JP2014045312A - Headphone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headphone capable of reproducing right channels by right and left speakers even when oppositely mounted.SOLUTION: A headphone includes: a first ear mounting part having a first speaker; a second ear mounting part having a second speaker; an audio signal input unit for receiving the input of audio signals of right and left channels; an audio signal switching unit for receiving the inputs of the audio signals of the right ane left channels by sorting the signals into the first speaker and the second speaker; and a mounting action detection unit for detecting the mounting action of a user, determining whether the first ear mounting part and the second ear mounting part are respectively mounted on the right ear or the left ear of the user by the mounting action, and switching the switching mode of the audio signal switching unit depending on the determination result.

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereo headphone for reproducing left and right two-channel audio signals.

  Stereo headphones have earpieces that are worn on the left and right ears, respectively, and each earpiece has a built-in small speaker. A normal headphone has a cable connected to the left ear. The user wears the headphones with the cable as a mark, that is, the ear part to which the cable is connected becomes the left ear.

  On the other hand, in recent years, wireless headphones such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) headphones have been put into practical use (for example, Patent Document 1), and a jack is provided on the left ear portion for convenient storage and carrying. A headphone that can be removed is also proposed (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-224911 A

“Stereo Headphone“ SE-MJ591 ”Instruction Manual”, [online], Pioneer Corporation, [searched July 23, 2012], Internet <http://www3.pioneer.co.jp/manual/manual_pdf. php? m_id = 6803>

  In the wireless headphone disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the headphone capable of removing the cable disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, the user cannot distinguish left and right by relying on the connected cable. Although it is possible to judge by the L / R display or logo orientation stamped on the housing or headband, it is not always intuitive as the cable pulled out from the left side. Is troublesome.

  In addition, even if the left and right of the headphones are known, it is determined in advance if you want to wear them in the opposite direction in terms of design, or if you want to pull out the cable from the right due to the positional relationship between the audio source device and the headphone wearer (user). Although there are cases where it is desired to wear the headphone in the opposite direction to the left and right channels, the conventional headphones have a problem in that the sound audible to the user is reversed left and right when worn in the opposite direction.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a headphone capable of reproducing a correct channel with left and right speakers, regardless of which direction is worn.

  The headphone of the present invention includes a first ear part having a first speaker, a second ear part having a second speaker, an audio signal input part for inputting left and right two-channel audio signals, and the left and right two-channel audio signals. An audio signal is distributed and input to the first speaker and the second speaker, an audio signal switching unit capable of switching the distribution mode, a user's wearing operation is detected, and the first wearing unit is detected by the wearing operation. And a wearing operation detection unit that determines whether the second ear part is worn on the left ear or the right ear of the user, and switches the distribution mode of the audio signal switching unit based on the determination result, It is characterized by having.

  The audio signal input unit may be a communication unit that receives the audio signal by wireless communication. The audio signal input unit may be a connector that is provided in one or both of the first ear part and the second ear part and to which an audio cable is connected.

  In the above invention, the first ear part and the second ear part are connected by a headband, and the wearing motion detector is configured to pull the first ear part and the second ear part away from each other. A headband deformation detection unit that detects the deformation of the headband, and an inclination detection unit that detects an inclination of the headband in the width direction, and when the headband deformation detection unit detects the pulling operation, Whether the first ear part and the second ear part are worn by the user's left ear or right ear, respectively, according to the direction of the inclination detected by the inclination detector. Good.

  In the above invention, the wearing motion detection unit includes a grip detection unit that detects the number or position of fingers gripping the side surfaces of the first ear part and the second ear part, according to the detection contents of the grip detection unit. The first ear part and the second ear part may be determined to be worn on the left ear or the right ear of the user, respectively. The grip detection unit may include an electrostatic sensor having a plurality of electrodes on the side surfaces of the first ear part and the second ear part.

  According to the present invention, when the user wears the headphones, the left and right channels are correctly distributed based on the wearing operation regardless of whether the user wears the first or second ear part on the left or right ear. There is no need to check the left and right.

1 is an external view of a headphone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the wearing operation | movement of the headphones of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the sensor integrated in the headband of the headphones of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram of the electronic circuit part of the headphones of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the change mode of the signal of each part of the wearing operation | movement detection part of the headphones of 1st Embodiment. External view of a headphone according to a second embodiment of the present invention The block diagram of the electronic circuit part of the headphones of 2nd Embodiment The figure explaining the holding | grip aspect of the housing at the time of headphone wearing of 2nd Embodiment. External view of a headphone according to a third embodiment of the present invention Circuit diagram of headphone of third embodiment The figure explaining allocation of the right-and-left channel of the headphone of a 3rd embodiment.

<< First Embodiment >>
FIG. 1 is an external view of a headphone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of the headphone 1, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the headphone 1. The headphone 1 has a first housing containing a speaker 12 and a second housing 20 containing a speaker 22, and either of the first and second housings 10 and 20 is defined as a left channel / right channel. The assignment of whether to do is not predetermined. The user detects the operation of wearing the headphone 1 on the head (left and right ears), and determines which of the first and second housings 10 and 20 is to be worn on the left and right ears by this operation. Based on the determination result, it is determined which of the first and second housings 10 and 20 is to be assigned the left channel / right channel.

  The headphone 1 is a wireless headphone that is connected to an audio playback device by wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or AirWired (trademark). The headphone 1 has a configuration in which a first housing 10 and a second housing 20 that are worn on the left and right ears of a user are connected by a substantially semicircular headband 30. The headband 30 and the housings 10 and 20 are rotatably connected via yokes 15 and 25.

  First, the first housing 10 will be described. The housing 10 has a short cylindrical shape, and is supported by the yoke 15 so that the side surface is rotatable. A donut-shaped cushion 14 is provided on the inner surface of the housing 10, that is, the inner surface of the circumference formed by the headband 30, and abuts against the head around the user's ear. A speaker 12 is provided inside the cushion 14. Similarly, the second housing 20 has a short cylindrical shape, and is supported by the yoke 25 so that the side surface can swing. A donut-shaped cushion 24 is provided on the inner side surface of the housing 20 so as to come into contact with the head around the user's ear. A speaker 22 is provided inside the cushion 24.

  An electronic circuit unit 40 is built in the first housing 10, and a battery 49 for driving the electronic circuit unit 40 is built in the second housing 20. The electronic circuit unit 40 is configured as shown in FIG. 4, and in addition to the audio circuit 42 that processes the audio signals emitted from the speakers 12 and 22, the wearing operation detection unit 41 that detects the wearing operation by the user. And a four-way switch 52 for switching which of the left channel and right channel audio signals is input to the speakers 12 and 22. Of the wearing motion detector 41 shown in FIG. 4, the strain sensor 43 and the tilt sensor 44 are built in the headband 30 as shown in FIG. In the headband 30, cables for connecting the speakers 12 and 22 of the first and second housings 10 and 20, the electronic circuit unit 40, and the battery 49 are embedded.

  The audio circuit 42 is a communication circuit 50 that receives a digital audio signal from an audio playback device via wireless communication such as Bluetooth or AirWire, and a D / A that converts the digital signal received by the communication circuit 50 into an analog stereo signal. The converter 51 includes amplification circuits 53 and 54 that amplify analog signals and supply the amplified signals to the speakers 12 and 22.

  The electronic circuit unit 40 may be provided in the second housing 20 or may be provided in both the first and second housings 10 and 20. In this embodiment, the electronic circuit unit 40 is provided in the first housing 10, and the battery 49 is built in the second housing 20, thereby balancing the weight of the entire headphone 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the wearing operation of the headphones 1 by the user. The user 100 wears the headphones 1 in the procedure shown in FIGS. 2 (A), (B), and (C). First, the user 100 holds the first and second housings 10 and 20 of the headphone 1 with the left and right hands, respectively (FIG. 2A). At this time, the headband 30 of the headphones 1 is tilted forward as viewed from the user 1. FIG. 2 illustrates the case where the first housing 10 is gripped with the left hand and the second housing 20 is gripped with the right hand. In this case, the headband 30 is arranged so that the X side in FIG. Be inclined to.

  The user 100 holding the headphone 1 as shown in FIG. 2A pulls the first and second housings 10 and 20 apart with both hands so that the user can easily wear the headphone 1, and the headband 30 is extended. Is lifted up (FIG. 2B). After the headband 30 is extended, the first and second housings 10 and 20 are moved to the positions of the left and right ears, and then the first and second housings are loosened by loosening the force that separates the first and second housings 10 and 20. 10 and 20 are brought into contact with the left and right ears, respectively (FIG. 2C), and wearing is completed. In the description of FIG. 2 and the following description, extending the headband 30 does not mean increasing the length, but means increasing the curvature of the substantially semicircular headband 30 so that the headband 30 approaches a straight line.

  The wearing motion detection unit 41 of the headphone 1 is configured so that the first and second housings 10 and 20 are pulled apart during wearing, and the headband 30 is tilted forward as viewed from the user 100 at this time. It is determined which one of the two housings 10 and 20 is on the left / right side of the user 100, and a left / right channel is assigned to each of the first and second housings 10 and 20 based on the determination result. For example, if the inclination of the headband 30 is such that the X direction is vertically downward, it is determined that the first housing 10 is left and the second housing 20 is right. Further, if the inclination of the headband 30 is such that the Y direction is vertically downward, it is determined that the second housing 20 is left and the first housing 10 is right. Based on the determination result, either the left channel or the right channel audio signal is input to the first and second housings 10 and 20 (speakers 12 and 22).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sensor provided at the center (top) of the headband 30. FIG. 3A is an internal plan view of the central portion of the headband 30, and FIG. 3B is an internal front view of the central portion of the headband 30. A strain sensor 43 and a tilt sensor 44 are built in the central portion of the headband 30. The strain sensor 43 has a substrate 430 that deforms following the bending and stretching of the headband 30, and strain gauges 431 and 432 that are respectively attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 430 (the convex side and the concave side of the headband 30). doing. The strain gauges 431 and 432 are resistors whose resistance values change due to deformation. The resistance values increase when the strain gauges 431 and 432 extend, and the resistance values decrease when the strain gauges 431 and 432 contract. In the normal state where the headband 30 is not stretched, the resistance values of the strain gauges 431 and 432 are the same, but when the first and second housings 10 and 20 of the headphones 1 are separated and the headband 30 is stretched, the substrate 430 curves to the strain gauge 431 side, the resistance value of the strain gauge 431 decreases, and the resistance value of the strain gauge 432 increases.

  By reading this change in resistance value, it can be determined whether or not the headband 30 is extended. Specifically, the train gauges 431 and 432 are incorporated in the bridge circuit shown in FIG. 4B, and the difference between the resistance values of the strain gauges 431 and 432 is output as the voltage value Vs.

  The tilt sensor 44 has a so-called mercury switch structure. The inclination sensor 44 has a space 44A inside a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing, and a conductor 440 (for example, mercury) that can freely move is enclosed in the space 44A. Further, pair electrodes 441 and 442 project from both sides of the space 44A, that is, the X side and the Y side of the headband 30, respectively. When the headband 30 is tilted to the X side, the conductor 440 moves to the X side, and the pair electrode 441 becomes conductive. Conversely, when the headband 30 is tilted to the Y side, the conductor 440 moves to the Y side and the pair electrode 442 becomes conductive. As described above, by reading which of the pair electrodes 441 and 442 is conductive, it is possible to detect which side of the headband 30 is inclined, X or Y. 3 includes the pair electrode 441 and the pair electrode 442 on both sides of the space 44A, respectively, but only one of the pair electrodes 441 and 442 may be provided. In this case, it is determined which of the pair electrodes is inclined depending on whether or not the pair electrodes are conductive.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic circuit unit 40. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating changes in output values of the comparator 46 and the tilt sensor 44 of the electronic circuit unit 40. The electronic circuit unit 40 includes a strain sensor 43 shown in FIG. 3, a wearing operation detection unit 41 including a tilt switch 44, a communication circuit 50, a D / A converter 51, a signal processing unit 42 including amplification circuits 53 and 54, and A four-way switch 52. The amplifier circuits 53 and 54 are connected to the speakers 12 and 22, respectively.

  The wearing motion detection unit 41 includes a headband deformation detection circuit 45, a comparator 46, a latch 47, and a tilt sensor 44. The headband deformation detection circuit 45 is composed of, for example, a bridge circuit shown in FIG. This bridge circuit includes strain gauges 431 and 432, and outputs a voltage Vs corresponding to the stretched state of the headband 30. That is, in normal times, the strain gauges 431 and 432 and the two resistors R are balanced and the potential difference between the terminals 451 to 450 of the bridge circuit is 0, but the headband 30 is extended and the strain gauge 431 is As the resistance value becomes smaller than the resistance value of the strain gauge 432, a voltage Vs having a polarity indicated by an arrow in FIG. The larger the distortion, that is, the greater the headband 30 is, the greater the value of the voltage Vs is. Therefore, based on the value of the voltage Vs, it is possible to detect how far the user is separating the first and second housings 10 and 20 and whether the headband 30 is extended.

  The comparator 46 compares the voltage Vs output from the headband deformation detection circuit 45 with a threshold value Vth for determining the wearing operation. The threshold value Vth is set to a value of the voltage Vs when the first and second housings 10 and 20 are separated apart from the general user 100 head width. When Vs becomes equal to or higher than Vth, it is determined that the user 100 is performing the wearing operation. When the voltage Vs output from the headband deformation detection circuit 45 exceeds this Vth, the comparator 46 outputs “H” as the output voltage Vu. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the voltage Vs input to the comparator 46 and the output voltage Vu. When the voltage Vs exceeds Vth (T1), Vu rises to “H”. When the voltage Vs becomes equal to or lower than Vth (T2), Vu falls to “L”. The time axes T0, T1, and T2 of this graph correspond to the wearing operation of the user 100 shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively.

  The latch 47 is a D-type flip-flop, and the voltage Vu is input to the C (clock) terminal. An inclination sensor 44 is connected to the D (data) terminal. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, the tilt sensor 44 is connected to the D terminal by connecting the pair electrodes 441 and 442 in a complementary manner. In this connection, if the headband 30 is tilted to the X side and the pair electrode 441 is conductive, “H” is input to the D terminal of the latch 47, and the headband 30 is tilted to the Y side and the pair electrode 442 is If it is conductive, “L” is input to the D terminal of the latch 47. The lower part of FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in the output of the tilt sensor 44. Although the state of the tilt sensor 44 is indefinite in the normal state where the user is not worn and the state worn by the user 100, the headband 30 is tilted so as to be forward when viewed from the user 100 during wearing. Outputs “H / L”. In the example of FIG. 5, the headband 30 is tilted to the X side and “H” is output.

  With the above connection, when the headband 30 is extended and Vs exceeds Vth, if the headband 30 is tilted to the X side, “H” is latched, and thereafter, “H” is output as the output Q. . Further, when the headband 30 is extended and Vs exceeds Vth, if the headband 30 is inclined to the Y side, “L” is latched, and thereafter, “L” is output as the output Q. Q is input to the four-way switch 52 as a switching signal.

  The four-way switch 52 outputs the left channel audio signal to the amplifier 53 (speaker 12) and the right channel audio signal to the amplifier 54 (speaker 22) when "H" is input as the switching signal. . When "L" is input as the switching signal, the left channel audio signal is output to the amplifier 54 (speaker 22), and the right channel audio signal is output to the amplifier 53 (speaker 12).

  The communication circuit 50 is a circuit that receives a digital audio signal from an audio reproduction device through wireless communication such as Bluetooth or AirWire. The D / A converter 51 converts the digital audio signal received by the communication circuit 50 into a left / right 2-channel stereo analog audio signal. The left and right two-channel audio signals converted into analog signals are input to the four-way switch 52. As described above, the four-way switch 52 distributes the left and right two-channel audio signals to the amplifiers 53 and 54 based on the switching signal Q output from the latch 47 of the wearing motion detection unit 41. The amplifiers 53 and 54 amplify the input audio signal and input the amplified audio signal to the speakers 12 and 22. As a result, the sounds of the assigned channels are emitted from the speakers 12 and 22, respectively.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the user 100 wears the headphones 1, by detecting the operational characteristic that the headband 30 is tilted forward and the first and second housings 10 and 20 are separated. The direction of wearing is determined, and the left and right channels are assigned to the first and second housings 10 and 20 based on this. As a result, the left channel sound is emitted from the left ear speaker of the user 100 regardless of which direction the user 100 wears the headphones 1 (either the first housing 10 is left or right). The right channel sound is emitted from the right ear speaker.

<< Second Embodiment >>
FIGS. 6-8 is a figure explaining the headphones 1 which are the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an external view of the headphone 1, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a mode in which the user 100 holds the housings 10 and 20 when the headphones 1 are worn. In these drawings, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, when wearing the headphones 1, the user 100 determines the wearing direction by paying attention to holding both the housings 10 and 20 with both hands.

  In the headphone 1 of this embodiment, an electrode group 131 made up of a plurality of (six in this embodiment) electrodes is provided on the X side surface of the first housing 10, and a plurality (in this embodiment, six in this embodiment) are provided on the Y side surface. ) Electrode group 132 is provided. In addition, an electrode group 231 composed of a plurality (six in this embodiment) of electrodes is provided on the side surface on the X side of the second housing 20, and electrodes composed of a plurality (six in this embodiment) of electrodes on the side surface on the Y side. A group 232 is provided. Each electrode of these electrode groups 131, 132, 231, 232 may be formed in contact with the inside of the housings 10, 20 even if it is not exposed on the surface of the housings 10, 20.

  Each electrode of the electrode groups 131 and 132 is connected to the capacitance detection circuit 130. Each electrode of the electrode groups 231 and 232 is connected to the capacitance detection circuit 230. The capacitance detection circuit 130 detects the capacitance of each electrode of the electrode groups 131 and 132. The capacitance detection circuit 230 detects the capacitance of each electrode of the electrode groups 231 and 232. The capacitance to be detected may be a stray capacitance of each electrode or a mutual capacitance with an adjacent electrode. When the user's 100 finger approaches or contacts the electrode, the capacitance of the electrode changes. Based on the change in capacitance of each electrode, it is determined whether or not the finger of the user 100 is in contact (including approach) with each electrode. This determination of contact may be performed by the capacitance detection units 130 and 230, or may be performed by the left / right determination unit 48. The detection result input from the capacitance detection units 130 and 230 to the left / right determination unit 48 may be input by converting the detection result of each electrode into a serial signal using a shift register or the like.

  When wearing the headphone 1, the user 100 holds the first and second housings 10 and 20 with both hands. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the user 100 holds the housing by bringing the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger into contact with one side surface of the housing and bringing the thumb into contact with the other side surface. FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which the first housing 10 is gripped by the left hand and the second housing 20 is gripped by the right hand. As described above, when the first and second housings 10 and 20 are gripped by both hands of the user 100, three fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger) are in contact with the front side when viewed from the user 100. One finger (thumb) is in contact with the back side.

  Due to the difference in the number of fingers in contact with each other, the X-side electrode groups 131 and 231 and the Y-side electrode groups 132 and 232 have different forms of capacitance change. That is, in the electrode group on the side where the three fingers are in contact (the X-side electrode groups 131 and 231 in the example of FIG. 8), many electrodes detect contact throughout the entire electrode group. In the electrode group on the side where only the finger is in contact (the Y-side electrode groups 132 and 232 in the example of FIG. 8), only a small number of electrodes (upward) detect contact.

  The left / right determination unit 48 determines which of the first housing 10 and the second housing 20 is gripped with the left hand and which is gripped with the right hand, based on the contact detection patterns as described above of the plurality of electrodes. When it is determined that the first housing 10 is gripped with the left hand and the second housing 20 is gripped with the right hand, “H” is output as the switching signal Q, the first housing 10 is gripped with the right hand, 2 When it is determined that the housing 20 is held with the left hand, “L” is output as the switching signal Q. The four-way switch 52 distributes the left and right two-channel audio signals to the amplifiers 53 and 54 based on the switching signal Q input from the wearing operation detection unit 41. The amplifiers 53 and 54 amplify the input audio signal and input the amplified audio signal to the speakers 12 and 22. As a result, the sounds of the assigned channels are emitted from the speakers 12 and 22, respectively.

  The left / right determination unit 48 determines that the wearing operation is being performed when both the electrode groups 131 and 132 and the electrode groups 231 and 232 have reached a certain number or more, Make a left / right decision. When the number of electrodes for which contact is detected is small, it is not determined that the finger or the like is merely touched. Also, even when contact is detected only in the electrode group of one housing, it is not determined that the operation is an operation other than the wearing operation, for example, the position where the housing hits the ear is corrected.

  In this embodiment, an electrode group composed of a plurality of electrodes is provided, and the number of fingers touched is estimated based on how many of the electrodes detect contact. The number of fingers that are formed by two electrodes and contacted based on the amount of change in capacitance may be estimated.

<< Third Embodiment >>
In the above first and second embodiments, the wireless headphones have been described. However, the headphones 1 of the present invention may be connected to an audio reproduction device with a cable. In this case, the communication unit 50, the D / A converter 51, and the amplifiers 53 and 54 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 are not necessary, and the cable connected to the audio reproducing apparatus is connected to the four-way switch 52. The speakers 12 and 22 are directly connected to the four-way switch 52.

  Further, instead of directly connecting the cable to the four-way switch 52, a connector (jack) may be provided in the first housing 10 or the second housing 20, and the cable having the connector (plug) may be detachably connected. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, connectors 11 and 12 are provided in both the first and second housings 10 and 20, respectively, and the cable is connected to either one based on the assignment based on the wearing operation. It is only necessary to distribute the audio signals of the left and right channels.

  Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is an external view of the headphones 1, and FIG. 10 is an internal circuit diagram of the headphones 1. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an allocation mode of the left and right channels when the audio cable 3 is connected to the first connector 11. In these drawings, the same components as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  9, connectors 11 and 21 are provided on the side surfaces of the first and second housings 10 and 20 on the lower side (opposite the headband 30), respectively. The connectors 11 and 21 are, for example, stereo mini jacks.

  As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 10, in addition to the connector 11, the first housing 10 includes a speaker 12 and a four-way switch 16, and the second housing 20 has either a connector 21 or speakers 22, 4. A path switch 26 is incorporated. The headband 30 incorporates a three-core shielded cable 31 that connects the circuits of the first and second housings 10 and 20.

  The four-way switch 16 has terminals 161 and 163 on the primary side, and terminals 162 and 164 on the secondary side. When the four-way switch 16 has a straight connection, the terminals 161 and 162 and the terminals 163 and 164 are connected to each other. When the four-way switch 16 is cross-connected, the terminals 161 and 164 and the terminals 163 and 162 are connected to each other. Similarly, the four-way switch 26 has terminals 261 and 263 on the primary side and terminals 262 and 264 on the secondary side. When the four-way switch 26 has a straight connection, the terminals 261 and 262 and the terminals 263 and 264 are connected to each other. When the four-way switch 26 is cross-connected, the terminals 261 and 264 and the terminals 263 and 262 are connected to each other. When the high voltage “H” is input as the switching signal, the four-way switches 16 and 26 are in a straight connection, and when the low voltage “L” is input as the switching signal, the four-way switches 16 and 26 are in a cross connection. .

  The connector 11 has terminals of G1 (ground), L1 (left channel), and R1 (right channel). The connector 21 has terminals G2 (ground), L2 (left channel), and R2 (right channel). The ground terminal G1 of the connector 11 and the ground terminal G2 of the connector 21 are connected to each other via a shielded cable 31, and the cold side terminals of the speakers 12 and 22 are connected to this line. Further, the left channel terminal L1 and the right channel terminal R1 of the connector 11 are respectively connected to the primary side terminals 161 and 163 of the four-way switch 16, and the left channel terminal L2 and the right channel terminal R2 of the connector 21 are respectively connected to the four-way switch 26. Primary side terminals 261 and 263, respectively.

  The secondary side terminal 162 of the four-way switch 16 and the secondary side terminal 264 of the four-way switch 26 are connected to each other via a shielded cable 31, and the hot side terminal of the speaker 12 is connected to this line. Further, the secondary side terminal 164 of the four-way switch 16 and the secondary side terminal 262 of the four-way switch 26 are connected to each other via a shielded cable 31, and the hot side terminal of the speaker 22 is connected to this line.

  The headphone 1 of the third embodiment also includes a wearing operation detection unit 41 as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. The wearing motion detector 41 determines which of the first and second housings 10 and 20 (speakers 12 and 22) is to be the left / right channel based on the detected wearing motion, and based on this determination, the switching signal Q and -Q are output. When the first housing 10 (speaker 12) is determined as the left channel and the second housing 20 (speaker 22) is determined as the right channel, "H" is output as the switching signal Q and "L" is output as -Q. Conversely, when the first housing 10 (speaker 12) is determined to be the right channel and the second housing 20 (speaker 22) is determined to be the left channel, "L" is output as the switching signal Q and "H" is output as -Q.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, when “H” is output as the switching signal Q and “L” is output as −Q, the four-way switch 16 is in a straight connection and the four-way switch 26 is in a cross connection. As a result, the left channel terminals L1 and L2 are connected to the lines of the secondary side terminal 162 of the four-way switch 16 and the hot side terminal of the speaker 12 and the secondary side terminal 264 of the four-way switch 26, and the connectors 11 and 21 are connected. The audio signal of the left channel is input to the speaker 12 regardless of which audio cable 3 is connected. At the same time, the right channel terminals R1 and R2 are connected to the lines of the secondary side terminal 164 of the four-way switch 16 and the hot side terminal of the speaker 22 and the secondary side terminal 262 of the four-way switch 26, and the connectors 11 and 21 are connected. The audio signal of the right channel is input to the speaker 22 regardless of which audio cable 3 is connected.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, when “L” is output as the switching signal Q and “H” is output as −Q, the four-way switch 16 is cross-connected and the four-way switch 26 is straight-connected. As a result, the right channel terminals R1 and R2 are connected to the lines of the secondary side terminal 162 of the four-way switch 16 and the hot side terminal of the speaker 12 and the secondary side terminal 264 of the four-way switch 26, and the connectors 11 and 21 are connected. Whichever audio cable 3 is connected, the right channel audio signal is input to the speaker 12. At the same time, the left channel terminals L1 and L2 are connected to the lines of the secondary side terminal 164 of the four-way switch 16 and the hot side terminal of the speaker 22 and the secondary side terminal 262 of the four-way switch 26. The audio signal of the left channel is input to the speaker 22 regardless of which audio cable 3 is connected.

  In FIG. 11, the audio playback apparatus 2 and the headphones 1 are connected to each other by an audio cable 3 attached to the headphones 1. The audio cable is a three-core shielded cable, and has connectors (stereo mini plugs) at both ends. One end of the audio cable 3 is connected to the headphone terminal 2 </ b> A of the audio playback device 2, and the other end is connected to one of the connectors 11 and 21 of the headphone 1. 11A and 11B show a state in which the audio cable 3 is connected to the connector 11 of the first housing 10, but the audio cable 3 may be connected to the connector 21 of the second housing 20. The distribution of the left and right channel audio signals is the same.

  According to the headphone 1 of the above embodiment, if the user wears the headphone 1 in a natural operation, the headphone 1 assigns the left and right channels to the first and second housings 10 and 20 based on the wearing operation. Since the user decides himself / herself, if the user wears the headphones 1 without worrying about left and right, the left and right channels are correctly reproduced.

  Although the headphones 1 shown in FIG. 1 have a symmetrical shape, the left and right housings 10 and 20 may have different shapes, such as different shapes. In this case, if the user selects and wears which one is left / right according to his / her preference, the left housing is always the left channel and the right housing is the right channel no matter which direction is worn.

1 Headphone 10, 20 Housing (ear part)
11, 21 connector (stereo mini jack)
12, 22 Speakers 16, 26, 52 Four-way switch 30 Head belt 31 Three-core cable 41 Wearing operation detector 43 Strain sensor 44 Tilt sensors 131, 132, 231, 232 (Touch sensor) electrodes 431, 432 Strain gauge

Claims (6)

A first ear part having a first speaker;
A second ear part having a second speaker;
An audio signal input unit for inputting two left and right channel audio signals;
An audio signal switching unit capable of switching and inputting the distribution mode of the left and right two-channel audio signals, which are distributed to the first speaker and the second speaker;
A user's wearing operation is detected, and it is determined by the wearing operation whether the first ear portion and the second ear portion are worn by the user's left ear or right ear, respectively, and based on the determination result Wearing operation detection unit for switching the distribution mode of the audio signal switching unit,
With headphones.   The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal input unit is a communication unit that receives the audio signal by wireless communication.   The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal input unit is a connector that is provided on one or both of the first ear part and the second ear part and to which an audio cable is connected. The first ear part and the second ear part are connected by a headband,
The wearing motion detector is
A headband deformation detection unit that detects deformation of the headband due to an operation of separating the first ear part and the second ear part from each other;
An inclination detector that detects an inclination of the headband in the width direction;
And the first ear part and the second ear part are respectively connected to the user according to the direction of the inclination detected by the inclination detection part when the headband deformation detection part detects the pulling-off operation. The headphone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it is determined whether the left ear or the right ear is worn.   The wearing motion detection unit includes a gripping detection unit that detects the number or position of fingers that grip the side surfaces of the first earing unit and the second earing unit, and according to the detection content of the gripping detection unit, The headphone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first ear part and the second ear part are determined to be worn by the user's left ear or right ear, respectively.   The headphone according to claim 5, wherein the grip detection unit includes an electrostatic sensor having a plurality of electrodes on side surfaces of the first ear part and the second ear part.

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