JP2013021591A - Earphone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an earphone that makes it difficult for leaked sound to be heard by a third party, though having a structure to improve sound quality by incorporating a ventilation passage for establishing communication between a back cavity and an external space into a housing.SOLUTION: An earphone includes a body (1) having a speaker (SP) therein, and is used in an attachment posture that the body (1) is attached to an ear concha (ER1). In the attachment posture, the body (1) includes: a hill-like part (6) that protrudes in a direction away from a head; and a ventilation passage (T) which is opened at a position closer to the head than the hill-like part (6) located between the hill-like part (6) and an inner wall (ER2) of the ear concha (ER1), and establishes communication between an internal space (BC) of the body (1) and an external space.

Description

  The present invention relates to an earphone, and more particularly to an earphone that can reduce the volume of leakage sound heard by a third party other than a user.

In many cases, the earphone in which the speaker unit is housed in the housing is provided with a through hole that communicates the back cavity, which is the space on the rear surface side of the speaker unit, and the external space in order to improve the reproduction sound quality.
This is because if the through-hole has an opening area of a certain degree or more, the reproduction sound quality can be efficiently adjusted and improved by changing the opening area and the resistance of air passing through the through-hole.

  An example of an earphone having a housing provided with a through-hole that communicates such a back cavity and external space is described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2000-341784 A

By the way, if a through hole is provided in the housing, sound from the speaker unit leaks to the outside.
Since sound is also emitted from the speaker unit to the rear side, leakage sound is generated even if a through-hole that communicates the back cavity and the external space is provided.
When an earphone having such a through hole is used in an environment where a third party is in close proximity, such as in a crowded train, a leaked sound may be uncomfortable to be heard if the playback volume is high.
If the through hole of the housing is closed or the opening area is reduced in order to reduce the leakage sound, it is difficult to adjust the reproduction sound quality and it is difficult to improve the reproduction sound quality.
The market demands earphones that satisfy both the improvement of sound quality and the fact that leaked sound is less likely to be uncomfortable to be heard by a third party even when the playback volume is increased. The current situation is making efforts.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an earphone that has a through-hole communicating with the back cavity and the external space in the housing so that sound quality can be improved, but it is difficult for a third party to hear the leaked sound. It is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
1) An earphone that has a speaker (SP) and a main body (1) that houses the speaker (SP), and is used in a mounting posture in which the main body (1) is mounted on the concha cavity (ER1). (51)
In the mounting posture,
The main body (1)
A hill-like part (6) protruding in a direction away from the head,
An opening closer to the head than the hill-like part (6) between the hill-like part (6) and the inner wall (ER2) of the concha cavity (ER1) and the interior of the main body part (1) A ventilation path (T) communicating the space (BC) and the external space;
It is an earphone (51) characterized by having.
2) The inner surface (14K4) of the ventilation path (T) is formed so as to approach the inner wall (ER2) as it is away from the head in the mounting posture. The earphone (51).

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that it is difficult for a third party to hear a leaked sound even though the housing has a through-hole communicating with the back cavity and the external space to improve the sound quality.

It is an external appearance perspective view for demonstrating the Example of the earphone of this invention. It is S1-S1 sectional drawing in FIG. It is S2-S2 sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view corresponding to FIG. 1. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the use condition in the Example of the earphone of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the use condition in the Example of the earphone of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the modification in the Example of the earphone of this invention.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an earphone 51 of an embodiment of the earphone of the present invention.
The earphone 51 is a so-called canal-type earphone and is for the left ear. When the earphone is stereo-compatible, a pair of left and right ears is provided, and both are symmetrical.

The earphone 51 includes a main body portion 1 having a sound tube portion 2 protruding in a cylindrical shape, and a cord 4 extending from the main body portion 1. An earpiece 3 is detachably attached to the sound tube portion 2.
A speaker SP (not shown in FIG. 1) that is a speaker unit is housed inside the main body 1. The end of the cord 4 in the main body 1 is connected to the speaker SP.
The main body 1 is formed in a thick, generally disc shape. The main body 1 is generally disk-shaped and has an axis CLh.

When the earphone 51 is attached to the left ear, the earpiece 3 and a part of the sound tube portion 2 are inserted into the ear canal and the main body portion 1 is stored in the concha cavity ER1 in the pinna ER (see FIG. 5, see FIG. The main body 1 is formed with a protruding portion 5 whose tip abuts against the inner wall ER2 on the rear side of the concha cavity at the time of wearing in order to enhance the wearing feeling.
The protruding portion 5 and the extended position of the cord 4 are shifted by about 120 ° around the axis line CLh.

  Although the earphone 51 has individual differences, when the earphone 51 is attached to the concha cavity ER1 of the left ear of an upright person, the projecting portion 5 is directed substantially horizontally or slightly downward. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the “mounting posture” means a posture in which the protruding portion 5 is positioned substantially in the horizontal direction.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S1-S1 in FIG. That is, it is a horizontal direction sectional view at the position of the protruding portion 5 in the mounting posture.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S2-S2 in FIG. That is, it is a vertical direction sectional view at the position of the axis CLh of the main body 1 in the mounting posture.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to FIG.
2 to 4, the shape of the cord 4 in the housing is generally omitted for easy understanding of the housing shape.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the main body 1 is a housing in which an inner housing 11 and an outer housing 12 are combined.
Here, “inside” and “outside” mean that the head side is the inside and the opposite side is the outside in the mounting posture. Hereinafter, the inside and outside directions follow this definition.

The sound tube portion 2 is formed as a part of the inner housing 11.
The speaker SP is attached to the inner surface of the inner housing 11 so that the sound emission part SPa side is covered.
For example, in FIG.2 and FIG.3, it adhere | attaches and fixes with the adhesive within the surrounding surface range AR1 shown with a dashed-two dotted line.
The inner housing 11 is made of a hard material. The hard material is, for example, a resin material such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin, PS (polystyrene) resin, or PC (polycarbonate) resin. Examples of hard materials other than resin materials include wood and metal.

The outer housing 12 is provided so as to cover the rear surface part SPb side of the speaker SP (the side opposite to the sound emitting part SPa side), and is composed of a plurality of layers. The earphone 51 has three layers.
Specifically, the inner layer portion 13, the base layer portion 14, and the outer layer portion 15 from the side close to the speaker SP.
Each of the layer portions 13 to 15 is not limited to completely covering each other, and may be partially opened.

The base layer portion 14 is formed of the same material as that of the inner housing 11 or a hard material having near rigidity. In the embodiment, the same ABS resin as that of the inner housing 11 is used. Other examples of the hard material used for the base layer 14 include PC resin, PS resin, wood, and metal.
The inner layer portion 13 and the outer layer portion 15 are made of a soft material that is softer (lower in rigidity) than the material used for the base layer portion 14. The inner layer portion 13 is provided in contact with the inner surface of the base layer portion 14, and the outer layer portion 15 is provided in contact with the outer surface of the base layer portion 14. Examples of the material of the inner layer portion 13 and the outer layer portion 15 are rubber and elastomer.
The inner layer portion 13 and the outer layer portion 15 may be made of the same material or different materials.
That is, the outer housing 12 is composed of a combination of a soft material, a hard material, and a soft material. Here, softness means rigidity, not surface hardness.

In assembling the inner housing 11 and the outer housing 12, the inner layer portion 13 and the outer layer portion 15 are assembled to the base layer portion 14 in advance by engagement or the like, and the inner layer portion 13 and the outer layer portion 15 are assembled. And the inner housing 11 are integrated by welding or adhesion.
Since the inner layer portion 13 and the outer layer portion 15 have a portion sandwiched between the inner housing 11 and the base layer portion 14, the three layer portions 13 to 15 and the inner housing 11 are integrated by this integration. The

As shown in each drawing, the main body 1 has a hill-like portion 6 in which a predetermined range including the axis CLh protrudes in a hill shape on the rear side along the axis CLh.
In the embodiment, the hill portion 6 is formed by the base portion 14 b of the base layer portion 14.
The hill-like portion 6 is formed so as to protrude in a direction away from the head in the mounting posture.

The outer layer portion 15 is provided so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base layer portion 14 and cover a part thereof.
In FIG. 1, the outer layer portion 15 has an opening 15 c formed at the center, and arm portions 15 b 2 extending from the peripheral edge of the opening 15 c toward the outer peripheral edge of the base layer portion 14 have a pitch of about 120 ° around the central axis CLh. There are three places.
Of the arm portions 15b2, the arm portion 15b2 (hereinafter also referred to as the horizontal arm portion 15b3) extending in the horizontal direction in the mounting posture is provided in a shape that smoothly connects to the protruding portion 5.

Each arm portion 15b2 is provided with a hole portion 15b1. In FIG. 1, the hole 15b1 has a trapezoidal shape.
Except for the hole 15b1 of the horizontal arm 15b3, the hole 15b1 is an opening through which only the base layer 14 is exposed.
From the hole portion 15b1 of the horizontal arm portion 15b3, the base layer portion 14 and the through hole 14k provided in the base layer portion 14 face. In FIG. 1, the through-hole 14k is opened in a generally rectangular shape.

In FIG. 2, the hole portion 15b1 of the outer layer portion 15 has a side surface formed as a surface along the axis line CLh.
The through-hole 14k has a side surface 14k1 on the side close to the hill-shaped portion 6 and side surfaces 14k2 and 14k3 (see also FIG. 1) connected to the side surface along the axis CLh. 14k4 is formed as an inclined surface that moves away from the axis CLh as the distance from the speaker SP increases.
The inclination angle with respect to the axis line CLh is, for example, 35 °.
In FIG. 2, the position of the surface including the side surface 14k4 (indicated by LN14) is set within the opening range of the hole portion 15b1 in the outer layer portion 15 so as not to interfere with the outer layer portion 15.

A through hole 13k is formed in the inner layer portion 13 corresponding to the through hole 14k.
The opening range on the back side of the through hole 14k and the opening range on the outlet side (base layer part 14 side) of the through hole 13k correspond to each other in shape and area.
The through hole 12k of the outer housing 12 is formed by the through hole 13k, the through hole 14k, and the hole 15b1 of the horizontal arm portion 15b3.
The through hole 12k is a ventilation path T that communicates the back cavity BC, which is the space on the rear surface side of the speaker unit, and the external space.

FIG. 5 shows a state where the earphone 51 is worn on the left auricle (wearing posture).
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S5-S5 in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the earpiece 3 is inserted into the ear canal GD and the main body 1 is stored in the conchae ER1 so as to be sandwiched between the inner wall ER2 and the rosary ER3. In the mounting posture, the air passage T is located on the auricle ER side (the back side of the head) from the vertical plane passing through the axis line CLh. Specifically, the ventilation path T is at a position along a horizontal plane passing through the axis line CLh.
Here, the vertical plane is the vertical direction in FIG. 5 and the front / back direction of the paper in FIG.
Moreover, the opening position of the air passage T with respect to the head is closer to the head than the hill 6 between the hill 6 and the inner wall ER2.

Thereby, most of the leaked sound SD leaked to the outside from the ventilation path T hits and reflects the inner wall ER2 of the pinna ER (see FIG. 6 and arrow YS).
Since the pinna ER is soft, it absorbs energy when the leaked sound SD is reflected.
Therefore, the sound volume of the leaked sound YS reflected by the inner wall ER2 is reduced compared to when listening directly.

The air passage T is formed in the vicinity of the hill-shaped portion 6.
Thereby, most of the leaked sound emitted from the air passage T to the side opposite to the pinna ER is blocked by the hill-shaped portion 6 and diffusely reflected.
Accordingly, the leaked sound SD that directly reaches the third party is reduced, and the leaked sound is less likely to be uncomfortablely heard.

Of the inner side surfaces forming the ventilation path T, the side surface 14k4 farther from the axis line CLh is formed as an inclined surface that is further away from the axis line CLh as the distance from the speaker SP increases. In other words, it is formed as a surface that moves away from the axis CLh as it moves away from the head in the mounting posture.
Therefore, the discharge direction of the leakage sound SD released from the air passage T is guided to the auricle ER side.
Thereby, the part which reaches | attains an auricle ER and reflects among leaking sound SD increases.
Therefore, the volume of the leakage sound SD when listened to by a third party is further reduced.

According to the above-described embodiment, since the outer housing 12 has the through hole 12k that communicates the back cavity BC and the external space, that is, the air passage T, the acoustic characteristics can be adjusted efficiently, so that the sound quality is improved. Easy to plan.
In addition, since there is little leakage sound that reaches the third party directly, it is difficult for the third party to hear the leakage sound.
Further, since a part of the leaked leaked sound hits the inner wall ER2 of the pinna ER and is reflected, the leaked sound heard by a third party is reduced in energy and volume.
Therefore, the possibility that the third party may feel uncomfortable even if the leakage sound is heard is reduced.

  It goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The headphone 51 is not limited to the canal type.
Although the housing is attached to the auricle, the present invention can also be applied to an inner ear type earphone that does not have a portion to be inserted into the ear canal.

The shape of the hill-shaped part 6 may be deformed so that more leakage sound SD reflected by the hill-shaped part 6 reaches the inner wall ER2 of the pinna ER.
An example is schematically shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the earphone 51 in the mounted posture as viewed from the outside, and shows only the outline of the air passage T, the hill-like portion 6, the inner wall ER2, the rosary ER3 of the auricle ER, and the outer housing. Yes.

The outer surface 6a on the ventilation path T side in the hill portion 6 is formed in a concave shape. The curvature of the concave surface is set so that the leaked sound SD emitted from the air passage T toward the hill-like portion 6 and reflected by the outer surface 6a reaches the inner wall ER2.
As a result, the leakage sound SD that directly reaches the third party is reduced, and a large amount of the leakage sound SD is reflected and attenuated by the auricle ER, so that the volume of the leakage sound SD when listened to by a third party is reduced. Is more reduced.

The side surface 14k4 may be formed as a surface that is not inclined but is parallel to or substantially along the axis CLh. However, the side surface 14k4 is inclined as described above in that many leakage sounds SD are guided toward the pinna ER. desirable.
The main body 1 is not limited to one divided into an inner housing 11 and an outer housing 12. The structure of the main body 1 is not limited.
The shape of the hill-shaped part 6 is not limited. What is necessary is just to protrude outward rather than the opening part of the ventilation path T. FIG.
Further, the ventilation path T may not be a part including the axis line CLh. For example, it may be provided in a region on the auricle side with respect to the axis CLh, and the ventilation path T only needs to be opened between the hill-shaped portion 6 and the auricle ER.
Therefore, the main body 1 may have an irregular shape in which the axis CLh cannot be set.
The air passage T is not limited to one provided. A plurality may be provided.
The air passage T is not limited to being completely open. For example, it may be ventilated through a mesh member, a non-woven member, or a sponge-like member.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main-body part (housing), 2 sound cylinder part, 3 earpiece, 4 code | cord | chord 5 protrusion part, 6 hill-like part 11 inner housing 12 outer housing, 12k through-hole 13 inner layer part, 14 base layer part, 15 outer layer part 14b base part, 14k Through hole, 14k1 to 14k4 Side surface 15b Bridged portion, 15c Opening portion, 15d Protruding portion 15b1 Hole portion, 15b2 Arm portion, 15b3 Horizontal arm portion 51 Earphone BC Back cavity, CLh Axis ER pinna, ER1 pinna conchae, ER2 Inner wall, GD External auditory canal SD, YS Leakage sound SP Speaker SPa Sound emission part, SPb Rear surface part T Air passage

Claims (2)

An earphone having a speaker and a main body housing the speaker, the main body being used in a mounting posture mounted on the concha cavity;
In the mounting posture,
The main body is
A hill that protrudes away from the head, and
An air passage that opens at a position closer to the head than the hill-like portion between the hill-like portion and the inner wall of the concha cavity, and communicates the internal space and the external space of the main body portion;
The earphone characterized by having.   2. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the air passage is formed so as to approach the inner wall of the concha concavity as it is away from the head in the wearing posture.

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