JP2010268030A - Head set and information transmission system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head set with a camera which is suitably used for a system for transmitting image information and sound information between separated points, and also to provide an information transmission system using the head set. <P>SOLUTION: The head set is equipped with: an approximately U-shaped holder band to be attached to a user's head; a pair of right and left ear-hanging arms whose base ends are respectively connected to both ends of the holder band and respectively formed by flexible members; pads formed on the ends of respective ear-hanging arms so as to be abutted on the sides of the user's head. The holder band is energized by spring force so as to hold the sides of the user's head from the back. The pair of right and left ear-hanging arms is composed of: a first ear-hanging arm provided with a communication terminal part in which an earphone, a microphone and a camera are concentrically arranged; and a second ear-hanging arm in which an auricle holder to be abutted on the rear side part of a user's auricle is arranged on the base end side of the arm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera-equipped headset that can be suitably used in a system that transmits video information and audio information between separated points, and an information transmission system using the headset.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of an information transmission system, there is a field work support system that supports work at a work site by an operator from the base station side. As a terminal device used in such a system, it is known that a headset with a camera is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The field work support system has a configuration in which a terminal device including the headset is connected to a base station device that is remote from the field via wireless LAN communication, the Internet, or the like. The situation at the site and the like can be transmitted from the terminal device to a base station device such as the firefighting headquarters, and an appropriate instruction can be sent from the headquarters that grasped the situation to a field firefighter equipped with the terminal device.

  As a headset serving as a terminal device, a microphone, a camera, and a speaker (headphone) are attached to a helmet so that the headset can be worn on the worker's body at the work site.

  On the other hand, since the helmet is roughly divided into S, M, L, etc., it is difficult to completely fit the head of the person engaged in the field work. In particular, if it is used in a too loose state, the helmet is likely to shake, and if so, the image taken by the camera attached to the helmet will also be blurred.

  In view of this, it is conceivable to attach the camera to a general headset whose main components are an earphone, a microphone, and an ear hook (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The camera mounting position is usually near the ear hook.

JP 2007-34238 A JP 2008-225913 A

  In a general headset, left and right ear hooks are connected by a band that abuts on the top of the head, and each ear hook is hooked in such a manner as to bypass the back from the upper part of a human auricle.

  However, since there are individual differences in the shape of the auricle, it is extremely difficult to ensure optimal wearing and holding conditions for the field workers in such a configuration. Also, if the band connecting the left and right ear hooks passes through the top of the head, it is difficult to wear a helmet or the like at the work site.

  It is also desirable to have a structure that can be used on the work site and can be more firmly attached to the head when the camera is equipped with a camera and the weight increases. However, if the force to pinch the head is too strong, depending on the usage time, there is a risk that pain will occur due to excessive load applied to the pinna and its vicinity.

  In this way, with a camera-equipped headset that is used to support field work, there remains a need to solve various problems that do not exist in general headsets. There is a demand for a headset that can be mounted on the head in a state and does not place a heavy load on the site worker even when used for a long time.

  (1) In the present invention, a substantially U-shaped holder band to be mounted on the user's head, and a pair of left and right formed from a flexible member, the base ends of which are respectively connected to both ends of the holder band. Ear holder arms and pads provided at the tips of the ear hook arms and abutting the user's temporal region, and the holder band has a spring force so that the user's temporal region can be clamped from behind. The pair of left and right ear hook arms are biased by a first ear hook arm provided with a communication terminal portion in which an earphone, a microphone, and a camera are centrally arranged, and the rear side of the auricle on the arm proximal end side And a second ear hook arm provided with an auricle holder that abuts on the portion.

  (2) The headset according to (1), wherein the ear hook arm is formed in a substantially chevron shape so that the pad is positioned between the user's orbit and the outer ear hole.

  (3) In the headset described in (1) or (2) above, the camera is disposed so as to overlap with the pad.

  (4) A video signal and an audio signal connected to the headset according to any one of the above (1) to (3), the communication terminal unit via a transmission cable, and output from the communication terminal unit are predetermined. And an information transmission system having a control unit for transmitting to the base station.

  (5) In the information transmission system according to (4), the control unit is capable of receiving audio and / or video signals from the base station.

  According to the present invention, it can be used for a long time without imposing a burden on the auricle and its vicinity, and can be worn on the head in a stable state at all times.

It is a perspective view which shows the mounting state of the headset which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing by the same side view. It is explanatory drawing by the same front view and back view. It is explanatory drawing by the same planar view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the headset. It is explanatory drawing of the controller used for an information transmission system. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information transmission system using a headset.

  Hereinafter, an example of the headset according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The headset according to the present embodiment is used in an information transmission system (see FIG. 7) to be described later. As shown in FIG. 1, the headset includes an earphone 4, a boom microphone 5, and a web camera 6. Part 10 is provided. And, for example, if a firefighter dispatched to a fire site, etc. is equipped with an information transmission system, a video showing the situation of the fire site captured from the same direction as the firefighter's line of sight is displayed at the headquarters etc. In addition, it is possible to receive instructions from the site via the earphone 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the headset according to the present embodiment is provided with a substantially U-shaped holder band 1 attached to the head H of the user M, and both left and right ends of the holder band 1. The base end is connected via a substantially rectangular relay connecting body 8, and a pair of left and right ear hook arms 2 (21, 22) each formed of a flexible member and provided at the tip of each ear hook arm 2. And a pad 3 that comes into contact with the temporal region of the user M, and a communication terminal unit 10 provided on one ear arm 2.

  The communication terminal unit 10 includes an earphone 4 of a type that is inserted into the outer ear hole, a boom microphone 5 having a microphone main body at the tip of a flexible boom, and a web camera 6 using a CCD or the like.

  The holder band 1 is formed in a substantially U shape in plan view by a spring material made of metal or the like, and is biased by a spring force so that the user M's temporal region can be clamped from behind. Then, by the spring force of the holder band 1, the user's M's temporal region can be firmly held by the pads 3 attached to the respective ends of the left and right ear hook arms 2, and the headset is worn in this state. become.

  The ear hook arm 2 has a base end coupled to the upper surface 81 of the relay connection body 8 to extend the tip end in the virtual extension direction of the holder band 1 (in front of the user M), and is curved in a generally chevron shape as a whole. ing. Then, the user's M pinna E is detoured upward, and the pad 3 attached to the tip can be positioned between the user's M orbit and the ear canal.

  That is, there is a temporomandibular joint between the orbit and the outer ear canal, and it is a part that is more resistant to pressing force than a temple. Since the pad 3 is in contact with such a portion, there is no possibility that a large load is applied to the user M even if the pad 3 is used for a long time. As described above, since the ear arm 2 is formed of a flexible member, the position of the pad 3 can be adjusted by slightly deforming the shape thereof.

  The pad 3 is composed of a hard base portion fixed to the ear hook arm 2 and a soft member such as a sponge provided on a surface of the base portion that comes into contact with the side of the user M. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of left and right ear hook arms 2 each having a pad 3 is a first ear hook arm provided with a communication terminal unit 10 in which an earphone 4, a boom microphone 5, and a web camera 6 are centrally arranged. 21 and a second ear hook arm 22 provided with an auricle holder 7 that abuts on the rear side of the auricle E on the arm proximal end side.

  In the present embodiment, the first ear hook arm 21 is arranged on the left side, and the second ear hook arm 22 is arranged on the right side. Of course, the first ear hook arm 21 may be arranged on the right side and the second ear hook arm 22 may be arranged on the left side.

  Of the communication terminal unit 10, the web camera 6 is disposed so as to overlap with the pad 3. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a stay 30 protrudes from the base portion of the pad 3 of the first ear hook arm 21, and the side portion of the web camera 6 is connected to the stay 30. The web camera 6 is swingably attached to the stay 30 so that the imaging direction of the web camera 6 can be adjusted.

  Further, as described above, since the pad 3 provided with the web camera 6 is located between the eye socket and the outer ear hole, the position of the web camera 6 is also relatively close to the position of the eye of the user M. It is possible to take an image that substantially matches the line of sight of the user M.

  The boom microphone 5 and the earphone 4 are integrated. The earphone 4 is attached to the distal end of a flexible support body 41 that is bent and extended from the rear part (the relay connection body 8 side) of the first ear hook arm 21 toward the outer ear hole, and a boom microphone is attached to the back of the earphone 4. The base ends of 5 are connected, and the front ends are extended toward the mouth. Reference numeral 45 denotes an audio cable connected to the boom microphone 5 and the earphone 4, and reference numeral 61 denotes a camera cable. These cables 45 and 61 are extended as a single transmission cable C that is bundled in the middle and covered with a cord cover, and is connected to a control unit 9 described later (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

  Thus, since the boom microphone 5 and the earphone 4 are integrally connected by the support body 41 and the earphone 4 is attached to the support body 41, the boom microphone 5 and the earphone 4 may hang down greatly. It is easy to handle. If such a headset is attached, the earphone 4 is positioned in the vicinity of the outer ear hole, and if the earphone 4 is inserted and set in the outer ear hole, the boom microphone 5 is also supported at an appropriate position at that time. become.

  The auricle holder 7 provided on the second ear hook arm 22 connects the center portion of the base portion forming one side of a vertically long, substantially rectangular frame body to the front surface 82 of the relay connection body 8 and faces the base portion. The auricle contact portion 71 is formed by bending the side into a concave shape. The auricle holder 7 is preferably made of a flexible material, and the auricle contact portion 71 is preferably deformable so as to fit the shape of the user's auricle.

  Thus, the headset according to this embodiment is biased by the spring force so that the holder band 1 can clamp the user M's side head from behind, so that it can be firmly attached to the head H. Moreover, it does not interfere with the helmet H1 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) that is worn when used at a fire site, for example.

  Moreover, since the 1st ear hook arm 21 is equipped with the communication terminal part 10, it takes comparatively more weight than the 2nd ear hook arm 22, and the left and right ear hook arms 2 become unbalanced in weight, The ear-hook arm 21 is provided with the earphone 4 inserted into the outer ear hole, while the second ear-hook arm 22 is provided with an auricle contact portion 71 so that the pad 3 is provided on each of the pair of left and right ear-hook arms 2. In combination with the provision, a reliable holding is achieved. Moreover, since the first auricle arm 21 provided with the earphone 4 is not provided with the auricle contact portion 71, it does not get in the way when the earphone 4 is inserted into the outer ear hole.

  Next, an information transmission system using the control unit 9 connected to the headset and the headset according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The control unit 9 is provided with a hook (not shown) on the back surface, and this hook can be used to lock the waist belt B of the user M as shown in FIG. Therefore, it can be easily mounted even at a fire site and the handling becomes easy.

  The control unit 9 is equipped with a computer device having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown) and a communication circuit, etc., and as shown in FIG. A lid 92 that protects the display panel 90 is attached to the rectangular box-shaped unit housing 91 so as to be openable.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, if the firefighter or the like dispatched to the fire site or the like is the user M, an image showing the situation of the fire site captured by the web camera 6 provided in the headset is displayed on the Internet N. Can be transmitted to the control unit 9 possessed by another user M or the control unit 9 installed in the fire department headquarters serving as a base station. Further, since the headset is also provided with the earphone 4 and the boom microphone 5, it is possible to communicate with other users M, the fire department headquarters and the like by voice. Note that the control units 9 are not necessarily connected to each other. For example, a personal computer T may be installed in the firefighting headquarters and transmitted as a base station. In the figure, symbol S is a server for constructing an information transmission system.

  As described above, according to the information transmission system using the headset according to the present embodiment, the user M can accurately transmit the situation in the field to a base station such as the headquarters in real time, You can also receive accurate support from.

  According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be expected.

  (1) In the present invention, a substantially U-shaped holder band 1 attached to the head H of a user M, and base ends thereof are connected to both ends of the holder band 1, respectively, and are formed of flexible members. A pair of left and right ear-hanging arms 2 and a pad 3 provided at the tip of each ear-hanging arm 2 and coming into contact with the temporal region of the user M. The holder band 1 is provided on the temporal region of the user M. The pair of left and right ear hook arms 2 is provided with a communication terminal unit 10 in which an earphone 4, a boom microphone 5, and a web camera 6 are arranged in a concentrated manner. Since the headset is composed of the first ear hook arm 21 and the second ear hook arm 22 provided with the pinna holder 7 that contacts the rear side of the pinna at the base end side of the arm, it is used in a fire site or the like. Helmet H1 etc. Since there is no hindrance to wearing, and it can be securely attached to the user's M's temporal region, it is possible to prevent blurring of the webcam 6 even in a hands-free state. An image can be taken.

  (2) In the above headset, the ear hook arm 2 (21, 22) is formed in a substantially chevron shape so that the pad 3 is positioned between the eye socket of the user M and the outer ear canal. It can be located in a place resistant to pressure, the head 3 can be prevented from becoming painful with the pad 3, and it can withstand long-time use.

  (3) In the above headset, since the web camera 6 is disposed so as to overlap with the pad 3, it is possible to capture an image substantially matching the line of sight of the user M, and an image desired by the user M can be obtained. Cheap.

  (4) The control unit 9 connected to the headset and the communication terminal unit 10 via the transmission cable C and transmitting a video signal and an audio signal output from the communication terminal unit 10 to a predetermined base station. Since the wireless communication system is provided, the effects of the above (1) to (3) can be achieved, and information on the fire site and the like can be received at the base station in real time using video.

  (5) In the information transmission system, the control unit 9 can receive audio and / or video signals from the base station, and therefore can obtain accurate instructions from the base station.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated through embodiment, this invention is not limited to these, A design change is possible suitably, unless it deviates from the summary of invention. Moreover, each effect mentioned above only enumerated the effect which arises from this embodiment, and the effect by this invention is not limited to these.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Holder band 2 (21, 22) Ear hook arm 3 Pad 4 Earphone 5 Boom microphone 6 Web camera 7 Auricle holder 9 Control unit 10 Communication terminal part H Head H1 Helmet M User

Claims (5)

A substantially U-shaped holder band attached to the user's head;
A pair of left and right ear-hook arms each having a base end coupled to each end of the holder band, each formed from a flexible member,
A pad provided at the tip of each ear hook arm and abutting the user's temporal region;
With
The holder band is
It is urged by a spring force so that the user's temporal region can be clamped from behind,
The pair of left and right ear hook arms is
A first ear hook arm provided with a communication terminal unit in which an earphone, a microphone, and a camera are centrally arranged;
A second ear hook arm provided with an auricle holder abutting on the rear side of the auricle on the arm proximal end side;
A headset characterized by comprising.   The headset according to claim 1, wherein the ear hook arm is formed in a substantially chevron shape so that the pad is positioned between the eye socket of the user and the outer ear hole.   The headset according to claim 1, wherein the camera is disposed so as to overlap with the pad. The headset according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A control unit connected to the communication terminal unit via a transmission cable, and transmitting a video signal and an audio signal output from the communication terminal unit to a predetermined base station;
An information transmission system comprising:   5. The information transmission system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is capable of receiving audio and / or video signals from the base station.

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