control unit S2L.

[0035] The sound signal output control unit S1L and the earphone control unit S2L ​​realize their respective functions by using programs and data stored in ROM11L, which is a read only memory (hereinafter referred to as "ROM"). The sound signal output control unit S1L and the earphone control unit S2L ​​may use RAM12L, which is a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as "RAM"), during operation and temporarily store generated or acquired data or information in RAM12L.

[0036] The sound signal output control unit S1L is configured using a processor such as a Central Processing Unit (hereinafter, referred to as "CPU"), a Micro Processing Unit (hereinafter, referred to as "MPU"), or a Digital Signal Processor (hereinafter, referred to as "DSP"). The sound signal output control unit S1L is communicably connected to the earphone control unit S2L, and exchanges sound signals with the earphone control unit S2L ​​in the form of digital signals converted into a digital format by a Pulse Code Modulation (hereinafter, referred to as "PCM") method. The sound signal output control unit S1L controls the volume of the sound output to the speaker SP1L based on a control command that specifies the volume output from the earphone control unit S2L. The sound signal output control unit S1L adjusts the volume level of the digital signal related to the sound signal acquired from the smartphone F1 to the currently set volume and outputs the adjusted volume to the speaker SP1L.

[0037] The earphone control unit S2L ​​is configured using a processor such as a CPU, MPU, or DSP, and is communicatively connected to the sound signal output control unit S1L, ROM 11L, RAM 12L, power monitoring unit 13L, and wireless communication unit 14L, and exchanges sound signals as digital signals converted into digital format using the PCM method. The earphone control unit S2L ​​functions as a controller that manages the overall operation of the earphone 1L, and performs control processing for managing the operation of each unit of the earphone 1L, data input / output processing between each unit of the earphone 1L, data calculation processing, and data storage processing.

[0038] The earphone control unit S2L ​​sets the upper volume limit that can be output from the speaker SP1L based on the setting information of the upper volume limit transmitted from the smartphone F1. The earphone control unit S2L ​​also accepts a user operation based on a signal output from the touch sensor TCL. Based on the user operation, the earphone control unit S2L ​​generates a control command to control (increase or decrease) the volume of the sound output from the speaker SP1L and outputs the control command to the sound signal output control unit S1L.

[0039] The wireless communication unit 14L wirelessly connects the earphone 1L and the smartphone F1 so as to be able to transmit and receive signals, and receives sound signals from the smartphone F1. The wireless communication unit 14L has an antenna ATL, and performs short-distance wireless communication according to, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication standard. The wireless communication unit 14L may be provided so as to be connectable to a communication line such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or a mobile communication line. In addition, each of the earphones 1L and 1R can individually perform wireless communication with the smartphone F1 using the wireless communication unit 14L and the wireless communication unit 14R. Therefore, each of the earphones 1L and 1R can receive data, sound signals, or information transmitted from the smartphone F1.

[0040] Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the smartphone F1 will be described using a block diagram of the smartphone F1 with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a block diagram of the smartphone F1 according to the present embodiment.

[0041] The smartphone F1 is a wireless terminal carried by a user. The smartphone F1 includes a display / operation unit 30, a public line communication I / F unit 31, a public line protocol control unit 32, a control unit 33, a ROM 34, a RAM 35, a sound signal bus 36, a sound signal input / output control unit 37, a short-distance wireless control unit 38, a wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39, an earphone communication I / F unit 40, a USB communication I / F unit 41, and a battery B2. In FIG. 4, the interface is abbreviated as "IF."

[0042] The display / operation unit 30 is configured using a touch panel that accepts user operations and displays data generated by the control unit 33, forming a so-called user interface. The display / operation unit 30 may display various screens (e.g., volume upper limit setting screens SC1, SC2, SC3, etc. shown in FIG. 5) generated by the control unit 33. The display / operation unit 30 accepts user operations on the various displayed screens, generates input signals, and outputs the input signals to the control unit 33.

[0043] The public line communication I / F unit 31 is connected to an antenna AT3 included in the smartphone F1, and performs wireless communication using a public line (for example, wireless communication conforming to 4G (fourth generation mobile communication method) or 5G (fifth generation mobile communication method) such as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) with a public base station (not shown). Note that the public line communication I / F unit may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone F1.

[0044] The public line protocol control unit 32 executes control related to input and output of data between the sound signal bus 36 and the public line communication I / F unit 31. The public line protocol control unit 32 may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone F1.

[0045] The control unit 33 is configured using a processor such as a CPU, MPU, or DSP. It functionally has a smartphone OS processing unit 33A and a smartphone application processing unit 33B, and performs various processes and controls by cooperation between the smartphone OS processing unit 33A and the smartphone application processing unit 33B and the ROM 34. The control unit 33 transmits setting information of the volume upper limit value based on a user operation to the earphones 1L and 1R.

[0046] The ROM 34 stores a program that defines the operation of the control unit 33 and data used when the program is executed. The ROM 34 stores identification information of the smartphone F1 and identification information of the earphone 1 that is registered (paired) in advance as a destination to which a sound signal is to be transmitted.

[0047] The RAM 35 is a RAM serving as a work memory used when executing each process of the control unit 33. In the RAM 35, data or information generated or acquired by the control unit 33 is temporarily stored.

[0048] The sound signal bus 36 inputs and outputs sound signal data to and from the control unit 33, sound signal data to and from the public line protocol control unit 32, sound signal data to and from the sound signal input / output control unit 37, and sound signal data to and from the short-range wireless control unit 38.

[0049] Based on instructions output from the control unit 33, the sound signal input / output control unit 37 sends sound signal data picked up by the microphone MC4 to the control unit 33 via the sound signal bus 36, and outputs the sound signal input via the sound signal bus 36 from the speaker SP2.

[0050] The microphone MC4 picks up sound based on the speech of the user of the smartphone F1, converts it into a sound signal, and transmits the converted sound signal to the sound signal input / output control unit 37. The sound signal picked up by the microphone MC4 is input to the control unit 33 via the sound signal input / output control unit 37 and the sound signal bus 36.

[0051] The speaker SP2 acoustically outputs the sound signal data from the sound signal input / output control unit 37.

[0052] The short-range wireless control unit 38 executes control related to input and output of data between the sound signal bus 36 and the wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39 and between the sound signal bus 36 and the earphone communication I / F unit 40. The short-range wireless control unit 38 transmits commands output from the control unit 33 and sound signal data input via the sound signal bus 36 to the wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39 or the earphone communication I / F unit 40. The short-range wireless control unit 38 may also transmit sound signal data input from the wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39 or the earphone communication I / F unit 40 to the control unit 33.

[0053] The wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39 is connected to an antenna AT2 provided in the smartphone F1, and performs wireless communication (e.g., data transmission from the short-distance wireless control unit 38) with the earphones 1 by wireless LAN. The wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39 is configured using a communication circuit that can connect to the Internet via a wireless LAN router (not shown). The wireless LAN communication I / F unit 39 may also perform wireless communication (e.g., wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) with each of the earphones 1L and 1R via the above-mentioned wireless LAN router (not shown).

[0054] The earphone communication I / F unit 40 is connected to an antenna AT1 included in the smartphone F1, and performs short-distance wireless communication with the earphone 1 by Bluetooth (for example, data transmission from the short-distance wireless control unit 38).

[0055] The USB communication I / F unit 41 is an interface for wired communication between the smartphone F1 and an external device (for example, a personal computer (PC)) via a cable or the like. The USB communication I / F unit 41 is connected to the control unit 33 so as to be able to perform data communication, and can transmit data from the external device to the control unit 33. In addition, charge may be supplied to the battery B2 from an external commercial power source via the USB communication I / F unit 41.

[0056] The battery B2 is a battery (e.g., a cell) capable of storing electric charge supplied from an external commercial power source, and supplies power to the smartphone F1. The battery B2 may be detachable. The battery B2 may directly obtain power from the external commercial power source, or may be capable of supplying power to the smartphone F1 in a state where it is disconnected from the external commercial power source.

[0057] Next, a method for setting the volume upper limit will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of transition of volume upper limit setting screens SC1, SC2, and SC3. Note that each of the setting screens SC1, SC2, and SC3 shown in Fig. 5 is merely an example, and is not limited to this.

[0058] The control unit 33 of the smartphone F1 generates a customization screen (setting screen SC1) for the touch sensors TCL and TCR based on a user operation, and displays it on the display / operation unit 30. The setting screen SC1 is a screen that can accept a user operation on the touch sensors TCL and TCR, and a setting operation for the control of the earphones 1L and 1R that is executed based on the content of the user operation.

[0059] In the example shown in Figure 5, when the control unit 33 receives a selection (press) operation of button SL1 indicating a function assigned to a long press operation on the touch sensor TCR, it generates a setting screen SC2 including a list of functions that can be assigned to a long press operation on the touch sensor TCR, and displays it on the display / operation unit 30.

[0060] When the control unit 33 receives a selection (press) operation of the button SL2 for the “Volume: High” function for increasing the volume among the functions included in the setting screen SC2, the control unit 33 generates a setting screen SC3 that enables the setting of an upper volume limit (maximum value) that can be changed by the operation for increasing the volume, and displays the setting screen SC3 on the display / operation unit 30.

[0061] The control unit 33 receives a user operation on the seek bar SB and receives a setting operation of the volume to be set as the volume upper limit value based on the position of the seek bar SB between the minimum volume value (the circle shown on the left side of the seek bar SB) and the maximum volume value (the circle shown on the right side of the seek bar SB). The control unit 33 generates a control command to set the volume value corresponding to the position of the seek bar SB to the volume upper limit value, and transmits the control command to the earphone 1.

[0062] The earphone control units S2L and S2R of the earphone 1 set an upper limit value of the volume that can be increased by the sound signal output control units S1L and S1R based on a control command transmitted from the smartphone F1.

[0063] Next, an example of volume control by the earphone 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of volume control in an embodiment. Note that the volume values ​​"40" to "90" and the time of the long press operation shown in Fig. 6 are examples for making the explanation easier to understand, and are not limited to these.

[0064] Fig. 6 describes an example in which a function for increasing the volume is set by pressing and holding the touch sensor TCR of the earphone 1R as shown in the setting screens SC1 to SC3 of Fig. 5, but is not limited to this. Also, Fig. 6 describes an example in which the volume upper limit value is set to a volume of "90".

[0065] The user starts operating the touch sensor TCR at the timing of "long press operation start" shown in FIG. 6. When the earphone 1R continues to detect the touch operation on the touch sensor TCR for 1.0 second, it determines that it is a long press operation and executes the first volume control to increase the volume from the currently set volume "40" to the next highest volume "50". After the long press operation is determined, the earphone 1R executes volume control to increase the volume by "10" every time the long press operation continues for 0.5 seconds. The earphone 1R executes the above-mentioned volume control until the long press operation ends, and when the volume reaches the upper volume limit value "90", it stops accepting operations to increase the volume and omits the volume increase control.

[0066] This allows the earphones 1 to prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit), and protect the user's ears from the output of an unintended volume. Also, the earphones 1 can prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit) when the user mistakenly continues a long press operation.

[0067] In addition, in the past, when adjusting the volume to a volume desired by the user, the user was required to release his / her finger from the touch sensor TCR at the timing when the volume changed to the volume desired by the user in a long press operation. However, when using the earphone 1 of the embodiment, the user can easily increase the volume to the volume desired by the user (volume upper limit value) by simply performing a long press operation by setting the volume upper limit value in advance.

[0068] Next, an example of an operation procedure of the earphone 1 in the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of the earphone 1 in the embodiment.

[0069] Similarly, in FIG. 7, as shown in the setting screens SC1 to SC3 in FIG. 5, an example is described in which a function to increase the volume is set by pressing and holding the touch sensor TCR of the earphone 1R, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0070] In the description of FIG. 7, an example will be described in which a function of increasing the volume output from the earphone 1 is assigned by a long press operation on the touch sensor TCR of the earphone 1R.

[0071] The earphone control unit S2R executes a key scan based on the signal output from the touch sensor TCR (St11). The earphone control unit S2R determines whether or not a long press operation has been performed on the touch sensor TCR as a result of the key scan (St12).

[0072] If the earphone control unit S2R determines in the processing of step St12 that a long press operation has occurred (St12, YES), it generates a control command to increase the volume output from each of the speakers SP1L, SP1R by one level from the current volume (for example, from volume "50" to volume "60" as shown in FIG. 6), and outputs the control command to each of the sound signal output control units S1L, S1R (St13).

[0073] On the other hand, when it is determined in the process of step St12 that a long press operation has not been performed (St12, NO), the earphone control unit S2R executes a process corresponding to an input operation to the touch sensor TCR (St14).

[0074] After increasing the volume by one step, the earphone control unit S2R determines whether the long press operation has ended and the touch sensor TCR has been released (St15).

[0075] When the earphone control unit S2R determines in the process of step St15 that the touch sensor TCR has been released (St15, YES), it ends the volume increase process.

[0076] On the other hand, if the earphone control unit S2R determines in the processing of step St15 that the touch sensor TCR has not been released (St15, NO), it starts measuring the continuous press time of the long press operation (St16) and transitions to a wait state (i.e., a state of waiting for a predetermined time (e.g., a few ms)) (St17).

[0077] The earphone control unit S2R determines whether the continuous pressing time of the long press operation is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 s shown in FIG. 6) (St18). Note that the time for determining that the long press operation is a long press operation in step St12 (an example of a first predetermined time) and the predetermined time for determining whether the long press operation is being continued in step St18 (an example of a second predetermined time) may be the same or different.

[0078] If the earphone control unit S2R determines in the processing of step St18 that the continuous pressing time of the long press operation is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (St18, YES), it resets the measured continuous pressing time (St19) and further determines whether the current volume is at the upper volume limit (St20).

[0079] When the earphone control unit S2R determines in the process of step St20 that the current volume is the volume upper limit value (St20, YES), it skips the process of increasing the volume and proceeds to the process of step St16.

[0080] On the other hand, if the earphone control unit S2R determines in the processing of step St20 that the current volume is not the upper volume limit (St20, NO), it generates a control command to increase the volume output from each of the speakers SP1L, SP1R by one step from the current volume, outputs it to each of the sound signal output control units S1L, S1R (St21), and returns to the processing of step St16.

[0081] On the other hand, when the earphone control unit S2R determines in the process of step St18 that the continuous pressing time of the long press operation is not equal to or longer than the predetermined time (St18, NO), it further determines whether or not the touch sensor TCR has been released (St22).

[0082] When the earphone control unit S2R determines in the process of step St22 that the touch sensor TCR has been released (St22, YES), it ends the volume increase process.

[0083] On the other hand, when the earphone control unit S2R determines in the process of step St22 that the touch sensor TCR has not been released (St22, NO), the earphone control unit S2R returns to the process of step St17.

[0084] This allows the earphones 1 to prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit), and protect the user's ears from the output of an unintended volume. Also, the earphones 1 can prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit) when the user mistakenly continues a long press operation.

[0085] (Additional Note) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0086] (Technology 1) Two earphones 1L and 1R each having an input unit (touch sensors TCL and TCR) capable of accepting user operations; A volume control system 100 including a wireless terminal (smartphone F1) capable of communicating with the earphones 1L and 1R, The wireless terminal, Accepting an input operation of the upper volume limit value of the earphones 1L and 1R and transmitting it to the earphones 1L and 1R; The earphones 1L and 1R are storing the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value based on the acceptance of a first continuous operation in which the user operation by the input unit (touch sensors TCL, TCR) continues for a first predetermined time (for example, 1.0 s shown in FIG. 6 ) or more, the current volume is increased, determining whether or not a second continuous operation has been accepted in which the user operation by the input unit (touch sensors TCL, TCR) continues for a second predetermined time (e.g., 0.5 s shown in FIG. 6) or more following the first continuous operation; When it is determined that the second continuous operation has been accepted, it is further determined whether or not the current volume is equal to the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value, the current volume is increased, and when it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit value, the process of increasing the current volume is omitted. Volume control system 100. With this configuration, the volume control system 100 can prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit), and can protect the user's ears from the output of an unintended volume. Also, the earphone 1 can prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit) when the user mistakenly continues a long press operation.

[0087] (Technology 2) The earphones 1L and 1R are when it is determined that the user operation has been performed on the input unit after the second continuous operation has been received, starting to measure a duration of the user operation after the second continuous operation; when it is determined that the measured duration is equal to or longer than a second predetermined time, the second continuing operation is accepted again; A volume control system 100 as described in (Technology 1). With this configuration, when the user continues the long press operation, the volume control system 100 can continue to execute the control to increase the volume, with the volume upper limit value as the upper limit.

[0088] (Technology 3) The earphones 1L and 1R are when it is determined that the user operation has been performed on the input unit after the first continuous operation has been received, starting to measure a duration of the user operation after the first continuous operation; When it is determined that the measured duration is equal to or longer than a second predetermined time, the second continuing operation is accepted. The volume control system 100 according to (Technology 1) or (Technology 2). With this configuration, when the user continues the long press operation, the volume control system 100 can continue to execute the control to increase the volume, with the volume upper limit value as the upper limit.

[0089] (Technology 4) Two earphones 1L and 1R each having an input unit (touch sensors TCL and TCR) capable of accepting user operations; A volume control method performed by a system (volume control system 100) including a wireless terminal (smartphone F1) capable of communicating with the earphones 1L and 1R, Accepting an input operation of a volume upper limit value of the earphones 1L and 1R and storing the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value based on the acceptance of a first continuous operation in which the user operation by the input unit (touch sensors TCL, TCR) continues for a first predetermined time (for example, 1.0 s shown in FIG. 6 ) or more, the current volume is increased, determining whether or not a second continuous operation has been accepted in which the user operation by the input unit (touch sensors TCL, TCR) continues for a second predetermined time (e.g., 0.5 s shown in FIG. 6) or more following the first continuous operation; When it is determined that the second continuous operation has been accepted, it is further determined whether or not the current volume is equal to the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value, the current volume is increased, and when it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit value, the process of increasing the current volume is omitted. Volume control methods. With this configuration, the volume control system 100 can prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit), and can protect the user's ears from the output of an unintended volume. Also, the earphone 1 can prevent the volume from being adjusted to a volume unintended by the user (i.e., a volume higher than the upper volume limit) when the user mistakenly continues a long press operation.

[0090] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications, corrections, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the components in the above-mentioned embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0091] The present disclosure is useful for providing a volume control system and a volume control method that more effectively suppresses unintended high volume output by a user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1, 1L, 1R earphones 14L, 14R Wireless communication section 30 Display / operation section 33 Control Unit 33A Smartphone OS processing unit 33B Smartphone app processing section 40 Earphone communication I / F section 100 Volume Control System F1 smartphone IPL, IPR earpieces 12L RAM 11L ROM S1L, S1R Sound signal output control section S2L, S2R earphone control unit SB Seek Bar SC1, SC2, SC3 setting screen SEL Mounting Sensor SL1, SL2 buttons SP1L, SP1R, SP2 speakers TCL, TCR touch sensor

Claims

1. Two earphones having an input unit capable of receiving a user operation; A volume control system including a wireless terminal capable of communicating with the earphone, The wireless terminal, Accepting an input operation of an upper volume limit value of the earphone and transmitting the input operation to the earphone; The earphones include storing the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value based on the acceptance of a first continuous operation in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a first predetermined time or more, the current volume is increased, determining whether or not a second continuous operation in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a second predetermined time or more has been accepted following the first continuous operation; When it is determined that the second continuous operation has been accepted, it is further determined whether or not the current volume is equal to the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value, the current volume is increased, and when it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit value, the process of increasing the current volume is omitted. Volume control system.

2. The earphones include when it is determined that the user operation is performed on the input unit after the second continuous operation is received, starting to measure a duration of the user operation after the second continuous operation; when it is determined that the measured duration is equal to or longer than a second predetermined time, the second continuous operation is accepted again.

2. The volume control system of claim 1.

3. The earphones include when it is determined that the user operation is performed on the input unit after the first continuous operation is received, a measurement of a duration of the user operation after the first continuous operation is started; when it is determined that the measured duration is equal to or longer than a second predetermined time, the second continuous operation is accepted; 2. The volume control system of claim 1.

4. Two earphones having an input unit capable of receiving a user operation; A volume control method performed by a system including a wireless terminal capable of communicating with the earphone, Accepting an input operation of a volume upper limit value of the earphone and storing the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value based on the acceptance of a first continuous operation in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a first predetermined time or more, the current volume is increased, determining whether or not a second continuous operation in which the user operation by the input unit continues for a second predetermined time or more has been accepted following the first continuous operation; When it is determined that the second continuous operation has been accepted, it is further determined whether or not the current volume is equal to the volume upper limit value; When it is determined that the current volume is not the volume upper limit value, the current volume is increased, and when it is determined that the current volume is the volume upper limit value, the process of increasing the current volume is omitted. Volume control methods.

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