JP2009232443A - Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an earplug type receiver which is made small-sized and lightweight, so that a user will not feel a load, even during long-time use, which is capable of clearly hearing voice information, can be easily mounted, and is configured simply. <P>SOLUTION: The receiver 11 comprises a vibrating body 12, that generates acoustic vibration, and a stick-like member 13. The stick-like member 13 has a shape which can be inserted into the external auditory meatus and to block entrance of sound from the outside of the external auditory meatus into the external auditory meatus, and the stick-like member 13 and the vibrating body 12 are fixed to form the receiver 11. As for the vibrating body 12, a stick-like layered piezoelectric actuator element or layered piezoelectric bimorph vibrator is used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiver that is suitable for clearly listening to an audio signal even in a noisy environment.

  In recent years, various transmitter / receiver apparatuses for listening to audio signals in a noisy environment have been developed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 relates to an earplug for insertion into the ear canal, and the earplug is separated into two separate acoustic systems, namely an earphone unit suitable for listening and a microphone unit, in a noisy environment. An invention enabling single communication and multiple communication with a human being is disclosed. The body is sized and shaped to fit within the ear canal, and includes an inner end and an outer head and a longitudinal passage through the torso from the inner end to the outer head. The body and the pair of collars surrounding the body, having a dimension for closely contacting the outer ear wall when the earplug is inserted into the ear canal, and positioned at that position, and by the pair of collars A pair of collars spaced apart to create a defined cavity and a surface portion of the barrel between the pair of collars, and a pair of collars of the barrel from the outer head provided on the barrel The earplug having a hollow passage extending therethrough to a surface portion of the body portion therebetween.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a bone-conducting speaker that has a good wearing feeling and is not conspicuous and can be used even under high noise, and a bone-conduction microphone that provides clear transmission / reception performance even under high-noise conditions. An invention is disclosed that provides a body-shaped bone-conducting speaker. The solution is to fix a bone-conducting speaker storage part containing a bone-conducting speaker at the outer end of the insertion part to be inserted into the ear canal, and the insertion part is usually molded into the shape of the ear canal of the user. The earplug type earpiece is held near the entrance of the ear canal.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an invention that eliminates characteristic fluctuations and pain during use of electroacoustic transducers such as hearing aids and earphones, as well as loss of vibration energy via air conduction in the tube. The electroacoustic transducer is an electroacoustic transducer having an earplug function to be worn in the ear canal, and has a flexible earplug member and an electroacoustic transducer that converts electrical energy into vibration energy. Vibration energy obtained by the electroacoustic conversion system is conducted to the earplug member via a vibration transmission lever, and is detected as an acoustic signal by vibrating the earplug member. It is what.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-78400 JP 2000-166959 A JP 2000-69596 A

  As described above, various types of transmission / reception devices using a combination of an earplug-like instrument and a transducer that converts an electrical signal into acoustic vibration have been proposed as a voice information transmission system that transmits and receives only necessary information under noise.

  However, in any of the earpieces in these earphone-like structures, the transducer portion is attached to the end surface of the anti-insertion portion. For this reason, there is a problem that the shape is too large, overhanging outward, the center of gravity shifts outward, and the weight further increases, and it is easy for the user to come off during wearing, and wear for a long time. However, there was a problem that the burden was great both mentally and physically.

  In addition, the environment using this type of transmitter / receiver is not normal for that purpose, and is likely to involve intense movements such as outdoor construction sites, mines, firefighting, police, defense, etc. Therefore, it was desired that the configuration of the helmet and the like should not be disturbed by the simplest possible configuration.

  An object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art.

  Specifically, an earplug-type receiver with a simple configuration that is compact and lightweight, can be heard clearly without being burdened by the user, can be easily heard, and is easy to wear. The issue is to provide.

  In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the receiver according to the present invention includes a vibrating body that generates acoustic vibration and a rod-shaped member that can be inserted into the ear canal to guide the acoustic vibration to the ear canal. The rod-shaped member functions as an ear plug, that is, blocks external sound and at the same time functions as an acoustic vibration body integrated with the vibration body, and transmits acoustic vibration generated on the inner wall of the external auditory canal as an air conduction sound to the eardrum. In addition, the gist is to transmit the bone conduction sound to the auditory nerve through the cartilage near the inner wall of the ear canal through the acoustic vibration of the rod-shaped member.

  The receiving device according to the present invention has a shape resembling an earphone in appearance, but is greatly different in that the acoustic vibration generated by the vibrating body is transmitted to the auditory nerve through two transmission paths via the rod-shaped member. One of the two transmission paths is the air conduction sound that the acoustic vibration generated by the vibrating body reaches the eardrum through the air when the vibration of the end surface of the rod-shaped member and the vibration of the inner wall of the external auditory can contact, and the other is the vibration The acoustic vibration generated by the body propagates to the rod-like member itself, vibrates the rod-like member, propagates to the cartilage near the inner wall of the ear canal, and reaches the auditory nerve.

  In general earphones, a rod-shaped member inserted into the ear has a function of an earplug, and the burden on the user is small, but the sound insulation is poor, and the sound propagation path is only air conduction sound. In a state where the ambient noise environment is close to 100 dB, it has been found that it is very difficult to listen to audio information with a general earphone configuration.

  In addition, when an electromagnetic bone conduction speaker is used as the acoustic vibration source of the transducer, the wearing state exceeds 10 g in weight, and the wearing state becomes unstable, so that it may be easily detached from the wearer's ear during work or movement. It was revealed.

  In addition, the receivers using similar earplug shapes as disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 have a configuration in which a transducer that converts an electrical signal into acoustic vibration is attached to an outer end portion of an earplug corresponding part. In addition, since the transducer part projects outward, it is easy to dismount, and it interferes with the wearing of helmets and the like.

  As a result of diligent investigations on these issues, a compact organic piezoelectric element with a small stacked piezoelectric actuator element or a stacked piezoelectric bimorph vibrator as an acoustic vibration source causes vibration that gives sufficient volume, and as a whole It has been found that the voice information can be easily heard even under high noise while having a very small and light configuration, and the configuration of the present invention is adopted.

  According to the present invention, a receiving device including a vibrating body that generates acoustic vibration and a rod-shaped member, the rod-shaped member being insertable into the ear canal and having a shape that blocks sound from entering the ear canal from outside the ear canal And a receiving device in which the rod-shaped member and the vibrating body are fixed.

  In principle, an electromagnetic force may be used for the vibrator used in the receiver according to the present invention. However, in consideration of power consumption, efficiency, and further miniaturization, the rod-shaped laminated piezoelectric actuator element or the laminated type is used. The use of a piezoelectric bimorph vibrator is most preferred.

  The receiver according to the present invention includes a laminated piezoelectric actuator element or a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator that generates a vibrating body, that is, an acoustic vibration and serves as a vibration drive source, and is fixed to a rod-like member. The shape of the rod-shaped member can be inserted into the ear canal, and the outer wall thereof can be pressed against the inner wall of the ear canal.

  Therefore, the rod-shaped member also has an earplug function that prevents noise, noise, and the like existing therein from entering the ear canal from outside the ear canal, that is, from the user's surrounding environment.

  In order to transmit the acoustic vibration generated by the vibrating body to the rod-shaped member, it is extremely advantageous for reducing the acoustic efficiency and reducing the size and weight if the vibrating body is built in and integrated with the rod-shaped member.

  When an axial acoustic vibration is generated through an acoustoelectric signal in a rod-shaped laminated actuator element or a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator, this vibration propagates to a rod-shaped member that functions as an earplug, and the earplug is composed of a rod-shaped member. The part transmits acoustic vibrations to the cartilage portion of the inner wall of the ear canal that is in close contact. The acoustic vibration of the vibrating body located immediately before the eardrum generates a sound wave from the surface to the space, and part of the sound directly propagates to the eardrum.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a receiver having a rod-shaped member in which a rod-shaped member is formed of an organic material and embedded with a vibrating body made of a laminated piezoelectric actuator element or a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator. That is, the multilayer piezoelectric actuator element is covered with an organic material.

  A rod-shaped member formed of an organic material such as silicon rubber, urethane rubber, or other resin may be fixed to the vibrating body, but the vibrating body is embedded in an organic material such as silicon rubber, urethane rubber, or other resin, It is preferable that a part of the organic material forms a rod-shaped member, and the vibrator and the rod-shaped member are integrated.

  Furthermore, in order to increase the vibration generating ability of the vibrator used in the receiver according to the present invention, an appropriate weight may be applied to one end of the laminated piezoelectric actuator element or laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator that is a vibrator. The effect of the weight leads to an increase in volume by increasing the inertial force due to vibration. The weight may be bonded to one end of the laminated piezoelectric actuator element or the laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator.

  If the weight is exposed, there may be a problem that it is easy to come off. In that case, you may coat | cover with an organic material also including this weight. It was confirmed that even if the weight and the vibrator were covered so as to be embedded with an organic material, the effect was not reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light receiving device that is light and easy to wear, in which the user does not feel a burden even when used for a long time, can clearly hear voice information.

  The receiver according to the invention is composed of a vibrating body that generates acoustic vibrations and a rod-shaped member, and is fixed directly or indirectly to the vibrating body in a shape that allows the rod-shaped member to be inserted into the ear canal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the basic configuration of the present invention. The basic configuration of the receiver 11 according to the present invention includes a vibrating body 12 and a rod-shaped member 13. The rod-shaped member 13 incorporates the vibrating body 12, can be inserted into the ear canal, and fits with the ear canal so as to block the outer ear entrance. The acoustic vibration generated by the vibrating body 12 is transmitted to the rod-shaped member 13, and the end surface of the rod-shaped member vibrates the air in the ear canal. At the same time, the vibration is propagated to the inner wall of the external auditory canal.

  The acoustic vibration generated by the vibrating body 12 is transmitted to the auditory nerve of the inner ear through two transmission paths. The two transmission paths, that is, one is an air conduction sound that propagates to the eardrum through the air in the ear canal from the vibration of the end surface of the rod member 13 and the inner wall of the external ear canal, and the other is the rod member 13. This is the bone conduction sound that leads to the auditory nerve through the cartilage on the inner wall of the ear canal by the vibration of the material itself.

  Further, by inserting the rod-shaped member 13 into the ear canal, the rod-shaped member 13 functions as an ear plug, and blocks noise in the external environment from entering the ear canal.

  In a situation where the noise is close to 100 dB, as described above, since the sound can be easily heard by appropriately mixing the air conduction sound and the bone conduction sound, the receiver 11 according to the present invention generates acoustic vibration. The vibrating body 12 and a rod-shaped member 13 having a shape that can be inserted into the external auditory canal in order to guide acoustic vibration to the outer ear. The rod-shaped member 13 functions as an ear plug, that is, blocks external sound, and vibrates the vibrating body 12 The air-conducted sound and the bone-conducted sound are transmitted through the acoustic vibration of the rod-shaped member 13 to the cartilage near the inner wall of the ear canal as the bone-conducted sound. Both are obtained.

  In addition, the receiving device 11 according to the present invention eliminates the need for wearing an earmuff, which has been conventionally necessary for preventing the entry of noise in the external environment. The apparatus 11 is used.

  Hereinafter, the receiver according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to specific examples.

Example 1
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The receiving device 21 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes a vibrating body 22, a rod-shaped member 23 that covers the vibrating body 22, and a covering portion 24 that blocks the outer ear entrance.

  In the present embodiment, a laminated piezoelectric actuator element (longitudinal displacement) 2 mm × 2 mm × 10 mm and a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator (flexural displacement) 2 mm × 0.5 mm × 12 mm manufactured by NEC TOKIN Corporation are used as the vibrator 22. I use it.

  A longitudinally displaced stacked piezoelectric actuator element has a structure in which 160 layers each having a thickness of 50 μm are stacked in the length direction, and a voltage is applied between the electrodes. The laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator has a structure in which a piezoelectric element having a four-layer structure is bonded to both surfaces of a phosphor bronze plate having a thickness of 50 μm and a thickness of 50 μm.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the laminated piezoelectric actuator element that is the vibrating body 22 is covered with silicon rubber to form the covering portion 24, and the rod-shaped member 23 is formed integrally with the covering portion 24.

  Specifically, a mold that can form the structure of the covering portion 24 and the rod-shaped member 23 is prepared in advance, and a laminated piezoelectric actuator element is set in the mold, and silicon rubber is poured into the mold. The rod-like member 23 and the covering portion 24 that are built and covered are formed simultaneously. A communication line 26 for inputting an electroacoustic signal to the laminated piezoelectric actuator element was extended from the covering portion 24.

  The rod-like member 23 has a shape that can be inserted into the ear canal. In this embodiment, the outer diameter is about 10 mm, the length is 8 mm, and an R portion 25 is provided at the end to facilitate insertion into the ear canal. The dimension of the covering portion 24 excluding the rod-like member 23 was φ12 mm × 4 mm.

  In this embodiment, the vibration of the multilayer piezoelectric actuator element propagates to the rod-like member 23 and the covering portion 24 that cover the multilayer piezoelectric actuator element. By inserting the rod-shaped member 23 into the external auditory canal, the user was able to hear the vibration propagating to the rod-shaped member 23 as a bone conduction sound and an air conduction sound.

  In the case where a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator is used for the vibrator 22, it is formed similarly. There is a slight difference in the volume of sound generated when using a longitudinally displaced stacked actuator element and when using a flexurally displaced stacked piezoelectric bimorph vibrator. I was able to confirm a clear volume.

(Example 2)
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a receiver having a weight according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A brass 2g weight 41 is fixed to one end of a vibrating body 22 composed of a laminated piezoelectric actuator element or a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator of a receiver similar to that shown in FIG. 2 using an epoxy adhesive. .

  It is confirmed that the equivalent sound pressure rises because the inertial force generated by the vibration of the vibrating body 22 including the laminated piezoelectric actuator element or the laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator is greatly increased by adding the weight 41. did it. Therefore, the size of the covering portion 24 including this weight was enlarged and embedded in silicon rubber, but no noticeable decrease in acoustic performance was observed.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a usage state of the receiver according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. As described above, the telephone receiver 21 according to the present embodiment is used by inserting the rod-like member 23 directly into the ear canal of the ear 31. The rod-like member 23 functions as an ear plug that blocks external noise from entering the external auditory canal, and transmits the acoustic vibration generated by the vibrating body to the user by both air conduction sound and bone conduction sound.

  By inputting an electroacoustic signal of 5 to 30 Vrms to the laminated piezoelectric actuator element or the laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator of the receiver according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the sound signal is distributed with an appropriate distribution of the bone conduction sound and the air conduction sound. As a result, it was confirmed that the equivalent noise level exceeded 80 dB.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a receiver that can be easily listened to even in a noisy environment without being burdened on the user by being lightweight and easy to wear.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above by the specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and the present invention is not limited even if there is a design change within the scope of the present invention. Included in the invention. That is, various changes and modifications that can be naturally made by those skilled in the art are also included in the present invention.

  The receiver according to the present invention can be used not only as a receiver for receiving a voice signal in a noisy environment, but also for receiving voice from an audio device or a portable terminal device.

Sectional drawing which shows the basic composition of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a receiver according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The perspective view of the receiver which provided the weight by Example 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the use condition of the telephone receiver by Example 1 and Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11, 21 Receiver unit 12, 22 Vibrating body 13, 23 Bar-shaped member 24 Covering portion 25 R portion 26 Communication line 31 Ear 41 Weight

Claims (5)

  A receiving device including a vibrating body that generates acoustic vibration and a rod-shaped member, the rod-shaped member having a shape that can be inserted into the ear canal and that blocks sound from entering the ear canal from outside the ear canal The vibrator is built in the rod-shaped member.   The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped member is made of an organic material.   The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body includes one of a laminated piezoelectric actuator element and a laminated piezoelectric bimorph vibrator.   The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a weight is provided at one end of the vibrating body.   The receiver according to claim 4, wherein the vibrating body and the weight are integrally covered with the organic material.

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