EP4131989A1

EP4131989A1 - Acoustic output device

Info

Publication number: EP4131989A1
Application number: EP21782180.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yasutaka Tanaka; Hideki Minami
Original assignee: Sony Group Corp
Current assignee: Sony Group Corp
Priority date: 2020-03-31
Filing date: 2021-03-05
Publication date: 2023-02-08
Also published as: JPWO2021199922A1; WO2021199922A1; EP4131989A4

Abstract

A speaker unit that outputs sound and a duct unit that amplifies sound output from the speaker unit are included. The duct unit includes a duct in which a sound guiding space is formed, a duct holder on which the duct is mounted, and a duct cover that covers a part of the duct. A shared space is formed between the duct holder and the duct cover, the space having a discharge port that is communicated with the sound guiding space and is capable of discharging moisture. The duct is provided with a restriction wall portion that separates at least a part of the shared space into a first path that enable passage of moisture and a second path that is communicated with the sound guiding space.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to a technical field of a sound output device including a speaker unit that outputs sound and a duct unit that amplifies sound output from the speaker unit.

BACKGROUND ART

There is a so-called bass reflex type sound output device including a speaker unit that outputs sound and a duct unit that amplifies sound output from the speaker unit, and such a sound output device has a speaker unit and a duct unit mounted in respective predetermined positions of a housing (for example, see Patent Document 1). The duct unit is provided with a duct in which an internal space is formed as a sound guiding space, and sound that has been output from the speaker unit passes through the sound guiding space and is amplified by the duct unit to be output from a sound output port of the duct unit outward.
The sound output device described in Patent Document 1 is used in a situation where moisture is scattered, and a wall surface forming an opening portion (sound output hole) of a front panel covering a speaker unit and a duct is formed on an inclined surface, so that penetration of moisture into inside is suppressed.

CITATION LIST

PATENT DOCUMENT

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-54247

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

By the way, in a bass reflex type sound output device, it is necessary to form a sound output hole or the like in order to ensure a good output state of sound. However, when used in a situation where outdoor or indoor moisture is scattered, an angle of moisture such as rainwater toward the sound output device changes, and thus there is a possibility that moisture penetrates inside the sound output device depending on an angle of moisture to the sound output device.
For example, in the sound output device described in Patent Document 1 described above, in a case where moisture flows toward the sound output device at an angle along an inclined surface formed on a front panel, there is a possibility of penetration of moisture into the sound output device to cause the moisture that has penetrated to be retained inside the sound output device.
If moisture is retained inside the sound output device, there is a possibility that a good output state of sound in the sound output device is disturbed or that functionality is deteriorated due to adhesion of moisture to an internal structure of the sound output device.
Thus, a challenge of a sound output device of the present technology is to prevent retention of moisture that penetrates inside to ensure a good output state of sound.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS

First, a sound output device according to the present technology includes a speaker unit that outputs sound and a duct unit that amplifies sound output from the speaker unit, in which the duct unit includes a duct in which a sound guiding space is formed, a duct holder on which the duct is mounted, and a duct cover that covers a part of the duct, a shared space is formed between the duct holder and the duct cover, the shared space having a discharge port that is communicated with the sound guiding space and is capable of discharging moisture, and the duct is provided with a restriction wall portion that separates at least a part of the shared space into a first path that enables passage of moisture and a second path that is communicated with the sound guiding space.
With this arrangement, moisture that has penetrated into the first path is discharged from the discharge port, and sound that has passed through the sound guiding space is passed through the second path.
Second, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the first path be formed on a side of the duct holder, the second path be formed on a side of the duct cover, the restriction wall portion be provided at one end portion of the duct in an axial direction, and the restriction wall portion be formed in a bent shape of which a diameter increases toward one end of the duct in the axial direction.
With this arrangement, since the restriction wall portion is formed in a shape folded back toward the duct holder, when moisture penetrates into the shared space, the moisture is easily guided to the first path by the restriction wall portion.
Third, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that an opening on one end side of the shared space be formed as a sound output port, and the discharge port be formed as a part of the sound output port.
With this arrangement, since a part of the opening formed on one end side of the shared space has functions of both a sound output port and a discharge port, it is not necessary to separately form a sound output port and a discharge port in the shared space.
Fourth, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that a part of the shared space be formed as a common path having the discharge port, and the second path be communicated with the common path.
With this arrangement, moisture that has penetrated into the second path can be flowed from the common path toward the discharge port.
Fifth, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that an area of a space from the restriction wall portion to the sound output port be increased from the restriction wall portion toward the sound output port.
With this arrangement, a path of sound output from the speaker unit gradually increases in a traveling direction of the sound.
Sixth, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that each part of the duct and the duct cover that form the second path be formed in a curved surface shape.
With this arrangement, sound is passed through a base cylindrical portion and the second path formed by each portion in a curved surface shape.
Seventh, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the duct include the restriction wall portion and the base cylindrical portion that is continuous with the restriction wall portion, an opening of the base cylindrical portion on a side opposite to the restriction wall portion be formed as a sound input port, and the base cylindrical portion be inclined so as to be displaced upward from the restriction wall portion toward the sound input port.
With this arrangement, moisture that has penetrated into the second path is less likely to be flowed from a side of the restriction wall portion to a side of the sound input port.
Eighth, in the sound output device according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that placement in two states, a vertical placement state and a horizontal placement state, be enabled, and the base cylindrical portion be inclined so as to be displaced upward from the restriction wall portion toward the sound input port in both states of the vertical placement state and the horizontal placement state.
With this arrangement, moisture that has penetrated into the second path is less likely to be flowed from the side of the restriction wall portion to the side of the sound input port regardless of the placement state whether the vertical placement state or the horizontal placement state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates a mode of a sound output device of the present technology together with Figs. 2 to 7, and the present figure is a perspective view illustrating the sound output device.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a sound output device as viewed from a direction different from one in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a speaker unit and a duct unit are mounted in an inner case.
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a duct unit.
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating paths and the like of sound and moisture.
Fig. 6 is a view three-dimensionally illustrating paths and the like of sound and moisture.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an example in which a sound output device is placed in a horizontal placement state.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out a sound output device of the present technology will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, configurations of sound output devices will be described (see Figs. 1 to 4).
A sound output device 1 can be placed on a placement surface (not illustrated) such as an upper surface of a table or a floor in either a vertical placement state put in a vertically long state or a horizontal placement state put in a horizontally long state. However, the sound output device 1 can also be used in a hand-held state.
Note that, in the following descriptions, it is assumed that front, back, up, down, left, and right directions are indicated as directions in a case where the sound output device 1 is in the vertical placement state, except for descriptions in the horizontal placement state. However, the front, back, up, down, left, and right directions described below are for convenience of descriptions, and carrying out of the present technology is not limited to these directions.
For example, the sound output device 1 is used in the vertical placement state extending up and down and includes a vertically long housing 2 and required respective portions supported by or arranged on the housing 2 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The housing 2 includes a box-shaped outer case 3, a frame 4 mounted on an outer surface side of the outer case 3, and an inner case 5 arranged inside the outer case 3.
The outer case 3 has a box-shaped front case portion (not illustrated) opened backward and a box-shaped rear case portion 6 opened forward joined in the front-back direction.
A substantially rectangular arrangement hole 6a is formed in a rear surface portion of the rear case portion 6. In the rear case portion 6, operation portions 7, 7, ... are arranged above the arrangement hole 6a.
The frame 4 includes base portions 8 and 9 that are positioned up and down and separately and coupling portions 10 and 10 that couple the base portions 8 and 9.
The base portions 8 and 9 each are formed in a plate shape facing a substantially up-and-down direction, and operation portions 11, 11, ... are arranged in the upper base portion 8. The coupling portions 10 and 10 are respectively connected with parts of outer peripheral portions of the base portions 8 and 9 on substantially opposite sides in a circumferential direction. The base portions 8 and 9 have outer shapes formed in an identical shape and include insertion holes 8a and 9a at an identical position in a front end portion, respectively. The base portions 8 and 9 have outer parts of the insertion holes 8a and 9a provided as handle portions 8b and 9b formed in a substantially arc shape, respectively. The frame 4 has two placing legs 4a, 4a, ... each provided on outer peripheral surfaces of the base portions 8 and 9, and the placing legs 4a, 4a, ... are formed in shapes protruding in an identical direction on sides.
The frame 4 is mounted on an outer surface of the outer case 3 in a state where the base portion 8 covers an upper surface of the outer case 3 from above and the base portion 9 covers a lower surface of the outer case 3 from below.
The sound output device 1 can be carried to a required position and used by inserting fingers into the insertion holes 8a and 9a of the frame 4 to grip the handle portions 8b and 9b.
The inner case 5 is formed in a vertically long box shape and includes a first insertion arrangement hole 5a in a front surface portion and a second insertion arrangement hole 5b in a rear surface portion (see Fig. 3) .
A speaker unit 12 is inserted and arranged in the first insertion arrangement hole 5a of the inner case 5, and a front end portion of the speaker unit 12 is mounted on the front surface portion of the inner case 5. The speaker unit 12 is, for example, a dynamic-type speaker unit and is mounted on the inner case 5 in a state where a diaphragm 12a is positioned on a front side of the first insertion arrangement hole 5a. Thus, the speaker unit 12 has a magnetic circuit portion 12b including a magnet, a yoke, or the like positioned inside the inner case 5.
A duct unit 13 is inserted and arranged in the second insertion arrangement hole 5b of the inner case 5, and a rear end portion of the duct unit 13 is mounted on a rear surface portion of the inner case 5.
The duct unit 13 includes a duct holder 14, a duct 15, a duct cover 16, and a duct lid 17 (see Figs. 3 and 4) .
The duct holder 14 includes a base surface portion 18 facing the front-back direction, a peripheral surface portion 19 protruding obliquely backward from an outer peripheral portion of the base surface portion 18, and a flange-shaped mounted surface portion 20 protruding outward from an outer peripheral portion of the peripheral surface portion 19. An insertion hole 18a is formed in the base surface portion 18. In the base surface portion 18, screw insertion holes 18b, 18b, ... are formed separately in a circumferential direction around the insertion hole 18a.
The duct 15 includes a cylindrical portion 21 and a flange portion 22. The cylindrical portion 21 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a base cylindrical portion 23 and a restriction wall portion 24. An internal space of the cylindrical portion 21 is formed as a sound guiding space 21a through which sound output from the speaker unit 12 is guided, and an opening on a front side is formed as a sound input port 21b.
The base cylindrical portion 23 is a part excluding a rear end portion of the cylindrical portion 21 and includes a continuous portion 23a, an inclined portion 23b, and a diameter changing portion 23c. The base cylindrical portion 23 has a rear end portion provided as the continuous portion 23a, a front end portion provided as the diameter changing portion 23c, and the inclined portion 23b provided as a part between the continuous portion 23a and the diameter changing portion 23c.
An axial direction of the continuous portion 23a is the front-back direction. The inclined portion 23b is inclined so as to be displaced upward with distance from the continuous portion 23a. The diameter changing portion 23c is formed in a shape in which a diameter increases with distance from the inclined portion 23b.
The restriction wall portion 24 is connected with a rear end of the continuous portion 23a, is formed in a bent shape in which a diameter increases with distance from the continuous portion 23a, and is formed in a convex shape curved inward. The restriction wall portion 24 is formed in a circular shape in which an apical surface 24a faces outward in a radial direction with respect to an axis extending forward and backward.
The flange portion 22 protrudes outward from the continuous portion 23a. In the flange portion 22, screw insertion holes 22a, 22a, ... are formed separately in the circumferential direction.
The duct cover 16 has an outer shape formed in a substantially rectangular shape and includes a central portion 25, an inner peripheral portion 26, an outer peripheral portion 27, and a peripheral edge portion 28 which are continuously provided in order from inside, and the central portion 25, the inner peripheral portion 26, and the outer peripheral portion 27 are formed in a curved surface shape.
The central portion 25 is formed in a convex shape forward and is formed in a bowl shape having a concave portion 25a opened backward. The inner peripheral portion 26 is connected with an outer periphery of the central portion 25, is formed in a convex shape backward, and is formed in a shape having a concave portion 26a opened forward. The outer peripheral portion 27 is connected with an outer periphery of the inner peripheral portion 26, is formed in a convex shape forward, and is formed in a shape having a concave portion 27a opened backward. The peripheral edge portion 28 is formed continuously with the outer peripheral portion 27 on an outer periphery of the outer peripheral portion 27 and is formed in a plate shape facing the front-back direction.
In the duct cover 16, mounting shafts 29, 29, ... protruded backward from the outer peripheral portion 27 are provided separately in the circumferential direction. In the peripheral edge portion 28 of the duct cover 16, screw insertion holes 28a, 28a, ... are formed separately in the circumferential direction.
In the duct unit 13, in a state where the continuous portion 23a of the duct 15 and the restriction wall portion 24 are inserted into the insertion hole 18a of the duct holder 14 from a front, mounting screws (not illustrated) are inserted into the screw insertion holes 18b, 18b, ... of the duct holder 14 and the screw insertion holes 22a, 22a, ... of the duct 15 from the front and screwed into the mounting shafts 29, 29, ... of the duct cover 16, whereby the duct 15 and the duct cover 16 are mounted on the duct holder 14 (see Fig. 3). Thus, the duct 15 is held by the duct holder 14 with the flange portion 22 sandwiched between the base surface portion 18 of the duct holder 14 and the mounting shafts 29, 29, ... of the duct cover 16.
In a state where the duct 15 and the duct cover 16 are mounted on the duct holder 14, the duct holder 14 and parts other than the mounting shafts 29, 29, ... of the duct cover 16 are positioned facing each other, and a space is formed therebetween. The space between the duct holder 14 and the duct cover 16 is a shared space 30. The duct 15 has the continuous portion 23a and the restriction wall portion 24 positioned in the shared space 30, and the restriction wall portion 24 is positioned to face the inner peripheral portion 26 of the duct cover 16. At this time, the restriction wall portion 24 has the apical surface 24a positioned on an inner peripheral side of a front end portion of the outer peripheral portion 27 and has a constant gap formed in the circumferential direction between the apical surface 24a and the front end portion of the outer peripheral portion 27.
In a state where the duct 15 and the duct cover 16 are mounted on the duct holder 14, the duct holder 14, the duct 15, and the duct cover 16 are brought into a positional relationship as described above, whereby two paths (spaces) separated forward and backward are formed in the shared space 30 by the restriction wall portion 24. In the shared space 30, a path on a front side of the restriction wall portion 24 is set to be a first path 31 through which moisture can pass, and a path on a rear side of the restriction wall portion 24 is set to be a second path 32 that is communicated with a sound guiding space. The first path 31 is formed as an annular space positioned on an outer peripheral side of the continuous portion 23a and the restriction wall portion 24.
In addition, in the shared space 30, a path (space) on the outer peripheral side of the restriction wall portion 24 is set to be a common path 33 surrounded by the peripheral surface portion 19 of the duct holder 14 and the outer peripheral portion 27 and the peripheral edge portion 28 of the duct cover 16.
An opening on a rear side of the shared space 30 is formed as an annular sound output port 34, and a lower end portion of the sound output port 34 also functions as a discharge port 34a capable of discharging moisture.
The duct lid 17 has an outer shape formed in a shape and a size substantially identical to the outer shape of the peripheral edge portion 28 of the duct cover 16 and made one size smaller than the arrangement hole 6a formed in the rear case portion 6 of the outer case 3. On the duct lid 17, mounting bosses 17a, 17a, ... protruding forward are provided separately in the circumferential direction.
The duct lid 17 is mounted on the peripheral edge portion 28 from a rear side by screwing or the like. The duct lid 17 is mounted on the duct cover 16 by causing mounting screws (not illustrated) inserted into the screw insertion holes 28a, 28a, ... of the peripheral edge portion 28 to be screwed into the mounting bosses 17a, 17a,.... When the duct lid 17 is mounted on the duct cover 16, the duct cover 16 is covered with the duct lid 17 from behind.
The duct unit 13 configured as described above is inserted and arranged in the second insertion arrangement hole 5b of the inner case 5, and the mounted surface portion 20 of the duct holder 14 is mounted on a rear side opening edge of the second insertion arrangement hole 5b of the inner case 5 by screwing or the like. In a state where the duct unit 13 is mounted on the inner case 5, the mounted surface portion 20 of the duct holder 14, a part of the peripheral edge portion 28 of the duct cover 16, and the duct lid 17 are positioned behind the second insertion arrangement hole 5b.
The inner case 5 on which the speaker unit 12 and the duct unit 13 are mounted is arranged inside the outer case 3, and in a state where the inner case 5 is arranged inside the outer case 3, the duct lid 17 is arranged in the arrangement hole 6a formed in the rear case portion 6 of the outer case 3. In the arrangement hole 6a of the rear case portion 6, an annular space is formed between an opening edge thereof and an outer peripheral edge of the duct lid 17 (see Fig. 2). This annular space is formed as a sound emission space 35 from which sound output from the sound output port 34 through the duct unit 13 is emitted outward. There is a possibility that the duct unit 13 has inside thereof penetrated by moisture such as rainwater from the sound emission space 35.
In a state where the inner case 5 is arranged inside the outer case 3, a grill cover 36 is mounted on the outer case 3 from a front side (see Figs. 1 and 2). The grill cover 36 includes a front surface portion 37 and side surface portions 38 and 38 and includes, above and below the front surface portion 37, cutouts 37a and 37a opened upward or downward. The grill cover 36 is mounted on the outer surface of the outer case 3 in a state of being inserted from a front side into a space surrounded by the base portions 8 and 9 and the coupling portions 10 and 10 of the frame 4.
In a state where the grill cover 36 is mounted on the outer case 3, spaces into which fingers can be inserted are formed below the base portion 8 and above the base portion 9 by the cutouts 37a and 37a. Thus, a user can easily grip the handle portions 8b and 9b by inserting fingers into the insertion holes 8a and 9a of the frame 4 and the spaces formed by the cutouts 37a and 37a.

Hereinafter, sound paths and the like in the duct unit 13 will be described (see Figs. 5 and 6).
The sound output from the speaker unit 12 sequentially passes through the sound guiding space 21a from the sound input port 21b of the duct 15, passes through the common path 33 from the second path 32, and is output from the sound emission space 35 outward via the sound output port 34 (see arrows A in Figs. 5 and 6).
At this time, as described below, the duct unit 13 is formed so that areas of spaces serving as a sound path increase from the restriction wall portion 24 toward the sound output port 34 (see Fig. 5).
Assuming that an area of a space at a boundary part between the restriction wall portion 24 and the continuous portion 23a is S1, an area of a space at an intermediate part in the sound path of the restriction wall portion 24 is S2, an area of a space at a tip part of the restriction wall portion 24 is S3, and an area of a space near the sound output port 34 of the common path 33 is S4, S4 is set to be larger than S3, S3 is set to be larger than S2, and S2 is set to be larger than S1. Thus, in the duct unit 13, the areas of the spaces serving as a sound path gradually increase from the restriction wall portion 24 toward the sound output port 34.
Thus, in the duct unit 13, since the areas of the spaces serving as a sound path are formed to increase from the restriction wall portion 24 toward the sound output port 34, the paths of the sound output from the speaker unit 12 gradually increase in the traveling direction of the sound, a large amplification effect of sound is obtained, and sound performance of the sound output device 1 can be improved.

Next, moisture paths and the like when moisture penetrates into the duct unit 13 by any chance will be described (see Figs. 5 and 6).
There is a possibility that moisture penetrates inside the duct unit 13 from the sound output port 34 via the sound emission space 35 formed by the outer case 3 and the duct lid 17. Moisture penetrates into the common path 33 of the shared space 30 from the sound emission space 35 via the sound output port 34 (see arrows B in Figs. 5 and 6). At this time, as described above, the duct 15 has the apical surface 24a of the restriction wall portion 24 positioned on the inner peripheral side of the front end portion of the outer peripheral portion 27, and the first path 31 exists immediately below the common path 33.
Thus, the moisture that has penetrated into the common path 33 penetrates into the first path 31 without being penetrated by the second path 32 and is flowed downward in the first path 31 on the outer peripheral side of the restriction wall portion 24 and the continuous portion 23a. The moisture that has been flowed downward in the first path 31 continues to be flowed through a lower part of the common path 33 and flowed outside the sound output device 1 from the sound emission space 35 via the discharge port 34a formed as a part of the sound output port 34.
Note that, in a case where a large amount of moisture penetrates from the sound output port 34 or in a case where a momentum of moisture is strong and moisture splashes inside the sound output port 34, there is a possibility that a small amount of moisture penetrates into the second path 32. However, the moisture that has penetrated into the second path 32 is flowed sequentially through the second path 32 and the lower part of the common path 33 and is flowed outside the sound output device 1 from the discharge port 34a.
Thus, the moisture that has penetrated inside the duct unit 13 from the sound output port 34 via the sound emission space 35 is flowed outside the sound output device 1 from the discharge port 34a regardless of the amount and the momentum of moisture.
As described above, in the duct unit 13, since the second path 32 is communicated with the common path 33, the moisture that has penetrated into the second path 32 can be flowed from the common path 33 toward the discharge port 34a, and thus, by any chance when moisture has penetrated into the second path 32, the moisture that has penetrated can be discharged from the discharge port 34a.
In addition, since the duct 15 is inclined such that the base cylindrical portion 23 is displaced upward from the restriction wall portion 24 toward the sound input port 21b, the moisture that has penetrated into the second path 32 is less likely to be flowed from a side of the restriction wall portion 24 toward a side of the sound input port 21b. Thus, even when moisture has penetrated into the second path 32 by any chance, it is possible to prevent the moisture that has penetrated from flowing into the sound guiding space 21a and improve sound quality.

As described above, in the sound output device 1, the shared space 30 is formed between the duct holder 14 and the duct cover 16, the shared space 30 having the discharge port 34a that is communicated with the sound guiding space 21a and is capable of discharging moisture at one end, and the duct 15 is provided with the restriction wall portion 24 that separates at least a part of the shared space 30 into a first path 31 that enables passage of moisture and a second path 32 that is communicated with the sound guiding space 21a.
Thus, since the moisture that has penetrated into the first path 31 is discharged from the discharge port 34a and the sound that has passed through the sound guiding space 21a is passed through the second path 32, it is possible to prevent retention of moisture penetrating inside the duct unit 13 to ensure good drip-proof performance with a simple configuration, and it is possible to ensure a good output state of sound.
In addition, since the drip-proof performance can be secured with a simple configuration by providing the restriction wall portion 24, the drip-proof performance can be secured without affecting a length, an area, a shape, and the like of the duct 15, each parameter such as a length, an area, a shape, and the like of the duct 15 can be adjusted, and sound performance can be improved while securing the good drip-proof performance.
Further, the restriction wall portion 24 is provided at one end portion of the duct 15 in the axial direction, and the restriction wall portion 24 is formed in a bent shape of which a diameter increases toward one end of the duct 15 in the axial direction.
Thus, since the restriction wall portion 24 is formed in a shape folded back toward the duct holder 14, when moisture penetrates into the shared space 30, the moisture is easily guided to the first path 31 by the restriction wall portion 24, and it is possible to cause the moisture to reliably flow in the first path 31.
Furthermore, an opening on one end side of the shared space 30 is formed as the sound output port 34, and the discharge port 34a is formed as a part of the sound output port 34.
Thus, since a part of the opening formed on one end side of the shared space 30 has functions of both the sound output port 34 and the discharge port 34a, it is not necessary to separately form the sound output port 34 and the discharge port 34a in the shared space 30, which makes it possible to simplify and downsize a structure of the sound output device 1.
Moreover, the base cylindrical portion 23, which is a sound path, is formed entirely in a curved surface shape, and each part of the duct 15 and the duct cover 16 forming the second path 32 is also formed in a curved surface shape.
Thus, since sound is passed through the base cylindrical portion 23 and the second path 32 formed by each part in a curved surface shape, sound quality of the sound output from the sound output device 1 can be improved.

As described above, the sound output device 1 can be placed on the placement surface in either the vertical placement state in the vertically long state or the horizontal placement state in the horizontally long state (See Figs. 1, 2, and 7).
A user recognizes a direction in which the operation portions 7, 7, ... arranged in the outer case 3 are positioned upward to place the sound output device 1 on the placement surface in the vertical placement state (see Figs. 1 and 2). In addition, a user recognizes a direction in which the placing legs 4a of the frame 4 are in contact with the placement surface to place the sound output device 1 on the placement surface in the horizontal placement state (see Fig. 7).
In the horizontal placement state, since the operation portions 7, 7, ... are positioned on the sides, a user can operate the operation portions 7, 7, ... positioned on the sides to use the sound output device 1 satisfactorily. At this time, since the duct unit 13 is placed on its side, a direction of the duct 15 relative to the placement surface is also changed with respect to the vertical placement state. However, in the sound output device 1, the duct 15 is inclined such that the base cylindrical portion 23 is displaced upward from the restriction wall portion 24 toward the sound input port 21b even in the horizontal placement state.
Thus, the moisture that has penetrated into the second path 32 is less likely to be flowed from the side of the restriction wall portion 24 toward the side of the sound input port 21b regardless of the placement state whether the vertical placement state or the horizontal placement state. Therefore, when moisture has penetrated into the second path 32 in either placement state, it is possible to prevent the moisture that has penetrated from flowing into the sound guiding space 21a to improve sound quality.
Note that, a mounting structure of the duct holder 14, the duct 15, the duct cover 16, and the duct lid 17 in the duct unit 13 described above is an example, and a mounting structure of each portion of the duct unit 13 can be changed to another mounting structure. Additionally, shapes of structures that can be visually recognized from the outside of the sound output device 1, for example, the duct lid 17, can be formed in an arbitrary shape such as a rectangular shape or a circular shape.

The present technology can be configured as follows.

(1) A sound output device including a speaker unit that outputs sound and a duct unit that amplifies sound output from the speaker unit, in which
- the duct unit includes a duct in which a sound guiding space is formed, a duct holder on which the duct is mounted, and a duct cover that covers a part of the duct,
- a shared space is formed between the duct holder and the duct cover, the shared space having a discharge port that is communicated with the sound guiding space and is capable of discharging moisture, and
- the duct is provided with a restriction wall portion that separates at least a part of the shared space into a first path that enables passage of moisture and a second path that is communicated with the sound guiding space.
(2) The sound output device according to (1) described above, in which
- the first path is formed on a side of the duct holder,
- the second path is formed on a side of the duct cover,
- the restriction wall portion is provided at one end portion of the duct in an axial direction, and
- the restriction wall portion is formed in a bent shape of which a diameter increases toward one end of the duct in the axial direction.
(3) The sound output device according to (1) or (2) described above, in which
- an opening on one end side of the shared space is formed as a sound output port, and
- the discharge port is formed as a part of the sound output port.
(4) The sound output device according to (3) described above, in which
- a part of the shared space is formed as a common path having the discharge port, and
- the second path is communicated with the common path.
(5) The sound output device according to (3) or (4) described above, in which
an area of a space from the restriction wall portion to the sound output port is increased from the restriction wall portion toward the sound output port.
(6) The sound output device according to any one of (1) to (5) described above, in which
each part of the duct and the duct cover that form the second path is formed in a curved surface shape.
(7) The sound output device according to any one of (1) to (6) described above, in which
- the duct includes the restriction wall portion and a base cylindrical portion that is continuous with the restriction wall portion,
- an opening of the base cylindrical portion on a side opposite to the restriction wall portion is formed as a sound input port, and
- the base cylindrical portion is inclined so as to be displaced upward from the restriction wall portion toward the sound input port.
(8) The sound output device according to (7) described above, in which
- placement in two states, a vertical placement state and a horizontal placement state, is enabled, and
- the base cylindrical portion is inclined so as to be displaced upward from the restriction wall portion toward the sound input port in both states of the vertical placement state and the horizontal placement state.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: Sound output device
12: Speaker unit
13: Duct unit
14: Duct holder
15: Duct
16: Duct cover
21a: Sound guiding space
21b: Sound input port
23: Base cylindrical portion
24: Restriction wall portion
30: Shared space
31: First path
32: Second path
34: Sound output port
34a: Discharge port

Claims

A sound output device comprising a speaker unit that outputs sound and a duct unit that amplifies sound output from the speaker unit, wherein
the duct unit includes a duct in which a sound guiding space is formed, a duct holder on which the duct is mounted, and a duct cover that covers a part of the duct,

a shared space is formed between the duct holder and the duct cover, the shared space having a discharge port that is communicated with the sound guiding space and is capable of discharging moisture, and

the duct is provided with a restriction wall portion that separates at least a part of the shared space into a first path that enables passage of moisture and a second path that is communicated with the sound guiding space.
The sound output device according to claim 1, wherein
the first path is formed on a side of the duct holder,

the second path is formed on a side of the duct cover,

the restriction wall portion is provided at one end portion of the duct in an axial direction, and

the restriction wall portion is formed in a bent shape of which a diameter increases toward one end of the duct in the axial direction.
The sound output device according to claim 1, wherein
an opening on one end side of the shared space is formed as a sound output port, and

the discharge port is formed as a part of the sound output port.
The sound output device according to claim 3, wherein
a part of the shared space is formed as a common path having the discharge port, and

the second path is communicated with the common path.
The sound output device according to claim 3, wherein
an area of a space from the restriction wall portion to the sound output port is increased from the restriction wall portion toward the sound output port.
The sound output device according to claim 1, wherein
each part of the duct and the duct cover that form the second path is formed in a curved surface shape.
The sound output device according to claim 1, wherein
the duct includes the restriction wall portion and a base cylindrical portion that is continuous with the restriction wall portion,

an opening of the base cylindrical portion on a side opposite to the restriction wall portion is formed as a sound input port, and

the base cylindrical portion is inclined so as to be displaced upward from the restriction wall portion toward the sound input port.
The sound output device according to claim 7, wherein
placement in two states, a vertical placement state and a horizontal placement state, is enabled, and

the base cylindrical portion is inclined so as to be displaced upward from the restriction wall portion toward the sound input port in both states of the vertical placement state and the horizontal placement state.