Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to a volume
control apparatus, and is directed more particularly to a volume
control apparatus for use with remote control.
Description of the Prior Art:
,
In the art, when the output from an electronic instru-
ment is displayed digitally by a power meter which is formed of
a plurality of display elements such as LEDs, such an attempt has
been carried out to reduce the number of display elements which
will display the output over a wide range from a low output level
to a high output level. However, in the display device for a
relatively large amplifier apparatus of the prior art, when the
sound volume is low, the number of display elements is small and
the display of outputs is unclear. While, when the sound volume
is large, the level difference between the display elements is
large and hence the display accuracy is deteriora~ed. That is,
the prior art output display device can no~ perform the display
function frequency with accuracy. In order to avoid the above
defect, if the number of display elements is increased, the dis-
play apparatus becomes expensive.
Recently, in an electronic instrument, switching means
for adjusting the sound volume and a power source switch are
provided separately, and the volume adjustment and ON/OFF of the
power source switch are carried out by the manual operation and
remote control. In this case, when the power source switch is
made OFF, the volume for the sound volume adjustment is made to
remain at the set value upon the power switch being made OFF.
1~ 2 ~ ~ 7 ~
Therefore, when the power switch is made ON again, the sound
corresponding to the previous set value is abruptly outputted
from a speaker, which is inconvenient. Especially, in the remote
controller, there are only provided operating buttons for ON-OFF
of the power switch and increase, decrease of sound volume, and
there is provided no scale for showing the set value of sound
volume, so that it is not apparent which value of sound is pro-
duced when the power switch is made ON by the remote control.
Further, when the power switch of the electronic
instrument is cut OFF, the power source for a motor, which will
adjust the sound volume in accordance with the command from the
remote controller, is also cut OFFo Therefore, the set value of
the sound volume upon the power switch being made OFF becomes the
set value of sound volume upon the power switch being made ON
again, so that there may occur a high impact sound outputted from
the speaker up~n the power switch being made ON thereafter.
OBJECTS AND S~D~RY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a volume control apparatus free from the defects en-
countered in the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide a volume
control apparatus which is presettabLe.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel
volume control apparatus which is suitable to be remotely con-
trolled.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
a volume control apparatus is provided which includes a master-
variable resistor for a volume control, a slave-variable
resistor having first, second and third terminals, the resistance
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between the second and third terminals of which is varied in
response to changes of the resistance of the master-variable
resistor, a presettable-variable resistor havin~ first, second
and third terminals, a DC voltage source, a coupling circuit for
supplying the DC voltage of the DC voltage source between the
first and second terminals of the slave- and presettable-
variable resistors, respectively, a first comparator for comparing
the voltages across the second and third terminals of the slave-
and presettable-variable resistors and producin~ an output signal
proportional to the voltage difference therebetween, a second
comparator for comparing the output signal voltage of the first
comparator with a reference DC voltage and producing a control
signal when the output signal voltage from the first comparator
is greater than the reference DC voltage, and a control circuit
i supplied with the control signal from the second comparator and
controlling the resistance of the master-variable resistor so
as to reduce the voltage difference across the second and third
terminals of the presettable- and slave-variable resistors.
More particularl~ there is provided: -
A volume control apparatus comprising:
a3 a master-variable resistor for a volume c~ntr~l;
b) a slave-variable resistor having first, second and
third terminals, the resistance between the second and third
terminals of which is varied in response to changes of the
resistance of sai~ master-variable resistor;
c) a presettable-variable resistor having first, ~econd
and third terminals:
d) a DC voltage source;
e) coupling circuit means for supplying the DC
voltage of said DC voltage 60urce to the first and
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second terminals of said presettable variable resistor,
and said slave-variable resistor, respectively;
f) ~irst c~mparator means for comparing the voltages
across the second and third terminals of said slave- and
presettable-variable resistors and producing an output signal
proportional to the voltage difference therebetween;
g) second c~mparator means for comparing the output
sig~al voltage from said ~irst comparator means with a reference
DC voltage ~nd producing a control signal when the output signal
voltage from said first comparator means is greater than said
reference DC voltage; ~nd
h) contr~l circuit means supplied with the control
~ignal from said sec~nd c~mparat~r means an~ for controlling
the resistance of said master-variable resistor and said slave
-variable re~istor,
The other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings through which
the like references designate the same elements and parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a preferred example
of the volume control apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view showing variable resistors and a
motor used in the example of the invention shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment~
of the invention; and
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Fig. 4 is a front view of a scale plate used in the
embodiment o~ the invention shown in Fig. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An example of the volume control apparatus according to
one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1.
In the figure, 1 designakes a signal source of a low frequency,
2 a master volume control or master variable resistor for
adjusting the sound volume, and 3 an amplifier for a low fre-
quency signal whose output is directly supplied to a speaker 4.
A one-dot chain line block 33 in Fig. 1 is a control circuit to
control the master variable resistor 2.
Now, the control circuit 33 will be described. DC voltage
sources 5a and 5b are connected in series and the connection
point therebetween is grounded. The positive and negative out-
put voltages from the serially connected DC voltage sources 5a
and 5b are applied across the series circuit consisting of the
collector-emitter path of an NPN transistor 6a, resistors 7a,
7b and the emitter-collector path of PNP transistor 6b in the
control circuit 33. The connection point between the resistors
7a and 7b is grounded through a moto~ 8 which drives a movable
or slidable contact 2a of the master variable resistor 2.
Between the output terminals of the serially connected voltage
sources 5a and 5b, connected is a series connection of a normally
opened DOWN and UP switches 9D and 9U. The connection point
between the switches 9D and 9U is generally connected to the
connection points of the bases of transistors 6a and 6b through
a switch 28 (which will be described later) as shown by the
broken line in Fig. 1. The switches 9D and gU can be operated
manually or automatically with a remote control signal. ~hen
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the DOI~N switch 9D is made ON, a positive voltage is supplied
from the voltage source 5a, to the bases of transistors 6a, 6b
through the closed switch 9D and switch 28. Thus, the NPN
transistor 6a turns ON and hence a current flows from the vol-
tage source 5a to the ground through the collector-emitter
path of transistor 6a, resistor 7a and motor 8 in the direction
by an arrow a. As a result, the motor 8 is rotated, the movable
contact 2a of master variable resistor 2 is rotated in, for
example, the counter clockwise direction, and the sound volume
is controlled to be decreased. While, when the UP switch 9U
is made ON, the PNP transistor 6b becomes ON and a current flows
through the emitter-collector path of transistor 6b and the motor
8 from the voltage source 5b in the direction of an arrow b.
As a result, the movable contact 2a is rotated in the clockwise
direction to increase the sound volume.
Further, in the example shown in Fig. 1, there are pro-
vided a presettable variable resistor 10 and a slave variable
resi~.tor 11 which is meshed with the master variable resistor
2 to detec-t the operated position of master variable resistor
2. Also, provided is a discrlminator circuit 12 which will
compare the position of a slidable or movable contact lla of
slave variable resistor 11 with the position of a slidable or
movable piece 10a of presettable variable resistor 10.
In the discriminator circuit 12, th~re is provided a
comparator 13. This comparator 13 will detect a voltage differ-
ence V3 between a ref~rence voltage Vl appearing at the movable
contact 10a of presettable variable resistor 10, which is
connected to the serially connected voltage sources 5a and 5b,
and a detected voltage V2 appearing at the movable contact lla
of slave variable resistor 11, which is connected to the serially
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voltage sources 5a and 5b (in the illustrated example, both
voltages Vl and V2 include negative voltages), detect the
polarity o~ the difference voltage V3 (where it is assumed
that when V2 is higher than Vl in potential, the polarity is
taken as +, while V2 is lower than Vl, the polarity as -), and
also detect whether or not the voltage difference + V3 is
within the range from preliminarily set voltages + VO and - VO.
l~hen the discriminator circuit 12 delivers an output upon the
power switch of an electronic instrument being made ON, namely
the voltage difference + V3 is outside the range between + VO
and - VO, the control circuit 33 is driven by the output from
the discriminator circuit 12 in such a manner that the slave
variable resistor 11 and master variable resistor 2 are operated
to make the voltage difference + V3 fall within the set range.
In this case, as the presettable variable resistor lO, a
plurality of fixed resistors connected in series may be used
and the reference voltage Vl is obtained at one of the connection
points between adjacent fixed resistors.
In order to obtain the voltages Vl and V2, in the
illustrated example of this invention, the presettable and
slave variable resistors 10 and 11 are respectively connected
to the serially connected voltage sources 5a and 5b. In the
discriminator circuit 12, the output ~erminal of the comparator
13 ~Jhich is supplied with the voltages Vl and V2 is connected
through resistors 14a and 14b to one of the input terminals
of each of comparators 15a and 15b which form a pair. A series
connection consisting of resistors 16a, 17a, 17b and 16b is
connected between the output terminals of serially connected
voltage sources 5a and 5b. The connection point between resistors
17a and 17b is grounded, and the connection points between re-
sistors 16a, 17a and between resistors 17b, 16b are respectively
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connected to the other input terminal of each of comparators 15a
and 15b. The output terminals of both comparators 15a and 15b
are connected together through resistors 18a and 18b as an
output terminal 18c. This output terminal 18c is connected to
the bases of transistors 6a and 6b through the switch 28 which
will be described later in aetail. The voltages +VO and -VO,
which are the above set voltages and applied to the other input
terminals of the respective comparators l5a and 15b, are deter-
mined by the resistance values of resistors 17a and 17b.
In the example of Fig. 1, a switching control circuit 19
is provided. In this switching control circuit 19, there are
provided NPN transistors 21 and 22. The base of the former is
connected to the emitter of the latter. The collectors of both
transistors 21 and 22 are connected together to the positive
terminal of voltage source 5a through a resistor 25. P~P tran-
sistors 23 and 24 are also provided whose emitters are connected
to the positive terminal of voltage source 5a, the b~se of
transistor 23 is connected to the connection point between the
collectors of transistors 21 and 22, and the collector of tran-
sistor 23 is connected to the base of transistor 24 and
grounded through a resistor 26. The collector of transistor
24 is grounded through a winding 27 of a relay serving as a
switch device 20. The emitter of transistor 21 and the base of
transistor 22 are respectively grounded.
The switch device, i.e., relay 20 includes three relay
switches 28, 29 and 30 operated by the relay winding 27. The
relay switch 28 consists of a movable contact 28a connected to
the bases of transistors 6a, 6b and two fixed contacts 2~b, 28c.
The fixed contact 28b is connected to the connection point
between switches 9D and 9U, and the fixed contact 28c is
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connected to the output terminal l~c of the discriminator circuit
12. The relay switch 29 consists of a movable contact 29a con-
nected to the output terminal 18c of discriminator circuit 12, a
fixed contact 29c connected to the base of ~ransistor 21 and to
the emitter of transistor 22, and a floating or open fixed con-
tact 29b. The relay switch 30 consists of a movable contact 30a
connected to the output terminal of amplifier 3, a fixed contact
33b connected to one of the input terminals of speaker ~, and a
floating or open fixed contact 30c. ~Jhen the relay 20 is not
energized (or the transistor 24 is in an OFF-state), it is
assumed that the movable contacts or contacts 28a, 29a and 30a
of relay switches 2~, 29 and 30 are respectively switched to the
positions shown by the solid lines in Fig. 1.
Now, the operation of the volume control apparatus
according to the invention with the construction shown in Fig. 1
will be described. Before the power voltage is not applied to
the apparatus (the power is not applied to the amplifier 3,
discriminator circuit 12 and switching control circuit 19?, the
respective relay switches 28, 29 and 30 are switched to the
positions shown by the solid lines in Fig. 1. Under such state,
when the power voltage is applied to the respective circuit
elements, the voltages Vl and V2 are produced from the pre-
settable and slave variable resistors 10 and 11, respectively,
and then compared in the comparator 13. If the voltage V2 is
higher than the voltage Vl (V2 > Vl), the comparator 13 delivers
the difference voltage ~3. When the voltage ~V3 is higher than
the set value VO (V3> VO), the positive voltage ~V3 delivered
from the output terminal of comparator lSa is applied through
the contacts 28c and 28a of relay switch 2~ to the bases of
transistors 6a and 6b. Thus, in tllis case, the transistor 6a
8 8 ~ ~
is made ON, so that the current is supplied from the voltage
source 5a through the transistor 6a to the motor 8 in the direction
a to drive the motor 8. Therefore, the master variable resistor
2 and the slave variable resistor 11 are driven in the counter
clockwise direction or controlled so that the voltage V2 comes
close to the voltage Vl. In this case, such a voltage (current)
to which the transistor 6a is switched is delivered from the
comparator 15a.
Under this state, since the voltage appe~red at the
olltput terminal 18c or connection point between resistors 18a and
18b is applied through the contacts 29a, 29c of switch 29 to the
base of transistor 21 and to the emitter of transistor 22 in the
switching control circuit 19, the transistor 21 turns ON and
hence the transistor 23 turns ON. As a result, the transistor
24 turns ~FF or the relay 20 is deenergized to hold the
respective relay switches 28, 29 and 30 in the states shown by
the solid lines and accordingly the above operation is continued.
When the voltage V2 is caused to approach the reference
voltage Vl, and hence the voltage +Y3 falls within the range
between ~VO and -VO, comparator 15a produces no output. Thus,
the transistors 21 and ~3 turn OFF, respectively and the tran-
sistor 24 turns ON. As a result, the relay 20 is energized to
switch the respective relay switches 28, 29 and 30 to the
states shown by the broken lines, so that the output from the
amplifier 3 is fed through the switch 30 to the speaker 4.
Thereafter, the motor 8 can be rotated in a desired dir~ction
by selectively operating the switches 9D and 9U, namely the
sound volume can be adjusted desirably. Upon this adjustment
of the sound volume, even if the voltage V2 deviates much from
the reference voltage ~1 ~gain, since the relay switch 29 is
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changed over in the position sho~n by the broken line, the
switching con~rol circuit 19 is not operated by ~he output from
the discriminator circuit 12.
The above operation relates to a case where the voltage
V2 is higher than the reference voltage Vl. However, when the
voltage V2 is lower than the reference voltage Vl (Vl> V2), the
other transistor 6b is made ON by the output from the c~mparator
15b and the current is supplied from the voltage source Sb to
the motor 8 in the direction b. Thus, the master and slave
variable resistors 2 and 11 are driven in a clockwise direction
to make the voltage V2 come close to the reference voltage Vl.
In this case, in the switching control circuit 19, the tran-
sistors 22 and 23 turn ON and the transistor 24 turns OFF.
When the voltage -V3 falls within the set range between
-VO and +VO, as described above, the relay 20 is energized and
its relay switches 28, 29 and 30 are changed over to the
positions sho~7n by the broken lines, respectively. Thereafter,
the sound volume can be adjusted by the switches 9D and 9U
similar to the above case.
~` When the voltage V2 is already close to the reference
voltage Vl or the difference voltage + V3 is within the set
range between +VO and -V0 upon the power switch being made ON,
neither transistors 21 and 22 in the switching control circuit
19 turn ON, so that the transistor 23 does not turn ON.
Accordingly, the transistor 24 turns ON immediately to energize
the relay 20, so that its relay switches 28, 29 and 30 are
respectively changed over to the positions sho~l by the broken
lines Thus, the motor 8 and accordingly the master variable
resistor 2 can be operated by the s~7itches 9D and 9U immediately.
As described above, the master variable resistor 2 can
be operated by the switches 9D and 9U. However, when the power
switch of the electronic instrument is cut OFF, the relay 20 is
deenergized and accordingly its respective relay switches 28, 29
and 30 automatically turn to the positions shown by the solid
lines for standby to the next power supply.
The master variable resistor 2, the slave variable resistor
11 which detects the operating position of resistor 2 and the
presettable variable resistor 10 are located on a single shaft
as shown in Fig. 2 as a resistor device. In this case, the
preset value of presettable variable resistor 10 is set by an
operating knob 31, and the master and slave variable resistors 2
and ll are adjusted by a manual operating knob 32 and also by
the motor 8 through a transmission mechanism or gear (not shown).
According to the example of the invention shown in Fig. 1
and 2, upon supplying power to the electronic instrument, the
master variable resistor 2 is automatically set to the value which
is preliminarily set by the presettable variable resistor 10, and
thereafter the switching control circuit l9 operates to make the
speaker 4 sound. Therefore, it can be avoided by suitably
setting the presettable-variable resistor 10 that a large sound
is emitted abruptly from the speaker 4 when the power is supplied
to the electronic instrument.
Another example of the invention will be now described
with reference to Fig. 3 in which the elements same as those used
in Fig. 1 are marked with the same references and their
description will be omitted.
In the example o~ the invention shown in Fig. 3, in
addition to the construction shown in Fig. 1, another comparator 35
is provided so as to change over the range o a display meter in
response to the output level. This comparator 35 compares the
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voltage V2, which is detected by the slave variable resistor 11
meshed with the master variable resistor 2, with a reference
voltage V4. That is, one of the input terminals of comparator 35
is connected to the movable contact lla of slave variable
resistor ll and the other input terminal is connected to the
connection point between reference voltzge setting resistors 36
and 37 which are connected in series between the positive
terminal of power source 5a and the ground. The output terminal
of comparator 35 is connected through an inverter 38 and a
resistor 39 to the base of a transistor 40 whose collector is
connected through a relay 41 to the positive terminal of voltage
source 5a and whose emitter is grounded. While, the ou~put
terminal of amplifier 3 is connected through an attenuator 44
to a drive circuit 45 which will drive power display elements
of the display meter. The output terminal of drive circuit 45
is connected to terminals of a plurality of light emission
diodes (LEDs) 54 serving as power display elements. In this
case, the attenuator 44 is formed of resistors 46 and 47 which
are connected in series between the output terminal of amplifier
3 and the ground for presenting, for example, 1/lO attenuation
amount. A switch 4~ is connected in parallel to the resistor
46 which switch 4~ is changed over by the relay 41 to release
the attenuation.
In Fig. 3, 49 and 50 respectively designate scale plates
of the display meter consisting of display elements 54 and
drive circuit 45. As shown in Fig. 4, the scale plate 49
serves to display a lower range o~ the power and the scale
plate 50 serves to display a higher range of the power or ten
times as much as the lower range. The scale plates 49 and 50
are used to be changed over by illumination lamps 51 and 52 sho~n
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in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, 53 designates a relay switch 53 which is
changed over by the relay 41. I~hen the relay 41 is not ener-
gized, the relay switch 53 is changed over to the position shown
by the solid line, so that at this time the voltage from the
voltage source 5b is supplied to the lamp 52 through a movable
contact 53a and a fixed contact 53c of switch 53.
While, when the relay 41 is energized, the relay switch
53 is changed over to the position sho~n by the broken line, so
that the voltage from the voltage source 46 is supplied to the
lamp 51 through the movable contact 53a and a fixed contact
53b of relay switch 53. Accordingly, when the sound volume is
in the small range, the lamp 51 is lit to illuminate the scale
plate 49, while when the sound volume is in the large range,
the lamp 52 is lit to illuminate the scale plate 50. Thus,
the sound output can be positively and accura~ely read on the
different scale plates 49 and 50 in accordance with the level
thereof.
Now, a description will be given on the operation of
the example of the invention shown in Fig. 3. Until the rotating
angle of master variable resistor 2 is smaller than a certain
constant angle a (for e~ample, angle corresponding to the time
lG:30 in a clock), the voltage V2 delivered fro~ the slave
variable resistor 11 for detecting the operating position of
master variable resistor 2 is lower than the re~erence voltage
V4 given by the resistors 36 and 37. Thus, the output voltage
from the comparator 35 is low, so that the output voltage from
the inverter 38 is high. As a result, ~he transistor 40 is
made ON and then the relay 41 is energized to change over its
relay switches 48 and 53 to the positions shown by the bro~en
lines. Thereby, the output from the amplifier 3 is supplied
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to the drive circuit 45 without being attenuated and the display
elements 54 are driven by the drive circuit 54. At the same
time, the lamp 51 is lit and the power can be read on the scale
plate 49 with high accuracy.
When the rotating angle of master variable resistor 2 is
selected greater than ~, the voltage ~72 from the slave variable
resistor 11 increases more than the reference voltage V4. Thus,
the output voltage from the comparator 35 becomes high and hence
the output voltage from the inverter 38 becomes low. Therefore,
the transistor 40 turns OFF to release the energization of relay
41 wit'n the result that the relay switches 4~ and 53 are changed
over to the positions shown by the solid lines, respectively.
Accordingly, the output from the amplifier 3 is attenuated by
the attenuator 44 by 1/10 and then fed to the drive circuir 45
to drive the display elements 54. At this time, the lamp 52 is
lit so that the power can be read on the scale plate 50 with
high accuracy.
According to the example of the invention shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, upon supplying power to the electronic instrument,
the master variable resistor 2 is automatically set to the value
which is preliminarily set by the presettable variable resistor
10, and thereafter the switching control circuit 19 operates
to make the speaker 4 sound. Therefore, it can be avoided by
suitably setting the presettable variable resistor 10 that a
sound is emitted abruptly from the speaker 4 when the power is
supplied to the electronic instrument similar to the first
example of the invention.
Further, in the second example of the invention, the
range of the display meter is changed over in accordance with
low and high outputs corresponding to the operating position of
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master variable resistor 2, so that the output can be displayed
without increasing the number of the display elements and regard-
less of the ma~nitudes of outputs.
Further, it may be possible that, in the examples of
the invention, the loudness control circuit (not shown in the
figures) is made O~ and OFF by the relay upon low sound and
also that a moving coil, moving iron piece meter or the like is
employed as the power meter whose scale plate is changed over
to high and low ranges.
It will be apparent that many modifications and varia-
tions could be effected by one skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit or scope of the novel concepts of the
present invention, so that the spirit or scope of the invention
should be determined by the appended claims only.
