JPH1056698A - Electroacoustic transducer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an electroacoustic transducer capable of easily performing adjustment according to individual differences such as the shape and size of a user's pinna. SOLUTION: The speaker unit 23 includes a mounting portion 2 which is located in a recess 12 of the pinna 11, and an ear hook portion 4 which supports the mounting portion 2 and is hung on the outer periphery of the pinna 11.
The length of the mounting portion 2 can be adjusted to be extendable and retractable with respect to the ear hook portion 4 and the angle can be rotatably adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a small-sized electroacoustic transducer such as a hearing aid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hearing aids for hearing-impaired persons have been proposed. This hearing aid connects a power supply unit including a microphone unit, an amplifier unit, and a battery storage unit, an earphone unit including a speaker unit housed in a recess of the pinna, and the power supply unit and the earphone unit. And a hanger portion hung on the auricle. The housing of the power supply unit, the earphone unit, and the hanger unit is formed of a rigid body such as a synthetic resin material. When the hearing aid thus configured is used, an earphone unit is attached to the user's auricle,
The hanger is hung on the outer periphery of the pinna.

[0003]

By the way, the shape and size of the pinna of the user who uses the hearing aid varies from person to person. For this reason, a hearing aid of a specification used in such a manner that the hanger portion is hung on the outer peripheral portion of the pinna must be adjusted according to the shape and size of the user's pinna.

Conventionally, a soft pipe is used for the hanger. When such a hearing aid is shipped, the length of the soft pipe is set longer, and the length of the hanger is adjusted by the user cutting the soft pipe. However, in such a hearing aid, once the soft pipe is cut, it is not possible to perform the adjustment of extending the hanger portion when adjusting the length after the second time. In addition, since the connection between the earphone part and the hanger part adopts a method that lacks certainty that the hanger part is pressed into the mounting hole provided in the earphone part, the hanger part may come off from the earphone part. was there.

In the hearing aid, since the speaker section is formed in the earphone section as described above, a wire is led from the speaker section through the hanger section to the power supply section. Therefore, when the user adjusts the length of the hanger, it is extremely difficult to adjust the length of the soft pipe.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a user's pinna shape,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electroacoustic transducer that can easily perform adjustment according to individual differences in size and the like.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electroacoustic transducer according to the present invention comprises: a mounting section having a speaker section and located in a recess of an auricle; and supporting the mounting section. With an ear hook part to be hung on the outer circumference of the pinna,
The mounting portion is characterized in that its length can be adjusted to extend and contract with respect to the ear hook portion, and that the angle can be adjusted to be freely rotatable.

[0008] In the electroacoustic transducer configured as described above, the mounting portion can be adjusted in length so as to be extendable and retractable with respect to the ear hook portion, and can be rotatably adjusted in angle. It can be adjusted to fit the shape and size of the user's pinna.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The electroacoustic transducer according to the present invention is applied to, for example, a hearing aid used by a hearing-impaired person. This hearing aid 1
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for example, the apparatus comprises a mounting part 2 mounted in a recess of an auricle, a power supply part 3, and an ear hook part 4 connecting the mounting part 2 and the power supply part 3. You.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mounting section 2
A housing 21 mounted in the recess 12 of the auricle 11, a microphone 22 provided in the housing 21, and a speaker provided in the housing 21 together with the microphone 22 Part 2
And 3. The housing 21 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as an ABS resin.
2 is configured as an adapter 24 to the recess 12. The adapter part 24 is formed to have a slightly rounded front surface so that it can be steadily attached to the depression part 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter portion 24 is set in the casing 21 at a substantially central portion thereof,
5 are formed. When the hearing aid 1 is attached to the auricle 11, the distal end of the cylindrical portion 25 is planted toward the external auditory canal 13 located at the bottom of the hollow portion 12, and its cross-sectional shape is substantially the same as the shape of the external auditory canal 13. It is formed in the same elliptical shape. As described above, the tubular portion 25 is easily attached to the external auditory canal 13 steadily.

An ear plug 26 is detachably attached to the tip of the cylindrical portion 25. This earplug part 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a sheet material formed of a synthetic resin material such as silicon rubber, and the sheet material is attached so as to cover the cylindrical portion 25. As described above, since the earplug portion 26 is made of a sheet material, the user can attach the mounting portion 2 to the concave portion 12.
It can be worn without feeling uncomfortable. When the earplug 26 is formed of silicone rubber,
Even if it directly contacts the skin of the pinna 11, rash on the skin can be prevented. Further, since the earplug 26 is detachable from the tube 25, the hearing aid 1
Can be easily removed and cleaned at the time of non-use not attached to the auricle 11. Furthermore, this ear plug part 26
Is formed of silicone rubber made of a sheet material, so that the external auditory canal 1 when the cylindrical portion 25 is inserted into the external auditory canal 13
3 is steadily sealed, so that the user can easily hear the sound output from the speaker unit 23.

A speaker unit 27 is disposed inside the housing 21 and toward the base of the cylindrical portion 25, that is, toward the external auditory canal 13 of the pinna 11. The housing unit 21 is provided with a microphone unit 28. The microphone unit 28 includes the speaker unit 2
The center lines of the microphone unit 7 and the microphone unit 28 are non-parallel, and are disposed in the back cavity 20 configured on the side facing the speaker unit 27. The back cavity 20 is provided with a detection hole 19 at the apex thereof so that the microphone unit 28 can detect sound. The housing 21 has a speaker unit 27 therein.
A space 29 is formed between the microphone unit 28.

The space 29 is provided with a speaker unit 27.
The microphone unit 28 serves as a space for escape of sound radiated from the speaker unit 27 so that the sound radiated from the speaker unit 27 is not detected. The space 29 prevents the vibration of the speaker unit 27 from being transmitted to the microphone unit 28 by providing an interval between the speaker unit 27 and the microphone unit 28. Therefore, the mounting part 2
Since the space 29 is formed in the housing 21, howling of the microphone unit 28 is prevented.
As shown in FIG. 5, the speaker unit 27 and the microphone unit 2 are provided in the space 29, as will be described in detail later.
A lead wire 30 led out of the power supply unit from the power supply unit 8 through the ear hook unit 4
Are stored in a spiral shape. As will be described later, the conducting wire 30 is spirally housed in the space portion 29 so that the ear hook portion 4 can slide and extend.

[0015] The mounting portion 2 thus configured is connected to the pinna 1
1 is attached to the depression 12 of the auricle 11. More specifically, the earplug part 26 is configured such that the earplug part 26 attached to the cylindrical part 25 fits into the external auditory canal 13,
The sound from the speaker unit 27 is easily heard. Further, the portion where the back cavity 20 in which the microphone unit 28 is provided is formed is the concave portion 1 above the pinna.
4. At this time, the microphone unit 28
Is located on the rear side of the mounting unit 2 and the microphone unit 28
Is also located on the rear side. Therefore, when the attachment unit 2 is attached to the pinna 11, the microphone unit 2
Since the detection hole 8 is also located on the rear side, it is difficult to detect noise such as the sound of air flow.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the user's auricle 11, the power supply unit 3 is located on the outer peripheral portion 15 at the base of the auricle 11. . The power supply unit 3 includes a housing unit 31, a battery housing unit 32 formed in the housing unit 31, and an electronic board 33 on which an amplifier circuit and the like are formed. This housing 31
Consists of an upper cabinet and a lower cabinet,
It is formed of a synthetic resin material such as an ABS resin. The battery accommodating portion 32 is configured so that the button-type battery is accommodated in the housing portion 31 in a concave shape, a spring-like negative terminal is provided on a bottom surface thereof, and a spring-like positive terminal is provided on a side surface thereof. Is provided. When the button-type battery is stored in the battery storage section 32 configured as described above through the battery insertion opening provided in the housing section 31, the battery insertion opening is closed by the battery lid 34. This battery storage part 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a lower part of the housing 31 when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the user's auricle. Therefore, the power supply unit 3
Means that a relatively heavy battery in the power supply unit 3
1, the sense of stability when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the pinna can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the casing 31 is provided with a volume control button 35 on a side surface thereof. A power button 36 is provided on the side surface of the housing 31. And these buttons 35,
Reference numeral 36 is electrically connected to the electronic substrate 33.
Further, an adjustment trimmer panel 37 that covers an adjustment trimmer provided for the upper cabinet 34 on the electronic board 33 for adjusting to the degree of hearing loss is fixed to the housing section 31 with screws 38. I have. As described above, in the hearing aid 1, the operation buttons (for example, the volume control button 35, the power button 3
6) is provided on the surface of the housing 31. For operation buttons that are used less frequently (for example, an adjustment trimmer),
Covering with a lid (for example, the adjusting trimmer panel 37) improves operability and protects operation buttons.

An elastic material such as an annular rubber material is fitted and attached to a groove provided on an end surface of a side edge where the upper cabinet and the lower cabinet abut against each other. The elastic member is configured to cover the volume control button 41. Then, after such an elastic material is attached, the upper cabinet and the lower cabinet are abutted and fixed by screws 39. At this time, the elastic material attached to the groove is compressed at the side edges of the upper cabinet and the lower cabinet, and fills a gap generated when the respective side edges abut. Therefore,
According to the housing 31 configured as described above, when the hearing aid 1 is attached to the user's auricle 11, when the user sweats, or when a little water is applied such as face washing, It is possible to steadily prevent water from entering the housing 31.

Then, the mounting portion 2 configured as described above
The power supply 3 is connected to the power supply 3 via an ear hook 4 as shown in FIG. The ear hook portion 4 includes a hanger spring 41 serving as a core material and the hanger spring 4.
1 and a cover 42 covering the cover 1. The hanger spring 41 is formed as a core material, is formed of a shape memory alloy, and has an outer peripheral portion 15 at the base of the auricle 11.
Is formed so as to be substantially the same as the shape of. Therefore, the shape of the hanger spring 41 is easily changed to conform to the shape of the pinna 11 of the user, so that the ear hook 4
Of the hearing aid 1 can be finely adjusted and can be easily readjusted again, and the holding force of the hearing aid 1 on the pinna 11 can be improved.

Further, a cover 42 for covering the hanger spring 41 is formed of a rubber material such as silicon rubber. When the cover 42 is made of silicone rubber in this way, even if it directly contacts the skin of the pinna 11,
It can prevent skin irritation. In addition, a conducting wire 30 that electrically connects the speaker unit 27 and the microphone unit 28 of the mounting unit 2 to the electronic board 33 of the power supply unit 3 is inserted into the ear hook part 4.

The length of the ear hook 4 is adjustable with respect to the mounting portion 2 so that the length thereof can be extended and contracted. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the ear hook portion 4 is fitted into the mounting hole 43 provided in the mounting portion 2 at a portion to be a connection portion with the power supply portion 3. As shown in FIG. 6, a slide shaft 44 is attached to the cover 42 at the end on the mounting portion 2 side. The slide shaft 44 has a flange portion 45 formed at one end thereof, and is configured to be locked by a locking portion 46 provided on the inner peripheral side of the mounting hole 43 when slid. That is, when the ear hanging portion 4 is slid by a finger, the ear hanging portion 4 slides in the mounting hole 43 and slides. When the ear hook portion 4 is extended to the longest, the flange portion 45 of the slide shaft 44 is locked by the locking portion 46 provided in the mounting hole 43. In addition, this ear hanging part 4
Has a sliding stroke of about 10 mm.

Further, the ear hook portion 4 is configured to be adjustable by rotating the mounting portion 2. That is, the housing 21 near the mounting hole 43 of the mounting portion 2 has
As shown in FIG. 7, a concave portion 49 is formed on the inner surface. Then, a pair of elastically displaceable protruding pieces 50 a and 50 b formed on the flange 45 of the slide shaft 44 are fitted into the recess 49. At this time, the recess 4
9 has an opening dimension substantially equal to the interval between the protruding pieces 50a and 50b. Therefore, when the mounting portion 2 is rotated, the protruding pieces 50a, 50b are elastically displaced and thus rotated by a predetermined angle. The angle at which the mounting section 2 rotates is appropriately set to about 30 degrees.

As described above, the mounting portion 2 is extendable and contractible with respect to the ear hook portion 4 so that the length thereof can be adjusted, and furthermore, it is rotatable and the rotation angle thereof can be adjusted. The wearing unit 2 includes an ear hanging unit 4 desired by the user.
After adjusting the length and angle of the
3 is fixed by tightening a set screw 47 into a screw hole 48 provided in the vicinity.

When the hearing aid 1 configured as described above is mounted in the recess 12 of the pinna 11, the earplug 2
6 faces the ear canal 13, the microphone unit 22 is positioned so that the microphone unit 28 faces the recess 14 above the pinna 11, and the power supply unit 3 is positioned at the outer peripheral portion 15 at the base of the pinna 11. Is attached. Therefore, since the microphone unit 22 is positioned so that the microphone unit 28 faces the concave portion 14 above the pinna 11, the hearing aid 1 is actually
The sound very similar to the sound heard by the microphone unit 2
8 can be detected and output from the speaker unit 27. Furthermore, since the hearing aid 1 is located on the outer peripheral portion 15 of the auricle 11, the power supply unit 3 can be hidden by the auricle 11 and be less noticeable by a third party.

Since the hearing aid 1 can adjust the angle of the mounting part 2 and the length of the ear hook part 4 as described above, the hearing aid 1 can be adjusted to the shape and size of the pinna 11 of the user. Be attached. Therefore, the hearing aid 1 can give the user a comfortable wearing feeling. Further, since the hearing aid 1 does not need to adjust the length of the ear hook portion 4 by cutting off the pipe as in the above-described conventional hearing aid, fine adjustment can be performed any number of times. Since there is no need to disassemble to adjust the length like a hearing aid of
The operation can be performed very easily. Moreover,
Since the core material of the ear hook portion 4 is made of a shape memory alloy, the ear hook portion 4 can be easily deformed into a shape conforming to the shape of the outer peripheral portion 15 of the pinna 11, and a comfortable wearing feeling can be given. Therefore, the hearing aid 1 thus configured is
At the time of use attached to the user's auricle 11, since it is steadily attached, it is difficult to drop from the auricle 11,
The possibility of breakage or the like can be prevented.

Although the hearing aid 1 to which the electro-acoustic converter according to the present invention is applied has been described in detail, any electro-acoustic converter that can be hung on the pinna may be, for example, a video conference system or a relay system. Of course, it may be used for an earphone, an ear hanging radio, a wireless transceiver, and the like used for the like.

[0027]

According to the electro-acoustic transducer according to the present invention, the length of the mounting portion can be extended and contracted with respect to the ear hook portion, and the angle can be freely rotated. Can be adjusted to fit the shape and size of the user's pinna. Therefore, the electroacoustic conversion device can easily perform adjustment according to individual differences such as the shape and size of the pinna of the user, and can give a comfortable wearing feeling to any user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a hearing aid described in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an auricle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line II of the mounting portion of the hearing aid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the hearing aid for explaining a power supply unit.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the hearing aid for describing a structure of a connection part between the wearing part and the ear hook part.

FIG. 6 illustrates the hearing aid II shown in FIG. 5 for explaining a mounting state of a slide shaft at a connection portion between a mounting portion and an ear hanging portion.
-It is a II sectional view.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 5 for illustrating a connecting portion between the mounting portion and the ear hanging portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Hearing aid, 2 wearing part, 3 power supply part, 4 ear hook part,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 auricle, 12 hollow part, 13 external ear canal, 14 concave part, 15 outer peripheral part, 21 housing part, 22 microphone part, 2
3 Speaker part, 24 Adapter part, 25 Tube part, 26
Ear plug part, 27 speaker unit, 28 microphone unit, 29 space part, 31 housing part, 32 battery storage part,
33 electronic board, 34 battery cover, 41 hanger spring, 42 cover, 43 mounting hole, 44 slide shaft, 45 flange portion, 46 locking portion, 47 locking screw, 48 screw hole, 49 recess, 50 projecting piece

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsunobu Miyahara 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mounting device, comprising: a mounting portion, in which a speaker portion is configured and located in a depression of an auricle; and an ear hook portion, which supports the mounting portion and is hung on an outer periphery of the auricle. An electroacoustic transducer characterized in that the length of the ear hook portion can be adjusted so as to be extendable and contractable, and the angle can be adjusted so as to be freely rotatable. 2. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein a shape memory alloy is used for a core material of the ear hook portion. 3. The electroacoustic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the ear hook portion is provided with a cover made of an elastic material so as to cover the core material. 4. The ear hook has a slide shaft at an end on the mounting portion side, the slide shaft is fitted into a mounting hole provided on the mounting portion side, and the slide shaft is mounted on the mounting hole. 2. The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the length adjustment or the angle adjustment is performed by sliding or rotating the device.