WO2011158355A1

WO2011158355A1 - Vibration device

Info

Publication number: WO2011158355A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/060241
Authority: WO
Inventors: 努高橋; 勝利稲垣
Original assignee: パイオニア株式会社
Priority date: 2010-06-16
Filing date: 2010-06-16
Publication date: 2011-12-22

Abstract

A vibration device (1) is provided with: vibrating bodies (10); an amplifier (220) that amplifies vibration signals, and outputs signals for causing the vibrating bodies to vibrate; an amplification amount setting unit (240) that sets an amplification amount setting according to an external instruction for the amplification amount of the amplifier; a vibration signal generation unit that generates vibration signals; and a storage unit that stores the amplification amount setting of the amplification amount setting unit. The vibration signal generation unit generates vibration signals on the basis of the vibration amount that the vibrating bodies should vibrate, and the amplification amount setting stored in the storage unit.

Description

Vibration device

The present invention relates to a technical field of a vibration device including a vibrator including, for example, a transducer that converts an electric signal into mechanical vibration.

サウンド Sound healing (sensory acoustic therapy) is known, in which a user can experience vibrations according to the music while listening to the music to obtain a relaxing effect and a beauty effect. Sound healing is generally performed by a specialized therapist (therapist) pressing a vibrating body that vibrates according to music against the body of the patient. The therapist moves the vibrating body on the subject's body based on his / her specialized knowledge and know-how, so that the subject can feel the vibration with motion, and sound healing such as relaxation effect and beauty effect The effect by.

On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sound output device configured to be able to switch between manual adjustment and automatic adjustment of volume when reproducing music data. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a volume control device including a memory that stores a volume level during operation of an audio device. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses an information processing apparatus having a volume adjustment function by hardware in addition to a volume adjustment function by a volume adjustment application.

JP 2006-352250 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-212900 JP 2006-246259 A

The inventors of the present application can cause the user to experience vibration with movement such as sound healing performed by controlling a plurality of vibrators arranged at different positions on the user's body. We are developing possible vibration devices. In such a vibration device, an operation mode (hereinafter referred to as “therapist mode”) in which a plurality of vibrating bodies are vibrated with a predetermined vibration pattern (that is, a predetermined frequency and a predetermined vibration amount) so as to reproduce the sound healing treatment by the therapist. And the operation mode in which the user vibrates a plurality of vibrating bodies with a vibration amount set for each vibrating body (hereinafter, referred to as “user setting mode” as appropriate). If the amount of vibration set during operation in the setting mode differs between multiple vibrators, it may not be possible to properly reproduce the sound healing treatment by the therapist during operation in the therapist mode. There are technical problems. That is, when operating in the therapist mode, the vibration amount of the vibration signal input to each vibrating body (that is, a signal defining the vibration of the vibrating body) is set as the vibration amount when operating in the user setting mode. By changing according to the value, there is a possibility that the plurality of vibrating bodies cannot be vibrated with the vibration amount to be reproduced when operating in the therapist mode.

The present invention has been made in view of, for example, the above-described problems. For example, the vibration device can vibrate a vibrating body with a vibration amount that should originally be vibrated regardless of the vibration amount of the vibrating body set by a user. It is an issue to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, a vibration device according to the present invention provides a vibrating body, an amplifier that amplifies a vibration signal and outputs a signal for vibrating the vibrating body, and an amplification amount of the amplifier is designated as an external instruction. An amplification amount setting unit that sets an amplification amount setting value in response, a vibration signal generation unit that generates the vibration signal, and a storage unit that stores the amplification amount setting value of the amplification amount setting unit. The generation unit generates the vibration signal based on a vibration amount to vibrate the vibrating body and the amplification amount setting value stored in the storage unit.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified from the embodiments described below.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the sensation vibration apparatus which concerns on 1st Example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the usage example of the body sensation vibration apparatus which concerns on 1st Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the vibration signal which concerns on 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the local control part which concerns on 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the sensation vibration apparatus which concerns on 1st Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice output system which concerns on 2nd Example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

In order to solve the above problems, the vibration device according to the first embodiment includes a vibrating body, an amplifier that amplifies a vibration signal and outputs a signal for vibrating the vibrating body, and an amplification amount of the amplifier from the outside. An amplification amount setting unit that sets an amplification amount setting value according to the instruction, a vibration signal generation unit that generates the vibration signal, and a storage unit that stores the amplification amount setting value of the amplification amount setting unit, The vibration signal generation unit generates the vibration signal based on a vibration amount to vibrate the vibrating body and the amplification amount setting value stored in the storage unit.

According to the vibration device according to the present embodiment, during operation, a vibration body including a transducer (electro-mechanical vibration converter) that converts an electric signal into mechanical vibration is generated by the vibration signal generation unit. The vibration signal oscillates according to the signal amplified by the amplifier.

The amplification amount setting unit sets an amplification amount setting value for designating the amplification amount of the amplifier when the vibrating body vibrates (in other words, the vibration amount of the vibrating body) according to an external instruction such as a user. Set. That is, the vibration device according to the present embodiment is configured such that, for example, the user can specify the amount of vibration of the vibrating body when the vibrating body is vibrated by the amplification amount setting unit. Here, the amplification amount setting value is a value for designating the amplification amount of the amplifier (in other words, the vibration amount of the vibrating body). For example, the absolute value of the vibration amount of the vibrating body or the vibration amount specified by the vibration signal Is set as a relative value to.

Particularly in this embodiment, the amplification amount setting value set by the amplification amount setting unit is stored in the storage unit. Further, when the vibration body should be vibrated with a predetermined vibration amount, the vibration signal generation unit, when generating the vibration signal, the vibration amount to vibrate the vibration body and the amplification amount setting value stored in the storage unit, Based on the above, a vibration signal is generated.

Therefore, for example, when the vibrating body should be vibrated with a predetermined vibration amount, the vibrating body can be vibrated with the predetermined vibration amount to be vibrated regardless of the amplification amount setting value set by the amplification amount setting unit.

That is, according to the vibration device according to the present embodiment, the amplification amount setting value set by the amplification amount setting unit is fed back to the vibration signal generation unit via the storage unit, and the vibration signal generation unit transmits the vibration body to a predetermined body. When vibration is to be performed with the vibration amount, the vibration amount of the vibrating body defined by the vibration signal is determined based on the predetermined vibration amount and the feedback amplification amount setting value, and the vibration signal is generated. Therefore, for example, regardless of the vibration amount of the vibration body set by the user, the vibration body can be vibrated at a predetermined vibration amount that should be vibrated.

As described above, according to the vibration device according to the present embodiment, the vibration body can be vibrated at a predetermined vibration amount that should be vibrated originally, regardless of the vibration amount of the vibration body set by the user, for example.

In one aspect of the vibration device according to the present embodiment, when generating the vibration signal, the vibration signal generation unit is configured to vibrate the vibration body to vibrate and the amplification amount setting value stored in the storage unit. The vibration signal is generated on the basis of the difference.

According to this aspect, the vibration amount obtained by adding the amplification amount setting value to the vibration amount specified by the vibration signal matches the vibration amount to vibrate the vibration body, so the vibration body is vibrated with the vibration amount to be vibrated. be able to.

In another aspect of the vibration device according to the present embodiment, a plurality of the vibration bodies are provided, and the amplifier and the amplification amount setting unit are provided one by one corresponding to each of the plurality of vibration bodies.

According to this aspect, since the vibration amount of each of the plurality of vibrating bodies can be designated by the corresponding amplification amount setting unit, the convenience for the user can be improved.

In the aspect including a plurality of the vibrating bodies described above, the vibration signal generating unit includes a vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit that generates a vibration amplitude defining signal that defines a variation in vibration amplitude of the plurality of vibrating bodies, and the plurality of vibrating bodies. Generating a vibration signal by superimposing the vibration amplitude defining signal and the plurality of vibration amount defining signals; and a vibration amount defining signal generating unit that generates a plurality of vibration amount defining signals respectively defining the vibration amounts of And a signal superimposing unit.

In this case, for example, the data amount of the vibration signal can be reduced as compared with the case where the vibration signal that defines the vibration amount and the fluctuation of the vibration amplitude is generated for each of the plurality of vibrating bodies.

In another aspect of the vibration device according to the present embodiment, the vibration signal generation unit generates the vibration signal based on a music signal, and the vibration body includes a transducer that converts an electric signal into mechanical vibration. And placed on the living body.

According to this aspect, it is possible to make the living body feel the vibration corresponding to the music. That is, according to this aspect, for example, the vibration device can be suitably used for sound healing.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment>
The vibration device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case where the vibration device according to the present invention is applied to a body vibration device for performing sound healing on a user is taken as an example.

First, the configuration of the sensation vibration device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the sensation vibration device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage example of the sensation vibration device according to the present embodiment.

1 and 2, the sensation vibration device 1 according to the present embodiment is a device for performing sound healing on a user 900 (see FIG. 2), and includes a shawl (shoulder) 500 (see FIG. 2), A plurality of vibrating bodies 10 (that is, vibrating

bodies

10 a, 10 b, 10 c, and 10 d) attached to the shawl 500 and a control unit 100 that controls the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 are provided. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensation vibration device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a local control unit 200 (that is,

local control units

200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d) provided for each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10. ing.

Each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 includes a transducer (electric-mechanical vibration converter) that converts an electrical signal into mechanical vibration. Each vibrating body 10 vibrates by converting the electrical signal generated by the local control unit 200 into mechanical vibration based on the vibration signal generated by the control unit 100. The plurality of vibrating bodies 10 are attached at different positions on the shawl 500, and are arranged at different positions on the body of the user 900 when the user 900 wears the shawl 500. In the example of FIG. 2, the vibrating body 10 a is disposed near the left shoulder of the user 900, the vibrating body 10 b is disposed near the right shoulder of the user 900, and the vibrating body 10 c is near the center of the back of the user 900. The vibrating body 10d is arranged near the waist of the user 900. As each vibrating body 10 vibrates, the user 900 can feel the vibration. In the present embodiment, the case where the number of the vibrating bodies 10 is four will be described as an example. However, the number of the vibrating bodies 10 may be two or three, or may be five or more.

The control unit 100 includes a microprocessor (MPU) and controls the entire operation of the plurality of vibrators 10.

The control unit 100 includes a vibration signal generation unit 110, a local set value storage unit 120, a mode setting unit 130, and a vibration pattern database (vibration pattern DB) 140.

The vibration signal generation unit 110 generates a vibration signal that defines the vibration of each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 based on a music signal input from the music player 600 or a vibration pattern managed by a vibration pattern database 140 described later. Generate. The music player 600 is connected to the headphones 700 via a delay amount control unit 650 in a wired or wireless manner. When a music signal is input from the music player 600 to the headphones 700 via the delay amount control unit 650, the user 900 can listen to music through the headphones 700. As a result, the user 900 can experience vibrations from the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 while listening to music through the headphones 700. The delay amount control unit 650 delays the music signal input from the music player 600 to the headphones 700 by the time for which the vibration signal generation unit 110 performs the process of generating the vibration signal. As a result, a time lag occurs between the vibration signal and the music signal (that is, the time between the vibration that the user 900 experiences with the vibrating body 10 and the music that the user 900 listens to with the headphones 700). Can be reduced or prevented.

The vibration signal generating unit 110 includes a vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit 111, a vibration amount defining signal generating unit 112, and a signal superimposing unit 113.

The vibration amplitude defining signal generation unit 111 is a music signal input from the music player 600 or a vibration pattern managed by a vibration pattern database 140 described later (more specifically, the vibration frequency indicated by the vibration pattern over time. Based on (change), a vibration amplitude defining signal that defines fluctuations in the vibration amplitude of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 is generated. The vibration amplitude defining signal generation unit 111 sequentially generates vibration amplitude defining signals at predetermined time intervals during a period in which the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 are vibrated.

The vibration amount defining signal generating unit 112 is a music signal input from the music player 600 or a vibration pattern managed by a vibration pattern database 140 described later (more specifically, the vibration amount indicated by the vibration pattern over time. On the basis of the change), a plurality of vibration amount defining signals that respectively define the vibration amounts of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 are generated. As will be described in detail later, particularly in the present embodiment, when the operation mode of the sensation vibration device 1 is the therapist mode, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 112 has the vibration amount defined by the vibration amount defining signal. The vibration amount defining signal is generated so as to match the difference between the vibration amount defined by the vibration pattern managed by the vibration pattern database 140 and the local setting value stored in the local setting value storage unit 120.

The signal superimposing unit 113 generates a vibration signal by superimposing the vibration amplitude defining signal generated by the vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit 111 and the plurality of vibration amount defining signals generated by the vibration amount defining signal generating unit 112. .

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a vibration signal generated by the signal superimposing unit 113.

In FIG. 3, the signal superimposing unit 113 is a vibration amount defining signal generating unit for each predetermined period T1 with respect to the vibration amplitude defining signal Si (where i is a natural number) sequentially generated by the vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit 111. By inserting a plurality of vibration amount defining signals SV (ie, vibration amount defining signals SVa, SVb, SVc, and SVd) generated as a vibration amount control signal together with a header signal, a vibration amplitude defining signal Si and a plurality of vibrations are generated. A vibration signal is generated by superimposing the quantity defining signal SV. In the example of FIG. 3, n vibration amplitude defining signals Si (for example, n vibration amplitude defining signals S1,..., Sn, or n vibration amplitude defining signals Sn + 1,. ), And one vibration amount control signal is superimposed on the n vibration amplitude defining signals Si. The vibration amount defining signal SVa is a vibration amount defining signal for defining the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10a, and the vibration amount defining signal SVb is a vibration amount defining signal for defining the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10b. SVc is a vibration amount defining signal that defines the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10c, and the vibration amount defining signal SVd is a vibration amount defining signal that defines the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10d.

In FIG. 1, the local setting value storage unit 120 includes a storage unit such as a memory, for example, and stores the local setting value set by the local setting unit 240 of the local control unit 200 described later with reference to FIG. 4 ( That is, store). The local set value storage unit 120 is an example of the “storage unit” according to the present invention.

The mode setting unit 130 sets the operation mode of the sensation vibration device 1 to either the user setting mode or the therapist mode according to an instruction from the user 900. The user setting mode is an operation mode in which the vibrating body 10 is vibrated with a vibration amount specified by the local setting unit 240 described later by the user 900. The therapist mode is an operation mode in which the vibrating body 10 is vibrated with a vibration pattern that is managed by the vibration pattern database 140 and that simulates the sound healing treatment by the therapist.

The vibration pattern database 140 is a database that manages a plurality of vibration patterns. The vibration pattern is data indicating a change over time in the vibration frequency and vibration amount of the plurality of vibrators 10 suitable for pseudo realization of the sound healing treatment by the therapist. Here, in order to realize the sound healing treatment by the therapist in a pseudo manner, it is preferable that the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 are vibrated at the same vibration frequency, so that the vibration pattern includes 1 for the plurality of vibrating bodies 10. Two “changes in vibration frequency over time” are shown. The vibration pattern shows one “change in vibration amount with time” for each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10.

The local control unit 200 is provided for each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10, and controls the corresponding vibrating body 10 based on the vibration signal input from the control unit 100. Specifically, a local control unit 200a is provided corresponding to the vibrating body 10a, a local control unit 200b is provided corresponding to the vibrating body 10b, and a local control unit 200c is provided corresponding to the vibrating body 10c. A local control unit 200d is provided corresponding to the vibrating body 10d.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the local control unit 200. The

local control units

200a, 200b, 200c, and 200d are substantially the same in other respects, although the corresponding vibrating bodies 10 are different from each other.

4, the local control unit 200 includes an input unit 210, an amplifier 220, a vibration amount control unit 230, and a local setting unit 240.

The input unit 210 extracts a vibration amplitude defining signal Si (see FIG. 3) from the vibration signal input from the control unit 100 and outputs it to the amplifier 220. The input unit 210 also outputs a corresponding vibration from the vibration signal input from the control unit 100. The amount defining signal SVa, SVb, SVc or SVd (see FIG. 3) is extracted and output to the vibration amount control unit 230. For example, the input unit 210 of the local control unit 200 a extracts the corresponding vibration amount defining signal SVa from the vibration signal and outputs the extracted vibration amount defining signal SVa to the vibration amount control unit 230.

The vibration amount control unit 230 changes the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal SV input from the input unit 210 based on the local setting value L set by the local setting unit 240 described later. Specifically, the vibration amount control unit 230 adds the local set value L set by the local setting unit 240 to the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal SV.

The amplifier 220 is an example of the “amplifier” according to the present invention, and an electric signal having a variation in vibration amplitude defined by the vibration amplitude defining signal Si input from the input unit 210 is input from the vibration amount control unit 230. The signal is amplified according to the amount of vibration defined by the vibration amount defining signal SV and output to the vibrating body 10. Note that, for example, the amplifier 220 of the local control unit 200 a uses the vibration amount regulation input from the vibration amount control unit 230 by using an electrical signal having a fluctuation in vibration amplitude defined by the vibration amplitude definition signal Si input from the input unit 210. Amplified according to the amount of vibration defined by the signal SVa and output to the vibrating body 10.

The local setting unit 240 is an example of the “amplification amount setting unit” according to the present invention, and is used for designating the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10 when the vibrating body 10 vibrates (in other words, the amplification amount of the amplifier 220). The local set value L is set according to an instruction from the user 900. The local set value L is an example of the “amplification amount set value” according to the present invention.

That is, the sensation vibration device 1 is configured such that the user 900 can specify the amount of vibration of the vibrating body 10 when the vibrating body 10 is vibrated by the local setting unit 240. Here, the local set value L is a value for designating the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10 (in other words, the amplification amount of the amplifier 220), and the vibration amount defined by the vibration signal generated by the vibration signal generation unit 110. (In other words, it is set as a relative value with respect to the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal generated by the vibration amount specifying signal generation unit 112). The local setting unit 240 stores the set local setting value L in the local setting value storage unit 120 of the control unit 100. Since one local control unit 200 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10, the user 900 vibrates each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 individually by the corresponding local setting unit 240. You can specify the amount.

Next, the operation of the sensation vibration device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, as the operation of the sensation vibration apparatus 1, control of the vibration amounts of the plurality of vibration bodies 10 when the operation mode of the sensation vibration apparatus 1 is the therapist mode will be described.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the control of the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10 when the operation mode of the sensation vibration apparatus 1 is the therapist mode. In FIG. 5, only the components related to the control of the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10 a among the plurality of vibrating bodies 10 are shown in the sensible vibration device 1, and the other components are not shown. In addition, since the control of the vibration amount of each of the vibrating

bodies

10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d is substantially the same, the control of the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10a will be mainly described below. Further, the input unit 210, the amplifier 220, the vibration amount control unit 230, and the local setting unit 240 included in the local control unit 200a are referred to as an input unit 210a, an amplifier 220a, a vibration amount control unit 230a, and a local setting unit 240a, respectively. Yes.

In FIG. 5, particularly in the present embodiment, the local setting value La set by the local setting unit 240 a is stored in the local setting value storage unit 120. Further, when the operation mode of the sensation vibration apparatus 1 is the therapist mode, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 112 includes the vibration amount Xa of the vibrating body 10a defined by the vibration pattern managed by the vibration pattern database 140, and Based on the local set value La stored in the local set value storage unit 120, the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10a defined by the vibration signal is determined. Specifically, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 112 uses the difference Xa−La between the vibration amount Xa of the vibrating body 10a defined by the vibration pattern and the local set value La as the vibration amount defining signal SVa (see FIG. 3). A vibration amount defining signal SVa is generated as the amount of vibration defined by. The vibration amount defining signal SVa generated in this way is input from the vibration signal generation unit 110 to the input unit 210a of the local control unit 200a as a vibration signal. The input unit 210a extracts the vibration amount regulation signal SVa from the vibration signal and outputs it to the vibration amount control unit 230a. The vibration amount control unit 230a adds the local set value La set by the local setting unit 240 to the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal SVa. Here, since the vibration amount defined by the vibration amount defining signal SVa input from the input unit 210 to the vibration amount control unit 230a is the difference Xa−La, the local set value La is added to the vibration amount. The vibration amount defined by the vibration amount defining signal SVa output from the vibration amount control unit 230a coincides with the vibration amount Xa of the vibrating body 10a defined by the vibration pattern. Therefore, the vibrating body 10a can be vibrated with the vibration amount Xa of the vibrating body 10a defined by the vibration pattern regardless of the local set value La.

That is, according to the sensation vibration device 1 according to the present embodiment, the local setting value set by the local setting unit 240 is fed back to the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 112 via the local setting value storage unit 120, and the vibration amount defining Based on the vibration amount of the vibrating body 10 specified by the vibration pattern managed by the vibration pattern database 140 and the fed back local setting value, the signal generation unit 112 determines the vibration amount of the vibrating body specified by the vibration amount specifying signal. And a vibration amount defining signal is generated. Therefore, regardless of the vibration amount specified by the user 900 by the local setting unit 240 (in other words, the amplification amount of the amplifier 220), the vibrating body 10 is vibrated with the vibration amount defined by the vibration pattern that is the vibration amount that should be vibrated originally. Can be made. As a result, when the operation mode of the sensation vibration device 1 is set to the therapist mode, the sound healing treatment by the therapist can be realized in a pseudo manner by the vibration of the plurality of vibration bodies 10.

As described above, according to the sensation vibration device 1 according to the present embodiment, regardless of the vibration amount of the vibration body 10 specified by the user 900 by the local setting unit 240 (in other words, the amplification amount of the amplifier 220), The vibrating body 10 can be vibrated with a vibration amount that should be vibrated originally.

As described above with reference to FIG. 3, particularly in the present embodiment, the signal superimposing unit 113 performs the vibration amplitude defining signal Si (where i is a natural number) sequentially generated by the vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit 111. A plurality of vibration amount defining signals SV (that is, vibration amount defining signals SVa, SVb, SVc and SVd) generated by the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 112 are inserted as a vibration amount control signal together with the header signal every predetermined period T1. By doing so, a vibration signal is generated by superimposing the vibration amplitude defining signal Si and the plurality of vibration amount defining signals SV.

Therefore, for example, the data amount of the vibration signal can be reduced as compared with the case where the vibration signal that defines the vibration amount and the fluctuation of the vibration amplitude is generated for each of the plurality of vibrating bodies 10. That is, for example, the control unit 100 supposes that the vibration signal Sa defines the vibration amount and vibration amplitude variation of the vibration body 10a, and the vibration signal Sb defines the vibration amount and vibration amplitude variation of the vibration body 10b. , Generating a vibration signal Sc that defines the vibration amount and vibration amplitude variation of the vibrating body 10c and a vibration signal Sd that defines the vibration amount and vibration amplitude variation of the vibration body 10d, and the local control unit 200a, Compared with the case of transmitting to the controlled unit including 200b, 200c and 200d and the vibrating

bodies

10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, the data amount of the vibration signal transmitted from the control unit 100 to the controlled unit can be reduced.

<Second embodiment>
A vibration device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the case where the vibration device according to the present invention is applied to an audio output system that outputs audio from a plurality of speakers installed at different locations is taken as an example.

First, the configuration of the audio output system according to the present embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 6, the audio output system 2 according to the present embodiment is a system that outputs audio from a plurality of speakers 20 installed at different locations, and a plurality of speakers 20 (that is,

speakers

20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d). ) And a control unit 400 that controls the plurality of speakers 20. Furthermore, the audio output system 2 includes a local control unit 800 (that is,

local control units

800a, 800b, 800c, and 800d) provided for each of the plurality of speakers 20.

Each of the plurality of speakers 20 is an example of a “vibrating body” according to the present invention, and includes a transducer that converts an electrical signal into mechanical vibration. Each speaker 20 vibrates by converting the electric signal generated by the local control unit 800 into mechanical vibration based on the vibration signal generated by the control unit 400 and outputs sound. The plurality of speakers 20 are installed at different locations. In the example of FIG. 6, the speaker 20 a is arranged at the location A, the speaker 20 b is installed at the location B, the speaker 20 c is installed at the location C, and the speaker 20 d is installed at the location D. The locations where the speakers 20 are installed may be different rooms in the same building, different seats in the same vehicle (for example, an automobile, a train, etc.), or different buildings. Good.

The control unit 400 includes a vibration signal generation unit 410, a local volume setting value storage unit 420, a mode setting unit 430, and a volume pattern setting unit 440.

The mode setting unit 430 sets the operation mode of the audio output system 2 to either the individual setting mode or the collective setting mode according to an instruction from the outside such as a user. The individual setting mode is an operation mode in which the speaker 20 is vibrated so as to output sound at a volume specified by a local volume setting unit 840 described later. The collective setting mode is an operation mode in which a plurality of speakers 20 are vibrated so as to output sound at a volume indicated by a volume pattern set by a volume pattern setting unit 440 described later. This is an operation mode in which sound is output at the volume indicated for each speaker 20. The sound volume pattern is data indicating the sound volume for each speaker 20 when sound is output from each of the plurality of speakers 20.

When the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the batch setting mode, the volume pattern setting unit 440 sets a volume pattern according to an instruction from the outside such as a user. As described above, the sound volume pattern is data indicating the sound volume for each speaker 20 when sound is output from each of the plurality of speakers 20. For example, the sound volume pattern setting unit 440 can change the sound volume when outputting sound from the plurality of speakers 20.

The vibration signal generation unit 410 generates a vibration signal that defines the vibration of each of the plurality of speakers 20. When the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the individual setting mode, the vibration signal generation unit 410 generates a vibration signal based on the audio signal input from the audio input device 300. When the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the batch setting mode, the vibration signal generation unit 410 is based on the audio signal input from the audio input device 300 and the volume pattern set by the volume pattern setting unit 440. Generate a vibration signal.

The vibration signal generating unit 410 includes a vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit 411, a vibration amount defining signal generating unit 412 and a signal superimposing unit 413.

The vibration amplitude defining signal generation unit 411 generates a vibration amplitude defining signal that defines fluctuations in the vibration amplitude of the plurality of speakers 20 based on the sound signal input from the sound input device 300. The vibration amplitude defining signal generator 411 sequentially generates vibration amplitude defining signals at predetermined time intervals.

When the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the individual setting mode, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 412 is configured to detect each vibration amount of each of the plurality of speakers 20 based on the audio signal input from the audio input device 300 ( In other words, a plurality of vibration amount defining signals that respectively define the volume of the sound output from each speaker 20 are generated. In addition, when the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the batch setting mode, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 412 stores the volume pattern set by the volume pattern setting unit 440 and the local volume setting value storage unit 420 described later. Based on the stored local volume setting value, a plurality of vibration amount defining signals that respectively define the vibration amounts of the plurality of speakers 20 are generated. Specifically, when the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the batch setting mode, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 412 sets the vibration amount defined by the vibration amount defining signal by the volume pattern setting unit 440. The vibration amount defining signal is generated so that the vibration amount corresponds to the difference between the sound volume indicated by the sound volume pattern and the local sound volume setting value stored in the local sound volume setting value storage unit 420.

The signal superimposing unit 413 generates a vibration signal by superimposing the vibration amplitude defining signal generated by the vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit 411 and the plurality of vibration amount defining signals generated by the vibration amount defining signal generating unit 412. . Here, the signal superimposing unit 413 generates a vibration signal in substantially the same manner as the signal superimposing unit 113 in the first embodiment described above. That is, the vibration signal generated by the signal superimposing unit 413 has the same configuration as the vibration signal shown in FIG.

The local volume setting value storage unit 420 includes a storage unit such as a memory, and stores (that is, stores) the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840 of the local control unit 800 described later. The local volume setting value storage unit 420 is an example of the “storage unit” according to the present invention.

The local control unit 800 is provided for each of the plurality of speakers 20, and controls the corresponding speaker 20 based on the vibration signal input from the control unit 400. Specifically, a local control unit 800a is provided corresponding to the speaker 20a, a local control unit 800b is provided corresponding to the speaker 20b, a local control unit 800c is provided corresponding to the speaker 20c, and the speaker 20d is connected to the speaker 20d. Correspondingly, a local control unit 800d is provided. The

local control units

800a, 800b, 800c, and 800d are different from each other in the corresponding speakers 20, but are substantially the same in other respects.

The local control unit 800 includes an input unit 810, an amplifier 820, a volume control unit 830, and a local volume setting unit 840.

The input unit 810 extracts the vibration amplitude defining signal Si (see FIG. 3) from the vibration signal input from the control unit 400 and outputs it to the amplifier 820. The input unit 810 also outputs a corresponding vibration from the vibration signal input from the control unit 400. The amount defining signal SVa, SVb, SVc or SVd (see FIG. 3) is extracted and output to the volume control unit 830. For example, the input unit 810a of the local control unit 800a extracts the corresponding vibration amount defining signal SVa from the vibration signal and outputs it to the volume control unit 830a. The vibration amount defining signal SVa is a vibration amount defining signal that defines the vibration amount of the speaker 20a (in other words, the volume of the sound output from the speaker 20a), and the vibration amount defining signal SVb is the vibration amount of the speaker 20b. The vibration amount defining signal SVc is a vibration amount defining signal for defining the vibration amount of the speaker 20c, and the vibration amount defining signal SVd is a vibration amount defining signal for defining the vibration amount of the speaker 20d. It is.

The volume control unit 830 changes the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal input from the input unit 810 based on the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840 described later. Specifically, the volume control unit 830 adds the vibration amount corresponding to the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840 to the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount definition signal SV.

The amplifier 820 applies an electric signal having a fluctuation in vibration amplitude defined by the vibration amplitude defining signal Si input from the input unit 810 according to the vibration amount defined by the vibration amount defining signal SV input from the volume control unit 830. Amplified and output to the speaker 20. For example, the amplifier 820a of the local control unit 800a receives an electric signal having a variation in vibration amplitude defined by the vibration amplitude defining signal Si input from the input unit 810a, and a vibration amount defining signal input from the volume control unit 830a. Amplified according to the amount of vibration defined by SVa and output to the speaker 20.

The local volume setting unit 840 is an example of the “amplification amount setting unit” according to the present invention, and the vibration amount of the speaker 20 when the speaker 20 vibrates (in other words, the amplification amount of the amplifier 820, that is, the output from the speaker 20). The local volume setting value for specifying the volume of the sound to be played) is set according to an instruction from the user. The local volume setting value is an example of the “amplification amount setting value” according to the present invention.

That is, in the audio output system 2, the volume of the audio output from the speaker 20 is specified by the user of the speaker 20 (in other words, the user who listens to the audio output from the speaker 20) by the local volume setting unit 840. It is configured to be able to. Here, the local volume setting value is a value for designating the volume of the sound output from the speaker 20 (in other words, the vibration amount of the speaker 20), and the vibration signal generated by the vibration signal generation unit 110 is specified. It is set as a relative value to the amount of vibration to be performed (in other words, the amount of vibration defined by the vibration amount defining signal generated by the vibration amount defining signal generating unit 112). The local volume setting unit 840 stores the set local volume setting value in the local volume setting value storage unit 420 of the control unit 400. Since one local control unit 800 is provided for each of the plurality of speakers 20, the vibration amount can be individually designated for each of the plurality of speakers 20 by the corresponding local volume setting unit 840. it can.

Next, the operation of the audio output system 2 will be described. Hereinafter, as the operation of the audio output system 2, control of the vibration amounts of the plurality of speakers 20 when the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the batch setting mode will be described. Further, since the control of the vibration amount of each of the

speakers

20a, 20b, 20c and 20d is substantially the same, the control of the vibration amount of the speaker 20a will be mainly described below.

In this embodiment, in particular, the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840a is stored in the local vibration volume setting value storage unit 420. Further, when the operation mode of the audio output system 2 is the batch setting mode, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 412 has the sound volume set by the sound volume pattern setting unit 440 with the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount defining signal SVa. The vibration amount defining signal SVa is generated so that the vibration amount corresponds to the difference between the volume indicated by the pattern and the local volume setting value stored in the local volume setting value storage unit 420 by the local volume setting unit 840a. The vibration amount defining signal SVa thus generated is input from the vibration signal generation unit 410 to the input unit 810a of the local control unit 800a as a vibration signal (see FIG. 3). The input unit 810a extracts the vibration amount defining signal SVa from the vibration signal and outputs it to the volume control unit 830a. The volume control unit 830a adds the vibration amount corresponding to the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840a to the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal SVa. Here, the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal SVa input from the input unit 810a to the volume control unit 830a is the volume of the speaker 20a indicated by the volume pattern set by the volume pattern setting unit 440 and the local volume setting unit. This is the vibration amount corresponding to the difference from the local volume setting value stored in the local volume setting value storage unit 420 by 840a. Therefore, by adding the vibration amount corresponding to the local vibration set value set by the local volume setting unit 840a to the vibration amount, the vibration amount specified by the vibration amount specifying signal SVa output from the volume control unit 830a is The amount of vibration corresponding to the volume of the speaker 20a indicated by the volume pattern coincides. Therefore, the speaker 20a can be vibrated with a vibration amount corresponding to the volume of the speaker 20a indicated by the volume pattern regardless of the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840a.

That is, according to the audio output system 2, the local volume setting value set by the local volume setting unit 840 is fed back to the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 112 via the local volume setting value storage unit 820. Further, the vibration amount defining signal generation unit 412 defines the speaker 20 defined by the vibration amount defining signal based on the volume of the speaker 20 indicated by the volume pattern set by the volume pattern setting unit 440 and the fed-back local volume setting value. Is determined, and a vibration amount defining signal SV is generated. Therefore, when the operation mode of the sound output system 2 is the batch setting mode, the sound is output at the sound volume indicated by the sound volume pattern that is the sound volume to be output regardless of the sound volume specified by the local sound volume setting unit 840. The plurality of speakers 20 can be vibrated.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. A vibration device that includes such a change is also applicable. It is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vibration body 100 Control part 110 Vibration signal generation part 111 Vibration amplitude regulation signal generation part 112 Vibration amount regulation signal generation part 113 Signal superimposition part 120 Local setting value storage part 130 Mode setting part 140 Vibration pattern database 200 Local control part 210 Input part 220 Amplifier 230 Vibration amount control unit 240 Local setting unit

Claims

A vibrating body,
An amplifier that amplifies a vibration signal and outputs a signal for vibrating the vibrating body;
An amplification amount setting unit that sets an amplification amount setting value in accordance with an instruction from the outside for the amplification amount of the amplifier;
A vibration signal generator for generating the vibration signal;
A storage unit for storing the amplification amount setting value of the amplification amount setting unit,
The vibration signal generating unit generates the vibration signal based on a vibration amount to vibrate the vibrating body and the amplification amount setting value stored in the storage unit.
When generating the vibration signal, the vibration signal generation unit generates the vibration signal based on a difference between a vibration amount to vibrate the vibrating body and the amplification amount setting value stored in the storage unit. The vibration device according to claim 1.
A plurality of the vibrators;
The said amplifier and the said amplification amount setting part are provided one each corresponding to each of these several vibrating bodies. The vibration apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The vibration signal generator is
A vibration amplitude defining signal generating unit that generates a vibration amplitude defining signal that defines a variation in vibration amplitude of the plurality of vibrating bodies;
A vibration amount defining signal generating unit that generates a plurality of vibration amount defining signals that respectively define the amount of vibration of each of the plurality of vibrating bodies;
The vibration device according to claim 3, further comprising: a signal superimposing unit that generates the vibration signal by superimposing the vibration amplitude defining signal and the plurality of vibration amount defining signals.
The vibration signal generation unit generates the vibration signal based on a music signal,
The vibration device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vibration body includes a transducer that converts an electrical signal into mechanical vibration, and is disposed on a living body.