Volume Controller Using Alternate Pulse Interval for Smooth Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional volume adjusting apparatuses are difficult for users to handle due to the need for precise control over the volume knob, and the process of determining a new volume based on pulse intervals can lead to false volume changes under high processing loads, causing user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A quantity adjusting apparatus that uses an alternate pulse interval based on counting time and the number of pulses counted within that time to determine new quantities, reducing the likelihood of false volume changes by averaging the pulse interval and allowing for integer calculations, thereby minimizing user discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the volume is set to be increased/decreased by a small amount (1 dB) with respect to one pulse, then fine adjustment is possible, but a user needs to greatly turn the volume knob to greatly change the volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the volume change amount dynamic rather than fixed. The volume controller changes the volume by a first amount when the rotary encoder rotates in a first direction and by a second amount when it rotates in a second direction, allowing the system to adapt its response based on operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of volume change amount based on the rotation direction. By detecting which direction the rotary encoder rotates, the system selects different volume increment values, enabling both fine and coarse adjustment capabilities within the same system
2Productivity
If the volume is set to be increased/decreased by a large amount (4 dB) with respect to one pulse, then great volume change is achieved, but it is difficult for the user to finely adjust the volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the volume increment based on rotation direction, enabling the volume to change by different amounts depending on which direction the encoder is turned, thus balancing speed and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The volume change parameter is changed based on the detected rotation direction, allowing the system to select between different increment values to achieve both rapid and fine-tuned volume adjustments
3Speed
If a process for determining a new volume is performed every time a pulse is output, then responsive volume adjustment is achieved, but this process disturbs other processes of the microcomputer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex calculation-based volume determination with a simpler lookup table approach. Instead of performing calculations every time a pulse is output, the system stores predetermined volume values in a table and simply retrieves the appropriate value based on the pulse count, significantly reducing processing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
To realize a change in a volume that does not give a user a feeling of strangeness even when a great processing load is put on a volume determining unit. A volume controller performs a process for determining a new volume of an audio signal based on an alternate pulse interval that is based on a counting time and the number of pulses counted by a counting section within the counting time and a current volume stored in a storage section, and storing the determined new volume as the current volume in the storage section, the same number of times as the number of pulses counted by the counting section every counting time, and outputs last information stored as the current volume in the storage section to an electronic volume.