KR20230172803A - Hearing-Assisted Bone Conduction Earphones - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes a bone conduction sound output device, a smartphone wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device and equipped with a microphone, and a smartphone application installed on the smartphone and controlling the bone conduction sound output device, wherein the smartphone application reduces ambient noise. This relates to bone conduction earphones with an automatic volume control function that automatically controls the volume according to size and allows the level of sound output from a bone conduction sound output device to change depending on the environment.

Description

Hearing-Assisted Bone Conduction Earphones

The present invention relates to bone conduction earphones for assisting hearing, and more specifically, to a bone conduction sound output device, a smartphone equipped with a microphone and wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device, and a smartphone installed on the smartphone and controlling the bone conduction sound output device. It relates to hearing aid bone conduction earphones that include an application and a hearing aid unit that processes sound picked up from a smartphone microphone and transmits it to a bone conduction sound output device, helping hearing impaired people listen.

In general, bone conduction earphones, unlike air conduction speakers, convert the input electrical signal into a vibration signal, and the converted vibration signal is transmitted directly to the cochlea without passing through the outer or middle ear through the skull or jawbone. It utilizes the principle that the sound is transmitted to the brain through the auditory nerve, and is sent to the cochlea without passing through the three bones comprised of the ossicles, so even in hearing-impaired people with abnormalities in the eardrum or ossicles, if the cochlea and auditory nerve are normal, sound is clearly transmitted through bone conduction. Because it has the advantage of being able to hear, it is also used as a replacement for hearing aids for people with hearing loss.

Compared to existing air conduction headsets, the bone conduction speakers of these bone conduction headsets are absolutely inadequate in terms of frequency, amplitude, and timbre, the three major elements of sound. Therefore, when the speaker output is increased, external leakage sound, where sound waves are leaked to the outside, increases. This not only provides noise to others, but also causes distortion and deterioration of sound quality due to a decrease in the original sound reproduction ability of not only the voice band but also surrounding sounds, and when the speaker and microphone are close, howling and noise increase, distorting the input surrounding sound. This causes a problem in which the ability to distinguish words is deteriorated and a technical problem occurs in which current consumption increases.

In addition, existing hearing aids receive information through the eardrum through an air conduction speaker using the air conduction method, so the eardrum becomes more and more damaged as it is used, so the speaker output is improved every 5 years on average. It is a common prayer-type digital hearing aid, and the amplifier of the digital hearing aid is used. Frequent replacement of non-recyclable batteries for operation causes inconvenience, increases costs, and causes environmental pollution.

In contrast, in the case of artificial implants, cochlear implant surgery, which delivers direct delivery to the auditory nerve, has very limited users due to the high surgical cost. Recently, the spread of digital hearing aids has formed a market, but the prices of digital hearing aids are also very high, making it economically difficult to purchase them. The burden is increasing, and the poorer the population, the more difficult it is for most people with hearing loss to purchase low-cost analog hearing aids, which are common air conduction hearing aids.

This is an unfortunate reality that 90% of people with hearing loss around the world cannot wear hearing aids, as the prices of general digital hearing aids are sold at very high prices, which has become a serious problem internationally.

In addition, existing hearing aids have problems such as inaccuracy of words and reduced discrimination ability when receiving words through the hearing aid in a noisy environment.

In addition, due to the negative image of wearing hearing aids, there is a strong psychological resistance to wearing them, and most people with hearing loss tend to keep their hearing loss a secret.

In addition, existing hearing aids are limited to the function of amplifying and receiving everyday conversations or ambient sounds, so they are designed for the hearing impaired and the hearing impaired, who have limited functions of receiving and transmitting sounds from communication devices or audio devices during conversations like the general public. Differentiation from the general public must be improved through product development.

Therefore, the inconvenience caused by hearing loss in daily life should be minimized for people with hearing loss on an equal footing with the general public, and the purchase cost should be similar to that of general headphones through the development of products that can provide vitality to the lives of people with hearing loss.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1376217 (announced on April 17, 2014), “Bone conduction headphones”

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a bone conduction sound output device, a smartphone wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device and equipped with a microphone, and a smartphone application installed on the smartphone and controlling the bone conduction sound output device. The purpose is to provide hearing aid bone conduction earphones that help hearing impaired people listen, including a hearing aid unit that processes sound picked up from the microphone of a smartphone and transmits it to a bone conduction sound output device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bone conduction sound output device that outputs bone conduction sound, a smartphone wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device and equipped with a microphone, and a bone conduction sound output member included in the smartphone. A hearing aid bone conduction earphone is provided, comprising a smartphone application that controls the hearing aid, wherein the smartphone application processes sound collected from the microphone of the smartphone and transmits the sound to a bone conduction sound output device. do.

In addition, the hearing aid unit is characterized in that it includes a microphone button and guidance text.

In addition, the hearing aid unit removes unnecessary noise through processing and transmits it to the bone conduction sound output device.

In addition, the hearing assistance unit amplifies sounds in the range of 100 to 250 Hz among the surrounding sounds collected through a microphone, and reduces sounds outside the range of 100 to 250 Hz and transmits them to the bone conduction sound output device.

In addition, the hearing assistance unit is characterized in that it calculates and outputs a waveform opposite to the noise among the surrounding sounds collected through the microphone.

The hearing aid bone conduction earphone according to the present invention includes a bone conduction sound output device, a smartphone equipped with a microphone that is wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device, and a smartphone application that is installed on the smartphone and controls the bone conduction sound output device, It can help people with hearing loss listen by including a hearing aid unit that processes sound collected from the smartphone's microphone and transmits it to a bone conduction sound output device.

Figure 1 is an exemplary diagram showing a configuration in which a bone conduction sound output device according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a smartphone and a smartphone application.
Figure 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a bone conduction sound output device, a smartphone, and a smartphone application according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a smartphone and a smartphone application according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a hearing assistance unit of a smartphone application according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a magnifying glass auxiliary unit of a smartphone application according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of an additional settings component of a smartphone application according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The following detailed description of the present invention is an embodiment in which the present invention can be practiced and refers to the accompanying drawings, which are shown as examples of the corresponding embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the invention are different from one another but are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures and characteristics described herein may be implemented in one embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, it should be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each described embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, the detailed description set forth below is not intended to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims, together with all equivalents to what those claims would assert if properly described. Similar reference numbers in the drawings refer to identical or similar functions across various aspects.

The terms used in the present invention are general terms that are currently widely used as much as possible while considering the function in the present invention, but this may vary depending on the intention or precedent of a person working in the art, the emergence of new technology, etc. In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the name of the term.

In the present invention, when a part “includes” a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated to the contrary, it does not exclude other components but may further include other components.

Bone conduction earphones with an automatic volume control function according to the present invention include a bone conduction sound output device 100 that outputs bone conduction sound, and a smartphone wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device 100 and equipped with a microphone (S-m). (S) and a smartphone application 200 included in the smartphone (S) to control the bone conduction sound output member.

The bone conduction sound output device 100 includes an output unit 110 capable of outputting bone conduction sound by emitting vibration, and a control unit 120 in charge of controlling the bone conduction sound output device 100.

The output unit 100 outputs bone conduction sound. The output unit 100 may include a bobbin with a hollow formed in the center and a coil wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin. A magnetic field is generated according to an electrical signal applied to the coil, the magnetic material inside vibrates, and the magnetic body vibrates, and the diaphragm It may be transmitted and output bone conduction sound. The output unit 100 transmits sound through vibration of bones and skin rather than the eardrum, and may be somewhat different from the output structure of general earphones, etc. The bone conduction method has an advantage that shines especially in industrial settings. This is because existing earphones/headsets can block external noise well, so instructions can be received clearly. However, since external noise is blocked, safety accidents cannot be detected and there is a risk of being involved. On the other hand, if you cannot block external noise, it becomes easier to prevent safety accidents, but there is the problem of not being able to receive instructions clearly. Bone conduction headphones prevent safety accidents by detecting external noise while still receiving necessary instructions clearly through the headphones. You can expect the effect of capturing both effects. Meanwhile, bone conduction transmits sound to the inner ear through vibrations of bones and skin rather than the eardrum, so even people with problems with the outer or middle ear can hear sound.

The control unit 120 is configured to control the bone conduction sound output device 100. Control refers to applying necessary operations to the object of control to suit a certain purpose. In the present invention, the control unit not only applies the necessary manipulations to the object of control to suit a certain purpose, but also provides additional components to perform this. Included.

Accordingly, the control unit 120 is connected wirelessly to the conversion unit 121, which converts the data signal transmitted from the smartphone (S) into bone conduction sound of constant vibration, and can transmit or receive data. It may include a communication unit 122 and a power supply unit 123 in charge of powering the bone conduction sound output device 100. In addition, elements with various functions may be included, and the detailed description of the present invention does not limit the lower components of the control unit 120 to the above components.

Meanwhile, the output unit 110 and the control unit 120 may be formed in plural numbers. In more detail, the output unit 110 and the control unit 120 are formed adjacent to both ears. Most specifically, it is appropriate that the output unit 110 and the control unit 120 are formed in two pieces.

The control units 120 may be connected to each other through the control unit connection frame 130. It is appropriate that the control unit connection frame 130 has a rounded shape to match the shape of the head, and is made of a material with elasticity so that it can change depending on the size of the head. In general, it is appropriate to use a synthetic resin material, but the shape and material of the control unit connection frame 130 may vary depending on the intention of a technician working in the field or the emergence of new technology.

In addition, the output unit connection frame 150 extends from the control unit 120 and is connected to the output unit 110. The output unit connection frame 150 has a shape that is curved upward, and it is appropriate to have a shape that rises for a certain section and then descends for a certain section. This is to fasten the output connection frame 150 to the auricle. It is also appropriate to use a synthetic resin material for the output connection frame 150, but this may vary depending on the intention of a technician working in the field or the emergence of new technology.

Meanwhile, it would be desirable for a line to be provided inside the control unit connection frame 130 and the output unit connection frame 150 so as to connect the control unit 120 and the output unit 110, respectively. Accordingly, the control unit connection frame 130 and the output unit connection frame 150 serve to protect the internal line through an external hard material.

On the other hand, in order to listen to sound through bone conduction through the bone conduction sound output device 100, the sound entering the ear may be disturbed. To prevent this, it is appropriate to wear earplugs when wearing the bone conduction sound output device 100. do. Alternatively, the bone conduction sound output device 100 itself may adopt a method of reducing noise coming through the ears, which involves installing an air curtain generator 111 on one side of the output unit 110. The air curtain generator 111 is provided in the output unit 110, and when the bone conduction sound output device 100 is worn, it is appropriate to emit the air curtain in the direction toward the ear hole. More specifically, the air curtain generator 111 is provided in the output unit 110, and it is appropriate to emit airflow in a direction from the output unit 110 toward the control unit 120. Meanwhile, the air curtain generator 111 may be equipped with equipment for sound output, and through this, a waveform opposite to the noise may be output as an airflow in the air curtain. The waveform opposite to this noise may be provided by the opposite waveform generator 245, which will be described later. This configuration is only one implementation, and the detailed description of the present invention is not intended to limit it.

Various buttons may be formed on the bone conduction sound output device 100. The output unit 110 may have a button for executing or operating music playback or a call, and the control unit 120 may have a button for controlling the volume, A button may be formed to turn on or off the power of the bone conduction sound output device 100. Since the location of these buttons may vary depending on the intention of a technician working in the field or the emergence of new technology, the location is not particularly limited.

The smartphone (S) is wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device 100 and is equipped with a microphone (S-m) on one side. The microphone (S-m) serves to collect sound. The microphone (S-m) may be connected to the smartphone (S), or the microphone (S-m) that is basically installed in the smartphone (S) may be used. Most appropriately, it would be desirable to use the one that is built into the smartphone (S).

A smartphone application 200 that controls the bone conduction sound output member is installed on the smartphone (S). Application refers to the use of technology, systems, and products. Application is short for application program, that is, application program. An application is a program designed to perform a specific function directly to the user or, in some cases, to another application. The smartphone application 200 may have multiple functions and can be converted to multiple screens.

The smartphone application 200 can control the bone conduction sound output member and perform various other functions. To this end, the smartphone application 200 may include a hearing auxiliary unit 210, a volume control unit 220, and a magnifying glass auxiliary unit 230. Additionally, for additional settings, an additional settings unit 240 may be included.

The hearing assistant 210, volume control unit 220, magnifying glass assistant 230, and additional setting component 240 may be displayed as a small icon menu at the bottom of one side of the smartphone application 200.

Meanwhile, the smartphone application 200 is equipped with a content display unit 2n0 as a large area screen, where the content display unit 2n0 includes a hearing aid unit 210 displayed as a small icon menu at the bottom of one side, a volume control unit 220, When the magnifying glass auxiliary unit 230 and the additional settings component 240 are touched, this is an area that displays more detailed information about the corresponding components.

That is, the smartphone application 200 is provided with a small icon menu at the bottom of one side, a hearing assistant 210, a volume control unit 220, a magnifying glass assistant 230, and an additional settings component 240, which of these When one is selected and touched, the detailed configuration of the hearing assistant 210, volume control unit 220, magnifying glass assistant 230, and additional setting component 240 is displayed on the content display unit 2n0.

The smartphone application 200 includes a hearing assistance unit 210 that processes sound received from the microphone (S-m) of the smartphone (S) and transmits it to the bone conduction sound output device (100). The hearing auxiliary unit 210 is intended to assist hearing for the elderly, and even elderly people who have difficulty hearing sound through their ears can collect surrounding sounds using the hearing auxiliary unit 210 and use the bone conduction sound output device 100 to collect sounds. You can hear sounds.

The hearing aid unit 210 includes a microphone button 211 and a guide message 212.

The guidance phrase 212 may display content such as “Please press the microphone button.” According to the guidance phrase 212, when the user touches the microphone button 211 of the hearing assistance unit 210, the The hearing assistance unit 210 operates the microphone (S-m) of the smartphone (S) and collects surrounding sounds.

In addition, the hearing assistance unit 210 does not directly transmit surrounding sounds collected through a microphone (S-m) to the bone conduction sound output device 100, but removes or minimizes unnecessary noise through specific processing to output bone conduction sound. It is transmitted to the device 100.

Accordingly, the hearing assistance unit 210 takes only the human voice among the surrounding sounds collected through the microphone (S-m) and transmits it to the bone conduction sound output device 100. More specifically, the hearing assistance unit 210 amplifies sounds in the 100 to 250 Hz range corresponding to human voices among the surrounding sounds collected through a microphone (S-m), and reduces sounds outside the 100 to 250 Hz range to output bone conduction sound. It is transmitted to the device 100.

In addition, the hearing assistance unit 210 may calculate and output a waveform opposite to the noise in order to remove noise other than human voices among the surrounding sounds collected through the microphone (S-m).

At this time, the hearing assistant 210 memorizes the type of the corresponding waveform in advance for a specific repetitive noise, and when the noise is recognized, it uses a method of immediately outputting the opposite waveform to more effectively reduce the noise. You can also remove it.

The smartphone application 200 includes a volume control unit 220 that automatically controls the volume according to the level of surrounding noise.

The volume control unit 220 adjusts the size of the bone conduction sound vibration output from the bone conduction sound output device 100 according to the size of the surrounding noise picked up through the microphone (S-m), and the volume display unit 225 adjusted compared to the reference volume. (not shown) displays the adjusted volume level.

The volume control unit 220 amplifies the volume level of the bone conduction sound output from the bone conduction sound output device 100 when the size of the surrounding noise picked up through the microphone (S-m) is relatively large, and collects the sound through the microphone (S-m). If the size of the surrounding noise is relatively small, the bone conduction sound volume level output from the bone conduction sound output device 100 is reduced.

At this time, the volume control unit 220 may not adjust the volume level rapidly, but may sequentially amplify or decrease the volume over time. This is to leave a time difference so that the user's ears do not feel strange changes in sound. For example, when reducing the volume level by 5 dB, it decreases by 1 dB after 1 second, decreases by 2 dB after 2 seconds, and finally decreases by 5 dB after 5 seconds. By choosing a method of sequentially decreasing the sound, the user's ears can adapt to changes in sound. Meanwhile, in the process of gradually reducing the sound level, if there is a change in the level of surrounding noise picked up through the microphone (S-m), the volume level to be adjusted accordingly is reset to more actively cope with the change in the level of surrounding noise. It may be possible. In addition, it may have the advantage that the user's sound listening can be adjusted without any discomfort through real-time resetting according to changes in the level of ambient noise picked up through the microphone (S-m).

The volume control unit 220 may be provided with a volume up button 221 (not shown) and a volume down button 222ㅍ. The user can use the volume up button 221 and the volume down button 222 to adjust the sound level of the currently playing music.

The volume control unit 220 may be provided with a volume control unit 223 (not shown), a stop button 224 (not shown), and a current noise level display unit 226 (not shown).

The volume control unit 223 has a circular graph shape and displays the level of the sound currently being output, or allows the user to adjust the level of the sound by dragging.

The stop button 224 is configured to stop sound playback by touching it when the user wants to stop the sound being played due to a change in the external environment or the user's intention.

The smartphone application 200 includes a magnifying glass auxiliary unit 230.

The magnifying glass auxiliary unit 240 provides a magnifying glass function to the elderly who have difficulty reading small print in accordance with the age group of the user who uses the bone conduction earphone according to the present invention.

When the magnifying glass auxiliary unit 240 is executed, the camera of the smartphone S is operated to display an object.

The magnifying glass auxiliary unit 240 is equipped with a magnification function and can magnify objects on the screen to an arbitrary size desired by the user.

Additionally, the smartphone application 200 may include an additional settings component 240.

The additional setting unit 240 is a configuration that allows additional settings in relation to noise removal or sound adjustment. Additionally, it may include a configuration for inputting a serial number, etc.

For this purpose, the additional setting unit 240 includes a first additional setting unit 241, a second additional setting unit 242, a third additional setting unit 243, a fourth additional setting unit 244, . , may include an nth additional setting unit (24n).

Each additional setting unit is not limited to a specific function, and this may vary depending on the intention of a technician working in the field or the emergence of new technology.

As an example, the additional setting unit 240 may be provided with an opposite waveform generator 245.

The opposite waveform generator 245 (not shown) assists the function of the hearing auxiliary unit 210 and is one of the nth additional setting units 24n that make additional settings. The opposite waveform generator 245 stores certain waveforms for noise in a list, and when a noise in the previously stored list is recognized through the microphone (S-m), the waveform opposite to the noise is generated by a bone conduction sound output device (100). ) has the function of transmitting.

The opposite waveform generator 245 stores certain waveforms in a list. For example, the opposite waveform generator 245 includes a first waveform selection button (2451, not shown), a second waveform selection button (2452, not shown), a third waveform selection button (2453, not shown), and a third waveform selection button (2453, not shown). 4th waveform selection button (2454, not shown), 5th waveform selection button (2455, not shown), … , may include an nth waveform selection button (245n, not shown).

At this time, the waveform stored in the opposite waveform generator 245 may be recorded directly by the user and stored arbitrarily, or may be downloaded through a specific procedure, or may be downloaded by adding a learning model to the smartphone application 200. It could be learning and saving. Accordingly, the smartphone application 200 can perform the role of learning data by loading known learning models such as SmartFDC, T2_SPE, and FDC_KNN, and can build learning model data. The learning model of the smartphone application 200 can perform read and write functions, and can also store the type of noise by automatically updating and learning about similar types of noise, such as storing the noise waveform generated each time. there is. Of course, it is appropriate that the learning model of the smartphone application 200 initially stores representative types of noise to form a framework of basic noise types.

For example, the first waveform selection button 2451 of the opposite waveform generator 245 may be a human voice, the second waveform selection button 2452 may be a car sound, and the third waveform selection button 2453 may be a car sound. It may be a mechanical sound, the fourth waveform selection button 2454 may be another mechanical sound, and the fifth waveform selection button 2455 may be a certain friction sound. In this way, the nth waveform selection button 245n may store the waveform of a specific noise to be reduced.

The user uses the first waveform selection button (2451), the second waveform selection button (2452), the third waveform selection button (2453), the fourth waveform selection button (2454), the fifth waveform selection button (2455), … , noise can be reduced by selecting one or more of the nth waveform selection buttons (245n).

Additionally, the opposite waveform generator 245 may be provided with an all selection button 245a to have the function of selecting all noise.

At this time, in outputting the opposite waveform, the opposite waveform generator 245 may not rapidly adjust the opposite waveform, but may output the opposite waveform by amplifying or decreasing it step by step. This is to set a time difference so that the user's ears do not feel any discomfort in the change in sound. For example, when outputting 5dB of the opposite waveform, 1dB is output after 1 second, 2dB is output after 2 seconds, and finally 5dB is output after 5 seconds. By choosing a sequential output method, such as, the user's ears can adapt to changes in sound. Meanwhile, in the process of outputting the opposite waveform step by step, if there is a change in the level of surrounding noise picked up through the microphone (S-m), the sound level of the opposite waveform to be output is reset accordingly, making it more responsive to changes in the size of surrounding noise. You can also deal with it proactively. In addition, it may have the advantage that the user's sound listening can be adjusted without any sense of heterogeneity by resetting the sound level of the opposite waveform in real time according to the change in the size of the surrounding noise picked up through the microphone (S-m).

Although the present invention has been described with the accompanying drawings, this is only one example among various embodiments including the gist of the present invention, and is intended to enable those skilled in the art to easily implement the present invention. For this purpose, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted in accordance with the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope by change, substitution, substitution, etc. without departing from the gist of the present invention are subject to the rights of the present invention. will be included In addition, it is clarified that some of the configurations in the drawings are provided in an exaggerated or reduced form compared to the actual figure for the purpose of explaining the configuration more clearly.

S: Smartphone
100: Bone conduction sound output device
200: Smartphone application

Claims (5)

It includes a bone conduction sound output device that outputs bone conduction sound, a smartphone wirelessly connected to the bone conduction sound output device and equipped with a microphone, and a smartphone application included in the smartphone to control the bone conduction sound output member,
The smartphone application is a hearing aid bone conduction earphone, characterized in that it includes a hearing assistance unit that processes the sound received from the microphone of the smartphone and transmits it to a bone conduction sound output device.
According to paragraph 1,
Hearing assistance bone conduction earphones, characterized in that the hearing assistance unit includes a microphone button and an information message.
According to paragraph 1,
The hearing assistance bone conduction earphone is characterized in that the hearing assistance unit removes unnecessary noise through processing and transmits it to a bone conduction sound output device.
According to paragraph 1,
The hearing aid unit amplifies sounds in the 100-250 Hz range among the surrounding sounds collected through a microphone, reduces sounds outside the 100-250 Hz range, and transmits them to a bone conduction sound output device.
According to paragraph 1,
The hearing assistance bone conduction earphone is characterized in that the hearing assistance unit calculates and outputs a waveform opposite to the noise among the surrounding sounds collected through the microphone.