JP5532250B2 - A device for visualizing the sound propagation state - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for visualizing a sound propagation state.

  As an example of this type of technology, there is a sound source exploration device disclosed in Patent Document 1. This sound source exploration device includes a parabolic reflector and a two-dimensional microphone array that collects sound converged by the parabolic reflector. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the output signals (analog signals indicating the waveform of the sound collected by the microphones) of each microphone constituting the two-dimensional microphone array are digitally processed and displayed by contour lines, Each light emitting diode of the two-dimensional light emitting diode array in which the light emitting diodes are arranged corresponding to the microphones emits light with a luminance corresponding to the amplitude (sound pressure) of the output signal of the corresponding microphone, thereby causing the two-dimensional microphone array array surface to emit light. The sound pressure distribution along is visualized. Using the sound pressure distribution visualized in this way as a clue, the arrival direction of the sound wave radiated from the sound source to be searched (that is, the direction of the sound source viewed from the sound source searching device) can be estimated.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-35716

  When performing sound source exploration as described above, in addition to the direction of the sound source as viewed from the sound source exploration device, the depth direction (for example, if the array surface of the microphone array faces the sound source, the normal direction of the array surface) It is considered that the accuracy of sound source search can be further improved. However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is impossible to grasp the extent of the sound source in the depth direction in addition to the direction of the sound source. This is because the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 collects sound radiated from a sound source to be searched using a two-dimensional microphone array, so that it is not possible to obtain information on the extension of the sound source in the depth direction. It is not possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that makes it possible to grasp the spread in the depth direction of a sound source in addition to the direction of the sound source.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides (A) a sound collector that outputs incident sound as a sound wave that converges with progress, (B) a microphone, a light emitting unit, and an output signal of the microphone. A sound / light converter group formed by three-dimensionally arranging a plurality of sound / light converters each having a light emission control unit that emits light at a luminance corresponding to an instantaneous value; and (C) the sound Supporting means for supporting a sound wave output from the sound collector, and (D) the sound / light converter group supported by the support means from a predetermined viewpoint. An apparatus for visualizing a sound propagation state, wherein the plurality of sound / light converters are arranged so as not to overlap each other when viewed. In addition, as an example of a mode in which a plurality of sound / light converters are arranged in a three-dimensional manner (a mode in which all of the plurality of sound / light converters are arranged not on the same plane), A mode in which each of the optical converters is arranged in a three-dimensional matrix is conceivable.

  In the apparatus of the present invention, a sound / light converter group is supported by a support means on the path of the sound wave output from the sound collector, and a plurality of sound / light components constituting the sound / light converter group are supported. Each of the transducers emits light with a luminance corresponding to the sound pressure at the arrangement position. For this reason, sound source exploration is performed using the device for visualizing the sound propagation state according to the present invention, and the state in which each sound / light converter constituting the sound / light converter group emits light is observed from the predetermined viewpoint ( Alternatively, if the image picked up by the image pickup device installed in the predetermined seat is analyzed), the sound / light converters do not overlap each other, so the observer can emit light from each sound / light converter. Can be grasped without omission, and the direction of the sound source to be searched and the extent of the depth direction can be three-dimensionally grasped from the three-dimensional distribution of the emission luminance in the sound / light converter group.

  In a more preferred aspect, the supporting means supports the sound / light converter group so that a distance from the sound collector can be adjusted. According to such an aspect, the sound / light converter group 2 can be arranged near the convergence point of the sound by the sound collector. Since the sound wave output from the sound collector is sufficiently converged near the convergence point, if the sound / light converter group can be arranged near the convergence point, the area of the surface facing the sound collector is reduced. Sound waves output from the sound collector can be visualized without leakage using a small sound / light converter group. That is, according to such an aspect, it is expected that the sound / light converter group can be downsized and the entire apparatus for visualizing the sound propagation state including the sound / light converter group can be downsized.

  In another preferred embodiment, the plurality of sound / light converters included in the sound / light converter group are grouped together so as not to overlap each other when viewed from the predetermined viewpoint. The light emission color or the light emission timing is different. Specifically, each of the plurality of sound / light converters has the same or approximate distance from the center of the sound collector, or a path of a sound wave output from the sound collector at the distance ( If the sound collector is a parabolic reflector, the projection lengths in the rotationally symmetric axis direction) are grouped together with the same or similar projection length. According to such an aspect, among the plurality of sound / light converters constituting the sound / light converter group, arrangement positions when viewed from the viewpoint in the above direction overlap (or partially overlap) with each other. Even if the light is included, it is possible to observe the state of light emission of all the sound / light converters included in the sound / light converter group without omission by using the difference in light emission color or light emission timing as a clue.

  Further, a plurality of sound / light converters constituting the sound / light converter group are grouped as described above, and all of the sound / light converter groups are configured by changing the emission color or the light emission timing for each group. When the sound emission state of the sound / light converter can be observed without omission, it is not always necessary to arrange the sound / light converters 20 so as not to overlap each other. That is, as another aspect of the present invention, in the sound source search support apparatus including the components (A), (B), and (C), (D) a plurality of sound / light converter groups included It can be considered that the sound / light converters are grouped so that those that do not overlap each other when viewed from a predetermined viewpoint belong to the same group, and the emission color or emission timing is different for each group.

It is a left view of the sound source search assistance apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the sound source search support device. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the sound / light converter 20 which comprises the sound / light converter group 2 which is a component of the sound source search assistance apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the support means 3 which supports the mounting aspect of the sound / light converter group 2 in the sound source search assistance apparatus, and the sound / light converter group 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the mode of the sound collection by the sound collector 1 of the sound source search assistance apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(A: 1st Embodiment)
(A-1: Configuration)
FIG. 1 is a left side view of a sound source search support apparatus according to a first embodiment of a device for visualizing a sound propagation state according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the sound source search support apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sound source search support apparatus includes a sound collector 1, a sound / light converter group 2, and a support means 3. The sound collector 1 is a parabolic reflector having a parabolic reflecting surface 1a. The sound collector 1 outputs incident sound as a sound wave that converges with progress (sound wave that travels so as to intersect at one point on the rotational symmetry axis C of the reflecting surface 1a). The sound / light converter group 2 is supported by the support means 3 on the path of the sound wave output from the sound collector 1. More specifically, in the sound source search support device of the present embodiment, the sound / light converter group 2 is supported on the rotational symmetry axis C of the reflection surface 1a so as to face the reflection surface 1a. The sound / light converter group 2 is configured by arranging a plurality of sound / light converters 20 in a three-dimensional matrix, and each of the sound / light converters 20 has an instantaneous sound pressure at the arrangement position. It is a device that measures the value and emits light with the brightness according to the instantaneous value.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the sound / light converter 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the sound / light converter 20 includes a microphone 110, a light emission control unit 120, and a light emission unit 130. Although not shown in detail in FIG. 3, the sound / light converter 20 is configured by integrating the components shown in FIG. 3 on a substrate having a side of about 1 cm. The microphone 110 is, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical).
Systems) microphones and small ECMs (Electret Condenser Microphones) that output sound signals representing the waveform of the collected sound. As shown in FIG. 3, the light emission control unit 120 includes a sample hold circuit 122 and a voltage / current conversion circuit 124. As the sample hold circuit 122 and the voltage / current conversion circuit 124, those having a known configuration may be used. The sample and hold circuit 122 samples the sound signal output from the microphone 110 in response to the rise of the control signal SS given from the outside, and uses the sampled instantaneous value (voltage) until the next rise of the control signal SS. The voltage is held and applied to the voltage-current conversion circuit 124. The voltage / current conversion circuit 124 generates a current having a current value proportional to the voltage applied from the sample and hold circuit 122 and supplies the generated current to the light emitting unit 130. The light emitting unit 130 is, for example, a visible light LED, and emits visible light having a luminance corresponding to the magnitude of the current supplied from the voltage-current conversion circuit 124.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the sound / light converter group 2 and a configuration example of the support unit 3 that supports the sound / light converter group 2. The sound / light converter group 2 of the present embodiment is configured by arranging eight sound / converters 20 in a case 2a formed in a hollow cubic shape. More specifically, the six surfaces forming the housing 2a of the sound / light converter group 2 are formed of transparent resin or the like, and one set of surfaces facing each other among these six surfaces is shown in FIG. It is formed in a 4 × 4 mesh shape as shown in a). As shown in FIG. 4A, the sound / light converter group 2 is supported by the support means 3 so that one of the two mesh-like surfaces faces the reflecting surface 1a. Hereinafter, of the two mesh-like surfaces, the surface facing the reflecting surface 1a is referred to as “the back surface of the sound / light converter group 2”, and the other surface is referred to as “the front surface of the sound / light converter group 2”. Call. The eight sound / light converters 20 included in the sound / light converter group 2 are arranged four each on the front side and the back side of the sound / light converter group 2.

  FIG. 4B is a view of the sound / light converter group 2 viewed from the back side. In the following, as shown in FIG. 4B, 16 kinds of indexes (i, j, 1) (i = i, with the upper left corner being (1, 1, 1) and the lower right corner being (4, 4, 1). 1 to 4 and j = 1 to 4) to identify each 4 × 4 mesh formed on the back side of the sound / light converter group 2. As shown in FIG. 4B, each of the four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the back side of the sound / light converter group 2 includes an index (1,1,1), (1,4,4). 1) is inserted into each mesh identified by (4, 1, 1) and (4, 4, 1). FIG. 4C is a view of the sound / light converter group 2 as viewed from the front side. As shown in FIG. 4C, each of the four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the front side of the sound / light converter group 2 includes an index (2, 2, 2), (2, 3, 2), one in each mesh identified by (3, 2, 2) and (3, 3, 2). It should be noted that the index (i, j, 1) in FIG. 4B and the index (i, j, 2) in FIG. In FIG. 4C, four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the back side of the sound / light converter group 2 are drawn with dotted lines. As is clear from FIG. 4C, the eight sound / light converters 20 are arranged so as not to overlap each other when viewed from a predetermined direction (for example, the rotational symmetry axis C direction). ing. The reason why the sound / light converters 20 are arranged so that they do not overlap with each other when viewed from a predetermined direction of view is as follows.

  Suppose that each of the four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the front side of the sound / light converter group 2 is indexed (1,1,2), (1,4,2), (4,1, 2) and each mesh identified by (4, 4, 2) (mesh in which a dotted circle representing the sound / light converter 20 arranged on the back side is drawn in FIG. 4C). Assuming that each one is fitted, the four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the back side of the sound / light converter group 2 when the front surface of the sound / light converter group 2 is viewed from the viewpoint of the predetermined direction. Are hidden behind each of the four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the front side, and the four sound / light converters 20 arranged on the back side are visually observed to emit light. It may not be possible. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4C, if the sound / light converters 20 are arranged so as not to overlap each other when viewed from a predetermined direction of view, the sound / light converters are arranged. It is possible to visually check how each of the eight sound / light converters 20 included in the group 2 emits light, and through the three-dimensional spatial distribution of the emission luminance in the sound / light converter group 2. The sound pressure distribution at the arrangement position of the sound / light converter group 2 of the sound wave output from the sound collector 1 can be grasped three-dimensionally. This is the reason why the sound / light converters 20 are arranged so that they do not overlap each other when viewed from the perspective of a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, four sound / light converters 20 are arranged in a three-dimensional matrix of two layers, each having four sound / light converters 20 to constitute the sound / light converter group 2, but 4-7 sound / light converters are formed. The sound / light converter group 2 may be configured by three-dimensionally arranging the light converters 20, and the sound / light conversion may be performed by three-dimensionally arranging nine or more sound / light converters 20. The instrument group 2 may be configured. Of course, the number of layers when the plurality of sound / light converters 20 are stacked may be three or more.

  As described above, the sound / light converter group 2 is supported by the support means 3 so that the back surface thereof faces the reflecting surface 1a. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the support means 3 includes four leg members 3a, connecting members 3b for connecting the upper and lower pairs of the four leg members 3a, and the connecting members. A bridging member 3c extending between 3b, a guide member 3e fixed to each of the two connecting members 3b, a pedestal 3d slidably held by the guide member 3e, and a screw shaft screwed into the pedestal 3d 3f. Each of the four leg-like members 3a is detachably attached to the sound collector 1 by engaging the respective tips with hooks (not shown) provided on the reflecting surface 1a. At least one of the four leg-shaped members 3a is formed in a hollow pipe shape, and a signal line 4 for transmitting a control signal SS is transmitted to the leg-shaped member 3a formed in the pipe shape. Is inserted. As shown in FIG. 1, the screw shaft 3f extends in the direction of the rotational symmetry axis C of the reflecting surface 1a toward the reflecting surface 1a, and its tip penetrates the reflecting surface 1a. As shown in FIG. 4A, the sound / light converter group 2 is placed on the gantry 3d so as to face the reflecting surface 1a, and the gantry 3d (and The sound / light converter group 2) mounted on the gantry 3d can be moved in the X direction (direction approaching the reflecting surface 1a) or the Y direction (direction moving away from the reflecting surface 1a) in the figure. . The reason why the distance between the sound / light converter group 2 and the reflecting surface 1a can be adjusted by the screw shaft 3f is as follows.

As described above, the sound collector 1 of this embodiment is a parabolic reflector, and outputs incident sound as a sound wave that converges with progress (more precisely, a sound wave that intersects at one point on the rotational symmetry axis C). It has a function to do. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating how sound waves are collected by the sound collector 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the distance between the reflecting surface 1 a and its focal point F is f, the distance between the reflecting surface 1 a and the sound source S 0 is a, and the convergence point P of the sound wave collected by the sound collector 1. Is at a position separated from the reflecting surface 1a by a distance b, the relationship represented by the following expression (1) exists between the a, b, and f.
1 / b + 1 / a = 1 / f (1)

As is clear from Equation (1), the distance b from the reflecting surface 1a to the convergence point P changes according to the distance a between the sound source to be searched and the reflecting surface 1a. Specifically, the farther the sound source S0 to be searched is from the reflection surface 1a, the shorter the distance from the reflection surface 1a to the convergence point P, and the sound source S0 is located far enough (ie, a = ∞) and the convergence point P coincides with the focal point F. In order to visualize the sound pressure distribution of the sound collected by the sound collector 1 with high accuracy by the sound / light converter group 2 having a small area facing the reflecting surface 1a, the sound / light converter group 2 is defined as above. It is preferable to be positioned near the convergence point. For this reason, in this embodiment, the distance between the sound / light converter group 2 and the reflecting surface 1a can be adjusted by screwing the screw shaft 3f.
The above is the configuration of the sound source search support apparatus of the present embodiment.

(A-2: Method of using sound source search support apparatus of this embodiment)
Next, a method for using the sound source search support apparatus of this embodiment will be described.
When performing a sound source search using the sound source search support apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the user first installs the sound source search support apparatus in a space where the sound source to be searched exists. When the sound source search support apparatus is installed in the space where the sound source to be searched exists, the rotation symmetry axis C of the reflecting surface 1a should be arranged so as to coincide with the direction of the sound source viewed from the sound source search support apparatus. However, it is not possible to know the direction of the sound source before performing the sound source search. For this reason, it is conceivable to perform sound source search while changing the direction of the sound source search support apparatus (the direction of the rotational symmetry axis C) in a trial and error manner.

Next, the user operates the screw shaft 3f to determine the position of the sound / light converter group 2 with respect to the reflecting surface 1a. For example, when it is assumed that there is a sound source to be searched within a range of a1 to a2 (a1 <a2) from the center of the reflecting surface 1a, the user can connect the reflecting surface 1a and the sound / light converter group 2 to each other. The screw shaft 3f is manipulated so that the distance between and the distance is within the range of b1 to b2 (b1 <b2) shown in the following formula (2). Also in the following formula (2), f is the distance from the reflecting surface 1a to the focal point F of the reflecting surface 1a as in the above formula (1).
b1 = a2 * f / (a2-f), b2 = a1 * f / (a1-f) (2)

  When the installation of the sound source search support device and the adjustment of the distance between the sound / light converter group 2 and the reflecting surface 1a are completed as described above, the user operates the control device (not shown) to generate the sound / light. A control signal SS is given to each of the sound / light converters 20 constituting the converter group 2. On the other hand, the sound wave radiated from the sound source to be investigated proceeds so as to intersect at the convergence point P after being reflected by the reflecting surface 1a of the sound collector 1. When the sound / light converter group 2 is supported in the vicinity of the convergence point P, each of the plurality of sound / light converters 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 has a sound pressure at the arrangement position. Are sampled in synchronism with the rise of the control signal SS, and the light emitting unit 130 is caused to emit light with a luminance corresponding to the sampling result. If the state of this light emission is picked up using an image pickup device installed in the direction of the rotational symmetry axis C, the user can hear the sound represented in the picked-up image (or an image obtained by appropriately magnifying the picked-up image). / From the three-dimensional spatial distribution of the emission luminance in the light converter group 2, the direction of the sound source to be searched and the spread in the depth direction can be grasped. According to the present embodiment, it is easier to grasp intuitively as compared to a mode in which an image representing the spatial distribution of sound pressure measured in each sound / light converter 20 is displayed two-dimensionally on a liquid crystal display or the like. Further, there is no need to perform operations such as three-dimensional → two-dimensional conversion. In addition, when the state of light emission of each sound / light converter 20 in the sound / light converter group 2 can be grasped with the naked eye, it is not necessary to perform imaging as described above.

(B: Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case where the device for visualizing the sound propagation state according to the present invention is used for sound source search has been described. However, the use of the device for visualizing the sound propagation state according to the present invention is not limited to sound source search, and can be used for sound source separation. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a device (sound source separation device) that visualizes the sound propagation state of the present embodiment is arranged in an acoustic space in which four sound sources (sound sources S1 to S4) are arranged, Sound source separation can be performed by performing the following procedure. The configuration of the sound source separation device of the present embodiment is that the output signal of the microphone of each sound / light converter 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 is taken out (for example, given to a recording device or the like). Since the configuration of the device for visualizing the sound propagation state of the first embodiment (the sound source search support device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is the same as that of the first embodiment except that it is possible, a detailed description of the configuration is as follows. Omitted. In the following description, when quoting each component of the sound source separation device, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used.

  A user who wants to separate sounds radiated from each of the four sound sources (sound sources S1 to S4) shown in FIG. 6 using the sound source separation device of the present embodiment, first, only the sound source S1 in FIG. In this state, the control signal SS is given to each sound / light converter 20. Then, each sound / light converter 20 samples the instantaneous value of the sound pressure at the arrangement position in synchronization with the rise of the control signal SS, and causes the light emitting unit 130 to emit light with the luminance according to the sampling result. The user captures the state of the light emission using an imaging device, and the sound / light converter whose light emission luminance exceeds a predetermined threshold from the captured image (or an image obtained by appropriately enlarging the captured image) 20 (or the sound / light converter 20 having the highest light emission luminance) is specified, and the sound / light converter 20 thus specified is associated with the sound source S1. Thereafter, the sound / light converters 20 are associated by performing the same operation for each of the sound sources S2 to S4. For example, when sound is emitted only to the sound source S1, if the light emission luminance of the sound / light converter 20 arranged at the index (1, 1, 1) is the highest, the sound / light converter 20 is When the sound luminance of the sound / light converter 20 arranged at the index (2, 2, 2) is highest when the sound is emitted only to the sound source S2 in association with the sound source S1, the sound / light For example, the converter 20 is associated with the sound source S1. Then, after such association is completed, sound is radiated to each of the sound sources S1 to S4 all at once, and the output signal of the microphone 110 is extracted outside for each sound / light converter 20 associated with each sound source. If each is recorded separately, sound source separation is realized in which the synthesized sound of the sound radiated from each of the sound sources S1 to S4 is separated and recorded for each sound source. Of course, each of the sound signals separated as described above may be appropriately mixed to generate a stereo audio signal for each of the left and right channels or a 5.1 channel audio signal. Further, if a high-speed camera is used as the imaging device and a rectangular wave signal having a sufficiently short cycle is used as the control signal SS, the light emission of each sound / light converter 20 in the sound / light converter group 2 will be described. By recording the state using the high-speed camera, sound source separation is realized in which the synthesized sound of the sound emitted from each of the sound sources S1 to S4 is separated and recorded for each sound source. This is because the temporal change (that is, the sound waveform) of the sound pressure can be reproduced from the temporal change of the emission luminance of each sound / light converter 20 imaged by the high-speed camera. In the present embodiment, the case of performing sound source separation of four sound sources has been described, but it goes without saying that the number of sound sources to be separated may be two, three, or five or more.

(C: deformation)
Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that these embodiments may be modified as follows.
(1) In each of the embodiments described above, the case where sound source search (sound source separation) is performed using one sound source search support device (sound source separation device) has been described. However, a plurality of sound source search support devices (sound source separation devices) are provided. Of course, sound source exploration (sound source separation) may be used. Specifically, a plurality of sound source search support devices (sound source separation devices) are arranged at different positions in a space where a sound source to be searched (or a plurality of sound sources to be subjected to sound source separation) is located, and these sound source search support devices The sound source search (sound source separation) may be performed by performing the same procedure as in the above embodiments for each (sound source separation device).

(2) Although a parabolic reflector is used as the sound collector 1 in the above-described embodiment, an acoustic convex lens or a horn may be used instead of the parabolic reflector. In short, any sound collector 1 can be used as long as it has a function of outputting incident sound as a sound wave that converges with progress. When an acoustic convex lens is used as the sound collector, a sound / light converter group is provided on the opposite side of the sound source on the axis C connecting the sound source and the sound collector as shown in FIG. Just place it. Even when an acoustic convex lens is used as the sound collector, the distance a between the sound collector and the sound source, the convergence point of the sound from the sound collector (the convergence point is opposite to the sound source when viewed from the sound collector 1 The relationship shown in the above equation (1) is established between the distance b from the sound collector to the focal point f. Therefore, when it is assumed that the sound source to be searched is within the range of a1 to a2 (a1 <a2) from the center of the sound collector, the center of the sound collector 1 and the sound / light converter group The sound / light converter group may be arranged on the side opposite to the sound source when viewed from the sound collector so that the distance from 2 falls within the range of b1 to b2 (b1 <b2) shown in the above equation (2).

  In FIG. 7A, the sound collector is configured by using one acoustic convex lens. However, as shown in FIG. 7B, a plurality of acoustic convex lenses may be arranged on the same axis to configure the sound collector. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7C, the sound collector may be configured by arranging the acoustic convex lens and the parabolic reflector on the same axis. In this way, even with a sound collector configured by combining a plurality of acoustic convex lenses, or a sound collector configured by combining an acoustic convex lens and a parabolic reflector, the incident sound is output as a sound wave that converges with progress. Because it can be done.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the sound / light converter group 2 is configured by arranging a plurality of sound / light converters 20 in a three-dimensional matrix. However, for example, when the sound / light converter group 2 is constituted by four sound / light converters 20, the four sound / light converters 20 form the regular tetrahedron with each sound / light converter 20 as a vertex. An optical converter 20 may be disposed. Further, the sound / light converter group 2 may be configured by arranging a plurality of sound / light converters 20 so as to form a sphere or a spherical surface. However, even when the sound / light converter group 2 is configured by arranging a plurality of sound / light converters 20 so as to form a sphere or a spherical surface, each sound / light converter 20 is viewed from the viewpoint of a predetermined direction. Needless to say, it is preferable to arrange the sound / light converters 20 so that the light converters 20 do not overlap each other.

  In addition, the microphone 110 is arranged at the center of one surface (one of two square surfaces in the example shown in FIG. 8A) of a housing formed of a transparent material in a flat cubic shape. The light emitting unit 130 is arranged on a line segment connecting one of the four corners of the surface and the center (in FIG. 8A, the line segment is clearly indicated by a dotted line), and the sound / light converter 20 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 8B, the sound / light converter group 2 is formed by stacking four sound / light converters 20 so that the arrangement positions of the light emitting units 130 viewed from the microphone 110 are different from each other. It may be configured. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, one surface of a casing formed of a transparent material in a flat cubic shape (in the example shown in FIG. 8A, one of two square surfaces). The light emitting unit 130 on a line segment connecting the center of one of the four sides and the midpoint of one of the four sides forming the outer periphery of the surface (the line segment is clearly indicated by a dotted line as in FIG. 8A). The sound / light converter 20 may be configured by arranging the sound / light converter 20 in the form shown in FIG. 8A and the sound / light converter 20 in the form shown in FIG. The sound / light converter group 2 may be configured. For example, when the sound / light converter group 2 is configured by combining the sound / light converter 20 having the form shown in FIG. 8A and the sound / light converter 20 having the form shown in FIG. The sound / light converter 20 is stacked up to eight layers in such a manner that the light emitting units 130 of the sound / light converters 20 do not overlap each other when viewed from the axial direction passing through the center of the sound / light converter 20. can do. When the sound / light converter 20 is provided in the manner shown in FIG. 8A or FIG. 8C, a plurality of types of sound / light with different distances between the microphone 110 and the light emitting unit 130 are provided. A converter 20 may be provided. Even in such an aspect, when the sound / light converters 20 are stacked to form the sound / light converter group 2, the light emitting units 130 of the sound / light converters 20 are stacked so as not to overlap each other. The number of possible layers can be increased.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8D, the same length (or slightly shorter length) as one side of the square is formed on one square surface of the casing formed of a transparent material in a flat cubic shape. A disk-shaped member having a diameter of 1 mm is mounted so as to be rotatable while matching the respective centers, a microphone 110 is installed at the center of the disk-shaped member, and a light emitting unit 130 is disposed at a position other than the center of the disk-shaped member. The sound / light converter 20 may be configured. In the sound / light converter 20 of the aspect shown in FIG. 8D, the relative position of the light emitting unit 130 with respect to each side (or each corner) of the square by rotating the disk-shaped member. Therefore, the sound / light converter group 2 can be configured by stacking sound / light converters 20 having any number of layers.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the light emission states of all the sound / light converters 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 can be observed without omission, as viewed from the viewpoint in a predetermined direction. The sound / light converters 20 were arranged so as not to overlap each other. However, in addition to arranging the sound / light converters 20 so as not to overlap each other when viewed from a predetermined direction of view, the distance from the center of the sound collector 1 or the rotational symmetry axis C of the distance. The sound / light converters 20 are grouped into groups having the same or similar lengths (ie, projections in the traveling direction of the sound waves output from the sound collector 1), and light is emitted for each group. You may make it vary a color or light emission timing.

  For example, as in the first and second embodiments described above, the sound / light converter group 2 is configured by arranging eight sound / light converters 20 in a three-dimensional matrix, and the sound collection is performed. When the sound / light converters 20 are grouped by those having the same or similar projection length on the rotational symmetry axis C at a distance from the center of the device 1, the sound / light arranged on the front side The light emission color is different between the converter 20 and the sound / light converter 20 arranged on the back side (the red LED is used as the light emitting unit 130 for the former and the blue LED is used for the latter), or the latter The light emission timing of the former sound / light converter 20 is delayed by a certain time compared to the sound / light converter 20 of FIG. According to such an aspect, as shown in FIG. 7 (d), the sound / light conversion arranged on the back side of the sound / light converter 20 arranged on the front side of the sound / light converter group 2 is performed. It is expected that the light emission states of all the sound / light converters 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 can be observed without omission even when the devices 20 partially overlap. The The plurality of sound / light converters 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 are grouped so that those that do not overlap with each other when viewed from a predetermined direction of view belong to the same group, and When all the sound / light converters 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 can be observed without omission only by changing the light emission color or light emission timing for each group. However, it is not always necessary to arrange the sound / light converters 20 so as not to overlap each other.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the sample hold circuit 122 of each sound / light converter 20 samples the output signal of the microphone 110 in synchronization with the rise of the control signal SS given from the outside. The sampling may be executed in synchronization with the fall of SS. Further, when the output signal of the microphone 110 of any of the plurality of sound / light converters 20 constituting the sound / light converter group 2 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a control signal is sent to each sound / light converter 20. Of course, control signal output means for providing SS may be incorporated in the sound / light converter group 2. Of course, instead of sampling the output signal of the microphone 110 in synchronization with a control signal given from the outside, the sampling may be automatically executed inside the sound / light converter 20.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the distance between the sound collector 1 and the sound / light converter group 2 supported on the sound path output from the sound collector 1 is determined by the screw shaft 3f. The sound / light converter group 2 is supported near the convergence point of the sound wave output from the sound collector 1. However, as a matter of course, the sound / light converter group 2 may be fixedly supported on the sound path output from the sound collector 1 so that the distance from the sound collector 1 does not change.

(7) In the first and second embodiments described above, the voltage value output from the sample-and-hold circuit 122 is converted into a current having a current value proportional to the voltage value by the voltage-current conversion circuit 124 and applied to the light emitting unit 130. It was. Thereby, the linearity of the sound pressure of the sound collected by the microphone 110 and the light emission luminance of the light emitting unit 130 is ensured. If such linearity is not required, the voltage-current conversion circuit 124 is used. Of course, it may be omitted. Further, it is more preferable to use a PWM modulation circuit or a PDM modulation circuit in place of the voltage / current conversion circuit 124. It is conceivable to use a PWM modulation circuit or a PDM modulation circuit having a known configuration. In an embodiment in which a PWM modulation circuit or a PDM modulation circuit is used instead of the voltage / current conversion circuit 124, it is preferable to provide an A / D converter in front of the PWM modulation circuit or the PDM modulation circuit. In the above-described embodiment, the sample hold circuit 122 is used to sample and hold the instantaneous value of the output signal of the microphone 110. However, the sample hold circuit 122 is omitted, and the output signal of the microphone 110 is synchronized with the control signal SS. The instantaneous value may be acquired, and the light emitting unit 130 may emit light with the luminance corresponding to the instantaneous value, or the output signal of the microphone 110 may be always applied to the voltage-current conversion circuit 124. Alternatively, when the signal intensity of the output signal of the microphone 110 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the light output unit 130 may be caused to emit light by applying the output signal of the microphone 110 to the voltage-current conversion circuit 124.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sound collector, 2 ... Sound / light converter group, 3 ... Support means, 20 ... Sound / light converter, 110 ... Microphone, 120 ... Light emission control part, 122 ... Sample hold circuit, 124 ... Voltage current conversion circuit , 130...

Claims (5)

(A) a sound collector that outputs incident sound as a sound wave that converges with progress;
(B) Three-dimensionally arranging a plurality of sound / light converters each having a microphone, a light emitting unit, and a light emission control unit that causes the light emitting unit to emit light with a luminance corresponding to an instantaneous value of an output signal of the microphone Sound / light converters,
(C) support means for supporting the sound / light converter group on a path of sound waves output from the sound collector;
With
(D) When the sound / light converter group supported by the support means is viewed from a predetermined viewpoint, the plurality of sound / light converters are arranged so as not to overlap each other. A device that visualizes the sound propagation state.   2. The apparatus for visualizing a sound propagation state according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means supports the sound / light converter group so that a distance from the sound collector can be adjusted.   Each of the plurality of sound / light converters is grouped by those having the same or similar distance from the sound collector or the projection length of the distance to the sound path output from the sound collector. The device for visualizing the sound propagation state according to claim 1, wherein the light emission color or the light emission timing is different for each group.   The sound according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of sound / light converters is configured to be capable of transmitting an output signal of the microphone to the outside. A device that visualizes the propagation state of a machine. (A) a sound collector that outputs incident sound as a sound wave that converges with progress;
(B) Three-dimensionally arranging a plurality of sound / light converters each having a microphone, a light emitting unit, and a light emission control unit that causes the light emitting unit to emit light with a luminance corresponding to an instantaneous value of an output signal of the microphone Sound / light converters,
(C) support means for supporting the sound / light converter group on a path of sound waves output from the sound collector;
With
(D) The plurality of sound / light converters included in the sound / light converter group do not overlap each other when the sound / light converter group supported by the support means is viewed from a predetermined viewpoint. An apparatus for visualizing a sound propagation state, characterized in that the objects are grouped in advance so that they belong to the same group, and the light emission color or light emission timing is different for each group.

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