JPH02160297A - Acoustic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate impatience which causes stress and suicide in terms of acoustic environment by generating a sound wave based upon a signal whose frequency is higher than the audio frequency band. CONSTITUTION:A white noise outputted by a white noise generating circuit 11 is passed through a high-pass filter (HPF) 12 to extract a part of frequency higher than the audio frequency band and an equalizer 13 sets the level of an input signal according to 1/f fluctuation characteristics. Then the output of the equalizer 13 is divided into signals of a left channel L and a right channel R, which are supplied to corresponding speakers 16 and 17 and converted into sound waves. Thus, a device which can generate the signal of frequency higher than the audio frequency band is used to create the acoustic environment with a natural field artificially even in an interior space, so the cause of stress and suicide is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an acoustic device suitable for creating an acoustic environment similar to that in the natural world even in a general office or a home room.

(Prior Art) In recent years, in cities, there has been an increase in the number of people complaining of stress and committing suicide. The urban environment has been cited as a cause of this stress and increase in suicides. For this reason, interest in the urban environment has increased in recent years, and construction, including housing,
Research into objects and their surrounding environments is actively being conducted.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, interest in the urban environment has increased in recent years, and there is a desire to create an environment that eliminates stress and irritation that can cause suicide.

The present invention has been made in order to cope with such a problem with the amount of money spent, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an audio device that can eliminate stress and irritation that can lead to suicide in terms of the acoustic environment.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention generates sound waves based on a signal having a frequency higher than the audible frequency band.

(Function) Current audio devices are designed to emit sound within the audible frequency range, as their purpose is to make you hear sound.
Ru.

However, in nature, there are sounds with frequencies higher than the audible frequency range.

On the other hand, experience has shown that humans feel more at ease when they are in the natural world than in an artificial environment.

Therefore, by using a device capable of generating a signal with a higher frequency than the audible frequency band, such as the acoustic device of the present invention, it is possible to create a pseudo acoustic environment similar to the natural world even in an indoor space. , can eliminate stress and irritability that can lead to suicide.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, #Ir1fj in FIG. 1 and its operation will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. Note that FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the frequency characteristics of each part in FIG. 1, and the horizontal axis is a logarithmic representation.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a white noise generation circuit that generates white noise having frequency characteristics as shown in FIG. 2(a). The white noise output from the white noise generation circuit 11 is supplied to a high pass filter (hereinafter referred to as HPF). The HPF 12 is designed to extract all parts of frequency higher than the audio frequency R band from the input white noise. In other words, approximately 1
Considering the band from 08Z to 20KHz, the above HPF12
extracts all parts with frequencies higher than about 20KH2.

The output of this HPF 42 is supplied to the equalizer 13. This equalizer 13 sets the level of the input signal according to the frequency characteristics shown in FIG. 2(c), so-called L/f fluctuation characteristics.

The output of the equalizer 13 processed according to the 1/f fluctuation characteristic is divided into left channel L and right channel R signals, and amplified by the amplifier circuit 15.

In this case, for example, the right channel R signal is phase inverted by the phase inversion circuit 14 in order to produce a stereo effect, and then supplied to the amplifier circuit 15. The signals of each channel L and H outputted from the amplifier circuit 15 are supplied to the corresponding speakers 16 and 17, respectively, and are converted into sound waves.

Note that as the speakers 16 and 17, for example, omnidirectional speakers are used.

As described above, in this embodiment, a portion with a frequency higher than the audible frequency band is extracted from white noise, and a sound wave is generated accordingly.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to eliminate stress and irritation that causes suicide.

That is, current audio devices are designed to generate sounds within an audible frequency band because the purpose is to make people listen to sounds.

However, in nature, there are sounds that have frequencies higher than the audible frequency band.

On the other hand, experience has shown that humans feel more at ease when they are in the natural world than when they are in an artificial environment.6 For example, when we hear the sound of a brook or waves in nature, Feeling at ease is something everyone experiences.

In recent years, attention has been paid to this point, and music sources that record the sounds of murmuring streams and waves have become commercially available.

However, playing such music sources often does not provide the same peace of mind as being in nature.
This is thought to be because such music sources cannot produce sounds with frequencies higher than the audible frequency band that exists in nature.

On the other hand, since the acoustic device of this embodiment can output sound with a frequency higher than the audible frequency band, it is possible to create a pseudo acoustic environment almost the same as the natural world even in an indoor space. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate human irritation, and thereby eliminate stress and suicide.

Furthermore, recent research into urban environments has confirmed that people who live in concrete houses are more prone to stress and suicide. The cause is thought to be the sound insulation properties of concrete houses. In other words, in concrete houses,
As a result of placing emphasis on blocking out ambient noise, sounds with frequencies higher than the audible frequency band are almost completely blocked by 3i. As a result, the indoor acoustic environment is quite different from the natural acoustic environment. If this sound insulation is the cause of irritation, if we use a device like the acoustic device in this example that can create an acoustic environment that is concavely close to the natural world, it would be possible for people living in concrete houses to hear the noise caused by the acoustic environment. You can get rid of your frustration.

In addition, this embodiment not only outputs a sound with a higher frequency than the audible frequency band, but also
Since the output is made according to the 1/f fluctuation characteristic, which is said to give peace of mind, it is possible to obtain a considerably large effect in relieving irritation.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since omnidirectional speakers are used as the speakers 1, 6, and 17, it is possible to create a sound field closer to the natural world.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 3, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this third factor, 21 is a pump for generating water bubbles in the water tank 22. 23 is a microphone that converts the sound of bursting water bubbles generated in the water tank 22 by the pump 21 into an electrical signal. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the popping sound of the blister includes sounds within the audible frequency band and sounds with higher frequencies, and is relatively similar to the sound caused by white noise.

The output of the microphone 23 is supplied to the HP F 12 having frequency characteristics as shown in FIG. 4(b), and all portions with frequencies higher than the audible frequency band are extracted. This extracted output is supplied to the recording/reproducing section 24 after passing through an equalizer 13 having a 1/f fluctuation characteristic as shown in FIG. 4(c).

The signal supplied to the recording/reproducing section 24 is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape. This recording/reproducing section 24 also has a reproducing function and is capable of reproducing signals recorded on a recording medium. This reproduction output is supplied to the speakers 16 and 17 via the phase and rotation 814 and the amplifier circuit 15, and is output as a sound wave.

Note that the recording/reproducing section 24 is designed to have a replaceable recording medium, and by setting a recording medium that has already been recorded, it is possible to reproduce sounds other than the sounds captured by the microphone 23. There is.

In addition, in Figure 3, the part surrounded by a broken line is a unit, and if recording is not required, the equalizer 13
It can be separated and handled freely.

According to this embodiment described in detail below, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the previous embodiment, as well as the microphone 2.
Since the content of the signal from the signal source can be changed as necessary by recording the sound or replacing the recording medium in step 3, there is an advantage that a signal suitable for the usage environment can be used.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention.

In the previous embodiment, a device that outputs only sounds having frequencies higher than the audible frequency band was described, but in this embodiment,
By combining the device of the previous embodiment with a normal sound g device, it is possible to combine and output sounds with frequencies higher than the audible frequency band and sounds within the audible frequency band.

Incidentally, FIG. 5 shows, as a representative example, an example in which the device shown in FIG. 1 and a digital audio disc device are combined.

That is, in FIG. 5, 31 is a digital audio disk, 32 is a motor for rotationally driving this disk 31, and 33 is a motor drive @ for driving this motor 32.

Further, 34 is an optical reading section that reads signals from the disk 31, and 35 is a signal that performs processing to convert the signal read by the optical reading section 34 into a signal that can be supplied to the speakers 16 and 17. It is a processing circuit. The signal output from this signal processing circuit 35 is transmitted to the equalizer 13
The signal is mixed with the signal output from the phase inversion circuit 14 and is supplied to the speakers 16 and 17.

According to such a configuration, sounds with frequencies higher than the audio frequency subband that are not output by ordinary audio equipment are transmitted to the disk 3.
Since it is output mixed with the reproduced sound of 1, you can enjoy musical sounds etc. that are close to natural sounds.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or FIG.
Although a case has been described in which the 1/f fluctuation characteristic is provided at the latter stage of L2, it is of course possible to provide it at a location other than this.1 For example, it may be provided at the speakers 16 and 17.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention may have characteristics other than the 1/f fluctuation characteristic, for example, the 1/f2 fluctuation characteristic, or may not have such a characteristic at all. Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the case where a stereo effect is obtained using the phase inversion circuit 14 has been explained, but if a signal generation means is provided for each channel, the phase inversion circuit 14 is unnecessary. Of course.

Further, the number of channels for generating signals is not limited to two channels, and may be, for example, one channel or four channels.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a case has been described in which the recording/reproducing section 24 is provided after the equalizer 13, but for example, it may be provided before the HP F 12 and everything up to this point can be made into a unit. Good too.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a case has been described in which the sound is recorded on a cassette tape or the like, but the sound may be stored in a digital memory formed into an IC.

In addition, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a case was explained in which all components in a frequency band higher than the audible frequency band are used in white noise or a signal close to this. Of the components, only components in a predetermined band may be used.

Further, in the previous embodiment, a case was explained in which white noise or a signal close to this white noise was used, but for example, pink noise may also be used.
A mixed signal of a plurality of signals having different frequencies may be used, or a signal whose frequency changes over time, or a mixture of m numbers of these signals may be used.

In addition, in the previous implementation υI, the audible frequency band was set to approximately LOHz.
~20KHz, but this audible frequency (12KHz)
It goes without saying that the audible frequency band of the present invention is not limited to about 10 Hz to 20K to 8K, since the range varies depending on the environment and the person.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the device of the present invention may be realized using either an analog circuit or a digital circuit.

It goes without saying that this invention can be modified in many other ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to create a pseudo acoustic environment that is almost the same as the natural world, thereby eliminating irritation caused by the acoustic environment, contributing to stress relief and suicide prevention. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a characteristic diagram showing the frequency characteristics of each part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of this invention without showing
FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the frequency characteristics of each part of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing Mr& of the further embodiment of the present invention. 11... White noise generation circuit, 12... HP
F, 13... Equalizer, 14... Phase inversion circuit,
15...Amplification circuit, 16.17...Speaker, 21
Pump, 22 Water tank, 23 Microphone, 24 Recording/playback section, 31 Digital audio disc, 32 Motor, 33 Motor drive circuit, 34. ...Optical system reading section, 35...Signal processing circuit. 931 Figure 1I5 Figure 1, Display of the case Japanese Patent Application No. 113862/1986 2, Name of the invention Sound device 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant Studio Aeon 4, Agent Chiyoda, Tokyo 3-7-2 No. 76, Kasumigaseki-ku, 3-7-2 76 In the statement of contents of the amendment, on page 4, line 6, the phrase "from the audible frequency band" has been replaced with "from the audible frequency band as shown in Figure 2 (b)."
I am corrected.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An acoustic device comprising a signal generating means for generating a signal having a frequency higher than an audible frequency band, and a sound wave generating means for generating a sound wave according to a signal output from the signal generating means. Device.