JPH0964951A - Handset and speech device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide both functions of a bone conduction microphone and a speaker in one casing and to suppress entering of noise and production of howling. SOLUTION: A bone conduction microphone 2 and a speaker 3 used while being inserted to an external auditory meatus are contained in a casing 5. A sponge layer 4 and a resin layer 6 are alternately arranged between the bone conduction microphone 2 and the speaker 3. Moreover, the speech device is provided with a handset 1 and an external speech section, and the external speech section is provided with an external speaker amplifying an electric signal from the bone conduction microphone with an amplifier and outputting the result as a voice and an external microphone to transduce an external voice into an electric signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handset for use in one ear and a communication device using the handset.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bone conduction microphone is a microphone for picking up a bone conduction sound signal from an ear canal wall and converting it into an electric signal. Since a bone conduction microphone can be used for conversation even by a person with a vocal cord disorder, it is used as an assisting device for generation.

When the speaker and the bone conduction microphone are housed in the same casing, the vibration of the speaker is taken in by the bone conduction microphone, which causes noise and howling in the transmitted sound. Therefore, conventionally, in order to prevent such an adverse effect, it has been proposed to store the bone conduction microphone and the speaker in separate casings, attach one to the ear canal of the right ear, and attach the other to the ear canal of the left ear. There is. However, in this case, both ears are blocked by the speaker and the bone conduction microphone, and it is not possible to hear external sounds other than the speaker, and the speaker and bone conduction microphone must be set in both ears. Since it does not happen, there is a problem that it is not well-formed and inconvenient to handle.

Therefore, a handset having both the functions of a bone conduction microphone and a speaker in one casing, which is less likely to cause noise and howling in the dial tone, and such a handset There is a demand for a telephone equipped with.

[0005]

The handset of the present invention is mounted on the ear canal and used.
The casing (5) contains the (2) and the speaker (3), and the sponge layer (4) and the resin layer (6) are placed between the bone conduction microphone (2) and the speaker (3). They are arranged alternately ". Thereby, the sponge layer (4) absorbs sound in a relatively high frequency region where howling is likely to occur, and the resin layer (6) provides sound insulation due to internal attenuation,
The sound in the howling generation area from the speaker (3) does not enter (or is difficult to enter) to the bone conduction microphone (2), so
Bone conduction microphone (2) and speaker (3) in the same casing (5)
Howling does not occur when storing and. As the sponge layer (4), a closed-cell type or an open-cell type is used according to its use, and a silicone resin is used for the resin layer (6). (Of course, materials other than silicone resin, such as urethane resin, natural or synthetic rubber, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, vinyl acetate, etc. can be used.)

In addition, the telephone of the present invention is the "handset described above.
(1) and a call device including an external call unit (10), wherein the external call unit (10) is for amplifying an electrical signal from the bone conduction microphone (2) by an amplifier and outputting it as voice. It is equipped with an external speaker (3) and an external microphone (12) for converting an external sound into an electric signal ”. As a result, for example, it is possible to easily carry out a conversation between a patient who has lost the vocal cords and the surroundings, and a conversation indoors and outdoors in a department where the inside and outside are blocked, such as an intensive care unit.

Further, "the handset (1) and the external call unit (1
The electric signal is transmitted to and from (0) wirelessly. ” This allows two-way communication at a distant place by carrying only the handset (1) within the radio range.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a handset (1) according to the present invention. (5) is a casing, which has a shape that can be easily inserted into the ear canal. A bone conduction microphone (2) is provided near the tip of the casing (5) (the deepest position when inserted into the ear canal). Bone conduction microphone (2)
The vibration sensor has a condenser microphone configuration. Also, a small speaker is located near the base of the casing (5) (the outermost position when inserted into the ear canal).
(3) is arranged. Bone conduction microphone in casing (5)
A sponge (4) and, for example, a silicone resin (6) are alternately arranged between the speaker (2) and the speaker (3).

Due to the presence of the layer of sponge (4) and silicone resin (6), the frequency range of the vibration generated by the speaker (3) that affects the vibration sensor of the bone conduction microphone (2) is greatly reduced. It is possible to prevent noise from entering the bone conduction microphone (2) and howling. That is, sponge
In (4), among the vibrations generated by the speaker (3), the relatively low-frequency vibration that covers the human voice is almost passed through, and the vibration amount of the relatively high-frequency vibration that causes howling is set. This is to reduce howling and prevent howling from occurring.

In order to exert the sound absorbing effect of high frequency vibration, the sponge (4) is preferably of the open cell type (may be the closed cell type), and the vibration transmitted through the casing (5) is the casing (5). It is transmitted to the sponge (4) that is in contact with the bones, and the sound is resonantly absorbed in the bubbles, and the transmission to the bone conduction microphone (2) is blocked. In addition, the silicone resin (6) has a sound insulation effect by internal attenuation, and effectively attenuates the sound (that is, vibration) on the speaker (3) side by internal attenuation and blocks it from being transmitted to the bone conduction microphone (2). To do. The sound insulation due to the internal attenuation is preferably made of soft silicone resin (6).

In this embodiment, sponge (4) and silicone resin are used.
Although (6) is provided alternately for every two layers, it is of course not limited to this, and it may be provided for every one layer, or alternatively for three or more layers. (7) is a cord for bone conduction microphone, sponge (4)
And a silicon resin (6) so as to penetrate through the layer.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 2 shows a handset of Embodiment 1.
It is the figure which showed the structure of the communication device using (1). Handset
(1) is inserted into one ear hole of the user (14). (10) is an external call part of the communication device, which is an external speaker (11) for transmitting the spoken content of the user (14) to the interlocutor as voice and an electrical speaker for converting the spoken content of the interlocutor into an electric signal. External microphone
It has (12). In addition, the volume (15) for adjusting the volume of the external speaker (11) and the external microphone (12), and the equalizer for correcting the electrical signal obtained by the bone conduction microphone (2) to a more natural sound quality. It also has (16). The handset (1) and the external communication unit (10) are connected by a cord (13).

As a use, for example, it can be used for conversation of a patient who has lost the vocal cords. In this case, by setting the handset (1) in one ear of the patient who lost the vocal cords, and by setting the external call part (10) in front of the chest, it is possible to talk from the outside with the external microphone of the external call part (10). Recording is done at (12), and external conversation and sound are transmitted to the patient at the speaker (3) of the handset (1). Conversely, in order to transmit the patient's voice (which is so small that it is almost inaudible because the vocal cords have been cut off, it is transmitted to the external ear through the patient's skull) to the outside, it corresponds to the patient's voice. Vibrations are recorded by the bone conduction microphone (2),
This is done by expanding the sound with the external speaker (11).

In addition, the handset (1) is attached to one ear of the patient in the intensive care unit where access of outsiders is strictly restricted.
By setting the and the external call unit (10) outside the room, you can have a two-way conversation with the inside and outside. Such an application is not limited to the intensive care unit, and can be applied to any place where two-way conversation is required both indoors and outdoors in a department where indoor and outdoor access is strictly controlled. Further, it goes without saying that the wireless system described later can also be used for the above purpose.

[Embodiment 3] This embodiment is a communication device of a wireless type without using the cord (13) for transmitting an electric signal between the handset (1) and the external communication unit (10). (Not shown) and other configurations are similar to those of the second embodiment. In this way, since the restriction by the code (13) is removed, it is possible to talk with a person in another room, for example, and the degree of freedom of use is widened.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a handset which has both the functions of a bone conduction microphone and a speaker in one casing and which is less likely to cause noise and howling. In addition, by providing the handset with an external call unit composed of an external speaker and an external microphone, it can be used as a call device, for example, it can be used for a call of a patient whose vocal cords have been excised by surgery. . In addition, by setting a handset to a patient housed in a room isolated from the outside, such as an intensive care unit, and installing an external communication unit outside the intensive care unit, the patient and the visitor can be visited inside and outside the intensive care unit. (Or medical personnel) can have a smooth conversation. In addition, by using a wireless system between the handset and the external communication unit, the usability of the handset can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a handset of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a telephone of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Handset (2) Bone conduction microphone (3) Speaker (4) Sponge (soundproofing material) (5) Casing (6) Silicone resin (7) Microphone cord (10) External call part (11) External speaker ( 12) External microphone (13) Cord (14) User (caller)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A handset for use in the ear canal, wherein a bone conduction microphone and a speaker are housed in a single casing, and a sponge layer and a resin layer alternate between the bone conduction microphone and the speaker. A handset characterized in that it is arranged in. 2. A communication device comprising the handset according to claim 1 and an external communication unit, wherein the external communication unit amplifies an electric signal from a bone conduction microphone with an amplifier and outputs the amplified signal as voice. A communication device comprising an external speaker and an external microphone for converting external sound into an electric signal. 3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein transmission of an electric signal between the handset and the external communication unit is performed by a wireless system.