JP4375709B2 - Microphone built-in seat - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a microphone built-in seat suitable for transmitting a voice instruction of a vehicle driver or a passenger to a vehicle-side device or performing a hands-free call.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A microphone is attached to the dash panel on the front of the driver's seat of the car so that the driver can make a hands-free call without having a handset while driving, and can give voice commands to the air conditioner and audio equipment. It is already known to do so.
[0003]
However, the microphone installed in the passenger compartment picks up the driver's voice as well as the noise in the vehicle, so it is hard to hear compared to a car phone using a normal handset, especially when driving at high speed. There was a problem. In addition, when a voice instruction is given to an air conditioner or an audio device in the passenger compartment, the signal-to-noise ratio is worse than when a normal microphone is used, which may cause a malfunction. For this reason, there are problems such as having to bring the mouth close to the microphone or to make a loud voice.
[0004]
Furthermore, since such a conventional microphone cannot be used well when the driver cannot produce clear voice due to a failure, the conventional microphone cannot be satisfied as a support device for the disabled. In addition, although there exists a headset attached to a head with a band as shown to the following patent document 1, there existed a problem that attachment and detachment and use were troublesome for a driver | operator.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-18683
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, makes it difficult to pick up noise in the vehicle, can extract the voice of the driver and passengers as a clear electric signal with a large signal-to-noise ratio, and makes the driver clear. It was made to provide a new microphone-incorporated seat that can send voice commands to equipment in the passenger compartment even when it is unable to produce sound, and does not cause the driver to feel uncomfortable. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The microphone built-in seat according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is a vibration for detecting bone conduction vibration of a seated person generated when the seated person makes a sound at a position pressed by the seated person of the vehicle seat. A microphone built-in seat that contains a pickup type microphone, and a movable part that can be moved forward or tilted around the axis of the upper end to a position where it can contact the upper part of the seatrest's neck above the neck of the seated person The movable portion is provided with a vibration pickup type microphone. Furthermore, it can also be set as the structure which incorporated the speaker in the headrest.
[0007]
As a position pressed by the seated person of the vehicle seat, a seat cushion or a seat back can be cited. In the case of the seat cushion, vibration of the seated person's pelvis and tailbone can be picked up by a vibration pickup type microphone. . In the case of a seat back, vibrations of the scapula, spine, ribs, etc. of the seated person can be picked up. Further, if a vibration pickup type microphone is embedded in a headrest that can come into contact with a portion above the neck of the seated person and the vibration of the skull is picked up, the bone vibration can be captured more clearly. In particular, if a vibration pickup type microphone is provided on the movable part of the headrest as in the present invention, the movable part can be brought into contact with the head and neck of the seated person only when necessary, so that the user feels uncomfortable and annoying during normal times. I will not let you. The number of microphones may be singular or plural, and may be arranged in combination at a plurality of positions such as a seat back and a seat cushion. Further, if a speaker is built in the headrest as in claim 2 , it is convenient for both transmission and reception.
[0008]
The seat with a built-in microphone according to the present invention directly detects a bone conduction vibration of a seated person generated when the seated person makes a sound by a vibration pickup type microphone provided at a position pressed by the seated person of the vehicle seat. Therefore, unlike a normal microphone, there is no possibility of picking up noise in the passenger compartment, and the voice of the driver or passenger can be extracted as a clear electric signal having a large signal-to-noise ratio.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown below.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle seat, which includes a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a headrest 4 as usual. In this example, a vibration pickup type microphone 6 is built in the vicinity of the skin of the seat back 3 pressed by the body of the seated person 5 when the seated person 5 is seated on the vehicle seat 1.
[0010]
Whereas a normal microphone is a device that converts air vibration into an electric signal, the vibration pickup type microphone 6 has a function of detecting solid vibration and converting it into an electric signal. It is conventionally used as a part called a pickup that converts string vibration into an electric signal.
[0011]
When the seated person 5 utters a sound, the vibration of the vocal cords is converted into a sound wave. At the same time, the vibration of the vocal cords is conducted to the whole body through the bones of the seated person 5. The bone conduction vibration is picked up by the vibration pickup type microphone 6 and converted into a voice or an electric signal. If the vibration pickup type microphone 6 is disposed on the upper side of the seat back 3, vibration of the scapula of the seated person 5 can be detected efficiently, and if it is disposed at a position slightly lower than that, vibration of the ribs can be detected. Can be detected. Moreover, if it arrange | positions to a lumbar support part, the vibration of the lumbar spine of the seated person 5 can be detected, and if it arrange | positions to a center part, the vibration of a spine can be detected.
[0012]
In FIG. 2, a vibration pickup type microphone 6 is embedded in the vicinity of the skin of the seat cushion 2 pressed by the buttocks of the seated person 5. In this case, the vibration pickup type microphone 6 detects the vibration of the pelvis and the tailbone of the seated person 5. Since this position of the seat cushion 2 is a position where any driver always comes into close contact with the body, the bone conduction sound of the seated person 5 can be detected most reliably.
[0013]
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which a vibration pickup type microphone 6 is embedded at a position where the headrest 4 can come into contact with a portion above the neck of the seated person 5. Unlike the seat cushion 2, the headrest 4 has a low adhesion stability with the body of the seated person 5, but the bone conduction sound of the skull or cervical vertebra closest to the vocal cords can be detected, so that the attenuation is small. If the head is consciously pressed against the headrest 4, there is an advantage that a clear signal can be taken out. As described above, the position and number of the vibration pickup type microphones 6 are not particularly limited, and various combinations can be adopted.
[0014]
Embodiments of the present invention are shown below in FIG. In the present invention , a movable portion 9 is provided on the headrest 4, and a vibration pickup type microphone 6 is provided on the movable portion 9. The movable portion 9 can be moved forward or tilted to a position where it can come into contact with an upper portion of the seated person 5, and the movable portion 9 is moved forward or tilted only when a voice command or a call is performed. Adhere closely to the head and neck. For this reason, at the time of a normal driving | operation, the movable part 9 can be made into a non-contact state with respect to the head etc. of the seated person 5, and an annoyance and uncomfortable feeling are not felt.
[0015]
In FIG. 4, the front half of the main body portion 10 of the headrest 4 is a movable portion 9, and the movable portion 9 is normally in a retracted position indicated by a chain line, but when necessary, the movable portion 9 is centered about the shaft 11 at the upper end. It can be tilted forward. FIG. 5 shows the movable part 9 that is reduced in size so that it can be in close contact with the neck. As shown in a cross section in FIG. 6, the movable portion 9 is composed of a skin 12, a foam layer 13, and urethane 14, and a bone conduction microphone that is a vibration pickup type microphone 6 is provided on the front surface portion thereof. Further, as shown in the figure, it is preferable that a speaker 15 such as a bone conduction speaker is provided on the front portion of the movable portion 9 so that sound can be transmitted to the seated person 5. As a result, transmission / reception can be performed through the headrest 4.
[0016]
In FIG. 7, the front half of the main body portion 10 of the headrest 4 is a movable portion 9 that can be moved forward. FIG. 8 shows the movable part 9 which is miniaturized. Further, FIG. 9 shows that the entire portion above the seat back of the headrest 4 can be advanced. In any case, the vibration pickup type microphone 6 incorporated in the front portion of the movable portion 9 can be brought into contact with a portion above the neck of the seated person 5 so that the bone conduction sound of the seated person 5 can be detected.
[0017]
In addition, the drive mechanism for advancing or tilting the movable part 9 is not particularly limited, and may be driven directly or indirectly using a small motor or cylinder. The seated person 5 may instruct to drive the movable part 9 with a button or the like, but the movable part 9 can be automatically advanced or tilted by using an incoming signal of a car phone.
[0018]
In any of the embodiments, the vibration pickup type microphone 6 detects the bone conduction vibration of the seated person 5 generated when the seated person 5 makes a sound, and converts it into a sound or an electronic signal as shown in FIG. If this audio signal is sent to a car phone, a hands-free call can be made. In addition, this voice signal can be sent to an air conditioner or an audio device in the passenger compartment and used for these voice commands. However, it is preferable that the voice command is limited to a non-operating system to prevent a danger due to malfunction.
[0019]
Unlike the sound detected by the conventional microphone, the bone conduction vibration detected by the vibration pickup type microphone 6 is not affected at all by the noise in the vehicle. Therefore, clear hands-free calls and voice commands are possible even during high-speed driving. There is also no need to bring your face close to the microphone or shout out.
[0020]
Furthermore, the present invention is also advantageous when the seated person 5 cannot make clear sound due to a failure. That is, even when a clear voice cannot be emitted, the bone conduction signal of the seat occupant 5 is converted into an electrical signal by the converter 7 as shown in FIG. The intention can be converted into a clear audio signal. As a result, it becomes possible to make use of the handicap for the handicapped person and support for the handicapped person.
[0021]
The microphone built-in seat of the present invention is mainly used for a driver's seat, but it goes without saying that it can also be used for a passenger seat and a rear seat. In addition to the above-mentioned hands-free call and voice command, it can also be applied to voice input of a mobile personal computer.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the microphone built-in seat according to the present invention has the vibration pickup type microphone that detects the bone conduction vibration of the seated person at the position pressed by the seated person of the vehicle seat. It is difficult to pick up noise, and the voices of drivers and passengers can be extracted as clear electrical signals with a large signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, it is suitable for use in a driver's hands-free call or voice command. Furthermore, even if the driver cannot produce clear voice, it can be converted into clear voice signals by incorporating appropriate signal conversion means, which can be used to support disabled people. , Can exert many effects. In addition, if a vibration pickup type microphone is provided in the movable part of the headrest, the movable part can be brought into contact with the head and neck of the seated person only when necessary, so that it does not feel uncomfortable or annoying during normal times. There is. Furthermore, if the headrest has a built-in speaker as in claim 2 , it is convenient not only for transmission but also for reception.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where a vibration pickup type microphone is built in the vicinity of the skin of a seat back .
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where a vibration pickup type microphone is embedded in the vicinity of the outer surface of the seat cushion 2 ;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention .
4 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.
5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a movable part.
7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.
8 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.
9 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a signal flow in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle seat 2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 4 Headrest 5 Seated person 6 Vibration pickup type microphone 7 Converter 8 Translation device 9 Movable part 10 Main body part 11 Axis 12 Skin 13 Foam layer 14 Urethane 15 Speaker

Claims (2)

A seat with built-in microphone storing a vibration pickup type microphone for detecting a bone conduction vibration of a seated person generated when the seated person makes a sound at a position pressed by the seated person of the vehicle seat. The front half is provided with a movable part that can be moved forward or tilted about the axis of the upper end to a position where it can come into contact with the upper part of the seated person's neck, and a vibration pickup type microphone is provided on the movable part. A built-in microphone seat.   The microphone built-in sheet according to claim 1, wherein a speaker is built in the headrest.

Images