WO2012153784A1 - Stereo headphone device - Google Patents

Stereo headphone device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012153784A1
WO2012153784A1 PCT/JP2012/061918 JP2012061918W WO2012153784A1 WO 2012153784 A1 WO2012153784 A1 WO 2012153784A1 JP 2012061918 W JP2012061918 W JP 2012061918W WO 2012153784 A1 WO2012153784 A1 WO 2012153784A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
headphone
ear
unit
user
sensor
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PCT/JP2012/061918
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
松村耕平
坂本大介
五十嵐健夫
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独立行政法人科学技術振興機構
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Publication of WO2012153784A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012153784A1/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1041—Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1016—Earpieces of the intra-aural type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
    • H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a stereo headphone device that outputs an audio channel suitable for a user.
  • Headphones currently on the market are classified into types such as the inner ear type that is used by hanging on the ear shell, the canal type that is inserted deeply into the ear canal, and the headband type that is connected to the left and right sounding bodies in the headband. be able to.
  • types such as the inner ear type that is used by hanging on the ear shell, the canal type that is inserted deeply into the ear canal, and the headband type that is connected to the left and right sounding bodies in the headband.
  • many products are characterized in that the one used for the left ear and the one used for the right ear are substantially identical to each other.
  • an inclination sensor provided in a speaker unit detects the inclination of an ear, determines which direction the headphone is worn, and determines left and right audio channels.
  • the technology to do is described. Thereby, even when the user wears headphones in the direction opposite to the original direction, the left and right audio channels can be output correctly.
  • the earlobe detector installed inside the ear pad covering the user's ear detects the ear and determines in which direction the headphone is worn.
  • a technique for determining left and right audio channels is described.
  • the earlobe detector installed inside the earpad detects the user's earlobe.
  • the earlobe detector is disposed at a position where the earlobe is detected from the back of the user when headphones are worn, and can detect the earlobe by physical contact, a distance measurement result by an optical sensor, or the like.
  • the earlobe detector comes in front of the user, so that the detection switch and conductive rubber do not reach the earlobe, and the distance measured by the optical sensor becomes long.
  • JP 2007-6074 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-135887
  • the detection unit may reach the ear depending on the size of the ear or the shape of the ear as described above.
  • the contact of the device becomes large and the user's discomfort increases.
  • non-contact detection means such as an optical sensor is used, but since the earlobe is detected from the back of the ear, the direction of wearing the headphones where the earlobe is detected and the direction of wearing the headphones where the earlobe is not detected are detected.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stereo headphone device that can determine which ear the left and right headphone units are attached to.
  • the stereo headphone device performs the mounting direction detection and audio signal output processing by the following means or processing.
  • the stereo headphone device is an inner ear type that is used by hanging a headphone unit on a user's ear shell, or a canal type stereo headphone device that is used by inserting a headphone unit into a user's ear canal, Two headphone units with a built-in driver unit, and a sensor provided in at least one of the two headphone units, the earshell being attached to an ear on a predetermined side. Detects the sensor located at a position where the ear shell is not detected when it is attached to the ear on the other side, and outputs the left and right audio signals to either driver unit based on the detection signal of the sensor. Signal switching means for determining whether or not.
  • the senor detects the user's ear shell and determines the mounting direction. If it is determined that channel inversion is necessary, the audio channel is inverted and output to the driver unit. Therefore, the user can always obtain correct sound without being aware of the direction of wearing the headphones.
  • the senor may be a proximity sensor.
  • the proximity sensor it is possible to detect the user's ear shell without touching the skin, and there is an advantage that the user is not uncomfortable.
  • the stereo headphone device further includes wearing determination means for detecting whether or not the two headphone units are worn on both ears of the user, and the two headphone units are both of the user.
  • wearing determination unit determines that the device is not worn on the ear
  • the signal switching unit may mix the left and right audio signals output to both driver units.
  • the signal switching unit supplies a signal obtained by mixing the left and right channels to the left and right driver units. As a result, it is possible to transmit a natural voice to the user.
  • the stereo headphone device includes a pair of electrodes that are provided in each headphone unit and come into contact with the skin of the user wearing the headphones. It is good also as a characteristic that it is determined that the two headphone units are not worn on both ears of the user when measurement is made and no conduction is recognized between the electrodes.
  • the left and right electrodes are insulated. For this reason, it is possible to reliably determine that the headphone unit is not attached to both ears by measuring the electrical resistance between the electrodes by the wearing determination means.
  • the stereo headphone device may be a canal type stereo headphone device, and the electrode may be disposed in a portion of the headphone unit that is inserted into a user's external ear canal.
  • the electrode is disposed on a part that always touches the user's ear canal during use of the headphones.
  • the wearing determination means can more reliably determine that the headphone unit is not worn in both ears.
  • the stereo headphone device has a signal line connected to the driver unit and extending from the headphone unit, and the sensor is configured so that a user can place the headphone unit on the ear on the predetermined side.
  • the signal line When the signal line is attached in a downward direction, the signal line may be arranged to face the user's ear shell.
  • the senor is arranged at a position where the user wears the headphones so that the signal line faces downward, that is, in the normal usage pattern, facing the ear shell.
  • the stereo headphone device is a canal type stereo headphone device, wherein the headphone unit is connected to the protruding portion to be inserted into a user's external ear canal and a base portion that is connected to the protruding portion and is not inserted into the user's external ear canal.
  • the sensor may be arranged on the base.
  • the senor is disposed in a portion that is not inserted into the ear canal of the user of the headphone unit.
  • the stereo headphone device further includes a direction determining unit that determines a vertical direction of the headphone unit, and the direction determining unit determines that the headphone unit is turned upside down.
  • the signal switching means may invert the output destinations of the left and right audio signals determined based on the detection signal of the sensor.
  • the direction determining means may determine the vertical direction of the mounted headphone unit by acquiring vertical acceleration from an acceleration sensor provided in the headphone unit or by a user operation. It may be a feature.
  • the vertical direction of the headphone unit can be acquired by information from the acceleration sensor or by user operation.
  • the direction determination unit can reliably determine the vertical direction of the headphone unit.
  • stereo headphones that can determine which ear the left and right headphone units are worn on.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a headphone device according to a first embodiment.
  • 1 is a schematic front view of a headphone device according to a first embodiment. It is a modification of the proximity sensor arrangement
  • the stereo headphone device assumes canal type and inner-ear type headphones.
  • a sensor for detecting the user's ear is arranged around the housing to discriminate the ear that is worn.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of the headphones according to the first embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the headphones according to the first embodiment.
  • the headphone according to the first embodiment has a pair of headphone units including a housing 201a / b for storing a driver unit 107a / b as a sounding body and an ear canal insertion portion 202a / b.
  • the proximity sensor 105 is provided in one housing 201a.
  • the proximity sensor 105 is provided to detect the user's ear shell. When the user wears the headphone unit on one ear, the proximity sensor faces the ear shell, and when the user puts the head unit on the other ear, the proximity sensor 105 does not face the ear shell. In the position.
  • the proximity sensor 105 will be described later.
  • the ear canal insertion section 202a / b has a pair of electrodes 109a / b, and the electrodes are inserted into the user's ear canal when the user wears the headphones, and are arranged in a portion that comes into contact with the skin. Yes.
  • the stereo audio signal input to the headphones from the input signal line 103a / b is output to the left and right headphone units via the signal switching device 106 including the signal switching unit 101 and the mounting direction determination unit 102.
  • the mounting direction determination unit 102 determines the audio channel to be output to the left and right based on the input from the proximity sensor and the electrode, and the signal switching unit 101 transmits the audio of the determined channel via the output signal line 104a / b.
  • the proximity sensor 105 will be described. It is desirable that the proximity sensor 105 is disposed on the housing or in the vicinity of the housing so as not to come out of the user's ear shell, and the detection surface faces the front-rear direction of the user. With this arrangement, the proximity sensor faces the ear shell when the headphone unit is attached to one ear of the user, and the proximity sensor faces the opposite direction to the ear shell when the headphone unit is attached to the other ear. Therefore, it is possible to determine the left and right of the ear to which the housing is attached.
  • the proximity sensor 105 is preferably a sensor that can detect the presence of an object within several centimeters from the detection surface, such as an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.
  • the sensor used may be other than a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of an object. For example, a photoresistor may be used.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the headphones according to the first embodiment are worn
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of the same.
  • the proximity sensor When this headphone is inserted into the left ear, the proximity sensor is in a position facing the front surface of the user as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, so the proximity sensor does not detect the ear shell.
  • the proximity sensor when the same headphone is inserted into the right ear, as shown in FIG. 3B, the proximity sensor is positioned toward the back of the user, and thus detects the ear shell. Therefore, in the case of the headphones according to the present embodiment, the housing is inserted into the right ear when there is a response to the proximity sensor, and the housing is inserted into the left ear when there is no response to the proximity sensor. I understand.
  • the proximity sensor 105 is arranged facing the left side, but as shown in FIG. 5, it faces the right side. You may arrange. If the direction of the sensor is reversed, the logic for detecting the ear shell is also reversed.
  • the electrodes 109a / b are arranged on the part of the both-side headphone unit that comes into contact with the user's skin. In 1st Embodiment, it arrange
  • the wearing direction determination unit 102 acquires an input signal from the proximity sensor 105, determines which earphone the headphone on which the sensor is located is worn from the position where the proximity sensor is installed, On the other hand, it determines which channel is output. Then, the signal switching unit 101 outputs an appropriate channel to the left and right driver units based on the determination result.
  • the wearing direction determination unit 102 indicates that the headphones including the driver unit 107a are connected to the right ear as shown in FIG. It is determined that it has been inserted. Therefore, when the proximity sensor detects the ear shell, the signal switching unit 101 outputs the signal input from the left input signal line 103a to the output signal line 104b and the signal input from the right input signal line 103b. To the output signal line 104a. When the proximity sensor 105 does not detect the ear shell, the wearing direction determination unit 102 determines that the headphones including the driver unit 107a are inserted into the left ear as shown in FIG. Vice versa.
  • the mounting direction determination unit 102 does not determine the mounting direction, and the signal switching unit 101 mixes the left and right input channels. Specifically, a signal input from the input signal line 103a and a signal input from the input signal line 103b are mixed, and the same signal is output to the output signal line 104a and the output signal line 104b.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mounting direction determination unit 102.
  • the mounting direction determination unit 102 first determines whether or not there is conduction between the electrodes 109a / b in step S51. When there is no continuity, it means that the headphones are not inserted into both ears of one user, so the process proceeds to step S54, where the signal switching unit 101 mixes the audio signals of both channels and outputs each output signal. An audio signal is output to the line (104a / b). If conduction is recognized, the process proceeds to step S52 where the response of the proximity sensor is confirmed. In step S52, it is confirmed whether or not the proximity sensor has reacted.
  • step S55a the right channel audio signal is output to the side having the sensor, that is, the output signal line 104a, and the left channel is output to the side having no sensor, that is, the output signal line 104b. Output audio signals.
  • step S55b the left channel audio signal is output to the side having the sensor (output signal line 104a), and the right channel is output to the side having no sensor (output signal line 104b). Output audio signals.
  • the right / left ear decision logic is reversed, and therefore, in steps S55a and S55b, the opposite channels may be output. .
  • a proximity sensor is disposed in a headphone housing in a headphone of the type inserted into an ear.
  • the sensor is almost in close contact with the ear shell, and when the headphone is worn in the direction in which the proximity sensor does not detect the ear shell, Since there are no obstacles, the detection distance is infinite. That is, there is an advantage that the ear shell can be detected more accurately because it is not necessary to set the threshold value precisely as in the prior art.
  • the sensor does not go out of the ear shell as long as the headphones are worn, so that there is an advantage that malfunction does not occur during use.
  • the proximity sensor is disposed in the housing 201a and not disposed in the housing 201b.
  • the proximity sensor may be disposed in both housings for accurate detection.
  • it is preferable that the proximity sensor is arranged in a direction in which one proximity sensor detects the ear shell and the other proximity sensor does not detect the ear shell while the user wears the headphones.
  • contradictory results such as when both proximity sensors detect an object, re-detection is performed at a predetermined interval, and only the proximity sensor on the side where the variation in the detection result is small may be used. .
  • the proximity sensor may be disposed in the housing as in the present embodiment or connected to the housing as long as it can detect the user's ear shell. .
  • the sensor faces the ear shell when the headphones are worn in a direction in which the signal line faces downward.
  • the sensor changes the angle within a range in which the ear shell can be detected. It doesn't matter.
  • the electrodes 109a / b are provided in the portion that comes into contact with the ear canal as in the present embodiment, but may be provided on the housing as long as they are in contact with the skin.
  • the number of users may be determined based on whether or not there is electrical continuity between the electrodes. For example, the determination may be made by measuring the surface potential of the user's skin.
  • the inner ear type headphones that are used by being hung on the ear shell have a drawback that the cable is pulled downward depending on the size of the housing and the shape of the ear shell and is easily detached from the ear.
  • the headphones are turned upside down and the fall is prevented by hanging the cable on the ear shell. If such a method is used, right and left cannot be correctly determined from the detection result of the proximity sensor, and channel determination may fail.
  • means for correctly outputting the left and right channels is provided even in such usage.
  • FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the headphones according to the first embodiment are mounted upside down.
  • the mounting direction determination unit 102 has a function of reversing the determination logic of the left and right channels by acquiring information that the housing is mounted upside down.
  • FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram according to the present embodiment.
  • the acceleration sensor 110 is disposed at a position where the acceleration in the vertical direction of the housing can be detected.
  • the acceleration sensor 110 detects about 9.8 m / s 2 which is a gravitational acceleration, and is turned upside down as shown in FIG. 9B.
  • the vertical direction of the housing can be determined by, for example, obtaining the sign of the detected acceleration.
  • the determination in the vertical direction may be performed using a sensor other than the acceleration sensor, or a mechanical switch that can be operated by the user may be provided, and if the switch is turned on, it may be determined that the upside down is reversed. .
  • the proximity sensor 105 faces in the opposite direction to the assumed direction, so the input logic from the sensor is inverted.
  • the proximity sensor 105 does not detect the ear shell, but detects the ear shell when the sensor is worn upside down as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the headphone according to the first embodiment is worn upside down, the wearing direction determination unit 102 determines that the driver unit 107a is worn on the right ear, so it is actually worn on the left ear. Despite being present, the right channel signal is output. Therefore, when the upside-down inversion of the housing is detected, the mounting direction determination unit 102 reverses the determination logic of the left and right channels and outputs an audio signal.
  • FIG. 10 shows a flowchart in which steps S53a and S53b for detecting upside down of the housing are added to the first embodiment.
  • steps S53a and S53b for detecting upside down of the housing are added to the first embodiment.
  • steps S53a and S53b after confirming the response of the proximity sensor (step S52), it is determined in steps S53a and S53b whether the housing is turned upside down.
  • the process proceeds from step S53a to step S55b, and from step S53b to step S55a, so that the left and right channels are reversed as compared with the case where the housing is not inverted.
  • the vertical direction is detected even when the headphones are mounted upside down, and the correct left and right channels are provided to the user. It becomes possible to output.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Stereophonic System (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)

Abstract

Provided is a stereo headphone device capable of determining into which ear each of left and right headphone units is fitted. The stereo headphone device is either an inner-ear type in which the headphone unit is worn on an auricle of a user or a canal type in which the headphone unit is inserted into an external auditory canal of the user. The stereo headphone device comprises: two headphone units each of which has a built-in driver unit; a sensor provided in at least one of the two headphone units, the sensor being disposed at a position at which the auricle is detected if the headphone unit is fitted to the ear on a predetermined side and at which the auricle is not detected if the headphone unit is fitted to the ear on the other side; and a signal switching means that determines, on the basis of a detection signal from the sensor, to which driver unit each of left and right audio signals is to be output.

Description

ステレオヘッドホン装置Stereo headphone device
　本発明は、利用者に適した音声チャネルを出力するステレオヘッドホン装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a stereo headphone device that outputs an audio channel suitable for a user.
　現在市販されているヘッドホンは、耳殻に掛けて使用するインナーイヤー型、外耳道に深く挿入して使用するカナル型、ヘッドバンドにて左右の発音体が接続されたヘッドバンド型などの種類に分類することができる。いずれの種類も、多くの製品は左耳に使用するものと右耳に使用するものが互いにほぼ同形であるという特徴を有している。 Headphones currently on the market are classified into types such as the inner ear type that is used by hanging on the ear shell, the canal type that is inserted deeply into the ear canal, and the headband type that is connected to the left and right sounding bodies in the headband. be able to. In both types, many products are characterized in that the one used for the left ear and the one used for the right ear are substantially identical to each other.
　利用者が、ほぼ左右同形であるヘッドホンを装着する際には、左右の向きが正しいことを確認しなければならない。左右が誤っている状態で使用すると、作り手の意図した通りの聞こえ方とならないだけでなく、コンサート等の映像ソフトである場合、左右が逆転し、音声と映像が一致しないという非常に不自然な聞こえ方となってしまう問題がある。また、立体音響においても、その音響効果が十分に発揮されないという問題が発生する。 When a user wears headphones that are approximately the same shape on the left and right, it must be confirmed that the left and right orientations are correct. If the left and right are used in an incorrect state, not only will it not be heard as intended by the creator, but in the case of video software for concerts etc., the left and right will be reversed and the audio and video will not match. There is a problem that makes it difficult to hear. Moreover, the problem that the acoustic effect is not fully demonstrated also in a stereophonic sound generate | occur | produces.
一方、ヘッドホンの左右については、左右の耳の形状に応じた形となっている耳かけ型の製品等を除き、本体に刻印もしくは印刷された文字で利用者が識別する場合がほとんどである。そのため、耳に装着する前にこれを確認する作業が必要となる。利用者が確認を行わなかった場合や、記載されている文字を理解できなかった場合、または文字の識別が難しい視覚障害者にあっては、前述のような問題が発生し得る。 On the other hand, with respect to the left and right of the headphones, except for ear-mounted products that are shaped according to the shape of the left and right ears, the user is almost always identified by characters stamped or printed on the main body. For this reason, it is necessary to confirm this before wearing the ear. When the user does not confirm, when the written characters cannot be understood, or when the visually impaired person has difficulty in identifying the characters, the above-described problems may occur.
　特許文献１によると、ヘッドバンド型のヘッドホン装置において、スピーカユニットに設けられた傾きセンサが耳の傾きを検出し、ヘッドホンがどちら向きに装着されているかを判定して、左右の音声チャネルを決定する技術が記載されている。これにより、利用者が本来の向きと逆方向にヘッドホンを装着した場合であっても、左右の音声チャネルを正しく出力することができる。 According to Patent Document 1, in a headband type headphone device, an inclination sensor provided in a speaker unit detects the inclination of an ear, determines which direction the headphone is worn, and determines left and right audio channels. The technology to do is described. Thereby, even when the user wears headphones in the direction opposite to the original direction, the left and right audio channels can be output correctly.
　また、特許文献２によると、ヘッドバンド型のヘッドホン装置において、利用者の耳を覆うイヤーパッドの内側に設置された耳たぶ検出器が耳を検出し、ヘッドホンがどちら向きに装着されているかを判定して、左右の音声チャネルを決定する技術が記載されている。特許文献２に記載された発明では、利用者がヘッドホンを装着した際、イヤーパッドの内側に設置された耳たぶ検出器が、利用者の耳たぶを検出する。耳たぶ検出器は、ヘッドホンを装着した場合に利用者の後方から耳たぶを検出する位置に配置されており、物理的接触や光センサによる距離の計測結果等によって耳たぶを検知することができる。利用者がヘッドホンを逆方向に装着した場合、耳たぶ検出器は利用者の前方に来るため、検出のためのスイッチや導電ゴムは耳たぶに届かず、また、光センサが計測する距離は長くなる。耳たぶ検出器をこのように配置することで、ヘッドホンの装着方向を判定し、左右の音声チャネルを決定することができる。 According to Patent Document 2, in the headband type headphone device, the earlobe detector installed inside the ear pad covering the user's ear detects the ear and determines in which direction the headphone is worn. Thus, a technique for determining left and right audio channels is described. In the invention described in Patent Literature 2, when the user wears the headphones, the earlobe detector installed inside the earpad detects the user's earlobe. The earlobe detector is disposed at a position where the earlobe is detected from the back of the user when headphones are worn, and can detect the earlobe by physical contact, a distance measurement result by an optical sensor, or the like. When the user wears the headphones in the reverse direction, the earlobe detector comes in front of the user, so that the detection switch and conductive rubber do not reach the earlobe, and the distance measured by the optical sensor becomes long. By arranging the earlobe detector in this way, it is possible to determine the direction in which headphones are worn and to determine the left and right audio channels.
特開２００７－６０７４号公報JP 2007-6074 A 特開２００２－１３５８８７号公報Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-135887
　特許文献１の手法を用いた場合、水平方向に対する利用者の耳の傾きを、スピーカユニットが接触により検出するため、耳の大きさや、耳の形状によっては正しく装着方向を検出できない可能性がある。また、利用者においては、スピーカユニットが耳殻に接触するため、不快感を覚えるという問題がある。また、同発明の手法は、ヘッドバンド型以外のヘッドホン装置においては使用することができない。 When the method of Patent Document 1 is used, since the speaker unit detects the inclination of the user's ear with respect to the horizontal direction by contact, the mounting direction may not be detected correctly depending on the size of the ear and the shape of the ear. . In addition, there is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable because the speaker unit contacts the ear shell. Further, the method of the present invention cannot be used in a headphone device other than the headband type.
　また、特許文献２の手法を用いた場合、スイッチや導電ゴムなどの機械的接触によって耳たぶを検出する手段を用いると、前述した通り、耳の大きさや耳の形状によっては検出部が耳に届かない可能性があり、小さい耳を想定して設計すると、装置の接触が大きくなって利用者の不快度が増すという問題がある。光センサなどの非接触による検出手段を用いればこの問題は起きないが、耳の後部から耳たぶの検出を行うため、耳たぶが検出されるヘッドホンの装着方向と、耳たぶが検出されないヘッドホンの装着方向のどちらであってもセンサ面の前方に耳が存在する。このため、耳たぶ検出手段は距離の閾値を用いて耳たぶの有無を判断する必要があり、利用者の耳の大きさやヘッドホンの装着方法によっては正確に耳たぶを検出できない可能性がある。また、特許文献２に記載の発明も、ヘッドバンド型以外のヘッドホン装置においては使用することができない。 In addition, when the method of Patent Document 2 is used, if a means for detecting an earlobe by mechanical contact such as a switch or a conductive rubber is used, the detection unit may reach the ear depending on the size of the ear or the shape of the ear as described above. There is a possibility that there is no possibility, and if it is designed assuming a small ear, there is a problem that the contact of the device becomes large and the user's discomfort increases. This problem does not occur if non-contact detection means such as an optical sensor is used, but since the earlobe is detected from the back of the ear, the direction of wearing the headphones where the earlobe is detected and the direction of wearing the headphones where the earlobe is not detected are detected. In either case, there is an ear in front of the sensor surface. For this reason, it is necessary for the earlobe detection means to determine the presence or absence of an earlobe using a distance threshold, and there is a possibility that the earlobe cannot be detected accurately depending on the size of the user's ear and the method of wearing the headphones. Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 cannot be used in a headphone device other than the headband type.
 本発明は、上記の問題点を考慮してなされたものであり、左右のヘッドホンユニットがいずれの耳に装着されているかを判別可能なステレオヘッドホン装置を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stereo headphone device that can determine which ear the left and right headphone units are attached to.
　上記目的を達成するために、本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置では、以下の手段または処理によって装着方向の検出および音声信号出力処理を行う。 In order to achieve the above object, the stereo headphone device according to the present invention performs the mounting direction detection and audio signal output processing by the following means or processing.
　本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置は、ヘッドホンユニットを利用者の耳殻に掛けて使用するインナーイヤー型、もしくはヘッドホンユニットを利用者の外耳道に挿入して使用するカナル型のステレオヘッドホン装置であって、それぞれドライバユニットを内蔵する二つのヘッドホンユニットと、前記二つのヘッドホンユニットのうち少なくとも一つのヘッドホンユニットに設けられたセンサであって、該ヘッドホンユニットが所定の側の耳に装着された場合に耳殻を検出し、他方の側の耳に装着された場合に耳殻を検出しない位置に配置されているセンサと、該センサの検出信号に基づいて、左右の音声信号をそれぞれいずれのドライバユニットに出力するかを決定する信号切換え手段と、を有する。 The stereo headphone device according to the present invention is an inner ear type that is used by hanging a headphone unit on a user's ear shell, or a canal type stereo headphone device that is used by inserting a headphone unit into a user's ear canal, Two headphone units with a built-in driver unit, and a sensor provided in at least one of the two headphone units, the earshell being attached to an ear on a predetermined side. Detects the sensor located at a position where the ear shell is not detected when it is attached to the ear on the other side, and outputs the left and right audio signals to either driver unit based on the detection signal of the sensor. Signal switching means for determining whether or not.
　このように構成することにより、センサが利用者の耳殻を検出したうえで装着方向を判断し、チャネルの反転が必要だと判断した場合は、音声チャネルを反転させてドライバユニットに出力することが可能となり、利用者はヘッドホンの装着方向を意識しなくても常に正しい音声を得ることができる。 With this configuration, the sensor detects the user's ear shell and determines the mounting direction. If it is determined that channel inversion is necessary, the audio channel is inverted and output to the driver unit. Therefore, the user can always obtain correct sound without being aware of the direction of wearing the headphones.
　また、前記センサは、近接センサであることを特徴としてもよい。近接センサを利用することで、皮膚に接触することなく利用者の耳殻を検出することが可能になるため、利用者に不快感を与えないという利点がある。 Further, the sensor may be a proximity sensor. By using the proximity sensor, it is possible to detect the user's ear shell without touching the skin, and there is an advantage that the user is not uncomfortable.
　また、本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置は、前記二つのヘッドホンユニットが利用者の両耳に装着されているか否かを検出する装着判定手段をさらに有し、前記二つのヘッドホンユニットが利用者の両耳に装着されていないと前記装着判定手段が判定した場合に、前記信号切換え手段が、双方のドライバユニットに出力する左右の音声信号を混合することを特徴としてもよい。 Further, the stereo headphone device according to the present invention further includes wearing determination means for detecting whether or not the two headphone units are worn on both ears of the user, and the two headphone units are both of the user. When the wearing determination unit determines that the device is not worn on the ear, the signal switching unit may mix the left and right audio signals output to both driver units.
　二つのヘッドホンユニットが、利用者の両耳に装着されていないと判定した場合、二人の利用者が片方ずつ装着している、一人であっても片耳だけを装着している等、一人の利用者が両耳でヘッドホンを使用していないことが考えられる。このような場合は、信号切換え部が、左右のドライバユニットに対し左右チャネルを混合した信号を供給する。これにより、利用者に対して自然な音声を伝達することが可能になる。　 If it is determined that the two headphone units are not worn on the user's ears, two users wear one of them, one person wears only one ear, etc. It is possible that the user is not using headphones with both ears. In such a case, the signal switching unit supplies a signal obtained by mixing the left and right channels to the left and right driver units. As a result, it is possible to transmit a natural voice to the user. *
　また、本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置は、各ヘッドホンユニットに設けられ、ヘッドホンを装着した利用者の皮膚と接触する一組の電極を有し、前記装着判定手段は、前記電極間の電気抵抗を測定し、前記電極間に導通が認められない場合に、前記二つのヘッドホンユニットが利用者の両耳に装着されていないと判定することを特徴としてもよい。 In addition, the stereo headphone device according to the present invention includes a pair of electrodes that are provided in each headphone unit and come into contact with the skin of the user wearing the headphones. It is good also as a characteristic that it is determined that the two headphone units are not worn on both ears of the user when measurement is made and no conduction is recognized between the electrodes.
　利用者が、ヘッドホンユニットを両耳に装着していない場合、左右の電極間が絶縁する。このため、装着判定手段が電極間の電気抵抗を測定することで、ヘッドホンユニットが両耳に装着されていないことを確実に判定することができる。 If the user does not wear the headphone unit on both ears, the left and right electrodes are insulated. For this reason, it is possible to reliably determine that the headphone unit is not attached to both ears by measuring the electrical resistance between the electrodes by the wearing determination means.
　また、前記ステレオヘッドホン装置は、カナル型のステレオヘッドホン装置であって、前記電極は、前記ヘッドホンユニットのうち利用者の外耳道に挿入される部分に配置されることを特徴としてもよい。 Further, the stereo headphone device may be a canal type stereo headphone device, and the electrode may be disposed in a portion of the headphone unit that is inserted into a user's external ear canal.
　前記電極は、ヘッドホンの使用中、利用者の外耳道に常に触れている部分に配置されることが好ましい。利用者の外耳道に挿入される部分に電極を配置することで、装着判定手段は、ヘッドホンユニットが両耳に装着されていないことをより確実に判定することができる。 It is preferable that the electrode is disposed on a part that always touches the user's ear canal during use of the headphones. By arranging the electrodes in the portion inserted into the user's external auditory canal, the wearing determination means can more reliably determine that the headphone unit is not worn in both ears.
　また、本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置は、前記ドライバユニットと接続され、前記ヘッドホンユニットから延出する信号線を有し、前記センサは、利用者が前記ヘッドホンユニットを前記所定の側の耳に、前記信号線が下向きになる方向に装着した場合において、利用者の耳殻と向き合うように配置されることを特徴としてもよい。 Further, the stereo headphone device according to the present invention has a signal line connected to the driver unit and extending from the headphone unit, and the sensor is configured so that a user can place the headphone unit on the ear on the predetermined side. When the signal line is attached in a downward direction, the signal line may be arranged to face the user's ear shell.
　このようにセンサは、利用者がヘッドホンを信号線が下向きになるように装着する、すなわち通常想定される使用形態において、その耳殻と向き合う位置に配置されることが好ましい。 Thus, it is preferable that the sensor is arranged at a position where the user wears the headphones so that the signal line faces downward, that is, in the normal usage pattern, facing the ear shell.
　また、前記ステレオヘッドホン装置は、カナル型のステレオヘッドホン装置であって、前記ヘッドホンユニットは、利用者の外耳道に挿入される突出部と、前記突出部と連結され、利用者の外耳道に挿入されない基部とからなり、前記センサは、前記基部に配置されることを特徴としてもよい。 Further, the stereo headphone device is a canal type stereo headphone device, wherein the headphone unit is connected to the protruding portion to be inserted into a user's external ear canal and a base portion that is connected to the protruding portion and is not inserted into the user's external ear canal. The sensor may be arranged on the base.
　このように、センサはヘッドホンユニットの利用者の外耳道に挿入されない部分に配置されることが好ましい。このように構成することにより、利用者の耳殻に近い位置にセンサを配置できるため、確実に耳殻を検出することができる。 Thus, it is preferable that the sensor is disposed in a portion that is not inserted into the ear canal of the user of the headphone unit. By comprising in this way, since a sensor can be arrange | positioned in the position near a user's ear shell, an ear shell can be detected reliably.
　また、本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置は、前記ヘッドホンユニットの上下方向の向きを判定する方向判定手段をさらに有し、前記方向判定手段が、前記ヘッドホンユニットが上下反転していると判定した場合において、前記信号切換え手段が、前記センサの検出信号に基づいて決定された左右の音声信号の出力先を反転することを特徴としてもよい。 In addition, the stereo headphone device according to the present invention further includes a direction determining unit that determines a vertical direction of the headphone unit, and the direction determining unit determines that the headphone unit is turned upside down. The signal switching means may invert the output destinations of the left and right audio signals determined based on the detection signal of the sensor.
　利用者が、ヘッドホンを上下逆に装着した場合、装着方向を正常に検出できなくなるため、判定の論理を反転させる手段を提供する。これにより、ヘッドホンの上下反転を検知し、利用者に対して正しい音声チャネルを出力させることが可能となる。 When the user wears the headphones upside down, the wearing direction cannot be normally detected, so a means for inverting the determination logic is provided. As a result, it is possible to detect the upside down of the headphones and output the correct audio channel to the user.
　また、前記方向判定手段は、前記ヘッドホンユニットに備えられた加速度センサから鉛直方向の加速度を取得することにより、もしくは利用者の操作により、装着されたヘッドホンユニットの上下方向の向きを判定することを特徴としてもよい。 In addition, the direction determining means may determine the vertical direction of the mounted headphone unit by acquiring vertical acceleration from an acceleration sensor provided in the headphone unit or by a user operation. It may be a feature.
　具体的には、ヘッドホンユニットの上下方向は、加速度センサからの情報、もしくは利用者の操作によって取得することができる。このように構成することで、方向判定手段が、確実にヘッドホンユニットの上下方向を判定できるようになる。 Specifically, the vertical direction of the headphone unit can be acquired by information from the acceleration sensor or by user operation. With this configuration, the direction determination unit can reliably determine the vertical direction of the headphone unit.
　本発明によれば、左右のヘッドホンユニットがいずれの耳に装着されているかを判別可能なステレオヘッドホンを提供することができる。 According to the present invention, it is possible to provide stereo headphones that can determine which ear the left and right headphone units are worn on.
第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホン装置の外観を表した図である。It is a figure showing the appearance of the headphone device concerning a 1st embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホン装置の機能構成を示した図である。It is the figure which showed the function structure of the headphone apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホン装置の側面模式図である。1 is a schematic side view of a headphone device according to a first embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホン装置の正面模式図である。1 is a schematic front view of a headphone device according to a first embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係る近接センサ配置の変形例である。It is a modification of the proximity sensor arrangement | positioning which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 第１の実施形態に係る装着方向判定部の動作フローチャートである。It is an operation | movement flowchart of the mounting direction determination part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る側面模式図である。It is a side surface schematic diagram concerning a 2nd embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係るヘッドホン装置の機能構成を示した図である。It is the figure which showed the function structure of the headphone apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る加速度センサの配置を示した図である。It is the figure which showed arrangement | positioning of the acceleration sensor which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 第２の実施形態に係る装着方向判定部の動作フローチャートである。It is an operation | movement flowchart of the mounting direction determination part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.
（第１の実施形態）
　本発明に係るステレオヘッドホン装置は、カナル型、およびインナーイヤー型ヘッドホンを想定している。カナル型、およびインナーイヤー型ヘッドホンは、ハウジングが利用者の耳の近傍に位置するため、ハウジング周辺に利用者の耳を検出するセンサを配置し、装着している耳を判別する。 (First embodiment)
The stereo headphone device according to the present invention assumes canal type and inner-ear type headphones. In the canal type and inner ear type headphones, since the housing is located in the vicinity of the user's ear, a sensor for detecting the user's ear is arranged around the housing to discriminate the ear that is worn.
　図１は、第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホンの外観を示した図であり、図２は、第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホンの機能構成図である。第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホンは、発音体であるドライバユニット１０７ａ／ｂを格納するハウジング２０１ａ／ｂと、外耳道挿入部２０２ａ／ｂからなる一組のヘッドホンユニットを有している。また、一方のハウジング２０１ａには、近接センサ１０５が設けられている。近接センサ１０５は、利用者の耳殻を検出するために設けられ、利用者がヘッドホンユニットを片方の耳に装着した場合、耳殻と向き合い、他方の耳に装着した場合、耳殻と向き合わない位置に設けられている。近接センサ１０５については後述する。 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of the headphones according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the headphones according to the first embodiment. The headphone according to the first embodiment has a pair of headphone units including a housing 201a / b for storing a driver unit 107a / b as a sounding body and an ear canal insertion portion 202a / b. The proximity sensor 105 is provided in one housing 201a. The proximity sensor 105 is provided to detect the user's ear shell. When the user wears the headphone unit on one ear, the proximity sensor faces the ear shell, and when the user puts the head unit on the other ear, the proximity sensor 105 does not face the ear shell. In the position. The proximity sensor 105 will be described later.
　また、外耳道挿入部２０２ａ／ｂは一対の電極１０９ａ／ｂを有しており、電極は、利用者がヘッドホンを装着した際に利用者の外耳道に挿入され、皮膚と接触する部分に配置されている。 The ear canal insertion section 202a / b has a pair of electrodes 109a / b, and the electrodes are inserted into the user's ear canal when the user wears the headphones, and are arranged in a portion that comes into contact with the skin. Yes.
　入力信号線１０３ａ／ｂよりヘッドホンに入力されたステレオ音声信号は、信号切換え部１０１、装着方向判定部１０２を含む信号切換え装置１０６を介して、左右のヘッドホンユニットに出力される。装着方向判定部１０２が、近接センサや電極からの入力に基づき、左右に出力する音声チャネルを決定し、信号切換え部１０１が、決定されたチャネルの音声を出力信号線１０４ａ／ｂを経由してドライバユニット１０７ａ／ｂに出力する。 The stereo audio signal input to the headphones from the input signal line 103a / b is output to the left and right headphone units via the signal switching device 106 including the signal switching unit 101 and the mounting direction determination unit 102. The mounting direction determination unit 102 determines the audio channel to be output to the left and right based on the input from the proximity sensor and the electrode, and the signal switching unit 101 transmits the audio of the determined channel via the output signal line 104a / b. Output to the driver unit 107a / b.
　近接センサ１０５について説明する。近接センサ１０５は、ハウジング上もしくはハウジングの近傍の、利用者の耳殻より外に出ない位置に配置され、検出面は利用者の前後方向を向いていることが望ましい。このように配置することで、利用者の一方の耳にヘッドホンユニットを装着した場合は近接センサが耳殻と向き合い、他方の耳に装着した場合は近接センサが耳殻と反対方向を向くようになるため、ハウジングが装着された耳の左右を判定することができる。なお、近接センサ１０５は、赤外線センサもしくは超音波センサ等の、検出面から数ｃｍ以内の物体の存在を検出できるセンサが望ましい。また、使用するセンサは、物体の存在を検知するための近接センサ以外であってもよい。例えば、フォトレジスタなどを用いてもよい。 The proximity sensor 105 will be described. It is desirable that the proximity sensor 105 is disposed on the housing or in the vicinity of the housing so as not to come out of the user's ear shell, and the detection surface faces the front-rear direction of the user. With this arrangement, the proximity sensor faces the ear shell when the headphone unit is attached to one ear of the user, and the proximity sensor faces the opposite direction to the ear shell when the headphone unit is attached to the other ear. Therefore, it is possible to determine the left and right of the ear to which the housing is attached. The proximity sensor 105 is preferably a sensor that can detect the presence of an object within several centimeters from the detection surface, such as an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. The sensor used may be other than a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of an object. For example, a photoresistor may be used.
　具体的な配置位置を、図３および図４を用いて説明する。図３は、第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホンを装着した状態を側面より示した図、図４は、同じく正面より示した図である。このヘッドホンを左耳に挿入した場合、近接センサは、図３（ａ）および図４のように利用者の前面を向く位置となるため、近接センサは耳殻を検出しない。一方、同じヘッドホンを右耳に挿入した場合、図３（ｂ）のように、近接センサは利用者の背面を向く位置となるため、耳殻を検出するようになる。よって、本実施形態に係るヘッドホンの場合、近接センサに反応があった場合は、ハウジングは右耳に挿入されており、近接センサに反応が無い場合は、ハウジングは左耳に挿入されていることがわかる。 A specific arrangement position will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the headphones according to the first embodiment are worn, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the same. When this headphone is inserted into the left ear, the proximity sensor is in a position facing the front surface of the user as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, so the proximity sensor does not detect the ear shell. On the other hand, when the same headphone is inserted into the right ear, as shown in FIG. 3B, the proximity sensor is positioned toward the back of the user, and thus detects the ear shell. Therefore, in the case of the headphones according to the present embodiment, the housing is inserted into the right ear when there is a response to the proximity sensor, and the housing is inserted into the left ear when there is no response to the proximity sensor. I understand.
　なお、図３のようにヘッドホンユニット２０１ａを側面から見た場合、第１の実施形態においては、近接センサ１０５は左側を向いて配置されているが、図５のように、右側を向くように配置しても構わない。センサの向きを逆にすると、耳殻を検出する論理も逆となる。 When the headphone unit 201a is viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, the proximity sensor 105 is arranged facing the left side, but as shown in FIG. 5, it faces the right side. You may arrange. If the direction of the sensor is reversed, the logic for detecting the ear shell is also reversed.
　次に、電極１０９ａ／ｂについて説明する。電極１０９ａ／ｂは、両側ヘッドホンユニットの、利用者の皮膚に接触する部分に配置されている。第１の実施形態では、外耳道挿入部２０２ａ／ｂに配置する。電極１０９ａ／ｂ間に微小な電圧を印加し、両電極間の電流を検出する。一人の利用者が両方のヘッドホンユニットを装着している場合、電流を検出することができる。 Next, the electrodes 109a / b will be described. The electrodes 109a / b are arranged on the part of the both-side headphone unit that comes into contact with the user's skin. In 1st Embodiment, it arrange | positions to the ear canal insertion part 202a / b. A minute voltage is applied between the electrodes 109a / b, and a current between both electrodes is detected. When one user wears both headphone units, the current can be detected.
　次に、装着方向判定部１０２および信号切換え部１０１について説明する。装着方向判定部１０２は、近接センサ１０５からの入力信号を取得し、近接センサの設置位置から、センサがある側のヘッドホンがどちらの耳に装着されているか判定を行い、左右いずれのドライバユニットに対してどちらのチャネルを出力するかを決定する。そして、信号切換え部１０１が、判定結果に基づいて、左右のドライバユニットに対して適切なチャネルを出力する。 Next, the mounting direction determination unit 102 and the signal switching unit 101 will be described. The wearing direction determination unit 102 acquires an input signal from the proximity sensor 105, determines which earphone the headphone on which the sensor is located is worn from the position where the proximity sensor is installed, On the other hand, it determines which channel is output. Then, the signal switching unit 101 outputs an appropriate channel to the left and right driver units based on the determination result.
　具体的には、第１の実施形態の場合、近接センサ１０５が耳殻を検出した場合、装着方向判定部１０２は、ドライバユニット１０７ａを含むヘッドホンが、図３（ｂ）のように右耳に挿入されていると判定する。そのため、近接センサが耳殻を検出した場合は、信号切換え部１０１は、左入力信号線１０３ａより入力された信号を、出力信号線１０４ｂに出力し、右入力信号線１０３ｂより入力された信号を、出力信号線１０４ａに出力する。近接センサ１０５が耳殻を検出しない場合、装着方向判定部１０２は、ドライバユニット１０７ａを含むヘッドホンが、図３（ａ）のように左耳に挿入されていると判定するため、左右のチャネルは逆になる。 Specifically, in the case of the first embodiment, when the proximity sensor 105 detects the ear shell, the wearing direction determination unit 102 indicates that the headphones including the driver unit 107a are connected to the right ear as shown in FIG. It is determined that it has been inserted. Therefore, when the proximity sensor detects the ear shell, the signal switching unit 101 outputs the signal input from the left input signal line 103a to the output signal line 104b and the signal input from the right input signal line 103b. To the output signal line 104a. When the proximity sensor 105 does not detect the ear shell, the wearing direction determination unit 102 determines that the headphones including the driver unit 107a are inserted into the left ear as shown in FIG. Vice versa.
　なお、電極１０９ａ／ｂ間に導通が無い場合は、二人の利用者がそれぞれのヘッドホンユニットを装着している場合や、一人の利用者が片方のヘッドホンユニットのみを装着していることが考えられるため、左右のドライバユニットに対してモノラル音声を出力することが好ましい。そのため、導通が無い場合は、装着方向判定部１０２は装着方向の判断を行わずに、信号切換え部１０１が左右入力チャネルの混合を行う。具体的には、入力信号線１０３ａから入力された信号と、入力信号線１０３ｂより入力された信号を混合し、同じ信号を出力信号線１０４ａと出力信号線１０４ｂへ出力する。 If there is no continuity between the electrodes 109a / b, it is possible that two users are wearing their respective headphone units, or that one user is wearing only one headphone unit. Therefore, it is preferable to output monaural sound to the left and right driver units. Therefore, when there is no continuity, the mounting direction determination unit 102 does not determine the mounting direction, and the signal switching unit 101 mixes the left and right input channels. Specifically, a signal input from the input signal line 103a and a signal input from the input signal line 103b are mixed, and the same signal is output to the output signal line 104a and the output signal line 104b.
　図６は、装着方向判定部１０２の動作を示したフローチャート図である。装着方向判定部１０２は、まずステップＳ５１により、電極１０９ａ／ｂ間の導通の有無を判断する。導通が無い場合、ヘッドホンが一人の利用者の両耳に挿入されていないことを意味するため、ステップＳ５４へ遷移し、信号切換え部１０１は、両チャネルの音声信号を混合したうえで各出力信号線（１０４ａ／ｂ）に音声信号を出力する。導通が認められる場合、近接センサの反応を確認するステップＳ５２に遷移する。ステップＳ５２では、近接センサの反応有無を確認する。 FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mounting direction determination unit 102. The mounting direction determination unit 102 first determines whether or not there is conduction between the electrodes 109a / b in step S51. When there is no continuity, it means that the headphones are not inserted into both ears of one user, so the process proceeds to step S54, where the signal switching unit 101 mixes the audio signals of both channels and outputs each output signal. An audio signal is output to the line (104a / b). If conduction is recognized, the process proceeds to step S52 where the response of the proximity sensor is confirmed. In step S52, it is confirmed whether or not the proximity sensor has reacted.
　次に、近接センサに反応がある場合についての説明を述べる。近接センサに反応がある場合、処理はステップＳ５５ａへ遷移し、センサを有する側、つまり出力信号線１０４ａへ右チャネルの音声信号を出力し、有さない側、つまり出力信号線１０４ｂへ左チャネルの音声信号を出力する。 Next, the case where the proximity sensor has a response will be described. If there is a response to the proximity sensor, the process proceeds to step S55a, where the right channel audio signal is output to the side having the sensor, that is, the output signal line 104a, and the left channel is output to the side having no sensor, that is, the output signal line 104b. Output audio signals.
　次に、近接センサに反応が無かった場合についての説明を述べる。近接センサに反応がない場合、処理はステップＳ５５ｂへ遷移し、センサを有する側（出力信号線１０４ａ）へ左チャネルの音声信号を出力し、有さない側（出力信号線１０４ｂ）へ右チャネルの音声信号を出力する。 Next, an explanation will be given for the case where the proximity sensor did not respond. If there is no response to the proximity sensor, the process proceeds to step S55b, where the left channel audio signal is output to the side having the sensor (output signal line 104a), and the right channel is output to the side having no sensor (output signal line 104b). Output audio signals.
　なお、センサを図５のように、本実施形態と左右逆方向に配置する場合、左右耳の判定論理が逆転するため、ステップＳ５５ａとＳ５５ｂにおいて、それぞれ逆のチャネルを出力するようにすればよい。 When the sensor is arranged in the left / right reverse direction as shown in FIG. 5 as shown in FIG. 5, the right / left ear decision logic is reversed, and therefore, in steps S55a and S55b, the opposite channels may be output. .
　本実施形態においては、耳に挿入するタイプのヘッドホンにおいて、ヘッドホンのハウジングに近接センサを配置する。これにより、近接センサが耳殻を検出する方向にヘッドホンを装着した場合は、センサが耳殻にほぼ密着し、近接センサが耳殻を検出しない方向にヘッドホンを装着した場合は、センサの前方に障害物が無くなるため、検出距離は無限遠となる。つまり、従来技術のように精密に閾値を設定する必要が無いため、より正確に耳殻の検出ができるという利点がある。また、ハウジングが動いても、ヘッドホンを装着している限りセンサが耳殻より外に出ることがないため、使用中に誤作動が発生することがないという利点がある。また、機械的検出手段を用いる従来技術と比べると、耳殻への接触を伴わないため不快感が無いという利点がある。 In this embodiment, a proximity sensor is disposed in a headphone housing in a headphone of the type inserted into an ear. As a result, when the headphone is worn in the direction in which the proximity sensor detects the ear shell, the sensor is almost in close contact with the ear shell, and when the headphone is worn in the direction in which the proximity sensor does not detect the ear shell, Since there are no obstacles, the detection distance is infinite. That is, there is an advantage that the ear shell can be detected more accurately because it is not necessary to set the threshold value precisely as in the prior art. In addition, even if the housing moves, the sensor does not go out of the ear shell as long as the headphones are worn, so that there is an advantage that malfunction does not occur during use. Moreover, compared with the prior art using a mechanical detection means, there is an advantage that there is no discomfort because there is no contact with the ear shell.
　また、利用者の人数を判定する手段を有することで、利用者が片耳のみでヘッドホンを使用した場合であっても、自然な音声が得られるという利点がある。 Also, by having a means for determining the number of users, there is an advantage that natural sound can be obtained even when the user uses headphones with only one ear.
　なお、利用者の人数判定を行わない場合、電極１０９ａ／ｂは設けなくても構わない。また、本実施形態においては、ハウジング２０１ａに近接センサを配置し、ハウジング２０１ｂには配置していないが、正確な検出のため、双方のハウジングに近接センサを設置してもよい。この場合近接センサは、利用者がヘッドホンを装着した状態で、一方の近接センサが耳殻を検出し、他方の近接センサが耳殻を検出しない方向に配置されることが好ましい。また、双方の近接センサが物体を検出するなど、矛盾する結果を得たときは、所定の間隔で再検出を行い、検出結果の変動が少ない側の近接センサのみを使用するようにしてもよい。このようにすることで、髪などがセンサに被さることに起因する誤判定を少なくすることができる。
　また、近接センサの配置位置については、利用者の耳殻を検出できる位置であれば、本実施形態のようにハウジングに内蔵されていてもよいし、ハウジングと連結された位置であってもよい。また、第１の実施形態では、ヘッドホンを信号線が下向きになる方向に装着した場合にセンサが耳殻と向き合う例を挙げたが、センサは、耳殻を検出できる範囲内において角度を変更しても構わない。 If the number of users is not determined, the electrodes 109a / b need not be provided. In the present embodiment, the proximity sensor is disposed in the housing 201a and not disposed in the housing 201b. However, the proximity sensor may be disposed in both housings for accurate detection. In this case, it is preferable that the proximity sensor is arranged in a direction in which one proximity sensor detects the ear shell and the other proximity sensor does not detect the ear shell while the user wears the headphones. In addition, when contradictory results are obtained, such as when both proximity sensors detect an object, re-detection is performed at a predetermined interval, and only the proximity sensor on the side where the variation in the detection result is small may be used. . By doing in this way, the misjudgment resulting from hair etc. covering a sensor can be decreased.
The proximity sensor may be disposed in the housing as in the present embodiment or connected to the housing as long as it can detect the user's ear shell. . In the first embodiment, an example is given in which the sensor faces the ear shell when the headphones are worn in a direction in which the signal line faces downward. However, the sensor changes the angle within a range in which the ear shell can be detected. It doesn't matter.
　また、電極１０９ａ／ｂについては、本実施形態のように、外耳道に接触する部分に設けたが、皮膚に接触する部分であればハウジング上に設けても構わない。また、利用者の人数判定は、電極間の導通の有無以外によって判定されてもよい。たとえば、利用者の皮膚の表面電位を測定することで判定してもよい。 Further, the electrodes 109a / b are provided in the portion that comes into contact with the ear canal as in the present embodiment, but may be provided on the housing as long as they are in contact with the skin. The number of users may be determined based on whether or not there is electrical continuity between the electrodes. For example, the determination may be made by measuring the surface potential of the user's skin.
　（第２の実施形態）
　耳殻に掛けて使用するインナーイヤー型ヘッドホンにおいては、ハウジングの大きさや耳殻の形状によっては、ケーブルが下方に引っ張られ、耳から外れやすいという欠点がある。一方で、これを解消するため、ヘッドホンを上下逆にして装着し、ケーブルを耳殻に掛けることで落下を防止するという使用法がされる場合がある。このような使用法をすると、近接センサの検出結果から正しく左右を判定することができなくなり、チャネル判定が失敗する可能性がある。本実施形態では、このような使用法においても、左右チャネルを正しく出力できる手段を提供する。 (Second Embodiment)
The inner ear type headphones that are used by being hung on the ear shell have a drawback that the cable is pulled downward depending on the size of the housing and the shape of the ear shell and is easily detached from the ear. On the other hand, in order to solve this problem, there is a case where the headphones are turned upside down and the fall is prevented by hanging the cable on the ear shell. If such a method is used, right and left cannot be correctly determined from the detection result of the proximity sensor, and channel determination may fail. In the present embodiment, means for correctly outputting the left and right channels is provided even in such usage.
　図７は、第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホンを、上下逆に装着した状態を示した図である。第２の実施形態においては、装着方向判定部１０２は、ハウジングが上下逆に装着されているという情報を取得することで、左右チャネルの判定論理を逆にする機能を有する。 FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the headphones according to the first embodiment are mounted upside down. In the second embodiment, the mounting direction determination unit 102 has a function of reversing the determination logic of the left and right channels by acquiring information that the housing is mounted upside down.
　前記上下反転の判断方法について説明する。図８は、本実施形態に係る機能構成図である。加速度センサ１１０は、図９のように、ハウジングの鉛直方向の加速度を検出できる位置に配置する。図９（ａ）のように、正しい方向で装着された場合、加速度センサ１１０は重力加速度である約９．８ｍ／ｓ２を検出し、また、図９（ｂ）のように、上下逆に装着された場合は、約－９．８ｍ／ｓ２を検出するため、例えば、検出した加速度の符号を取得することによってハウジングの上下方向が判断できる。なお、上下方向の判定は加速度センサ以外のセンサを用いて行ってもよいし、利用者が操作可能な機械的スイッチを設け、スイッチが入っている場合は上下反転がされたと判定してもよい。 A method of determining the upside down will be described. FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the acceleration sensor 110 is disposed at a position where the acceleration in the vertical direction of the housing can be detected. When mounted in the correct direction as shown in FIG. 9A, the acceleration sensor 110 detects about 9.8 m / s 2 which is a gravitational acceleration, and is turned upside down as shown in FIG. 9B. When it is mounted, about −9.8 m / s 2 is detected, so that the vertical direction of the housing can be determined by, for example, obtaining the sign of the detected acceleration. The determination in the vertical direction may be performed using a sensor other than the acceleration sensor, or a mechanical switch that can be operated by the user may be provided, and if the switch is turned on, it may be determined that the upside down is reversed. .
　前述のようなヘッドホンの装着方法を行った場合、近接センサ１０５は、想定した方向と逆を向くため、センサからの入力論理が反転する。例えば、図３（ａ）では、近接センサ１０５は耳殻を検出しないが、上下を反転させて図７のように装着した場合、耳殻を検出する。よって、第１の実施形態に係るヘッドホンの上下を反転させて装着した場合、装着方向判定部１０２は、ドライバユニット１０７ａが右耳に装着されていると判定するため、実際は左耳に装着されているにもかかわらず、右チャネルの信号を出力してしまう。そこで、ハウジングの上下反転を検出した場合、装着方向判定部１０２が左右チャネルの判定論理を逆にして音声信号の出力を行う。 When the headphone wearing method as described above is performed, the proximity sensor 105 faces in the opposite direction to the assumed direction, so the input logic from the sensor is inverted. For example, in FIG. 3A, the proximity sensor 105 does not detect the ear shell, but detects the ear shell when the sensor is worn upside down as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the headphone according to the first embodiment is worn upside down, the wearing direction determination unit 102 determines that the driver unit 107a is worn on the right ear, so it is actually worn on the left ear. Despite being present, the right channel signal is output. Therefore, when the upside-down inversion of the housing is detected, the mounting direction determination unit 102 reverses the determination logic of the left and right channels and outputs an audio signal.
　図１０は、第１の実施形態に対して、ハウジングの上下反転を検出するステップＳ５３ａおよびＳ５３ｂを追加したフローチャートを表したものである。第１の実施形態において、近接センサの反応を確認した（ステップＳ５２）後、ステップＳ５３ａおよびＳ５３ｂにより、ハウジングの上下反転が行われていないか判断を行う。反転が行われている場合、ステップＳ５３ａからはステップＳ５５ｂへ、ステップＳ５３ｂからはステップＳ５５ａへと、ハウジングの反転が行われていない場合と比較して、左右のチャネルが逆になるよう遷移する。 FIG. 10 shows a flowchart in which steps S53a and S53b for detecting upside down of the housing are added to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, after confirming the response of the proximity sensor (step S52), it is determined in steps S53a and S53b whether the housing is turned upside down. When the inversion is performed, the process proceeds from step S53a to step S55b, and from step S53b to step S55a, so that the left and right channels are reversed as compared with the case where the housing is not inverted.
　このように、本実施形態においては、ハウジングの上下方向を取得する手段を付加することで、ヘッドホンが上下逆に装着された場合においても上下方向を検出し、利用者に対して正しい左右チャネルを出力することが可能となる。 As described above, in the present embodiment, by adding a means for acquiring the vertical direction of the housing, the vertical direction is detected even when the headphones are mounted upside down, and the correct left and right channels are provided to the user. It becomes possible to output.
　１０１　信号切換え部
　１０２　装着方向判定部
　１０３ａ／ｂ　入力信号線
　１０４ａ／ｂ　出力信号線
　１０５　近接センサ
　１０６　信号切換え装置
　１０７ａ／ｂ　ドライバユニット
　１０８　近接センサ駆動部
　１０９ａ／ｂ　電極
　１１０　加速度センサ
　２０１ａ／ｂ　ハウジング
　２０２ａ／ｂ　外耳道挿入部 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Signal switching part 102 Mounting direction determination part 103a / b Input signal line 104a / b Output signal line 105 Proximity sensor 106 Signal switching apparatus 107a / b Driver unit 108 Proximity sensor drive part 109a / b Electrode 110 Acceleration sensor 201a / b Housing 202a / B ear canal insertion part

Claims (9)

  1. 　ヘッドホンユニットを利用者の耳殻に掛けて使用するインナーイヤー型、もしくはヘッドホンユニットを利用者の外耳道に挿入して使用するカナル型のステレオヘッドホン装置であって、
    　それぞれドライバユニットを内蔵する二つのヘッドホンユニットと、
    　前記二つのヘッドホンユニットのうち少なくとも一つのヘッドホンユニットに設けられたセンサであって、該ヘッドホンユニットが所定の側の耳に装着された場合に耳殻を検出し、他方の側の耳に装着された場合に耳殻を検出しない位置に配置されているセンサと、
    　該センサの検出信号に基づいて、左右の音声信号をそれぞれいずれのドライバユニットに出力するかを決定する信号切換え手段と、
    　を有する
    　ことを特徴とするステレオヘッドホン装置。     An inner ear type that uses a headphone unit on a user's ear shell, or a canal type stereo headphone device that uses a headphone unit inserted into the user's ear canal,
    Two headphone units each containing a driver unit,
    A sensor provided in at least one headphone unit of the two headphone units, which detects the ear shell when the headphone unit is attached to a predetermined ear and is attached to the other ear. If the sensor is located at a position where the earshell is not detected
    Based on the detection signal of the sensor, signal switching means for determining which driver unit the left and right audio signals are output to, respectively;
    A stereo headphone device characterized by comprising:
  2. 　前記センサは、近接センサである
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項１に記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     The stereo headphone device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.
  3. 　前記二つのヘッドホンユニットが利用者の両耳に装着されているか否かを検出する装着判定手段をさらに有し、
    　前記二つのヘッドホンユニットが利用者の両耳に装着されていないと前記装着判定手段が判定した場合に、前記信号切換え手段が、双方のドライバユニットに出力する左右の音声信号を混合する
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項１または２に記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     It further includes wearing determination means for detecting whether or not the two headphone units are worn on both ears of the user,
    When the wearing determination unit determines that the two headphone units are not worn on both ears of the user, the signal switching unit mixes the left and right audio signals output to both driver units. The stereo headphone device according to claim 1 or 2.
  4. 　各ヘッドホンユニットに設けられ、ヘッドホンを装着した利用者の皮膚と接触する一組の電極を有し、
    　前記装着判定手段は、前記電極間の電気抵抗を測定し、前記電極間に導通が認められない場合に、前記二つのヘッドホンユニットが利用者の両耳に装着されていないと判定する
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項３に記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     Each headphone unit has a pair of electrodes that come into contact with the skin of the user wearing the headphones,
    The wearing determination means measures an electrical resistance between the electrodes, and determines that the two headphone units are not worn on both ears of a user when conduction between the electrodes is not recognized. The stereo headphone device according to claim 3.
  5. 　前記ステレオヘッドホン装置は、カナル型のステレオヘッドホン装置であって、
    　前記電極は、前記ヘッドホンユニットのうち利用者の外耳道に挿入される部分に配置される
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項４に記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     The stereo headphone device is a canal type stereo headphone device,
    The stereo headphone device according to claim 4, wherein the electrode is disposed in a portion of the headphone unit that is inserted into a user's external auditory canal.
  6. 　前記ドライバユニットと接続され、前記ヘッドホンユニットから延出する信号線を有し、
    　前記センサは、利用者が前記ヘッドホンユニットを前記所定の側の耳に、前記信号線が下向きになる方向に装着した場合において、利用者の耳殻と向き合うように配置される
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項１から５のいずれかに記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     A signal line connected to the driver unit and extending from the headphone unit;
    The sensor is arranged so as to face the user's ear shell when the user wears the headphone unit on the predetermined ear and the signal line faces downward. The stereo headphone device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
  7. 　前記ステレオヘッドホン装置は、カナル型のステレオヘッドホン装置であって、
    　前記ヘッドホンユニットは、利用者の外耳道に挿入される突出部と、前記突出部と連結され、利用者の外耳道に挿入されない基部とからなり、
    　前記センサは、前記基部に配置される
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項１から６のいずれかに記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     The stereo headphone device is a canal type stereo headphone device,
    The headphone unit comprises a protrusion inserted into the user's ear canal and a base connected to the protrusion and not inserted into the user's ear canal.
    The stereo headphone device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed at the base.
  8. 　前記ヘッドホンユニットの上下方向の向きを判定する方向判定手段をさらに有し、
    　前記方向判定手段が、前記ヘッドホンユニットが上下反転していると判定した場合において、前記信号切換え手段が、前記センサの検出信号に基づいて決定された左右の音声信号の出力先を反転する
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項１から７のいずれかに記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     Direction determination means for determining the vertical direction of the headphone unit;
    When the direction determining means determines that the headphone unit is upside down, the signal switching means reverses the output destination of the left and right audio signals determined based on the detection signal of the sensor. The stereo headphone device according to claim 1, wherein the stereo headphone device is characterized.
  9. 　前記方向判定手段は、前記ヘッドホンユニットに備えられた加速度センサから鉛直方向の加速度を取得することにより、もしくは利用者の操作により、装着されたヘッドホンユニットの上下方向の向きを判定する、
    　ことを特徴とする、請求項８に記載のステレオヘッドホン装置。     The direction determining means determines the vertical direction of the mounted headphone unit by acquiring vertical acceleration from an acceleration sensor provided in the headphone unit, or by user operation,
    The stereo headphone device according to claim 8, wherein
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