Audio output device, its alarm output control method, and its control program

• US 8,036,699 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Araki, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/885,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20080137883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/79, 455/566, 455/567, 455/569.1, 455/575.3, 455/161.2, 455/183.2, 455/219, 455/220, 455/221, 455/556.1, 381/104, 381/107, 381/18, 381/28, 381/56, 381/60, 381/300, 381/343, 381/345, 381/312, 381/120, 381/374, 381/182, 345/173, 345/156, 345/158, 340/7.62, 340/540, 364/578, 250/342, 250/338
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

It is possible to surely protect the user'"'"'s ear from a sudden large volume and enable the user to surely and clearly hear a sound as information to be alarmed. In case an incoming call signal is received when the user holds a mobile telephone (1) at the speaking position and listens to a message output from an audio output unit (8), a control unit (17) makes a vibrator (27) generate a vibration as an alarm to call user'"'"'s attention. At the timing when the user has sufficiently separated the mobile telephone (1) from his/her ear, the control unit (17) makes the audio output unit (8) output a ringtone of large volume. Thus, it is possible to surely protect the user'"'"'s ear from a sudden large volume. Even when a music composition to notify the receipt of incoming call signal is used as a ringtone, the user can surely and clearly hear the sound as information to be alarmed.

Claims

1. An audio output device provided with an electro-acoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal to a sound wave and radiates thus generated sound wave, comprising:

a sound controller configured to control the electro-acoustic transducer under any one sound mode of a small volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is smaller than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear in close proximity to the electro-acoustic transducer, or a large volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is larger than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear away from the electro-acoustic transducer; and

an alarm output unit configured to, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, output an alarm to call user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the user'"'"'s ear.

2. The audio output device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a proximity detector configured to detect the contact or close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance of the ear with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; and

a proximity judgment unit configured to, based on the detection result by the proximity detector, judge whether or not the ear is in the proximity state under which the ear is in contact or in close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer;

wherein, in case it is determined that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, the alarm output unit outputs an alarm to call the user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the ear.

3. The audio output device according to claim 2, wherein, in case a sound wave is radiated from the electro-acoustic transducer under the small volume sound mode, the proximity judgment unit determines that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer.

4. The audio output device according to claim 2, wherein the proximity detector includes at least one of

an illuminance measurement unit provided with an optical sensor for measuring the illuminance of the proximity of the electro-acoustic transducer,

a distance measurement unit configured to measure the distance from its setup position to a nearby object to be measured as the distance from the electro-acoustic transducer to the ear, and

a pressure detector configured to detect pressing force.

5. The audio output device according to claim 2, which is of the folding type, and includes an open/close detector configured to detect the opened/closed state,

wherein, in case the opened state is detected by the open/close detector, based on the detection result by the proximity detector, the proximity judgment unit judges whether the ear is in the proximity state or in the non-proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer.

6. The audio output device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a drive controller configured to, after a predetermined time period has passed over since the alarm output unit starts outputting an alarm, drive the alarm output unit and the electro-acoustic transducer so as to make the electro-acoustic transducer radiate a sound wave of large volume.

7. The audio output device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm output unit includes at least one of a vibration generator configured to generate a vibration and a light emission unit configured to emit light.

8. The audio output device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-acoustic transducer comprises a flat panel speaker that radiates a sound wave by vibrating a diaphragm using an actuator.

9. The audio output device according to claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric element, and is in contact with a predetermined position of the diaphragm.

10. The audio output device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display characters or images,

wherein the diaphragm is configured by a transparent member, and also works as a screen member for protecting the surface of the display unit.

11. The audio output device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to perform the telephone call;

wherein the electro-acoustic transducer outputs an earpiece sound as a sound wave of the small volume sound mode.

12. An alarm output control method in an audio output device provided with an electro-acoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal to a sound wave and radiates thus generated sound wave, comprising:

a sound control step of controlling the electro-acoustic transducer under any one sound mode of a small volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is smaller than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear in close proximity to the electro-acoustic transducer, or a large volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is larger than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear away from the electro-acoustic transducer; and

an alarm output step of, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, outputting an alarm to call user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the user'"'"'s ear.

13. The alarm output control method in an audio output device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a proximity detection step of detecting the contact or close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance of the ear with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; and

a proximity judgment step of, based on the detection result in the proximity detection step, judging whether or not the ear is in the proximity state under which the ear is in contact or in close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer;

wherein, in case it is determined that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, the alarm output step outputs an alarm to call the user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the ear.

14. The alarm output control method in an audio output device according to claim 13, wherein, in case a sound wave is radiated from the electro-acoustic transducer under the small volume sound mode, the proximity judgment step determines that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer.

15. The alarm output control method in an audio output device according to claim 13, wherein the proximity detection step uses at least one of

illuminance measurement means provided with an optical sensor for measuring the illuminance of the proximity of the electro-acoustic transducer,

distance measurement means for measuring the distance from its setup position to a nearby object to be measured as the distance from the electro-acoustic transducer to the ear, and

pressure detection means for detecting pressing force.

16. The alarm output control method in an audio output device according to claim 12, wherein the alarm output step controls such that, after a predetermined time period has passed over since outputting an alarm is started, the electro-acoustic transducer radiates a sound wave of large volume.

17. The alarm output control method in an audio output device according to claim 12, wherein the alarm output step performs at least one of generating a vibration to output an alarm and emitting light to output an alarm.

18. An alarm output control program in an audio output device provided with an electro-acoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal to a sound wave and radiates thus generated sound wave, the program making a computer execute functions comprising:

a sound control function of controlling the electro-acoustic transducer under any one sound mode of a small volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is smaller than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear in close proximity to the electro-acoustic transducer, or a large volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is larger than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear away from the electro-acoustic transducer; and

an alarm output function of, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, outputting an alarm to call user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the user'"'"'s ear.

19. The alarm output control program in an audio output device according to claim 18, the program further making a computer execute functions comprising:

a proximity detection function of detecting the contact or close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance of the ear with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer; and

a proximity judgment function of, based on the detection result in the proximity detection function, judging whether or not the ear is in the proximity state under which the ear is in contact or in close proximity within a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer;

wherein, in case it is determined that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, the alarm output function outputs an alarm to call the user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the ear.

20. The alarm output control program in an audio output device according to claim 19, wherein, in case a sound wave is radiated from the electro-acoustic transducer under the small volume sound mode, the proximity judgment function determines that the ear is in the proximity state with respect to the electro-acoustic transducer.

21. The alarm output control program in an audio output device according to claim 18, wherein the alarm output function controls such that, after a predetermined time period has passed over since outputting an alarm is started, the electro-acoustic transducer radiates a sound wave of large volume.

22. An audio output device provided with an electro-acoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal to a sound wave and radiates thus generated sound wave, comprising:

sound control means for controlling the electro-acoustic transducer under any one sound mode of a small volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is smaller than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear in close proximity to the audio output device, or a large volume sound mode that outputs a sound with volume which is larger than a predetermined value so as to hear a sound by setting the user'"'"'s ear away from the audio output device; and

alarm output means for, before radiating a sound wave from the electro-acoustic transducer under the large volume sound mode, outputting an alarm to call user'"'"'s attention so as to protect the user'"'"'s ear.