Patent Application
20050063556
The present invention relates generally as indicated to an audio device and, more particularly, to an audio device having the primary audio purpose of providing a programmed audio output.
An audio device can have a primary audio purpose of producing a programmed output. For example, radios and televisions are programmed to produce a primary audio output based on received-radio signals. Tape recorders, CD players, DVD players and/or MP3 players are programmed to produce a primary audio output based on previously recorded information. Telephones are programmed to produce a primary audio-output based on sound being substantially concurrently produced on another telephone momentarily connected thereto. With particular reference to toys, many are programmed to produce music, voices, animal imitations, or other sounds for a child's enjoyment, and this programmed output is stored within an internal memory for selective recall during play with the child.
While a certain volume level may be suitable when a listener is positioned a specific distance away from an audio device, this same volume level may be unacceptable when the listener moves closer to, or farther away from, the audio device. For example, if the listener moves closer to the audio device, this same volume level could be too loud, thereby making it annoying, uncomfortable, or even damaging to the listener's ear(s). Additionally or alternatively, if the listener moves farther away from the audio device, the same volume level could be too soft, thereby forcing the listener to “strain” his/her ears to hear and/or even being unable to hear.
The present invention provides an audio device incorporating volume-adjusting components which adjust the playing volume to prevent it from being at an unacceptable level when the listener is at a certain distance from the device's sound-emitter. In this manner, the volume level can be adjusted if the listener moves closer to or farther from the audio device, as often happens during use of such devices. Moreover, the volume-adjusting components of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the design of conventional and/or standard audio devices at a minimal cost to the manufacturer.
More particularly, the present invention provides an audio device having a primary audio purpose of producing a programmed audio output for a listener. The audio device comprises sound-generating components that generate the programmed audio output, and these components include an emitter that audibly emits this programmed output at a playing volume. A proximity sensor senses the distance to a listener, and this sensed distance corresponds to the distance between the listener and the emitter. Volume-adjusting components adjust the playing volume so as to prevent the playing volume from being at an unacceptable level for the sensed distance.
In this manner, the playing volume can be reduced if it is too high and/or increased if it is too low. For example, the volume-adjusting components can determine whether the playing volume is at an unsafe volume level (i.e., a level whereat harm, hurt, or damage to a listener's ear(s) becomes a potential risk) for the sensed distance of the listener and, if so, will reduce it to a safer level. When the listener moves away from the audio device, the volume can return to its set level. Additionally or alternatively, the volume-adjusting components can determine whether the playing volume is at an uncomfortable listening level (i.e., a level too low for comfortable, unstrained listening) for the sensed distance of the listener and, if so, will increase it to a more comfortable level. Moreover, the volume-adjusting components can maintain the playing volume at a preferable level (e.g., not too loud, not too soft) as the location of the listener relative to the audio device changes.
These and other features of the invention are fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these embodiments being indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
Referring now to the drawings, and initially to
It should be immediately noted that the present invention can find application in a variety of other audio devices. For example, the audio device 10 could be a television which, like the illustrated radio, is programmed to produce a primary audio output based on wirelessly-received or cable-conveyed signals. Audio devices having a primary audio output based on other sources are also possible with, and contemplated by, the present invention. For example, the audio device 10 could be a toy that is programmed to selectively recall music, voices, animal imitations, or other sounds stored in an internal memory. Other possible audio devices include a tape recorder, a CD player, a MP3 player and/or a DVD player which produce a primary audio output from previously recorded information. Further, the audio device 10 could be a telephone, a baby monitor, and/or a walkie-talkie which produce a primary audio-output based on sounds substantially concurrently produced on another presently-connected device. These programmed outputs are distinguishable from, for example, an output from a telephone ringer, which simply audibly indicates or announces that a call (i.e., the primary audio purpose of the telephone) is incoming.
In
The illustrated listener is a child and it may be noted that the present invention may find special application with young listeners, as they may not appreciate what constitutes an acceptable volume level. That being said, adult audio devices and/or adult listeners are certainly contemplated by, and within the scope of, the present invention. In fact, as explained in more detail below, the invention may also find special application with listeners who are partially hearing-impaired, teenage listeners who traditionally tend to blast audio devices too loud, and/or with listeners who move about while enjoying a programmed output from a stationary audio device.
Referring now to
The audio device 10 further comprises a proximity sensor 26 which senses the distance of a listener therefrom. The proximity sensor 26 can be any suitable sensor capable of sensing this distance by, for example, heat, light, sound, capacitiveness and/or inductiveness. If light is used as the sensing component for a toy that will be used in dark conditions (e.g., a bedroom), supplemental lighting may be necessary so that the sensor 26 can still sense light changes. In any event, when the sound generator 16 is turned on, (e.g., by the on/off input 22), power is sent to the proximity sensor 26 which senses the distance between it and the listener. This distance information is then conveyed (i.e., input) to sound-generating components 18 and is often in the form of a control signal which increases as the sensed distance decreases (i.e., as the listener gets closer).
The distance sensed by the proximity sensor 26 corresponds to the distance of the listener to the emitter 24. This correspondence can be accomplished by placing the proximity sensor 26 at substantially the same location as the emitter 24, whereby the sensed distance will essentially equal the distance between the listener and the emitter 24. (See e.g.,
In the schematically illustrated embodiment, the sound-generating components 18 are part of the sound generator 16. That being said, separate and/or independent sound-generating components 18 are certainly possible with, and contemplated by, the present invention. Additionally, it may be noted that at least some of these sound-generating components 18 also could contribute to the adjustment of the playing volume to the desired level set on the volume setter 20.
Referring now to
The length or span of range A can be different, depending upon the intended use of the audio device 10 and/or the distance between the emitter 24 and the proximity sensor 26. For example, if the sound-generating components 18 are designed to solely protect against high volumes at very close distances, range A can be very short, such as 2 inches. Alternatively, if the sound-generating components 18 are designed to provide a comfortable listening volume within a twenty-feet radius, the range A can be longer, such as ten feet. Also, if the sound-generating components 18 are intended to protect a listener when he/she is within, for example, 2 inches of the emitter 24, and the emitter 24 is ten inches from the proximity sensor 26, then the range A would be twelve inches.
The threshold A can correspond to a safe volume level for the range A; that is a volume level less than a value whereat harm, hurt, or damage to a listener's ear becomes a potential risk based upon known or tested principles. Preferably, the threshold A is lower than this predetermined safe volume level to provide a precautionary margin and, in any event, the volume adjustment can comprise the reduction of the level of the playing volume to a level at or below the threshold A. The reduction of the playing volume can comprise completely ceasing sound generation (i.e., the adjusted volume level is zero) by, for example, interrupting power to the sound generator 16. Alternatively, the reduction of the playing volume level can comprise lowering the volume to an acceptable level greater than zero.
Alternatively, the threshold A can correspond to a comfortable hearing volume level for the range A; that is a volume whereat unstrained and comfortable listening is possible (i.e., neither excessively loud nor soft). In this case, the volume adjustments can comprise the adjustment of the playing volume to such a comfortable hearing level, based upon the threshold A. For example, the playing volume can be increased or decreased to be equal to this threshold.
It should also be noted that, for the purposes of this invention, thresholds and/or ranges are defined by the resulting volume adjustment, regardless of logic employed when programming the sound-generating components 18. For example, if the sound-generating components 18 are programmed to adjust the playing volume when it is greater than or equal to 10 decibels, the threshold could be considered 9.9 decibels and the playing volume would be adjusted when it exceeds this threshold. Likewise, if the sound-generating components 18 are programmed to adjust the playing volume to a certain level when the listener is at a distance less than 5 inches, the relevant range could be considered 4.9 inches and the playing volume would be adjusted when the listener is at a range equal to or less than this range.
Referring now to
If the listener is within the first range A and the playing volume is at an unacceptable level based on a comparison to threshold A, the sound-generating components 18 automatically adjust the playing volume to an acceptable level for range A. If the listener is within the second range B (i.e., a distance greater than range A but less than or equal to range B) and the playing volume is at an unacceptable level based on a comparison to threshold B, the sound-generating components 18 automatically adjust the playing volume level to an acceptable volume for range B. If the listener is within the third range C (i.e., a range greater than range B but less than or equal to range C) and the playing volume is at an unacceptable level based on a comparison to threshold C, the sound-generating components 18 automatically adjust the playing volume level to an acceptable volume for range C.
As discussed above in connection with
Referring now to
Thus in the embodiment shown schematically in
It may be noted that when the volume adjustment comprises a comparison of different thresholds (e.g.,
Depending upon design intentions, the audio device 10 can remain in its adjusted-volume condition until the volume is reset (e.g., by the volume setter 20) and/or until the audio device 10 is reset (e.g., by the on/off input 22). In this case, a timer might be employed to cause a slight delay (e.g., ten seconds) between the reset being input and the reset being initiated (e.g., the audio device 10 being turned back on and/or the volume being increased). In this manner, the person performing the reset will not trigger another adjustment in volume during such resetting. Alternatively, the audio device 10 can return to its user set volume level upon the listener moving outside the predetermined range.
A further post-adjustment option is for the sound-generating components 18 to continue to automatically adjust the volume to an acceptable level as the listener moves away or towards the audio device 10. In this case, the need for the volume setter 20 could be eliminated, as it would no longer be necessary. Such automatic volume adjustments could be especially useful in a toy so that the child and/or the parent does not have to worry about setting a desired volume level. Also, these automatic volume adjustments could be particularly enjoyed by a listener who moves about (e.g., does housework) while listening to a stationary audio device. Further, these adjustments could be helpful to a person with hearing loss to insure that the playing volume will always be at a sufficient level (i.e., loud enough) for him/her to enjoy. A multiplier input (not shown) could be provided to allow a hard-of-hearing person to format the thresholds to suit his/her particular hearing needs.
One may now appreciate that the audio device 10, and particularly its sound-generating components 18, can automatically adjust the playing volume of a device so as to prevent it from reaching an unacceptable level when the listener is at a certain distance from the device's emitter 24. These adjustments can be designed to prevent harmful volume levels at close ranges, allow adequate volume levels at distant ranges, provide an automatic shut-off or turn-down when a listener moves beyond a listening range, and/or maintain comfortable hearing volume levels at all ranges.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is evident that equivalent and obvious alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification.
