JP2000166959A - Bone conductive speaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bone conductive speaker which is excellently fitted without being conspicuous and can be used even under loud noise and also to provide a bone conductive microphone integrated type bone conductive speaker by which clear reception/transmission performance is obtained even under a loud noise situation. SOLUTION: A bone conductive speaker storing part 2 where the bone conductive speaker is incorporated is fixed to the outer end part of an inserting part 1 to be inserted to an external auditory canal. An ear mold 3 molded to be the shape of the external auditory canal of a user or an earplug type ear piece to be held in the neighborhood of the entrance of the external auditory canal are usually adapted as the inserting part 1. Or a bone conductive microphone unit is embedded in the inserting part 1 and constituted to a bone conductive microphone and bone conductive speaker integrated type.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bone-conducting speaker, and more particularly, to a bone-conducting speaker for external auditory canal attachment, which is attached to an external auditory canal wall to transmit sound as a bone-conducting sound. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since the bone-conveying speaker transmits sound as bone-conducting sound, it is, of course, necessary to mount the bone-conducting speaker in contact with the head. As a method therefor, a method of fixing the bone-conducting speaker 10 to one or both ends of the headband 11 passed over the crown or the occiput (FIGS. 4A and 4B), or a method of using a vine A method of fixing to one end or both ends (FIG. 4C) or the like is conceivable.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned conventional mounting method, not only is the appearance noticeable, but also the mounting condition is unstable, and at the same time, an external sound comes in. There is a problem of difficulty. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bone-conducting speaker that does not have such a problem, that is, has a good feeling of wearing, is inconspicuous, and can be used even under high noise.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bone conduction microphone-integrated bone conduction speaker capable of obtaining clear transmission / reception performance even under high noise conditions.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by means of fixing a bone-conducting speaker housing containing a bone-conducting speaker to an outer end of an insertion portion to be inserted into an ear canal. Settled. The insertion portion is typically an ear mold formed in the shape of the ear canal of the user, or an earplug type ear piece held near the entrance of the ear canal. In some cases, a bone conduction microphone unit is embedded in the insertion portion to form a bone conduction microphone / bone conduction speaker integrated type.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The bone-conducting speaker according to the present invention includes an insertion portion 1 inserted into the ear canal and a bone-conduction speaker accommodating portion 2 fixed thereto. As the insertion portion 1, an ear mold 3 made of relatively hard plastic or the like, which is inserted into the ear canal wall in a close contact state, is preferable. However, in order to further enhance the feeling of wearing, a tip portion of the ear mold is used. Near the soft resin,
It is also conceivable to use a soft material such as silicone rubber.

The ear mold 3 may be formed by individually molding the ear canal of each user. However, since the shape of the ear canal can be patterned to some extent, a semi-custom type can also be used.

When the insertion portion 1 is inserted into the ear canal, the air vent 5 for ensuring air permeability inside and outside the ear may be provided in order to adjust the air pressure inside the ear canal. Of course, this air vent 5 is also used for listening to external sounds.

A bone-conducting speaker housing 2 containing a bone-conducting speaker is fixed to an end of the insertion portion 1, that is, an outer end at the time of mounting, and is integrated with the insertion portion. The fixing method is bonding, screwing, fitting, or any other method.

In FIG. 2, the insertion portion 1 is an earplug-type earpiece 4 which does not enter the ear canal as much as the ear mold 3, but is held near the entrance thereof. The bone-conducting speaker storage section 2 is directly fixed. The method of fixing the bone-conducting speaker storage unit 2 to the earpiece 4 is the same as that of the earmold 3. Also,
Similarly, an air vent 5 is provided as needed.

The bone-conducting speaker having such a structure is mounted in the same manner as a hearing aid, an earphone or the like without a headband or the like, but the earmold 3 or the earpiece 4 is fitted tightly in the external auditory canal. Therefore, the stability at the time of mounting is good.

In addition, since it is used by inserting it into the ear canal,
It functions not only as a bone-conducting speaker but also as a normal sound pressure type speaker. That is, the sound pressure (sound vibration) generated in the ear canal by the vibration of the bone-conducted speaker storage unit 2 vibrating the earmold 3 or the earpiece 4.
Can be heard through the eardrum. Therefore, the bone conduction speaker according to the present invention is efficient and is particularly suitable for hearing aids for hearing-impaired persons.

When the apparatus is used under high noise, the ear mold 3 and the earpiece 4 are made to have high sound insulation without providing the air vent 5, so that the S / N with the external sound is improved.
The ratio can be significantly improved.

As shown in FIG. 3, a bone conduction microphone unit 6 is buried in the insertion section 1 and its operation mode and the bone conduction speaker main body 7 built in the bone conduction speaker storage section 2 are arranged. The operation mode may be configured to be switchable by a switching operation on the communication device side possessed by the user.

In this case, the voice of the speaker is picked up as a bone-conducted sound from the wall of the external auditory canal by the bone-conducted microphone unit 6 via the insertion section 1, amplified and transmitted. In the bone-conduction speaker integrated with the bone-conduction microphone, clear sound quality can be transmitted and received with one ear even in a high noise situation. If necessary, a soundproof ear plug may be attached to the ear on the open side to protect the hearing function from external noise. Instead of the ear plug in that case, an ear muff that covers both ears may be used.

[0016]

As described above, the present invention is easy to mount and can be maintained in a stable state. It is inconspicuous during mounting and functions not only as a bone-conducting speaker but also as a sound pressure type speaker. Since it is efficient and can hear the external sound while blocking or suppressing the external sound, there is an effect that is suitable for a hearing-impaired person to use as a hearing aid or to use under high noise.

In the invention according to claim 6,
There is an effect that transmission and reception of clear sound quality can be performed with one ear even in a high noise situation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a conventional bone conduction speaker mounting method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 2 Bone conduction speaker storage part 3 Ear mold 4 Earpiece 5 Air vent

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 22, 1999 (1999.12.
22)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A bone-conducting speaker in which a bone-conducting speaker housing containing a bone-conducting speaker is fixed to an outer end of an insertion portion to be inserted into an ear canal. 2. The bone-conducting speaker according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is an ear mold formed in a shape of a user's ear canal. 3. The bone-conducting speaker according to claim 1, wherein a part of the insertion portion is made of a soft material. 4. The bone-conducting speaker according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is an earplug-type earpiece held near an entrance of an ear canal. 5. The bone-conducting speaker according to claim 1, wherein an air vent for securing air permeability inside and outside the ear when the earpiece is worn is formed in the insertion portion. 6. The bone conduction speaker according to claim 1, wherein a bone conduction microphone unit is embedded in the insertion portion.