JP6781898B2 - Sound output device and portable device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sound output device and a portable device including the sound output device.

Conventionally, a device for notifying a pedestrian that a moving object such as an automobile is approaching has been known. For example, in Patent Document 1, the approach of a vehicle is detected by receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from an approaching vehicle, and an alarm sound or a sound is output from a speaker to notify a pedestrian of the approach of the vehicle. The mobile terminal is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a headphone-type alarm device worn on the head of a user. This alarm device is equipped with a radar that uses microwaves and millimeter waves to detect moving objects such as automobiles around the user, and when the approach of the moving object is detected by a laser, it is heard by the user. An alarm sound is emitted from the mounted speaker unit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-331154 JP-A-2009-187355

In recent years, users who wear sound output units (speaker units) such as headphones and earphones in their ears can walk, bicycles, and motorcycles while listening to sounds such as music and voice played on mobile devices such as mobile terminals. There are many cases of driving such as. In this case, the user may be disturbed by the sound output from the sound output section that is blocking his ears, or may be focused on the sound output from the sound output section and his / her attention may be reduced. , It is difficult to recognize the surrounding sounds. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to detect changes in the surrounding situation, and it is difficult for the user to notice a person or an object approaching the user, or it is difficult for the user to notice that the user has approached the person or the object. As a result, problems such as the user suffering some damage or the user causing trouble to the surroundings are likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is that a user wearing a sound output unit in his / her ear is listening to sound such as music or voice through the sound output unit. Even if there is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sound output device and a portable device capable of making a person or an object approaching the user notice, or making the user aware that he / she is approaching the person or the object.

To achieve the above object, the present onset bright detects the sound output device that outputs a sound from the sound output unit to be attached to the user's ear, the direction of the detection object existing around the user detected and means, when the sound from the sound output unit is outputted, if that the detection object within the predetermined range around the user is present is detected by said detecting means, said by a predetermined notification method It is characterized by having a notification means for notifying the direction of the object to be detected .
Further, according to the present invention, in a sound output device that outputs sound from a sound output unit worn on the user's ear, a detection means for detecting the distance of an object to be detected existing around the user and the sound output unit. When the detection means detects that the object to be detected exists within a predetermined range around the user when the sound is output from the sound, the sound is output according to the distance of the object to be detected. It is characterized by having a notification means for notifying the object to be detected by changing the volume of the sound output from the unit.
According to the present invention, when an object to be detected approaches a user who is listening to sound such as music or voice through a sound output unit mounted on the ear within a predetermined range around the user, the notification means notifies the user. Is made. Therefore, even when the user is listening to the sound through the sound output unit worn on the ear, he / she is made aware of the person or object approaching the user, or he / she has approached the person or object. Can be noticed.

The present onset bright, in the sound output device, the sound output section is composed of two sound output unit to be attached to each ear of the user, the notification method, the hearing of the user through the sound output unit look including the notification method to appeal to, the notification method, the as can be seen the direction of the detection object, the notification content that appeals to the hearing of the user through the two sound output unit, between the two sound output section the notification method different from each other and is characterized in containing Mukoto.
According to the present invention, since the notification is performed through the sound output unit worn on the user's ear, it is not necessary to provide the notification unit separately from the sound output unit, and it is easy to realize a compact sound output device.

Further, by making the notification contents through the sound output units attached to both ears of the user different from each other between the two sound output units, it is possible to notify the user with more various notification contents. .. For example, it is possible to realize the notification content that makes it easier for the user to notice the notification by alternately performing the notification from the both sound output units. Further, for example, when the object to be detected is detected in the right direction of the user, the user is notified of the direction information of the object to be detected by notifying only from the sound output unit of the right ear. It is also possible to do.

The present onset bright, in the sound output device, the notification method, one of the two sound output unit, to reduce the volume of the sound output from the sound output unit corresponding to the direction of the detection object Alternatively, it is characterized by including a notification method of making it zero .
The sound output device usually has a function of changing the volume of the sound output from the sound output unit. According to the present invention, since the notification can be performed by using the function normally provided in the sound output device, it is not necessary to separately add a dedicated function for the notification. Further, if the notification method changes the volume, it is not necessary to store and reproduce the notification sound data for notification, and a simpler sound output device can be realized.

In addition, even when the volume is increased to notify the user, it is possible to make the user notice a person or an object approaching the user, or to make the user notice that the user is approaching the person or the object. However, in this case, as the volume becomes louder, it becomes difficult for the user to hear the sound from the surroundings. As a result, when the object to be detected exists within a predetermined range around the user, the user hears the surrounding situation. It becomes difficult to detect. According to the present invention, when an object to be detected exists within a predetermined range around the user, the volume becomes low or zero, which not only makes the user notice people and objects around the user. , The user can easily detect the surrounding situation through hearing.

The present onset bright, in the sound output device, the sound output section is composed of two sound output unit to be attached to each ear of a user, comprising a vibration means for vibrating the two sound output section The notification method is characterized by including a notification method in which the sound output unit is vibrated by the vibration means so that the direction of the object to be detected can be known .
According to the present invention, since the notification is performed through the sound output unit worn on the user's ear, it is not necessary to provide the notification unit separately from the sound output unit, and it is easy to realize a compact sound output device. Moreover, at the time of notification, the vibration of the sound output unit causes the user to notice surrounding people and objects, so that the notification does not interfere with listening to the sound output from the sound output unit.

The present onset Ming, portable apparatus having a sound output device for outputting sound from the sound output unit to be attached to the user's ear, the sound information output means for outputting sound information for generating the sound The above-mentioned sound output device is used as the sound output device.
According to the present invention, when an object to be detected approaches a user who is listening to sound such as music or voice through a sound output unit mounted on the ear within a predetermined range around the user, the notification means notifies the user. Is made. Therefore, even when the user is listening to the sound through the sound output unit worn on the ear, he / she is made aware of the person or object approaching the user, or he / she has approached the person or object. Can be noticed.

According to the present invention, even when a user wearing a sound output unit in his / her ear is listening to sound such as music or voice through the sound output unit, he / she notices a person or an object approaching the user. It has the excellent effect of being able to make people or objects aware that they are approaching.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the portable device in embodiment. It is a block diagram related to the main configuration of the portable device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the notification operation in embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the portable device in the modification. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the notification operation in a modification.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the sound output device according to the present invention is applied to a portable device will be described.
The sound output device according to the present invention is a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a mobile media player, or a portable radio as long as it is a portable device capable of outputting sounds such as music and voice from a sound output unit worn on the user's ear. It can be applied to all portable devices such as. At this time, the sound information output from the sound output unit is not limited to the one stored in advance in the storage means in the portable device, and may be input from the outside by wire or wirelessly.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a portable device 100 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram relating to the main configuration of the portable device according to the present embodiment.
The portable device 100 in the present embodiment includes a mobile device main body 110, a notification control unit 120, and an earphone unit 125 as a sound output unit.

The portable device main body 110 includes an operation unit 111 operated by the user, a storage unit 112 that stores music data that is sound information, a sound reproduction processing unit 113 that reproduces the music data stored in the storage unit 112, and a sound. It is provided with an output terminal 114 that outputs a sound signal of music reproduced by the reproduction processing unit 113. The output terminal 114 of the present embodiment is composed of an earphone jack, and by connecting an earphone or a headphone having a general earphone plug, an earphone or an earphone in which the music reproduced by the sound reproduction processing unit 113 is attached to the ear. You can listen from the sound output section (speaker section) of the headphones. As the mobile device main body 110, various mobile devices capable of reproducing sound and outputting it from an output terminal, such as a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a portable media player, and a portable radio, can be used.

The notification control unit 120 has an input terminal 121 in which a sound signal output from the output terminal 114 of the portable device main body 110 is input via a signal cable 128, and an object to be detected such as a person or an object existing around the user. The ultrasonic sensor 122 as a detection means for detecting the above, the volume control unit 123 as a notification means for controlling the volume of the sound signal input from the input terminal 121, and the sound signal whose volume is controlled by the volume control unit 123. It is provided with an output terminal 124 for output.

The input terminal 121 may be any as long as it can input a sound signal output from the output terminal 114 of the portable device main body 110, and a microphone input terminal, a line input terminal, or the like can be used. The signal cable 128 may be any as long as it can transmit a sound signal from the output terminal 114 of the portable device main body 110 to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120. The output terminal 124 is composed of an earphone jack like the output terminal 114 of the mobile device main body 110, and the earphone plug of the earphone cable 127 connected to the earphones 125R and 125L of the earphone unit 125 is attached to the output terminal 124. Will be done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the notification control unit 120 of the present embodiment is housed in a case provided with a mounting arm 126 for mounting on the head of the user P. The mounting arm 126 is mounted around the back of the head of the user P so that both tips are hooked on both ears of the user P, and when mounted on the user P, the case of the notification control unit 120 is the case of the user P. Located on the back of the head. An input terminal 121 and an output terminal 124 are arranged on the bottom of the case of the notification control unit 120, a signal cable 128 connected to the output terminal 114 of the mobile device main body 110 is attached to the input terminal 121, and the output terminal 124 is equipped with a signal cable 128. , The earphone plug of the earphone cable 127 connected to the earphones 125R and 125L attached to each ear of the user P is attached.

Further, the case of the notification control unit 120 is provided so that the ultrasonic sensor 122 is positioned toward the rear of the user P when attached to the user P. The ultrasonic sensor 122 includes one or more sensor heads, emits ultrasonic waves from the sensor heads, and then receives the ultrasonic waves reflected from the object to be detected again by the sensor heads, from transmission to reception. By measuring the time, it is possible to measure the existence of the object to be detected behind the user and the distance to the object to be detected.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the mobile device main body 110 is housed in the chest pocket of the user P's clothes, and the music played by the mobile device main body 110 is transmitted to the earphones 125R, which are attached to each ear of the user P. It shows the state of listening from 125L. When the user P is walking in this state, the user is in a situation where both ears are blocked by the earphones 125R and 125L, making it difficult to hear the surrounding sounds, and the user is output from the earphones 125R and 125L. It is difficult to recognize the surrounding sounds because of the music being played. Further, it is difficult for the user P to further recognize the surrounding sounds when the consciousness is concentrated on the music output from the earphones 125R and 125L and the attention to the surroundings is reduced. .. Therefore, the user P is less likely to detect changes in the surrounding situation, is less likely to notice a person or object approaching the user P, or is less likely to notice that the user P is approaching the person or object. As a result, for example, a situation such as an unprotected collision with a person or an object approaching from behind the user P or an inconvenience to the surroundings of the user P is likely to occur.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user P listening to music through the earphones 125R and 125L attached to the ear is in the detection range of the ultrasonic sensor 122 (behind the user P in the present embodiment). When the object to be detected, such as an object or an object, approaches a predetermined distance, the user P is notified. Hereinafter, a specific notification operation in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the notification operation in the present embodiment.
When the power of the notification control unit 120 is turned on (S1), the driving of the ultrasonic sensor 122 is started (S2). As a result, the ultrasonic sensor 122 outputs an output signal having an output level corresponding to the distance information to a person or an object existing in the detection range. This output signal is input to the volume control unit 123, and the volume control unit 123 determines whether a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) around (rearward) the user P based on the output signal. It is determined whether or not (S3). It is preferable that the predetermined distance can be arbitrarily adjusted by the user P.

In this determination, when the volume control unit 123 determines that no person or object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) (No in S3), the volume control unit 123 receives the sound signal input from the input terminal 121. It operates so as to output from the output terminal 124 as it is without muting the volume (S4). As a result, the music reproduced by the mobile device main body 110 and transmitted from the output terminal 114 of the mobile device main body 110 to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120 is an earphone unit attached to the output terminal 124 of the notification control unit 120. It is output from 125 earphones 125R and 125L, and the user P can listen to the music.

On the other hand, when the volume control unit 123 determines that a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) (Yes in S3), the volume control unit 123 mutes the volume of the sound signal input from the input terminal 121. It operates so as to (S5). As a result, the music transmitted to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120 is no longer output from the output terminal 124 of the notification control unit 120, and the music output from the earphones 125R and 125L of the earphone unit 125 is muted. As a result, the user P who was listening to the music output from the earphones 125R and 125L suddenly cannot hear the music. In the present embodiment, muting the music is the notification content that a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) around (rearward) the user P.

In this way, the user P is notified that a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) around (rearward) the user P by muting the music. It becomes possible to deal with the approach of the person or object. As a result, for example, it is possible to avoid damages such as an unprotected collision with a person or an object approaching from behind the user P, or to avoid causing trouble to the surroundings of the user P in advance. It becomes possible to do.

In particular, in the present embodiment, since the user P is notified by the notification content that the music is muted, the user P who has received the notification can hear the surrounding sounds without being disturbed by the music. It becomes. As a result, the ability to detect the surrounding situation by hearing is restored, it becomes easier to detect changes in the surrounding situation, and it becomes possible to take a quicker and more appropriate response.

The above notification operations (S2 to S5) are continued until the power of the notification control unit 120 is turned off (S6). Such a notification operation can be realized as hardware processing by a relatively simple circuit configuration. To give a specific example, for example, a mute circuit is provided on the signal line between the input terminal 121 and the output terminal 124 of the notification control unit 120, and the output terminal of the comparator circuit is connected to the operation terminal of the mute circuit. The output signal of the ultrasonic sensor 122 and the reference level voltage are input to the two input terminals in this comparator circuit, respectively. Then, as this reference level voltage, the output level of the ultrasonic sensor 122 when a person or an object exists at a predetermined distance is set. According to such a circuit configuration, when the signal level of the output signal of the ultrasonic sensor 122 exceeds the reference level, the mute circuit operates by the signal output from the output terminal of the comparator circuit, and the input terminal of the notification control unit 120. The sound signal transmitted from 121 to the output terminal 124 is cut off. If the predetermined distance can be arbitrarily adjusted by the user P, a circuit that changes the reference level voltage input to the comparator circuit may be provided.
Similar processing can be realized by software processing instead of the hardware processing as described above.

In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor 122 is configured to continue to operate all the time while the power of the notification control unit 120 is ON, but it does not have to be configured to continue to operate all the time. For example, even after the power is turned on, the ultrasonic sensor 122 may not operate until a sound signal is input to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120. Further, for example, the ultrasonic sensor 122 may be configured to operate only during the period in which the sound signal is input to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120. During the period when no sound signal is input to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120, the user is in a state where he / she can exert his / her ability to detect the surrounding situation by hearing without being disturbed by the sound from the earphones 125R and 125L. Therefore, the notification may not be performed.

[Modification example]
Next, a modified example of the notification content in the present embodiment will be described.
In this modified example, it is detected whether or not a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the right side and the left side of the user P, and the volume of the right earphone and the left earphone is set according to the detection result. By individually controlling, it is notified whether a person or an object within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) exists on the right side or the left side of the user P.
Since the basic configuration and operation are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the following description mainly describes the configuration and operation different from the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the portable device 100 in this modified example.
In this modification, the case of the notification control unit 120 is provided so that the left ultrasonic sensor 122L is positioned toward the left side of the user P when attached to the user P. The right ultrasonic sensor 122R is provided so as to be located toward the right side. As a result, the object to be detected on the left side of the user is detected by the left ultrasonic sensor 122L, and the object to be detected on the right side of the user is detected by the right ultrasonic sensor 122R.

Further, the notification control unit 120 of this modification silences the sound output from the left earphone 125L according to the detection result of the left ultrasonic sensor 122L, and from the right earphone 125R according to the detection result of the right ultrasonic sensor 122R. Mute the output sound. When such an operation is realized by hardware processing, it can be realized by, for example, changing the above-mentioned example of the circuit configuration as follows. Of the stereo signals input from the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120, separate mute circuits are provided for the sound signal signal line for the left earphone and the sound signal signal line for the right earphone, and the sound for the left earphone is provided. A comparator circuit that inputs the output signal of the left ultrasonic sensor 122L to the input terminal of the comparator circuit connected to the mute circuit on the signal line of the signal and is connected to the mute circuit on the signal line of the sound signal for the right earphone. The output signal of the right ultrasonic sensor 122R is input to the input terminal of.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the notification operation in this modified example.
When the power of the notification control unit 120 is turned on (S11), the driving of the ultrasonic sensor 122 is started (S12). As a result, the left and right ultrasonic sensors 122L and 122R output output signals having an output level corresponding to the distance information to a person or an object existing in the respective detection ranges. These output signals are input to the volume control unit 123, and the volume control unit 123 receives a person or an object within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the left side of the user P based on the output signal of the left ultrasonic sensor 122L. Is determined (S13), and based on the output signal of the right ultrasonic sensor 122R, it is determined whether or not a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the right side of the user P. (S16).

When the volume control unit 123 determines that no person or object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the left side of the user P (No in S13), the volume control unit 123 is input from the input terminal 121. It operates so as to output the sound signal for the left earphone from the output terminal 124 to the left earphone 125L as it is without muting the volume (S14). On the other hand, when the volume control unit 123 determines that a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the left side of the user P (Yes in S13), the volume control unit 123 is input from the input terminal 121. It operates to mute the volume of the sound signal for the left earphone (S15). As a result, the music transmitted to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120 is not output from the left earphone 125L. As a result, the user P who was listening to the music output from both earphones 125R and 125L suddenly became unable to hear the music from the left earphone 125L, and thus within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the left side of the user P. ) Can understand the existence of people and objects.

Similarly, when the volume control unit 123 determines that no person or object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the right side of the user P (No in S16), the volume control unit 123 starts from the input terminal 121. It operates so as to output the input sound signal for the right earphone from the output terminal 124 to the right earphone 125R as it is without muting the volume (S17). On the other hand, when the volume control unit 123 determines that a person or an object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the right side of the user P (Yes in S16), the volume control unit 123 is input from the input terminal 121. It operates to mute the volume of the sound signal for the right earphone (S18). As a result, the music transmitted to the input terminal 121 of the notification control unit 120 is not output from the right earphone 125R. As a result, the user P who was listening to the music output from both earphones 125R and 125L suddenly became unable to hear the music from the right earphone 125R, and thus within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the right side of the user P. ) Can understand the existence of people and objects.

The above notification operations (S12 to S18) are continued until the power of the notification control unit 120 is turned off (S19). Then, the volume control unit 123 determines from the detection results of all the ultrasonic sensors 122L and 122R that no person or object exists within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance) on the left side and the right side of the user P. During this period, the volume is not muted for either the left or right sound signal input from the input terminal 121, and the user P can listen to music output from both earphones 125R and 125L.

As described above, in this modified example, by muting the earphone volume in the direction of a person or an object existing within a predetermined range (within a predetermined distance), the user P is simply notified of the existence of the person or the object. Instead, the direction in which the person or object exists can also be notified. In particular, as in this modification, the volume of the earphones worn on the ears in the same direction as the person or object existing within the predetermined range (within the predetermined distance) is muted, so that the person or the object can be detected more. It will be easier, faster and more appropriate.

In the notification operation in the present embodiment (including the above-described modification, the same applies hereinafter), the notification content of muting the volume when the object to be detected exists within a predetermined distance is adopted. Not limited to. For example, the volume may be changed according to the distance information measured by the ultrasonic sensor 122. At this time, it is preferable to reduce the volume as the distance between the user P and the object to be detected becomes closer.

Further, in the present embodiment, the volume of the music output from the earphones 125L and 125R is muted, which is an example of notifying the user P through the earphones 125L and 125R, which appeals to the hearing of the user P. A notification method may be adopted. For example, a notification method that appeals to the tactile sensation of the user P through the earphones 125L and 125R by providing a vibrating means such as a vibrator on the earphones 125L and 125R and vibrating the vibrator when an object to be detected exists within a predetermined distance. May be adopted. Further, a light emitting unit or a display unit is provided on a member in the field of view of the user P such as eyeglasses worn by the user P, and the light emitting unit or the display unit is operated when the object to be detected exists within a predetermined distance. A notification method that appeals to the user P's vision may be adopted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the object to be detected existing behind or to the side of the user is detected, but by appropriately setting the number and arrangement of the sensor heads of the ultrasonic sensor 122, the user It is possible to detect an object to be detected in a desired direction around the user, including not only the rear and side but also the front, upper (overhead), and lower (foot) of the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor 122 is used as the detection means, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as it can detect the object to be detected existing around the user. For example, detection means such as an infrared sensor, a radar using millimeter waves or microwaves, and an image sensor can be widely used. However, in the present embodiment, it is desirable that the user P can detect an unspecified object such as a person or an object under a situation where the user P is walking or driving a bicycle or the like, and it is cost effective. Considering the above comprehensively, the ultrasonic sensor 122 with less disturbance noise and low cost is suitable. On the other hand, when the surrounding condition of the user P is detected in more detail, an image sensor may be adopted and a recognition technique by image processing may be used.

100 Mobile device 110 Mobile device main unit 111 Operation unit 112 Storage unit 113 Sound reproduction processing unit 114 Output terminal 120 Notification control unit 121 Input terminal 122 Ultrasonic sensor 123 Volume control unit 124 Output terminal 125 Earphone unit 126 Mounting arm 127 Earphone cable 128 Signal Cable P user

Claims (6)

In a sound output device that outputs sound from a sound output unit that is attached to the user's ear
A detection means that detects the direction of the object to be detected around the user,
When the sound from the sound output unit is outputted, if that the detection object within the predetermined range around the user is present is detected by said detecting means,該被detection target by a predetermined notification method A sound output device having a notification means for notifying the direction of an object. In the sound output device according to claim 1,
The sound output unit consists of two sound output units that are attached to each user's ear.
The notification method, only contains the notification method to appeal to the hearing of the user through the sound output unit,
The notification method, the as can be seen the direction of the detection object, wherein two of notification content that appeals to the hearing of the user through the sound output section, including the notification method different from each other between the two sound output section A sound output device characterized by this . In sound output device according to billed claim 2,
The notification method, one of the two sound output section, and wherein it to contain the notification method to zero or to reduce the volume of sound output from the sound output unit corresponding to the direction of the detection object Sound output device. In the sound output device according to claim 1 ,
The sound output unit consists of two sound output units that are attached to each user's ear.
It has a vibrating means that vibrates the two sound output units.
The sound output device includes a sound output method that vibrates the sound output unit by the vibrating means so that the direction of the object to be detected can be known . In a sound output device that outputs sound from a sound output unit that is attached to the user's ear
A detection means that detects the distance of the object to be detected that exists around the user,
When the detection means detects that the object to be detected exists within a predetermined range around the user when the sound is output from the sound output unit, it depends on the distance of the object to be detected. A sound output device comprising a notification means for changing the volume of sound output from the sound output unit to notify the object to be detected. A sound output device that outputs sound from the sound output unit that is attached to the user's ear,
In a portable device provided with a sound information output means for outputting sound information for generating the sound.
As the sound output device, a portable device characterized by using the sound output device according to any one of claims 1乃optimum 5.

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