Electronic apparatus and control method thereof

• US 20040096071A1
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Houk
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

An electronic apparatus and method thereof include a plurality of sound input channels through which audio signals are input, a plurality of individual volume controllers to individually control output volume levels of the audio signals input through the sound input channels, and a mixer to mix the audio signals provided by the individual volume controllers and to output mixed audio signals. The electronic apparatus includes a selection part through which one of the sound input channels is selected, and a controller controlling the individual volume controllers to make the selected sound input channel have a normal volume level and to lower the output volume levels of unselected input channels below a predetermined volume level.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus having a plurality of sound input channels through which audio signals are input, a plurality of individual volume controllers to individually control output volume levels of the audio signals input through the sound input channels, and a mixer to mix the audio signals provided by the individual volume controllers and to output mixed audio signals, comprising:

a selection part through which one of the sound input channels is selected; and

a controller controlling the individual volume controllers to make the selected sound input channel have a normal volume level and to lower the output volume levels of unselected input channels below a predetermined volume level.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory storing setup volume levels previously set up for the unselected sound input channels.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller controls the memory to store initial volume levels of the unselected sound input channels to which the output volume levels are lowered according to the selected sound input channel.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller controls the individual volume controllers to restore the output volume level of a new selected sound input channel to the initial volume level stored in the memory, wherein the new selected sound input channel is one of the unselected sound input channels selected by the selection part.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller controls the individual volume controllers to restore the output volume levels of the unselected sound input channels to the initial volume levels stored in the memory, when the selected sound input channel is released from the selection.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a master volume controller to control an output volume level of the mixed audio signals transmitted from the mixer; and

a speaker to output the audio signals of the selected sound input channel to a user.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection part is a specific key on a keyboard, wherein when the specific key is pushed, a scan code corresponding to the specific key is converted to a system readable scan code and is transmitted to the controller, where the controller processes the system readable scan code and determines the sound input channel is selected.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setup volume levels are lower than the output volume level of the selected sound input channel to prevent output sounds of the unselected sound input channels from interfering with an output sound of the selected sound input channels.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection part comprises an icon for a telephone call, where when the user clicks on the icon for the telephone call, the output volume levels of the unselected sound input channels is lowered below the predetermined volume level except the output volume level of the selected sound input channel.

10. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus having a plurality of sound input channels through which audio signals are input, a plurality of individual volume controllers to individually control output volume levels of the audio signals input through the sound input channels, and a mixer to mix the audio signals provided by the individual volume controllers and to output mixed audio signals, comprising:

enabling a selection of one of the sound input channels; and

controlling the individual volume controllers to make the selected sound input channel have a normal volume level and to lower output volume levels of unselected input channels below a predetermined volume level.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

storing setup volume levels previously set up for the unselected sound input channels.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

storing initial volume levels of the unselected sound input channels to which the output volume levels are lowered according to the selected sound input channel.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

controlling the individual volume controllers to restore the output volume level of a new selected sound input channel to the initial volume level stored in the memory, wherein the new selected sound input channel is one of the unselected sound input channels.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

controlling the individual volume controllers to restore the output volume levels of the unselected sound input channels to the initial volume levels stored in the memory when the selected sound input channel is released from the selection.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a selection menu comprising check boxes to select the one of the sound input channels as a main output channel, and a control bar for each sound input channel, wherein the check boxes of the unselected sound input channels are inactivated and only the output volume is controlled; and

lowering the unselected sound input channels to the setup volume level stored in the memory.