JP2008136556A - Earphone apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an earphone apparatus capable of managing a physical condition without obstructing movements by mounting a pulsimeter and a clinical thermometer on the earphone apparatus without the feeling of incompatibility even when mounted on the body. <P>SOLUTION: The earphone apparatus is characterized by that at least two selected from an acoustic speaker (33) for amplifying and outputting acoustic signals, a body temperature detection means (32) for detecting the body temperature of a human body by an infrared system and a pulse detection means (31) for optically detecting the pulsation of blood flowing through the blood vessel of a human body are housed in a case (29) and integrated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an earphone device, and more particularly to an earphone device that can listen to sound sources such as voice and music and can also contribute to physical condition management.

  Earphone devices that can hear sound sources such as voice and music without being affected by ambient noise are widely used in portable acoustic devices, radio receivers, etc. In addition to this, for example, hearing aids It is also used in various devices such as wireless receivers and game machines.

  On the other hand, in recent years, opportunities for sweating in sports gyms and the like are also increasing from the viewpoint of health promotion, etc., and managing changes in pulse (also referred to as heartbeat; hereinafter referred to as pulse) and body temperature in real time while exercising. There is a demand to do. In order to meet this requirement, a single measuring instrument such as a pulse meter or a thermometer must be attached to the body, which has the disadvantage of hindering exercise.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an earphone device that can perform physical condition management without hindering exercise by mounting a pulse meter or thermometer on an earphone device that does not feel uncomfortable even when worn on the body. .

The invention according to claim 1 is an acoustic speaker for outputting a sound signal, a body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the human body by an infrared method, and a pulse detecting means for optically detecting the pulsation of blood flowing through the blood vessels of the human body. The earphone device is characterized in that at least two of the above are housed in a case and integrated.
The invention according to claim 2 is a bone conduction speaker that converts an acoustic signal into vibration and outputs it, body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the human body by an infrared method, and optical detection of pulsation of blood flowing through the blood vessels of the human body The earphone device is characterized in that at least two of the pulse detecting means and the pulse detecting means are integrated in a case.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acoustic speaker for amplifying and outputting an acoustic signal, a body temperature detecting means for detecting a human body temperature by an infrared method, and a pulse detecting means for optically detecting a pulsation of blood flowing in a blood vessel of the human body. The earphone device is characterized in that at least two of these are slidably mounted on a wire frame and integrated.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bone conduction speaker for converting an acoustic signal into vibration and outputting it, a body temperature detecting means for detecting a human body temperature by an infrared method, and optically detecting pulsation of blood flowing through a blood vessel of the human body. The earphone device is characterized in that at least two of the pulse detecting means and the pulse detecting means are slidably mounted on and integrated with the wire frame.

  In the present invention, an acoustic speaker (or a bone conduction speaker that converts an acoustic signal into vibration and outputs it), a body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the human body by an infrared method, and a blood vessel of the human body flow. Since at least two of the pulse detecting means for optically detecting the pulsation of blood are integrated, for example, two of the speaker and the body temperature detecting means, or two of the speaker and the pulse detecting means, or the speaker and the body temperature. If the detection means and the pulse detection means are integrated, not only can the sound be heard through the speaker, but also the physical condition management such as body temperature and pulse can be performed simultaneously. For example, in a gym or the like It can be very suitable for use in exercise management.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the specific details or examples in the following description and the illustrations of numerical values, character strings, and other symbols are only for reference in order to clarify the idea of the present invention, and the present invention may be used in whole or in part. Obviously, the idea of the invention is not limited. In addition, a well-known technique, a well-known procedure, a well-known architecture, a well-known circuit configuration, and the like (hereinafter, “well-known matter”) are not described in detail, but this is also to simplify the description. Not all or part of the matter is intentionally excluded. Such well-known matters are known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing of the present invention, and are naturally included in the following description.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the human ear. In this figure, the ear part of a human body is divided into an outer ear 1, a middle ear 2, an inner ear 3 and an auditory nerve 4 from the outside to the inside of the head. The outer ear 1 includes an earlobe 5, an ear hole 6, and an external auditory canal 7, and the middle ear 3 includes an eardrum 8 and an ear ossicle 9 at the deepest part of the external ear canal 7. The inner ear 3 includes a cochlea 10 and the auditory nerve 4 includes a cochlear nerve 11. The outer ear 1, the middle ear 2, the inner ear 3, and the auditory nerve 4 are protected by skulls 12 and 13, and the skulls 12 and 13 are covered with skins 14 and 15.

  In the ear part of the human body having such a structure, sound from the outside world reaches the eardrum 8 through the ear canal 6 through the ear canal 7 and vibrates the eardrum 8. The vibration of the tympanic membrane 8 is amplified by the cochlea 10 and transmitted to the brain (not shown) via the cochlear nerve 11 connected to the cochlea 10 to be perceived as sound.

  The earphone device of the present invention is applied to a human ear having such a structure, and the details thereof will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is an overall external view of the earphone device according to the present invention. The earphone device 20 includes an earphone unit 21 attached to the ear hole 6 and a main body unit 23 connected to the earphone unit 21 with a cable 22. The main body 23 is not particularly limited thereto. For example, the power switch 25 is disposed on one side surface of the case 24 having a shape suitable for carrying, and the body temperature display unit 26, the pulse display unit 27, and the microphone unit 28 are provided on the surface. Arranged. It should be noted that an external signal from an arbitrary external sound source can be input to the main body part 23 via an external signal input terminal 24a provided on one side surface of the case 24 as needed.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an example of the earphone unit. In this figure, an earphone part 21 is configured by integrally forming a main part 29 and a cylindrical part 30 with, for example, a plastic material or the like, and a pulse sensor 31, a body temperature sensor 32, an acoustic speaker inside the main part 29. 33 and a signal distributor 34 are mounted.

  Specifically, the pulse sensor 31 is configured by mounting a light emitting portion 31a and a light receiving portion 31b on a portion of the main portion 29 that is in contact with the human skin, and the light Pa from the light emitting portion 31a is applied to the human skin. By irradiating and receiving the reflected light Pb from the skin by the light receiving unit 31b, the blood pulse directly under the skin is optically detected, and the detection signal is output to the signal distribution unit 34 via the signal line 31c. The signal line 31d connected from the signal distribution unit 34 to the light emitting unit 31a is a drive signal line for causing the light emitting unit 31a to emit light.

  The body temperature sensor 32 is attached to the other end side (the right side in the drawing) of the hollow hole 30a that is open at one end formed in the cylindrical portion 30, and is radiated by the radiation temperature (infrared rays Pc) of the eardrum 8 at the back of the external auditory canal 7 of the human body. Temperature) and the detection signal is output to the signal distribution unit 34 through the signal line 32a. Here, the body temperature sensor 32 in the present embodiment is a so-called “infrared type” body temperature sensor. In other words, every object (more precisely, an object of −273 degrees or more of absolute zero degree) emits a heat energy wave (infrared ray) having a wavelength of 1 μm to 1000 μm of electromagnetic waves from its surface. The body temperature is measured by detecting a thermal energy wave radiated from the human body with a sensor such as a surf mobile. Incidentally, the reason for measuring the temperature of the eardrum 8 is that the temperature of the eardrum 8 is closer to the temperature of the deep part of the body (such as the brainstem) and is more stable than the body surface temperature such as the armpits.

  The acoustic speaker 33 is attached to the back of the branch part 30b of the hollow hole 30a formed in the cylindrical part 30, and amplifies the acoustic signal sent from the signal distribution part 34 via the signal line 33a. The sound wave Pd is delivered to the eardrum 8 through the branch part 30b and the hollow hole 30a.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the earphone unit 21 and the main body unit 23. In this figure, the main body unit 23 includes a signal distribution unit 35, a body temperature measurement unit 36, a body temperature display unit 26, a pulse measurement unit 37, a pulse display unit 27, an acoustic signal amplification unit 38, and a microphone unit 28. In addition, although the power supply part which supplies a power supply to these each part (and each part of the earphone part 21) is also provided, it is abbreviate | omitting in drawing.

  The body temperature measurement unit 36 takes in the body temperature signal (signal from the body temperature sensor 32) measured by the earphone unit 21 via the cable 22 and the signal distribution unit 35, and converts it into a value of a required temperature system (Celsius or Fahrenheit). And output to the temperature display unit 26. The pulse measurement unit 37 takes in the pulse signal (signal from the pulse sensor 31) measured by the earphone unit 21 via the cable 22 and the signal distribution unit 35, and takes a value of a required unit system (heart rate per minute). And output to the pulse display unit 27.

  The acoustic signal amplifying unit 38 amplifies the sound picked up by the microphone 28 as it is or amplifies the noise after removing the noise, and outputs the amplified signal to the earphone unit 21 via the signal distribution unit 35 and the cable 22. To do. In addition, a signal from an external sound source can be input to the acoustic signal amplifying unit 38 as necessary. When a signal from an external sound source is input, the acoustic signal amplifying unit 38 is connected to the microphone 28. Instead of the above signal, a signal from an external sound source is amplified and output to the earphone unit 21. Therefore, the earphone device 20 can be used not only as a so-called “hearing aid” by using the microphone 28, but also as an earphone of a portable acoustic device or the like by using an external sound source instead of the microphone 28. Or, it can be widely used for transmitting instruction voices of instructors in sports gyms.

  As described above, the earphone device 20 according to the present embodiment has the pulse sensor 31, the body temperature sensor 32, and the acoustic speaker 33 mounted on the earphone unit 21, so that not only can the user listen to voice, but also the physical condition such as body temperature and pulse. There is an advantage that management can be performed at the same time. For example, it can be made very suitable for exercise management in a gym or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and developments are included within the scope of the technical idea. For example, the following may be adopted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment. In this figure, the same components as those in the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, the earphone unit 20 in this figure is also common to the previous embodiment in that it includes a pulse sensor 31 and a body temperature sensor 32, but is different in that it includes a bone conduction speaker 39 instead of the acoustic speaker 33.

  The bone conduction speaker 33 vibrates according to the acoustic signal supplied from the signal distribution unit 34 via the signal line 39a, and transmits the vibration Pe to the bone of the human head (see the skull 12 or 13 in FIG. 1). It makes the human brain directly perceive sound.

  As described above, the bone conduction speaker 39 may be provided instead of the acoustic speaker 33. Since the bone conduction speaker 39 is less susceptible to ambient noise than the acoustic speaker 33, the bone conduction speaker 39 can be particularly preferable for use in a noisy place.

  Moreover, in each above embodiment, although the example of the integrated earphone part 20 was shown, the following separate structures may be sufficient, for example.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a separate-type earphone unit. The earphone unit 40 includes a wire frame 42 that spans an earlobe 41, a bone conduction speaker 43 that is movably attached to a necessary part of the wire frame 42, a body temperature sensor 44, and a pulse sensor 45.

  FIG. 7 is an attachment structure diagram of the body temperature sensor 44. In addition, this figure is a bird's-eye view which looked down at the head of the human body from the top. In this figure, the body temperature sensor 44 is of the “infrared type” as in the previous embodiment, and is used by being inserted into the ear canal 7, and the intensity (that is, temperature) of infrared Pc emitted from the eardrum 8 is measured. It is to detect. The body temperature sensor 44 can be slid on the wire frame 42 by the stoppers 44a and 44b, and the position of the body temperature sensor 44 can be freely adjusted according to the ear hole of each person.

  FIG. 8 is an attachment structure diagram of the pulse sensor 45. In addition, this figure is the figure which looked at the earlobe 41 of the human body from the thickness direction. In this figure, the pulse sensor 45 is composed of a light emitting part 45a and a light receiving part 45b, as in the previous embodiment, irradiates the earlobe 41 with light Pa from the light emitting part 45a, and transmits the transmitted light at the light receiving part 45b. By receiving light, the blood vessels inside the earlobe 41 are optically detected. Similar to the body temperature sensor 44, the light emitting unit 45a and the light receiving unit 45b can be slid on the wire frame 42 by the stoppers 45c, 45d, 45e, and 45f, and the earlobe 41 for each person. The positions of the light emitting part 45a and the light receiving part 45b can be freely adjusted according to the shape of Further, the light emitting part 45a and the light receiving part 45b are connected to each other by an elastic member 45g, and the earlobe 41 is sandwiched with an appropriate pressure by the elastic force of the elastic member 45g. It is desirable that the elastic member 45g can be adjusted in length or its elastic force. This is because there are individual differences in the thickness of the earlobe 41.

  FIG. 9 is an attachment structure diagram of the bone conduction speaker 43. This figure is also an overhead view of the human head viewed from above. In this figure, the bone conduction speaker 43 vibrates in accordance with the acoustic signal and transmits the vibration Pe to the bone of the human head (see the skull 12 or 13 in FIG. 1), as in the previous embodiment. It makes the brain perceive sound directly.

  The bone conduction speaker 43 is attached with an elastic member 43c (for example, a plastic arm-like member, a spring member or other elastic member) for pressing the bone conduction speaker 43 against the head. And this elastic member 43c can be slid on the wire frame 42 by the stoppers 43a and 43b. Like the body temperature sensor 44 and the pulse sensor 45, the elastic member 43c is shaped into an earlobe 41 for each person. In addition, the position of the bone conduction speaker 43 can be freely adjusted.

  The wire frame 42 is formed of a flexible material and is hollow inside, and the signal wires to the bone conduction speaker 43, the body temperature sensor 44, and the pulse sensor 45 are accommodated in the hollow portion.

  Even in such a separate type earphone unit 40, the pulse sensor 45, the body temperature sensor 44 and the bone conduction speaker 43 can be mounted on the earphone unit 40, so that not only the voice can be heard, Since the advantage that physical condition management such as body temperature and pulse can be performed at the same time is obtained, it can be made extremely suitable for use in exercise management in, for example, a sports gym.

  In addition, since the pulse sensor 45, the body temperature sensor 44, and the bone conduction speaker 43 are movably attached to the required places of the wire frame 42, individual differences are absorbed and the pulse sensor 45, the body temperature sensor 44, and the bone conduction speaker 43 are absorbed. Can be adjusted. An acoustic speaker may be attached in place of the bone conduction speaker 43. In this case, of course, the mounting position of the acoustic speaker should be near the ear hole.

  Further, the separate earphone unit 40 is less affected by the size of the pulse sensor 45, the body temperature sensor 44, and the bone conduction speaker 43 compared to the “integrated” earphone unit 20, and is easy to mount and commercialized. There is also a merit that it is easy.

It is an ear | edge part sectional drawing of a human body. 1 is an overall external view of an earphone device (integrated type) according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of an example of an integrated earphone part. 2 is a block diagram of an integrated earphone unit 21 and a main body unit 23. FIG. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of an integrated earphone part. It is a figure which shows a separate-type earphone part. It is an attachment structure figure of body temperature sensor 44 of another type. It is an attachment structure figure of a separate type pulse sensor 45. It is an attachment structure figure of a separate type bone conduction speaker 43.

Explanation of symbols

20 Earphone device 29 Main part (case)
31 Pulse sensor (pulse detection means)
32 Body temperature sensor (body temperature detection means)
33 Acoustic speaker 39 Bone conduction speaker 42 Wire frame 43 Bone conduction speaker 44 Body temperature sensor (body temperature detection means)
45 Pulse sensor (pulse detection means)

Claims (4)

The case contains at least two of: an acoustic speaker that outputs a loud sound signal, a body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the human body by an infrared method, and a pulse detecting means for optically detecting the pulsation of blood flowing through the blood vessels of the human body. Earphone device characterized by being integrated. At least two of: a bone conduction speaker that converts an acoustic signal into vibration and outputs it; a body temperature detection unit that detects a human body temperature by an infrared method; and a pulse detection unit that optically detects a pulsation of blood flowing through a blood vessel of the human body. Earphone device characterized in that one is housed in a case and integrated. At least two on the wire frame are an acoustic speaker that outputs an acoustic signal, a body temperature detecting means for detecting the body temperature of the human body by an infrared method, and a pulse detecting means for optically detecting the pulsation of blood flowing through the blood vessels of the human body. An earphone device that is slidably attached to and integrated with the earphone device. At least two of: a bone conduction speaker that converts an acoustic signal into vibration and outputs it; a body temperature detection unit that detects a human body temperature by an infrared method; and a pulse detection unit that optically detects a pulsation of blood flowing through a blood vessel of the human body. Earphone device characterized in that one is slidably mounted on a wire frame and integrated.

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