Volume control
View Patent ↗An apparatus can include a processor; memory accessible by the processor; a microphone; an audio signal output; audio circuitry that renders audio signals to the audio signal output; and volume control circuitry that regulates coarseness of increments of a dynamic range of the audio signals responsive to input via the microphone.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a processor;
memory accessible by the processor;
a microphone;
an audio signal output;
audio circuitry that renders audio signals to the audio signal output;
a touch-sensitive volume control that comprises a touch-sensitive portion to increase volume incrementally and that comprises another touch-sensitive portion to decrease volume incrementally; and
volume control circuitry that regulates coarseness of increments of a dynamic range of the audio signals responsive to input via the microphone wherein the touch-sensitive volume control is incrementally operable for control of volume based at least in part on the increments and wherein the coarseness of the increments decreases responsive to a decrease in sound amplitude input via the microphone.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a speaker operatively coupled to the audio signal output.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the volume control circuitry increases coarseness of the increments responsive to an increase in sound level sensed by the microphone.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the volume control circuitry decreases coarseness of the increments responsive to a decrease in sound level sensed by the microphone.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises an audio file accessible by the audio circuitry for rendering as audio signals to the audio signal output.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the touch-sensitive volume control comprises a mechanical movable volume control.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the touch-sensitive volume control comprises a dual button volume control.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the touch-sensitive volume control comprises a rocker button volume control.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the touch-sensitive volume control comprises a capacitive touch-sensitive volume control.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a touch-sensitive display wherein the volume control comprises a graphical user volume control renderable to the display.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising cellular phone circuitry.
12. A method comprising:
sensing a level of ambient sound; and
responsive to the sensing, adjusting granularity of a dynamic range of a volume control of audio output that is other than the ambient sound wherein the volume control comprises a touch-sensitive volume control that comprises a touch-sensitive portion to increase volume incrementally and that comprises another touch-sensitive portion to decrease volume incrementally and wherein the granularity of the dynamic range of the volume control becomes more granular responsive to a decrease in the level of the ambient sound.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing a higher level of ambient sound and decreasing the granularity.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing a lower level of ambient sound and increasing the granularity.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising rendering audio signals to a speaker interface wherein the volume control controls amplitude of the audio signals.
16. One or more machine-readable storage media comprising processor-executable instructions, the instructions comprising instructions to:
sense a level of ambient sound; and
based at least in part on a sensed level of ambient sound, adjust granularity of a dynamic range of a touch-sensitive volume control that comprises a touch-sensitive portion to increase volume incrementally and that comprises another touch-sensitive portion to decrease volume incrementally and wherein the granularity of the dynamic range of the volume control becomes more granular responsive to a decrease in the level of the ambient sound.
17. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 16 comprising processor-executable instructions to: sense a higher level of ambient sound and decrease the granularity.
18. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 16 comprising processor-executable instructions to: sense a lower level of ambient sound and increase the granularity.
19. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 16 comprising processor-executable instructions to: render audio signals to a speaker interface wherein the volume control controls amplitude of the audio signals.
20. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 16 comprising processor-executable instructions to: receive broadcast audio signals, render the broadcast audio signals to a speaker interface wherein the volume control controls amplitude of the broadcast audio signals.