JP2001285982A - Headphone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even plural persons to enjoy common music in a headphone constituted by equipping a pair of left and right earphones 2 and 3 at both end parts of a head band 1. SOLUTION: In this headphone, both earphones 2 and 3 are respectively pivoted to the end parts of the head band 1 and one of a first posture for covering both ears with both earphones 2 and 3 in the state of mounting the head band 1 on a head part and a second posture turned for a prescribed angle from the first posture can be selectively set. At the connection parts of both earphones 2 and 3 and the head band 1, first and second switches SW1 and SW2 to be switched liked with the change of the posture of the headphone are attached. When the first posture is detected by the switches SW1 and SW2, a gain for volume adjustment is set to a small value. When the second posture is detected, the gain for the volume adjustment is set to a large value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to headphones for converting audio output of audio equipment into sound.
In particular, the present invention relates to a headphone configured by disposing a pair of left and right earphones at both ends of a headband.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional headphone, a pair of left and right earphones cover both ears by wearing a headband on a head, so that music can be reproduced at an appropriate volume without leaking sound to the outside. You can listen.

[0003]

However, in the conventional headphones, only one person wearing the headphones can enjoy music, and a plurality of persons cannot enjoy common music. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide headphones that allow a plurality of people to enjoy common music.

[0004]

A headphone according to the present invention comprises a pair of left and right earphones at both ends of a headband (1).
(2) and (3) are arranged, and the audio signal which has passed through the amplifier circuit (6) is supplied to both earphones (2) and (3). In the headphone, both earphones (2) and (3) are pivotally supported at the ends of the headband (1), respectively.
The first posture in which both earphones (2) and (3) cover both ears when (1) is mounted on the head, and the second posture rotated by a predetermined angle from the first posture. , It is possible to selectively set any one of the postures. At least one of the connecting portion between the earphone and the headband (1) is provided with a posture detecting means which switches in accordance with a change in posture of the headphone, and detects the first posture by the posture detecting means. The gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is set to a first value, and when the second attitude is detected, the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is set to a value larger than the first value. Set to a second value.

The first value of the gain has such a magnitude that an appropriate sound volume can be obtained with the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) in contact with the ears. Has a size such that an appropriate volume can be obtained with the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) sufficiently separated from the ears. or,
Each of the attitude detecting means and the state detecting means can be constituted by a well-known on / off switch or the like.

According to the headphones of the present invention, when enjoying music alone, a pair of left and right earphones (2) (3)
Is set to the first posture. As a result, the attitude detecting means is switched to detect the setting of the first attitude, and the amplifier circuit
The gain of (6) is set to the first value. head band
By attaching (1) to the head, the left and right earphones
(2) and (3) cover the left and right ears.
From (2) and (3), sound is emitted at a small volume. Therefore, the listener wearing the headphones can listen to music at an appropriate volume.

On the other hand, when a plurality of persons enjoy common music, the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) are switched from the first position to the second position and placed next to a plurality of listeners. In conjunction with the change in the posture, the posture detecting means is switched, and the setting of the second posture is detected. This allows the amplifier circuit
The gain of (6) is set to the second value. As a result, sound is emitted from both earphones (2) and (3) at a large volume. Therefore, a plurality of listeners can enjoy common music at an appropriate volume.

Specifically, a pair of left and right earphones
(2) The second posture of (3) is the headband from the first posture.
It is set to a posture rotated by a fixed angle (for example, approximately 90 °) toward the outside of (1). As a result, the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) faces in substantially the same direction in the second posture, and can emit sound to many surrounding listeners.

In a more specific configuration, the attitude detecting means is attached to each of the connecting portions of the headband (1) and the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3). Only when the second attitude is detected, the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is set to the second value. According to this specific configuration, even if one of the attitude detecting means detects the second attitude due to a defective wearing state of the headphones, the other attitude detecting means detects the first attitude. Therefore, the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is not set to the second value. Therefore, there is no danger that a loud sound will be emitted from the earphones (2) and (3) while the headphones are worn, which is safe.

In still another specific configuration, at least one of the earphones is provided with a state detecting means that is switched by covering an ear, and the second posture is detected by the posture detecting means. Only when the detection means detects that the earphone is not covering the ear, the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is set to the second value. According to the specific configuration, even if one of the earphones puts the earphone on the ear in a state where the earphones (2) and (3) are set in the second posture in order to enjoy music by a plurality of people, This state is detected by the state detecting means, and the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is forcibly switched to the first value.
Therefore, there is no danger that a loud sound will enter the ear directly, which is safe.

[0011]

According to the headphones according to the present invention, not only one person but also a plurality of people can enjoy common music, which is convenient.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In the headphones according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) are provided at both ends of an arched headband (1) made of an elastic member. ) Is connected so as to be rotatable in the same direction as the elastic direction of the headphone.
First posture to enjoy music by putting (3) on the ear (Fig. 1)
And both earphones without wearing the headband (1) on the head
(2) It is possible to selectively set any one of the second postures (FIG. 2) for a plurality of people to enjoy the music emitted from (3). The left earphone (2) has a built-in left channel speaker (4), and the right earphone (3) has a built-in right channel speaker (5).

Headband (1) and both earphones (2) (3)
Each of the connecting portions is provided with a well-known pivot mechanism (not shown). Each pivot mechanism is provided with earphones (2) and (3) in FIG.
A known soft locking mechanism (not shown) for soft locking in each of the first position shown in FIG. 2 and the second position shown in FIG.

At both ends of the headband (1), first and second switches SW1 and SW2 that are switched according to changes in the attitude of the earphones (2) and (3) are provided. The switch is kept off in the first position of FIG. 1 and in the second position of FIG.
It is pressed by (3) and turned on. Furthermore, both earphones (2)
On the inner surface of (3), third and fourth switches SW3 and SW4 that are switched from off to on by pressing the earphones (2) and (3) against the ears are provided. In order to mount these switches, a method of mounting them by exposing them to the surface of a headband or an earphone, a method of embedding the switches inside a pad of the earphone, or the like can be adopted.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration of the above-mentioned headphone. A left-channel audio signal AL and a right-channel audio signal AR input from an audio device such as an MD player are converted to a well-known amplifier capable of adjusting a gain. The signal is supplied to a left channel speaker (4) and a right channel speaker (5) via a circuit (6). As a result, each audio signal is converted into sound and emitted. The above four switches SW1 to SW4 are control circuits
(7), a control signal (SP signal) generated by the control circuit (7) is supplied to the amplifier circuit (6),
Gain adjustment is performed as described later.

The control circuit (7) includes an AND gate (8). The ON / OFF signals from the first and second switches SW1 and SW2 are inverted and input to the AND gate (8). On / off signals from the third and fourth switches SW3 and SW4 are input to the AND gate (8) without being inverted. Then, the output signal of the AND gate (8) is output as an SP signal.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the on / off state of each of the switches SW1 to SW4, the level of the SP signal, and the magnitude of the gain set in the amplifier circuit (6). When the earphones (2) and (3) are set to the first posture (FIG. 1), the first and second switches SW1 and SW2 are both turned off as described above, and the third and second switches are turned on by wearing the headphones. The four switches SW3 and SW4 are both turned on. As a result, the SP signal output from the control circuit (7) is low (L).
As a result, the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is set to the normal low value (first value) gain (headphone mode). As a result, the earphones (2) and (3) emit a small volume sound, and the listener wearing the headphones can listen to music at an appropriate volume.

On the other hand, when the earphones (2) and (3) are set in the second posture (FIG. 2) and the headphones are placed in front of a plurality of listeners, the first and second earphones are moved as described above. The second switches SW1 and SW2 are both turned on, and the third and fourth switches SW3 and SW4 are both turned off. As a result, the SP signal output from the control circuit (7) becomes high (H),
The gain of the amplifier circuit 6 is set to a gain (second value) larger than usual (speaker mode). As a result, a large volume of sound is emitted from the earphones (2) and (3), and a plurality of listeners in front of the headphones can listen to music at a sufficient volume.

Assuming that the earphones (2) and (3) are in the second posture
When the headphone is worn on the head or one earphone is put on the ear in the state set in FIG.
Both or one or both of the third and fourth switches SW3 and SW4 are turned on while the first and second switches SW1 and SW2 are both turned on. As a result, the SP signal output from the control circuit (7) becomes low (L), and the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) is set to the first value (abnormal mode). As a result, the volume of the sound emitted from the earphones (2) and (3) is reduced to a small level, thereby avoiding a situation in which the sound having a high volume directly enters the ear.

As described above, according to the headphones according to the present invention, the earphones (2), (3)
To the ear, the headphone mode is set so that the user can listen to the music alone, and the speaker mode is set by one-touch operation only by changing the direction of the earphones (2) and (3), and It is convenient because you can enjoy common music.

The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, although the amplifier circuit (6) is built in the headphones, the control circuit
By supplying the SP signal output from (7) to the audio device, it is also possible to adjust the gain of the amplifier circuit built in the audio device. Each of the switches SW1 to SW4 is not limited to an on / off switch having a contact, but may be constituted by various known detection means such as a non-contact type on / off switch and a sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a headphone according to the present invention in a headphone mode.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the headphone in a speaker mode.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the headphones.

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating a mode setting according to ON / OFF of a switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Headband (2) Earphone (3) Earphone (4) Left channel speaker (5) Right channel speaker (6) Amplifier circuit (7) Control circuit (8) AND gate

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masanao Yoshida 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (reference) 5D005 BB03 5D020 AC01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) arranged at both ends of a headband (1).
(2) (3) In the headphone to which the audio signal passed through the amplifier circuit (6) is supplied, the two earphones (2) and (3) are pivotally supported at the ends of the headband (1), respectively. Both earphones (2) with (1) attached to the head
(3) It is possible to selectively set any one of a first posture that covers both ears and a second posture rotated by a predetermined angle from the first posture. At least one of the connecting portion between the earphone and the headband is provided with a posture detecting means that switches in accordance with a change in posture of the headphone, and when the first posture is detected by the posture detecting means. Sets the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) to a first value, and when a second attitude is detected, sets the gain of the amplifier circuit (6) to a second value larger than the first value. Headphone characterized by setting to a value. 2. The second posture of the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) is a posture rotated by a fixed angle from the first posture toward the outside of the headband (1). The described headphones. 3. The posture detecting means is attached to each of the connecting portions of the headband (1) and the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3), and both posture detecting means detect the second posture. 3. The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the gain of the amplifier circuit is set to the second value only when the operation is performed. 4. At least one of the earphones is provided with state detecting means for switching by covering the ear, the second posture is detected by the posture detecting means, and the earphone is turned on by the state detecting means. The amplification circuit only when it is detected that the
4. The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the gain of (6) is set to a second value. 5. The first value of the gain has such a magnitude that an appropriate volume can be obtained when the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) is put on the ear, and the second value is a second value. Has a size such that an appropriate volume can be obtained with the pair of left and right earphones (2) and (3) sufficiently separated from the ears.
The headphones according to any one of claims 4 to 4.