KR20040087556A - Audio output control apparatus and method for home theater system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An audio output control device of a home theater system and a method thereof are provided to cut off an output to a TV speaker, depending on whether an audio source is monophonic or is a 5.1 channel, and to automatically cut off an output to a 5.1 channel speaker. CONSTITUTION: An audio output unit(100) detects and outputs an audio source. An audio kind detector(101) detects a kind of the audio source. A controller(102) controls an output direction of an audio according to the detected kind of the audio source. An audio output direction switching unit(103) on/off-switches an audio output outputted to a TV speaker or a 5.1 channel speaker under control of the controller(102). An option value storage(104) stores an option value set by a user, so that the controller(102) can refer to the option value. A menu output unit(105) outputs a menu such that the user can set an option.

Description

AUDIO OUTPUT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOME THEATER SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to an audio output control apparatus and method of a home theater system. In particular, when a broadcast source or V-Cal reproduction audio received through a combi home theater system is mono, the 5.1-channel digital signal is set according to the user's setting. The present invention relates to an audio output control apparatus and method for a home theater system that outputs audio only through a TV speaker without output.

Generally, a home theater system refers to a theater system that can be enjoyed at home, which is a large and large theater that is moved into a home. Basic 5.1-channel, DTS (Digital Theater Sound), Dolby Digital, etc. amplifiers and 5.1-channel speaker system (front, rear, center, active subwoofer speakers) are standard and include a DVD player at home. In other words, it means a home theater system that shows a clear image through a TV medium, and demonstrates the grandeur and acoustic sound that are felt in a theater through an amplifier and a speaker.

In recent years, the 5.1-channel sound system, which is mainly used for movie sound, has expanded its value to various multimedia fields, and its added value has also increased. In the case of HDTV, 5.1 digital sound has already been adopted as a sound standard. Since most titles support Dolby Digital 5.1, all you need is a device that supports Dolby Digital sound and a 5.1-channel speaker set, so you can create realistic, home-like sound in your home.

Accordingly, in order to further popularize the home theater system, the related industry has released a low-end system (combi home theater system) in which a 5.1 channel amplifier (receiver) is combined with a combination set of V-Cal (VCR) and DVD player. As shown in FIG. 1, the combi home theater system is structurally connected to the television 20 and the receiver 30 simultaneously connected to the combi home theater system 10, and thus has a relationship with the intention of the user. There is a problem that the TV audio output (Analog) and the 5.1-channel receiver audio output (Digital) at the same time without hearing.

In addition, even though the mono audio source is output through the 5.1 channel receiver, since only the center speaker 1 channel is output audio, there is a problem that the effect of the 5.1 channel digital sound system can not be obtained at all.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. When the broadcast source or VRC playback audio received through the combi home theater system is mono, the 5.1-channel channel is set according to the user's setting. It is an object of the present invention to provide an audio output control apparatus and method of a home theater system that can output audio only through a TV speaker without digital output.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an audio output unit which detects and outputs an audio source from a VRL reproduced audio signal and a demodulated broadcast signal; An audio type detector for detecting a type (mono / Hi-Fi / 5.1CH) of an audio source output through the audio output unit; A controller for controlling an output direction of audio according to a type of an audio source detected by the audio type detector; An audio output direction switching unit for switching on / off the audio output to the TV speaker or the 5.1 channel speaker under the control of the controller; An option value storage unit for storing an option value such as an audio output direction set by a user for reference by the controller; And a menu output unit for outputting a corresponding menu to a screen so that a user can set an option such as an audio output direction under the control of the controller.

1 is an exemplary view showing the configuration of a combination home theater system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audio output control apparatus of a home theater system according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling audio output of a home theater system according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: audio output unit 101: audio type detection unit

102: control unit 103: audio output direction switching unit

104: option value storage unit 105: menu output unit

The present invention is to automatically switch the output direction to the TV speaker or 5.1 channel speaker according to the type of audio output through the combi home theater system by the user's setting, for example, to receive the received broadcast source or VR If the audio is mono, it is output through the TV speaker only, and in the case of stereo or 5.1 channel audio, the output is only to the 5.1 channel speaker through the receiver.

That is, the present invention examines the broadcast source and the V-play audio received through the tuner, and according to whether the audio source is mono or 5.1 channel, the output to the TV speaker in a preset manner by the user (Analog) It is either to cut off or to automatically cut off the output to 5.1 channel speaker.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audio output control apparatus of a home theater system according to the present invention. The audio output unit 100 detects and outputs an audio source from a V-CAL reproduced audio and a demodulated broadcast signal. An audio type detection unit 101 for detecting a type of audio source (mono / Hi-Fi / 5.1CH) output through the output unit and an audio output direction according to the type of the audio source detected by the audio type detection unit 101 The control unit 102 for controlling the control, the audio output direction switching unit 103 for switching on / off the audio output to the TV speaker or 5.1-channel speaker under the control of the control unit 102, and the user to set An option value storage unit 104 which stores option values such as an audio output direction for reference by the control unit 102, and a user controls audio by the control of the control unit 102. It comprises a menu output unit 105 for outputting the menu to the screen so that options such as the output direction can be set.

Referring to the operation process of the device configured as described above, first, when the user inputs a menu call key for audio output by using a remote controller (not shown) or the like, the controller 102 sets the audio output direction through the menu output unit 105. Outputs the menu for the TV screen. At this time, the menu for setting the audio output direction can be configured in various forms according to the operator, but it is preferable to configure so that one side (or both sides) of the TV speakers or 5.1-channel speakers can be selected according to the type of audio source. Do.

Next, when the menu for setting the audio output direction is output as described above, the user sets the type and output direction of the audio source and the setting value is stored in the option value storage unit 104.

Accordingly, when the control unit 102 is to watch a broadcast or play a V-Cal, the option value according to the type (mono / Hi-Fi / 5.1CH) of the audio source detected through the audio type detection unit 101. The control signal for controlling the audio output direction is output to the audio output direction switching unit 103 with reference to the option value set in the storage unit 104.

Accordingly, the audio output direction switching unit 103 selectively outputs the broadcast source or the VCR playback audio to the TV speaker or the 5.1-channel speaker according to the control signal, or switches to output to both sides. Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, only the output direction of the audio signal is controlled. However, when the audio is to be output only to the TV speaker, it is obvious that power consumption may be reduced by cutting off the power applied to the receiver.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an audio output of a home theater system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 102 detects whether a menu call for setting an option related to audio output is detected from a user ( S101) A corresponding menu for setting the audio output direction is output to the TV screen (S102).

Next, the user receives a setting value such as an output direction according to the type of the audio source set by the user through the menu screen (S103) and stores it in the internal storage means (S104), and when watching a broadcast or playing a VR (S105) The type of the source is detected (S106), and the control signal for controlling the audio output direction is output to the audio output direction switching unit 103 by referring to the stored setting value (S107), so that the broadcast source or the VCR playback audio is output to the TV. Optionally output to the speaker or 5.1-channel speaker (S108).

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, only the output direction of the audio signal is automatically controlled by menu setting, but the remote controller is provided with a hot key for controlling the audio output direction, and receives the signal directly to control the switching unit. You could do it.

As described above, the apparatus and method for controlling the audio output of the home theater system according to the present invention is based on the user's setting, when the broadcast source or the V-playback audio received through the combi home theater system is mono. It has the effect of outputting audio only through TV speakers without digital output.

Claims (5)

An audio output unit which detects and outputs an audio source from a VCD reproduced audio and a demodulated broadcast signal; An audio type detector for detecting a type (mono / Hi-Fi / 5.1CH) of an audio source output through the audio output unit; A controller for controlling an output direction of audio according to a type of an audio source detected by the audio type detector; An audio output direction switching unit for switching on / off the audio output to the TV speaker or the 5.1 channel speaker under the control of the controller; An option value storage unit for storing an option value such as an audio output direction set by a user for reference by the controller; And a menu output unit for outputting a corresponding menu to a screen so that a user can set an option such as an audio output direction under the control of the control unit. The audio output control apparatus of a home theater system according to claim 1, wherein the audio output direction switching unit is configured to selectively switch one or both sides of a TV speaker or a 5.1-channel speaker according to a type of an audio source. The audio of a home theater system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to further cut off the power applied to the receiver as well as the switching of the audio signal when the output direction of the audio signal is output to the TV speaker only. Output control unit. Detecting whether there is a menu call for setting an option related to audio output from a user, and outputting a menu for setting an audio output direction or the like; Receiving a setting value such as an output direction according to the type of an audio source of the user through the menu and storing the setting value in an internal storage means; And controlling the audio output direction by detecting a type of an audio source when watching a broadcast or playing a VR, with reference to the stored setting value. The method of claim 4, wherein the audio output direction is configured to output one side or both sides of a 5.1-channel speaker through a TV speaker or a receiver.