HANDHELD DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING VOLUME

A handheld device communicates with an electronic device. The handheld device includes a setting unit, an audio sampling unit, and a controlling unit. The setting unit is used for setting a standard volume. The audio sampling unit samples a volume of the electronic device. The controlling unit calculates a difference value between the volume of the electronic device sampled by the audio sampling unit and the standard volume, and generates an adjusting signal for adjusting the volume of the electronic device to the standard volume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device assembly100. The electronic device assembly100includes an electronic device10and a handheld device20for controlling the electronic device10. The electronic device10can be a television, a computer, or the like. The electronic device10plays programs having audio signals. The handheld device20can be a remote control, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like. The handheld device20communicates with the electronic device10wirelessly, such as by Wireless Fidelity (WI-FI), BLUETOOTH, or infrared. In the embodiment, the electronic device10is a television. The handheld device20is a mobile phone communicating with the electronic device10via WI-FI.

The handheld device20includes a first communicating module21, a display unit22, an input unit23, a setting unit24, an audio sampling unit25, a computing unit26, a judging unit27, and a controlling unit28. The electronic device10includes a second communicating module11, a managing unit15, and an outputting unit17. The second communicating module11is configured to communicate with the first communicating module21. When the first communicating module21communicates with the second communicating module11in response to operations of a user, the handheld device20communicates with the electronic device10.

The display unit22displays information of the handheld device20, such as pictures or icons.

The input unit23can be a number of hard keys or soft keys located on the handheld device20. The input unit23allows a user to input a volume value.

The setting unit24sets the volume value inputted on the input unit23by the user as a standard volume and generates switching signals in response to the user's operation. The standard volume can be set according to the current environment and/or requirements of the user. For example, when the user is in a noisy environment, the standard volume can be set to a stronger volume; when the user is in a quiet environment, the standard volume can be set to a weaker volume. The switching signal switches programs. For example, a current first program is switched to a second program. In the embodiment, the first and second programs are TV channels. The managing unit15controls the electronic device10to switch from the current first program to the second program in response to the switching signal.

The audio sampling unit25samples the volume of the second program after the second program replaces the first program in response to the switching signal. The audio sampling unit25samples the volume of the second program at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined time period. For example, the audio sampling unit25samples the output volume of the second program every 2 seconds for 10 seconds.

The computing unit26calculates a reference volume according to the sampled volumes of the second program sampled by the audio sampling unit25. The reference volume is an average value of the volumes of the second program sampled by the audio sampling unit25during the predetermined time period.

The judging unit27judges whether or not the reference volume is in a predetermined volume range. The predetermined volume range is set by the user and is pre-recorded in the judging unit27. The predetermined volume range is the standard volume plus or minus 30 decibels (dB). A standard volume of 50 dB is used as an example. When the reference volume is determined to be in the predetermined volume range, the judging unit27outputs a managing signal to the controlling unit28. When the reference volume is determined to be not in the predetermined volume range, the judging unit27generates a detecting signal. The audio sampling unit25responds to the detecting signal by sampling the volume of the second program again for the predetermined time frequency for the predetermined time period.

When the reference volume is within the predetermined volume range, the controlling unit28calculates a difference value by comparing the reference volume and the standard volume in response to the managing signal. The controlling unit28generates an adjusting signal for adjusting the volume of the second program to the standard volume when the reference volume is not equal to the standard volume. In the embodiment, the difference value is obtained by deducting the standard volume from the reference volume. When the difference value is a negative value, the managing unit15increases the volume of the second program to the standard volume in response to the adjusting signal. When the difference value is a positive value, the managing unit15decreases the volume of the second program to the standard volume in response to the adjusting signal. For example, when the reference volume of the second program is 30 dB, the controlling unit28generates the adjusting signal to increase the volume of the second program by 20 dB, so that the adjusted volume of the second program is 50 dB.

The audio output unit17outputs the audio signals of the second program.

FIG. 2shows an adjustment method applied to the handheld device20for adjusting the volume of the electronic device10. The adjustment method includes the following steps:

In step S1, the handheld device20is activated to communicate with the electronic device10.

In step S3, the setting unit24sets a standard volume inputted by a user. In the embodiment, the standard volume is set according to the need of the user or the environment where the electronic device10is located.

In step S5, the input unit23generates a switching signal in response to the operation of the user. The switching signal is executed to switch programs. The managing unit15controls the electronic device10to switch from the current first program to the second program in response to the switching signal.

In step S7, the audio sampling unit25samples the volume of the second program and calculates a reference volume according to the sampled volume. In the embodiment, the reference volume is an average value of the volume of the second program sampled by the audio sampling unit25during a predetermined time period.

In step S9, the judging unit27judges whether or not the reference volume is in a predetermined volume range. If the reference volume is in the predetermined volume range, step S11is implemented. If the reference volume is out of the predetermined volume range, the process goes to step S7.

In step S11, the controlling unit28calculates a difference value between the reference volume and the standard volume, and generates an adjusting signal. In the embodiment, the difference value is the difference between the reference volume and the standard volume. When the difference value is a negative value, the electronic device10increases the volume of the second program to the standard volume in response to the adjusting signal. When the difference value is a positive value, the electronic device10decreases the volume of the second program to the standard volume in response to the adjusting signal.

In step S13, the computing unit15adjusts the volume of the second program to the standard volume in response to the adjusting signal.

Although information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.