Somatosensory sound device

Abstract

Provided is a somatosensory acoustic device capable of maintaining an appropriate relationship between a volume level and a vibration level when changing the volume. A somatosensory acoustic device (100) is provided with: an operation unit (140) that is operated by a user; a speaker (122) disposed at a position that can be heard by the user; an amplifier (120) that outputs, from the speaker (122), a signal obtained by amplifying the input audio signal with a first gain; vibrators (132, 134) disposed at positions at which vibrations can be transmitted to a user; a vibrator drive unit (130) that vibrates the vibrators (132, 134) using a signal obtained by amplifying the audio signal with a second gain; and gain setting units (144, 146) for setting the first and second gains in accordance with the amount of operation of the operation unit (140) by the user, the first and second gains having different gain characteristics in the setting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a body sensing audio device that outputs sound and vibration corresponding to an audio signal toward a user. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a known body-sensing sound device that improves the sense of presence by converting a low-frequency component signal extracted from an audio signal into mechanical vibration and directly feeling the mechanical vibration on the body, in addition to the acoustic effect of an audio device that transmits musical sound through air propagation like a speaker (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this body-sensing sound device, after the volume of the input musical sound signal is adjusted by a volume adjustment unit, the signal amplified by the amplifier is output from the speaker, and the body-sensing sound unit is vibrated by the signal after the low-frequency component is amplified.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-301542 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems that the invention will solve

[0007] In the body sensing sound device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the volume of the input musical sound signal is set by the volume adjustment unit. However, the volume setting is performed based on the operation of the user (vehicle passenger) and is set according to the preference of each user.

[0008] However, generally speaking, when the volume setting value is changed, there is a difference between the degree of change in the somatosensory level of the volume output from the speaker and the degree of change in the somatosensory level of the vibration of the somatosensory audio unit. Therefore, even if the user feels that the somatosensory level of the volume and the somatosensory level of the vibration are balanced and appropriate at a certain volume setting value, when the volume setting value is changed, the balance of the somatosensory levels that were previously felt to be appropriate will be destroyed. Specifically, when the volume setting value that once felt that each somatosensory level was appropriate is lowered, the somatosensory level of the vibration of the somatosensory audio unit becomes too small and the vibration is almost unnoticeable. On the contrary, when the volume setting value is increased, the somatosensory level of the vibration of the somatosensory audio unit becomes too large and feels annoying.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a body-sensing sound device capable of maintaining an appropriate relationship between a volume level and a vibration level when the volume is changed.

[0010] Means for solving problems

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the body sensing sound device of the present invention comprises: an operation unit operated by a user; a speaker arranged at a position where the user can hear; an amplifier, which outputs a signal obtained by amplifying an input audio signal with a first gain from the speaker; a vibration unit arranged at a position where vibration can be transmitted to the user; a vibration driving unit, which vibrates the vibration unit using a signal obtained by amplifying the audio signal with a second gain; and a gain setting unit, which sets the first and second gains corresponding to the user's operation amount on the operation unit, and in this setting, the first and second gains have different gain characteristics.

[0012] By outputting a sound corresponding to the audio signal from the speaker and generating a corresponding vibration using the vibration unit, a somatosensory acoustic space based on sound and vibration can be realized. In particular, by making the gain for setting the volume level of the speaker different from the gain for setting the vibration level of the vibration unit, it is possible to prevent the balance of these somatosensory levels from being destroyed, and to maintain an appropriate relationship between the volume level and the vibration level when changing the volume.

[0013] In addition, it is desirable that the gain setting unit includes: a first gain setting unit that sets the first gain in a manner corresponding to the operation amount; and a second gain setting unit that sets the second gain in a manner corresponding to the operation amount, and makes the change amount of the second gain when the operation amount changes less than the change amount of the first gain. This can prevent the vibration level of the vibration unit from being felt to be too small when the volume level of the output sound of the speaker is reduced, and conversely, the vibration level of the vibration unit from being felt to be too large when the volume level of the output sound of the speaker is increased.

[0014] In addition, it is desirable that the above-mentioned vibration part is arranged on the surface and / or the inside of the seat on which the user sits. In particular, it is desirable that the above-mentioned vibration part is arranged on the seat surface and / or the backrest of the seat. In addition, it is desirable that the above-mentioned speaker is arranged on the surface and / or the inside of the headrest of the seat on which the user sits. In this way, by using the seat on which the user sits to set the speaker and the vibration part, the user can use the somatosensory audio system using sound and vibration as long as he sits on the seat without installing special equipment.

[0015] In addition, it is desirable that the first gain and the second gain are proportional to the operation amount, and the respective proportional constants are set to different values. This makes it easy to adjust the discomfort caused by the imbalance between the volume level and the vibration level when the volume is changed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing the structure of a body sensing audio device according to one embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2This is a diagram showing the correspondence between the operation amount of the operation unit and the gain of the amplifier and the vibrator driving unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Below, while referring to the attached Figure 1 A body sensing audio device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0019] Figure 1 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a body-sensing sound device according to one embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the body sensing sound device 100 of this embodiment includes an audio output unit 110, an amplifier 120, a speaker 122, a vibrator driving unit 130, vibrators 132, 134, an operation unit 140, an operation amount detection unit 142, and gain setting units 144, 146. The body sensing sound device 100 is mounted on a vehicle user (driver, other passengers), and can feel the sound and vibration corresponding to the audio sound with the body.

[0020] The audio output unit 110 outputs a signal (audio signal) of music that the user wants to hear. The music is not limited to specific types such as music reproduced by an audio / video reproduction device or a television receiver, music distributed by an Internet receiving device, and voice, but also widely includes sounds produced by musical instruments including sounds in a frequency band audible to the user, human singing, and other sounds existing in nature.

[0021] The amplifier 120 amplifies the audio signal output from the audio output unit 110 at a predetermined gain (first gain) and outputs the amplified audio signal from the speaker 122. The speaker 122 is disposed on the surface and / or inside of the headrest 210 of the user's seat 200 and is located close to the user's ears so that the user can easily hear the outputted audio sound. It is desirable to use two speakers 122 on the left and right so that different audio sounds can reach the left and right ears of the user.

[0022] The vibrator driving unit 130 drives the vibrators 132 and 134 to vibrate by using a signal obtained by amplifying the audio signal output from the audio output unit 110 with a predetermined gain (second gain). The vibrators 132 and 134 are arranged on the surface and / or inside of the user's seat 200, and the user can easily feel the generated vibration with his body. Specifically, the vibrator 132 on one side is arranged on the surface and / or inside of the backrest 220 of the seat 200, and the generated vibration is transmitted to the back of the user. In addition, the vibrator 134 on the other side is arranged on the surface and / or inside of the seat surface 230 of the seat 200, and the generated vibration is transmitted to the thigh of the user.

[0023] The operation unit 140 is operated by a user who wants to change the volume. The operation amount detection unit 142 detects the operation amount of the operation unit 140 by the user. These operation units 140 and the operation amount detection unit 142 may also use any components. For example, consider the case where the rotation amount (rotation angle) of the rotating component is used as the operation amount and is detected in an analog or digital manner, or the case where the operation amount is determined by detecting the number of operations and operation time of each of the increase button and the decrease button.

[0024] The gain setting unit 144 sets the gain (first gain) of the amplifier 120 in accordance with the amount of operation of the operation unit 140 by the user detected by the operation amount detection unit 142. In addition, the gain setting unit 144 sets the gain (second gain) of the vibrator driving unit 130 in accordance with the amount of operation of the operation unit 140 by the user detected by the operation amount detection unit 142. In addition, the amount of change in the gain (second gain) of the vibrator driving unit 130 when the amount of operation of the operation unit 140 changes is set to be smaller than the amount of change in the gain (first gain) of the amplifier 120 when the amount of operation changes by the same amount.

[0025] Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the amount of operation of the operation unit 140 and the gain of the amplifier 120 and the vibrator driving unit 130. Figure 2 In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the operation amount expressed in steps (Japanese: step number), the minimum operation amount is step "0", and the maximum operation amount is step "30". In addition, the vertical axis represents the gain with the unit being dB. In addition, A represents the gain characteristic of the amplifier 120, and B represents the gain characteristic of the vibrator driving unit 130.

[0026] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the gain characteristics are set in such a manner that when the level as the operation amount is changed, if the gains A and B are compared, the change in the gain B of the vibrator driving unit 130 is smaller than the change in the gain A of the amplifier 120. Specifically, each of the gains A and B has a proportional relationship with the operation amount, and these gain characteristics are realized by setting the respective proportional constants to different values. By setting such a proportional constant, it is easy to adjust the inconsistency caused by the imbalance between the volume level and the vibration level when the volume is changed.

[0027] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, when the number of stages is "15", the gain A of the amplifier 120 and the gain B of the vibrator driving unit 130 are the same value. If the number of stages is reduced, the gain A of the amplifier 120 is greatly reduced, and the gain B of the vibrator driving unit 130 is reduced to a small extent. In addition, if the number of stages is increased from "15", the gain A of the amplifier 120 is greatly increased, and the gain B of the vibrator driving unit 130 is increased to a small extent.

[0028] The reason why the gain B increases sharply when the level changes from "0" to "1" is that the gain is reduced to avoid excessive vibration in the state of level "0" where no operation is performed, which has nothing to do with the gain setting in the present invention.

[0029] In this way, in the somatosensory sound device 100 of the present embodiment, a sound corresponding to the audio signal is output from the speaker 122, and corresponding vibrations are generated by the vibrators 132 and 134, so that a somatosensory sound space based on sound and vibration can be realized. In particular, by making the gain (first gain) for setting the volume level of the speaker 122 different from the gain (second gain) for setting the vibration level of the vibrators 132 and 134, these somatosensory levels can be adjusted to prevent the balance from being destroyed, and when the volume is changed, the appropriate relationship between the volume level and the vibration level can be maintained.

[0030] This can prevent the vibration level of vibrators 132 and 134 from being perceived as too low when the volume level of the output sound of speaker 122 is reduced, and vice versa, prevent the vibration level of vibrators 132 and 134 from being perceived as too high when the volume level of the output sound of speaker 122 is increased.

[0031] Furthermore, by using the seat 200 on which the user sits and installing the speaker 122 and the vibrators 132 and 134 , the user can use the body-sensing audio system using sound and vibration simply by sitting on the seat 200 without installing any special equipment.

[0032] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the main purpose of the present invention. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the speaker 122 and the vibrators 132 and 134 are arranged on the seat 200 mounted on the vehicle, but the present invention can also be applied to the case where the speaker 122 is arranged on the seat used in a place other than the vehicle. In addition, in the case of listening to audio sound using headphones (with built-in speakers), the vibrator 132 and the like are held in contact with the user's body by a belt, clothes, etc., and the present invention can also be applied.

[0033] Industrial Applicability

[0034] As described above, according to the present invention, a sound corresponding to an audio signal is output from a speaker, and a corresponding vibration is generated by a vibration unit, thereby realizing a somatosensory acoustic space based on sound and vibration. In particular, by making the gain for setting the volume level of the speaker different from the gain for setting the vibration level of the vibration unit, it is possible to prevent the balance of these somatosensory levels from being destroyed, and to maintain an appropriate relationship between the volume level and the vibration level when changing the volume.

[0035] Description of Reference Numerals

[0036] 100 Body-sensing sound device

[0037] 110 Audio output unit

[0038] 120 Amplifier

[0039] 122 Speakers

[0040] 130 Vibrator drive unit

[0041] 132, 134 Vibrator

[0042] 140 Operation Department

[0043] 142 Operation amount detection unit

[0044] 144, 146 Gain setting unit

Claims

1. A somatosensory audio device that outputs sound and vibration corresponding to an audio signal toward a user, characterized in that: have: An operating unit operated by a user; A speaker is arranged at a position where the user can hear it; an amplifier configured to output, from the speaker, a signal obtained by amplifying an input audio signal with a first gain; a vibration unit, arranged at a position capable of transmitting vibration to a user; a vibration driving unit that vibrates the vibration unit using a signal obtained by amplifying the audio signal with a second gain; as well as The gain setting unit sets the first gain and the second gain in accordance with an operation amount of the operation unit by a user, and sets the first gain and the second gain to have different gain characteristics.

2. The body sensing audio device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gain setting unit includes: a first gain setting unit that sets the first gain in a manner corresponding to the operation amount; and a second gain setting unit that sets the second gain in a manner corresponding to the operation amount, and makes the change in the second gain when the operation amount changes less than the change in the first gain.

3. The body sensing audio device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vibration unit is disposed on the surface and / or inside of a seat on which a user sits.

4. The body sensing audio device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vibration part is arranged on a seat surface and / or a backrest of the seat.

5. The body sensing audio device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The speaker is disposed on the surface and / or inside of a headrest of a seat on which a user sits.

6. The body sensing audio device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first gain and the second gain each have a proportional relationship with the operation amount, and respective proportional constants are set to different values.

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