GB2183124A

GB2183124A - Electro-mechanical vibrator

Info

Publication number: GB2183124A
Application number: GB08625959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuji Tamura
Original assignee: Sanden Corp
Current assignee: Sanden Corp
Priority date: 1985-11-08
Filing date: 1986-10-30
Publication date: 1987-05-28
Also published as: AU6486086A; GB8625959D0; KR870005557A; JPS6280488U; GB2183124B

Abstract

An audio sound reproducing apparatus includes an electro- mechanical vibrator (13) e.g. in a seat S, coupled to audio signal reproducing apparatus (10), for converting the electrical audio signal to mechanical vibration. The vibrator (13) is connected to a speaker device (14) for reproducing the audio signal input to the vibrator (13) to harmonize the mechanical vibration and sound heard, particularly the sound which is in the frequency region input to the vibrator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electro-Mechanical Vibrator The present invention is related in general to electro-mechanical vibrators and, more particularly, to an improved audio sound reproduction apparatus with an electro-mechanical vibrator.

Electro-mechanical vibrators have been used in the prior art in order to stimulate the skin and/or muscles of the human body. These vibrators are typically driven by a constant frequency AC electrical source.

More recently, electro-mechanical vibrators have been used in conjunction with audio sound reproduction equipment to provide rhythmic pulse stimulus to the human body. Such electromechanical vibrators are typically driven by the same audio signal which is used to drive the speaker or other comparable transducer for producing audio sound. Such a mechanical vibrating system is shown and described in US-A-4064376.

Audio reproduction systems which include electro-mechanical vibrators have found ready application in musical sound reproduction systems.

This is especially so where the size, structure and/or noise level of the listening environment raises the threshold of hearing in the low frequency region. It is believed that human beings have a perception of sound not only through their ears but also by vibration through the entire body, and also that the use of vibration in the low frequency region will enhance the listening quality of audio reproduction systems in the above described environments.

However, if the electro-magnetic vibrator is combined with audio sound reproduction equipment in which the sound reproduction characteristics in the low frequency region fails, the sound reproduction by the audio system and the reproduction of vibration by vibrator may be out of harmony with one another.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved audio sound reproduction apparatus with an electro-mechanical vibrator wherein the reproduced sound and vibration are harmonized.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio sound reproduction apparatus with an electro-mechanical vibrator at low cost and simple structure.

According to the present invention, there is provided an audio reproduction apparatus having an electro-mechanical vibrator which transduces the electrical sound signal output of the audio reproduction apparatus to a mechanical vibration, in which a speaker device is connected with the electro-mechanical vibrator for reproducing the electrical audio signal which is input to the vibrator.

One example of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an illustrative block diagram of an audio sound reproduction apparatus in which an electro-mechanical vibrator is provided.

Referring to the figure, an electro-mechanical vibrating system A is coupled to audio reproduction equipment which comprises an audio generating device 10, for example, a tape cassette player and/or AM or FM receiver, and speakers 11 for transducing the electrical audio signal to an audible sound signal to be heard by user of the system.

The speakers 11 may comprise any transducing device capable of providing an audible sound signal from an electrical signal.

The electro-mechanical vibrating system A comprises an amplifier 12 including a mixing circuit and a low pass filter, an electro-mechanical vibrating element 13 disposed in a seat S and a speaker 14 for reproducing the lower frequency region of the audio signal. As shown in the figure, the amplified signal is provided to the speaker 14 via a volume control device 15 which may comprise a variable resistor or other means for attenuating the amplified electrical signal received from the amplifier 12. As is known in the art, the volume control device 15 is typically responsive to an input received from a user of the audio reproduction system such that the sound reproduced therefrom is.

provided at a volume level selected by the user.

Also, the speaker 14 is preferably connected in parallel with the vibrating element.13, although the speaker 14 may be serially connected with the vibrating element 13. Furthermore, the speaker 14 is preferably separately disposed from the vibrating element 13, but the speaker 14 may be disposed in the seat S with the vibrating element 13.

In operation, an audio sound signal is reproduced by the audio signal reproducing equipment 10 to enable the user to hear the sound through the ear.

Also, the vibrating element 13 is driven by the low frequency component of the electrical audio signal such that it is driven by a variable frequency signal, in synchronism with the low frequency portions of the reproduced sound. The intensity of the vibrating element 13 is initially selected by the user of the system through a volume control which is included in the amplifier circuit 12. Furthermore, the low frequency component of the electrical audio signal which is amplified 12 is reproduced by the speaker 14. Therefore, the low frequency component of the audio signal is transferred to the user in the form of vibration and sound through the vibrating element and speaker, to thereby harmonize the sound and vibration.

1. An audio reproduction apparatus having an electro-mechanical vibrator which transduces the electrical sound signal output of the audio reproduction apparatus to a mechanical vibration, in which a speaker device is connected with the electro-mechanical vibrator for reproducing the electrical audio signal which is input to the vibrator.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator and speaker are disposed in a seat.

3. An audio reproduction apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electro-Mechanical Vibrator The present invention is related in general to electro-mechanical vibrators and, more particularly, to an improved audio sound reproduction apparatus with an electro-mechanical vibrator. Electro-mechanical vibrators have been used in the prior art in order to stimulate the skin and/or muscles of the human body. These vibrators are typically driven by a constant frequency AC electrical source. More recently, electro-mechanical vibrators have been used in conjunction with audio sound reproduction equipment to provide rhythmic pulse stimulus to the human body. Such electromechanical vibrators are typically driven by the same audio signal which is used to drive the speaker or other comparable transducer for producing audio sound. Such a mechanical vibrating system is shown and described in US-A-4064376. Audio reproduction systems which include electro-mechanical vibrators have found ready application in musical sound reproduction systems. This is especially so where the size, structure and/or noise level of the listening environment raises the threshold of hearing in the low frequency region. It is believed that human beings have a perception of sound not only through their ears but also by vibration through the entire body, and also that the use of vibration in the low frequency region will enhance the listening quality of audio reproduction systems in the above described environments. However, if the electro-magnetic vibrator is combined with audio sound reproduction equipment in which the sound reproduction characteristics in the low frequency region fails, the sound reproduction by the audio system and the reproduction of vibration by vibrator may be out of harmony with one another. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved audio sound reproduction apparatus with an electro-mechanical vibrator wherein the reproduced sound and vibration are harmonized. It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio sound reproduction apparatus with an electro-mechanical vibrator at low cost and simple structure. According to the present invention, there is provided an audio reproduction apparatus having an electro-mechanical vibrator which transduces the electrical sound signal output of the audio reproduction apparatus to a mechanical vibration, in which a speaker device is connected with the electro-mechanical vibrator for reproducing the electrical audio signal which is input to the vibrator. One example of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an illustrative block diagram of an audio sound reproduction apparatus in which an electro-mechanical vibrator is provided. Referring to the figure, an electro-mechanical vibrating system A is coupled to audio reproduction equipment which comprises an audio generating device 10, for example, a tape cassette player and/or AM or FM receiver, and speakers 11 for transducing the electrical audio signal to an audible sound signal to be heard by user of the system. The speakers 11 may comprise any transducing device capable of providing an audible sound signal from an electrical signal. The electro-mechanical vibrating system A comprises an amplifier 12 including a mixing circuit and a low pass filter, an electro-mechanical vibrating element 13 disposed in a seat S and a speaker 14 for reproducing the lower frequency region of the audio signal. As shown in the figure, the amplified signal is provided to the speaker 14 via a volume control device 15 which may comprise a variable resistor or other means for attenuating the amplified electrical signal received from the amplifier 12. As is known in the art, the volume control device 15 is typically responsive to an input received from a user of the audio reproduction system such that the sound reproduced therefrom is. provided at a volume level selected by the user. Also, the speaker 14 is preferably connected in parallel with the vibrating element.13, although the speaker 14 may be serially connected with the vibrating element 13. Furthermore, the speaker 14 is preferably separately disposed from the vibrating element 13, but the speaker 14 may be disposed in the seat S with the vibrating element 13. In operation, an audio sound signal is reproduced by the audio signal reproducing equipment 10 to enable the user to hear the sound through the ear. Also, the vibrating element 13 is driven by the low frequency component of the electrical audio signal such that it is driven by a variable frequency signal, in synchronism with the low frequency portions of the reproduced sound. The intensity of the vibrating element 13 is initially selected by the user of the system through a volume control which is included in the amplifier circuit 12. Furthermore, the low frequency component of the electrical audio signal which is amplified 12 is reproduced by the speaker 14. Therefore, the low frequency component of the audio signal is transferred to the user in the form of vibration and sound through the vibrating element and speaker, to thereby harmonize the sound and vibration. CLAIMS

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a pair of speakers for reproducing as sound the unfiltered electrical audio signal.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claim 1 above has been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- Claim 3 above has been re-numbered as 4 and their appendancies corrected.

1. An audio reproduction apparatus comprising a low pass filter arranged to receive an electrical audio signal, an electromechanical vibrator for transducing the filtered electrical audio signal to a mechanical vibration and a speaker device for reproducing as sound the filtered electrical audio signal.