JP2020124444A - Vocalization auxiliary apparatus and vocalization auxiliary system - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to establish both of improvement of audibility when voice of a user of a vocalization auxiliary apparatus is listened by another person and inhibition of the user's load from increasing.SOLUTION: A vocalization auxiliary apparatus comprises: a first speaker for outputting sound to be input to a nasal cavity; a microphone for acquiring sound output from a mouth using the sound from the first speaker; an amplifier for amplifying a voice signal obtained on the basis of the sound acquired by the microphone; and a second speaker for converting the amplified voice signal to sound and outputting the sound.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a voice assist device and a voice assist system.

Several techniques have been proposed to assist the vocalizations of people who have undergone a laryngectomy.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a vocalization assisting device that transmits sound to a nostril. The user of this vocalization assistance device causes the nostril contact portion to closely contact the nose portion to change the shape of the mouth. The sound that comes out of the mouth changes as the state of resonance in the oral cavity of the substitute sound of the vocal cords from the vocalization assist device changes depending on the shape of the oral cavity.

JP, 2005-192851, A

It is preferable that another person can easily hear the voice of the user of the voice assist device. Moreover, it is preferable that the burden on the user who uses the vocalization assistance device be as small as possible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice assisting device and a voice assisting system that can solve the above problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the vocalization assist device includes a first speaker that outputs a sound input to the nasal cavity, and a microphone that acquires a sound output from the mouth using the sound from the first speaker. And an amplifier that amplifies an audio signal obtained based on the sound acquired by the microphone, and a second speaker that converts the amplified audio signal into a sound and outputs the sound.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve both the ease of hearing the voice of the user of the utterance assistance device by another person and the suppression of an increase in the burden on the user.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the vocalization assistance apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement|positioning of the speaker and the microphone in the utterance assistance apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the usage example of the speech assistance apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the procedure of the process which the utterance assistance apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment performs. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the example of a device structure of the speech assistance system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the vocalization assistance apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the speech assistance apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the speech assistance apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solving means of the invention.
Hereinafter, vibration of air (particularly, vibration of air heard by human ears) is referred to as sound. An electric signal indicating a sound waveform is called a voice signal or a sound electric signal. Waveform information represented by a sound or voice signal is called voice. The sound uttered by the user's mouth, or an amplified version of the sound is referred to as a speech sound. The user mentioned here is a user of the vocalization assisting device. The user is assumed to be a person who cannot make a sound in the vocal cord, such as a person who has undergone vocal cord extraction.
The voice of the utterance of the voice is referred to as the voice of the user.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the utterance assistance device according to the first embodiment. With the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the vocalization assist device 100 includes an original sound generating unit 111, a first amplifier 112, a first speaker 113, a microphone 121, a second amplifier 122, a third amplifier 123, and a second speaker. 124, a control IC 131, a power supply module 181, a step-up circuit 183, a step-down circuit 184, and a housing 190.

The utterance assistance device 100 outputs an original sound for assisting the utterance of a person who has undergone pharyngectomy, and amplifies the sound uttered by the user using the output original sound.
The original sound output by the vocalization assistance device 100 is used as a substitute for the sound produced by the vocal cords. The user who has undergone the pharyngectomy takes in the original sound output by the voice assist device 100 from the nostril into the oral cavity. The sound in which the original sound resonates in the oral cavity is emitted from the user's mouth as the user's voice. The speech assistance device 100 amplifies the sound emitted from the user's mouth.

The loudness of the sound emitted from the user's mouth depends on the loudness of the original sound taken from the user's nostril. When the original sound is low, the sound emitted from the user's mouth is low and it is difficult for others to hear. If the original sound is made louder, the sound emitted from the user's mouth becomes louder. However, if the original sound is too loud, the user's eardrum may be damaged, or the user may find the original sound annoying and uncomfortable.

On the other hand, the vocalization assisting device 100 amplifies the sound emitted from the user's mouth, so that it is possible to provide the user's voice with a relatively loud sound to another person without increasing the original sound. The listening comprehension can be improved.
According to the utterance assistance device 100, in this respect, it is possible to improve the easiness of another user to hear the voice of the user of the utterance assistance device and suppress the increase in the burden on the user.

The original sound generation unit 111 generates the above-described original sound electric signal. The original sound generating unit 111 may continue to output the electric signal of the original sound when the vocalization assistance device 100 operates. Alternatively, the vocalization assistance device 100 includes an original sound switch that switches presence or absence of the original sound in addition to or in place of the power switch 182, and the original sound generation unit 111 turns on (connects) the original sound switch under the control of the control IC 131. At times, an electrical signal of the original sound may be output.

The original sound generation unit 111 may generate the electric signal of the original sound by using the waveform of any frequency of 100 Hz to 400 Hz as the fundamental wave, for example, following the fundamental frequency of the vocal cord. In this case, a single-frequency sound source does not change into a voice by the movement of the tongue and the oral cavity in the oral cavity. Therefore, the original sound generation unit 111 may also generate a multiplied wave of the fundamental wave and combine the electric signals of a plurality of frequencies to generate the electric signal of the original sound. By shifting the phase depending on the frequency, such as passing the multiplied wave through a delay, it becomes easy for the voice to be output in resonance with the oral cavity.

However, the original sound generation unit 111 may combine electric signals of a plurality of frequencies that are not in the relationship of the fundamental wave and the multiplied wave. On the other hand, when the original sound generating unit 111 combines electric signals of a plurality of frequencies having the relationship of the fundamental wave and the multiplied wave, the circuit configuration of the original sound generating unit 111 can be made relatively simple.

The first amplifier 112 amplifies the electrical signal of the original sound generated by the original sound generator 111. As described above, the vocalization assisting device 100 amplifies the user's voice, so that the amplification amount by which the first amplifier 112 amplifies the electrical signal of the original sound may be relatively small. For example, the first amplifier 112 may perform the minimum amplification that enables the microphone 121 to detect (convert into an electric signal) the sound emitted from the user's mouth according to the sensitivity of the microphone 121.

The first speaker 113 converts the electric signal of the original sound amplified by the first amplifier 112 into an original sound as sound (vibration of air) and outputs the original sound. The original sound output by the first speaker 113 is taken from the user's nostril and reaches the oral cavity via the nose and throat. The sound in which the original sound resonates in the oral cavity is emitted from the user's mouth as a speech sound. In this way, the first speaker 113 outputs the sound input to the nasal cavity.

The microphone 121 acquires the surrounding sound of the microphone 121 and converts it into an electric signal. In particular, the microphone 121 acquires a sound (speech sound) emitted from the user's mouth and converts it into a sound (voice signal) of an electric signal.
In this way, the microphone 121 acquires the sound (speech sound) output from the mouth using the sound from the first speaker 113.

The second amplifier 122 amplifies the audio signal output by the microphone 121. The third amplifier 123 further amplifies the audio signal amplified by the second amplifier 122. Both the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123 correspond to an example of an amplifier that amplifies an audio signal obtained based on the sound acquired by the microphone 121.

By amplifying the audio signal in two stages of the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123, the amplification amount of each amplifier may be relatively small. Further, since the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123 each amplify the audio signal in a band in which the distortion is relatively small, the distortion of the amplified audio signal from the signal before amplification is relatively small.
On the other hand, the speech assistance device 100 may amplify the audio signal with one amplifier instead of the two amplifiers of the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123.

The second speaker 124 converts the audio signal amplified by the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123 into sound (vibration of air) and outputs the sound.
The control IC 131 controls each unit of the vocalization assistance device 100.
The power supply module 181 supplies power to each unit of the vocalization assistance device 100.

The power switch 182 switches whether power is supplied from the power module 181 to each unit of the vocalization assistance device 100. When the user turns on (connects) the power switch 182, the power module 181 supplies power to each unit of the utterance assistance device 100. When the user turns off (disconnects) the power switch 182, the power supply from the power supply module 181 to each unit of the speech assistance device 100 is stopped.

The booster circuit 183 boosts the voltage of the electric power output by the voice assist device 100. The step-down circuit 184 steps down the voltage of the power output by the step-up circuit 183.
The step-up circuit 183 and the step-down circuit 184 convert electric power from the power supply module 181 into electric power of two voltages. For example, the relatively high voltage power output from the booster circuit 183 is supplied to the first amplifier 112, the second amplifier 122, and the third amplifier 123, and the relatively low voltage power output from the step-down circuit 184 is the original sound generation unit 111. And to the control IC 131.

The housing 190 houses the above-mentioned units. Therefore, in the housing 190, the original sound generator 111, the first amplifier 112, the first speaker 113, the microphone 121, the second amplifier 122, the third amplifier 123, the second speaker 124, and the control IC 131. A power supply module 181, a step-up circuit 183, and a step-down circuit 184 are mounted.
As a result, the speech assistance device 100 is configured as one device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of speakers and microphones in the speech assistance device 100. In FIG. 2, the first speaker 113, the microphone 121, the second speaker 124, the board 132, the power supply module 181, and the housing 190 are shown.
An arrow B1 indicates an example in the longitudinal direction of the housing 190. The arrow B2 indicates an example in the lateral direction of the housing 190. For example, even if the shape of the housing 190 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, the longitudinal direction of the housing 190 is the height direction of the cylindrical shape, and the lateral direction of the housing 190 is the direct direction of the cylindrical bottom surface. Good. Position C shows an example of the center of the housing 190 in the longitudinal direction.
Both the surface F1 and the surface F2 are the bottom surface of the housing 190. The surface F1 is a first bottom surface that is a first end portion of the housing 190 in the longitudinal direction. The surface F2 is the second bottom surface that is the second end of the housing 190 in the longitudinal direction. The surface F3 is a side surface of the housing 190.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the first speaker 113 has a side surface (face F3) of the housing 190 that is closer to the first end (face) than the center (position C) in the longitudinal direction (arrow B1) of the housing 190. It is provided on the F1 side) so as to face the outside of the vocalization assistance device 100. On a portion of the side surface of the housing 190 where the first speaker 113 is provided, a projecting portion 191 having a narrowed tip is provided so that the user can easily hit the nostril. The protrusion 191 is provided with a hole for outputting the original sound (vibration of air) output from the first speaker 113 to the outside of the housing 190.

The second speaker 124 is provided at the second end (face F2) in the longitudinal direction of the housing 190 (direction of arrow B1) so as to face the outside of the utterance assistance device 100. The surface F2 has a hole for outputting the sound (speech sound) generated by the second speaker 124 to the outside of the housing 190.
The microphone 121 has a first bottom surface (face F1), which is a first end portion in the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow B1) of the housing 190, and a short direction of the housing 190 from the first speaker 113 (direction of arrow B2). Are provided separately.

For example, the original sound generation unit 111, the first amplifier 112, the second amplifier 122, the third amplifier 123, and the control IC 131 are mounted on the substrate 132.
As the power supply module 181, for example, an AAA battery can be used, but the power supply module 181 is not limited to this. By using a small power supply as the power supply module 181, it is possible to reduce the size of the speech assistance device 100.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of use of the vocalization assistance device 100.
In the example of FIG. 3, the user holds the vocalization assistance device 100 with one hand so that the face F1 of the housing 190 is close to the mouth, and uses the protrusion 191 provided on the side surface (face F3) of the housing 190 as a nostril. I guess.
As a result, the first speaker 113 is positioned near the user's nostril facing the nostril, and the sound output by the first speaker 113 reaches the oral cavity from the nostril via the nostrils and throat as described above.

Since the vocalization assist device 100 inputs the original sound from the user's nostril, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for inputting the original sound to the user's mouth. According to the utterance assistance device 100, in this respect, the mechanism for inputting the original sound into the user's mouth does not interfere with the acquisition of the sound emitted from the user's mouth.

Further, the first speaker 113 is provided closer to the surface F1 side than the center of the housing 190 in the longitudinal direction, and the microphone 121 is provided on the surface F1 away from the first speaker 113 in the lateral direction of the housing 190. As a result, the microphone 121 is located at the mouth of the user. In this respect, the microphone 121 can easily acquire the sound emitted from the user's mouth.
Further, since the second speaker 124 is provided on the surface F2 so as to face the outside of the vocalization assistance device 100, the second speaker 124 faces approximately the front of the user. This allows the second speaker 124 to face the conversation partner when the user faces the conversation partner. In this respect, the conversation partner can easily hear the sound output from the second speaker 124.

Next, the operation of the speech assistance device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure of processing performed by the speech assistance device 100.
In the process of FIG. 4, the user sets the vocalization assistance device 100 (sequence S11). Specifically, the user holds the vocalization assistance device 100 with one hand as in the example of FIG. 3, presses the protrusion 191 against the nostril so that the first speaker 113 is located in the nostril, and holds the microphone 121 at the mouth. Take.
Then, the user turns on the power switch 182 (sequence S12).

When the power switch 182 is turned on and the vocalization assistance device 100 is activated, the vocalization assistance device 100 generates an original sound (sequence S13) and outputs it (sequence S14). Specifically, the original sound generator 111 generates an electric signal of the original sound. The first amplifier 112 amplifies the electric signal output by the original sound generator 111, and the first speaker 113 converts the electric signal amplified by the first amplifier 112 into sound and outputs the sound.

The original sound output by the speech assistance device 100 is input from the user's nostril and reaches the oral cavity via the nostrils and throat. When the user moves the tongue and the oral cavity (sequence S21), the original sound becomes a speech sound due to resonance in the oral cavity and is output from the mouth.

In the speech assistance device 100, the microphone 121 acquires a sound (speech sound) emitted from the user's mouth (sequence S31). The microphone 121 outputs an audio signal obtained by converting the acquired sound into an electric signal, and the audio signal output by the microphone 121 is amplified by the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123 (sequence S32).
Then, the second speaker 124 converts the amplified audio signal into speech sound and outputs it (sequence S33). The utterance assistance device 100 amplifies the utterance sound through the processes of sequences S31 to S33.

As described above, the first speaker 113 outputs the sound input to the nasal cavity. The microphone 121 acquires the sound output from the mouth using the sound from the first speaker 113. The second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123 amplify the audio signal obtained based on the sound acquired by the microphone 121. The second speaker 124 converts the amplified audio signal into sound and outputs the sound.

Here, the loudness of the sound emitted from the user's mouth depends on the loudness of the original sound output from the first speaker 113 (the original sound of the sound emitted from the user's mouth). When the original sound is low, the sound emitted from the user's mouth is low and it is difficult for others to hear. If the original sound is made louder, the sound emitted from the user's mouth becomes louder. However, if the original sound is too loud, the user's eardrum may be damaged, or the user may find the original sound annoying and uncomfortable.

On the other hand, the second amplifier 122 and the third amplifier 123 amplify the sound emitted from the user's mouth, so that the user's voice can be heard relatively loudly to others without the need to increase the original sound. It can be provided and the audibility of audio can be improved.
According to the utterance assistance device 100, in this respect, it is possible to improve the easiness of another user to hear the voice of the user of the utterance assistance device and suppress the increase in the burden on the user.

Further, the first speaker 113 does not need to provide a mechanism for inputting the original sound into the oral cavity of the user by inputting the original sound into the oral cavity from the nostril of the user. According to the utterance assistance device 100, in this respect, the mechanism for inputting the original sound into the user's mouth does not interfere with the acquisition of the sound emitted from the user's mouth.

Further, since the vocalization assisting device 100 outputs the original sound through the first speaker 113, unlike the case of the system in which the lead is activated, a blower such as a compressor is unnecessary. According to the utterance assistance device 100, the size and weight of the device can be reduced in this respect, and the utterance assistance device 100 can be configured as a portable device.

Further, since the voice assist device 100 sends the original sound from the user's nostril, it is not necessary to insert a pipe into the user's mouth to send the original sound. As a result, in the utterance assistance device 100, the user feels uncomfortable to put the pipe in his/her mouth, causes vomiting when the pipe is put in the mouth, or is likely to vomit, and lacks cleanliness in putting and taking the pipe in/out the mouth. Does not happen.

Further, the appearance of the vocalization assisting device 100 when used is such that the fist is placed around the nose and the mouth, and it looks like a natural feel with the hand on the mouth. In this respect, the vocalization assist device 100 is less burdensome to the user as compared with the unattractive appearance when used, such as the unsightly appearance when the pipe is put in the mouth.

Further, the first speaker 113, the first amplifier 112, and the second speaker 124 are mounted on the housing 190.
Since these are mounted on the housing 190 and the vocalization assistance device 100 is configured as one device, the user can easily hold the vocalization assistance device 100 by hand, and when the vocalization assistance device 100 is used, as described above. It is easy for the user to realize the appearance such as the posture in which the user applies a fist around the nose and mouth.

The microphone 121 is provided at the first end of the first end and the second end of the housing 190 in the longitudinal direction. The first speaker 113 is provided on the first end side with respect to the longitudinal center of the housing 190. The second speaker 124 is provided at the second end of the housing 190 in the longitudinal direction.
Since the first speaker 113 is provided closer to the end portion where the microphone 121 is than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing 190, when the user puts the first speaker 113 on the nostril, Easy to place at the mouth. According to the vocalization assistance device 100, in this respect, the microphone 121 can easily acquire the sound emitted from the user's mouth.
Further, since the second speaker 124 is provided on the surface F2, the position of the second speaker 124 is relatively close to the conversation partner when the user is facing the conversation partner. In this respect, the conversation partner can easily hear the sound output from the second speaker 124.

The housing 190 also has a first bottom surface (face F1) that is the first end, a second bottom surface (face F2) that is the second end, and a side face (face F3). The first speaker 113 is provided on the side surface of the housing 190. The microphone 121 is provided on the first bottom surface of the housing 190 so as to be separated from the first speaker 113 in the lateral direction of the housing 190.
The microphone 121 is provided on the surface F1 so as to be separated from the first speaker 113 in the lateral direction of the housing 190, so that when the user puts the first speaker 113 on the nostril, Easy to place at the mouth. According to the vocalization assistance device 100, in this respect, the microphone 121 can easily acquire the sound emitted from the user's mouth.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the device configuration of the utterance assistance system according to the second embodiment.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the speech assistance system 1 includes a voice conversion device 200 and a speech assistance device 101. The voice conversion device 200 and the speech assistance device 101 communicate with each other via the communication network 900.
The number of vocalization assisting devices 101 included in the vocalization assisting system 1 may be one or more.

The voice conversion device 200 converts the voice of the voice signal output by the microphone 121. In particular, the voice conversion device 200 converts the timbre of the voice of the voice signal output by the microphone 121 into another timbre. The timbre here is one of the attributes related to how the sound is heard. According to JIS801-29-09, "One of the attributes of a sound related to hearing is that when two physically different sounds sound different, even if they have the same sound volume and pitch, the difference is recognized. "Corresponding attribute".
The speech assistance device 101 is the same as the speech assistance device 100, except that it transmits a voice signal to the voice conversion device 200 and undergoes timbre conversion.

The communication network 900 is not limited to a specific form of communication network as long as it can relay the communication between the speech assistance device 101 and the voice conversion device 200. For example, the communication network 900 may include a mobile phone network and the Internet, and the speech assistance device 101 may be communicatively connected to the mobile phone network and the voice conversion device 200 may be communicatively connected to the internet. The voice conversion device 200 may be a cloud server.
In the following, a case will be described as an example in which the speech assistance device 101 connects to the communication network 900 by wireless communication. This facilitates the configuration of the speech assistance device 101 as a portable device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the speech assistance device 101. With the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the vocalization assisting device 101 includes an original sound generating unit 111, a first amplifier 112, a first speaker 113, a microphone 121, a second amplifier 122, a third amplifier 123, and a second speaker. 124, a control IC 131, a wireless module 141, a power supply module 181, a step-up circuit 183, a step-down circuit 184, and a housing 190.
1 have the same reference numerals (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 124, 131, 181, 182, 183, 184) corresponding to those of FIG. 190) and the description is omitted.

The wireless module 141 transmits the audio signal output by the second amplifier 122 to the audio conversion device 200. Then, the wireless module 141 receives the voice signal converted by the voice conversion device 200. As a result, the third amplifier 123 amplifies the audio signal after audio conversion by the audio conversion device 200.
In other respects, the speech assistance device 101 is similar to the speech assistance device 100.
The third amplifier 123 corresponds to an example of an amplifier that amplifies the audio signal after audio conversion.

The audio conversion device 200 receives an audio signal output from the microphone 121 and amplified by the second amplifier 122, and outputs an audio signal based on the user's voice. For example, the voice conversion device 200 may machine-learn the tone color of the user's voice, and convert the voice signal received from the utterance assistance device 100 into the voice signal of the tone color of the user. Before extracting the vocal cords, the user's voice may be recorded as learning data for the user's voice. Alternatively, the learning data may be acquired from past home videos or the like.

As described above, the voice conversion device 200 converts the voice of the voice signal output by the microphone 121. The third amplifier 123 amplifies the audio signal after audio conversion.
As a result, the vocalization assisting device 101 can output a more natural voice such as a voice close to a human voice.

Further, the voice conversion device 200 receives an input of a voice signal output by the microphone 121 and outputs a voice signal of voice based on the voice of the user.
As a result, the voice output by the speech assistance device 101 can be the voice of the user or a voice close thereto.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the utterance assistance device according to the third embodiment.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the vocalization assisting device 102 includes an original sound generator 111, a first amplifier 112, a first speaker 113, a microphone 121, a second amplifier 122, a third amplifier 123, and a second speaker. 124, a control IC 131, a voice conversion module 151, a power supply module 181, a step-up circuit 183, a step-down circuit 184, and a housing 190.
1 have the same reference numerals (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 124, 131, 181, 182, 183, 184) corresponding to those of FIG. 190) and the description is omitted.

The voice conversion module 151 receives an input voice signal output from the microphone 121 and amplified by the second amplifier 122, and outputs a voice signal based on the user's voice. For example, the voice conversion module 151 may machine-learn the tone color of the user's voice and convert the voice signal received from the utterance assistance device 100 into the voice signal of the tone color of the user. Before extracting the vocal cords, the user's voice may be recorded as learning data for the user's voice. Alternatively, the learning data may be acquired from past home videos or the like.

The utterance assistance device 102 according to the third embodiment corresponds to an example in which the utterance assistance device 101 and the voice conversion device 200 according to the second embodiment are integrated into one device.
The utterance assisting device 102 can output a more natural voice such as a voice close to a human voice. Furthermore, in the utterance assisting device 102, the output voice can be the voice of the user or a voice close thereto.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The fourth embodiment shows an example in which the vocalization assisting device according to the first to third embodiments is generalized. The utterance assistance device according to the first to third embodiments corresponds to an example of the utterance assistance device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the utterance assistance device according to the fourth embodiment. The speech assistance device 10 shown in FIG. 8 includes a first speaker 11, a microphone 12, an amplifier 13, and a second speaker 14.
With this configuration, the first speaker 11 outputs the sound input to the nasal cavity. The microphone 12 acquires the sound output from the mouth using the sound from the first speaker 11. The amplifier 13 amplifies an audio signal obtained based on the sound acquired by the microphone 12. The second speaker 14 converts the amplified audio signal into sound and outputs it.

Here, the loudness of the sound emitted from the user's mouth depends on the loudness of the original sound output from the first speaker 11 (the sound that is the source of the sound emitted from the user's mouth). When the original sound is low, the sound emitted from the user's mouth is low and it is difficult for others to hear. If the original sound is made louder, the sound emitted from the user's mouth becomes louder. However, if the original sound is too loud, the user's eardrum may be damaged, or the user may find the original sound annoying and uncomfortable.

On the other hand, the amplifier 13 amplifies the sound emitted from the user's mouth, so that it is possible to provide the user's voice with a relatively loud sound to another person without increasing the original sound, and the voice is easy to hear. Can be improved.
According to the utterance assistance device 10, in this respect, it is possible to improve both the ease of hearing the voice of the user of the utterance assistance device by another person and the suppression of an increase in the burden on the user.

Further, the first speaker 11 does not need to provide a mechanism for inputting the original sound into the mouth of the user by inputting the original sound into the mouth of the user. According to the utterance assistance device 10, in this respect, the mechanism for inputting the original sound into the oral cavity of the user does not interfere with the acquisition of the sound emitted from the mouth of the user.

Further, since the vocalization assisting device 10 outputs the original sound through the first speaker 11, a blower such as a compressor is not required unlike the case where the lead is activated. According to the vocalization assistance device 10, the size and weight of the device can be reduced in this respect, and the vocalization assistance device 10 can be configured as a portable device.

Further, since the voice assist device 10 sends the original sound from the user's nostril, it is not necessary to insert a pipe into the user's mouth to send the original sound. As a result, the vocalization assisting device 10 has a burden on the user, such as having a discomfort in putting the pipe into the mouth, causing vomiting or being likely to put the pipe in the mouth, and removing the pipe from the mouth is not clean. Does not happen.

Further, the appearance of the vocalization assisting device 10 when used is such that a fist is placed around the nose and mouth, and it looks like a natural feel with a hand on the mouth. In this respect, the vocalization assisting device 10 can lighten the burden on the user as compared with the unattractive appearance when the pipe is put in the mouth, which is unsightly.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design etc. within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 Voice Assistance System 10, 100, 102, 103 Voice Assistance Device 11, 113 First Speaker 12, 121 Microphone 13 Amplifier 14, 124 Second Speaker 111 Original Sound Generator 112 First Amplifier 122 Second Amplifier 123 Third Amplifier 131 Control IC
141 wireless module 151 voice conversion module 181 power supply module 182 power switch 183 booster circuit 184 step-down circuit 190 housing 200 voice converter

Claims (6)

A first speaker for outputting sound input to the nasal cavity;
A microphone for acquiring sound output from the mouth using the sound from the first speaker;
An amplifier that amplifies an audio signal obtained based on the sound acquired by the microphone,
A second speaker that converts the amplified audio signal into sound and outputs the sound;
A voice assist device. The vocalization assistance device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing on which the first speaker, the amplifier, and the second speaker are mounted. The microphone is provided at a first end of the first end and the second end in the longitudinal direction of the housing,
The first speaker is provided closer to the first end than the center in the longitudinal direction of the housing,
The second speaker is provided at a second end portion in the longitudinal direction of the housing,
The vocalization assistance device according to claim 2. The housing has a first bottom surface that is the first end, a second bottom surface that is the second end, and a side surface,
The first speaker is provided on the side surface,
The microphone is provided on the first bottom surface so as to be separated from the first speaker in the lateral direction of the housing.
The vocalization assistance device according to claim 3. A vocalization assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A voice conversion device that converts the voice of the voice signal output by the microphone,
Equipped with
The amplifier is a voice assist system that amplifies a voice signal after voice conversion. The voice conversion device receives a voice signal output by the microphone and outputs a voice signal of a voice based on a voice of a user of the voice assistance device.
The vocalization assistance system according to claim 5.

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