Microphones and microphone systems

Abstract

This microphone 3 has: a first connection port 31 for connection to an external device 1; a second connection port 32 for connection to another microphone 3 via a cable 2; and a determination unit 36 that determines a current mode as a master unit mode in which power is supplied from the second connection port 32 to the other microphone 3 connected via the cable 2 when the cable 2 is connected to the second connection port in a state in which the power is supplied from the external device 1 via the first connection port 31, and determines the current mode as a slave unit mode in which the power is supplied and received via the second connection port 32 from the other microphone 3 connected via the cable 2 when the cable 2 is connected to the second connection port 32 in a state in which the power is not supplied from the external device 1 via the first connection port 31.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to microphones and microphone systems. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a USB microphone that outputs collected sound to an information device by connecting the microphone to the information device via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-39531 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When connecting multiple microphones to one information device, the user must install a device (e.g., a mixer) between the information device and the microphones to combine the sounds picked up by the multiple microphones, resulting in a problem of complicated connections between the information device and the microphones.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily connect an information device to a plurality of microphones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A microphone according to a first aspect of the present invention is a microphone that can be connected to an external device capable of supplying power and to other microphones, and has a first connection port for connecting to the external device, a second connection port for connecting to the other microphones via a cable, and a determination unit that determines that the microphone operates in a parent mode in which power is supplied from the external device through the first connection port to the other microphones connected via the cable when the cable is connected to the second connection port and that the microphone operates in a child mode in which power is supplied from the other microphones connected via the cable through the second connection port when the cable is connected to the second connection port and that the microphone operates in a child mode in which power is supplied from the other microphones connected via the cable through the second connection port.

[0007] The microphone may further include a power generating unit that generates a second power based on a first power supplied from the external device while operating in the parent unit mode, and supplies the second power via the cable to the other microphone operating in the child unit mode.

[0008] The device may further include a mode determination voltage generating unit that generates different mode determination voltages when power is being supplied via the cable and when power is not being supplied via the cable, and the determination unit may determine whether to operate in the parent unit mode or the child unit mode based on the mode determination voltage.

[0009] The device may further include a connection determination voltage generating unit that generates a connection determination voltage which differs between a state in which the cable is connected and a state in which the cable is not connected, and the determination unit may determine whether or not the cable is connected based on the connection determination voltage.

[0010] The determination unit may determine that the device will operate in the parent unit mode when the mode determination voltage indicates that power is not being supplied via the cable and the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable is connected, and may determine that the device will operate in the child unit mode when the mode determination voltage indicates that power is being supplied via the cable and the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable is connected.

[0011] When the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable is not connected, the determination unit may determine that the microphone operates in a standalone mode in which the microphone is used without being connected to the other microphone.

[0012] The device may have a handset signal output unit that, when operating in the handset mode, outputs a handset sound signal input via an electro-acoustic conversion element to the other microphone operating in the parent unit mode, and a synthesis signal output unit that, when operating in the parent unit mode, synthesizes the parent unit sound signal input via the electro-acoustic conversion element with the handset sound signal received from the other microphone operating in the handset mode, and outputs the synthesized synthesis sound signal to the external device.

[0013] The device may have a selection unit that outputs the handset sound signal to the handset signal output unit when operating in the handset mode, and outputs the parent unit sound signal to the composite signal output unit when operating in the parent unit mode.

[0014] The synthetic signal output unit may synthesize the handset sound signal, which is an analog signal, and the parent unit sound signal, which is an analog signal, convert the synthesized sound signal into a digital synthetic sound signal, and output the digital synthetic sound signal to the external device.

[0015] A microphone system according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a first microphone, a second microphone connectable to the first microphone, and a cable for connecting the first microphone and the second microphone, wherein each of the first microphone and the second microphone has a first connection port for connecting to an external device capable of supplying power, a second connection port for connecting to another of the first microphone and the second microphone via the cable, and a determination unit that determines that the microphone operates in a parent mode in which power is supplied from the second connection port to the other microphone connected via the cable when the cable is connected to the second connection port while power is being supplied from the external device via the first connection port, and that the microphone operates in a child mode in which power is supplied from the other microphone connected via the cable via the second connection port when the cable is connected to the second connection port while power is not being supplied from the external device via the first connection port.

[0016] Each of the first microphone and the second microphone may further have a connection determination voltage generating unit that generates a connection determination voltage that differs between a state in which the cable is connected and a state in which the cable is not connected, and in the cable, a terminal connected to a power supply of each of the first microphone and the second microphone and a terminal connected to the connection determination voltage generating unit may be short-circuited.

[0017] The first microphone operating in the parent unit mode may further have a synthesis signal output unit that synthesizes the parent unit sound signal input via an electro-acoustic conversion element with the handset sound signal received from the second microphone operating in the handset mode and outputs the synthesized synthesis sound signal to an external device, and the second microphone operating in the handset mode may further have a handset signal output unit that outputs the handset sound signal input via an electro-acoustic conversion element to the first microphone. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily connect an information device to a plurality of microphones. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a microphone system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the microphone 3. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration when the microphone 3a operates in a standalone mode. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a voltage generating section of a connection determination voltage generating section 34 and a mode determination voltage generating section 35. FIG. [Diagram 5] 11 is a diagram showing a determination result of a determining section 36 based on a connection determination voltage and a mode determination voltage. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a determination unit 36. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which microphone 3a and microphone 3b are connected by a cable 2V having polarity. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which microphone 3a and microphone 3b are connected by a cable 2V having polarity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] [Microphone System S Configuration] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a microphone system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. The microphone system S includes an external device 1, a cable 2, a plurality of microphones 3 (microphones 3a and 3b), and a cable 4. The microphone system S is used in a state in which, for example, the microphone 3a is connected to the external device 1 via the cable 4, and the microphones 3a and 3b are connected via the cable 2.

[0021] The external device 1 is a computer such as a personal computer or a tablet. The external device 1 is connected to the microphone 3a via, for example, a USB interface and a cable 4. The external device 1 can supply power to the microphone 3a via the USB interface and the cable 4.

[0022] The external device 1 acquires the sound signal output by the microphone 3a, for example, by executing application software that processes the sound signal acquired from the microphone 3a connected via the cable 4. The sound signal is an electric signal having a waveform corresponding to the waveform of the sound collected by the microphone 3a.

[0023] The cable 2 is used to connect the microphone 3a and the microphone 3b. Connectors connectable to the microphone 3a and the microphone 3b are provided on both ends of the cable 2. The shape of the connector provided on the cable 2 is arbitrary, for example, a USB type C connector. The cable 2 transmits power generated by the microphone 3a to the microphone 3b. The cable 2 also transmits a sound signal based on the sound collected by the microphone 3b to the microphone 3a.

[0024] The microphone 3 is an audio device that collects sounds around the microphone 3 and converts the collected sounds into audio signals. The microphone 3 can be connected to an external device 1 and other microphones 3. Each of the microphones 3 has a plurality of operation modes that are switched depending on the connection state with the other microphones 3 and the external device 1. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 1, the microphone 3a connected to the external device 1 operates in the parent device mode, and the microphone 3b connected to the microphone 3a via the cable 2 operates in the child device mode.

[0025] The microphone 3a receives power from the external device 1 and supplies power to the microphone 3b via the cable 2. The microphone 3a synthesizes a sound signal based on the sound collected by the microphone 3a and a sound signal acquired from the microphone 3b. The microphone 3a outputs the synthesized sound signal to the external device 1.

[0026] The microphone 3b is connected to the microphone 3a via the cable 2. The microphone 3b receives power from the microphone 3a via the cable 2. The microphone 3b outputs a sound signal based on the sound collected by the microphone 3b to the microphone 3a via the cable 2.

[0027] The cable 4 connects the external device 1 and the microphone 3a. One end of the cable 4 is connected to a USB interface of the external device 1, and the other end is connected to a connector of the microphone 3a.

[0028] [Internal structure of microphone 3] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the microphone 3. As in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows a state in which the microphone 3a is operating in the master mode connected to the external device 1, and the microphone 3b is operating in the slave mode connected to the microphone 3a. The master mode is a mode in which power is supplied from the second connection port 32 to the other microphone 3 connected via the cable 2. The slave mode is a mode in which power is supplied from the other microphone 3 connected via the cable 2 via the second connection port 32.

[0029] A solid arrow in Fig. 2 indicates that power is being supplied or an electrical signal is being transmitted, whereas a dashed arrow in Fig. 2 indicates that power is not being supplied or an electrical signal is not being transmitted, even though both ends of the arrow may be electrically connected.

[0030] The microphone 3a is connected to the external device 1 via the first connection port 31. The first connection port 31 is, for example, a USB connector. The microphone 3a receives power VBUS from the external device 1 via the first connection port 31.

[0031] The microphone 3a and the microphone 3b are connected via a cable 2. The cable 2 connects the second connection port 32 of the microphone 3a and the second connection port 32 of the microphone 3b.

[0032] A connector 2a is provided at one end of the cable 2, and a connector 2b is provided at the other end. The connector 2a has terminals a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, and a7. The connector 2b has terminals b1, b2, b3, b4, b5, b6, and b7. In the connector 2a, the terminals a1 and a2 are shorted. In the connector 2b, the terminals b1 and b2 are shorted. That is, in the cable 2, the terminal a1 connected to the power supply of the microphone 3a is shorted to the terminal a2 connected to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 described later. In the cable 2, the terminal b1 connected to the power supply of the microphone 3b is shorted to the terminal b2 connected to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 described later.

[0033] The connectors 2a and 2b are connected by a conductive wire 2c. The terminal a1 of the connector 2a is connected to the terminal b3 of the connector 2b. The terminal a3 of the connector 2a is connected to the terminals b1 and b2 of the connector 2b. The terminal a4 of the connector 2a is connected to the terminal b5 of the connector 2b. The terminal a5 of the connector 2a is connected to the terminal b4 of the connector 2b. The terminal a6 of the connector 2a is connected to the terminal b7 of the connector 2b. The terminal a7 of the connector 2a is connected to the terminal b6 of the connector 2b.

[0034] The microphone 3 has a sound collection unit 30, a first connection port 31, a second connection port 32, a power generating unit 33, a connection determination voltage generating unit 34, a mode determination voltage generating unit 35, a determination unit 36, a selection unit 37, a child unit signal output unit 38, and a composite signal output unit 39.

[0035] The sound collection unit 30 collects sounds around the microphone 3. The sound collection unit 30 includes an electroacoustic conversion element and converts the collected sounds into sound signals. The sound collection unit 30 outputs the sound signals to the selection unit 37.

[0036] The first connection port 31 has a terminal D1 and a terminal D2. The terminal D1 is connected to a power supply terminal in the external device 1 via a cable 4. The terminal D2 is connected to a sound input terminal of the external device 1 via a cable 4. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the terminal D1 of the microphone 3a is connected to the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a and the terminal A4 of the microphone 3a. The terminal D2 of the microphone 3a is connected to the composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3a. On the other hand, since the microphone 3b and the external device 1 are connected via the microphone 3a, the terminals D1 and D2 of the microphone 3b are in an open state.

[0037] The second connection port 32 has a terminal A1, a terminal A2, a terminal A3, a terminal A4, a terminal A5, a terminal A6, and a terminal A7. These terminals are used to connect to another microphone 3 via a cable 2.

[0038] Terminal A1 is connected to the output side of power VCC in power generating unit 33. Power VCC is used as power for operating each unit of microphone 3. Terminal A1 of microphone 3a is connected to terminal A3 of microphone 3b via terminal a1 of connector 2a and terminal b3 of connector 2b. Terminal A3 of microphone 3b is connected to connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of microphone 3b. Power VCC input to terminal A3 of microphone 3b is used as power for operating each unit of microphone 3b.

[0039] Furthermore, terminal A1 of microphone 3a is connected to terminal A2 of microphone 3a via terminal a1 of connector 2a and terminal a2 of connector 2a. Terminal A2 of microphone 3a is connected to connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of microphone 3a. With the above connection, power generating unit 33 of microphone 3a supplies generated power VCC to connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of microphone 3a and connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of microphone 3b.

[0040] On the other hand, the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3b does not generate the power VCC. Therefore, the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a does not receive power from the microphone 3b via the terminal A3 of the microphone 3a.

[0041] The terminal A4 is connected to the terminal D1. The terminal A5 is connected to the input side of the mode determination voltage generating unit 35. The terminal A4 of the microphone 3a is connected to the terminal A5 of the microphone 3b via the terminal a4 of the connector 2a and the terminal b5 of the connector 2b. The terminal A5 of the microphone 3b is connected to the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 of the microphone 3b. Therefore, the power VBUS is input to the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 of the microphone 3b via the terminal A4 of the microphone 3a, the terminal a4 of the connector 2a, the terminal b5 of the connector 2b, and the terminal B5 of the microphone 3b.

[0042] On the other hand, the terminal D1 of the microphone 3b is not connected to the external device 1. Therefore, the power VBUS is not input to the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 of the microphone 3a.

[0043] The terminal A6 is connected to the output side of the child device signal output unit 38. The terminal A7 is connected to the input side of the composite signal output unit 39. The terminal A6 of the microphone 3b is connected to the composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3a via the terminal b6 of the connector 2b, the terminal a7 of the connector 2a, and the terminal A7 of the microphone 3a. Therefore, the sound signal output by the child device signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3b is input to the composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3a via the terminal A6 of the microphone 3b, the terminal b6 of the connector 2b, the terminal a7 of the connector 2a, and the terminal A7 of the microphone 3a.

[0044] On the other hand, in the microphone 3a, a selection unit 37 described later does not input a sound signal to a child device signal output unit 38. Therefore, the child device signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3a does not output a sound signal, and therefore, no sound signal is input to a composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3b. The operation of the composite signal output unit 39 will be described in detail later.

[0045] The power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a receives power VBUS from the external device 1 via the terminal D1. The power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a generates power VCC, which is a second power, to be supplied to the microphone 3b via the cable 2, based on the power VBUS, which is a first power, supplied from the external device 1. The power generating unit 33 has, for example, at least one of a protection circuit and a regulator. The power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a supplies power VCC to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a and the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3b via the cable 2.

[0046] On the other hand, the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3b does not operate because it does not receive power from the external device 1. Therefore, the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3b does not supply power VCC to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a and the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3b.

[0047] The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 receives the power VCC generated by the power generating unit 33 via the cable 2. Based on the supplied power VCC, the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 generates a connection determination voltage that differs between a state in which the cable 2 is connected and a state in which the cable 2 is not connected. The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 outputs the generated connection determination voltage to the determining unit 36.

[0048] The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a receives the power VCC generated by the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a via terminals A1 and A2 of the connector 2a. Because the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3b is not generating the power VCC, the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a does not receive the power VCC from the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3b via the cable 2.

[0049] The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3b receives the power VCC generated by the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a via the cable 2. The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3b does not receive the power VCC from the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3b.

[0050] When the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 receives the power VCC via the terminal A2 or the terminal A3, it outputs a connection determination voltage (for example, a high-level voltage) indicating that the cable 2 is connected. When the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 does not receive the power VCC via the terminal A2 or the terminal A3, it outputs a connection determination voltage (for example, a low-level voltage) indicating that the cable 2 is not connected. The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 will be described in detail later.

[0051] The mode determination voltage generating unit 35 generates a different mode determination voltage depending on whether or not power (e.g., VBUS) is being supplied via the cable 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 generates a mode determination voltage indicating whether or not power VBUS is being received from another microphone 3 via the cable 2. The mode determination voltage generating unit 35 outputs the generated mode determination voltage to the determining unit 36.

[0052] The mode determination voltage generating unit 35 of the microphone 3b receives the power VBUS output from the terminal A4 of the microphone 3a via the cable 2 and the terminal A5 of the microphone 3b. On the other hand, since the power VBUS is not output from the terminal A4 of the microphone 3b, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 of the microphone 3a does not receive the power VBUS via the terminal A5 of the microphone 3a.

[0053] When the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 receives the power VBUS via the terminal A5, it outputs a mode determination voltage (e.g., a high-level voltage) indicating that the power is being supplied. When the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 does not receive the power VBUS via the terminal A5, it outputs a mode determination voltage (e.g., a low-level voltage) indicating that the power is not being supplied. The mode determination voltage generating unit 35 will be described in detail later.

[0054] The determination unit 36 ​​includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The determination unit 36 ​​executes a program stored in, for example, a memory to determine whether the microphone 3 operates in a master mode or a slave mode.

[0055] The determination unit 36 ​​determines that the device operates in the parent mode when power is being supplied from the external device 1 via the terminal D1 of the first connection port 31 and the cable 2 is connected to the second connection port 32. On the other hand, the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the device operates in the child mode when power is not being supplied from the external device 1 via the terminal D1 of the first connection port 31 and the cable 2 is connected to the second connection port 32.

[0056] Specifically, the determination unit 36 ​​determines whether the cable 2 is connected or not, based on the connection determination voltage input from the connection determination voltage generating unit 34. The determination unit 36 ​​also determines whether the microphone 3 operates in the parent mode or the child mode, based on the mode determination voltage input from the mode determination voltage generating unit 35. The determination unit 36 ​​determines whether the microphone 3 operates in the parent mode or the child mode, based on, for example, a combination of the connection determination voltage and the mode determination voltage.

[0057] The determination unit 36 ​​determines that the microphone 3 operates in the parent mode when the mode determination voltage indicates that the power VBUS is not being supplied via the cable 2 and the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable 2 is connected. On the other hand, the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the microphone 3 operates in the child mode when the mode determination voltage indicates that the power VBUS is being supplied via the cable 2 and the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable 2 is connected.

[0058] The determination unit 36 ​​determines a path for outputting the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 based on the determination result of whether the microphone 3 operates in the parent mode or the child mode. The determination unit 36 ​​notifies the selection unit 37 of the determined path. Specifically, when the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the microphone 3 operates in the parent mode, the determination unit 36 ​​instructs the selection unit 37 to output the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 to the composite signal output unit 39. On the other hand, when the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the microphone 3 operates in the child mode, the determination unit 36 ​​instructs the selection unit 37 to output the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 to the child signal output unit 38.

[0059] The selection unit 37 switches whether to output the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 to the child unit signal output unit 38 or to the composite signal output unit 39 based on an instruction acquired from the determination unit 36. In response to receiving an instruction from the determination unit 36 ​​to operate in the parent unit mode, the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3a outputs the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 of the microphone 3a to the composite signal output unit 39. In response to receiving an instruction from the determination unit 36 ​​to operate in the child unit mode, the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3b outputs the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 of the microphone 3b to the child unit signal output unit 38.

[0060] The handset sound signal is input from the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3b to the handset signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3b operating in the handset mode. Therefore, the handset signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3b outputs the handset sound signal to the composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3a operating in the master mode via the terminal A6. On the other hand, the handset sound signal is not input from the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3a to the handset signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3a operating in the master mode. Therefore, the handset signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3a does not output the handset sound signal via the terminal A6.

[0061] The composite signal output unit 39 composites the parent unit sound signal input via the sound collection unit 30 with the child unit sound signal received from the child unit signal output unit 38 of the microphone 3b operating in the child unit mode. The composite signal output unit 39 outputs the composite sound signal after the composite to the external device 1 via the terminal D2. The composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3a composites the child unit sound signal, which is an analog signal, with the parent unit sound signal, which is an analog signal, and converts the composite sound signal after the composite to a digital composite sound signal. The composite signal output unit 39 outputs the digital composite sound signal to the external device 1 via the terminal D2 of the microphone 3a. The composite signal output unit 39 of the microphone 3b does not operate because it does not receive a sound signal from the child unit signal output unit 38 and the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3a.

[0062] By operating the composite signal output unit 39 in this manner, the microphone 3a outputs to the external device 1 a digital composite sound signal corresponding to a sound obtained by combining the sound collected by the sound collection unit 30 of the microphone 3b and the sound collected by the sound collection unit 30 of the microphone 3a. The power consumption required by the composite signal output unit 39 to combine analog sound signals is smaller than the power consumption required to combine digital sound signals. Therefore, the composite signal output unit 39 can suppress power consumption by generating a digital composite sound signal after combining the analog sound signal input from the microphone 3b and the analog sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30. As a result, the composite signal output unit 39 can generate a digital composite sound signal using the power VBUS supplied from the external device 1 via the USB interface.

[0063] [Microphone 3a working in standalone mode] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration in which microphone 3a operates in a standalone mode. Microphone system S is different from microphone system S shown in Fig. 2 in that microphone 3a and microphone 3b are not connected via cable 2, but is otherwise the same. Microphone 3b does not operate because it is not connected to microphone 3a via cable 2.

[0064] When the cable 2 is not connected to the microphone 3a, the terminals A1 and A2 of the microphone 3a are not short-circuited. Therefore, the power VCC generated by the power generating unit 33 of the microphone 3a is not input to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a via the terminal A2. Furthermore, the power VCC is not input to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 via the terminal A3. As a result, the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 of the microphone 3a generates a connection determination voltage indicating that the cable 2 is not connected.

[0065] When the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable 2 is not connected, the determination unit 36 ​​of the microphone 3a determines that the microphone 3a is in a standalone mode in which the microphone 3a is used without being connected to another microphone (for example, the microphone 3b). The determination unit 36 ​​of the microphone 3a notifies the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3a that the microphone 3a operates in the standalone mode.

[0066] When the selection unit 37 of the microphone 3a receives a notification from the determination unit 36 ​​that the microphone 3a is operating in the stand-alone mode, it outputs the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 of the microphone 3a to the composite signal output unit 39. The composite signal output unit 39 outputs the sound signal input via the selection unit 37 to the terminal D2 without combining it with other sound signals. By operating in this manner, the microphone 3a outputs a digital sound signal corresponding to the sound collected by the sound collection unit 30 to the external device 1 when the cable 2 is not connected.

[0067] [Operations of connection determination voltage generating unit 34 and mode determination voltage generating unit 35] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of the voltage generating section of the connection determination voltage generating section 34 and the mode determination voltage generating section 35. FIG. 4A illustrates an example of the voltage generating section of the connection determination voltage generating section 34, and FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the voltage generating section of the mode determination voltage generating section 35.

[0068] The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 shown in Fig. 4(a) has resistors R1 and R2. The resistors R1 and R2 are connected in series. One end of the resistor R1 is connected to the terminal A2 and the terminal A3, and the other end is connected to the resistor R2. One end of the resistor R2 is connected to the resistor R1, and the other end is connected to ground. The connection determination voltage generating unit 34 outputs a voltage obtained by dividing the voltage input from the terminal A2 or the terminal A3 by the resistors R1 and R2 as a connection determination voltage.

[0069] When power is not supplied from terminal A2 and terminal A3, the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 outputs a voltage of 0 volts as the connection determination voltage. On the other hand, when power is supplied from terminal A2 or terminal A3, the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 outputs a voltage expressed by the following formula (1) as the connection determination voltage. R2 / (R1+R2)×V1 (1) V1 in equation (1) is the voltage at terminal A2 or terminal A3.

[0070] The mode determination voltage generating unit 35 shown in Fig. 4(b) has resistors R3 and R4. The resistors R3 and R4 are connected in series. One end of the resistor R3 is connected to the terminal A5, and the other end is connected to the resistor R4. One end of the resistor R4 is connected to the resistor R3, and the other end is connected to ground. The mode determination voltage generating unit 35 outputs a voltage obtained by dividing the voltage input from the terminal A5 by the resistors R3 and R4 as a mode determination voltage.

[0071] When power is not supplied from terminal A5, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 outputs a voltage of 0 volts as the mode determination voltage. On the other hand, when power is supplied from terminal A5, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 outputs a voltage expressed by the following equation (2) as the mode determination voltage. R4 / (R3+R4)×V2 (2) V2 in equation (2) is the voltage at terminal A5.

[0072] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 outputs different mode determination voltages depending on whether or not the power VBUS is supplied via the terminal A5. However, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 may output different mode determination voltages depending on whether or not other power is supplied. The other power is, for example, the power VCC. For example, when the output side of the power generating unit 33 is connected to the terminal A4, the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 may output different mode determination voltages depending on whether or not the power VCC is supplied via the terminal A5. The configurations of the connection determination voltage generating unit 34 and the mode determination voltage generating unit 35 are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, and may be configured by other circuits such as a logic circuit.

[0073] [Operation of the determination unit 36] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the judgment result of the judgment unit 36 ​​based on the connection judgment voltage and the mode judgment voltage. The "H" of the connection judgment voltage indicates that the value of the connection judgment voltage is a high level voltage equal to or higher than the first threshold. The "L" of the connection judgment voltage indicates that the value of the connection judgment voltage is a low level voltage less than the first threshold. The "H" of the mode judgment voltage indicates that the value of the mode judgment voltage is a high level voltage equal to or higher than the second threshold. The "L" of the mode judgment voltage indicates that the value of the mode judgment voltage is a low level voltage less than the second threshold. When the connection judgment voltage is "L", the power VBUS is not supplied to the mode judgment voltage generating unit 35 via the terminal A5. Therefore, a state in which the connection judgment voltage is "L" and the mode judgment voltage is "H" does not occur.

[0074] The first threshold is used to determine the connection state of the cable 2. The first threshold is a value calculated by equation (1) when, for example, the voltage based on the power VCC input from the terminal A2 or the terminal A3 is the assumed minimum voltage. This assumed minimum voltage is the minimum voltage in the range in which the voltage of the terminal A2 or the terminal A3 can vary due to the variation of the power generating unit 33, temperature change, etc. The second threshold is used to determine the operation mode of the microphone 3. The second threshold is a value calculated by equation (2) when, for example, the voltage based on the power VBUS input from the terminal A5 is the assumed minimum voltage. This assumed minimum voltage is the minimum voltage in the range in which the voltage of the terminal A5 can vary due to the variation of the voltage output by the external device 1, the variation of the cable 4, temperature change, etc.

[0075] When the connection determination voltage is "H" and the mode determination voltage is "L", the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the operation mode of the microphone 3 is the parent mode. When the connection determination voltage is "H" and the mode determination voltage is "H", the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the operation mode of the microphone 3 is the child mode. When the connection determination voltage is "L", the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the operation mode of the microphone 3 is the standalone mode.

[0076] When the connection determination voltage is "L" and the mode determination voltage is "H", for example, it is considered that there is a disconnection between terminal a1 and terminal a2 in the cable 2, and therefore the determination unit 36 ​​determines that an abnormal state has occurred. In this case, the determination unit 36 ​​may transmit abnormality notification data to the external device 1 for displaying the occurrence of an abnormality on the external device 1, or may display the occurrence of an abnormality on an indicator (not shown) of the microphone 3a. The determination unit 36 ​​may display information indicating which operation mode, parent mode, child mode, or standalone mode, the device is operating in, on the indicator.

[0077] 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the determination unit 36. First, the determination unit 36 ​​acquires a connection determination voltage from the connection determination voltage generation unit 34 (S11). If the acquired connection determination voltage is less than the first threshold (NO in S12), the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the microphone 3 operates in the standalone mode (S13). Then, the determination unit 36 ​​instructs the selection unit 37 to output the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 to the composite signal output unit 39 (S17). On the other hand, if the connection determination voltage is equal to or greater than the first threshold (YES in S12), the determination unit 36 ​​acquires a mode determination voltage from the mode determination voltage generation unit 35 (S14).

[0078] If the acquired mode determination voltage is less than the second threshold (NO in S15), the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the operation mode of the microphone 3 is the parent mode (S16). Then, the determination unit 36 ​​instructs the selection unit 37 to output the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 to the composite signal output unit 39 (S17). On the other hand, if the acquired mode determination voltage is equal to or greater than the second threshold (YES in S15), the determination unit 36 ​​determines that the operation mode of the microphone 3 is the child mode (S18). Then, the determination unit 36 ​​instructs the selection unit 37 to output the sound signal input from the sound collection unit 30 to the child signal output unit 38 (S19).

[0079] The order in which the determination unit 36 ​​executes the processes is not limited to the order shown in Fig. 6. The determination unit 36 ​​may execute the determination based on the mode determination voltage before the determination based on the connection determination voltage.

[0080] [First Modification] In the above explanation, a configuration has been exemplified in which the sound collection unit 30 collects surrounding sounds and generates a sound signal, but the sound collection unit 30 may also acquire a sound signal from an external microphone and input the acquired sound signal to the selection unit 37.

[0081] [Second modified example] In the above description, a case where the cable 2 has no polarity has been exemplified, but the cable 2 may have polarity. Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a state in which the microphones 3a and 3b are connected by a cable 2V having polarity.

[0082] 7 and 8, terminals a3 and b1, terminals a5 and b4, terminals a6 and b7, and terminals b1 and b2 are not connected to each other. Connector 2a functions as the connector that connects to microphone 3a operated in the master mode, and connector 2b functions as the connector that connects to microphone 3b operated in the slave mode.

[0083] The connectors 2a and 2b may be different so that a user of the microphone system S connects the connector 2a to the microphone 3a to be used in the parent mode and the connector 2b to the microphone 3b to be used in the child mode. For example, the connector 2a has a mark (e.g., M) indicating that it is for the parent mode, and the connector 2b has a mark (e.g., S) indicating that it is for the child mode.

[0084] 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the cable 2V is connected with the correct polarity. In this case, the microphone 3a operates in the master mode, and the microphone 3b operates in the slave mode, similarly to the case shown in FIG.

[0085] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the cable 2V is connected with the wrong polarity. In this case, since power VCC is not supplied to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34, the connection determination voltage becomes "L". Furthermore, since power is not supplied to the mode determination voltage generating unit 35, the mode determination voltage also becomes "L". As a result, the determining unit 36 ​​determines that the microphone 3a is in the standalone mode. In this case, the determining unit displays on the indicator that the microphone 3a is operating in the standalone mode. Since power is not supplied to the microphone 3b, the microphone 3b does not operate.

[0086] 7 and 8, terminals b1 and b2 may be connected. If the cable 2V is connected with the wrong polarity, power VCC is supplied to the connection determination voltage generating unit 34, so that the connection determination voltage becomes "H", and the determining unit 36 ​​determines that the device is in the parent device mode. However, since no sound signal is input from the microphone 3b to the composite signal output unit 39 via the terminal A7, the device actually operates in the standalone mode.

[0087] [Effects of microphone 3 according to this embodiment] As described above, microphone 3 has mode determination voltage generating unit 35 that generates a mode determination voltage, connection determination voltage generating unit 34 that generates a connection determination voltage, and determination unit 36 ​​that determines the operation mode of microphone 3 based on the mode determination voltage and the connection determination voltage. Determination unit 36 ​​determines the operation mode of microphone 3 based on the mode determination voltage and the connection determination voltage. Based on the determination result of determination unit 36, selection unit 37 decides whether to output a sound signal based on the sound collected by sound collection unit 30 to another microphone 3 or to external device 1.

[0088] Therefore, the microphone system S can connect multiple microphones with a simple configuration without using any conversion device other than the multiple microphones 3. For example, microphone 3a and microphone 3b are connected via cable 2, and microphone 3a is connected to external device 1, whereby microphone system S can input sounds collected by the multiple microphones 3 to external device 1. As a result, the user can easily connect the multiple microphones 3 to the external device 1.

[0089] Furthermore, the microphone 3 of the present invention determines the operation mode according to the connection state of the cable to the microphone 3, and determines whether to output a sound signal to another microphone 3 or to the external device 1. For example, the microphone 3 determines that it operates in the master mode when the cable 4 is connected to the external device 1. Therefore, the user does not need to switch the switch provided on the microphone 3 depending on whether the microphone 3 is used as a master or a slave. Also, the user is unlikely to operate the microphone 3 in the master mode when it is intended to operate in the slave mode. Also, in the microphone system S, since it is not necessary to connect the microphone 3 to an external power source, there is no risk of the power being input erroneously.

[0090] Furthermore, in the microphone system S, the external device 1 and the microphone 3a used as a parent unit are connected by a cable 4, and the microphone 3a and the microphone 3b used as a child unit are connected by a cable 2, thereby supplying power to the multiple microphones 3. As a result, the user does not need to connect, for example, a power cable to the microphone 3, and therefore will not mistakenly connect the power cable to the microphone 3b used as a child unit.

[0091] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 External device 2 Cable 3 Microphone 30 Sound collection section 31 First connection port 32 Second connection port 33 Power Generation Unit 34 Connection judgment voltage generator 35 Mode determination voltage generator 36 Judgment section 37 Selection section 38 Child unit signal output section 39 Composite signal output section

Claims

1. A microphone that can be connected to an external device that can supply power and to other microphones, A first connection port for connecting to the external device; a second connection port for connecting to the other microphone via a cable; a determination unit that, when the cable is connected to the second connection port while power is being supplied from the external device via the first connection port, determines that the device will operate in a parent mode in which power is supplied from the second connection port to the other microphone connected via the cable, and that, when the cable is connected to the second connection port while power is not being supplied from the external device via the first connection port, determines that the device will operate in a child mode in which power is supplied from the other microphone connected via the cable via the second connection port; A microphone having

2. a power generating unit configured to generate a second power based on a first power supplied from the external device while operating in the parent mode, the second power being supplied to the other microphone operating in the child mode via the cable; The microphone of claim 1 .

3. a mode determination voltage generating unit that generates a mode determination voltage that differs between a state in which power is being supplied through the cable and a state in which power is not being supplied through the cable, The determination unit determines whether the device operates in the parent mode or the child mode based on the mode determination voltage.

3. A microphone as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

4. a connection determination voltage generating unit that generates a connection determination voltage that differs between a state in which the cable is connected and a state in which the cable is not connected; The determination unit determines whether or not the cable is connected based on the connection determination voltage. The microphone of claim 3.

5. the determination unit determines that the device will operate in the parent device mode when the mode determination voltage indicates that power is not being supplied through the cable and the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable is connected, and determines that the device will operate in the child device mode when the mode determination voltage indicates that power is being supplied through the cable and the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable is connected.

5. The microphone of claim 4.

6. the determination unit determines that the microphone operates in a standalone mode in which the microphone is used without being connected to the other microphone when the connection determination voltage indicates that the cable is not connected.

6. A microphone according to claim 4 or 5.

7. a handset signal output unit that outputs a handset sound signal input via an electroacoustic conversion element to the other microphone operating in the parent mode when operating in the handset mode; a synthesis signal output unit that synthesizes a parent sound signal input via the electroacoustic conversion element and a child sound signal received from the other microphone operating in the child mode when operating in the parent mode, and outputs the synthesized synthesis sound signal to the external device; having A microphone according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. a selection unit that outputs the handset sound signal to the handset signal output unit when operating in the handset mode, and outputs the handset sound signal to the composite signal output unit when operating in the parent mode, 8. The microphone of claim 7.

9. the composite signal output unit composites the handset sound signal, which is an analog signal, and the parent unit sound signal, which is an analog signal, converts the composite sound signal after the composite to a digital composite sound signal, and outputs the digital composite sound signal to the external device.

9. A microphone according to claim 7 or 8.

10. a first microphone, a second microphone connectable to the first microphone, and a cable for connecting the first microphone and the second microphone; Each of the first microphone and the second microphone is a first connection port for connecting to an external device capable of supplying power; a second connection port for connecting to the other of the first microphone and the second microphone via the cable; a determination unit that, when the cable is connected to the second connection port while power is being supplied from the external device via the first connection port, determines that the device will operate in a parent mode in which power is supplied from the second connection port to the other microphone connected via the cable, and that, when the cable is connected to the second connection port while power is not being supplied from the external device via the first connection port, determines that the device will operate in a child mode in which power is supplied from the other microphone connected via the cable via the second connection port; having Microphone system.

11. Each of the first microphone and the second microphone further includes a connection determination voltage generating unit that generates a connection determination voltage that differs between a state in which the cable is connected and a state in which the cable is not connected, In the cable, a terminal connected to a power supply of each of the first microphone and the second microphone is short-circuited to a terminal connected to the connection determination voltage generating unit. The microphone system of claim 10.

12. the first microphone operating in the parent mode further includes a composite signal output unit that combines a parent sound signal input via an electroacoustic conversion element with a child sound signal received from the second microphone operating in the child mode and outputs the combined composite sound signal to an external device; The second microphone operating in the child device mode further includes a child device signal output unit that outputs the child device sound signal input via an electroacoustic conversion element to the first microphone.

12. A microphone system according to claim 10 or 11.

Images