WO2007018349A1 - Sound control unit for audio - Google Patents

Abstract

An audio unit is disclosed, which comprises a vibration detection sensor which is installed in an audio unit; a control device which controls the power of the audio unit when a signal is not inputted from the vibration detection sensor until a certain time period; and a timer which sets a time at the control device which controls the power of the audio unit in accordance with the signal inputted from the vibration detection sensor.

Description

Title: SOUND CONTROL UNIT FOR AUDIO

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sound control unit for an audio

system, and in particular to a sound control unit for an audio system in which a

portable sound unit such as a cassette tape player, a CD player and a MP3 is

operated only when it is in a moving state.

Background Art

An audio unit such as a cassette tape player, a CD player and a MP3 is

a device for converting a data stored in a recording medium into sound and

reproducing the same and has a function for listening to music or for a repetition

function of a language practice.

The above conventional audio unit has many advantages that a user

can repeatedly reproduce at any time anywhere. In particular, it has been widely

used when a user studies or takes rest. The above audio unit is generally used

only when the user sits, so that the user lacks exercise.

The above phenomenon generally occurs to students who are in a

young age. Since the students always keep a sit state while studying on a desk

or taking a rest on the computer, the students may have various diseases. Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the

above-described conventional problems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sound control

unit for an audio system in which sound is not outputted when a user does not

move, namely, a user should be needed to move for performing an audio

system, so that it is possible to enhance an exercise effect of a user.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide a sound

control unit for an audio system a time of a timer installed in an audio unit can

be adjusted.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a

sound control unit for an audio system in which an audio unit can be attached to

any portion of a human body.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an audio unit,

comprising a vibration detection sensor which is installed in an audio unit; a

control device which controls the power of the audio unit when a signal is not

inputted from the vibration detection sensor until a certain time period; and a

timer which sets a time at the control device which controls the power of the

audio unit in accordance with the signal inputted from the vibration detection

sensor.

There is further a device for attaching the audio unit to a human body,

with the device comprising a pocket for storing the audio unit, and an attaching device attached to the pocket for attaching to an arm or leg which moves a lot.

The attaching device is formed of a Velcro fastener for an easier

attachment.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an audio unit,

comprising a sensor unit which is attached to part of a human body, with the

audio unit being designed to operate in accordance with a signal outputted from

the sensor unit; and said sensor unit comprising a vibration sensor; a

transmitter; and an antenna, wherein said audio unit includes a receiver

connected at an input terminal of the same, and a switch operates in

accordance with a signal from the receiver.

The transmitter comprises a signal input unit for receiving a signal from

the vibration detection sensor; a modulator which frequency-modulates the

inputted signal into a signal proper for transmission; an amplifier which amplifies

the frequency modulated signal; a filter which filters the signal amplified by the

amplifier; and a transmitter which transmits the filtered signal.

The receiver comprises a receiver unit which receives a signal from the

transmitter of the transmission device; an amplifier which amplifies the received

signal; a demodulator which demodulates the output signal of the amplifier into

an original signal; and an output unit which outputs the demodulated signal to

the switch of the audio unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a sound control unit for an

audio system according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a view illustrating a sound control unit for an audio system

according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The embodiments of the wheel chair according to the present invention

will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figure 1 , there are provided a vibration detection sensor

12 provided in an audio unit 10, a control device 15 for controlling the power of

the audio unit when a signal is not inputted from the vibration detection sensor

12 until a certain time period, and a timer 17 which sets a certain time at the

control device which controls the power of the audio unit in accordance with a

signal inputted from the vibration detection sensor 12.

The audio unit further includes a device, which is attached to a human

body. The device comprises a pocket for storing the audio unit, and an attaching

device for attaching to an arm or leg which moves a lot. Here, the attaching

device is preferably formed of a Velcro fastener. The present invention is designed so that the audio unit is used only

when a user who uses the audio unit 10 keeps moving. In a state that the timer

17 has a certain set time, when the audio unit 10 is used, the motion of the user

is detected. When the motion is detected, the audio unit starts working. In a

state that the motion of the user is stopped, when the set time passes, the

power is automatically disconnected, so that the user cannot listen to the

reproducing sound of the audio unit. The above operations will be described in

detail.

The user sets a certain time at the timer 17 provided in the device

according to the present invention. Here, the time inputted into the timer 17

represents the time at the time when the motion is stopped. The time is set at

2~3 seconds.

In a state that the time is set by the timer 17, the user inserts the audio

unit 10 into the pocket and fixes using the Velcro fastener while wearing the

same on the arm or the leg.

In the above state, when the user moves a little, the vibration detection

sensor 12 installed in the audio unit attached to the body of the user detects the

movement when the user moves and outputs a signal to the control device 15.

Since the control device 15 detects the movement, it allows the audio

unit 10 to operate continuously. When the signal is not inputted from the vibration detection sensor 12 until 2~3 seconds which is set at the timer, since it

means that the user does not move, namely, stops, so that the control device 12

disconnects the power of the switch 18 of the audio unit 10, whereby the audio

unit does not work.

Thereafter, when the user moves, the vibration detection sensor 12

detects the movement and outputs a signal to the control device 15. Since the

control device inputs a signal, and the movement is detected, the switch 18 of

the audio unit 10 is turned on, and the audio unit starts operating.

Since the audio unit continuously operates only when the audio unit of

the present invention keeps moving, it is needed to always keep moving so as

to use the audio unit, so that the user's exercise effect is maximized.

In the above embodiment of the present invention, it was described that

the sensor is installed in the interior of the audio unit. In another embodiment of

the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, the sensor unit 20 and the audio

unit 10 may be separately provided. So, the sensor unit 20 is attached to the

arm or leg which moves a lot, and then the audio unit 10 is attached to the waist

or is stored in the pocket which moves less. With the above construction, the

signal from the sensor unit 20 is wirelessly transmitted by the transmitter 22,

and the transmitted signal is received by the receiver 30 of the audio unit 20 for

thereby controlling the audio unit 10. The process that the signal for measuring the vibration of the vibration sensor is transmitted from the sensor unit n20 will

be described, and the process that the signal is received by the audio unit will

be described.

As shown in Figure 2, the sensor unit 20 comprises a vibration

detection sensor 21 , a transmitter 22 and an antenna 29. The receiver 30

connected at the input terminal of the audio unit 10 is connected with an

antenna wire 31.

The transmitter 22 comprises a signal input unit 24 for receiving a signal

from the vibration detection sensor 21, a modulator 25 for frequency-modulating

the signal from the input unit into a proper signal for transmission, an amplifier

26 which amplifies the frequency modulated signal, a filter 27 for filtering the

signal amplified by the amplifier 26, and a transmitter 28 for transmitting the

filtered signal.

The receiver 30 comprises a receiver unit 33 for receiving the signal

from the transmitter 28 of the transmission unit 22, an amplifier 35 for amplifying

the received signal, a demodulator 37 for frequency-demodulating the output

signal of the amplifier 35 and the signal filtered by the filter 36 into the original

signal, and an output unit 38 for outputting the demodulated signal to the control

device 42 which controls the switch 42 of the audio unit 10.

With the above construction, since the transmission and receiving operation of the signal is similar with the conventional signal transmission and

receiving operations, it will be described in brief.

First, in a state that the user keeps the audio unit in the pocket, the

sensor unit 22 is attached to the arm or leg which moves a lot. Even when the

user moves bodies a little, since the arm or leg moves a lot, it is possible to

sensitively allow the vibration detection sensor to operate. In a state that the

audio unit is ready to receive the signal, when the user moves, the vibration

sensor 21 operates and inputs a signal corresponding to the above movement

into the input unit 24. The inputted signal is inputted into the frequency

modulator 25, and the signal is modulated into a signal proper for transmission.

The amplifier 26 amplifies the modulated signal, and the amplified signal is

filtered by the filter 27 and is transmitted through the transmitter 28.

The signal outputted from the sensor unit 20 is inputted into the receiver

33 of the audio unit 10 and is amplified by the amplifier 35, so that the signal is

demodulated to the original signal and is applied to the control device 41. When

the signal is inputted, the control device 41 controls the switch 42 of the audio

unit and keeps the audio unit turned on.

When the user does not move, namely, stops, since the vibration sensor

21 does not work, the signal is not inputted into the input unit 24, so that the

transmission of the signal to the transmitter is stopped. In the above state, when the time set at the timer passes, the switch 42

of the audio unit 10 is turned off, and the audio unit does not work.

In a state that the user of the audio unit does not move, since the audio

unit does not work, the user should continuously move so as to keep the audio

unit operating, so that the user's exercise may be increased.

Industrial Applicability

In the present invention, in a state that the user does not move, the

sound is not reproduced, so that the user should always move for thereby

enhancing exercise effects. The time of the timer provided in the audio unit may

be adjusted, so that it is possible to adjust the time of the movement and the

time of exercise.

In addition, the audio unit or the sensor according to the present

invention may be attached to a certain portion of human body using an

attaching device, so that it is very easy to use.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without

departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be

understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the

details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather

should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within

the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds

are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. An audio unit, comprising:

a vibration detection sensor which is installed in an audio unit;

a control device which controls the power of the audio unit when a

signal is not inputted from the vibration detection sensor until a certain time

period; and

a timer which sets a time at the control device which controls the power

of the audio unit in accordance with the signal inputted from the vibration

detection sensor.

2. The audio unit of claim 1 , further comprising a device for attaching the

audio unit to a human body, with the device comprising a pocket for storing the

audio unit, and an attaching device attached to the pocket for attaching to an

arm or leg which moves a lot.

3. The audio unit of claim 2, wherein said attaching device is formed of a

Velcro fastener for an easier attachment.

4. An audio unit, comprising:

a sensor unit which is attached to part of a human body, with the audio

unit being designed to operate in accordance with a signal outputted from the

sensor unit; and said sensor unit comprising:

a vibration sensor;

a transmitter; and

an antenna, wherein said audio unit includes a receiver connected at an

input terminal of the same, and a switch operates in accordance with a signal

from the receiver.

5. The audio unit of claim 4, wherein said transmitter comprises:

a signal input unit for receiving a signal from the vibration detection

sensor;

a modulator which frequency-modulates the inputted signal into a signal

proper for transmission;

an amplifier which amplifies the frequency modulated signal;

a filter which filters the signal amplified by the amplifier; and

a transmitter which transmits the'filtered signal.

6. The audio unit of claim 4, wherein said receiver comprises:

a receiver unit which receives a signal from the transmitter of the

transmission device;

an amplifier which amplifies the received signal;

a demodulator which demodulates the output signal of the amplifier into

an original signal; and an output unit which outputs the demodulated signal to the switch of the

audio unit.