JPH11136788A - Speaker equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a speaker equipment by which aged persons listen to sound without caring about persons of ordinary hearing by reinforcing the higher-frequency hearing performance of video and audio equipment for persons of hardness of hearing such as the aged. SOLUTION: The equipment is provided with pluralities of speaker units 1a-1h arranged in the horizontal direction where units placed nearer to the middle have a higher reproduction sound pressure level and an amplifier 2 with a 1st high pass filter 3 and a power amplifier 5 for an audible frequency band. A signal of higher-frequency sound hard to hear for persons with hardness of hearing such as the aged is detected by the 1st high pass filter 3 and amplified, and the units placed near to the middle among the speaker units 1a-1h have a higher reproduction sound pressure level. The reproduction sound is controlled to make the horizontal directivity narrower for persons with hardness of hearing such as aged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a directional loudspeaker mainly used in combination with a television receiver or the like as a means for compensating for hearing loss of a hearing-impaired person such as an elderly person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the aging of society has been rapidly progressing. However, hearing loss such as the elderly generally causes a decrease in hearing ability. When listening to a television receiver with the family of a hearing-impaired person or with a hearing-impaired person, if the volume is adjusted to the family, it is difficult to hear the sound, so increase the volume or use an earphone jack that does not turn off the speakers. Viewing is performed using a smartphone or an earphone.

[0003]

In viewing a television receiver or the like as described above, when viewing with a family,
A volume that is too high for hearing-impaired people, such as the elderly, is too loud for the family of a normal hearing person, and a volume that is suitable for the family makes it difficult for hearing-impaired people, such as the elderly, to hear. There is a problem that the hearing impaired person such as the elderly feels alienation, and the hearing impaired person such as the elderly and the family of the hearing-impaired person cannot view both satisfactorily.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a speaker device according to the present invention has at least a plurality of fixed speaker units arranged in a horizontal direction, a first high-pass filter in an audible band, and a power amplifier. An input signal path including the first high-pass filter;
The plurality of speaker units are arranged in the order of the power amplifier, and the plurality of speaker units are set such that the reproduction sound pressure level is set higher as the speaker unit is disposed at the center,
Approximately 1 khz where hearing loss is reduced for hearing-impaired people such as the elderly
z or more signals are detected by the first high-pass filter,
Amplifying and setting the reproduction sound pressure level to be higher at the center of a plurality of fixed speaker units narrows the directivity in the horizontal direction, and the reproduced sound controlled to narrow the directivity in the horizontal direction is aged. It is intended to be able to radiate toward hearing-impaired persons such as the elderly.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises at least a plurality of fixed speaker units arranged in a horizontal direction, an amplifier having a first high-pass filter and a power amplifier in an audible band, The input signal path is configured in the order of the first high-pass filter and the power amplifier, and the plurality of speaker units are set so that the reproduction sound pressure level is set to be higher for the speaker unit disposed at the center, and The reproduced sound whose directionality is controlled to be narrow can be radiated toward a hearing impaired person such as an elderly person.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an amplifier having at least a plurality of fixed speaker units arranged in a horizontal direction, a first high-pass filter in an audible band, a non-linear amplifier, and a power amplifier, and an input signal path. Is configured in the order of the first high-pass filter, the nonlinear amplifier, and the power amplifier, and the nonlinear amplification of the nonlinear amplifier is generally increased as the level of the input signal becomes smaller. The level of a loud sound that is felt as painful is not so high, but only a low sound, so that a sound space that is comfortable for a hearing-impaired person can be provided.

Further, the speaker device according to the second aspect may be used as a speaker device of a television receiver for only a hearing-impaired person who does not need directivity, and it is necessary for the hearing-impaired person to increase the volume unnecessarily. Because there is no room, you can enjoy the program without worrying about the people in the adjacent room.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjusting means for arbitrarily adjusting the non-linear amplification degree of the non-linear amplifying means according to the second aspect of the present invention. It can be adjusted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second high-pass filter in an audible band before the power amplifier according to the first or second aspect, wherein the first high-pass filter has a cut-off frequency. From the cutoff frequency, the second high-pass filter cutoff frequency,
Since the cut-off frequency is higher and the first high-pass filter is set to a higher order than the second high-pass filter, the reproduction frequency is flattened to obtain a good audibility.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a low-pass filter is provided in an audible band of the amplifier according to the fourth aspect, and a third cut-off frequency which is a cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter is changed to a second cut-off frequency. In this case, the reproduction outside the control of the directivity on the high frequency side is suppressed.

[0011] The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5.
Detecting means for detecting at least the input signal level of the amplifier of the speaker device according to the above, and when the detecting means detects a signal of a certain level or less, the power amplifier is set to a standby state and an input signal of a certain level or more is detected. And a display means for displaying whether the standby means is in the standby state or in the active state. It can be easily known.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a speaker device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the embodiment. According to the figure, reference numerals 1a to 1h denote speaker units arranged in a horizontal direction, 2 denotes an amplifier, 3 denotes a first high-pass filter, 4 denotes a non-linear amplifier, 5 denotes a power amplifier, 6
Denotes input means for external signals, and 7a to 7h denote output attenuation means.

Next, the detailed configuration of the embodiment will be described together with the operation. First, an external signal is input from the input means 6 to the amplifier 2. Inside the amplifier 2, only a signal in the middle and high frequencies is passed by the first high-pass filter 3, and the smaller the level of the signal is, the larger the signal is amplified by the nonlinear amplifier 4, further amplified by the power amplifier 5, and output attenuators 7 a to 7.
The weight is added by h, and the speaker units 1a to 1h are driven. Here, the output sound attenuating means 7a to 7h maximize the reproduction sound pressure level of the speaker units 1a and 1b arranged at the center of the speaker units 1a to 1h, and hereinafter, the speaker units 1c and 1d and the speaker units 1e and 1f. Are set so that the reproduced sound pressure level decreases in the order of the speaker units 1g and 1h.

When the speaker units 1a to 1h are arranged in the horizontal direction, the directivity in the horizontal direction is narrow and the directivity in the vertical direction is wide. Also, as the overall width of the arranged speaker units 1a to 1h is larger, the directivity is controlled from the lower frequency side, and the individual speaker units 1a to 1h are controlled.
As the arrangement interval of 1h is smaller, the directivity can be controlled from the higher frequency side.

By weighting the speaker units 1a to 1h arranged in the horizontal direction such that the sound pressure becomes larger toward the center as in this embodiment, the overall width of the arranged speaker units 1a to 1h The directivity in the horizontal direction is controlled to be narrower in a frequency band in which the directivity can be controlled from the low frequency side determined by the above to the high frequency side determined by the arrangement interval.

Therefore, when the reproduction frequency band and the directivity control band of the speaker device according to the present embodiment are set to approximately 1 kHz or more at which a hearing-impaired person can hear the sound, and the speaker device is used in combination with a television receiver, there is a possibility that the hearing-impaired person may lose the hearing. If a non-declined person uses the speaker device to point to the hearing-impaired person during simultaneous viewing, it is possible to add mid-high range sound only to the hearing-impaired person, so the volume of the main body of the television receiver should be increased. It is possible to enjoy a television receiver without using it.

In addition, the hearing decreases with age, especially
Although the drop is remarkable at kHz or higher, the level of a loud sound that feels painful is conversely low, so that the dynamic range of a sound that can be comfortably heard is narrowed. Therefore, for a hearing-impaired person such as an elderly person, since a small sound is made louder and a loud sound is made not so loud, an amplifying effect is effective. Is prevented from becoming large.

In the above embodiment, the output attenuating means 7a to 7h are provided as means for weighting the speaker units 1a to 1h such that the sound pressure becomes larger toward the center. It is also possible to change the efficiency of the speaker units 1a to 1h themselves without providing them.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of another embodiment of the speaker device of the present invention, and FIG. 4 (a) shows a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a frequency characteristic diagram when a high-pass filter is not provided.
(B) is a frequency characteristic diagram when a second high-pass filter is provided. Hereinafter, the same portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a second high-pass filter. Here, the cut-off frequencies of the first high-pass filter 3 and the second high-pass filter 8 are respectively changed to the first cut-off frequency fc1 and the second Cutoff frequency fc
When 2, the second cutoff frequency fc2 is set higher than the first cutoff frequency fc1.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The signal input from the input means 6 is band-limited by the first high-pass filter 3 at the first cutoff frequency fc1, but the nonlinear amplification means 4 As a result, a signal having a lower level is amplified more greatly. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the output of the non-linear amplifier 4 and the power amplifier 5 has a shoulder characteristic which rises as the input becomes smaller as indicated by a dotted line near the first cutoff frequency fc1 and peaks in the frequency characteristic. However, the second cut-off frequency fc2 is reduced to the first cut-off frequency by inserting the second high-pass filter 8 after the nonlinear amplifying means 4. Since it is set higher than the frequency fc1,
As shown in FIG. 4B, the rising shoulder characteristics can be improved. Further, the second high-pass filter 8 narrows the frequency band near the first cut-off frequency fc1 where the shoulder characteristic rises, thereby making it possible to prevent the reproduction of the low-frequency component where the directivity spreads.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of a speaker device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a frequency characteristic diagram.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a low-pass filter inserted between the second high-pass filter 8 and the power amplifier 5.

Since the directivity control limit frequency on the high frequency side is determined by the arrangement interval of the speaker units 1a to 1h, sound is diffused at frequencies higher than this. FIG. 6 shows the frequency characteristic of the third embodiment, which shows that the directivity is not controlled at about 8 kHz or more.

Therefore, to reproduce only the frequency band in which the directivity can be controlled as in the present embodiment in order to obtain higher performance directivity, the reproduced sound pressure level equal to or higher than the upper limit frequency is applied by the low-pass filter 9. Can be reduced.

Therefore, narrow directivity of reproduced sound is ensured in a high frequency range. The cut-off frequency fc3 (third cut-off frequency) of the low-pass filter 9 is, of course, the cut-off frequency fc2 of the high-pass filter 8.
It is set on the higher frequency side.

Although the low-pass filter 9 is inserted between the second high-pass filter 8 and the power amplifier 5 in FIG. 5, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is a stage preceding the power amplifier 5.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of a speaker device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an input / output characteristic diagram of the amplifier. According to the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an adjusting means for adjusting the degree of nonlinear amplification of the nonlinear amplifying means 4.

By setting such that the lower the level of the signal is, the more the degree of amplification is changed by the adjusting means 10, it is possible to widen the fitting range in accordance with the degree of the decrease in hearing in the high frequency range having individual differences. .

FIG. 8 is an input / output characteristic diagram of the present embodiment, wherein A shows the input / output characteristics in the state of large non-linear amplification degree adjustment, B shows the input / output characteristics in the middle, and C shows the input / output characteristics in the same small state. Shows that the amplification degree of the output can be largely changed by the nonlinear amplification degree adjusting means 10.

Although the adjusting means 10 is connected to only the nonlinear amplifying means 4 in FIG. 7, it is not limited to this, and may be inserted between the first high-pass filter 3 and the nonlinear amplifying means 4, for example. There may be.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of another embodiment of the speaker device according to the present invention. According to FIG. 9, reference numeral 11 denotes a detector for detecting an input signal level. Means 12 is a display means.

The input signal level is detected by the detecting means 11,
When the state below a certain level or when there is no signal continues for a certain period of time or more, the detecting unit 11 sets the power amplifier 5 in a standby state, reduces the power consumption, and displays the change on the display unit 12 at the same time.

When an input signal of a certain level or more is detected from the standby state, the power amplifier is promptly changed to the active state, the reproduced sound is emitted, and the change is displayed on the display means 12 at the same time. You can do it. Thus, when not in use, the power consumption is reduced when the power is forgotten to be turned off, and the state is notified by the display function.

In the present embodiment, only the power amplifier 5 is changed to the standby state. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to a power supply part (not shown).

In the above-described embodiment, the function of setting the speaker device to the standby state or the active state is provided in the detecting means 11, but other means including the detecting means 11 such as the power amplifier may be provided separately as the standby means. 5 or the like.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 (a) is a plan view and FIG. 10 (b).
Is a bottom view, FIG. 10 (c) is a front view, and FIG. 10 (d) is a rear view.

According to the figure, 13 is a power-on means, 14
Is a volume control means, 15 is an external signal output means for returning an input signal as it is, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16
Reference numerals d and 16e denote a front surface, a rear surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces of the case, and 17 denotes a turntable.

The speaker units 1a to 1h are arranged on the front surface 16a of the case, and the power supply means 13 and the volume control means 14 are provided.
Is disposed at the center of the case top surface 16c to ensure operability and stability during operation. The external signal input means and the external signal output means 15 are provided on the rear surface 16b of the case, and the nonlinear amplification degree adjusting means 10 which is not always used is provided. Placed on the rear face 16b of the case,
The display function 12 is a front surface 1 of the case top surface 16c with high visibility.
6a, the turntable 17 is rotatable / removable with at least the case bottom surface 16d at its joint fixing portion (not shown), and at least the horizontal direction can be adjusted by a rotation mechanism. It is possible to easily set the position of the reproduced sound field that shows narrow directivity in the horizontal direction.

The power-on means 13 is a push-type switch, the volume adjusting means 14 and the nonlinear amplification adjusting means 1
0 is a rotary volume, a two-color light emitting LED is used for the display means, and the rotary volume of the volume control means 14 is a multi-point click type so that the set position can be easily searched when always using the same volume. is there.

The rotary volume used for the non-linear amplification degree adjusting means 10 is used in accordance with the hearing and taste.
Once set, the need for adjustment is low, so that the entire volume is hidden inside the rear surface of the case and does not protrude to the outside (for example, an edge drive).

Although the number of the speaker units 1a to 1h is eight in the speaker device according to each of the above-described embodiments, the number is not limited to eight. Needless to say, it is good.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, a hearing-impaired person such as an elderly person can hear a sound from a television receiver or the like by raising the middle and high frequencies without disturbing a hearing-hearing person present. It is possible to listen to television receivers etc. in a state where it is possible to hear clearly and the deaf people such as the elderly and the hearing people living together can be satisfied together without increasing the volume of the main unit such as the television receiver , The effect is great.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a speaker device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of the same.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of the other embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are the same frequency characteristic diagrams.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of the other embodiment.

FIG. 6 is the same frequency characteristic diagram

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is the same input / output characteristic diagram.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of an amplifier which is a main part of the other embodiment.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are plan views of another embodiment;
Low, front and rear views

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a to 1h Speaker unit 2 Amplifier 3 First high-pass filter 4 Non-linear amplifying means 5 Power amplifier 6 External signal input means 7a to 7h Output attenuating means 8 Second high-pass filter 9 Low-pass filter 10 Non-linear amplification degree adjusting means 11 Input Signal level detecting means 12 Display means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An amplifier having at least a plurality of solid speaker units arranged in a horizontal direction and a first high-pass filter and a power amplifier in an audible band, wherein an input signal path is the first high-pass filter and the power amplifier. And wherein the plurality of speaker units are set such that the reproduction sound pressure level is set higher as the speaker unit is disposed at the center. 2. An amplifier having at least a plurality of solid speaker units arranged in a horizontal direction, a first high-pass filter in an audible band, a non-linear amplifier, and a power amplifier, and an input signal path being the first high-pass filter. A speaker device configured in the order of the non-linear amplification means and the power amplifier, and having a non-linear amplification degree of the non-linear amplification means generally increased as the level of the input signal becomes smaller. 3. The speaker device according to claim 2, further comprising adjusting means for arbitrarily adjusting the degree of nonlinear amplification of the nonlinear amplifying means. 4. An amplifier includes a second high-pass filter in an audible band before a power amplifier, and a cut-off of the second high-pass filter from a first cut-off frequency which is a cut-off frequency of the first high-pass filter. The second cut-off frequency, which is high in frequency,
3. The speaker device according to claim 1, wherein the high-pass filter has a higher order than the second high-pass filter. 4. 5. The speaker device according to claim 4, wherein the amplifier includes a low-pass filter in an audible band, and a third cut-off frequency, which is a cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter, is higher than a second cut-off frequency. 6. An amplifier for detecting at least an input signal level, the power amplifier being in a standby state when the detection means detects a signal of a certain level or less, and active when detecting an input signal of a certain level or more. The speaker device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a standby unit for setting a state, and a display unit for displaying whether the standby unit is in a standby state or an active state.