JP2000165972A - Bone conduction voice detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and stably detect bone conduction voice independently of a shape and a size of an ear concha on which a detector is mounted. SOLUTION: The bone conduction voice detector is provided with a housing 1 that is mounted in an ear concha of a person in contact therewith and with a piezoelectric element 6 contained in the housing 1 to detect a bone conduction voice delivered to the ear. In this case, the detector is provided with a mount auxiliary member 15 that is placed between the housing 1 and part of the ear in an elastically deformed state to press the housing 1 against the ear concha with its elastic restoration force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a housing mounted in a concha region of a human ear so as to be in contact therewith, and a bone conduction sound transmitted to the ear stored in the housing. The present invention relates to a bone conduction sound detection device provided with a piezoelectric element for detecting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a bone conduction sound detecting device is capable of transmitting a so-called bone conduction sound transmitted as mechanical vibration from a vocal cord to an ear by bone conduction into a concha region of a concha, in a state of being brought into contact therewith. Is converted into an electric signal by a piezoelectric element housed in the device and detected. With a general microphone such as an electret condenser type, there are many cases where the external noise is detected and the user's voice cannot be accurately detected, but by detecting the bone conduction voice as described above, the influence of the external noise is suppressed. Thus, the voice of the user can be accurately detected. In the form of detecting bone conduction sound in the human ear, it is necessary to accurately contact the housing containing the piezoelectric element into the concha of the concha in order to detect bone conduction sound efficiently. A configuration has been considered in which the housing is formed in a shape similar to the shape of a so-called earphone housing and is brought into contact with the concha of the concha.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since the shape and size of the concha region of the ear differ from person to person, the user changes the posture by tilting the head or the like. Occasionally, the contact state of the housing with the concha cavity becomes unstable, the detection efficiency changes, and the detected voice signal amount fluctuates, thereby lowering the detection quality. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to more efficiently and stably transmit bone conduction sounds regardless of the shape and size of the concha region of the ear to be worn. The point is that it can be detected.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the bone conduction sound detecting device is mounted on the ear, the housing and the ear can be elastically deformed. The housing for accommodating the piezoelectric element is attached to the concha of the concha such that it is located between the ear cavities.
Due to this, the housing is pressed to the side in contact with the concha area due to the elastic return force of the elastically deformed mounting auxiliary member, and even if the shape and size of the concha area to be mounted are different. In addition, an appropriate contact force can be obtained in a stable state. Thus, bone conduction sound can be detected more efficiently and stably regardless of the shape and size of the concha region of the ear.

[0005] Further, by providing the structure of the second aspect, the detecting portion housing for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the earphone housing for accommodating the receiving earphone are supported by the main body supporting portion in a bifurcated manner. The detected housing is attached so that the detection unit housing comes into contact with the concha of the concha so that the bone conduction voice of the user can be detected and the voice signal transmitted by the user can be heard. Therefore, it is preferable to use it as a voice input / output device for a communication device such as a telephone device and a wireless device.

[0006] When the piezoelectric element and the earphone for reception are provided in this manner, the vibration of the earphone for reception accompanied by the sound emission may be detected by the piezoelectric element. By supporting the unit housing and the earphone housing accommodating the earphone for reception in a forked shape, it is possible to suppress transmission of vibration from the earphone for reception to the piezoelectric element. Further, as described above, when the detection unit housing and the earphone housing are bifurcated, the degree of freedom of attachment of the mounting auxiliary member is greater in the earphone housing than in the detection unit housing that comes into contact with the concha region. Since the mounting auxiliary member is provided on the outer periphery of the earphone housing, the configuration of the device can be simplified.

Further, by providing the structure of the third aspect, in order to mount the mounting auxiliary member to the housing, the mounting portion of the mounting auxiliary member to the housing is formed in a forked shape, and the outer periphery of the housing is formed by the elastic action. It is mounted in a state where the portion is sandwiched, and the mounting auxiliary member is detachable. Therefore, while the mounting auxiliary member has elasticity for pressing the housing, the mounting auxiliary member is also attached to the housing to simplify the configuration, and some users do not need the mounting auxiliary member. In some cases, the bone conduction sound detecting device can be made more convenient because the attachment assisting member can be appropriately removed.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a bone conduction sound detecting apparatus according to the present invention as a sound input / output apparatus of a communication apparatus such as a portable telephone or a radio. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bone conduction sound detection device BS configured as this voice input / output device is roughly composed of a bone conduction sound pickup unit BP and an earphone unit ER. The main body support part 4 includes a detection part housing 2 that forms the conductive voice pickup part BP, an earphone housing 3 that forms the earphone part ER, and a main body support part 4 that supports the two parts in a bifurcated manner. An input / output cable 5 for inputting / outputting an audio signal from the terminal extends.

As shown in FIG. 1 which is a side view and FIG. 3 (b) which is a sectional view of the detection unit housing 2 as viewed from the front, the bone conduction audio pickup unit BP is substantially rod-shaped. And a signal processing board 7 including an FET, a capacitor, etc., which amplifies a detection signal of the piezoelectric element 6 and performs impedance conversion. It is provided in a state housed in a shield case 8 for improvement. The two piezoelectric elements 6 are supported and fixed in the shield case 8 at one end in the longitudinal direction in a cantilever manner. The piezoelectric elements 6 are supported and fixed so that the piezoelectric elements 6 can efficiently detect bone conduction sound. In addition, the supporting and fixing of the shield case 8 with respect to the detection unit housing 2 is made strong. still,
The detection unit housing 2 protects the shield case 8 when an external force is applied.

The detection unit housing 2 of the bone conduction audio pickup unit BP has a narrow portion 2a on the main body support portion 4 side and a wide portion 2b on the distal end side as shown in FIG. That is, the above-described piezoelectric element 6 is arranged in the wide portion 2b, and the signal processing substrate 7 is mainly arranged in the narrow portion 2a. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 showing the wearing state of the bone conduction sound detecting device BS, the wide portion 2b is worn in the concha region 52 of the human ear 50 so as to be in contact therewith. More specifically, it is attached so as to contact the bottom 52A of the concha cavity 52. The bottom 52A of the concha cavity 52 is closest to the vocal cords in the concha cavity 52, and is a position suitable for accurately capturing vibrations generated in the vocal cords. The surface of the wide portion 2b of the detection unit housing 2 that is in contact with the bottom 52A of the concha cavity 52 is a convex surface facing the bottom 52A of the concha cavity 52 when viewed in a direction along the ear canal 51. The contactability with the concha region 52 is improved.

The detecting unit housing 2 is provided with
Piezoelectric element 6 accurately detects micro-vibration caused by bone conduction sound in 2
It is made of a material that easily retains humidity and has a mirror-polished surface in order to improve the adhesiveness to the skin, as well as to be hard to transmit to the skin. still,
Examples of materials that can easily maintain this humidity include polyamide resins and ABS resins. Particularly, ABS resins are suitable because they have good moldability and are inexpensive.

[0012] As shown in FIG.
A dynamic speaker type earphone 10 for receiving a sound is accommodated in the earphone housing 3, and the outer periphery of the earphone housing 3 is used to press the detection unit housing 2 toward the side contacting the concha cavity 52. A mounting auxiliary member 15 is provided detachably. The earphone housing 3 is made of a metal material, and has a vibration damping member 11 for mounting and supporting the receiving earphone 10 in one opening, and the receiving earphone 1.
And a protector 12 for protecting the sound emission side of the main body 0. The side opposite to the support side of the receiving earphone 10 of the vibration damping member 11 is supported by the main body support portion 4. The vibration damping member 11 is provided to absorb and attenuate the mechanical micro-vibration transmitted from the earphone 10 for reception, and has a relatively large specific gravity such as brass or iron.
It is made of inexpensive metal.

The mounting auxiliary member 15 is formed of a resin of a viscoelastic material, and is formed in a circular arc shape so as to conform to the outer peripheral shape of the vibration damping member 11, as shown in FIG. The portion 16 and the pressing portion 17 which is disposed in an elastically deformed state between the housing 1 (strictly speaking, the earphone housing 3) and a part of the ear portion 50 are integrally provided. On the lower surface side of the mounting portion 16, a linear convex portion 16 a that engages with a concave groove 11 a formed to extend in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the vibration damping member 11 is formed.

The mounting auxiliary member 15 is connected to the earphone housing 3.
6, when the projection 16a of the mounting portion 16 is pressed so as to fit into the concave groove 11a of the earphone housing 3, the mounting portion 16 expands in diameter against the elastic force as shown in FIG. , Both engage. The mounting auxiliary member 15
When attached to the earphone housing 3, the forked attachment portion 16 sandwiches the outer peripheral portion of the earphone housing 3 by the elastic action of the attachment portion 16. In addition, the mounting auxiliary member 1
When the user removes the mounting member 5, the user only needs to pull the mounting auxiliary member 15 away from the earphone housing 3. The length of the mounting portion 16 along the arc is slightly shorter than the length of the concave groove 11a of the vibration damping member 11. When the mounting auxiliary member 15 is mounted on the earphone housing 3, the mounting auxiliary member 1
5 can be slid in the circumferential direction of the earphone housing 3 (the direction indicated by the symbol “B” in FIG. 2), so that the mounting position can be adjusted according to the shape of the user's ear 50. It is.

The pressing action portion 17 is formed substantially in a V-shape in a side view. As shown in FIGS. Part 17a
Is locked at the upper end position 52B of the concha region 52 and bends greatly to be elastically deformed, and the elastic return force causes the housing 1 to be more specifically, the detection unit housing 2
To the side of the concha cavity 52 that contacts the bottom 52A. Thus, the elastic return force of the mounting auxiliary member 15 acts as a contact force on the concha region 52 of the detection unit housing 2. Note that FIG. 4 and the like show a case where the free end 17a of the pressing action portion 17 is locked at the upper end position 52B of the concha cavity 52, but this free end 17a is
The ear ring leg 53 may be locked.

The main body support portion 4 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 3A and the like, through which signal lines from the bone conduction audio pickup portion BP and the earphone portion ER are inserted to protect them. At the same time, the inner diameter is gradually changed at the lower position, and the end of the input / output cable 5 holding the signal line is fixed while reducing the force applied thereto. A holding member 20 for stabilizing the state of attachment of the bone conduction sound detection device BS to the ear 50 is further attached to the main body support portion 4. The holding member 20 is formed of a relatively soft and elastic material such as a rubber material having a hardness of 50 to 110 degrees, and as shown in FIG.
The edge 52C of the concha region 52 between the tragus 55 and the tragus 55 is securely clamped.

A small-diameter through hole 20a is provided near the lower end of the holding member 20, and a weight (not shown) can be suspended and supported through a thread or the like in the through hole 20a.
When a weight is suspended in the through hole 20a, the holding member 2
Along with the pinching operation of 0, the contact portion acts as a contact force on the bottom portion 52A of the concha cavity portion 52 of the detection unit housing 2. still,
The weight can be of various shapes, and can be appropriately replaced according to the user's preference or fashion, and can be used to improve fashionability.

Next, the bone conduction sound detecting device BS having the above-described structure.
A usage pattern will be schematically described. The bone conduction sound detection device BS is used by connecting a plug 5a provided at the tip of the input / output cable 5 to a sound input / output terminal of a communication device such as a mobile phone device or a wireless device. Bone conduction sound detection device BS
When the earpiece 50 is mounted on the ear part 50, the free end 17a of the mounting auxiliary member 15 is locked to the upper end position 52B of the concha cavity 52 or the cuff leg 53, and the pressing action part of the mounting auxiliary member 15 is 1
Bone-conducting voice pickup unit BP in a posture in which the sound-emitting side of the earphone 10 for reception faces the external auditory canal 51 while making the earpiece 7 bend more.
The earphone unit ER is worn so that the entire earphone unit ER fits in the concha region 52. In this mounted state, the position of the center of gravity of the earphone unit ER and the bone conduction audio pickup unit BP is determined by the position of the edge 5 of the concha cavity 52 that is held by the holding member 20 of the main body support unit 4.
2C, the weight of the earphone part ER and the bone conduction audio pickup part BP is lower than the edge 52C, and the detecting part housing 2 is positioned at the bottom 52A of the concha cavity part 52. And acts as a contact force on the bottom 52 </ b> A of the concha cavity 52 of the detection unit housing 2.

The contact force of the detection unit housing 2 with respect to the bottom 52A of the concha cavity 52 depends on the weight of the earphone unit ER and the bone conduction audio pickup unit BP and the holding member 2
With only the one obtained by the action of 0 or the like, it may become unstable depending on the shape and size of the user's ear 50, but as described above, it is accurately determined by the elastic return force of the mounting auxiliary member 15. To the concha cavity 52
By pressing against the bottom 52A, even if the user changes the posture by tilting the head or the like, the contact force does not fluctuate much,
The state where the piezoelectric element 6 accurately detects the bone conduction sound can be stably maintained without being affected by the body hair of the skin or the like. If a stable contact force can be obtained without the mounting auxiliary member 15, the mounting auxiliary member 15 can be removed and mounted as described above.

When the user talks with the other party of the call while the bone conduction sound detecting device BS is mounted as described above, the vibration of the vocal cords caused by the utterance of the user transmits the skull of the head and the like, And reaches the surface of the concha region 52. The vibration reaching the surface of the concha region 52 is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 6 in the detection unit housing 2 and converted into an electric signal. After being processed by the signal processing board 7, the electric signal is transmitted to the other party of the call via the input / output cable 5. On the other hand, when the communication device receives the voice signal emitted by the other party of the call, the voice signal is input to the earphone 10 for receiving via the input / output cable 5, and the earphone 10 for receiving
The other party's voice is emitted toward the ear canal 51.

[Other Embodiments] Other embodiments of the present invention will be listed below. In the above embodiment, the bone conduction sound detection device BS includes:
The receiving earphone 10 is provided to enable not only the detection of the bone conduction sound but also the listening of the audio signal. However, the detection of the bone conduction sound is performed only by the piezoelectric element 6 without the receiving earphone 10. You may do it. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the detection unit housing 2 is pressed against the bottom portion 52A of the concha cavity portion 52 to make contact therewith is exemplified. For example, the position at which the housing 1 is brought into contact for the detection of the bone conduction sound can be appropriately changed as long as the position is within the concha of the concha.

In the above embodiment, the mounting auxiliary member 1
5 is formed in a V-shape with a resin of a viscoelastic body and is elastically deformed at the time of mounting, but the pressing action portion 17 of the mounting auxiliary member 15 in the above embodiment is replaced with a metal leaf spring. May be formed in the same shape. Also, between the earphone housing 3 and the upper end position 52B of the concha cavity 52,
For example, the detection unit housing 2 is pressed against the bottom 52A of the concha cavity 52 with a coil spring interposed therebetween.
Can be variously changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a bone conduction sound detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bone conduction sound detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a detection unit housing according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mounted state of the bone conduction sound detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a worn state of the bone conduction sound detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for attaching a mounting auxiliary member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Detector housing 3 Earphone housing 4 Main body support part 6 Piezoelectric element 10 Earphone for receiving ear 15 Mounting auxiliary member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5D005 BA06 BA14 BB09 BB14 BC02 BE03 BF06 5D017 AB12

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing mounted in a concha region of a human ear so as to be in contact therewith, and a piezoelectric element housed in the housing and detecting bone conduction sound transmitted to the ear. A bone conduction sound detection device provided, wherein the bone conduction sound detection device is disposed between the housing and a part of the ear portion in an elastically deformed state, and the housing is moved to the concha cavity by an elastic return force. A bone conduction sound detecting device provided with a mounting auxiliary member for pressing the contact side. 2. A detection unit housing in which the housing houses the piezoelectric element and is mounted in contact with the concha region of the ear, and a receiver for emitting sound toward an external auditory canal of an ear. An earphone housing for storing the earphones,
2. A main body supporting portion for supporting the earphone housing and the detecting portion housing in a bifurcated manner, wherein the mounting assisting member is provided on an outer periphery of the earphone housing in the housing. 3. The bone conduction sound detection device according to claim. 3. A mounting portion of the mounting auxiliary member with respect to the housing is bifurcated so that the mounting auxiliary member can be detachably mounted while holding an outer peripheral portion of the housing by an elastic action of the mounting auxiliary member. The bone conduction sound detection device according to claim 1.