JP2010056599A - Sound-emitting/collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sound-emitting/collecting apparatus that attains various sound-emitting/collecting modes, according to the situation required by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The sound-emitting/collecting apparatus has: a rotation angle detection section for detecting a rotation angle of each hinge; a speaker position detecting section for detecting a speaker position; and an I/O processing section for changing speaker and microphone functions. The I/O-processing section changes the speaker or microphone function of each element, according to the rotation angle of the hinge and the speaker position. For example, in a two-folded state, when the speaker position is detected in the device-rear left direction (-X, Y direction), setting is performed so that elements 50B-50E in a right direction on the inner-peripheral surface, as viewed from the front of the device are made to function as microphones so as to have the sound of the device rear left direction collected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sound emission system composed of a portable sound emission unit, and more particularly to a sound emission system that realizes various sound emission modes according to the user's application and demand.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a speaker array including a plurality of speaker units has been proposed in which a delay is added to an audio signal supplied to each speaker unit to form directivity (audio beam) in a predetermined direction (for example, Patent Document 1). See).

However, in order to form an audio beam in a wide frequency band, a large number of speaker units are required, and there is a problem that the entire apparatus becomes large. Therefore, there has been proposed a method in which a speaker array is divided into a plurality of sound units, each sound unit is connected to a management device, and a sound beam is formed by performing delay control as a whole (see, for example, Patent Document 2). . According to the acoustic system of Patent Document 2, since the speaker array is divided into a plurality, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-20596 JP 2006-262416 A

  However, in the acoustic system of Patent Document 2, the units are simply arranged in a straight line, and various sound emission and sound collection modes cannot be realized. For example, when the acoustic system is used by one person, the user often places the device in front of him / her, and it is desirable that there be a sound emitting surface and a sound collecting surface in front of the device. When used, since the user often surrounds the device, it is desirable that there be a sound emitting surface and a sound collecting surface all around the device. However, in the acoustic system of Patent Document 2, since the units are arranged in a straight line, the sound emitting and collecting surface has only one direction, and it is impossible to realize the sound emitting and collecting in the entire circumferential direction as described above. It was.

  Moreover, in the acoustic system of Patent Document 2, a user must always be present in front of the arranged units, which is inconvenient.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sound emission and collection device that realizes various sound emission and collection modes according to a situation required by a user.

  In the sound emission and collection device according to the present invention, a plurality of sound emission and collection elements are provided along the inner peripheral surface of the through hole penetrating the flat housing. Each sound emission / collection element functions as a microphone if the collected sound signal is output to the subsequent stage, and also functions as a speaker if the sound signal is supplied. The housing of the sound emission and collection device is divided into a plurality of individual housings so that the shape of each inner peripheral surface is substantially the same with the center of the through hole viewed from the top surface and the bottom surface as a reference point. . In all the connection parts except for one connection part in the connection part along the circumferential direction of the plurality of individual casings, the adjacent individual casings are rotated so that they contact each other on the top surface or the bottom surface. Each hinge is connected in a movable manner. Therefore, the mode of each individual case changes according to the pivoting state of the hinge, and the arrangement pattern of the sound emission and collection elements installed on the inner peripheral surface of each individual case changes.

For example, when viewed from the top of the casing, the casing is divided into four units at four locations on the front side, the back side, the right side, and the left side, and the division is performed at two locations on the right side and the left side. A top-side hinge is provided so that the unit is pivotably connected in the top direction, and the divided unit is pivotally connected in the bottom direction at one location on the front side or the back side. It is assumed that a bottom side hinge is provided. In this case, when the two divided units on the back side are rotated via the two top surface side hinges and the housing is folded in half, the sound emitting and collecting surface of the sound emitting and collecting element faces in the back direction. . In addition, if the left and right units are rotated via the bottom side hinge and the front direction of the housing is the installation surface, the housing is folded in four, and the sound emission / collection surface of the sound emission / collection element installs the front of the device In the state where it is a plane, it faces in a diagonally upward direction as a sound emitting and collecting device. In the folded state, the front (or back) direction of the device is the sound emission / collection surface, which is suitable when there are two users. In the folded state, the device is released with the front of the device as the installation surface. The diagonally upward direction as the sound collecting device is the sound emitting and collecting surface, which is suitable when there is only one user.
Here, the sound emission and collection device of the present invention includes a rotation angle detection unit that detects a rotation angle of each hinge, a speaker position detection unit that detects a speaker position, and an input / output that switches a speaker function or a microphone function. A processing unit. The input / output processing unit switches the speaker function or the microphone function according to the rotation angle of the hinge and the speaker position. For example, in a four-fold state, the sound emission / collection surface of the sound emission / collection sound element faces obliquely upward as the sound emission / collection device in the state where the front of the device is the installation surface, but the speaker is on the right side, Set the right sound emitting / collecting element to the microphone. Thereby, it is possible to clearly collect the uttered voice.

  According to the present invention, since the speaker function or the microphone function of the sound emission / collection element provided on the inner peripheral surface is switched according to the rotation angle of each hinge and the speaker position, the situation required by the user Various sound emission / collection modes can be realized according to the above.

  Hereinafter, a sound emission and collection device will be described as an embodiment according to the present invention. This sound emission and collection device performs various types of sound emission and collection depending on the deformation mode of the casing.

  1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 are views showing the external appearance of the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a flat placement mode, in which the -Y direction in the figure is a front direction, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a right side view, and (C) is a bottom view.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the top surface and the bottom surface are substantially circular is shown as an example. However, the orthogonal first symmetric reference line Ls1 formed in parallel to these surfaces with the centers of the top surface and the bottom surface as intersections, and The inner peripheral surface of each individual housing divided by the two axes of the second symmetric reference line Ls2 only needs to have a shape that is line symmetric with respect to the two axes. For example, the inner peripheral shape may be represented by a side such as a regular square or a regular hexagon, or may be represented by the outer periphery of an ellipse. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of a housing | casing should just have the above-mentioned symmetry, such as these regular squares, a regular hexagon, and an ellipse.

  In FIG. 1, the sound emission and collection device 1 is composed of a cylindrical (flat plate-shaped) housing. The casing is a compact casing having a diameter of about 15 cm and a height of about 5 cm, and can be carried by the user.

  A plurality of elements 50 </ b> A to 50 </ b> L are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the casing. The elements 50 </ b> A to 50 </ b> L are sound emission / collection elements that function as speakers or microphones. The sound emission / collection apparatus 1 realizes a speaker array by causing a plurality of elements to function as speakers, and the plurality of elements as microphones. A microphone array is realized by making it function. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the sound emission and collection surfaces of the respective elements are directed toward the center of the cylinder when viewed from the top surface. Therefore, the sound emitting and collecting surface of the array composed of a plurality of elements is directed in the entire circumferential direction of the sound emitting and collecting device.

  The housing is linearly divided at four locations in the front direction (−Y direction), the right surface direction (X direction), the left surface direction (−X direction), and the back surface direction (Y direction). As a result, the housing is divided into four units of unit 11, unit 12, unit 13, and unit 14.

  A protrusion 121 is provided on the front right side of the unit 12, and a protrusion 131 is provided on the front left side of the unit 13. The protrusion 121 has a triangular prism shape having an arcuate hypotenuse that is bent along the outer periphery of the unit 12 when viewed from the top. The protruding portion 121 also protrudes in the Z direction, and the height of the protruding portion in the Z direction corresponds to the stacked height of the units 11 and 12 and the stacked height of the units 13 and 14. Similarly, the protrusion 131 has a triangular prism shape having a hypotenuse that is bent along the outer periphery of the unit 13 when viewed from the top. Further, the protruding portion 131 also protrudes in the Z direction, and the height of the protruding portion in the Z direction corresponds to the stacked height of the units 11 and 12 and the stacked height of the units 13 and 14.

  A display unit 21 and an operation unit 22 are provided on the top surface of the protrusion 121, and a display unit 21 and a volume operation unit 23 are provided on the top surface of the protrusion 131. The display unit 21 includes a plurality of LEDs, and by confirming whether these LEDs are turned on or off, it is possible to confirm whether the element functions as a speaker or a microphone. The user operates the operation unit 22 to switch the speaker function or the microphone function of each element, or operates the volume operation unit 23 to control the volume.

  The top surfaces of the units 11 and 12 are connected by a hinge 51, and the top surfaces of the units 13 and 14 are connected by a hinge 53. Further, the bottom sides of the unit 12 and the unit 13 are connected by a hinge 52.

  The unit 11 and the unit 12 can be rotated in the direction of the top surface via the hinge 51. When the unit 11 is rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the unit 12, the top surface of the unit 11 becomes the top surface of the unit 12. Contact the surface side. Similarly, the unit 14 and the unit 13 can be rotated in the direction of the top surface via the hinge 53, and when the unit 14 is rotated with respect to the unit 13, the top surface side of the unit 14 becomes the top surface side of the unit 13. Contact the top side.

  As a result, the housing is deformed into a semi-cylindrical housing (two-fold manner) as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a two-fold mode, with the -Y direction in the figure as the front direction, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a right side view (C) is a rear view, and (D) is a front view. FIG.

  As described above, the protrusion 121 and the protrusion 131 protrude in the Z direction, and the length in the Z direction corresponds to the stacking height of the units 11 and 12 and the stacking height of the units 13 and 14. When the 11 and the unit 14 are rotated, the top surface of the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1 is flush, there is no bulge on the appearance, and the user can easily carry it with a clean appearance. In the two-fold mode, the elements 50A to 50L are arranged in a semicircular shape and arranged in two stages in the height direction.

  Further, the unit 12 and the unit 13 can be rotated toward the bottom surface via the hinge 52, and when the unit 12 and the unit 13 are rotated in the bottom surface direction, the respective bottom surfaces come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. This is the four-fold mode shown. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a four-fold mode, in which the −Y direction in the figure is the front direction, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a right side view, (C) is a left side view, and (D). FIG. 2 is an external perspective view in a state where the front surface is an installation surface.

  In the four-fold mode shown in FIG. 3, an oblique upper surface 125 as the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1 in the installed state is formed by the inner peripheral surfaces of the units 11 to 14. Since the units 11 to 14 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the respective elements, the elements 50A to 50L are arranged in a 3 × 4 pattern on the oblique upper surface 125. Since the protrusion 121 and the protrusion 131 protrude in the Z direction (in the state shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 131 protrudes in the −Z direction), the display unit 21, the operation unit 22, and the volume operation unit 23 are released. It is exposed on the side surface of the sound surface, so that the user can easily check the display unit 21 and operate the operation unit 22. Further, as described above, the protruding heights of the protruding portions 121 and 131 in the Z direction correspond to the stacked heights of the units 11 and 12 and the stacked heights of the units 13 and 14, respectively. It becomes easier to carry with the user.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the unit 12 and the unit 13 are rotated at a rotation angle of about 90 degrees without being brought into contact with each other, the sound emission and collection surfaces of the respective elements are in the state where the front surface of the device is the installation surface. The sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1 faces in the diagonally upward direction on the left and right. In this state, the right side unit composed of the unit 11 and the unit 12 and the left side unit composed of the unit 13 and the unit 14 have different sound emission and collection surfaces in different directions (so as to cross each other).

  As described above, the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1 having the above-described structure can deform the housing into various shapes. Here, the sound emission and collection device 1 according to the present invention detects the position of the speaker by the microphone array, and switches the speaker function or the microphone function according to the housing shape and the position of the speaker at that time, Various sound emission and collection modes are realized.

  Hereinafter, the detailed configuration and operation of the sound emission and collection device 1 will be described. FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing a configuration of the sound emission and collection device 1. 5A, in addition to the elements 50A to 50L, the display unit 21, the operation unit 22, and the volume operation unit 23, the sound emission and collection device 1 includes input / output processing units 61A to 61L and amplifiers (AMP) 62A to 62L, A / D converters (A / D) 63A to 63L, microphone signal processing unit 64, input / output I / F 65, speaker signal processing unit 66, D / A converters (D / A) 67A to 67L, AMPs 68A to 68L, A control unit 69 and a sensor 70 are provided.

  The elements 50A to 50L are elements that function as a speaker or a microphone as described above, and are realized by a general dynamic speaker including a diaphragm and a voice coil. Switching between the speaker and microphone functions is performed by the input / output processing units 61A to 61L. When the input / output processing units 61A to 61L supply the audio signals input from the elements 50A to 50L to the subsequent amplifiers 62A to 62L, they function as microphones, and the audio signals output from the amplifiers 68A to 68L are supplied to the elements 50A to 50L. When supplied, it functions as a speaker. Switching of signal supply in the input / output processing units 61A to 61L is controlled by the control unit 69.

  Note that the functions as a speaker and a microphone can be realized simultaneously. FIG. 5B shows a configuration of an input / output processing unit in the case where functions as a speaker and a microphone are simultaneously realized. Although only the input / output processing unit 61A is shown, the other input / output processing units have the same configuration. As shown in FIG. 5B, the input / output processing unit 61A supplies the audio signal input from the element 50A to the subsequent amplifier 62A and supplies the audio signal output from the amplifier 68A to the element 50A. That is, the terminal 611A on the element side and the terminal 612A on the amplifier 62A side are connected, and the terminal 613A on the amplifier 68A side and the terminal 611A on the element side are connected. If the connection between the terminal 611A and the terminal 612A is released, it can function only as a speaker, and if the connection between the terminal 611A and the terminal 613A is released, it functions only as a microphone.

  The control unit 69 controls the input / output processing units 61A to 61L, the microphone signal processing unit 64, the input / output I / F 65, the speaker signal processing unit 66, and the display unit 21. Further, according to a user operation mode (operation signal) input from the operation unit 22 and the volume operation unit 23, an instruction to switch the speaker function or the microphone function, volume control, and the like are performed.

  Furthermore, the control unit 69 instructs the switching of the speaker function or the microphone function of the input / output processing units 61A to 61L according to the output signal of the sensor 70 and the position of the speaker detected by the microphone signal processing unit 64. The sensor 70 detects the rotation angles of the hinge 51, the hinge 52, and the hinge 53, and inputs a detection signal corresponding to the detected rotation angle of each hinge to the control unit 69. The control unit 69 determines the sound emitting and collecting surface of each element based on the detection signal input from the sensor 70. Also, speaker position information described later is received from the microphone signal processing unit 64, and the position of the speaker is determined. The control unit 69 switches the speaker function or the microphone function according to the sound emission / collection surface of each element and the position of the speaker.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D, the rotation angle of the hinge 51 and the hinge 53 is 180 degrees (two-fold manner), and the speaker is on the left side of the apparatus (−X, Y direction). ), The elements 50B, 50C, 50D, and 50E function as microphones, and the elements 50A, 50F, 50G, 50H, 50I, 50J, 50K, and 50L function as speakers.

  First, of the operation of the sound emission and collection device 1, the flow of an audio signal and the speaker position detection when each element functions as a microphone will be described. Audio signals output from the elements 50A to 50L are amplified by the amplifiers 62A to 62L via the input / output processing units 61A to 61L. The amplified audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal by the A / D converters 63 </ b> A to 63 </ b> L and input to the microphone signal processing unit 64.

  The microphone signal processing unit 64 performs delay processing on the audio signals input from the A / D converters 63 </ b> A to 63 </ b> L, synthesizes them, and outputs them to the input / output I / F 65 as a sound collection beam signal. A strong directivity (sound collecting beam) in a predetermined direction can be formed by delaying and synthesizing the audio signals collected by each element. The direction in which the sound collection beam is formed (the delay amount of each audio signal) is set by the control unit 69. The sound collecting beam can be set in a plurality of directions at the same time. When sound collecting beams are set in a plurality of directions at the same time, the audio signals input from the A / D converters 63A to 63L may be branched and synthesized after performing delay processing, respectively.

  The microphone signal processing unit 64 can detect the speaker position (orientation) by simultaneously setting sound collecting beams in a plurality of directions. The speaker position detection will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the unit 11 and the unit 14 are rotated 180 degrees and the casing is deformed into a semi-cylindrical shape (two-fold mode), each element provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder is The sound emission / collection surface is oriented in the device back direction (Y direction). At this time, the control unit 69 instructs the microphone signal processing unit 64 to set the sound collection beam in a plurality of directions on the back side of the apparatus. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the area 101 in the right direction (X, Y direction) of the apparatus rear surface, the area 102 in the slightly right direction (between the Y direction and the X, Y direction), the apparatus rear surface Direction (Y direction) area 103, apparatus rear surface slightly leftward (between Y direction and −X, Y direction) area 104, apparatus rear surface left direction (−X, Y direction) area 105. Set the sound beam. The microphone signal processing unit 64 compares the levels of the collected sound beams, and assumes that a speaker is present in a region where the sound collected beam having the highest level is collected, and detects this region as a speaker position. For example, in the example of FIG. 6A, since the sound collection beam in the region 104 has the highest level, it is detected that the region 104 is the speaker position. The microphone signal processing unit 64 outputs the sound collection beam having the highest level to the input / output I / F 65 at the subsequent stage, and transmits information indicating the speaker position to the control unit 69. The input / output I / F 65 has a USB terminal, a network terminal, an audio input terminal, an audio output terminal, and the like, and outputs audio signals to other devices and inputs audio signals from other devices. The control unit 69 instructs the terminal to be used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the unit 12 and the unit 13 are rotated and the front direction of the apparatus is set as the installation surface (four-fold mode), the control unit 69 is arranged in the left side direction (−X direction) of the apparatus. Area 201, area 202 on the left side of the apparatus slightly in the rear direction (between the -X direction and -X, Y direction), area 203 on the apparatus rear left direction (-X, Y direction), and slightly on the left side of the apparatus (Y The sound collecting beam is set in five directions: a region 204 between the direction and the -X, Y direction) and a region 205 in the apparatus back direction (Y direction). In this case, the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1 can detect the speaker position in the vertical direction because the front surface is the installation surface. Of course, in the state shown in FIG. 6B, since the microphone array can also be configured in the left and right direction (Z, -Z direction) (see FIG. 3C), the speaker position in the left and right direction is also detected. can do.

  Next, the flow of an audio signal when each element functions as a speaker will be described. The input / output I / F 65 inputs an audio signal input from another device to the speaker signal processing unit 66.

  The speaker signal processing unit 66 branches the audio signal input from the input / output I / F 65, performs delay processing, and outputs the result to the D / A converters 67A to 67L. A strong directivity (sound emission beam) in a predetermined direction can be formed by delaying the sound emission sound signal supplied to each element. Also, a plurality of sound emitting beams can be formed simultaneously, and a sound emitting beam can be formed for each channel of the audio signal.

  The audio signals delayed and output by the speaker signal processing unit 66 are converted into analog audio signals by the D / A converters 67A to 67L, amplified by the amplifiers 68A to 68L, and then input / output processing units 61A to 61L. Then, it is supplied to the elements 50A to 50L.

  In this way, the elements 50A to 50L function as a speaker or a microphone, and constitute a speaker array and a microphone array.

  Next, specific sound emission and sound collection modes of the sound emission and collection device will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of how the sound emitting and collecting apparatus 1 is used. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a flat placement mode, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a two-fold mode, and FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a four-fold mode.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the unit 11, the unit 12, the unit 13, and the unit 14 do not rotate (flat placement mode), the sound emission and collection surfaces of the respective elements provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder are all Oriented in the circumferential direction. In this case, the control unit 69 causes a part of each element to function as a speaker and the other part to function as a microphone. For example, the elements 50B, 50E, 50H, and 50K in the center of each unit are functioned as microphones, and the remaining elements are functioned as speakers. That is, when a signal indicating that the rotation angles of the hinges 51, 52, and 53 are 0 degrees is input from the sensor 70, the control unit 69 causes the input / output processing units 61B, 60E, 60H, and 60K to The audio signals input from 50B, 50E, 50H, and 50K are set to be supplied to the subsequent amplifiers 62A to 62L. The audio signals input from the remaining amplifiers 68A to 68L are set to be supplied to the elements 50A, 50C, 50D, 50F, 50G, 50I, 50J, and 50L.
In this example, since sound is emitted around the entire circumference of the apparatus and sound around the entire circumference of the apparatus is collected, it is suitable for use by a plurality of people so as to surround the sound emission and collection apparatus 1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the unit 11 and the unit 14 are rotated 180 degrees and the casing is deformed into a semi-cylindrical shape (two-folded form), the unit 11 and the unit 14 are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder. The sound emission / collection surface of each element faces the back side of the apparatus. In this case, a signal indicating that the rotation angle of the hinge 51 and the hinge 53 is 180 degrees is input from the sensor 70 to the control unit 69. Even in this case, the control unit 69 causes a part of each element to function as a speaker and the other part to function as a microphone. Thereby, since the sound emission and collection device 1 emits sound on the back surface of the device and collects sound on the back surface of the device, it is suitable for use by a plurality of people (two people) on the back surface of the sound emission and collection device 1. It becomes.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the unit 12 and the unit 13 are rotated and the front direction of the apparatus is the installation surface (four-fold mode), the elements provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder are released. The sound surface is directed to the left rear surface (−X, Y direction). That is, when the front of the apparatus is installed, the sound emission / collection surface is directed obliquely upward as the sound emission / collection apparatus. In this case, a signal indicating that the rotation angles of the hinges 51, 52, and 53 are 180 degrees is input from the sensor 70 to the control unit 69. Even in this case, the control unit 69 causes a part of each element to function as a speaker and the other part to function as a microphone. In this case, the element 50A is directed upward, the element 50B is directed obliquely upward, and the element 50C is directed laterally, so that it is easy to pick up sound at a position where these directions intersect (a short distance of the apparatus). For this reason, noise sound in other directions is not collected. Therefore, it is suitable when used by one person in front of the apparatus.

  The sound emitting and collecting apparatus according to the present embodiment performs the following operation by detecting the position of the speaker and switching the speaker function or the microphone function of each element.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sound emission and collection mode according to speaker position detection. 8A and 8C are views of the sound emission and collection device viewed from the back, and FIGS. 8B and 10D are views from the top. In this example, the case where the unit 11 and the unit 14 are rotated 180 degrees and the casing is deformed into a semi-cylindrical shape (two-folded form) is shown, and the hinge 51 and the hinge 53 are transferred from the sensor 70 to the control unit 69. Information indicating that the rotation angle is 180 degrees is input.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the control unit 69 instructs the input / output processing units 61A to 61L to simultaneously realize the functions as a speaker and a microphone for all elements. When the information indicating the speaker position is received from the microphone signal processing unit 64, the control unit 69 causes the element at a predetermined position to function as a microphone so as to pick up the sound at that position, and the remaining element as a speaker. Make it work. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the elements 50B, 50C, 50D, and 50E, which are elements on the right side (X direction side) of the inner peripheral surface, function as microphones, and the remaining elements 50A , 50F, 50G, 50H, 50I, 50J, 50K, and 50L are caused to function as speakers. Thereby, the sound collection surface of the sound emission and collection device 1 is directed to the left side (−X, Y direction) of the device rear surface, which is the sound collection surface of the elements 50B, 50C, 50D, and 50E, and collects sound in other directions. This makes it possible to clearly collect the uttered voice.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a figure which shows the other example of the sound emission / collection aspect according to speaker position detection. 9A and 9C are left side views in a state where the front surface is the installation surface, and FIGS. 9B and 9D are plan views. In this example, the unit 11 and the unit 14 are rotated 180 degrees, the unit 12 and the unit 13 are further rotated, and the front direction of the apparatus is set as the installation surface (four-fold mode). In this case, the sound emitting and collecting surface of each element provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder faces the left side (−X, Y direction) on the back side of the device. In this case, the control unit 69 receives information indicating that the rotation angles of the hinges 51, 52, and 53 are 180 degrees from the sensor 70.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the control unit 69 instructs the input / output processing units 61A to 61L to simultaneously realize the functions as a speaker and a microphone for all elements. When the information indicating the speaker position is received from the microphone signal processing unit 64, the control unit 69 causes the element at the predetermined position to function as a microphone so as to pick up the sound at that position. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the elements 50E and 50H, which are the central elements on the inner peripheral surface, function as microphones, and the remaining elements function as speakers. As a result, the sound collection surface of the sound emission and collection device 1 is directed to the left rear side of the device, which is the sound collection surface of the elements 50E and H (in the diagonally upward direction of the sound emission and collection device with the device front as the installation surface), and in other directions The voice can be clearly picked up without picking up the voice.

  As described above, according to the situation required by the user, the sound emission and collection device of the present embodiment switches the speaker function or the microphone function of each element according to the deformation mode of the housing and the speaker position. Various sound emission and collection modes can be realized.

  The sound emission / collection mode of the sound emission / collection apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above example. Even in other sound emission modes and sound collection modes, when the speaker function or the microphone function of each element is switched according to the deformation mode of the casing and the speaker position, it is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a sound emission and collection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a sound emission and collection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a sound emission and collection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a sound emission and collection apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a sound emission and collection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the concept of a speaker position (azimuth | direction) detection. It is a figure which shows an example of the usage condition of a sound emission and collection apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the sound emission / collection aspect according to speaker position detection. It is a figure which shows the other example of the sound emission / collection aspect according to speaker position detection.

Explanation of symbols

1-Sound emission and collection device

Claims (1)

A casing having a substantially flat plate shape and having a through-hole penetrating between the opposing top and bottom surfaces of the flat plate;
A plurality of sound emission / collection sound-collecting elements having the through-hole direction arranged and arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the housing by the through-hole, and the sound emission / collection direction,
The casing is divided into a plurality of individual casings so that the shape of each inner peripheral surface is substantially the same with the center of the through hole viewed from the top and bottom surfaces as a reference point,
Adjacent individual casings are in contact with each other on the top surface or the bottom surface of each other except for one connection portion in the connection portion along the circumferential direction of the plurality of individual casings. Each hinge is connected in a pivotable manner.
A rotation angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of the hinge;
Speaker position detecting means for detecting the position of the speaker;
According to the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detection means and the position of the speaker detected by the speaker position detection means, the relationship between the sound emission direction of the sound emission and collection element and the speaker position is determined. An input / output processing unit for determining and switching the speaker function or the microphone function of the sound emission / collection element,
A sound emission and collection device.

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