Driver holder, driver module and earphone

Abstract

A driver holder is arranged inside the housing. The driver holder has a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, and a driver is accommodated inside the cylindrical portion. Further, the cylindrical portion is pressed into a module case arranged inside the housing. Here, an opening portion on the axial one end side of the cylindrical portion constitutes a first sound channel portion that communicates the driver with the outside of the housing. Further, a groove portion formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion constitutes a second sound channel portion that communicates with the first sound channel portion and is extended to a microphone arranged outside the cylindrical portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a driver retainer, a driver module, and an earpiece. Background Technology

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-126509 discloses a technology in which a partition is provided inside a part of the earphone shell, namely the earbud corresponding to the aforementioned external ear canal insertion portion, and a microphone channel is formed outside the driver channel. These channels communicate with the user's external ear canal and the driver housing and microphone housing provided inside the shell, respectively. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0004] However, in the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-126509, since the microphone channel is formed by the housing, there is a problem that the channel cannot be easily changed in order to optimize the acoustic characteristics.

[0005] Furthermore, the microphone channel needs to be sealed, but in the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-126509, the housing is formed by assembling multiple parts, making it difficult to ensure the channel's sealing during assembly. Additionally, the positional relationship between the driver and the microphone is unstable, and assembly-related deviations are prone to occur.

[0006] This disclosure addresses the aforementioned issues and aims to provide a driver holder, driver module, and headset that allows for easy modification of the microphone channel while ensuring airtightness and improving assemblability.

[0007] Technical means to solve the problem

[0008] The driver holder according to the first embodiment is a driver holder that holds a driver inside a hollow housing, comprising: a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, configured to house the driver on its inner side and pressable into a holder insertion portion disposed inside the housing; a first channel portion forming an opening at one axial end of the cylindrical portion, allowing the driver to communicate with the outside of the housing; and a second channel portion formed by a groove formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion, communicating with the first channel portion and extending to a microphone disposed on the outside of the cylindrical portion.

[0009] According to the first embodiment, the driver retainer is disposed inside the housing. The driver retainer has a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, and the driver is housed inside the cylindrical portion. Furthermore, the cylindrical portion is configured to be pressed into a retainer insertion portion inside the housing. Thus, the driver disposed inside the housing is held by the driver retainer.

[0010] Here, the opening at one axial end of the cylindrical section forms a first channel section that connects the driver to the outside of the housing. As a result, the sound signal output by the driver is radiated to the outside through the first channel section.

[0011] Furthermore, a second channel portion is formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion. This second channel portion is composed of a groove formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion, communicates with the first channel portion, and extends to a microphone disposed on the outside of the cylindrical portion. Thus, sound signals are transmitted to the microphone via the first and second channel portions.

[0012] Based on the above structure, changes to each channel section can be made simply by altering the shape of the driver retainer, thus simplifying the design without requiring modifications to the housing. Furthermore, these channel sections are sealed by pressing the cylindrical portion into the retainer insertion portion. Therefore, assembly can be performed while ensuring the airtightness of the second channel section for the microphone. Moreover, since the second channel section and driver retainer are integrally formed, the positional relationship between the driver and the microphone is stable. This helps to suppress deviations caused by assembly.

[0013] The actuator retainer involved in the second method is based on the structure described in the first method, and the actuator retainer is formed of an elastic material.

[0014] In the second approach, since the actuator retainer is formed of an elastic material, it can be easily pressed into the retainer insertion part by elastically deforming the cylindrical part, thereby improving the assemblability of the actuator retainer.

[0015] The third method involves a driver retainer based on the structure described in the first or second method, wherein a rib protruding from the surface of the cylindrical portion is formed, and the cylindrical portion is pressed into the retainer insertion portion while the rib is elastically deformed.

[0016] According to the third method, the cylindrical portion is pressed into the retainer insertion portion while the ribs are elastically deformed. This reduces the frictional resistance when pressing the cylindrical portion into the retainer insertion portion, thus improving workability during manufacturing.

[0017] The fourth embodiment of the actuator holder is based on the structure described in any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein the cylindrical portion is provided with an actuator pressing portion that extends radially inward from an opening on the other axial end side for insertion of the actuator, the actuator is accommodated inside the cylindrical portion beyond the actuator pressing portion, and is pressed axially to one side by the elastic force of the pressing portion.

[0018] According to the fourth method, the driver is pressed against the axial side of the cylindrical portion by the elastic force of the driver pressing part. Therefore, the sealing between the driver and the cylindrical portion is effectively improved near the first channel portion, thereby helping to improve the sealing of the first channel portion. In addition, during the manufacturing process, by passing over the driver pressing part, the operator can clearly confirm the proper position of the driver housed in the cylindrical portion through visual and tactile means, improving the assembly accuracy and workability of the product.

[0019] The fifth embodiment of the driver holder is based on the structure described in any one of the first to fourth embodiments, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion.

[0020] According to the fifth method, multiple grooves constituting the second channel portion are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion. This improves the shock absorption of the driver holder, resulting in increased shock resistance of the driver. Furthermore, it allows for a reduction in the outer diameter of the driver holder and the formation of a microphone channel optimally matched to acoustic characteristics.

[0021] The sixth embodiment of the driver retainer is based on the structure described in any one of the first to fifth embodiments, wherein the retainer insertion part is composed of a bottomed cylindrical module housing, and the cylindrical part is pressed into the module housing.

[0022] According to the sixth method, the retainer insertion part is composed of a bottomed cylindrical module housing, so the driver and channel parts can be easily modularized by pressing the driver retainer into the module housing.

[0023] The seventh embodiment of the driver retainer is based on the structure described in the sixth embodiment. The other axial end of the module housing is closed by a closing member, and a retainer pressing part is provided on the other axial end of the cylindrical part. The retainer pressing part is disposed between the closing member and the cylindrical part, and presses the cylindrical part toward the axial end.

[0024] According to the seventh method, a retainer pressing part is disposed between the sealing member of the module housing and the cylindrical part, pressing the driver retainer against one axial end. Therefore, by making the module housing closed, the cylindrical part can be pressed against one axial end, thereby stabilizing the positional relationship between the driver and the microphone and reducing deviations caused by assembly.

[0025] The driver holder according to the eighth embodiment is based on the structure described in the seventh embodiment, wherein the holder pressing part is provided with a microphone fixing part for fixing the microphone on the side opposite to the side that abuts against the cylindrical part.

[0026] In the driver retainer described in the eighth embodiment, a microphone fixing part is provided in the retainer pressing part, and the microphone is disposed inside the module housing. This allows for the modularization of the main functional components constituting the headphones, such as the driver, microphone, and channel unit, enabling them to be managed as components and thus providing excellent product manageability. Furthermore, by pre-componentizing the main components, installation operations on the housing side are simplified. Additionally, the module housing can be used with housings of various products with different shapes, thus providing excellent versatility.

[0027] The driver module involved in the ninth method has the driver holder involved in the first to eighth methods. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is easy to ensure the change and sealing of the microphone channel and improve the assemblability.

[0028] The earphone in the tenth method has the driver retainer in the first to eighth methods. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is easy to ensure the change and sealing of the microphone channel and improve the assemblability.

[0029] Invention Effects

[0030] According to this disclosure, it is possible to obtain a driver holder, a driver module, and an earphone that can easily ensure changes in the sound channel and the sealing of the microphone, and improve assemblability. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of the headphones according to the first embodiment.

[0032] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the driver module according to the first embodiment.

[0033] Figure 3 This is an axial longitudinal sectional view of the driver module according to the first embodiment.

[0034] Figure 4(A) is a perspective view of the driver retainer according to the first embodiment, and (B) is a view of the same driver retainer viewed from the front side in the axial direction.

[0035] Figure 5 (A) is a perspective view of the driver retainer according to the second embodiment, and (B) is a view of the same driver retainer viewed from the front side in the axial direction.

[0036] Figure 6 It is a graph showing the frequency characteristics of the driver at the microphone position relative to the changes in the second channel.

[0037] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the driver module according to the third embodiment.

[0038] Figure 8 This is an axial longitudinal sectional view of the driver module according to the third embodiment.

[0039] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the driver module according to the fourth embodiment.

[0040] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the driver module according to the fourth embodiment.

[0041] Figure 11 (A) is along Figure 9 (B) is a top sectional view along line 11A-11A. Figure 9 The longitudinal section view of line 11B-11B.

[0042] Figure 12 (A) is a top sectional view of the driver module according to the fifth embodiment, which is consistent with... Figure 11 (A) is the corresponding diagram, and (B) is a longitudinal sectional view of the driver module according to the fifth embodiment, which is consistent with... Figure 11 (B) The corresponding diagram.

[0043] Figure 13 This is an exploded perspective view of the driver module according to the sixth embodiment.

[0044] Figure 14 This is an axial longitudinal sectional view of the driver module according to the sixth embodiment.

[0045] Figure 15 This is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of the headphones according to the seventh embodiment.

[0046] Figure 16 This is a perspective view of the driver module according to the seventh embodiment.

[0047] Figure 17This is an exploded perspective view of the driver module according to the seventh embodiment.

[0048] Figure 18 This is a perspective view of the substrate assembly according to the seventh embodiment.

[0049] Figure 19 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the driver module according to the seventh embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0050] [First Implementation Method]

[0051] Below, refer to Figures 1-4 The earphone 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. In this specification, for ease of explanation, when wearing the earphone 1, the tympanic membrane side of the external auditory canal is referred to as the anterior side, and the entrance side or auricle side of the external auditory canal is referred to as the posterior side.

[0052] (Overall structure)

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, the earphone 1 has a hollow housing 10 that houses functional components inside. The housing 10 is formed by fitting a front housing 12 and a rear housing 14 together.

[0054] The front housing 12 is integrally formed into a cylindrical shape with the shape of a truncated cone, gradually narrowing in diameter from the rear side to the front side. As a result, the front housing 12 has a shape that protrudes towards the user's tympanic membrane.

[0055] An external auditory canal insertion portion 16, protruding from the top of the truncated cone portion toward the tympanic membrane, is provided at the front end of the front housing 12. The external auditory canal insertion portion 16 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape with the front-rear direction as the axis, and a housing opening 18, which communicates between the inside and outside of the front housing 12, is provided at the center of the bottom surface 16A constituting the front end portion. The driver module 9, which will be described later, is housed inside the external auditory canal insertion portion 16.

[0056] A receiver 20 is mounted on the outer periphery of the ear canal insertion portion 16. The receiver 20 is also referred to as an earplug, ear pad, or ear cap, and is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber. The receiver 20 has a cylindrical portion 20A that is embedded in the outer periphery of the ear canal insertion portion 16. The cylindrical portion 20A is configured such that a fitting groove 21 provided on the inner periphery fits into a fitting protrusion 16B provided on the outer periphery of the ear canal insertion portion 16. A hemispherical cover-shaped fitting portion 20B is integrally provided at the top end of the cylindrical portion 20A, which unfolds to cover the entire cylindrical portion 20A. The fitting portion 20B is configured to fit tightly against the wall of the user's ear canal and seal the ear canal when the earphone 1 is used.

[0057] The rear housing 14 is formed as a shallow chassis that opens to the front and is configured to close the opening at the rear of the front housing 12.

[0058] A printed circuit board 2 is disposed within the receiving space formed by the rear of the front housing 12 and the rear housing 14. The printed circuit board 2 is a substrate on which electronic components necessary for controlling the headphones 1 are mounted. For example, depending on the intended use of the headphones 1, it controls output signals from the driver 3 (described later), adjusts the sensitivity of the microphone 4, cancels noise bands and levels, and performs various controls for personal authentication via the headphones. The printed circuit board 2 is arranged with its thickness generally along its front-to-back direction, and has mounting surfaces on both its front and rear surfaces. In this embodiment, a flexible substrate 6 connected to the driver module 9 via a connector 5 and a charging terminal 7 for the headphones 1 are connected to the mounting surface of the front surface of the printed circuit board 2. Furthermore, a battery 8 is disposed at the rear of the printed circuit board 2.

[0059] (Driver Module)

[0060] Next, refer to Figures 2-4 The structure of the driver module 9 will be described in detail. Inside the module housing 30 that forms the outer casing, the driver module 9 sequentially houses, from front to back, a driver holder 40, a driver 3, a microphone holder 60, and a microphone substrate 70 on which the microphone 4 is mounted.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, the module housing 30 is formed as a bottomed cylindrical shape that opens to the rear. A module opening 34, which connects the inside and outside of the module housing 30, is provided in the center of the bottom wall 32 constituting the front end. The module opening 34 has approximately the same external dimensions as the housing opening 18 and is coaxially arranged. The module housing 30 is formed, for example, by deep drawing a metal material such as iron or aluminum using a stamping press. Furthermore, the opening on the rear end side (the other end side axially) of the module housing 30 is closed by a metal closure member 36. The module housing 30 corresponds to the "retainer insertion part" in this disclosure, into which the driver retainer 40, described later, is inserted.

[0062] The actuator retainer 40 is formed as a long strip with its long side in the rear-rear direction. The actuator retainer 40 is composed of a cylindrical portion 42 integrally formed into a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the actuator 3 is housed inside the cylindrical portion 42. The actuator retainer 40 is formed of an elastic material capable of elastic deformation. In this embodiment, as an example, the actuator retainer 40 is formed of an elastomer material such as TPE (Thermoplastic elastomer) or TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane). The actuator retainer 40 is configured to be pressed in from the axial rearward side of the module housing 30, with its surface portion in close contact with the inner surface of the module housing 30.

[0063] The cylindrical portion 42 is formed as a cylinder with the front-to-back direction as the axis and is open in the front-to-back direction. The cylindrical portion 42 is pressed into the module housing 30 and is in close contact with the inner surface of the module housing 30, thereby forming the first channel portion SP1 and the second channel portion SP2.

[0064] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the first channel section SP1 is formed by an opening on the axial front end side (one side) of the cylindrical section 42. More specifically, the first channel section SP1 is formed by a through hole 44 that extends through the front wall 42A covering the front end of the cylindrical section 42 in the front-rear direction. When the cylindrical section 42 is pressed into the module housing 30, the first channel section SP1 becomes a channel that connects the driver 3 to the user's external auditory canal. Furthermore, by adjusting the thickness of the front wall 42A and the inner diameter of the through hole 44, the volume of the first channel section SP1 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the volume in front of the driver 3.

[0065] The second channel portion SP2 is formed by a groove portion 46 on the surface of a cylindrical portion 42. When the cylindrical portion 42 is pressed into the module housing 30, the second channel portion SP2 becomes a channel communicating with the first channel portion SP1 and extending within the module housing 30 to the microphone 4 (described later). The groove portion 46 includes a transverse groove portion 46A formed in the front wall 42A of the cylindrical portion 42, a first longitudinal groove portion 46B formed in the outer peripheral portion 42B, and a second longitudinal groove portion 46C formed in the extension portion 42C (described later) of the cylindrical portion 42. The transverse groove portion 46A extends radially from the periphery of the through hole 44 formed in the front wall 42A along the cylindrical portion 42 and communicates with the first channel portion SP1. The first longitudinal groove portion 46B is continuously disposed at its radially outer end of the cylindrical portion 42, and extends axially along the cylindrical portion 42. A second longitudinal groove 46C with an extension 42C is continuously provided from the rear end of the first longitudinal groove 46B.

[0066] An extension portion 42C is disposed at the end of the outer peripheral portion 42B on the axial rear end side (the other end side). The extension portion 42C is a plate-shaped member that extends axially rearward from the opening 48 disposed at the rear end of the outer peripheral portion 42B, with the thickness direction being the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 42. The extension portion 42C is a curved surface whose radially outer surface is continuous with the outer peripheral portion 42B, and is in close contact with the inner surface of the module housing 30. A second longitudinal groove portion 46C is formed on the radially outer surface of the extension portion 42C, which is continuously disposed with the first longitudinal groove portion 46B. The second longitudinal groove portion 46C communicates with a side through hole 47 that penetrates the extension portion 42C in the thickness direction. The second longitudinal groove portion 46C communicates with the sound hole 4A of the microphone 4 through the side through hole 47, via the through holes 64A and 70A formed in the microphone holder 60 and the microphone substrate 70 described later.

[0067] Ribs 50 (50A, 50B, 50C) protruding toward the module housing 30 are integrally provided on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42. The ribs 50 are, for example, triangular ribs. When the cylindrical portion 42 is pressed into the module housing 30, the tips of the triangular ribs elastically deform and fit tightly against the inner surface of the module housing 30. That is, the ribs 50 reduce the contact area between the surface of the cylindrical portion 42 and the inner surface of the module housing 30, thereby reducing frictional resistance during pressing. Furthermore, they simultaneously ensure the airtightness of the first channel portion SP1 and the second channel portion SP2.

[0068] Multiple ribs 50A are disposed on the outer periphery 42B of the cylindrical portion 42. Each rib 50A extends axially along the cylindrical portion 42 and is spaced at predetermined intervals circumferentially on the outer periphery 42B. Furthermore, a pair of ribs 50A are disposed on both sides of the first channel portion SP1. The multiple ribs 50A are the portions that elastically deform during the initial pressing into the module housing 30. Because they extend along the insertion direction of the cylindrical portion 42, they effectively reduce the frictional resistance between the module housing 30 and the cylindrical portion 42. Furthermore, the ribs 50A are in close contact with the inner surface of the module housing 30 on both sides of the first longitudinal groove portion 46B, thus sealing the second channel portion SP2. Ribs 50B extend circumferentially along the outer periphery 42B, connecting the upper ends of each rib 50A. These ribs 50B ensure that the outer periphery 42B is in close contact with the inner surface of the module housing 30 circumferentially. Furthermore, rib 50C is disposed on the radially outer side of extension 42C, extends around the second longitudinal groove 46C, and is in close contact with the inner surface of module housing 30 at the periphery of the second longitudinal groove 46C.

[0069] On the other hand, a driver pressing part 52 is integrally provided on the axial rear end side (other end side) of the cylindrical portion 42. The driver pressing part 52 forms the periphery of the opening 48 and extends radially inward from the outer peripheral portion 42B in an eave-like shape. In this embodiment, a driver receiving part DC is provided between the front wall 42A of the cylindrical portion 42 and the driver pressing part 52. The driver 3 is received in the driver receiving part DC in such a way that the driver pressing part 52 elastically deforms forward while passing over the driver pressing part 52. In the state where the driver 3 is received, the inner surface of the driver receiving part DC is in close contact with the driver 3. In addition, the inner diameter (diameter of the inner peripheral surface) of the driver receiving part DC is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the driver 3. Thus, if the driver 3 is received in the driver receiving part DC, the outer peripheral surface of the driver 3 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the driver receiving part DC and is sealed. In addition, the driver pressing part 52 uses elastic restoring force to press the driver 3 from the rear to the front, so that the front surface of the driver 3 is in close contact with the periphery of the first channel part SP1.

[0070] Furthermore, the driver 3 includes a magnetic circuit, a diaphragm, and other components for generating an output signal within a cylindrical housing with the front-to-back direction as the axis, and can appropriately utilize known structures. The diaphragm of the driver 3 is positioned at the front end of the housing and outputs a sound signal to the user's external auditory canal via the first channel section SP1.

[0071] A microphone retainer 60, serving as a retainer press portion, is disposed behind the driver retainer 40. The microphone retainer 60 is a plate-shaped member bent into a generally L-shape, and is positioned between the cylindrical portion 42 of the driver retainer 40 and the closing member 36 when the module housing 30 is closed. The microphone retainer 60 is, for example, formed of resin material.

[0072] The microphone holder 60 has a lower wall portion 62 that abuts against the rear surface of the driver holder 40 and a longitudinal wall portion 64 that is erected vertically from the upper surface of the lower wall portion 62 toward the rearward side. An opening 63 is provided in the lower wall portion 62 that abuts against the rear surface of the driver holder 40, extending through the lower wall portion 62 in the axial direction (thickness direction) to communicate between the inside and outside of the driver housing DC. This opening 63 is provided to release the back pressure generated when the vibrating plate of the driver 3 vibrates to the rear space of the driver 3. Furthermore, as described later, the opening 63 also serves as an opening for the wiring 72 connected to the driver 3 to pass through. On the other hand, the longitudinal wall portion 64 abuts against the radially inner surface of the extension portion 42C of the driver holder 40. When the microphone holder 60 is in the closed module housing 30 state, the rear end of the longitudinal wall portion 64 is pressed by the closing member 36. Thus, the lower wall portion 62 and the longitudinal wall portion 64 are configured to press the cylindrical portion 42 toward the axially forward end.

[0073] In the longitudinal wall portion 64 of the microphone holder 60, a microphone fixing portion 66 is provided on the surface opposite to the surface abutting the extension portion 42C. A microphone substrate 70 is fixed to the microphone fixing portion 66 by methods such as fixing with pressure-sensitive adhesive or claw engagement. The microphone substrate 70 is arranged longitudinally with its thickness direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the module housing 30, and a microphone 4 is mounted on a mounting surface opposite to the inner surface of the module housing 30. A wiring 72 extending from the rear of the driver 3 is connected to the microphone substrate 70. The wiring 72 is connected to the microphone substrate 70 through an opening 63 formed in the lower wall portion 62 of the microphone holder 60. Alternatively, in this disclosure, the microphone substrate 70 is not essential, and the microphone may be directly fixed to the microphone fixing portion 66.

[0074] Microphone 4 is suitable for the functions of earphone 1, such as noise cancellation, personal authentication, pulse detection, etc. For example, like a feedback microphone for noise cancellation, microphone 4 is used as a vibration sensor to collect sound in the external auditory canal and measure vibrations, pressure changes, etc. in the audible and non-audible frequency bands of the external auditory canal.

[0075] The microphone 4 is located on a microphone substrate 70 in a vertical orientation, and its sound-collecting hole 4A, which corresponds to the internal diaphragm, is open in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the module housing 30. The sound hole 4A communicates with the side through-hole 47 of the extension portion 42C of the driver holder 40 through the through holes 64A and 70A formed in the longitudinal wall portion 64 of the microphone holder 60 and the microphone substrate 70. Thus, sound (vibration) in the external auditory canal reaches the microphone 4 via the second channel portion SP2.

[0076] The microphone 4 is arranged axially on the inner side of the module housing 30, in front of and behind the cylindrical portion 42 of the driver holder 40. By arranging the driver holder 40 and the microphone 4 in this front-and-back configuration, the module housing 30 can be miniaturized in the radial direction, and the module housing 30 can be integrally disposed within the external auditory canal.

[0077] In this embodiment, the microphone substrate 70 and the printed circuit board 2 are connected by a flexible substrate 6. The flexible substrate 6 is formed in the shape of a long strip, such as... Figure 3 As shown, it is connected to the rear end of the microphone substrate 70. The other end of the flexible substrate 6 passes through the insertion portion 37 of the sealing member 36 and protrudes outward toward the outside of the module housing 30. The flexible substrate 6 is accommodated in a flexed state in the rear receiving space of the housing 10 (see reference). Figure 1 ).

[0078] The driver module 9 described above is assembled as follows: After the driver 3 is housed in the driver holder 40, the microphone holder 60, microphone substrate 70, microphone 4, and flexible substrate 6, which are pre-assembled in the driver holder 40, are further secured. Then, the driver 3 and microphone substrate 70 are connected by wiring 72. Subsequently, they are pressed as a single unit into the inside of the module housing 30, and the rear opening of the module housing 30 is closed by the closing member 36, thus completing the assembly (modularization) of the driver module 9.

[0079] In this embodiment, a sheet-like pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 is provided between the module housing 30 and the driver holder 40, and between the driver holder 40 and the microphone holder 60, to join the two together. The pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 is provided to stabilize the positioning of the components during module assembly, but it is not essential from the viewpoint of ensuring airtightness within the module housing 30. That is, this embodiment can utilize the elastic force of the driver holder 40 to ensure airtightness within the module housing 30. Therefore, from the viewpoint of reducing the number of components, a structure in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 is not provided within the module housing 30 is also possible.

[0080] (Functions and effects)

[0081] The earphone 1 according to this embodiment has been described above. However, when the earphone 1 has a noise cancellation function, noise entering the ear canal from the outside reaches the microphone 4 through the first channel portion SP1 and the second channel portion SP2 formed in the module housing 30. The noise reaching the microphone 4 is converted into an electrical signal by the microphone 4. The electrical signal corresponding to the converted noise is input to the control unit of the printed circuit board 2 to generate a noise cancellation signal with opposite phase. By converting the noise cancellation signal into an audio signal and outputting it from the driver 3, noise cancellation can be performed.

[0082] Furthermore, when the earphone 1 has a biometric authentication function, for example, by utilizing the differences in the shape of each individual's external auditory canal, a sound signal is output from the driver 3, and a response signal generated within the external auditory canal is acquired by the microphone 4. Then, the frequency analysis of the response signal acquired by the microphone 4 is performed by the control unit, thereby enabling individual authentication.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the driver holder 40 has a cylindrical portion 42 formed of an elastic material, and the driver 3 is housed inside the cylindrical portion 42. Moreover, the cylindrical portion 42 is configured to be pressed into the holder insertion portion, i.e., the module housing 30, inside the housing 10. Thus, the driver 3 disposed inside the housing 10 is held by the driver holder 40.

[0084] Here, the through hole 44 provided on the axial front end side (one end side) of the cylindrical portion 42 constitutes a first channel portion SP1 that connects the driver 3 and the user's external auditory canal. As a result, the sound signal output by the driver 3 is radiated to the user's external auditory canal (outside the housing 10) via the first channel portion SP1.

[0085] Furthermore, a second channel portion SP2 is formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42. This second channel portion SP2 is composed of a groove portion 46 formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42, communicates with the first channel portion SP1, and extends to the microphone 4 disposed on the outer side (rear side) of the cylindrical portion 42. Thus, the sound signal in the user's external auditory canal is transmitted to the microphone 4 via the first channel portion SP1 and the second channel portion SP2.

[0086] Based on the above structure, changes to each channel section only require altering the shape of the driver holder 40, thus simplifying the design without requiring modifications to the housing 10. Furthermore, these channel sections (SP1, SP2) are sealed by pressing the cylindrical portion 42 into the module housing 30. Therefore, assembly can be performed while ensuring the sealing of the second channel section SP2 for the microphone. Moreover, since the second channel section SP2 is integrally formed with the driver holder 40, the positional relationship between the driver 3 and the microphone 4 is stable. This helps to suppress deviations caused by assembly.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the actuator holder 40 is formed of an elastic material, it can be easily pressed into the module housing 30 by elastically deforming the cylindrical portion 42, thus improving assemblability. Additionally, since the actuator 3 is housed within the actuator holder 40, shock absorption performance is improved.

[0088] Furthermore, in this embodiment, ribs 50A, 50B, and 50C protruding from the surface of the cylindrical portion 42 are formed. The cylindrical portion 42 is pressed into the module housing 30 while the ribs 50A, 50B, and 50C are elastically deformed. This reduces the frictional resistance when pressing the cylindrical portion 42 into the module housing 30, thereby improving workability during manufacturing.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the driver 3 is pressed towards the axially forward side (one side) of the cylindrical portion 42 by the elastic force of the driver pressing part 52. This effectively improves the seal between the driver 3 and the cylindrical portion 42 near the first channel portion SP1, thereby contributing to improved seal of the first channel portion SP1. Moreover, during the manufacturing process, by passing over the driver pressing part 52, the operator can clearly confirm the proper position of the driver 3 within the cylindrical portion 42 through visual and tactile means, thus improving the assembly accuracy and workability of the product.

[0090] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the retainer insertion part is formed by a bottomed cylindrical module housing 30. Therefore, by pressing the driver retainer 40 into the module housing 30, the driver 3 can be easily modularized with the first channel part SP1 and the second channel part SP2.

[0091] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a microphone holder 60, serving as a holder pressing part, is disposed between the closing member 36 of the module housing 30 and the cylindrical portion 42, pressing the driver holder 40 towards the axial front end side (one end side). Therefore, by keeping the module housing 30 in a closed state, the cylindrical portion 42 can be pressed against the axial front end side, thereby stabilizing the positional relationship between the driver 3 and the microphone 4 and reducing deviations caused by assembly.

[0092] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since a microphone retainer 66 is provided in the microphone retainer 60, which serves as a retainer press part, the microphone 4 is disposed within the module housing 30. This allows the main functional parts of the earphone 1, such as the driver 3, microphone 4, and channel section, to be modularized and managed as components, resulting in excellent product manageability. Moreover, by pre-componentizing the main components, the installation process on the housing 10 side can be simplified. For example, in this embodiment, the module housing 30 (driver module 9) can be installed on the housing 10 simply by using pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 to join the bottom wall 32 of the module housing 30 to the bottom surface 16A of the ear canal insertion part 16. Furthermore, by modularizing the driver 3 and microphone 4 using the module housing 30, they can be used in multiple products with different shapes, resulting in excellent versatility.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by arranging the microphone 4 and microphone substrate 70 in a vertical orientation, the microphone 4 and cylindrical portion 42 can be arranged front-to-back along the axial direction. As a result, the external dimensions of the module housing 30 can be designed to match the shape of the driver 3 (driver holder 40), thereby miniaturizing the driver module 9 in the radial direction.

[0094] That is, when the microphone is housed in a lateral orientation inside the module housing, the microphone substrate on which the microphone is mounted is also in a lateral orientation (an orientation with the axial direction being the thickness direction). Therefore, compared to a structure where the microphone is arranged in a vertical orientation, the module housing becomes larger in the radial direction in order to ensure the width of the microphone substrate. In this respect, by arranging the microphone in a vertical orientation, the radial enlargement of the module housing 30 is effectively suppressed.

[0095] Furthermore, from the perspective of miniaturizing the module housing 30, by making the module housing 30 a metal material, the thickness of the side walls and bottom walls of the housing can be reduced compared to the case where it is formed of other materials such as resin, which helps to miniaturize the housing.

[0096] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the driver module 9 is disposed inside the ear canal insertion portion 16 of the housing 10, the accommodating space for other components inside the housing 10 can be expanded. Thus, for example, by expanding the battery accommodating space, the battery can be enlarged, thereby increasing the battery capacity of the earphone 1.

[0097] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the microphone 4 is located behind the driver 3, the microphone 4 will not obstruct the sound output of the driver 3, thus eliminating the undesirable situation where the desired acoustic characteristics cannot be obtained.

[0098] Furthermore, since the driver module 9 is disposed inside the external auditory canal insertion portion 16, the volume in front of the driver 3 can be reduced. The volume in front of the driver refers to the volume of the driver's anterior chamber formed inside the housing between the driver and the external auditory canal. That is, in this embodiment, because the volume in front of the driver can be reduced, the attenuation of high-frequency characteristics within the external auditory canal can be suppressed.

[0099] [Second Implementation]

[0100] The driver holder 40 according to the first embodiment described above has a second channel portion SP2 integrally formed as a groove on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42. In contrast, as... Figure 5 As shown, the driver holder 80 according to the second embodiment is characterized in that a second channel portion SP2 is constituted by a plurality of interconnected grooves 82 formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42. Other structures are the same as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to refer to structural parts that are the same as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0101] The plurality of grooves 82 constituting the second channel section SP2 include: five transverse grooves 82A formed on the front wall 42A of the cylindrical section 42; and five first longitudinal grooves 82B continuously disposed with each transverse groove 82A and formed on the outer periphery 42B of the cylindrical section 42. These transverse grooves 82A and first longitudinal grooves 82B are structures equivalent to the transverse grooves 46A and first longitudinal grooves 46B in the first embodiment described above. The five transverse grooves 82A extend radially outward from the periphery of the through hole 44 formed in the center of the front wall 42A, and are arranged radially as a whole when viewed from the axial direction. Furthermore, the five first longitudinal grooves 82B are continuously formed with the radially outer ends of each transverse groove 82A and extend axially on the surface of the outer periphery 42B. In other words, the five first longitudinal grooves 82B are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumference of the outer periphery 42B.

[0102] Furthermore, a circumferential groove 82C extending circumferentially along the surface of the outer peripheral portion 42B is formed behind the five first longitudinal groove portions 82B. The circumferential groove 82C connects the rear ends of the five first longitudinal groove portions 82B to each other in the circumferential direction and communicates with each first longitudinal groove portion 82B. Furthermore, a second longitudinal groove 82D is formed behind the circumferential groove 82C. The second longitudinal groove 82D is formed on the surface of the extension portion 42C of the cylindrical portion 42. The second longitudinal groove 82D extends axially rearward from the circumferential groove 82C and communicates with the side through hole 47 of the extension portion 42C. The second longitudinal groove 82D has a structure equivalent to the second longitudinal groove 46C in the first embodiment described above.

[0103] In the structure of the second channel section SP2 described above, the sound from the user's external auditory canal passes sequentially through the first channel section SP1, the horizontal groove section 82A, the first vertical groove section 82B, the circumferential groove section 82C, and the second vertical groove section 82D to reach the sound hole 4A of the microphone 4.

[0104] The driver holder 80 described above is essentially the same as the driver holder 40 described in the first embodiment, and therefore achieves the same function and effect. Furthermore, in this embodiment, to form the second channel portion SP2, a plurality of grooves 82 (82A, 82B, 82C, 82D) are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42. These grooves 82 improve the shock absorption performance of the cylindrical portion 42. This, in turn, improves the shock resistance of the driver 3.

[0105] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second channel portion SP2 can be easily changed, and the microphone's audio signal can be adjusted to the desired high-frequency characteristics. That is, in the second embodiment described above, a structure is formed with five transverse grooves 82A and five first longitudinal grooves 82B on the front wall 42A and outer peripheral portion 42B of the cylindrical portion 42, respectively. However, this disclosure is not limited to this; the number of transverse grooves 82A and the first longitudinal grooves 82B, their respective cross-sectional areas, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the second channel portion SP2 can be changed as needed. The number of transverse grooves 82A and the first longitudinal grooves 82B need to be one or more, and can be appropriately increased or decreased. In addition, if the cross-sectional area of ​​the second channel portion SP2 is changed, the characteristics of the audio signal obtained at the microphone 4 position via the second channel portion SP2 change, thus allowing the audio signal of the microphone 4 to be adjusted to the desired high-frequency characteristics.

[0106] Here, refer to Figure 6 This describes the change in frequency characteristics of the sound signal output from the driver 3 at the microphone 4 position due to the change in the second channel section SP2. In each embodiment, when the user is wearing headphones corresponding to each embodiment and a sound signal is output from the driver 3, the sound pressure level obtained at the microphone 4 position is confirmed by simulation. Figure 6 The relative frequency characteristics (relative difference) of the driver sound source at the microphone 4 position in Examples 2 and 3, based on Example 1, are shown. Figure 6 In the graph, the horizontal axis represents the frequency [Hz] of the sound signal output from driver 3, and the vertical axis represents the sound pressure level [dB] at the microphone 4.

[0107] [Example 1]

[0108] In the earphone of Embodiment 1, a transverse groove 46A, a first longitudinal groove 46B, and a second longitudinal groove 46C are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion of the driver holder. That is, in Embodiment 1, the second channel portion SP2 is formed with the same structure as the driver holder 40 of the first embodiment described above (see...). Figure 4 ).

[0109] [Example 2]

[0110] In the earphone of Embodiment 2, five transverse grooves 82A, five first longitudinal grooves 82B, one circumferential groove 82C, and one second longitudinal groove 82D are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion of the driver holder. That is, in Embodiment 2, the second channel portion SP2 is formed with the same structure as the driver holder 80 of the second embodiment described above (see...). Figure 5 ).

[0111] [Example 3]

[0112] In the earphone of Embodiment 3, ten transverse grooves 82A, ten first longitudinal grooves 82B, one circumferential groove 82C, and one second longitudinal groove 82D are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion of the driver holder. That is, in Embodiment 3, the basic structure is the same as that of the driver holder 80 of the second embodiment described above, but each has ten transverse grooves 82A and ten first longitudinal grooves 82B formed on the front wall 42A and outer peripheral portion 42B of the cylindrical portion 42, and the second channel portion SP2 is formed in a manner that is equally spaced along the circumference.

[0113] like Figure 6 As shown, by changing the shape of the second channel portion formed in the driver holder, the frequency characteristics at the microphone 4 position can be adjusted in the high-frequency range. Therefore, according to the second embodiment described above, the microphone's audio signal can be adjusted to the desired high-frequency characteristics.

[0114] Furthermore, as in the second embodiment described above, by providing multiple slots 82 on the surface of the cylindrical portion 42, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second channel portion SP2 can be easily ensured. Therefore, by correspondingly reducing the height dimension (radial dimension) of a single slot 82, the outer diameter dimension of the cylindrical portion 42 can be set to be smaller, and the module housing 30 can be miniaturized in the radial direction.

[0115] [Third Implementation Method]

[0116] like Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, in the third embodiment, a microphone fixing portion 96 is integrally provided on the extension 94 of the driver holder 92. That is, it is characterized by having a structure equivalent to the microphone fixing portion 66 of the driver holder 40 and microphone holder 60 in the first embodiment. Furthermore, it is characterized by providing a holder pressing portion 98B on the closing member 98. Other structures are the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for structural parts identical to those in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0117] In this embodiment, the driver holder 92, the driver 3, and the microphone substrate 70 on which the microphone 4 is mounted are sequentially housed from front to rear inside the module housing 30, which constitutes the housing of the driver module 90. Furthermore, the rear opening of the module housing 30 is closed by a resin sealing member 98.

[0118] The driver retainer 92 has an extension 94 integrally provided on the axial rear end side (other end side) of the cylindrical portion 42. The extension 94 is a plate-shaped member that extends rearward from the axial rear end of the outer peripheral portion 42B, forming part of the cylindrical portion 42. Similar to the extension 42C in the first embodiment, the extension 94 has a second longitudinal groove 46C forming the second channel portion SP2 formed on its radially outer surface. On the other hand, a microphone fixing portion 96 is provided on the radially inner surface of the extension 94, and the microphone substrate 70 is fixed by a method such as fixing based on pressure-sensitive adhesive or claw fitting. In addition, a side through hole 95 is provided in the extension 94 to communicate the second longitudinal groove 46C with the sound hole 4A of the microphone 4.

[0119] The sealing member 98 has a cover 98A that closes the rear opening of the module housing 30, and a retainer pressing part 98B that hangs down from the inside of the cover 98A facing axially forward. The retainer pressing part 98B is formed in a block shape, and when the module housing 30 is closed, its front end presses the cylindrical part 42 axially forward. Furthermore, the radially inner side of the retainer pressing part 98B supports the extension part 94 by pushing the microphone 4 and the microphone substrate 70 toward the extension part 94 via the buffer 100. As a result, the positions of the driver 3 and the microphone 4 are stabilized by the sealing member 98, thereby improving assemblability. In addition, the airtightness of the first channel part SP1 and the second channel part SP2 can be improved.

[0120] In the driver holder 92 described above, the structure is basically the same as that of the driver holder 40 according to the first embodiment, thus achieving the same function and effect. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by integrally providing the microphone fixing part 96 on the driver holder 92, a microphone holder structure is created that does not require separate construction from the driver holder, thereby reducing the number of components in the driver module 90 and assembly time. Moreover, since the holder pressing part 98B is integrally provided on the sealing member 98, the positions of the driver 3 and microphone 4 are stable. As a result, the assemblability of the driver module 90 is improved.

[0121] [Fourth Implementation Method]

[0122] exist Figures 9-11 In the driver module 110 of the fourth embodiment shown, a microphone 4 is disposed on the side of the driver 3 inside the module housing 112. Furthermore, in this fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for structural parts that are the same as in the first embodiment described above, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0123] The module housing 112 is flat in the left-right direction (orthogonal to the axial direction) and is a bottomed cylindrical shape that opens to the rearward side in the axial direction. A module opening 34 is provided at one end of the bottom wall 114 of the module housing 112 in the left-right direction, allowing communication between the inside and outside of the module housing 112. Furthermore, a driver retainer 116, which is flat in the left-right direction and cylindrical in shape, is pressed into the interior of the module housing 112.

[0124] The driver holder 116 is formed as a cylindrical shape with one end open laterally in the left-right direction and the inner side being a driver receiving portion DC. The driver 3 is inserted into the driver receiving portion DC through an opening 48 on the axial rear end side corresponding to the driver receiving portion DC. In addition, a driver pressing portion 52 is integrally provided in the opening 48. Furthermore, the opening on the axial front end side corresponding to the driver receiving portion DC is formed by a through hole 44 that axially penetrates the front wall 116A of the driver holder 116, and this through hole 44 forms the first channel portion SP1.

[0125] On the other hand, a concave receiving portion is formed on the outer periphery 116B at the other end in the left-right direction of the driver holder 116, which serves as a microphone fixing portion 118. A microphone substrate 70 on which the microphone 4 is mounted is fixed to the microphone fixing portion 118. Furthermore, the microphone substrate 70 is connected to the aforementioned driver 3 at the rear of the driver holder 116 via a wiring 72 extending in the left-right direction. One end of the microphone substrate 70 is connected to the flexible substrate 6. The other end of the flexible substrate 6 protrudes outward from the module housing 112 through the insertion portion 37 of the closing member 120 that closes the module housing 112 from the rear. Alternatively, a structure in which the microphone is directly fixed to the microphone fixing portion 118 without the microphone substrate 70 is also possible.

[0126] like Figure 11 (A) and Figure 11 As shown in (B), a sound hole 4A is formed on the lower surface of the microphone 4, which opens toward the microphone fixing part 118. The sound hole 4A is connected to the second channel part SP2 via a through hole 70A that penetrates the microphone substrate 70 in the thickness direction.

[0127] The second channel portion SP2 is integrally formed with the driver retainer 116. The second channel portion SP2 includes a transverse groove 122A formed on the surface of the front wall 116A of the driver retainer. The transverse groove 122A extends from the periphery of the through hole 44 to the other end in the left-right direction. The transverse groove 122A is pressed into the module housing 112 by the driver retainer 116, and the front wall 116A of the driver retainer 116 abuts against the bottom wall 114 of the module housing 112, forming a channel communicating with the first channel portion SP1. In addition, the second channel portion SP2 includes a transverse hole 122B continuously provided with the other end in the left-right direction of the transverse groove 122A, and a longitudinal hole 122C continuously provided with the rear end of the transverse hole 122B. The transverse hole 122B extends axially rearward from the front wall 116A of the driver retainer 116 and is connected to the lower end of the longitudinal hole 122C. The longitudinal hole 122C passes through the microphone fixing part 118 side of the driver holder 116 and communicates with the sound hole 4A of the microphone 4.

[0128] According to the above structure, the second channel portion SP2 is composed of a transverse groove portion 122A, a transverse hole portion 122B, and a longitudinal hole portion 122C, and extends from the first channel portion SP1 to the microphone 4. Thus, sound from outside the module housing 112 reaches the microphone 4 via the first channel portion SP1 and the second channel portion SP2.

[0129] In this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment described above, the second channel section SP2 for the microphone is formed by pressing the driver holder 116 into the module housing 112. Therefore, it is possible to easily ensure the modification and sealing of the second channel section SP2 and improve the assemblability.

[0130] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a microphone 4 is arranged inside the module housing 112 on the side of the driver 3, thus enabling the module housing 112 and the driver holder 116 to be miniaturized in the axial direction.

[0131] [Fifth Implementation Method]

[0132] Figure 12 (A) and Figure 12 (B) The driver module 130 of the fifth embodiment basically follows the structure of the driver module 110 of the fourth embodiment, but differs in that the second channel section SP2 and the first channel section SP1 are not connected. In addition, in this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to mark the structural parts that are the same as those in the fourth embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0133] In the module housing 112 of the driver module 130, a module opening 34 is formed at one end of the bottom wall 114 in the left-right direction, and a channel module opening 132 is formed at the other end in the left-right direction. The channel module opening 132 is formed by a through hole that penetrates the bottom wall 114 in the thickness direction, so that the outside of the module housing 112 is connected to the second channel part P2.

[0134] The second channel section SP2 is located to the side of the first channel section SP1 for the driver, and is composed of a transverse hole 122B and a longitudinal hole 122C through which the front wall 116A and the outer peripheral section 116B of the driver retainer 116 pass.

[0135] The structure of the fifth embodiment described above is basically the same as that of the fourth embodiment, so the same function and effect can be obtained. In addition, the surface shape of the front wall 116A that affects the sealing of the first channel SP1 and the second channel SP2 can be simplified in the surface of the driver holder 116, so the contact surface with the module housing 112 is stable and the sealing of each channel is improved.

[0136] [Sixth Implementation Method]

[0137] The following is for reference Figure 13 and Figure 14 The driver module 200 according to the sixth embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same structural parts as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted. The driver module 200 according to the sixth embodiment is characterized in that two microphones 400A and 400B can be accommodated inside the module housing 210.

[0138] like Figure 13As shown, the interior of the module housing 210, from front to back, sequentially houses a driver holder 220, a driver 3, a first microphone holder 230, a first microphone substrate 70A with a first microphone 400A mounted thereon, a second microphone holder 240, and a second microphone substrate 70B with a second microphone 400B mounted thereon.

[0139] The module housing 210 is formed as a bottomed cylindrical shape that opens to the rearward side in the axial direction. A module opening 214 is provided in the center of the bottom wall 212 of the module housing 210 to communicate between the inside and outside of the module housing 210. In addition, the module housing 210 has a channel receiving portion 216 formed by a portion of the outer periphery protruding radially outward.

[0140] The driver retainer 220 is formed as a cylindrical shape with axially open front and rear sections, and is pressed in from the rear opening of the module housing 210. The driver retainer 220 substantially follows the structure of the driver retainer 40 of the first embodiment, having a cylindrical portion 222 and an extension 224 integrally formed at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 222. A first channel portion SP1 is formed in the front wall 222A of the cylindrical portion 222 through a through hole 44. Furthermore, a second channel portion SP2 is formed through a groove 46 formed on the surfaces of the cylindrical portion 222 and the extension 224 in communication with the first channel portion. The structures of the first and second channel portions SP1 and SP2 are the same as in the first embodiment, therefore detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0141] The driver retainer 220 has a radially raised outer periphery of the second channel portion SP2, which is thicker than other parts. This thick-walled portion is accommodated in the channel receiving portion 216 of the module housing 210 when the driver retainer 220 is pressed into the module housing 210. By forming the second channel portion SP2 as thick-walled, the driver retainer 220 achieves miniaturization by thinning the outer diameter of the portion other than the second channel portion SP2. Ribs 50 surrounding the second channel portion SP2 are also formed on the surface of the driver retainer 220, and the tips of the ribs 50 elastically deform to fit tightly against the inner surface of the channel receiving portion 216. This results in a second channel portion SP2 with excellent sealing properties.

[0142] like Figure 14 As shown, the driver 3 is inserted from the opening 226 on the rear end side of the cylindrical portion 222 into the driver receiving portion DC formed inside the cylindrical portion 222 of the driver holder 220. A first microphone holder 230 is disposed on the rear side of the driver 3. The first microphone holder 230 basically follows the structure of the microphone holder 60 of the first embodiment, and is formed into a plate-like member bent into a generally L-shape by a lower wall portion 232 that abuts against the rear surface of the driver holder 220 and a longitudinal wall portion 234 that is erected vertically from the upper surface of the lower wall portion 232 toward the axial rearward side.

[0143] The lower wall portion 232 has an opening 236 extending through it in the axial direction (thickness direction), through which a wiring 72 connected to the rear surface of the driver 3 is led out to the rear. In the longitudinal wall portion 234, the extension 224 of the driver holder 220 abuts against the outer surface facing the inner surface of the module housing 210, forming a curved surface that is substantially in the same plane as the extension 224. A first microphone fixing portion 66A is provided on the inner surface of the longitudinal wall portion 234 on the opposite side of the outer surface. A first microphone substrate 70A is fixed to the first microphone fixing portion 66A using a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

[0144] The first microphone substrate 70A is arranged in a vertical orientation, similar to the microphone substrate 70 of the first embodiment. A first microphone 400A is provided on the mounting surface opposite to the first microphone fixing portion 66A in the first microphone substrate 70A. The sound hole of the first microphone 400A communicates with the second channel portion SP2 through through holes (all denoted by reference numerals omitted) formed in each of the first microphone substrate 70A, the longitudinal wall portion 234 of the first microphone holder 230, and the extension portion 224 of the driver holder 220. Thus, sound (vibration) from within the external auditory canal reaches the first microphone 400A via the second channel portion SP2. The first microphone 400A is used, for example, for noise cancellation in a feedback manner. The first microphone substrate 70A is connected to a strip-shaped first flexible substrate 6A and is electrically connected to a printed circuit board 2 within the housing 10 via a connector 5 provided at the top of the first flexible substrate 6A.

[0145] A second microphone holder 240 is disposed on the rear side of the first microphone holder 230. Like the first microphone holder 230, the second microphone holder 240 follows the structure of the microphone holder 60 of the first embodiment in its basic structural part, and is formed into a plate-like member bent into a generally L-shape by the lower wall portion 242 and the longitudinal wall portion 244.

[0146] The second microphone holder 240 is configured in a posture opposite to that of the first microphone holder 230 in the front-rear direction and is housed inside the module housing 210, offset from the first microphone holder 230. In this state, the longitudinal wall portions 234 and 244 of the first and second microphone holders 230 and 240 are arranged opposite each other within the module housing 210. Furthermore, the lower wall portion 242 of the second microphone holder 240 abuts against the rear surface of the longitudinal wall portion 234 of the first microphone holder 230, thereby closing the opening at the rear end of the module housing 210. Two insertion portions 246 are formed in the lower wall portion 242 for the passage of the first flexible substrate 6A connected to the first microphone substrate 70A and the second flexible substrate 6B connected to the second microphone substrate 70B (described later).

[0147] In the longitudinal wall portion 244, a sheet-like washer 250 abuts against the outer surface facing the inner surface of the module housing 210, forming a curved surface that is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the longitudinal wall portion 244. This washer 250 is formed using the same elastic material as the driver retainer 220; in this embodiment, for example, an elastomer material such as TPE or TPU is used. The washer 250 is configured to be pressed between the longitudinal wall portion 244 of the second microphone retainer 240 and the module housing 210. Furthermore, by tightly adhering both surfaces of the washer 250 to the outer surface of the longitudinal wall portion 244 and the inner surface of the module housing 210, a sealed third channel portion SP3 is formed, connecting the inside and outside of the module housing 210. The third channel portion SP3 is constituted by a through hole 252 formed through the washer 250. The through hole 252 is coaxially configured with the through hole 218 formed on the outer periphery of the module housing 210, allowing communication between the inside and outside of the user's ear canal. In addition, a rib 50 surrounding the third channel section SP3 is formed on the surface of the gasket 250, similar to that of the driver retainer 220. The top of the rib 50 is elastically deformed to fit tightly against the inner surface of the module housing 210.

[0148] In the longitudinal wall portion 244, a second microphone fixing portion 66B is provided on the inner side opposite to the outer side of the second microphone holder 240. A second microphone substrate 70B is fixed to the second microphone fixing portion 66B using pressure-sensitive adhesive. The second microphone substrate 70B is arranged in a longitudinal orientation, similar to the first microphone substrate 70A, and is positioned behind the first microphone substrate 70A. In the second microphone substrate 70B, a second microphone 400B is mounted on the mounting surface opposite to the second microphone fixing portion 66B. The sound hole of the second microphone 400B communicates with the third channel portion SP3 through through holes (notation omitted) formed in each of the longitudinal wall portions 244 of the second microphone substrate 70B and the second microphone holder 240. Thus, sound (vibration) from outside the ear canal reaches the second microphone 400B via the third channel portion SP3. The second microphone 400B is used, for example, for feedforward noise cancellation. The second microphone substrate 70B is connected to the elongated second flexible substrate 6B, and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 2 inside the housing 10 via a connector 5 disposed at the top of the second flexible substrate 6B.

[0149] Assembly of the driver module 200 according to the sixth embodiment described above begins in the following state: the driver 3 is pre-accommodated in the driver holder 220, and the first microphone holder 230 fixes the first microphone substrate 70A, the first microphone 400A, and the first flexible substrate 6A. Then, the driver holder 220 and the first microphone holder 230 are fixed with pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 and pressed into the module housing 210 in a modular state. Thereafter, the second microphone holder 240, which has been pre-fixed with the second microphone substrate 70B, the second microphone 400B, the second flexible substrate 6B, and the gasket 250, is inserted into the module housing 210, and the assembly is completed by closing the opening on the rear end side of the module housing 210 with the second microphone holder 240. In addition, pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 is also disposed between the module housing 210 and the driver holder 220.

[0150] The driver module 200 described above basically follows the structure of the driver module 9 in the first embodiment, and therefore can achieve the same function and effect. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first microphone 400A for feedback noise cancellation and the second microphone 400B for feedforward noise cancellation are modularly integrated with the driver 3, which improves noise cancellation performance.

[0151] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the first microphone holder 230 and the second microphone holder 240 are composed of generally L-shaped plate-like members arranged in opposite orientations and housed staggered within the module housing 210. This allows for a reduction in the axial space for housing the first and second microphones 400A and 400B, enabling miniaturization of the module housing 210. While the above embodiment features a front-to-back arrangement of the first microphone 400A and the second microphone 400B within the module housing 210, this is not a limitation. Arranging the first microphone 400A and the second microphone 400B in a relative configuration further minimizes the axial size of the module housing 210.

[0152] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first microphone 400A is used for noise cancellation, but it is not limited to this and can also be used as a vibration sensor to measure vibrations, pressure changes, etc. in the audible and inaudible frequency bands within the external auditory canal.

[0153] [Seventh Implementation Method]

[0154] The following is for reference Figures 15-19This section describes the driver module 300 according to the seventh embodiment and the earphone 302 using the driver module 30. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same structural parts as in the first embodiment described above, and their descriptions are omitted. In the driver module 300 according to this seventh embodiment, a portion of the module housing 310 is exposed from the housing 304.

[0155] like Figure 15 As shown, the earphone 302 has a hollow housing 304 that houses functional components. The housing 304 is formed by fitting a front housing 304A and a rear housing 304B together. The front housing 304A is integrally formed into a cylindrical shape with a truncated cone shape, and an opening 306 is provided at the top of the truncated cone portion to communicate between the inside and outside of the front housing 304A. A driver module 300 is inserted into this opening 306. The rear housing 304B is formed into a shallow chassis shape that opens to the front and is configured to close the opening at the rear of the front housing 304A.

[0156] The receiving space formed by the front housing 304A and the rear housing 304B houses a box-shaped inner housing 308 that opens to the front. The battery 8 is held inside the inner housing 308. Within the receiving space, a first printed circuit board 2A is disposed on the front side of the inner housing 308, and a second printed circuit board 2B is disposed on the rear side of the inner housing 308. The first and second printed circuit boards 2A and 2B are arranged with their thickness direction roughly in the front-back direction, and electronic components required for controlling the earphone 302 are provided on their mounting surfaces. The charging terminal 7 of the earphone 302 is connected to the first printed circuit board 2A disposed on the front side of the inner housing 308. Figure 15 (Not shown in the figure) and the baseboard assembly 330 connected to the driver module 300 via connector 5.

[0157] A module housing 310, constituting the outer shell of the driver module 300, is inserted into a housing opening 306 formed at the front end of the front housing 304A. The module housing 310 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape that opens to the rear, and a module opening 314 is provided in the center of the bottom wall 312 constituting the front end, which communicates between the inside and outside of the module housing 310. The top end of the module housing 310 protrudes forward from the front of the front housing 304A and is disposed in the user's external auditory canal.

[0158] Here, a handset 309 is mounted on the top (front) end of the module housing 310. The handset 309 has a cylindrical portion 309A that is embedded in the outer periphery of the module housing 310, and a hemispherical cover-shaped fitting portion 309B integrally provided on the top end of the cylindrical portion 309A. A first groove 316 is formed in a circumferential annular shape on the top end of the module housing 310, and a fitting protrusion 309C provided on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 309A of the handset 309 fits into the first groove 316, and the handset 309 is mounted on the module housing 310.

[0159] like Figure 16 As shown, an annular second groove 318 is formed in the middle of the module housing 310. A vent 319 is formed in this second groove 318 to connect the inside and outside of the module housing 310 (see reference). Figure 17 The air pressure inside the module housing 310 is adjusted to optimize the operation of the driver 3. An annular vent 322 made of mesh material is installed in the second slot 318 to prevent external foreign matter from entering through the vent 319. Furthermore, an annular third slot 320 is formed at the rear end of the module housing 310. An annular third substrate portion 336 constituting the substrate assembly 330 described later is installed in this third slot 320.

[0160] like Figure 17 As shown, inside the module housing 310, from front to rear, are sequentially housed a driver holder 40, a driver 3, a microphone holder 60, and a substrate assembly 330 on which a microphone 4 is mounted. The opening at the rear end of the module housing 310 is closed by a sealing member 350. The structures of the driver holder 40, the driver 3, and the microphone holder 60 are the same as in the first embodiment, therefore detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0161] like Figure 18 As shown, the substrate assembly 330 is formed by connecting a plate-shaped printed circuit board and a sheet-shaped flexible substrate, and includes a first substrate portion 332, a second substrate portion 334, and a third substrate portion 336. The first substrate portion 332 is composed of a plate-shaped printed circuit board and is fixed to the microphone fixing portion 66 of the microphone holder 60. This first substrate portion 332 is arranged in a vertical position within the module housing 310, similar to the microphone substrate 70 in the first embodiment. In the first substrate portion 332, a microphone 4 is mounted on the mounting surface opposite to the microphone fixing portion 66. The sound hole of the microphone 4 communicates with the second channel portion SP2 through through holes (all reference numerals omitted) formed in each of the first substrate portion 332, the longitudinal wall portion 64 of the microphone holder 60, and the extension portion 224 of the driver holder 40. In addition to the microphone 4, a thermistor 340 for measuring the temperature around the driver module 300 is also mounted on the mounting surface of the first substrate portion 332.

[0162] The second substrate portion 334 is formed as a strip extending axially from the end of the first substrate portion 332 along the module housing 310, and is made of a flexible substrate. The top end of the second substrate portion 334 is electrically connected to the first printed circuit board 2A inside the housing 304 via a connector 5.

[0163] The third substrate portion 336 is formed as a strip extending circumferentially from the end of the first substrate portion 332 along the module housing 310, and is made of a flexible substrate. This third substrate portion 336 has pads, which can be used, for example, for a capacitive proximity sensor. In this case, by forming the module housing 310 with a metallic material, the capacitive capacitance can be further increased, thereby improving the performance of the proximity sensor. The third substrate portion 336 extends through a slit 324 (see reference) formed on the outer periphery of the module housing 310. Figure 19 It is led out to the outside and installed in the annular third slot 320.

[0164] like Figure 19 As shown, a sealing member 350 is disposed on the rear side of the microphone holder 60. The sealing member 350 has a cover portion 350A that closes the opening on the rear side of the module housing 310, and a holder pressing portion 350B that is erected vertically from the inside of the cover portion 350A facing the axially forward side. The basic structure of the sealing member 350 follows the structure of the sealing member 98 according to the third embodiment, so detailed description is omitted. However, when the module housing 310 is closed by the cover portion 350A, the longitudinal wall portion 64 of the microphone holder 60 and the holder pressing portion 350B are disposed opposite each other inside the housing, and a first substrate portion 332 with a microphone 4 is disposed between the longitudinal wall portion 64 and the holder pressing portion 350B. The holder pressing portion 350B presses the longitudinal wall portion 64 of the microphone holder 60 with a lateral (radial) force via the first substrate portion 332, so that the driver holder 40 is in close contact with the module housing 310. Furthermore, the second substrate portion 334 of the substrate assembly 330 is led out to the outside of the module housing 310 through the insertion portion 352 formed in the cover portion 350A.

[0165] Assembly of the driver module 300 according to the seventh embodiment described above begins in the following state: the driver 3 is pre-accommodated in the driver holder 40, and the first substrate portion 332 of the substrate assembly 330 is fixed to the microphone holder 60. Then, the driver holder 40 and the microphone holder 60 are fixed with pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 and pressed into the module housing 310 in a modular state. At this time, the third substrate portion 336 of the substrate assembly 330 is pulled out from the slit 324 of the module housing 310 and wound around the third groove 320 on the outer periphery of the module housing 310. Thereafter, the assembly is completed by closing the opening on the rear end side of the module housing 310 by the closing member 350. In addition, a front mesh 74A is provided on the module opening 314 of the module housing 310 covered by the annular pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 that bonds the driver holder 40 and the microphone holder 60 to prevent dust and the like from entering. In addition, pressure-sensitive adhesive 74 is also disposed between the module housing 310 and the driver retainer 40, and between the microphone retainer 60 and the enclosure member 350.

[0166] The driver module 300 described above basically follows the structure of the driver module 9 in the first embodiment, and therefore achieves the same function and effect. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a portion of the driver module 300 is disposed outside the housing 304, and is inserted into the user's ear canal from the exposed top side of the housing 304. That is, the ear canal insertion portion of the earphone 302 is constituted by the module housing 310. This allows for easy handling of requirements regarding the reduced diameter of the ear canal insertion portion of the earphone 302.

[0167] [Additional Explanation]

[0168] The above describes one example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the structures in the above embodiments can be omitted, replaced, or modified.

[0169] For example, in the above embodiments, the driver retainers 40, 80, 92, 116, 220 and the washer 250 are formed from an elastomeric material. However, this disclosure is not limited to this; any elastic material capable of elastic deformation is acceptable. For example, it could also be made of silicone rubber. Furthermore, when the driver retainer of this disclosure is made of conductive silicone with conductive filler material mixed into the silicone rubber, static electricity can be prevented during driver module assembly and headphone use.

[0170] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, ribs 50A, 50B, and 50C are formed by triangular ribs, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The shape of the ribs can be hemispherical or trapezoidal.

[0171] Furthermore, in the first to sixth embodiments described above, the driver modules 9, 90, and 200 are arranged inside the external auditory canal insertion portion 16, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. The driver modules 9 and 90 can be arranged only in the portion of the housing 10 on the tympanic membrane side; for example, they can also be arranged behind the external auditory canal insertion portion 16. Alternatively, as with the driver module 300 of the seventh embodiment described above, a portion of the driver module 300 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 304.

[0172] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the driver 3 and microphones 4, 400A, and 400B are housed within the module housing 30, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. Other components, such as the microphone 4, besides the driver 3 and driver holder 40, may be disposed outside the module housing 30. Furthermore, the microphone 4 is not limited to a structure disposed behind the driver 3; it may also be disposed to the side of the driver.

[0173] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the retainer insertion portion is constituted by the module housing 30, but this disclosure is not limited to this. The retainer insertion portion may also be disposed within the housing 10. For example, the external auditory canal insertion portion 16 may be used as the retainer insertion portion, and the driver retainer 40 may be directly pressed into the external auditory canal insertion portion 16. Alternatively, a bottomed cylindrical receiving portion communicating with the external auditory canal insertion portion may be integrally formed behind the external auditory canal insertion portion 16 inside the housing 10, and this receiving portion may be used as the retainer insertion portion.

[0174] Furthermore, the housings 10 and 304 in the above embodiments are merely examples; any housing that internally houses the structural components of the earphone is acceptable. The shape and size of the housing can be varied. Furthermore, the earphones in the above embodiments are so-called wireless earphones, but this disclosure is not limited to this; earphones connected to a terminal via a wire can also be used. Additionally, the earphones can be either for binaural or monoaural use. Furthermore, the driver module and driver holder of the above embodiments can also be applied to wearable devices.

[0175] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-170811, filed on October 8, 2020, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0176] All documents, patent applications and technical specifications described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if they were described individually and separately by reference.

Claims

1. A driver module comprising: drive; A microphone with a sound hole for collecting sound; A driver retainer holds the driver inside a hollow housing. The driver holder includes: The cylindrical portion is formed in a cylindrical shape and is configured to house the driver on its inner side and be pressable into a retainer insert disposed inside the housing; The first channel portion includes an opening at one axial end of the cylindrical portion, allowing external communication between the driver and the driver holder; and The second channel portion is formed by a groove on the surface of the cylindrical portion, communicates with the first channel portion, and extends to the microphone disposed on the outside of the cylindrical portion. The microphone is located inside the driver module and is arranged axially back and forth with the cylindrical portion.

2. The driver module according to claim 1, wherein, The actuator retainer is formed of an elastic material.

3. The driver module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Ribs protruding from the surface of the cylindrical portion are formed thereon. The cylindrical portion is pressed into the retainer insertion portion while the rib is elastically deformed.

4. The driver module according to claim 1, wherein, The cylindrical portion is provided with a driver pressing part that extends radially inward from an opening at the other end of the axial direction into which the driver is inserted. The driver extends beyond the driver pressing part and is housed inside the cylindrical part, and is pressed axially to one side by the elastic force of the driver pressing part.

5. The driver module according to claim 1, wherein, A plurality of grooves are formed on the surface of the cylindrical portion.

6. The driver module according to claim 1, wherein, The retainer insertion part is composed of a bottomed cylindrical module shell. The cylindrical portion is pressed into the module housing.

7. The driver module according to claim 6, wherein, The other end of the module housing is closed by a sealing member. A retainer pressing part is provided at the other end of the cylindrical part along the axial direction. The retainer pressing part is disposed between the closing member and the cylindrical part, and presses the cylindrical part toward one end of the axial direction.

8. The driver module according to claim 7, wherein, The retainer pressing part has a microphone fixing part for fixing the microphone on the side opposite to the side that abuts against the cylindrical part.

9. An earphone, comprising: case; The driver module as claimed in claim 1 is configured inside the housing.

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