JPH1056697A - Electroacoustic transducer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the attaching feeling of a user by optimizing weight balance between the section of a hearing aid to be mounted at the recess of a concha and its section to be mounted at the outer peripheral part of the concha and covering an ear hook part with an elastic member. SOLUTION: In a hearing aid 1 comprising a mount 2 to be mounted in the recess of the concha, power source part 3 and ear hook part 4, the mounting part is constituted by arranging a microphone part 22 and a speaker part 23 inside a casing 21 formed from a synthetic resin material, and the casing 21 is provided with an adapter 24 to the concha. When the hearing aid is attached to the concha, the feeling of stability is provided by positioning the power source part 3 at the outer peripheral part of root of the concha. Besides, in addition to a battery housing part 32, an electronic substrate 33 is arranged on the casing 31 of the power supply part. The ear hook part 4 for linking the mount part 2 and the power source part 3 is constituted by covering the core member of a deformable hanger spring 51 with a cover 52 of a rubber member. Thus, the feeling of wearing is improved, the property of holding in the concha is improved and the hearing aid can be prevented from being dropped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a small-sized electroacoustic transducer such as a hearing aid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hearing aids for hearing-impaired persons have been proposed. This hearing aid connects a power supply unit including a microphone unit, an amplifier unit, and a battery storage unit, an earphone unit including a speaker unit housed in a recess of the pinna, and the power supply unit and the earphone unit. And a hanger portion hung on the auricle. The housing of the power supply unit, the earphone unit, and the hanger unit is formed of a rigid body such as a synthetic resin material. When the hearing aid thus configured is used, an earphone unit is attached to the user's auricle,
The hanger is hung on the outer periphery of the ear.

[0003]

However, in the hearing aid configured as described above, a microphone unit, an amplifier unit, and a battery storage unit are configured in a power supply unit, and only a speaker unit is formed in an earphone unit. Therefore, hearing aids
When attached to the pinna, its weight balance is not good,
The holding power to the outer ear when worn was insufficient. for that reason,
The hearing aid has been inconvenient in that it is detached due to carelessness of the user, light exercise, or the like, and falls. In addition, when the hearing aid is dropped, the hearing aid is sometimes formed with a rigid body as described above, so that the hearing aid may be weakly damaged.

[0004] Further, the hearing aid is not very comfortable to wear because its housing is formed of a rigid body.
In particular, since the hearing aid is worn by the user all day, it is extremely important to improve the wearing feeling.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electroacoustic transducer capable of improving the user's feeling of wearing on the outer ear.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electroacoustic transducer according to the present invention comprises: a mounting section having a microphone section and a speaker section, the mounting section being located in a depression of an auricle; and an amplifier section. And a battery housing part, and a power supply part located on the outer peripheral part of the auricle, and an ear hook part which connects the mounting part and the power supply part and is hung on the outer periphery of the auricle.

The electro-acoustic transducer configured as described above has a microphone section and a speaker section in the mounting section, and an amplifier section and a battery storage section in the power supply section.
Wears well balanced.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The electroacoustic transducer according to the present invention is applied, for example, to a hearing aid used by a hearing-impaired person. This hearing aid 1
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for example, the apparatus comprises a mounting part 2 mounted in a recess of an auricle, a power supply part 3, and an ear hook part 4 connecting the mounting part 2 and the power supply part 3. You.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mounting portion 2
A housing 21 mounted in the recess 12 of the auricle 11, a microphone 22 provided in the housing 21, and a speaker provided in the housing 21 together with the microphone 22 Part 2
And 3. The housing 21 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as an ABS resin.
2 is configured as an adapter 24 to the recess 12. The adapter part 24 is formed to have a slightly rounded front surface so that it can be steadily attached to the depression part 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter part 24 has a tubular part 25 formed at a substantially central portion thereof by being erected on the housing part 21. When the hearing aid 1 is attached to the auricle 11, the tip of the tubular portion 25 is planted toward the external auditory canal 13 located at the bottom of the recess 12. An earplug 26 is detachably attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion 25. The earplug 26 is made of a sheet material formed of a synthetic resin material such as silicon rubber, and is attached so that the sheet material covers the cylindrical portion 25. Since the earplugs 26 are made of a sheet material in this manner, the user can mount the mounting unit 2 on the recess 12 without feeling uncomfortable. In addition, the earplug 26
When made of silicone rubber, it is possible to prevent rash on the skin even if it is in direct contact with the skin of the pinna 11. Furthermore, since the earplugs 26 are detachable from the tubular portion 25, the earplugs 26 can be easily removed and cleaned when not being attached to the pinna 11 of the hearing aid 1. Furthermore, since the earplug part 26 is made of a sheet material, the ear canal 13 can be sealed steadily.

A speaker unit 27 is provided inside the casing 21 and toward the base of the tubular portion 25, that is, toward the external auditory canal 13 of the pinna 11. The housing unit 21 is provided with a microphone unit 28. The microphone unit 28 includes the speaker unit 2
The center lines of the microphone unit 7 and the microphone unit 28 are non-parallel, and are disposed in the back cavity 20 configured on the side facing the speaker unit 27. The back cavity 20 is provided with a detection hole 19 at the apex thereof so that the microphone unit 28 can detect sound. The housing 21 has a speaker unit 27 therein.
A space 30 is formed between the microphone unit 28.

The space 30 includes a speaker unit 27.
The microphone unit 28 serves as a space for escape of sound radiated from the speaker unit 27 so that the sound radiated from the speaker unit 27 is not detected. The space 30 prevents the vibration of the speaker unit 27 from being transmitted to the microphone unit 28 by providing an interval between the speaker unit 27 and the microphone unit 28. Therefore, the mounting part 2
Since the space 30 is formed in the housing 21, howling of the microphone unit 28 is prevented.
In the space 30, a conductive wire 30 led out from the speaker unit 27 and the microphone unit 28 through the ear hook portion 4 at the power supply portion is spirally housed.

[0014] The wearing section 2 configured as described above includes the pinna 1
1 is attached to the depression 12 of the auricle 11. More specifically, the earplug part 26 is configured such that the earplug part 26 attached to the cylindrical part 25 fits into the external auditory canal 13,
The sound from the speaker unit 27 is easily heard. In addition, a portion where the back cavity 20 in which the microphone unit 28 is provided is configured to face the concave portion 15 above the pinna 11. At this time, the microphone unit 28 is located on the rear side of the mounting unit 2, and the detection hole 19 of the microphone unit 28 is also located on the rear side. Therefore,
When the mounting portion 2 is mounted on the pinna 11, the detection hole 19 is also located on the rear side of the microphone unit 28, so that it is difficult to detect noise such as the sound of air flow.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the user's auricle 11, the power supply unit 3 has an outer peripheral portion at the base of the auricle. Located at 14,
It is composed of a housing part 31, a battery housing part 32 formed in the housing part 31, and an electronic substrate 33 on which an amplifier circuit and the like are formed. The housing section 31 includes an upper cabinet 34
And a lower cabinet 35, and is formed of a synthetic resin material such as an ABS resin. Battery compartment 32
As shown in FIG. 5, the button type battery 36 is configured to be housed in the housing 31 in a concave shape, a spring-shaped minus terminal 37 is provided on the bottom surface thereof, and the spring is provided on the side surface thereof. A positive terminal 38 is provided.

When the button-type battery 36 is stored in the battery storage section 32 configured as described above through the battery insertion opening provided on the upper cabinet 34 side, the battery insertion opening is closed by the battery lid 39. Closed. The battery housing section 32 is formed below the housing section 31 when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the user's auricle. Therefore, the power supply unit 3 can obtain a sense of stability when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the auricle, since the relatively heavy battery in the power supply unit 3 is located below the housing unit 31. .

As shown in FIG. 6, a volume control button 41 is provided on the side of the housing 31. The housing 31 has a power button 4 on its side.
2 are provided. And these buttons 41, 42
Are electrically connected to the electronic substrate 33. Further, the housing section 31 has an adjusting trimmer panel 43 which covers an adjusting trimmer provided on the electronic board 33 of the upper cabinet 34 for adjusting to the degree of hearing loss.
Are fixed by screws 44. As described above, in the hearing aid 1, the operation buttons (for example, the volume control button 41 and the power button 42) which are relatively frequently used when using the hearing aid 1 are used.
Is provided on the surface of the housing 31, and operation buttons (eg, an adjustment trimmer) that are used less frequently are covered with a lid (eg, an adjustment trimmer panel 43) to improve operability and protect the operation buttons. Is being planned.

An elastic material such as an annular rubber material is fitted and attached to a groove provided on an end surface of a side edge where the upper cabinet 34 and the lower cabinet 35 abut each other. The elastic member is configured to cover the volume control button 41. Then, after such elastic material is attached, the upper cabinet 34
And the lower cabinet 35 are fixed to each other with screws 45. At this time, the elastic material attached to the groove is compressed at the side edges of the upper cabinet 34 and the lower cabinet 35, and fills a gap generated when the respective side edges abut. Therefore, the housing portion 31 thus configured
According to this, when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the user's auricle 11, even if the user sweats or gets a little water such as a face wash, moisture steadily enters the housing 31. Intrusion can be prevented.

Then, the mounting portion 2 configured as described above
The power supply 3 is connected to the power supply 3 via an ear hook 4 as shown in FIG. The ear hook 4 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a hanger spring 51 serving as a core and a cover 52 covering the hanger spring 51 are provided.
It is composed of The hanger spring 51 is configured as a core material, and is formed of, for example, a metal material.
Further, the hanger spring 51 is formed so as to be deformed, and is formed so as to have substantially the same shape as the outer peripheral portion of the base of the pinna, thereby improving the holding force of the hearing aid 1 to the pinna. Further, the cover 52 covering the hanger spring 51 is formed of a rubber material such as silicon rubber. When the cover 52 is made of silicone rubber in this way, even if it directly contacts the skin of the pinna 11, it is possible to prevent rash on the skin. The ear unit 4 has a speaker unit 2 of the mounting unit 2 therein.
7. A conducting wire 30 for electrically connecting the microphone unit 28 to the electronic board 33 of the power supply unit 3 is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 1, a slide shaft 53 is attached to the ear hooking portion 4 to be a connection portion with the power supply portion 3 so that the ear hooking portion 4 can expand and contract. That is, the ear hook portion 4 is expanded and contracted by sliding with respect to the power supply portion 3. The ear hook 4 is fixed by screwing in a set screw, although details are omitted from the case 31 of the power supply 3. Thus, the ear hook 4
Is made to be stretchable, so that the user's auricle 1
Adjustment can be made according to the size of 1.

The hearing aid 1 configured as described above has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, when attached to the depression 12 of the pinna 11,
The earplug part 26 of the mounting part 2 faces the external auditory canal 13, the microphone part 22 is located with the microphone unit 27 facing the concave part 15 on the upper side of the pinna 11, and the power supply part 3 is located at the base of the pinna. It is located and mounted on the outer peripheral part 14. Therefore, in the hearing aid 1, the microphone unit 22 has the microphone unit 27
The microphone unit 28 can detect a sound very similar to the sound actually heard by the auricle 11, and can output the sound from the speaker unit 27 because the microphone unit 28 is located opposite to the concave portion 15 on the upper side of the first. . Hearing aid 1
Since the power supply unit 3 is located on the outer peripheral portion 14 of the auricle 11, the power supply unit 3 can be hidden by the auricle 11 and be less noticeable by a third party.

The hearing aid 1 has a microphone 2
2 and the speaker section 23, and the power supply section 3 includes the battery housing section 32 and the electronic board 33 on which the amplifier circuit is formed.
The weight of the mounting section 2 and the power supply section 3 can be balanced, and the state of being mounted on the auricle can be sufficiently maintained. Therefore, the hearing aid 1 does not drop from the pinna 11 due to a careless operation of the user or the like. Furthermore, since the hearing aid 1 is provided with the cover 52 made of an elastic material on the ear hook portion 4, even if the cover 52 is dropped by mistake, such as when it is accidentally dropped, the It is not damaged because it absorbs. Further, in the hearing aid 1, the power supply unit 3 is located on the outer peripheral portion 14 of the pinna 11.
Therefore, even when the hearing aid 1 is worn, the user
The power supply unit 3 is set in an inconspicuous state located behind the pinna 11.

Although the hearing aid 1 to which the electro-acoustic transducer according to the present invention is applied has been described in detail, any electro-acoustic transducer that can be hung on the pinna may be, for example, a video conference system or a relay. Of course, it may be used for an earphone, an ear hanging radio, a wireless transceiver, and the like used for the like.

[0024]

According to the electroacoustic transducer of the present invention, the microphone and the speaker are configured in the mounting part, and the amplifier and the battery storage are configured in the power supply.
It can be worn in a well-balanced manner, and the state of being worn on the pinna can be sufficiently maintained. Therefore, the electro-acoustic transducer is prevented from dropping from the pinna due to an unexpected operation of the user or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a hearing aid described in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an auricle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line II of the mounting portion of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the hearing aid for explaining a power supply unit.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the power supply unit of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 4, taken along line II-II.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hearing aid as viewed from a power supply unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of an ear hook portion of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the hearing aid is attached to an auricle.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Hearing aid, 2 wearing part, 3 power supply part, 4 ear hook part,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Auricle, 12 hollow part, 13 external ear canal, 14 outer peripheral side, 15 concave part, 21 housing part, 22 microphone part, 23
Speaker, 24 Adapter, 25 Tube, 26
Ear plug part, 27 speaker unit, 28 microphone unit, 31 housing part, 32 battery storage part, 33 electronic board, 34 upper cabinet, 35 lower cabinet, 3
6 button type battery, 37 minus terminal, 38 plus terminal, 39 battery cover, 41 volume control button, 42 power button,

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsunobu Miyahara 6-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mounting part comprising a microphone part and a speaker part and located in a depression part of an auricle; a power supply part comprising an amplifier part and a battery housing part and located on an outer peripheral part of the auricle; An electroacoustic transducer comprising: a mounting portion and an ear hook portion that connects the power source portion and is hung on the outer periphery of the pinna. 2. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the ear hook portion comprises a deformable metal core and a cover made of an elastic material covering the metal core. . 3. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 2, wherein said cover is made of silicone rubber. 4. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the speaker section is located opposite an ear canal, and the microphone section is located opposite a concave portion above an auricle. .