WO2013111298A1

WO2013111298A1 - Headphones

Info

Publication number: WO2013111298A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/051652
Authority: WO
Inventors: 将渡邊; 佐藤　和則; 敦白田
Original assignee: パイオニア株式会社; 東北パイオニア株式会社
Priority date: 2012-01-26
Filing date: 2012-01-26
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Also published as: JP5754518B2; JPWO2013111298A1

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to improve operability of an adjustment operation in headphones (1) without imparting insecurity or discomfort to a user. The present invention is headphones (1) which are provided with a pair of left and right earpieces (2 (2A and 2B)), wherein each of the earpieces (2A and 2B) is provided with one or more speakers (20) which emit sound waves and a housing (10) for housing the speakers (20), and one or both of the earpieces (2A and 2B) are provided with an acoustic properties adjustment unit (30) which adjusts acoustic properties of the speakers (20) and an adjustment operation unit (40) for performing an adjustment operation for the acoustic properties adjustment unit (30). The adjustment operation unit (40) is provided with caps (7), as members on which to be operated, which are disposed on ear-facing sides and opposite sides thereof in the housings (10) so as to cover one side of the housings (10).

Description

headphone

The present invention relates to headphones.

The headphones have a pair of left and right ear pads, each of which has a housing with a speaker. The headphones mentioned here include a so-called headset with a microphone device attached.

In Patent Document 1 below, an amplifier is housed in the headphone, and the output of the attached microphone is added to the amplifier, and the signal from the connected master unit is added to the amplifier. A headphone having a mixing function to be added to the above is described. In this conventional headphone, a pair of speakers are respectively provided in the first ear holder and the second ear holder, and a volume knob with a power switch is provided on the back side of the first ear holder. .

Utility Model Registration No. 2509212

In the conventional headphones described above, the headphones themselves are provided with a knob for adjusting the volume, so that the user who wears the headphones does not operate the volume adjustment of the connected master unit that is the transmission source of the audio signal. The volume of the headphones can be easily adjusted by operating the knob provided on the headphones worn.

However, since the headphones are attached to the head outside the user's field of view, the headphones cannot be operated while visually confirming the adjustment knob provided on the headphones. As a result, the user first searches for the position of the adjustment knob, and then turns the adjustment knob in any direction to confirm how the output from the headphones has changed, Adjustment operations are often performed so that adjustment is obtained.

Such conventional technology aims to improve operability by providing an adjustment knob on the headphones, but in practice, the user operates an adjustment knob that cannot be visually confirmed. There is a problem that the user feels uneasy about finding the position of the knob and uncomfortable feeling when the knob is turned and the adjustment opposite to the desired adjustment is performed.

On the other hand, a signal input cable drawn from the headphone housing is provided with an operation unit for adjusting the output of the speaker. According to this, the user can perform the operation while visually checking the operation unit, but the signal input cable may be accidentally pulled during the operation, and the cable is likely to be disconnected. is there.

The present invention is an example of a problem to deal with such a problem. That is, it is an object of the present invention to be able to improve the operability of the adjustment operation in the headphones without causing anxiety and discomfort to the user, and to suppress the disconnection of the signal input cable.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention comprises at least the following configuration.
A headphone including a pair of left and right ear holders, each of the ear holders including one or more speakers that generate sound waves and a housing that houses the speakers, and one of the pair of left and right ear holders Alternatively, both include an acoustic characteristic adjustment unit that adjusts the acoustic characteristic of the speaker and an adjustment operation unit that adjusts the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit, and the adjustment operation unit is provided on the opposite side of the housing from the ear facing side. And a cap that covers one surface of the housing as a member to be operated.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a headphone according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the internal structure of the ear pad part in the headphones which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the cross-section of the ear pad part in the headphones which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of operation of the headphones which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the acoustic characteristic adjustment part in the headphones which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the other form example of the headphones which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the other form example of the headphones which concern on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a headphone according to an embodiment of the present invention. The headphone 1 includes a pair of left and right ear pads 2 (2A, 2B). The left and right ear pads 2 A and 2 B are generally connected by a headband unit 3. The headband unit 3 is not necessarily an essential component, but the function of applying a lateral pressure that presses the ear pad 2 (2A, 2B) against the user's ear and the ear pad 2 (2A, 2B) are placed on the user's head. It has a function to support the part. In the illustrated example, the headband unit 3 includes a headband 3A, a holding band 3B, and a stabilizer (side pressure applying member) 3C.

The left and right ear pads 2 (2A, 2B) are provided with housings 10 (10A, 10B). The left and

right housings

10A and 10B are connected to the end portion 3D of the headband portion 3 through the connecting arms 4 (4A and 4B). The signal input cable 5 is drawn out from one of the housings 10 (the right housing 10B in the drawing). The headband 3A includes a cable for drawing the signal line of the signal input cable 5 into the housing 10A on the other side. Generally, an ear pad 6 for forming a sealed space between the housing 10 and the user's ear is attached to the housing 10 (10A, 10B).

Further, the cap 10 is provided on the housing 10 (10A, 10B) so as to cover one surface of the housing 10 on the opposite side of the housing 10 from the ear facing side. The cap 7 may be provided on one of the left and

right housings

10A and 10B, or may be provided on both. In the illustrated example, the cap 7 is provided with an operation projection (operation knob) 7A. In this example, the operation protrusion 7A is provided on the back of the user with the headphones 1 attached to the user.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the internal structure of the ear pad 2 described above. Here, a part of the fixing screw and the wiring member are omitted. One or more speakers 20 that generate sound waves are housed in the housing 10 of the ear pad 2. In the illustrated example, two speakers 20 A and 20 B are housed in the housing 10. The housing 10 includes, for example, a first housing member 11, a second housing member 12, and a third housing member 13, and a speaker 20 A is accommodated between the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 12. A speaker 20 B is housed between the second housing member 12 and the third housing member 13. The two

speakers

20A and 20B have different acoustic characteristics (for example, sound pressure frequency characteristics) such that one speaker 20A functions as a high sound (tweeter) and the other speaker 20B functions as a low sound (woofer). It is what you have.

The pair of left and right ear pads 2 (2A, 2B) includes an acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 that adjusts the acoustic characteristics of the speaker 20 and an adjustment operation unit 40 that adjusts the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30. The acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 adjusts the output of sound waves generated by the speaker 20. In the illustrated example, the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 includes a variable resistor 31, a substrate 32 for connecting the variable resistor 31 and the speaker 20, and the like. The adjustment operation unit 40 includes an operated member that is directly touched and operated by the user and a member that connects the operated member and the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30. In the illustrated example, the cap 7 and the cap that are the operated

members Connection members

42 and 43 for connecting the base 41 and the cap base 41 are included.

The acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 and the adjustment operation unit 40 may be provided on one of the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B, or may be provided on both. Both the pair of left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B include an acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30, one of the pair of left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B includes an adjustment operation unit 40, and the adjustment operation unit 40 adjusts both left and right acoustic characteristics. The unit 30 may be adjusted. Further, the pair of left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B include an acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 and an adjustment operation unit 40, respectively, so that one of the left and right adjustment operation units 40 adjusts one of the left and right acoustic characteristic adjustment units 30. Good.

The acoustic characteristics adjusted by the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 are output characteristics of sound waves generated by the speaker 20, and are, for example, the sound pressure and sound pressure frequency characteristics of the speaker 20. The adjustment operation unit 40 adjusts the sound pressure and sound pressure frequency characteristics of the speakers 20 in the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B, or the sound pressure and sound pressure frequency characteristics of the speakers 20 in the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B. The balance can be adjusted.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional structure of the ear pad (excluding the ear pads). The cap 7 serving as an operation member of the adjustment operation unit 40 is fixed to the cap base 41 with an adhesive or the like, and the cap base 41 is rotatably attached to the third housing 13 by

connection members

42 and 43. Accordingly, the cap 7 is rotatably provided in the housing 10, and the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 is adjusted by rotating the cap 7.

A specific example of the adjustment mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. The cap base 41 is provided with a gear portion 41 B that is coaxial with the rotation axis of the cap base 41. The gear portion 41B is screwed into the gear portion 31A of the variable resistor 31. The variable resistor 31 is mounted on a substrate 32 supported by the third housing 13, and the resistance value of the variable resistor 31 is changed by rotating the gear portion 31A. Thus, by rotating the cap 7, the gear part 41 B and the gear part 31 A rotate, and the variable resistor 31 that is the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 is adjusted.

The cap base 41 is provided with a substantially annular convex portion 41A concentric with the rotation center, and the third housing 13 is a substantially annular concave portion into which the convex portion 41A of the cap base 41 is slidably inserted. 13A. Here, the cap base 41 side is a convex portion 41A and the third housing 13 side is a concave portion 13A. However, the cap base 41 side is a substantially annular concave portion and the third housing 13 side is a convex portion. May be. By interposing the lubricant between the concave portion 13A and the convex portion 41A inserted into the concave portion 13A, the cap 7 can be smoothly rotated.

Further, the first housing 11 includes a storage portion 11A for storing the speaker 20 (20A), and the speaker 20 (20A) is stored between the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. The second housing 12 includes a storage portion 12 A that stores the speaker 20 (20 B), and the speaker 20 (20 B) is stored between the second housing 12 and the third housing 13.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an operation example of the headphones according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the operation protrusion 7 A of the cap 7 is positioned on the occipital side of the user U when the headphones 1 are attached to the user U. The user U adjusts the above-described acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 by placing his hand on the operation protrusion 7A of the cap 7 and operating upward (arrow Up side) or downward (arrow Down) toward the top of the head. .

When the acoustic characteristic adjusted by the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 is sound pressure, the operation protrusion 7A is operated downward so that the sound pressure increases by operating the operation protrusion 7A upward toward the top of the head. Thus, the adjustment operation of the adjustment operation unit 40 can be performed so that the sound pressure is reduced. That is, turning the cap 7 counterclockwise increases the sound pressure, and turning the cap 7 clockwise decreases the sound pressure. When the acoustic characteristic adjusted by the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 is a sound pressure frequency characteristic, the operation protrusion 7A is configured so that the sound pressure in the specific band is increased by operating the operation protrusion 7A upward toward the top of the head. The adjustment operation of the adjustment operation unit 40 can be performed so that the sound pressure in the specific band is reduced by operating the button downward.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the cap 7 serving as the operated member of the adjustment operation unit 40 preferably covers substantially the entire surface of the housing 10, but as shown in FIG. Even if it partially covers the center of one surface of the housing 10 or partially covers an eccentricity that deviates from the center of one surface of the housing 10 as shown in FIG. Good.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit in the headphones according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B (Rch, Lch) include two

speakers

20A and 20B, respectively. The two

speakers

20A and 20B have different acoustic characteristics, the speaker 20A functions as a high sound speaker (tweeter) having high sound pressure and high sound pressure characteristics, and the speaker 20B has low sound and high sound pressure characteristics. Functions as a bass speaker (woofer). The speaker 20A and the speaker 20B are arranged as shown in FIG. 3, and the speaker 20A having higher sound pressure and higher sound pressure characteristics is arranged on the ear side of the housing 10. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the impedance of the speaker 20 (20A, 20B) is 32Ω, the diaphragm of the speaker 20A has a diameter of 30 mm, and the diameter of the speaker 20B is 40 mm.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the variable resistor 31 that is the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 is inserted into the input circuit of the low-frequency speaker 20B in the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B, and the low-frequency speaker 20B. Only the impedance is variable. Here, the acoustic characteristics of the speakers 20 on both the left and right sides can be adjusted by one acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30. According to this, unlike the simple sound pressure level adjustment, in the headphone 1 including the high-frequency speaker 20A and the low-frequency speaker 20B in one earpiece unit 2, only a partial frequency range on the acoustic characteristics is changed. Therefore, the user's favorite sound pressure frequency characteristics can be selected steplessly within the adjustment range.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 in this example can increase or decrease the combined impedance of the speaker 20A and the speaker 20B steplessly by rotating the cap 7 at an arbitrary angle. . If the rotation angle (°) is reduced to reduce the synthetic impedance, the sound pressure in the low frequency range of 0.1 to 1 kHz can be increased. It is possible to reduce the sound pressure in the low frequency range around ˜1 kHz.

Not only in this example, but in the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B, the variable resistor 31 as the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 is inserted into the input circuit of the high-frequency speaker 20A, and the impedance of only the high-frequency speaker 20A is variable. Thus, the sound pressure characteristic in the high sound range may be adjustable by rotating the cap 7 that is the adjustment operation unit 40.

According to this, for example, when changing the sound pressure frequency characteristics steplessly according to the user's preference according to the genre of the song to be auditioned, or when emphasizing human voice such as television and radio broadcasting, the sound pressure frequency that emphasizes the bass Adjustments such as switching to characteristics are possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the cap 7 is rotated is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cap 7 is provided so as to be freely pressed against the housing 10 and adjusted by pressing the cap 7. An adjustment operation of the operation unit 40 may be performed. For example, the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit 30 can be configured to turn on / off the mute function by pressing the cap 7.

6 and 7 are explanatory views showing other embodiments of the headphones according to one embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 6 shows the external configuration, and FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the acoustic characteristic adjusting unit). ing). In the embodiment shown here, the left and right ear pads 2 A and 2 B each include an acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 and an adjustment operation unit 40. The caps 7 that are operated members of the adjustment operation unit 40 are respectively provided on one surface of the housing 10 in the left and right

ear abutment portions

2A and 2B.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, in the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B, variable resistors 31 as acoustic characteristic adjusting units 30 are individually inserted into the input circuit of the low-frequency speaker 20B, and the left and

right earphone units

2A and 2B are independently used for the low-frequency sound. The impedance of the speaker 20B can be adjusted.

According to this, the adjustment operation unit 40 (cap 7) provided in the left and right ear pads 2A (2B) can adjust the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 provided in the ear pads 2A (2B), for example, It becomes possible to adjust the acoustic characteristics independently of the left and right. As the acoustic characteristics, the sound pressure frequency characteristics can be adjusted as in the example shown in FIG. In this case, it is possible to independently adjust the sound pressure frequency characteristics of the left and

right speakers

20A and 20B by independently adjusting the adjustment operation unit 40 (cap 7). Further, when volume adjustment is performed as acoustic characteristics, independent left and right volume adjustment is possible.

According to the headphones according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, in the headphones 1 in which the left and

right ear pads

2A and 2B include the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 and the adjustment operation unit 40, the adjustment operation unit 40 is on the ear facing side in the housing 10. Since the cap 7 that is provided on the opposite side of the housing 10 and covers the one surface of the housing 10 is used as the operation member, the user touches the cap 7 that can immediately recognize the position without visually recognizing the adjustment operation unit. 40 adjustment operations can be performed. Thereby, the operativity of adjustment operation in headphones can be improved, without giving anxiety and discomfort to a user.

Further, since the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit 30 is adjusted by the cap 7 provided in the ear pad 2 of the headphones 1, the user can perform the adjustment operation without touching the signal input cable 5. Thereby, disconnection of the signal input cable 5 can be prevented in advance.

The cap 7 that is an adjusted member of the headphone 1 is provided with an operation protrusion 7A. When the operation protrusion 7A is operated upward toward the head, the sound pressure increases, and when the operation protrusion 7A is operated downward, the sound is increased. Since the pressure can be adjusted to be small, it is possible to match the change of the acoustic characteristic that the user predicts by the operation performed by the user with the change of the acoustic characteristic that is actually obtained by the operation, and the user can comfortably operate without mistakes. It is possible to adjust the acoustic characteristics.

Further, when the acoustic characteristic to be adjusted is the sound pressure frequency characteristic, when the operation protrusion 7A is operated upward toward the top of the head, the sound pressure frequency characteristic is shifted to emphasize the high sound, and the operation protrusion 7A is operated downward. In this case, by adjusting the sound pressure frequency characteristic to emphasize the low sound, it is possible to perform an adjustment operation of the sound pressure frequency characteristic that matches the user's operation feeling.

Claims

A headphone with a pair of left and right ear pads,
Each of the ear pads includes one or more speakers that generate sound waves and a housing that houses the speakers,
One or both of the pair of left and right ear pads includes an acoustic characteristic adjustment unit that adjusts an acoustic characteristic of the speaker and an adjustment operation unit that adjusts the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit.
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment operation unit includes a cap that is provided on a side opposite to the ear facing side of the housing and covers one surface of the housing as an operation member.
One of the pair of left and right ear pads includes the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit and the adjustment operation unit,
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment operation unit adjusts both the left and right acoustic characteristic adjustment units.
The pair of left and right ear pads each include the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit and the adjustment operation unit,
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment operation unit included in the left and right ear-holding units adjusts the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit included in the ear-holding unit.
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing, and the adjustment operation portion is adjusted by rotating the cap.
5. The headphone according to claim 4, wherein the cap includes an operation protrusion.
The headphone according to claim 5, wherein the operation protrusion is provided on the back of the user with the headphone attached to the user.
The acoustic characteristic is sound pressure;
The headphone according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the adjustment operation of the adjustment operation unit is performed so that sound pressure increases by operating the operation protrusion upward.
The acoustic characteristic is a sound pressure frequency characteristic,
The headphone according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the adjustment operation of the adjustment operation unit is performed so that a sound pressure in a specific band is increased by operating the operation protrusion upward.
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes two speakers having different acoustic characteristics.
10. The headphone according to claim 9, wherein, of the two speakers, a speaker having a higher sound pressure characteristic and a higher sound pressure characteristic is arranged on the ear side in the housing.
The acoustic characteristic adjustment unit includes a variable resistor,
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein a resistance value of the variable resistor is changed by operating the cap.
The housing includes two speakers having different sound pressure frequency characteristics,
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment operation unit adjusts the sound pressure of one of the two speakers.
The housing in the pair of left and right ear pads includes two speakers each having different sound pressure frequency characteristics,
The adjustment operation unit provided in one of the pair of left and right ear holders adjusts the sound pressure of one of the two speakers in both the pair of left and right ear holders. headphone.
The cap is fixed to a cap base rotatably attached to the housing,
The cap base includes a substantially annular convex or concave portion,
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a substantially annular concave portion or convex portion into which the convex portion or concave portion of the cap base is slidably inserted.
15. The headphones according to claim 14, wherein a lubricant is interposed between the concave portion and the convex portion inserted into the concave portion.
The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the cap is provided so as to be freely pressable with respect to the housing, and the adjusting operation portion is adjusted by pressing the cap.
The electrical signal input to one of the pair of left and right ear pads is
The adjustment operation unit adjusts the acoustic characteristic adjustment unit to adjust the acoustic characteristic, and an electric signal with the adjusted acoustic characteristic is input to the other of the pair of left and right ear pads. The headphones according to claim 2.