Apparatus and method for tuning volume of downloaded sound

• US 20060116779A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jae-Min, Seo, Chong-Hwa
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level

Abstract

An apparatus and method for tuning the volume of a sound downloaded from an outside source in a device for outputting such a sound through a speaker are provided. The apparatus includes a memory, a speaker, a microphone, a codec, a volume tuning determining unit, and a volume tuner. The memory stores a sound signal downloaded from the outside source. The speaker outputs the sound signal stored in the memory. The microphone receives the sound signal output from the speaker. The codec outputs modulation data of the sound signal input from the microphone. The volume tuning determining unit calculates volume figure data with respect to the sound signal, stress figure data of the speaker, and volume adjustment gain data using the modulation data. The volume tuner tunes the volume of the sound signal using the calculated volume adjustment gain data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tuning a volume of a sound downloaded from an outside source, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing a sound signal downloaded from the outside source;

a speaker for outputting the sound signal stored in the memory;

a microphone for receiving the sound signal output from the speaker;

a codec for outputting modulation data of the sound signal input from the microphone;

a volume tuning determining unit for calculating volume figure data with respect to the sound signal, stress figure data of the speaker, and volume adjustment gain data using the modulation data; and

a volume tuner for tuning the volume of the sound signal using the calculated volume adjustment gain data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume tuning determining unit stores the volume-tuned sound signal in the memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume tuning determining unit compares the calculated volume figure data and the calculated stress figure data with corresponding minimum values and corresponding maximum values, respectively, to calculate the volume adjustment gain data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume tuning determining unit calculates the volume adjustment gain data within a predetermined range of a stress ratio of the speaker.

5. A method for tuning the volume of a sound downloaded from an outside source in a device having a speaker that outputs the sound and a microphone, the method comprising:

receiving a sound signal output from the speaker through the microphone;

calculating volume figure data with respect to the sound signal received through the microphone and stress figure data of the speaker;

comparing the calculated volume figure data and the calculated stress figure data with corresponding reference values to calculate volume adjustment gain data for the sound signal; and

tuning the volume of the sound signal using the calculated volume adjustment gain data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reference values include maximum values and minimum values.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of calculating the volume adjustment gain comprises:

calculating a volume gain to be tuned up when the calculated volume figure data is less than the minimum value for the volume and the calculated stress figure data is less than the minimum value for a stress ratio of the speaker; and

calculating a volume gain to be tuned down when the calculated volume figure data is greater than the maximum value for the volume and the calculated stress figure data is greater than the maximum value for the stress ratio of the speaker.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of calculating the volume adjustment gain data comprises:

calculating a volume gain to be tuned up using the calculated stress figure data and the minimum value for the stress ratio of the speaker; and

calculating a volume gain to be tuned down using the calculated stress figure data and the maximum value for the stress ratio of the speaker.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of calculating the volume figure data with respect to the sound signal and the stress figure data of the speaker comprises creating modulation data from the sound signal received through the microphone.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the volume adjustment gain data is calculated within a predetermined range in which a stress ratio of the speaker does not fall beyond the reference values.

11. A method for tuning the volume of a device having a speaker that outputs a sound signal downloaded from an outside source and a microphone, the method comprising:

receiving a sound signal output from the speaker through the microphone;

calculating volume figure data with respect to the sound signal received through the microphone and stress figure data of the speaker;

comparing the calculated stress figure data with reference values to calculate volume adjustment gain data for the sound signal; and

tuning the volume of the sound signal using the calculated volume adjustment gain data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of calculating the volume adjustment gain data comprises comparing the calculated volume figure data with reference values.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the reference values include a maximum value and a minimum value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of calculating the volume adjustment gain data comprises the:

calculating a volume gain to be tuned up when the calculated stress figure data is less than the minimum value for a stress ratio of the speaker; and

calculating a volume gain to be tuned down when the calculated stress figure data is greater than the maximum value for the stress ratio of the speaker.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of calculating the volume adjustment gain data comprises:

calculating a volume gain to be tuned up using the calculated stress figure data and the minimum value for the stress ratio of the speaker; and

calculating a volume gain to be tuned down using the calculated stress figure data and the maximum value for the stress ratio of the speaker.