JPH10200831A - Portable viewer system and headphone device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To realize a portable viewer system that can be used without connecting at least between a headphone device and a viewer device by wire. A main unit supplies an audio signal and a video signal to a viewer device via an AV cable.
The viewer device 1 displays the supplied video signal on the liquid crystal monitor 8 and transmits the infrared light modulated by the audio signal from the infrared light emitting portion 7 to the infrared light receiving portion 4 of the headphone device 2.
Send to. The headphone device 2 demodulates an audio signal from the received infrared light and outputs the demodulated audio signal from a built-in speaker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable viewer system including a main unit including a video / audio signal reproducing device and / or a television broadcast receiving device, a viewer device including a liquid crystal display and the like, and a headphone device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a portable device capable of appreciating video and audio, there has been an 8 mm video (product name "Video Walkman") integrated with a liquid crystal television receiver and a liquid crystal monitor. These devices display a television signal received by a tuner or a video signal reproduced by an 8 mm video cassette on a liquid crystal monitor, and output the audio signal through a built-in speaker or an external earphone.

[0003]

Although these devices are portable, they are not commercialized for use during transportation such as during commuting, so that sound is output from speakers built into the devices. Is the basis. Therefore, when the mobile phone is used while traveling, such as during commuting, it is necessary to connect the main body and the earphone with a wire.

Furthermore, in the case of an 8 mm video with an integrated liquid crystal monitor, it is difficult to hold and use it while moving, such as during commuting, due to its weight and size. This problem can be solved by separating the LCD monitor and the deck from each other and holding only the LCD monitor by hand, but it is necessary to connect the LCD monitor and the deck with a cable.

However, it is easy to imagine that it is difficult to use such a device having a portion connected by a wire while traveling on the way to work.

An object of the present invention is to realize a portable viewer system that can be used without connecting at least between a headphone device and a viewer device by wire.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable viewer system according to the present invention displays a main unit including a video / audio signal reproducing device and / or a television signal receiving device, an infrared voice transmission / transmission device, and a video signal. It is characterized by comprising a viewer device provided with a flat panel display, and a headphone device provided with an infrared sound transmission / reception device.

[0008] A portable viewer system according to the present invention comprises: a main unit having a video / audio signal reproducing device and / or a television signal receiving device; an infrared video transmitting / receiving device and a flat panel display for displaying a video signal. A viewer device comprising:
And a headphone device having an infrared video transmission / transmission device.

[0009] The headphone device according to the present invention comprises:
It is characterized by comprising a means for inputting a video signal and an audio signal, a speaker for converting the audio signal into audio and outputting the same, and a means for modulating and transmitting infrared light with the video signal.

In the portable viewer system according to the present invention, the main unit supplies a video signal and an audio signal from the video / audio signal reproducing device or the television signal receiving device to the viewer device. The viewer device displays a video signal among the supplied signals on a flat panel display, modulates infrared rays with a voice signal using an infrared voice transmission / transmission device, and transmits the modulated signal. The headphone device receives infrared light by the infrared sound transmission / reception device, demodulates the sound signal, converts the sound signal into sound by a headphone speaker, and outputs the sound.

Alternatively, in the portable viewer system according to the present invention, the main unit supplies the headphone device with the video signal and the audio signal from the video / audio signal reproducing device or the television signal receiving device. The headphone device converts the audio signal among the supplied signals into audio using a headphone speaker, outputs the audio signal, and modulates and transmits infrared light with a video signal using an infrared video transmission / transmission device. The viewer device receives the infrared ray by the infrared ray image transmitting and receiving apparatus, demodulates the image signal, and displays the demodulated signal on the flat panel display.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to realize a portable viewer system that can be used without connecting at least between the headphone device and the viewer device by wire.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [1] Method of using portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied (FIG. 1) [2] Portable viewer to which the present invention is applied Block diagram of an example of a system (FIG. 2) [3] Infrared transmission range of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied (FIG. 3) [4] System concept of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied (FIG. 4) 5) [5] Block diagram of another example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied (FIG. 6) [6] Infrared transmission range of another example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied (FIG. 7) 7] A detailed description will be given in the order of the system concept (FIGS. 8 and 9) of another example of the portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

[1] Method of Using Portable Viewer System to which the Present Invention is Applied FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a method of using a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

It is self-evident that it is easier to use a portable viewer system on the premise that the viewer device and the head device are not connected by a wire in a portable viewer system. Therefore, if the infrared transmission is used for the connection between them, the wired connection is not required. However, the infrared connection has two problems, and causes a disadvantage for the portable viewer.

The first problem is that transmission cannot be performed if there is an obstacle between the transmission unit and the reception unit. Occurs.

The second problem is that if the location of the receiving device cannot be specified, the transmitting device needs to transmit infrared rays over a wide range, that is, the power consumption increases, which is fatal to portable equipment. The disadvantage is that the life of the battery is shortened.

However, in a portable viewer system using a headphone device and a monitor constituted by a flat panel display, it is necessary for a user to wear headphones properly. In addition, in order to view an image in a good condition, the user needs to look at the monitor from almost the front. In particular, when the monitor is a liquid crystal monitor, since the viewing angle is small, an image is difficult to see unless viewed from almost the front.

Therefore, in order to use this system satisfactorily, the positional relationship between the headphone device and the viewer device is almost specified as shown in FIG. That is,
The front surface of the headphone device correctly mounted on the user's head always faces directly to the monitor surface of the viewer device.

Further, in order for the user to see the monitor,
Obviously, there must be no obstacle between the user's head and the monitor, so there is no obstacle between them.

Assuming that the viewer device is used by holding it in a hand as shown in FIG.
It is obvious that there is only an interval of about cm.

Taking these facts into consideration, if infrared transmission is performed between the face side of the user, ie, the front of the headphone device, and the monitor surface of the monitor provided in the viewer device, the two problems described above will occur. It can be understood that the method can be applied to the portable viewer system without inconvenience.

That is, in the housing of the headphone device,
On a surface parallel to the face of the user wearing the headphone device,
Equipped with an infrared receiving device having a light receiving unit whose reception directivity is narrowed in the vertical direction, and, among the housing of the viewer device,
With a light emitting unit with a transmission directivity narrowed in the direction perpendicular to the monitor surface on a plane parallel to the monitor surface, and equipped with an infrared transmitter with an output that satisfies the range of about 50 cm, infrared light can be used without inconvenience for portable viewers. Transmission can be applied.

Alternatively, in the housing of the viewer device,
It is equipped with an infrared receiver that has a light-receiving unit that has a narrowed reception directivity in a direction parallel to the monitor surface in a plane parallel to the monitor surface, and, among the headphone device housing, the face of the user wearing the headphone device. By providing an infrared transmitting device having a light emitting unit whose transmission directivity is narrowed in the vertical direction on a parallel surface and having an output that satisfies a range of about 50 cm, infrared transmission can be applied to a portable viewer without inconvenience.

Here, narrowing the transmission range and the reception range not only has the effect of suppressing power consumption, but of course,
This also produces an effect of reducing interference when users relatively close to each other use this system.

[2] Block diagram of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

This system comprises a viewer device 1, a headphone device 2, and a main device 3.
The viewer device 1 includes an infrared voice transmission / transmission device 11,
And a liquid crystal monitor 12. The headphone device 2 includes an infrared sound transmission / reception device 21 and a headphone speaker 22. The main device 3 includes a video / audio signal reproducing device or a television broadcast receiving device (both may be provided) 31. Here, the video / audio signal reproducing apparatus reproduces a video signal and an audio signal from a medium such as a video cassette, a video CD, a hard disk, or a card memory.

The main unit 3 supplies the audio signal and the video signal output from the video / audio signal reproducing device or the television receiving device 31 to the viewer device 1 through a wired connection.
The viewer device 1 displays the supplied video signal on the liquid crystal monitor 12,
The headphone device 2 modulates an infrared ray with an audio signal according to 1.
To the infrared voice transmission / reception device 21 of FIG. The headphone device 2 converts a sound signal received by the infrared sound transmission / reception device 21 into sound by the headphone speaker 22 and outputs the sound.

[3] Infrared transmission range of one example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an infrared transmission range of the system shown in FIG. (A) of this figure is a diagram viewed from above the user, and (b) is a diagram viewed from the right side of the user.

In order to use the present system correctly, the user must wear the headphone device 2 on the head and look at the liquid crystal monitor (not shown) provided in the viewer device 1 from the front.

Therefore, while the system is properly used, the infrared light receiving unit 4 provided on the front of the headphone device 2 and the infrared light emitting unit 7 provided on the viewer device 1 always face each other.

Since the viewer device 1 is used while being held in a hand, the distance between the user and the viewer device 1 is 50.
cm.

Accordingly, it is understood that the infrared transmission range is necessary and sufficient in the range shown in the figure. That is, it is sufficient to transmit infrared rays that reach a distance of about 50 cm with a directivity in a narrow range centered on the vertical direction of the monitor surface of the liquid crystal monitor. In addition, the light receiving range of the infrared light receiving unit 4 can narrow the reception directivity in the vertical direction of the front (face) of the head of the user wearing the headphone device 2.

[4] System Concept of One Example of Portable Viewer System to Which the Present Invention is Applied FIGS. 4 and 5 are system conceptual diagrams of the portable viewer system shown in FIG.

The main unit 3 supplies a video signal and an audio signal to the viewer device 1 via the AV cable 9.
The viewer device 1 displays an image on the liquid crystal monitor 8 and transmits infrared light modulated by an audio signal in a direction perpendicular to the surface from an infrared light emitting unit 7 provided on a surface parallel to the liquid crystal monitor 8.

The user wearing the headphone device 2 is located in front of the liquid crystal monitor 8, and the infrared receiving section 4 is provided in front of the headphone device 2.
It is sufficient to transmit the infrared rays from the infrared light emitting unit 7 with the directivity narrowed in the direction perpendicular to the monitor surface of the liquid crystal monitor 8. Further, the portable viewer system is based on the premise that the viewer device 1 is held in the hand and the headphone device 2 is worn and used.
Since about 0 cm is sufficient, it is possible to suppress the transmission output of infrared rays to a low level.

Since infrared space transmission is used,
When an obstacle enters between the infrared light emitting unit 7 and the infrared light receiving unit 4, transmission is interrupted. In many cases, the obstacle causes the user to end up with the liquid crystal monitor 8.
Can be seen, so transmission can be interrupted.

In this example, the main body device 3 and the viewer device 1 are provided in separate housings. However, if these are housed and integrated in the same housing, a system that does not require any wired connection can be constructed. Needless to say, it becomes easier to use.

[5] Block diagram of another example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

This system also comprises a viewer device 41, a headphone device 42, and a main device 43 as in FIG. The viewer device 41 includes an infrared video transmission / reception device 411 and a liquid crystal monitor 412. The headphone device 42 is an infrared video transmission / transmission device 4
21 and a headphone speaker 422. The main unit 43 includes a video / audio signal reproducing device or a television broadcast receiving device (both may be provided).
31 are provided.

The main unit 43 supplies the audio signal and the video signal output from the video / audio signal reproducing device or the television receiving device 431 to the headphone device 42 through a wired connection. The headphone device 42 outputs the supplied audio signal to the headphone speaker 422, modulates the infrared with the video signal by the infrared video transmission / transmission device 421, and outputs the infrared video transmission / reception device 4 of the viewer device 41.
Send to 11 The viewer device 41 displays the video signal received by the infrared video transmission / reception device 411 on the liquid crystal monitor 412. At this time, the backlight of the liquid crystal monitor 412 is controlled to be turned on only while the infrared video transmission / reception device 411 is receiving infrared light.

[6] Infrared transmission range of another example of the portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the infrared transmission range of the system of FIG. (A) of this figure is a diagram viewed from above the user,
(B) is the figure seen from the right lateral direction of the user.

In order to use this system correctly, the headphone device 42 is attached to the head and the viewer device 11
Must be viewed from the front of the LCD monitor (not shown) provided in the camera.

Therefore, while the present system is used properly, the infrared light emitting section 44 provided on the front of the headphone device 42 and the infrared light receiving section 47 provided on the viewer device 41 always face each other.

Since the viewer device 41 is used while being held in a hand, the distance between the user and the viewer device 43 is 5
It is considered to be about 0 cm.

Accordingly, it is understood that the infrared transmission range is necessary and sufficient in the range shown in FIG. That is, the front (face) of the head of the user wearing the headphone device 42
It is sufficient to transmit an infrared ray reaching a distance of about 50 cm with a directivity in a narrow range around the vertical direction.

Further, the light receiving range of the infrared light receiving section 47 can narrow the receiving directivity in a direction perpendicular to the monitor surface of the liquid crystal monitor.

[7] System Concept of Another Example of Portable Viewer System to Which the Present Invention is Applied FIGS. 8 and 9 are system conceptual diagrams of the portable viewer system shown in FIG.

The main unit 43 supplies the video signal and the audio signal to the headphone device 42 via the AV cable 50. The headphone device 42 outputs an audio signal and transmits infrared light modulated by a video signal in a direction perpendicular to the front from an infrared light emitting unit 44 provided on the front.

The liquid crystal monitor 48 is connected to the headphone device 42
Is located in front of the user wearing the camera, and the infrared receiving section 47 is also provided on the front of the user, so that the infrared emitting section 44 has a directivity in a direction perpendicular to the front of the user. It is enough to squeeze and transmit infrared light,
The portable viewer system includes a viewer device 41.
Is held in hand and the headphone device 42 is worn and used, so that a propagation distance of 50 cm is sufficient, so that the transmission output of infrared rays can be suppressed low.

Since infrared space transmission is used,
When an obstacle enters between the infrared light emitting unit 44 and the infrared light receiving unit 47, the transmission is interrupted. In many cases, the obstacle eventually causes the user to look at the LCD monitor 48. It is considered impossible to do so, so transmission can be interrupted.

When such an obstacle enters between them, that is, when the viewer device 41 cannot receive the infrared light modulated by the video signal, the user can view the video anyway. LCD monitor 4
By turning off the backlight of No. 8, the power consumption of the system can be further reduced.

Further, in the case of this system, when the viewer device 41 and the headphone device 42 are displaced from each other and the viewer device 41 cannot receive infrared rays, no image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 48. As described above, since the liquid crystal monitor has a small viewing angle, the displayed image is difficult to see unless viewed from almost the front. Therefore, there is no problem even if an image is not displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 48 in the case of a shift. Also in this case, the sound is output from the headphone speaker 422.

On the other hand, in the system shown in FIG. 2, when the viewer device 1 and the headphone device 2 are displaced from each other, the headphone device 2 cannot receive infrared rays, so that sound is output from the headphone speaker 22. Will not be. Further, although an image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 8, it is difficult to see because the image is not viewed from the front.

In other words, when the headphone device and the viewer device are displaced from each other, the system shown in FIG. 2 cannot view both video and audio in a good condition.
With this system, the appreciation of audio is possible.

[0056]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a portable viewer system which can be used without connecting at least the headphone device and the viewer device with a wire.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a method of using a portable viewer system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block diagram of a portable viewer system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an infrared transmission range of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a system conceptual diagram of an example of a portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the right side of a user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a block diagram of the portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an infrared transmission range of another example of the portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a system conceptual diagram of another example of the portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a system conceptual diagram of another example of the portable viewer system to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the right side of the user.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 41: Viewer device, 2, 42: Headphone device, 3, 43: Main device, 11: Infrared sound transmission / transmission device, 8, 12, 48, 412: Liquid crystal monitor, 21: Infrared sound transmission / reception device, 22, 422: Headphone speaker, 31, 431: Video / audio signal reproducing device or television broadcast receiving device, 411: Infrared video transmission receiving device, 421: Infrared video transmission transmitting device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04B 10/04 10/06 H04R 1/10 101

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A main unit including a video / audio signal reproducing device and / or a television signal receiving device, a viewer device including an infrared audio transmission / transmission device and a flat panel display for displaying a video signal, and an infrared audio transmission A portable viewer system comprising a receiving device and a headphone device including a headphone speaker. 2. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared sound transmission transmitting device transmits infrared light having a reachable distance of about 50 cm to a predetermined narrow range centered on a vertical direction of a panel surface of the flat panel display. Viewer system. 3. The portable viewer system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared voice transmission receiving device has a receiving range only in a predetermined narrow range centered on a vertical direction in front of the headphone device. 4. The portable viewer system according to claim 1, wherein the flat panel display is a liquid crystal display. 5. A main unit comprising a video / audio signal reproducing device and / or a television signal receiving device, a viewer device comprising an infrared video transmission receiving device and a flat panel display for displaying a video signal, and an infrared video transmission A portable viewer system comprising a headphone device including a transmission device and a headphone speaker. 6. The portable viewer system according to claim 4, wherein the infrared video transmission transmitting device transmits infrared light having a reachable distance of about 50 cm to a predetermined narrow range centered on a vertical direction in front of the headphone device. . 7. The portable viewer system according to claim 4, wherein the viewer device receives only a predetermined narrow range centered on a vertical direction of a panel surface of the flat panel display. 8. The portable viewer system according to claim 5, wherein the flat panel display is a liquid crystal display. 9. The portable viewer system according to claim 8, wherein the viewer device has a function of turning on the backlight of the liquid crystal display only while the infrared video transmission / reception device is receiving a video signal encoded to infrared. 10. A means for inputting a video signal and an audio signal, a headphone speaker for converting the audio signal into audio and outputting the audio signal, and an infrared video transmission / transmission device for modulating and transmitting infrared light with the video signal. A headphone device comprising: