Device for Adapting the Volume in an Audio System

Abstract

A device for adapting the volume of an audio signal in an audio system includes a control unit that determines the loudness of a first audio signal of a first entertainment source or the volume setting of a controller of the audio system, and adapts the volume setting of the controller of the audio system on the basis of the loudness of the first audio signal or the volume setting of the controller, or emits a signal in order to indicate to a user a change between the loudness of the first audio signal of the first entertainment source or the volume setting of the controller of the audio system and a respective specified threshold.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A device for adapting a volume of an audio signal in an audio system, the device comprising: a control unit configured to: determine at least one of a loudness of a first audio signal of a first entertainment source or a volume setting of a controller of the audio system configured to adjust a volume of the first audio signal; and at least one of: adapt, based on the at least one of the loudness of the first audio signal of the first entertainment source or the volume setting of the controller of the audio system, the volume setting of the controller of the audio system, or output a signal to alert a user to a difference between the at least one of the loudness of the first audio signal or the volume setting of the controller and a predefined threshold value.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to: detect a change from the first entertainment source to a second entertainment source; and responsively determine the at least one of the loudness of the first audio signal or the volume setting of the controller of the audio system.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to: adjust the volume setting of the controller of the audio system in response to the loudness of the first entertainment source falling below a predefined loudness threshold and the volume setting of the controller of the audio system exceeding a specified volume setting threshold.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to: at least one of determine a mean value of a loudness of a second entertainment source or measure the loudness of the second entertainment source; and adapt the volume setting of the controller of the audio system based on the volume setting of the controller, the loudness of the first entertainment source, and at least one of the mean loudness value of the second entertainment source or the measured loudness value of the second entertainment source.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to repeat an adaptation of the volume setting of the controller of the audio system after a predefined period of time.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to adapt the volume setting in at least one of a ramp-like or incremental manner.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to: determine whether the loudness of the first entertainment source falls below a predefined loudness threshold; and output a signal to inform the user that the loudness is very low and the volume control of the first entertainment source must be operated.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to: determine whether the loudness of the first entertainment source falls below a predefined loudness threshold and determine whether the volume setting of the controller of the audio system exceeds a specified loudness threshold; and output a signal to inform the user that the volume setting of the audio system is high and the volume control of the audio system must be operated.

19. A motor vehicle comprising the device according to claim 11.

20. A method for adapting a volume of an audio signal in an audio system, the method comprising: determining, by a control unit, at least one of a loudness of a first audio signal of a first entertainment source or a volume setting of a controller of the audio system configured to adjust a volume of the first audio signal; and at least one of: adapting, by the control unit, based on the at least one of the loudness of the first audio signal of the first entertainment source or the volume setting of the controller of the audio system, the volume setting of the controller of the audio system, or outputting, by the control unit, a signal to alert a user to a difference between the at least one of the loudness of the first audio signal of the first entertainment source or the volume setting of the controller of the audio system and a predefined threshold value.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: detecting, by the control unit, a change from the first entertainment source to a second entertainment source; and responsively determining, by the control unit, the at least one of the loudness of the first audio signal or the volume setting of the controller of the audio system.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: adjusting, by the control unit, the volume setting of the controller of the audio system in response to the loudness of the first entertainment source falling below a predefined loudness threshold and the volume setting of the controller of the audio system exceeding a specified volume setting threshold.

23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: at least one of determining, by the control unit, a mean value of a loudness of a second entertainment source or measuring, by the control unit, the loudness of the second entertainment source; and adapting, by the control unit, the volume setting of the controller of the audio system based on the volume setting of the controller, the loudness of the first entertainment source, and at least one of the mean loudness value of the second entertainment source or the measured loudness value of the second entertainment source.

24. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: repeating, by the control unit, an adaptation of the volume setting of the controller of the audio system after a predefined period of time.

25. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: adapting, by the control unit, the volume setting in at least one of a ramp-like or incremental manner.

26. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: determining, by the control unit, whether the loudness of the first entertainment source falls below a predefined loudness threshold; and outputting, by the control unit, a signal to inform the user that the loudness is very low and the volume control of the first entertainment source must be operated.

27. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: determining, by the control unit, whether the loudness of the first entertainment source falls below a predefined loudness threshold and determine whether the volume setting of the controller of the audio system exceeds a specified loudness threshold; and outputting, by the control unit, a signal to inform the user that the volume setting of the audio system is high and the volume control of the audio system must be operated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an audio system having a plurality of entertainment sources.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] In the following, identical or functionally equivalent elements are labelled with the same reference signs.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an audio system 1, for example in a motor vehicle, which can be connected to external entertainment sources 2, 4. The external entertainment sources 2, 4 can be connected to the audio system 1, for example via Bluetooth or an AUX input. In addition, the audio system 1 comprises internal entertainment sources 6, 8. The internal entertainment sources 6, 8 can include such items as a radio, a CD player integrated into the audio system 1 or a hard disk integrated into the audio system, or a memory card which is connected, for example, via a USB port (e.g. a USB stick).

[0051] Each of the entertainment sources 2, 4, 6, 8 is used to output entertainment, such as music or audiobooks, in the form of audio signals in the audio system 1. The audio signals are output via a speaker system of the audio system 1.

[0052] The volume of the output audio signals can be adjusted by means of a controller 10 in the audio system 1. This controller 10 can be operated by a user. The external entertainment sources 2, 4 also have dedicated volume controls which can be used to adjust the volume of the audio signal output via Bluetooth or the AUX input on the external entertainment source 2, 4. For example, the external entertainment sources 2, 4 could be a smartphone or an MP3 player.

[0053] Switching between the entertainment sources 2, 4, 6, 8 or reconnecting to an entertainment source 2, 4, 6, 8 that was previously connected but disconnected again, can cause abrupt volume changes.

[0054] For example, if a volume is set in the audio system 1 and then an entertainment source 2, 4, 6, 8 that has a different volume setting is reconnected, this can cause an unexpected abrupt volume change upward or downward. Such an abrupt volume change, in particular if it increases the volume, can surprise a user, such as a driver of a motor vehicle in which the audio system is implemented, causing them to react with unexpected movements that give rise to a safety-critical situation.

[0055] To prevent this, a control unit 12 is provided in the audio system 1. The control unit 12 measures a loudness of a first entertainment source 2, 4, 6, 8 that was previously used. In addition, the control unit 12 can determine a volume setting of the controller 10 of the audio system 1.

[0056] Based on a difference between the loudness of the first entertainment source and an associated threshold value, and between the volume setting of the controller 10 of the audio system 1 and an associated threshold, the control unit 12 can then adjust the volume setting of the controller 10.

[0057] Alternatively or in addition, the control unit 12 can output a signal on a screen 14 of the audio system 1 to alert a user to the difference. Thus, on the one hand, the user can be informed that an abrupt volume change is to be expected. In addition, the display on the screen 14 can alert the user that, for example, the volume setting on the external entertainment source 2, 4 that is currently connected is set very low. The display can also contain an indication that instead of operating the controller 10, the setting on the external entertainment source 2, 4 should be changed.

[0058] Alternatively or in addition, the volume setting of the controller 10 of the audio signal output in the audio system 1 can be automatically adapted. In this case, it is possible to prevent an abrupt volume change before it occurs.

[0059] It is particularly when switching between the entertainment sources 2, 4, 6, 8 that an abrupt volume change can occur. This is the case, for example, if an external entertainment source 2, 4 that was connected to the audio system 1 has the volume on the external entertainment source 2, 4 set very low, and the controller 10 of the audio system 1 was therefore set to loud. If a user then switches to another external entertainment source 2, 4 that does not have its own volume set to low, or to an internal entertainment source 6, 8, the current setting of the controller 10 will cause the volume in the audio system 1 to be very loud.

[0060] To prevent this and to automatically adapt the volume, the control unit 12 is configured to detect a change between the entertainment sources 2, 4, 6, 8 and to adapt the volume setting as described above when a change is detected. Based on the loudness of the first, previous entertainment source 2, 4, 6, 8 and the most recently set volume of the controller 10 of the audio system 1, the control unit 12 can then automatically adjust the volume setting of the controller 10 in the audio system 1.

[0061] The volume setting of the controller 10 of the audio system 1 can be adapted if the volume of the output audio signal would exceed or fall below a threshold. Alternatively, the volume can be automatically adapted each time an entertainment source 2, 4, 6, 8 is reconnected. This adaptation can neutralize the effect of the volume control in the external entertainment source 2, 4.

[0062] The audio system described here, which comprises a device with a control unit for adapting the volume of an audio signal in the audio system, makes it a simple matter to prevent unexpected abrupt volume changes for a user, such as a driver, when outputting audio signals. It is particularly when switching between different entertainment sources that such abrupt volume changes can occur, which are intercepted by the described device.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0063] 1 audio system

[0064] 2, 4 external entertainment source

[0065] 6, 8 internal entertainment source

[0066] 10 volume controller

[0067] 12 control unit

[0068] 14 display screen