JP2017035409A - Wheelchair having conversation support function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair having a conversation support function capable of clearly transmitting utterance contents of a helper existing behind the wheelchair to a user in spite of ambient noise, etc.SOLUTION: A wheelchair 10 includes: a helper microphone 33 for collecting voice uttered by a helper A and converting the voice into a voice signal; a control amplifier 40 for amplifying a voice signal from the helper microphone 33; and a magnetic induction loop 42 arranged in a seat part 20 on which a user U is seated and generating an alternation magnetic field corresponding to voice uttered by the helper A. A hearing aid 50 with a T mode function mounted on the user U captures the alternation magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction loop 42 embedded in the seat part 20, to thereby clearly transmit the voice of the helper A to the user U.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheelchair and the like, and more particularly, to a wheelchair having a conversation support function for supporting a conversation between a user and a caregiver.

  A care recipient who is difficult to run independently often talks with a caregiver who does not face the wheelchair. Communication by communication between a hearing impaired person and a healthy person is improved to some extent by the hearing impaired person wearing a hearing aid. However, even if the hearing impaired person (wheelchair user) wears a hearing aid in a noisy environment, such as when the deaf person goes out in a wheelchair or in a hall where there is a lot of noise, Such noise and reverberation sound are also amplified as noise, and there are cases in which it is impossible to clearly hear the utterance content of the assistant who is behind. In addition, there was no prior art document related to a wheelchair incorporating a hearing aid.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a wheelchair equipped with a conversation support function that can clearly convey to the user the utterance content of the assistant behind the wheelchair even in an environment where there is noise in the surroundings. It is an object.

  In order to solve the above problems, a wheelchair according to the present invention includes a microphone for an assistant who collects a voice spoken by an assistant and converts it into a sound signal, an amplifier which amplifies the sound signal from the microphone for the assistant, and a user And a magnetic induction loop that generates an alternating magnetic field corresponding to the sound signal amplified by the amplifier, and the hearing aid worn by the user is electromagnetically induced by fluctuation of the alternating magnetic field. Is provided with a conversation support function for transmitting the voice of the assistant to the user.

  The above configuration may further include a user microphone that collects voice spoken by the user and converts it into a sound signal, and the amplifier amplifies and outputs the sound signal from the user microphone.

  The amplifier may output a sound signal from the user microphone to an audio output unit worn by the assistant.

  The amplifier may output a sound signal from the user microphone to a voice output unit worn by the assistant via wireless communication.

  The amplifier may output a sound signal from the user microphone to a speaker provided at the rear of the wheelchair.

  The amplifier may output a sound signal from the user microphone to a headset worn by the caregiver.

  The assistant microphone may be provided in the headset.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the user microphone is detachably attached to the wheelchair.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the audio | voice output part by the side of the said assistant is attached to the said amplifier so that attachment or detachment is possible.

  The headset is preferably detachably attached to the amplifier.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the hearing aid worn by the user captures fluctuations in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction loop using a T-mode function.

  Further, the wheelchair of the present invention has a microphone for an assistant who collects a voice spoken by an assistant and converts it into a sound signal, an amplifier which amplifies the sound signal from the microphone for the assistant, and a seat where a user sits. And a magnetic induction loop that generates an alternating magnetic field corresponding to the sound signal amplified by the amplifier, and the sound signal electromagnetically induced by the fluctuation of the alternating magnetic field is embedded in the body of the user It has a conversation support function that allows the user to perceive the voice of the assistant by outputting to the organ.

  In the above configuration, the artificial auditory organ may be a cochlear implant.

  Further, the artificial auditory organ may be an artificial middle ear using bone conduction.

  The artificial auditory organ may be an auditory brainstem implant.

  According to the wheelchair equipped with the conversation support function according to the present invention, even when the user goes out, the utterance content of the assistant behind the wheelchair is clearly transmitted to the user even in an environment where there is noisy surroundings. Can sound.

It is a side view of a wheelchair provided with a conversation support system by one embodiment of the invention. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the structure of the conversation assistance system by one Embodiment of invention.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, an example in which the conversation support system according to the present invention is applied to a wheelchair will be described. However, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention is not limited to a wheelchair and can be applied to a walking support device used for walking training for rehabilitation, for example.

  FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheelchair 10 including the conversation support system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the conversation support system according to the present embodiment.

  As a general configuration, the wheelchair 10 is provided with a pair of left and right main wheels 12 and a small-diameter caster 13 on left and right side frames 11 formed by bending and welding a metal tube. The main wheel 12 is supported by a bearing plate 15 attached between the side frame 11 and the under frame 14. The caster 13 is rotatably provided on the vertical bearing portion 15 at the front portion of the under frame 14 in order to freely change the direction of the wheelchair 10. An auxiliary wheel 16 may be provided behind the main wheel 12 to be used, for example, when climbing over a step.

  Between the left and right side frames 11, a seat 20 for the user U to sit is formed substantially horizontally. The seat portion 20 is provided with a magnetic induction loop 42 described later that generates an alternating magnetic field in the vertical direction. The magnetic induction loop 42 may be provided between the seat portion 20 and the replaceable cushion sheet, or may be embedded in the cushion sheet so that it can be carried when necessary.

  From the rear portion of the side frame 11, a pair of left and right back frames 22 are formed to extend substantially vertically. Although not shown, a backrest portion may be provided between the left and right back frames 22. Further, an auxiliary frame 23 is bridged obliquely between the upper end of the back frame 22 and the rear end of the side frame 11. A handle 24 for operating the assistant A is formed at the upper end of the auxiliary frame 23.

  The armrest 25 extending forward from approximately the center of the back frame 22 may be provided with a user microphone 31 that collects a voice spoken by the user U of the wheelchair 10 and converts it into a sound signal “if necessary”. The user microphone 31 is preferably a directional microphone, and more preferably adjustable by the flexible shaft 32 according to the position of the mouth of the user U. The user microphone 31 is preferably detachably connected to, for example, a connector at the tip of the armrest 25 in order to be removable.

  Here, “as necessary” means depending on whether or not the assistant A can hear the utterance content of the user U sufficiently clearly without using the conversation support system. . That is, the user's microphone 31 can be removed from the armrest 25 if the assistant A can clearly hear the utterance content of the user U without using the conversation support system. Good.

  On the other hand, an assistant microphone 33 that collects the voice spoken by the assistant A and converts it into a sound signal is attached to the upper end of the back frame 22. The assistant microphone 33 is preferably a directional microphone, and more preferably adjustable by the flexible shaft 34 according to the position of the assistant A's mouth.

  Further, the auxiliary frame 23 is provided with a control amplifier 40 of the conversation support system. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, an earphone 35 that is one of audio output units worn by the assistant A as necessary and a control amplifier 40 are connected via a cable 36. However, these may be wirelessly connected using appropriate short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  Note that the cable 36 of the earphone 35 can be disconnected from the control amplifier 40 if the assistant A can clearly hear the content of the utterance of the user U without using the conversation support system. Alternatively, the wireless connection with the control amplifier 40 may be canceled (invalidation setting).

  As another embodiment, the assistant microphone 33 and the earphone 35 may be provided in one headset, and the headset and the control amplifier 40 may be connected by wire or wirelessly. Moreover, you may provide a small directional speaker instead of the earphone 35 as an audio | voice output part by the side of the assistant A, for example in the auxiliary | assistant frame 23 or the backrest part of the wheelchair 10. FIG. Further, a microphone input terminal and an earphone output terminal may be provided in the box of the control amplifier 40, and the assistant microphone 33 and / or the earphone 35 may be detachably connected to the respective terminals as necessary.

  Next, the circuit configuration and operation of the conversation support system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this conversation support system, as an option, the “T mode” of the hearing aid worn by the user U is used for sound transmission from the assistant A to the user U of the wheelchair. Here, “T mode” refers to a voice conversion mode by electromagnetic induction. By causing the T mode of the hearing aid to function, the transmission path of the voice that arrives from the speaker is partially replaced with magnetism, so that the influence of external noise and the like can be eliminated as much as possible.

  The sound signal from the above-described assistant microphone 33 is input to the assistant-side input CN3 of the control amplifier 40. A variable resistor 37 for attenuating the sound signal from the assistant microphone 33 may be provided in the line. In addition, a sound signal from the above-described user microphone 31 is optionally input to the user side input CN4 of the control amplifier 40. A variable resistor 38 for attenuating the sound signal from the user microphone 31 may be provided in the line. Further, the above-described earphone 35 is connected to the caregiver side output CN2 of the control amplifier 40, for example.

  In addition, the user-side output CN5 of the control amplifier 40 is optionally connected with an earphone 52 worn by the user U (option 2). A magnetic induction loop 42 provided in the seat 20 of the wheelchair 10 is connected to the loop outputs CN1 and CN6 of the control amplifier 40.

  The voice uttered by the assistant A is collected by the microphone 33 for assistants having directivity and converted into an electric sound signal. The sound signal from the assistant microphone 33 is input to the input CN3 and is amplified to a current sufficient to drive the magnetic induction loop 42 by the control amplifier 40. The sound signal amplified by the control amplifier 40 is output to the magnetic induction loop 42, whereby an alternating magnetic field corresponding to the sound signal is generated in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic induction loop 42, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the seat portion 20. .

(Option 1)
When the user U sitting on the seat 20 of the wheelchair 10 is wearing the hearing aid 50 with the T mode function, the hearing aid 50 can be switched to the T mode to clearly hear the utterance content of the assistant A. it can. That is, when the hearing aid 50 is in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction loop 42, a sound signal corresponding to the utterance content of the assistant A is electromagnetically induced in the pickup coil of the hearing aid 50. As described above, the hearing aid 50 with the T mode function captures the fluctuation of the alternating magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction loop 42, so that the assistant A who is behind the wheelchair 10 is not affected by external noise or the like. Can be transmitted clearly to the user U sitting in the wheelchair 10.

(Option 2)
The user U sitting on the seat 20 of the wheelchair 10 can clearly hear the utterance content of the assistant A by wearing the earphone 52. In this case, the sound signal converted by the assistant A with the utterance assistant microphone 33 is amplified by the control amplifier 40 and output from the earphone 52. Thereby, the content of the utterance of the assistant A behind the wheelchair 10 can be clearly transmitted to the user U sitting on the wheelchair 10 without being affected by external noise or the like.

(Option 3)
When the user U sitting on the seat 20 of the wheelchair 10 carries the receiver 51 with the T mode function, the content of the utterance of the assistant A can be clearly heard through the earphone of the receiver 51. In this case, the fluctuation of the alternating magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction loop 42 is captured by the pickup coil in the receiver 51, and a sound signal corresponding to the content of the utterance of the assistant A can be reproduced. Thereby, the content of the utterance of the assistant A behind the wheelchair 10 can be clearly transmitted to the user U sitting on the wheelchair 10 without being affected by external noise or the like.

(Option 4)
This conversation support system provided in the wheelchair 10 can also be used for an artificial auditory organ embedded in the body of the user U. Representative examples of the artificial auditory organ include a cochlear implant, an artificial middle ear, and an auditory brainstem implant, and the effectiveness of this system is recognized in any of these artificial auditory organs.

  The artificial inner ear is one in which an electrode 54b is embedded in the inner ear (also called “cochlea”) of the user U, and an electric pulse is generated in the electrode 54b by an electromagnetic signal from the extracorporeal device 54a. The electric pulse stimulates the surrounding auditory nerve, so that it is perceived as sound by the user U. The extracorporeal device 54a is a speech processor that converts a sound signal into an electromagnetic signal. In recent years, a small ear-hook type processor similar to a hearing aid has been developed.

  The artificial middle ear (implantable hearing aid) is designed to improve the hearing by embedding a vibration terminal in the skull behind the hearing-impaired ear and transmitting the vibration generated by the extracorporeal device to the inner ear using bone conduction. .

  The auditory brainstem implant has substantially the same configuration as the cochlear implant, but an electrode is embedded on the surface of the central brainstem rather than the cochlea. By stimulating the cochlear nucleus deep in the brainstem with electrical pulses, it is possible to generate perception through the cochlear nucleus even if the auditory nerve is impaired.

  Such an extracorporeal device for an artificial auditory organ can incorporate a T-mode pickup coil to convey the utterance content of the assistant A to the user U. Further, the audio output of the receiver 51 with the T mode function described above can be connected to the audio input terminal of the extracorporeal device.

  The conversation support system according to the present embodiment may be provided with a sound transmission function from the user U to the assistant A in addition to the above-described sound transmission of the utterance content from the assistant A to the user U. That is, the sound signal converted by the user U using the utterance user microphone 31 may be amplified by the control amplifier 40 and output to the earphone 35 or the headset worn by the assistant A. Even in this case, the utterance content of the user U sitting in the wheelchair 10 can be clearly transmitted to the assistant A behind the wheelchair 10 without being affected by external noise or the like. Therefore, mutual conversation communication between the user U of the wheelchair 10 and the assistant A can be facilitated.

  As another embodiment, an external audio input (AUX) terminal may be provided in the box of the control amplifier 40 of the conversation support system. For example, a gadget device such as a portable music player can be connected to the external audio input terminal and music or the like can be simultaneously output to the hearing aid 50 of the user U and the earphone 35 of the assistant A. Thereby, in addition to the conversation between the user U and the assistant A, psychological communication that invites mutual empathy through music of the same sound source can be deepened.

  As yet another embodiment, a smartphone can be connected to the control amplifier 40, and the user microphone 31 and the hearing aid 50 can be used as a hands-free device for the user U to talk on the smartphone. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Wheelchair 11 Side frame 12 Main wheel 13 Caster 14 Under frame 15 Bearing plate 16 Auxiliary wheel 20 Seat part 22 Back frame 23 Auxiliary frame 24 Handle 25 Armrest 31 User's microphone 32 Flexible shaft 33 Assistant person's microphone 34 Flexible shaft 35 Earphone 36 Cable 37 Variable resistor 40 Control amplifier 42 Magnetic induction loop 50 Hearing aid 51 Receiver 52 with T mode function Earphone 54a Extracorporeal device 54b Electrode A Helper U User

Claims (15)

A microphone for the assistant who collects the voice spoken by the assistant and converts it into a sound signal;
An amplifier for amplifying a sound signal from the assistant microphone;
A magnetic induction loop provided in a seat where a user sits and generating an alternating magnetic field corresponding to the sound signal amplified by the amplifier;
A wheelchair having a conversation support function for transmitting a voice of the assistant to the user by outputting a sound signal electromagnetically induced by a change in the alternating magnetic field by a hearing aid worn by the user. Further comprising a user microphone for collecting the voice spoken by the user and converting it into a sound signal;
The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier amplifies and outputs a sound signal from the user microphone.   The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the amplifier outputs a sound signal from the user microphone to an audio output unit worn by the assistant.   The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the amplifier outputs a sound signal from the user's microphone to a sound output unit worn by the assistant via wireless communication.   The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the amplifier outputs a sound signal from the user microphone to a speaker provided at a rear portion of the wheelchair.   The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the amplifier outputs a sound signal from the user microphone to a headset worn by the assistant.   The wheelchair according to claim 6, wherein the caretaker microphone is provided in the headset.   The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the user microphone is detachably attached to the wheelchair.   The wheelchair according to claim 3, wherein the assistant's voice output unit is detachably attached to the amplifier.   The wheelchair according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the headset is detachably attached to the amplifier.   The wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the hearing aid worn by the user captures fluctuations in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic induction loop using a T-mode function. A microphone for the assistant who collects the voice spoken by the assistant and converts it into a sound signal;
An amplifier for amplifying a sound signal from the assistant microphone;
A magnetic induction loop provided in a seat where a user sits and generating an alternating magnetic field corresponding to the sound signal amplified by the amplifier;
A wheelchair equipped with a conversation support function for allowing the user to perceive the voice of the assistant by outputting a sound signal electromagnetically induced by the change of the alternating magnetic field to an artificial auditory organ embedded in the body of the user .   The wheelchair according to claim 12, wherein the artificial auditory organ is a cochlear implant.   The wheelchair according to claim 12, wherein the artificial auditory organ is an artificial middle ear using bone conduction.   The wheelchair of claim 12, wherein the artificial auditory organ is an auditory brainstem implant.