JP3129623B2 - Awakening device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an arousal maintaining device for preventing a decrease in arousal of a human by presenting a sound stimulus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art During monotonous work or long-distance driving of a car at midnight, it is easy for the worker or driver to fall awake due to the monotony and fall asleep. It is a problem. As a technique for preventing such a decrease in arousal, a technique for maintaining awake state by intermittently presenting music has already been applied (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-37492). This method intermittently presents physical stimuli such as sound, vibration, heat, fragrance, light, massage, magnetic force, etc. with a stimulus duration of 5 seconds to 3 minutes before becoming sleepy. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the human from falling into the awakened state and maintain the normal awake state.

However, in this technique, when music is used as an intermittent stimulus, the music is reproduced only in the middle of the music, and there is a sense of discomfort such as "I want to listen more", which may make the user feel uncomfortable. .

[0004] As a method for solving this problem, a patent has been filed (currently unpublished) that realizes maintenance of arousal without discomfort by changing the sound environment without feeling abrupt. This is characterized in that acoustic stimuli are presented continuously and their sound characteristics (sound pressure, sound quality, sound image, etc.) are changed at constant or random intervals. Specifically, the sound pressure is changed at constant or random intervals. Is changed, the sound image position is changed by switching the speaker, and the sound field is changed by changing the transfer function of the DSP.

[0005]

However, in the above technique, since the DSP or the speaker is simply switched using a sound source such as a commercially available CD, the following problem occurs. (1) When changing the sound image by switching the speakers, the sound image is localized at the position of the speaker mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, the number of sound image positions is limited to the number of mounted speakers. Therefore, for example, in the case of four speakers, only four sound image positions can be generated, and even if the sound image positions are switched randomly, the number of changes in the sound environment is small, and the accustomed effect occurs to maintain the awakening maintaining effect for a long time. Can not do. (2) When changing the sound field by switching with a DSP, DS
The sound field control by P is only perceived as a “virtual sound field” and lacks a sense of reality. For example, when the sound field of a concert hall is simulated using a DSP, the sound field can be generated in a simulated manner, but the actual sound field at the time of actually listening in the concert hall does not have the sense of presence. Unnaturalness remains.

As described above, sound field control using a DSP enables
There is a limit to obtaining a sense of presence comparable to the perception of a real sound field,
In order to switch the sound field with a more realistic sensation and to further enhance the awakening effect, it is more preferable to switch the actual sound field. (3) When changing the sound image by switching the speakers of the car audio, if the volume is switched while keeping the volume constant, the sound pressure decreases as the distance between the driver's ear and the speaker increases. Therefore, when the sound pressure is adjusted to the closest speaker, the listening sound pressure of the sound generated from the farthest speaker decreases, and the sound stimulus intensity becomes weak.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to change the sound environment surrounding humans in a more varied manner.
An object of the present invention is to provide a wakefulness maintenance device capable of obtaining a higher wakefulness maintenance effect.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, a wakefulness maintenance device of the present invention is a wakefulness maintenance device for maintaining a human wakeful state by sound stimulation, and includes three or more speakers, and among the three or more speakers, While selecting and operating a plurality of speakers simultaneously, the selected speaker is changed at predetermined or random intervals to change the sound image position.

Further, in the alertness maintaining device according to the present invention, the alertness maintaining device is activated by a user's manual operation.

The awakening maintaining apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a random number generating means for randomly switching the plurality of speakers. Also,
The awakening maintenance apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the awakening maintenance apparatus further comprises a random number generating means for randomly switching the volume of the plurality of speakers.

Further, in the awakening maintenance device according to the present invention, the awakening maintenance device is mounted on a vehicle, and when the operation continuation time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, when it is determined that the operation is monotonous, it is determined that the awakening is reduced. It is characterized in that it is automatically activated when any of the conditions when the conversation is interrupted for a predetermined time or more is satisfied.

Further, the awakening maintaining apparatus according to the present invention is an awakening maintaining apparatus for maintaining a human awake state by sound stimulation, comprising a plurality of speakers, and outputting sounds including a plurality of timbres. And while driving the plurality of speakers so that the sound image position is different for each tone color,
The sound image positions of the plurality of tone colors are changed at predetermined or random intervals.

Further, the awakening maintenance device according to the present invention is a vehicular awakening maintenance device for maintaining a human awakening state by sound stimulation, and comprises an arbitrary number of two or more speakers out of a plurality of speakers. The state of simultaneous operation is switched at predetermined or random intervals to change the sound image position, and the plurality of speakers include a normal audio speaker and a highly directional pillow speaker directed to the driver's seat. It is characterized in that the audio speaker and the pillow speaker are switched as required.

[0014]

As described above, the awakening maintaining apparatus according to the present invention is constituted, so that the sound environment around a person can be varied in various ways by moving the position of the sound image at predetermined or random time intervals. And a high alertness maintaining effect can be obtained. Also, in the case of a vehicle, by adjusting the volume of each speaker so that the sound pressure in the driver's seat is within a predetermined range, the sound pressure is reduced due to a change in the sound image position, and the awakening maintaining effect is reduced. Can be prevented.

In addition, by providing a pillow speaker directed to the driver separately from a normal audio speaker, it is possible to change the magnitude of the actual sound field, thereby improving the sense of presence of the sound field change. , The effect of maintaining arousal can be enhanced.

At least one condition when the driving continuation time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, when it is determined that the arousal is lowered, when it is determined that the monotonous driving is continued, or when it is determined that the conversation is interrupted for a predetermined time or more. When the condition is satisfied, the alertness maintenance device is automatically activated, so that the alertness maintenance device can be activated at an appropriate timing without the driver operating the switch or the like by himself / herself.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but before that, the general contents of the present invention will be described.

The gist of each embodiment of the present invention is that, when a sound image is changed by switching speakers, a plurality of speakers are selected from speakers mounted on the vehicle and monaural reproduction is performed at the same time. The purpose is to increase the number and reduce the habituation effect so that the arousal maintenance effect can be maintained for a longer time than before. For example, in addition to general media (CDs, tapes, radios, etc.), a synthesizer is mounted so that computer music can be played, and performances are performed so that the sound image position differs for each tone (simulated instrument). By changing the sound image position randomly for each tone at a fixed or random interval, the number of types of sound environment is increased, the habituation effect is reduced, and the alertness maintaining effect can be maintained for a longer time than before.

Further, in order to eliminate the difference in sound pressure due to the distance of the speakers and the driver, also measures the magnitude of the volume as listening sound pressure is constant with advance what the speaker, a constant listening sound pressure when switching the speaker Automatically controls the volume so that

Further, as a method of changing the sound field, D
Instead of virtual sound field control such as SP, in addition to the speakers mounted on the vehicle such as door mount or rear tray mount, a pillow speaker that can generate a real sound field at the ear is installed, and by switching between the conventional speaker and the pillow speaker , Change the size of the real sound field. Thereby, the realism of the sound field change is improved, and the effect of maintaining awakening is improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) In a first embodiment, two or more speakers are reproduced in monaural in a multi-channel speaker system to increase the number of sound images.

In the awakening maintaining device, by changing the sound image in the vehicle compartment temporally and constantly changing the sound environment,
Reduce driver arousal.

The alertness maintaining apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment includes:
As shown in FIG. 1, a car audio system (CD player or the like) 12 which is a normal audio device, and four speakers 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d set in a vehicle compartment.
And an amplifier 16 for amplifying a signal output from the sound source;
Four gates or volume 1 provided on the way to output the sound signal to the speaker, and whether to pass the signal
8a, 18b, 18c, 18d and a normal audio device (car audio 12) capable of presenting an intermittent sound having an effect of reducing arousal, and at the same time, selectively sounds from the four speakers 14a to 14d. And a controller 20 for controlling the gates or the volumes 18a to 18d so as to output the data.

Awakening device 10 constructed as described above
Works as follows.

By presenting the sound intermittently and presenting the sound from some of the speakers 14a to 14d randomly selected, the sound image for the driver is changed. Always change the sound environment.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of this embodiment. When the driver or the like operates the audio device 12, the controller 20 is initialized (step S2,
4) Wait for an operation request of the alertness maintaining device 10 (step S)
6). The operation request of the arousal maintenance device 10 may be, for example, requested by the driver himself / herself by using a switch. If there is no operation request, normal audio can be heard (step S8). To change the sound image, for example, a random number is generated by the controller 20, and if the value is larger than a certain threshold value, the gate 18a is opened, and the output from the front speaker 14a is enabled. Is generated, and it is determined whether to open the gate (steps S10 to S22). Also, how to open the gate,
Instead of ON / OFF, the volume may be adjusted analogously like a volume. (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the sound image localization of a musical instrument is periodically changed using a synthesizer in the sound image changing method.

When a commercially available cassette tape or compact disk containing music or the like is used in an awakening maintenance device for an automobile that changes the sound characteristics presented to a driver over time, the sound image localization position of each musical instrument is changed. Cannot change the sound characteristics. Therefore, the music data recorded on the magnetic disk is reproduced, and the volume distribution such as front / rear, left / right, etc. of each musical instrument being played there is determined by MID.
By controlling with I, the sound image localization position of the musical instrument is changed to obtain an awakening reduction reducing effect.

In the embodiment, the case where the left and right sound image localization positions (PAN) of the musical instrument are changed using two left and right speakers will be described.

The alertness maintaining device 22 of the second embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the sequencer 24 includes a sequencer 24, a sound source 26, a PAN controller 28, an amplifier 30, and speakers 32a and 32b. The sequencer 24 performs music based on the music data stored on the magnetic disk 34 while receiving data on the timbre of the musical instrument from the sound source via MIDI, and the music signal is amplified by the amplifier 30 and then amplified by the speaker 32a. , 32b to the driver. The PAN controller 28 sends, via MIDI, data on a musical instrument for changing the PAN and distribution of the left and right volume to the PAN control circuit 24a in the sequencer 24 based on the sound characteristic table stored on the magnetic disk 36.

The alertness maintaining device configured as described above includes:
The operation is performed as follows according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The music played by the sequencer 24 is amplified by the amplifier 30 and presented from the speakers 32a and 32b (step S30). The transmission of the data for changing the PAN by the sequencer 24 is performed by the PAN controller 28.
It is done in. First, the row number n of a table as shown in FIG.
Is set to 1 in the PAN controller 28 (step S32). Therefore, the table 1 is selected in the PAN controller 28 and the PAN of the table 1 is selected.
The data is sent to the sequencer 24 (step S3
4,36). Sequencer 24 receiving the data sets P
The left and right volume distribution of each musical instrument is controlled based on the AN data (step S38). Then, the PAN controller 28
When 30 seconds elapse in the time measurement unit in the step (step S40)
a to step S40d), the value obtained by adding 1 to n becomes the value of the new table number n (step S42), and the new table number is selected. Since the present embodiment deals with the case where the number of PAN tables is N, if n exceeds N after the calculation of "n = n + 1" (step S44 YES).
Is reset to 1 (step S32). By repeating these operations, the sound image localization position of each musical instrument being played in music changes periodically. (Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, in the sound image conversion system, the volume of each speaker is automatically adjusted so that the listening sound pressure becomes constant when the speaker for presenting a sound is switched. It is.

In an awakening maintenance device for an automobile that changes the sound characteristics presented to the driver over time, when the sound characteristics are changed by changing the sound image, when a plurality of speakers are switched to perform the sound presentation, each speaker and the listener are changed. , The listening sound pressure varies extremely. In this case, for example, if the sound pressure is adjusted to an appropriate level in accordance with the speaker closest to the listener, the listening sound pressure of the sound presented from the speaker located far from the listener decreases, and the sound becomes difficult to hear, resulting in awakening. The reduction effect is reduced. Therefore, the sound volume is automatically adjusted so that the listening sound pressure is always constant when the sound presenting speaker is switched so that the listening sound pressure does not change due to the switching of the sound presenting speaker, thereby preventing the awakening reduction effect from decreasing. I do.

In the embodiment, a case will be described in which four speakers are switched in order and one speaker is used for sound presentation.

The alertness maintaining device 40 of the third embodiment is shown in FIG.
, A sound reproducing device 42, an amplifier 44, SW (switches SW1 to SW4), SP (speakers) 1 to SP4,
It comprises a SW controller 46 and a volume controller 48. The SW electrically connects one of SP1 to SP4 to the amplifier 44. The SW control device 46 measures the time for switching the sound presenting speaker, controls the switching of the SW, and sends the currently selected speaker number to the volume control device 48. The volume control device 48
Based on the speaker selection number sent from the W control device 46, the volume of the selected speaker is controlled to an optimum value.

The alertness maintaining device configured as described above includes:
The operation is performed as follows according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The sound reproduced by the sound reproducing device 42 is amplified by the amplifier 44 and presented from a speaker (any of SP1 to SP4) electrically connected by SW1 to SW4. The switching control of the speaker is S
This is performed by the W control device 46. First, the speaker number n is set to 1 in the SW control device 46 (step S50), and the SW is connected to SW1 and SP1 is selected (step S52). At the same time, the SW controller 46
Sends n to the volume control device 48 (step S5).
4). The sound volume control device 48 has an optimum sound volume table for each speaker so that the listening sound pressure of the sound presented from SP1 to SP4 is always constant, and according to n transmitted from the SW control device 46. The volume of the amplifier 44 is controlled to an optimum value (step S56). Then, when 30 seconds elapse in the time measuring unit, an n addition signal for switching the sound presenting speaker is transmitted (steps S58a to S58a).
58d), the value obtained by adding 1 to n is the new speaker number n
(Step S60). Here, the current SW1
Is selected, next, SW2 is selected and SP2 is selected.
And the amplifier 44 are connected. Since the present embodiment deals with the case of four speakers, if n does not exceed 4 after the calculation of “n = n + 1” (NO in step S62), a new SW corresponding to n is selected. Is exceeded (step S62 YES), n is reset to 1 (step S50). By repeating these operations,
Even if the sound presentation speaker changes over time and the sound image changes,
A sound with a constant listening sound pressure is presented to the driver. (Fourth Embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, the sound field change width is expanded.

In order to realize a sound field changing method, there is a method of switching sound fields by controlling delay time / reverb / volume balance using signal processing by a DSP or the like. However, if an attempt is made to control the sound field by such electronic signal processing, the width of change in the sound field is reduced due to the influence of complicated acoustic characteristics in the vehicle interior, and the awakening maintaining effect is low.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, in addition to the virtual sound field change caused by the electronic signal processing as described above, the position at which the sound is actually output is determined by the sound field generation by the front speakers and the rear speakers. By using the actual sound field change of sound field generation by a pillow loudspeaker together, the sound field change width is expanded, and the effect of maintaining awakening is improved.

The alertness maintaining device 50 according to the fourth embodiment comprises:
As shown in FIG. 11, an audio source 52, a sound field control device 54, a sound field switching instruction device 56, front speakers 58a and 58b, and rear speakers 60a and 60b
And pillow speakers 62a and 62b.

The alertness maintaining apparatus configured as described above operates as follows.

A virtual sound field generation unit and a real sound field control unit in the sound field control unit 54 are controlled by a signal from the sound field switching instruction unit 56.

A sound signal (music or the like) from the audio source 52 is input to the sound field control device 54, and the virtual sound field generation unit performs signal processing such as volume, reverb, and delay time. Next, the signals are input to the real sound field control device, and the front speakers 58a, 58b and the rear speakers 60a, 60
0b or pillow speakers 62a and 62b. (Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment relates to a method for detecting the timing of activation when the arousal maintenance device is automatically activated.

Since there are several types of methods for detecting the start timing, each method will be described below in order. (1) A case in which the operation is automatically started after a certain period of time has elapsed after the seat has been seated or the normal reproduction of the car audio has been started, and the operation ends with the engine stopped.

In the system in which the driver turns on the switch when the awakening maintenance device is activated, the device is activated after the driver becomes sleepy, and the effect is reduced. Therefore, the operation is automatically started after a certain time from the start of the operation or after a certain time from the start of using the car audio, and the operation ends when the engine is stopped.

The alertness maintaining device 71 of the fifth embodiment comprises:
As shown in FIG. 12, a traveling start detecting unit 72 for detecting the start of traveling based on the load applied to the seat, the start of the engine, and the vehicle speed.
From the signal detected by the running start detecting unit 72, the running time is determined by determining the running start, measuring the elapsed time from the driving start, sending a signal to the stimulus presenting unit from the elapsed time, and stopping the stimulus together with the engine stop. A measuring unit 74, a use time measuring unit 78 for measuring the time since the start of using the car audio, a stimulus presenting unit 76 for automatically presenting a stimulus by a signal from the driving time measuring unit 74, and a stimulus presenting Part 7
And a speaker 850 that emits a sound in accordance with the signal from the speaker 6.

FIG. 13 is an overall flowchart of the operation of the awakening maintaining device 71, FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the traveling start detecting section 42, and FIG. 15 is an overall time chart. (2) When it is determined that the operation is monotonous, the operation is started.

In the system in which the driver turns on when activating the arousal maintenance device, the awakening maintenance device is activated after becoming sleepy, and the effect is reduced. Then, when it is determined that the operation is monotonous, the operation is automatically started.

As shown in FIG. 16, the awakening maintaining device 82 includes a driving operation detecting section 84 for detecting a driver's driving operation such as steering operation, accelerator opening, shift operation, turn signal operation, etc. Vehicle behavior detector 86 for detecting vehicle behavior such as lateral deviation and acceleration / deceleration acceleration
Based on the driving operation signal and the vehicle behavior signal detected by the driving operation detection unit 84 and the vehicle behavior detection unit 86,
A monotonous driving determining unit 88 that determines whether the driver is performing monotonous driving and outputs a stimulus presentation start trigger, and outputs an audio signal for preventing falling asleep in response to the input of the stimulus presentation start trigger from the monotonic driving determining unit 88 The stimulus presenting unit 90 includes a speaker 92 that emits a sound stimulus in accordance with a signal from the stimulus presenting unit 90.

FIG. 17 is an overall flowchart showing the operation of the awakening maintaining device 82, and FIG.
FIG. (3) When the conversation is detected, the operation is automatically started when the conversation disappears, and the operation is stopped when there is the conversation.
If there is a fellow passenger and a conversation with the fellow passenger, the driver can be determined to be in a high alert state. Therefore, when the conversation with the fellow passenger is interrupted, the operation is automatically started, and when the conversation starts again, the operation is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 19, the awakening maintenance device 100 includes a car audio system 102 and a controller 1 for controlling the car audio system 102 so that sound is intermittently presented.
04, a microphone 106 for picking up sounds in the passenger compartment, a pressure sensor 108 installed in the seat for determining whether there is a passenger, and a determining circuit (controller 104) for determining whether there is a conversation in the passenger compartment. Built in)
It consists of

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the alertness maintaining apparatus 100.

When the driver or the like operates the audio device (steps S72 and S74), the controller 104 is initialized and waits for an operation request of the device. The operation request may be made by the driver himself / herself using a switch.
If there is no operation request (step S76 NO), normal audio can be heard (step S78). If there is a device operation request (step S76 YES),
It is determined from the pressure sensor 108 set in the occupant's seat that there is a passenger, and if there is a passenger (step S
80YES) The following operation is performed.

The sound inside the vehicle is input by the microphone 106 set in the vehicle (step S86). In order to determine whether or not a conversation is being held with a passenger, the sound output from the car audio is canceled out of the sound input from the microphone 106 (step S88), and the result is filtered by an audio band (step S88). If the power is larger than the predetermined reference value, it is determined that there is a conversation (step S92 ≧), and the operation is interrupted (step S9).
4 to step S98). Then, the operation of the apparatus is started a predetermined time after the time when the conversation disappears (step S92 <) (steps S100 to S104), and when the conversation is detected again, the operation is interrupted.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the sound environment can be variously changed, and the human awake state can be maintained.

The present invention can be applied to a modification or a modification of the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the awakening maintenance device mounted on the vehicle has been described. However, the present invention can also be used as an awakening maintenance device for monotonous work such as monitoring work other than on-vehicle use.

[0057]

As described above, according to the alertness maintaining apparatus of the present invention, the sound environment around a human can be varied in various ways by moving the position of the sound image at predetermined or random time intervals. And a high alertness maintaining effect can be obtained.

In the case of a vehicle, the volume of each speaker is adjusted so that the sound pressure in the driver's seat falls within a predetermined range. It is possible to prevent the effect from being reduced.

Further, by providing a pillow speaker directed to the driver separately from a normal audio speaker, it is possible to change the magnitude of the actual sound field, thereby improving the sense of presence of the sound field change. , The effect of maintaining arousal can be enhanced.

At least one condition when the driving continuation time is longer than a predetermined time, when it is determined that the awakening is reduced, when it is determined that the monotonous driving is continued, and when it is determined that the conversation is interrupted for a predetermined time or more. When the condition is satisfied, the alertness maintenance device is automatically activated, so that the alertness maintenance device can be activated at an appropriate timing without the driver operating the switch or the like by himself / herself.

[0061]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an alertness maintaining device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an alertness maintaining device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a table describing a PAN change.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an alertness maintaining device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the alertness maintenance device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an alertness maintaining device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first example of an alertness maintaining apparatus according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an overall operation of the first example of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a traveling start detection unit and a driving time measurement unit of the first example of the awakening maintenance device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing the operation of the first example of the arousal maintenance device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second example of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an overall operation of a second example of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing the operation of the second example of the arousal maintenance device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a third example of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a third example of the alertness maintaining apparatus according to the fifth embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10,22,40,50,71,82,100 Arousal keeping device 12 Car audio 14,32 Speaker 16,30,44 Amplifier 18 Gate 20 Controller 24 Sequencer 26 Sound source 28 PAN controller 34,36 Magnetic disk 42 Sound reproducing device 46 SW control device 48 Volume control device 52 Audio source 54 Sound field control device 56 Sound field switching instruction device 58 Front speaker 60 Rear speaker 62 Pillow speaker

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Motonori Ishibashi 3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture Inside (72) Inventor Keiko Ichikawa 3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Corporation (72) Inventor Yamazaki Saki Yoshiyuki 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture Inside Mazda Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-60-64038 (JP, A) JP-A-5-85288 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60K 28/06 B60R 21/00 626 B60R 27/00

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] An awakening maintenance device for maintaining a human awakening state by sound stimulation, comprising three or more speakers, and selecting a plurality of speakers among the three or more speakers to operate simultaneously. The awakening maintenance device, wherein the selected speaker is changed at predetermined or random intervals while changing the sound image position. 2. The alertness maintaining device according to claim 1, wherein the alertness maintaining device is activated by a manual operation of a user. 3. The arousal maintenance device according to claim 1, further comprising a random number generation unit for randomly switching the plurality of speakers. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the plurality of speakers is randomly set.
Characterized by comprising random number generating means for switching
The arousal maintenance device according to claim 1. 5. The awakening maintenance device is for use in a vehicle, and when the driving continuation time is longer than a predetermined time, when it is determined that the driving is monotonous, when it is determined that the awakening is lowered, the conversation is interrupted for a predetermined time or more. The alertness maintenance device according to claim 1, wherein the device is automatically activated when any one of the conditions is satisfied. 6. A wakefulness maintenance device for maintaining a wakefulness state of a person by sound stimulation, comprising a plurality of speakers, outputting sounds including a plurality of timbres from the plurality of loudspeakers, and outputting a sound image for each timbre. An awakening maintaining apparatus, wherein the sound image positions of the plurality of timbres are changed at predetermined or random intervals while driving the plurality of speakers so that the positions are different. 7. An on-vehicle awakening maintenance device for maintaining a human awakening state by sound stimulation, wherein a state in which two or more arbitrary number of speakers out of a plurality of speakers are simultaneously operated is determined or determined. Switching at random intervals to change the sound image position, the plurality of speakers are composed of a normal audio speaker and a highly directional pillow speaker directed to the driver's seat,
An alertness maintaining device, wherein the device switches between the audio speaker and the pillow speaker as needed.