Abstract:
A digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller includes an audio receiver, a signal processor, a driver and a load. The audio receiver receives and outputs an external analog signal and the external analog signal are subject to amplification, frequency-division and digitalization by the signal processor for generating an external digital signal. The driver electrically outputs a driving signal based on the external digital signal. Therefore, multiple loads can be driven in programmable and flexible way.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention, relates to a digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller, more particularly relates to a digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller capable of controlling multiple loads in programmable or dynamical manner by sensing the external audio signal.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     The electrical equipment controlled by electronic signals generally relies on automatic control, manual control or audio control. More particularly, the audio control approach converts a vibration of an audio source to an audio signal and the audio signal is used for object control. The audio control approach generally uses external audio source or internal audio source for generating audio signal. The audio control approach often uses for lighting control, toy movement such as turning around for a predetermined time.  
         [0005]     The conventional audio control approach is generally limited to turning on/off the controlled object and relates to dull movement. It cannot provide dynamic movement in response to frequency variation or intensity variation of music signal. It is desirable to provide an audio control approach to dynamically control lamp or motor in response to music tone or music frequency to provide lightening, extinguish, or twinkle effect, or motor rotation effect.  
         [0006]      FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of a conventional multi functional lamp control apparatus, which comprises a current adjuster  4 , a load  5 , an operation processor  11 , an optical coupler  12 , an audio receiver  21 , a first sensitivity adjuster  23 , a music memory  31  and a second sensitivity adjuster  33 .  
         [0007]     The audio receiver  21  receives an external analog signal, and the external analog signal is processed by the first sensitivity adjuster  23  and then output to the optical coupler  12  and the load  5 . The first sensitivity adjuster  23  adjusts the sensitivity for each load  5 .  
         [0008]     The music memory  31  can be realized by a music IC, which broadcasts pre-stored music through a loudspeaker  32  and produces audio signal for driving the load  5 . The pre-stored music output by the music memory  31  is further adjusted by a second sensitivity adjuster  33  and then output to the optical coupler  12  and the load  5 . The second sensitivity adjuster  33  adjusts the sensitivity for each of the loads  5  simultaneously.  
         [0009]     The current adjuster  4  is electrically connected to the operation processor  11 , thus enhancing the sensitivity for external analog signal. The operation processor  11  switches control signals.  
         [0010]     As mentioned above, the load  5  is driven by analog signal, multiple loads can not be controlled in programmable or dynamical manner by sensing the external audio signal. Moreover, it cannot perform frequency division processing to the external audio signal, the load cannot have flexible actions regarding to different frequencies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention is to provide a digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller performing amplification and frequency-division to a received analog signal and outputting a digital signal instead of an analog signal. Therefore, the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller controls multiple loads in programmable or dynamical manner by sensing the external audio signal  
         [0012]     Accordingly, the present invention provides a digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller includes an audio receiver, a signal processor, a driver and a load. The audio receiver receives and outputs an external analog signal and the external analog signal are subject to amplification, frequency-division and digitalization by the signal processor for generating an external digital signal. The driver electrically outputs a driving signal based on the external digital signal. Therefore, multiple loads can be driven in programmable and flexible way. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
       [0013]     The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a flow chart of the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a circuit diagram of the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  shows another circuit diagram of the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a circuit diagram of the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of a conventional multi functional lamp control apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]      FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a light emitting element or a motor is used as load. The digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention digitally drives multiple loads according to various frequencies and intensities of audio signal. Alternatively, the loads are driven by outputs of processor. The digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides audio-controlling function.  
         [0021]     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the audio receiver  100  receives and outputs an external analog signal. The signal processor  102  is electrically connected to the audio receiver  100  and adapted for amplifying and frequency-dividing the analog signal. The signal processor  102  further digitizes the analog signal for generating a digital signal.  
         [0022]     The signal processor  102  comprises a first amplifier  800 , a sensitivity adjuster  700 , a band-pass filter  200 , a second amplifier  300 , a voltage comparator  400 , a first level shifter  1000 , a second level shifter  1100  and a microprocessor  500 .  
         [0023]     The first amplifier  800  is electrically connected to the audio receiver  100  and the sensitivity adjuster  700  and amplifies the signal received from the audio receiver  100  before outputting the signal. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sensitivity adjuster  700  can be implemented by a potentiometer and is electrically connected to the first amplifier  800 . The sensitivity adjuster  700  performs sensitivity adjustment for the signal received by the first amplifier  800 .  
         [0024]     The band-pass filter  200  is electrically connected to the first amplifier  800  and performs filtering and frequency-division to analog signals, which have been amplified and sensitivity-adjusted.  
         [0025]     The second amplifier  300  is electrically connected to the band-pass filter  200  and performed second-amplification to the signals, which are already filtered and frequency-divided. The voltage comparator  400  is electrically connected to the band-pass filter  200  and compares the amplified signal with a reference voltage for outputting a digital signal. The first level shifter  1000  is electrically connected to the second amplifier  300  and adjusts the signal level for the amplified signal from the second amplifier  300 . The second level shifter  1100  is electrically connected to the voltage comparator  400  for adjusting the reference voltage for the voltage comparator  400 . The microprocessor  500  is electrically connected to the voltage comparator  400  and a driver  600 , and further processes the digital signals sent from the voltage comparator  400 .  
         [0026]     In above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the microprocessor  500  can be implemented by MCU (micro controller unit) for advanced digital processing of digital signals, In other preferred embodiments, the microprocessor  500  can be implemented by micro-chip for performing similar functions with the microprocessor  500 .  
         [0027]     The driver  600  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  500  and sends a driving signal according to received digital signal. A load  900  is electrically connected to the driver  600  and controlled by the driving signal.  
         [0028]     In the present invention, the microprocessor  500  can be switched to multiple modes.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a flowchart for operating the digital multi-tone audio-sensing controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the first mode is the action of device according to external signal; while the second mode is the action of device according to internal signal.  
         [0030]     In this preferred embodiment, the microprocessor  500  will keep judging whether the first mode is selected (step  5202 ), and the microprocessor  500  receives the digitalized external signal when the working mode of device is judged to be the first mode (step  5204 ).  
         [0031]     The received digital external signals are treated by advanced digital processing and then sent to the driver  600  (step  5208 ). Afterward, step  5210  judges whether the working mode is changed. The procedure is back to step  5202  when the working mode is changed. Otherwise, the procedure is back to step  5206  when the working mode is not changed.  
         [0032]     More particularly, the working mode for device can be manually switched by using the external interrupt pin of the microprocessor  500 .  
         [0033]     In step  5202 , when the working mode is judged not to be the first working mode, the microprocessor  500  outputs a built-in digital signal (step  5212 ), and then judges whether this mode is the first working mode. When the mode is judged to be the first working mode, the built-in digital signal is not output and the procedure is back to step  5204 . Otherwise, the built-in digital signal is output when the mode is judged not to be the first working mode (step  5216 ).  
         [0034]     Moreover, the audio receiver  100  can be any sound-collecting element such as microphone.  
         [0035]     Moreover, the load  900  can be anyone of, but not limited to, light emitting element or motor.  
         [0036]     Moreover, the sensitivity adjuster  700  can be constant resistor as shown in  FIG. 5  besides potentiometer.  
         [0037]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.