JP2000184488A - Loudspeaker device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a loudspeaker device for persons who have difficulty in hearing due to their ages, such as the aged, using video equipment and acoustic devices, which loudspeaker device radiates sounds for making up for their high-frequency hearing ability by changing the directivity of the sounds. SOLUTION: A loudspeaker device is composed of central loudspeaker units 1a and 1b which are controlled by means of one adjusting means 5a and loudspeaker units 1c-1h which are controlled by means of the other adjusting means 5b. Thereby, the convenience of the device is improved in such a way that, when a person who has difficulty in hearing watches a telecast together with a person having no difficulty in hearing or singly, the variation of the tone quality is reduced so that the person having difficulty in hearing may watch the telecast more comfortably by changing the directivity of the outputs of the two groups of loudspeaker units 1c-1h by controlling the outputs by adjusting the outputs of the adjusting means 5a and 5b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a directional speaker device mainly used in combination with a television receiver or the like as a means for compensating for a decrease in hearing ability of an aged-type hearing-impaired person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the aging of society has been rapidly progressing, but so-called aging-type hearing loss, which is common in the elderly, generally causes a decrease in hearing with sounds of 1 kHz or higher. This makes it difficult to hear not only high sounds composed of components of 1 kHz or more but also sounds whose middle and high frequency components such as human voices dominate intelligibility. Therefore, when viewing a television receiver, etc., for the hearing impaired who cannot clearly hear unless the volume is increased until the sound in the middle and high frequencies becomes audible, even when watching a television broadcast together with a normal hearing person, , It's hard to hear at a volume that's suitable for hearing people,
Alternatively, an earphone jack in which a speaker built in a device such as a television receiver does not turn off has to be used for viewing using headphones or earphones.

[0003]

As described above, when viewing a television broadcast or the like, since the hearing impaired person must listen at a higher volume, the sound leaks to the next room or even a neighboring house. Or had to do.

[0004] In addition, when viewing with a hearing-impaired person, the volume adjusted to the hearing-impaired person is naturally too large for the hearing-impaired person, and the volume adjusted to the hearing-impaired person is difficult for the hearing-impaired person to hear, or an earphone or the like is used. When used, it was difficult for both to be satisfied and to view the content because they felt alienated.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a speaker device according to the present invention comprises at least an audio signal input means, two adjusting means for receiving an output from the input means, and the two adjusting means. Amplifying means to which the outputs from the first and second amplifying means are respectively input, a central speaker unit connected to one amplifying means, and a speaker unit arranged outside the central speaker unit connected to the other amplifying means And a speaker unit row arranged in the horizontal direction, for example, when viewing a television broadcast together with a normal hearing person, adjust the horizontal directivity narrowly so as to minimize radiation to the normal hearing person. Radiated toward the hearing impaired, such as the hearing impaired, and when the hearing impaired views alone, adjust the horizontal directivity widely to adjust the sound depending on the listening position. It is obtained so as to perform a more comfortable viewing by reducing the change.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least an audio signal input means, two adjusting means for receiving an output from the input means, and an output from the two adjusting means are provided. A horizontal direction comprising two amplifying means to be input respectively, a central speaker unit connected to one amplifying means, and a speaker unit arranged outside the central speaker unit connected to the other amplifying means. When listening to a television broadcast together with a normal hearing person, for example, the directionality in the horizontal direction is adjusted narrowly so that the hearing loss of an elderly person or the like is minimized so as not to be radiated to the normal hearing person. Both can enjoy the broadcast by radiating it toward the audience, and if the hearing impaired views alone, adjust the horizontal directivity widely. It is obtained so as to perform a more comfortable viewing by reducing the change in sound quality by listening position.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the horizontal directivity of the reproduced sound of the horizontally arranged speaker units according to the first aspect is always such that the sound pressure level on the central axis is maximum. -Since the two adjusting means are set so as to be substantially constant, the width of the directivity can be adjusted very easily by setting the direction of the directivity of the speaker device on the central axis.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a speaker connected to one of the amplifying units by stopping the driving of the speaker unit connected to the other amplifying unit of the first or second aspect. Since the drive stop means for driving only the unit is provided, the drive stop means can easily select whether to drive all of the speaker unit rows or only the center part of the speaker unit, and to narrow the directivity of the speaker device. It is possible to instantaneously switch between directivity and wide directivity without the need for adjustment.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a speaker device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the embodiment. According to the drawing, reference numerals 1a to 1h denote speaker units which are arranged in a horizontal direction to form a speaker unit row, 2a, and 2a.
2b is an input means, 3 is an addition means, 4 is a high-pass filter, 5a and 5b are adjustment means, 6a and 6b are amplification means, 7
Reference numerals a to 7d denote attenuation means.

Next, the detailed configuration of the embodiment will be described together with the operation. First, an audio signal from a television receiver or the like is input from at least one of the input units 2a and 2b. If the audio signal is a stereo signal, the input units 2a and 2b
b, is converted into a monaural signal by the adding means 3 and passes only a component of approximately 1 kHz or more by the high-pass filter 4, and then is branched into two paths and adjusted by the adjusting means 5a, 5b.
b, and are amplified by the amplifying means 6a and 6b, respectively.

The audio signal amplified by the amplification means 6a is reproduced by the speaker units 1a and 1b arranged at the center among the eight speaker units 1a to 1h arranged in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the audio signal amplified by the amplifying means 6b is divided into speaker units 1a to 1h arranged in a horizontal direction.
The amplification means 6b and the speaker unit 1e are reproduced by the outer speaker units 1c to 1h so that the reproduction sound pressure level of the speaker units 1c to 1h becomes higher as they are closer to the speaker units 1a and 1b arranged on the center side.
Between the speaker units 1c and 1d, the attenuation units 7a to 7d are arranged between the speaker units 1c and 1d to increase the reproduction sound pressure levels of the speaker units 1c and 1d.
Is set to a reproduction sound pressure level higher than the speaker units 1g and 1h.

When all the speaker units 1a to 1h are driven, the directivity in the horizontal direction becomes narrower, the directivity in the vertical direction becomes wider, and the directivity in the horizontal direction becomes smaller. Can be controlled narrower from the lower frequency side as the overall width of the speaker units 1a to 1h increases.
The smaller the arrangement interval, the narrower the control to the higher frequency side.

Further, if the reproduced sound pressure level is set higher in the center of the speaker units 1a to 1h arranged in the horizontal direction, the directivity in the horizontal direction can be controlled to be narrower.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the adjusting means 5a and 5b are adjusted so that the reproduced sound pressure levels of the speaker units 1a and 1b are higher than those of the speaker units 1c and 1d, the directivity in the horizontal direction can be greatly improved. Conversely, if the adjusting means 5a and 5b are adjusted to reproduce only the center speaker unit 1a and 1b of all the speaker units 1a to 1h, the driving speaker unit is substantially reduced. Since the arranged width is narrow, the directivity in the horizontal direction is wide.

Therefore, when a hearing-impaired person watches a broadcast using, for example, a television receiver while sitting with a hearing-impaired person, according to the speaker device of the present embodiment, the directivity in the horizontal direction is set narrower by the adjusting means 5a and 5b. When used together in a state where it is aimed at a hearing-impaired person, it is possible to compensate for the 1 kHz sound whose sensitivity has been reduced only to the hearing-impaired person. The sound of the device itself can be heard without being unnecessarily louder.

Further, for a hearing person who is present, the present speaker device has a narrow directivity, so that the speaker device is out of the directivity range and is not significantly affected by the speaker device, and the sound of the television receiver body is not greatly affected. , And a sound space that is comfortable for both can be realized by setting the volume of the television receiver body to a volume substantially matched to that of a normal hearing person.

Further, when the hearing-impaired person independently uses the speaker device of the present embodiment together with a television receiver, the speaker device does not particularly need to have a narrow directivity in the horizontal direction. In other words, in the case of narrow directivity, since the sound pressure level greatly changes depending on the viewing position, the balance between the sound in the mid-high range that improves the sense of clarity from the speaker device and the sound emitted from the television receiver is balanced. Although the range becomes narrow, the directivity of the speaker device can be adjusted widely by adjusting the adjusting means 5a and 5b.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the range of directivity can be adjusted as needed, and a hearing-impaired person can compensate for a sound of 1 kHz or more, which generally causes hearing loss. When used in combination with a device, it is possible to hear the sound without increasing the volume.

In the present embodiment, the number of speaker units is eight, but the number is not limited to eight and may be large or small. Also, even if it is not one horizontal row, 2
They may be arranged in rows.

The attenuating means 7a to 7d between the speaker units 1c to 1h connected to the amplifying means 6b can obtain narrower directivity and may be provided as necessary, and are connected to the amplifying means 6b. If there are two speaker units, no attenuation means is required.

If the reproduction band of the speaker unit is capable of reproducing only a desired frequency or higher, for example, only 1 kHz or higher, the high-pass filter 4 is not necessary.
The setting of the reproduction band from kHz is also an example, and it goes without saying that the reproduction may be performed from an appropriate frequency of about 1 kHz.

(Embodiment 2) Next, another embodiment of the speaker device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the directivity is adjusted by changing the magnitude of the audio signal input to the amplifying means 6a, 6b by the adjusting means 5a, 5b, for example, the output levels of the speaker units 1a, 1b are kept constant. Speaker units 1c to 1h
Is changed, the directivity in the horizontal direction changes. However, when the sound pressure level on the central axis X (the central axis of the directivity of the speaker device) is used as a reference, the speaker units 1c to 1h have Since the reference sound pressure level also changes because the output is changed, it is difficult to make adjustments while listening. However, in the present embodiment, adjustment elements (not shown) of the adjustment means 5a and 5b are associated with each other. The sound pressure level on the central axis X is always maximum and constant.

Known adjustment elements can be used. That is, depending on the configuration of the adjusting means 5a and 5b, it is possible to use an interlocking variable resistor. However, considering that the user is assumed to be an elderly person, the change in directivity is simplest and easy to understand. The adjustment is a two-way switch between the case where the directivity becomes the narrowest and the case where the directivity becomes the widest, and a change of about three steps of narrow, medium and wide. By switching the circuit, a speaker device that is extremely practical for the user can be provided. (In the case of the alternative, the adjusting unit 5b is disconnected and the output of the adjusting unit 5a is adjusted in advance to increase the output. A driving stop means (not shown) for driving the amplification circuit set in the means 5a is provided.)

Here, the case where all the speaker units 1a to 1h are driven by setting the reproduced sound pressure level to be higher in the center of the speaker units 1a to 1h b and the case where only the center speaker units 1a and 1b are driven FIG. 3 shows a simulation result of the frequency characteristic of c. The angle in the horizontal direction is 30 ° from the axis. From the figure, it can be seen that when all the speaker units 1a to 1h are driven, the sound pressure level of b is small in a wide frequency band, and the directivity is controlled to be narrow. In addition, a of FIG.
This is the upper frequency characteristic.

If the adjustment of the directivity is a small number of step adjustments of a few steps, it can be realized as described above by an analog circuit selectively providing the amplification factors of the adjustment means 5a and 5b. If the change is continuous, it is more realistic to realize the adjusting means 5a and 5b by a digital circuit using a microcomputer or the like.

In each of the above embodiments, two adjusting means are used.
Although one is provided, more can be provided.

[0028]

As described above, according to the loudspeaker apparatus of the present invention, the directivity of sound can be changed and radiated. Therefore, when the speaker is present with the hearing person, the directivity is narrowed and the listening is performed. To provide an excellent speaker device that can listen to the sound of a television receiver or the like with good clarity without using it, and that when the hearing impaired is alone, the directivity is widened and the sound quality can be heard clearly with little change in sound quality depending on the place. It is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a speaker device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the circuit.

FIG. 3 is a frequency characteristic diagram of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a to 1h Speaker unit 2a, 2b Input means 5a, 5b Adjustment means 6a, 6b Amplification means 7a to 7d Attenuation means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shuhei Konishi 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5D018 AF02 AF16 AF22

Claims (3)

[Claims] An input means for at least an audio signal, two adjusting means for receiving an output from the input means,
Two amplifying units to which outputs from the two adjusting units are respectively input, a central speaker unit connected to one amplifying unit, and a central speaker unit connected to the other amplifying unit. And a speaker unit row arranged in a horizontal direction, the speaker unit comprising a plurality of speaker units. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein two adjusting means are associated with each other so that the horizontal directivity of the reproduced sound of the speaker units arranged in the horizontal direction is always such that the sound pressure level on the central axis is maximum and substantially constant. Item 2. The speaker device according to item 1. 3. The driving unit according to claim 1, further comprising a driving stop unit that stops driving the speaker unit connected to the other amplifying unit and drives only the speaker unit connected to the one amplifying unit. Speaker device.