Earphone

Abstract

Provided is a highly wearable earphone which is securely attached to the ear of a user while ensuring a high sound volume feeling and sound quality. An earphone (1) is provided with: a sound guide tube (3) which is made of a hard material and which is inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear; an earphone main body 2 connected to one end on the opposite side of the insertion direction of the acoustic conduit 3; and an elastically deformable ear ring 4 attached to the outer surface of the acoustic conduit 3. And the length of the sound guide pipe 3 on the central shaft is 5mm-13mm. The earrings (4) extend from the outer surface of the acoustic conduit (3) such that the angle of inclination with respect to the acoustic conduit (3) is 60-100 DEG. The earphone main body 2 extends in the direction opposite to the earring 4 at an inclined angle of 50-70 degrees with respect to the sound guide tube 3 from a connection portion with the sound guide tube 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an earphone that is worn by inserting an acoustic tube extending from an earphone body into an external auditory canal of a user's ear. Background Art

[0002] Normally, sound vibrations transmitted through the air reach the eardrum in the ear. These vibrations are then transmitted to the cochlea via the three ossicles located within the eardrum. The cochlea contains lymph fluid, and the vibrations of this fluid are converted into electrical signals and transmitted to the auditory nerve, which the brain interprets as sound.

[0003] Among headphones worn in the user's ears, there are air conduction headphones. These reproduce sound by applying an audio signal to a speaker located near the ear. The sound is then transmitted to the eardrum via air conduction. Air conduction headphones are broadly classified into two types: in-ear and earplug-type.

[0004] In-ear headphones (see, for example, Patent Document 1) are designed to be worn on the concha at the entrance to the ear. They offer the advantage of a low sense of pressure and ease of hearing surrounding sounds. In contrast, earbud headphones (see, for example, Patent Document 2) are designed to be worn with earbud-like earpieces inserted into the ear. These headphones offer the advantages of high sound isolation and minimal sound leakage.

[0005] Bone conduction headphones are also known as earphones that allow you to hear surrounding sounds even while wearing them. Bone conduction bypasses the process of vibrations passing through the eardrum and auditory ossicles in the air conduction mechanism, transmitting sound vibrations directly through the user's skull to the cochlea. As a result, even those with hearing impairments who have abnormalities in their eardrums or auditory ossicles can reliably hear sounds through bone conduction, as long as their cochlea and auditory nerve are functioning properly. Bone conduction headphones utilize this principle.

[0006] Various bone conduction earphones have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 3 proposes a bone conduction earphone with a completely waterproof and dustproof structure that provides no wearing sensation and partially controls acoustic characteristics (frequency characteristics) through a bone conduction microphone. Specifically, this bone conduction earphone comprises a rear cover and an earphone shell that houses the bone conduction microphone and a bone conduction speaker and is assembled to the rear cover. A hard resin earplug mounted on the earphone shell is covered with a sensor cover made of a softer material than the hard resin earplug.

[0007] Patent Document 4 also proposes a bone conduction earphone that resists positional shifting even with violent body movements. This bone conduction earphone consists of a holder that is inserted into the external auditory canal to retain the earphone, and a main body. The main body includes an elastic portion that connects a housing, which is vibrated by a motor converter, to the holder. Consequently, with this bone conduction earphone, when worn on the user's auricle, the elastic force of the elastic portion presses the housing against the inner surface of the intertragus notch (interauricular notch), making it less susceptible to positional shifting even with violent body movements.

[0008] Prior art literature

[0009] Patent Literature

[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-222492

[0011] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-145962

[0012] Patent Document 3: International Publication No. WO2013 / 118539

[0013] Patent document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-175144. Summary of the Invention

[0014] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0015] However, in-ear headphones have the disadvantages of low sound insulation and prone to sound leakage. In contrast, earbud headphones, because the earpieces are placed deep inside the ear, have the disadvantages of creating a strong sense of pressure on the ear and making it difficult to hear surrounding sounds. Therefore, there is a need for headphones that offer high sound insulation, prevent sound leakage, and do not cause a sense of pressure on the ear.

[0016] Furthermore, to improve the sound quality of headphones and ensure a high sense of volume and sound quality, the diameter of the diaphragm of the speaker housed in the headphone body is increased, which in turn increases the size of the headphone body. Furthermore, when adding features such as a microphone or noise cancellation, the battery and circuit board become larger, and the headphone body becomes larger and heavier. Conventional headphone structures have the problem of increasing the size and weight of the headphone body, making it easier for the headphone to fall off the ear or causing a greater sense of pressure on the ear, which can worsen the user's wearing experience.

[0017] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an earphone with high wearability that securely fits the user's ear while ensuring a high sense of volume and sound quality.

[0018] Solutions to Problems

[0019] To address the above-mentioned issues, the present invention provides an earphone comprising: an acoustic tube made of a hard material and inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear; an earphone body connected to one end opposite the insertion direction of the acoustic tube; and an elastically deformable earring attached to the outer surface of the acoustic tube. The length of the acoustic tube along the central axis is 5 mm to 13 mm. The earring extends from the outer surface of the acoustic tube at an inclination angle of 60 to 100 degrees relative to the acoustic tube. The earphone body extends from the connection portion with the acoustic tube at an inclination angle of 50 to 70 degrees relative to the acoustic tube, in a direction opposite to the earring.

[0020] The present invention also provides an earphone, which is the earphone described above, wherein the length of the center axis of the earphone body is 15 mm to 75 mm.

[0021] The present invention also provides an earphone, which is an earphone in which, when worn, the side of the sound duct abuts the tragus of the ear and is subjected to force that causes the earring to elastically deform and press the inner wall of the concha. At the same time, the reaction force of the inner wall of the concha on the earring generates a torque that causes the end of the earphone body to press the cheek.

[0022] The present invention further provides an earphone, wherein the earring is detachably mounted on the sound duct in the above earphone.

[0023] The present invention also provides an earphone, which is the earphone described above, wherein the length of the earring in the longitudinal direction is 12 to 20 mm.

[0024] The present invention also provides an earphone, wherein, in the above-mentioned earphone, the earring is formed by connecting two rings into one.

[0025] The present invention further provides an earphone, which is the earphone described above, wherein the sound duct and the earphone body are integrally formed.

[0026] The present invention further provides an earphone, wherein, in the above earphone, a speaker is built into the earphone body, and the speaker is arranged directly above the sound duct.

[0027] The present invention also provides an earphone, wherein the earphone is an air conduction earphone.

[0028] The present invention also provides an earphone, wherein the earphone is a bone conduction earphone.

[0029] The present invention also provides an earphone in which, in the above-mentioned earphone, the acoustic conduit includes at least one sensor for detecting biological information of the user.

[0030] Effects of the Invention

[0031] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an effect of ensuring a high sense of volume and sound quality while allowing the earphone to fit firmly on the user's ear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 is a side view of an earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 is a top view of an earphone according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 is a bottom view of an earphone according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an assembly and disassembly structure of an earring of an earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 is a side sectional view of a user's ear showing a wearing state of the earphone according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 1 is a diagram showing a substrate incorporated in an earphone according to a modified example of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of an acoustic conduit of an earphone according to a modified example of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an earphone according to a modified example of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 10 This figure shows the names of various parts of the auricle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] (Implementation method)

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 It is a perspective view of the earphone 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 It is a side view of the earphone 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 It is a top view of the earphone 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 4 It is a bottom view of the earphone 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 5 It is a partially exploded perspective view showing the attachment and detachment structure of the earring of the earphone 1 according to the present embodiment. Figure 6 1 is a side sectional view of the user's ear portion showing the wearing state of the earphone 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0044] In the following description, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The arrow directions indicate the “front and back” direction and the “up and down” direction respectively.

[0045] The "up and down" direction refers to the direction in which the earphone 1 is connected to the user's ear when the user wears the earphone 1 on the ear. In other words, it refers to the direction in which the earphone 1 is inserted into the ear or removed from the ear. The direction from the earphone 1 toward the user's ear, that is, the direction in which the earphone 1 is inserted into the ear, is defined as the "downward direction," and the direction from the user's ear toward the earphone 1, that is, the direction in which the earphone 1 is removed from the ear, is defined as the "upward direction."

[0046] The "front-back" direction is perpendicular to the "up-down" direction and connects the position where the earphone 1 contacts the tragus of the user's ear and the position where it contacts the inner wall of the concha when the user wears the earphone 1 on their ear. The direction from the earphone 1 toward the tragus, that is, toward the user's cheek, is referred to as the "backward" direction, and the direction from the earphone 1 toward the inner wall of the concha, that is, toward the back of the head, is referred to as the "forward" direction.

[0047] Here, the names of the various parts of the auricle are shown in 10. Figure 10 As shown, the tragus (also called ear lobe) is a protrusion on the side of the face located at the entrance of the external auditory canal. The curved part on the outside of the auricle is called the helix. Figure 10 The earphone 1 of the present invention also abuts the inner wall of the hymenopterus in the concha. As used herein, "inner wall of the concha" or "inner wall of the hymenopterus" refers to the wall that forms the edge of the concha or hymenopterus.

[0048] The earphone 1 of this embodiment is as follows Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 6 As shown, it includes an acoustic conduit 3, an earphone body 2, and an earring 4. It should be noted that the earphone 1 of this embodiment can be either a bone conduction earphone or an air conduction earphone, or can be an earphone having both bone conduction and air conduction functions.

[0049] The sound tube 3 is a rectangular rod-shaped component that is inserted through the external auditory canal of the user's ear into the external auditory canal, further inward than the tragus, with its side surface abutting the tragus. The sound tube 3 extends obliquely downward from the front end of the lower housing 2B of the earphone body 2. It should be noted that in the present invention, the shape of the sound tube can be any shape, as long as it is easily inserted through the external auditory canal into the external auditory canal, further inward than the tragus. For example, it can be any shape, such as a rod, a tube, a cylinder, or a polygonal prism.

[0050] The length of the sound tube 3 is a length that can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the user's ear, further inside the tragus. The length on the central axis of the sound tube 3 from the bottom surface of the earphone body 2 to the top of the sound tube 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is a length that can guide the speaker sound into the external auditory canal of the user's ear. For example, if it is 5 mm or more, the speaker sound can be reliably guided into the external auditory canal of the user's ear. In addition, if the length on the central axis of the sound tube 3 is, for example, 8 mm or more, the speaker sound can be more reliably guided into the external auditory canal of the user's ear. The length on the central axis of the sound tube 3 is not particularly limited and can be, for example, 13 mm or less, so that a comfortable wearing feeling can be given without causing the user to feel a sense of oppression. In addition, if the length on the central axis of the sound tube 3 is, for example, 10 mm or less, a more comfortable wearing feeling can be given without causing the user to feel further oppression.

[0051] It should be noted that the length of the sound tube in the present invention can be such that it extends at least 10 mm from the point of contact with the tragus in the user's external auditory canal. This length allows the speaker sound to be reliably directed into the user's external auditory canal when worn in a standard adult ear. Furthermore, this length allows the sound tube to securely contact the tragus, allowing the sound tube, earring, and earphone body to rock like a seesaw, ensuring a secure fit and secure fit.

[0052] The acoustic conduit 3 can be made of a solid component or a hollow component. For example, when the earphone 1 is a bone conduction earphone, the acoustic conduit 3 can be made of a solid component. Alternatively, when the earphone 1 is an air conduction earphone, the acoustic conduit 3 can be made of a hollow component.

[0053] The earphone body 2 is an elongated shell connected to the end of the acoustic conduit 3 on the side opposite to the insertion direction in the longitudinal direction. When the earphone 1 is worn on the ear, it is located outside the ear. The earphone body 2 is connected to the acoustic conduit 3 in the direction opposite to the earring 4, that is, in the rear (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The earphone body 2 is formed so as to extend from the connection portion with the acoustic conduit 3 at a predetermined angle θ (see Figure 2 ) toward the rear. Therefore, the acoustic duct 3 extends downward from the front end of the earphone body 2 at an angle θ that is inclined obliquely toward the rear. The angle θ can be set, for example, to θ = 60°. However, in the present invention, the inclination angle θ is not limited thereto and can be set, for example, to 60° ± 10° (50° to 70°).

[0054] When the tilt angle θ is within the range of 50° to 70°, for example, when the earphone 1 is worn, the force F exerted by the side surface of the sound conduit 3 against the tragus 11 causes the earring 4 to elastically deform, pressing against the inner wall 13 of the concha. Consequently, the moment M generated by the reaction force R1 exerted on the earring 4 from the inner wall 13 of the concha causes the rear end of the earphone body 2 to press against the cheek 14. With the tip of the earring 4 pressing against the inner wall of the concha and the end of the earphone body 2 pressing against the cheek, the earphone 1 securely fits the user's ear.

[0055] Furthermore, when the tilt angle θ is, for example, 68° or less, the earphone 1 fits more comfortably. When the tilt angle θ is, for example, 65° or less, the earphone 1 fits even more comfortably. Furthermore, when the tilt angle θ is, for example, 55° or greater, the earphone 1 fits snugly and is less likely to fall off. When the tilt angle θ is, for example, 58° or greater, the earphone 1 fits even more snugly and is less likely to fall off.

[0056] The length of the earphone body 2 along the central axis is not particularly limited, as long as it extends from the end of the sound duct 3 and can abut the user's cheek. However, if it is at least 15 mm, the end of the earphone body 2 presses the cheek 14 with appropriate strength when worn, so that it can be worn reliably on the user's ear. In addition, the length of the earphone body 2 along the central axis is preferably at least 20 mm. Therefore, since the end of the earphone body 2 presses the cheek 14 more strongly when worn, it can be worn more reliably on the user's ear. In addition, the length of the earphone body 2 along the central axis is not particularly limited, but if it is, for example, 75 mm or less, the user will not feel a sense of oppression, and it can be worn reliably on the user's ear while providing a high wearing feel. In addition, the length of the earphone body 2 along the central axis is preferably 70 mm or less, so that the user will not feel a sense of oppression, and it can be worn reliably on the user's ear while providing a high wearing feel.

[0057] The earphone body 2 is formed by joining an upper shell 2A and a lower shell 2B together. Figure 2 ), and also accommodates a substrate on which various electronic components are mounted, a battery, and a switch (not shown). The electronic components mounted on the substrate include an electromagnetic or piezoelectric converter that converts the electrical signal output from the speaker 5 into mechanical vibration. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , a circular multi-function button (command button) 6 is disposed at the center of the lengthwise direction of the upper surface of the earphone body 2 (upper shell 2A). Figure 1 、 Figure 2 as well as Figure 4As shown, a cover 7 is detachably attached to the front of the lower surface of the earphone body 2 (lower case 2B), and the cover 7 covers an opening (not shown) for battery replacement from below.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, the speaker 5 is positioned within the front end of the earphone body 2, directly above the acoustic conduit 3, away from the user's ear. This placement of the speaker 5 ensures that even if the speaker 5 is made very large to achieve high sound quality, it will not obstruct the ear. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the speaker 5 is housed horizontally within the earphone body 2 along its length. However, the speaker 5 can also be housed vertically relative to the length of the earphone body 2.

[0059] The acoustic duct 3 and the earphone main body 2 may be formed integrally or separately. By forming the acoustic duct 3 and the earphone main body 2 integrally, their strength and rigidity can be improved.

[0060] In this embodiment, the earphone body 2 (upper shell 2A and lower shell 2B) and acoustic conduit 3 are made of a highly rigid hard resin such as ABS resin. It should be noted that the earphone body and acoustic conduit are not limited to this embodiment and can be made of hard materials. Examples of hard materials include not only ABS resin but also various resins such as polypropylene and polystyrene. Furthermore, the acoustic conduit can also be made of metal.

[0061] The earphones of the present invention are worn in the following manner: the force exerted by the side of the sound conduit against the tragus of the ear causes the earring to elastically deform and press against the inner wall of the concha. At the same time, the torque generated by the reaction force exerted on the earring by the inner wall of the concha causes the end of the earphone body to press against the cheek. Therefore, by forming the sound conduit with a hard material, the sound conduit can serve as a support for wearing and fit firmly against the ear, thereby allowing it to be worn stably on the ear. In addition, the sound conduit in the earphones of the present invention does not need to completely cover the inside of the external auditory canal, and a gap can be formed between the sound conduit and the inner wall of the external auditory canal. Therefore, because the earphones of the present invention do not need to have a component such as an earpiece mounted on the top of an earbud-type earphone that elastically deforms in order to penetrate deep into the ear for fixation, they can provide a comfortable wearing experience without compressing the ear. In addition, by forming the sound conduit with a hard material, a sensor for detecting biological information can be installed as in the modified example described below.

[0062] The earring 4 is attached to the outer side surface of the acoustic tube 3 opposite to the surface that contacts the tragus of the ear, and extends forward from the front surface of the acoustic tube 3 ( Figures 1 to 4The earring 4 is an elastically deformable component extending in a direction opposite to the direction in which the earphone body 2 extends. The earring 4 is formed by connecting two annular rings 4A and 4B into one. One ring 4A of the earring 4 is formed in a manner that abuts against the side surface of the front side of the sound duct 3 and protrudes in the forward direction. The ring 4B is formed in a manner that protrudes in the forward direction on the outer side of the ring 4A. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the rings 4A and 4B are roughly circular, but there is no particular limitation in the present invention. As long as the shape is surrounded by a curve or a straight line, it can be an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape. The earring 4 is composed of two rings 4A and 4B connected into one, so that the elasticity of the earring 4 is improved, and it can be flexibly elastically deformed to adapt to the shape of the user's ear, thereby achieving the effect of being easy to adapt to any ear.

[0063] The longitudinal length of the earring 4, i.e., the length from the portion of the ring 4A where the acoustic conduit 3 is attached to the front end of the ring 4B, can be appropriately set based on the size of the ear and is not particularly limited. However, for the sake of wearing stability, it can be, for example, 12 to 20 mm. Furthermore, a longitudinal length of the earring 4 of, for example, 13 to 18 mm can further enhance wearing stability.

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, the earring 4 is mounted parallel to the longitudinal direction of the earphone body 2. It should be noted that, in the present invention, the angle at which the earring is mounted is not limited to that of this embodiment; for example, the earring can be mounted at an angle of 60 to 100 degrees relative to the acoustic conduit. Furthermore, the earring can be mounted at any angle ranging from approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the earphone body to approximately perpendicular to the acoustic conduit.

[0065] The earrings 4 can be made of any elastically deformable material, for example, soft silicone, elastomer, rubber, etc.

[0066] The earrings 4 can be detachable from the acoustic duct 3 or integrally formed with the acoustic duct 3. If the earrings 4 are detachable, a variety of earrings of varying sizes can be prepared, allowing the user to select the earring that best suits the size and shape of their auricle and external auditory canal. This allows for a comfortable fit for all users.

[0067] based on Figure 5 An example of the attachment and detachment structure of the earring 4 will be described. A semicircular engagement projection 3A is integrally formed on the upper front surface of the acoustic duct 3. An engaging protrusion 3a is integrally formed at the circumferential center of this engagement projection 3A. Furthermore, an engaging groove 3b is formed in the widthwise center of the front surface of the acoustic duct 3, extending linearly downward from the engagement projection 3A.

[0068] On the other hand, one loop 4A of the earring 4 is formed with a concavely curved (semicircular) fitting recess 4a that fits with the fitting protrusion 3A formed on the acoustic duct 3. An engaging groove 4b is formed circumferentially on the inner circumference of this fitting recess 4a. A recess (not shown) is formed in the circumferential center of the fitting groove 4b, into which the engaging protrusion 3a provided in the circumferential center of the fitting protrusion 3A is inserted. Furthermore, an engaging protrusion 4c is integrally formed in the lower center of the fitting recess 4a, which engages with the engaging groove 3b formed on the acoustic duct 3.

[0069] Therefore, by fitting the fitting recess 4a formed on one ring 4A of the earring 4 into the fitting protrusion 3A of the acoustic tube 3, and engaging the engaging protrusion 3a protruding from the fitting protrusion 3A into the engaging groove 4b formed on the earring 4 (ring 4A), and simultaneously engaging the engaging protrusion 4c protruding from the ring 4A of the earring 4 into the engaging groove 3b formed in the acoustic tube 3, the earring 4 is detachably and non-rotatably attached to the upper front side of the acoustic tube 3. Furthermore, by inserting the engaging protrusion 3a protruding from the circumferential center of the fitting protrusion 3A into the recess (not shown) formed in the circumferential center of the engaging groove 4b, the non-rotatable strength between the earring 4 and the acoustic tube 3 is enhanced. Here, when the earring 4A is fitted into the acoustic tube 3, the engaging protrusion 4c engages with the engaging groove 3b, which determines the fitting position of the acoustic tube 3 and the earring 4A.

[0070] The position where the earring 4 is attached to the sound tube 3 can be anywhere between the bottom surface of the earphone body 2 and the top end of the sound tube 3. On the central axis of the sound tube 3, the length from the front end of the earphone body 2 to the attachment position of the earring 4, and the length from the attachment position of the earring 4 to the top end of the sound tube 3 are not particularly limited. For example, if the ratio is 1:9 to 9:1, the earphone 1 can be worn firmly on the user's ear. In the sound tube 3, the length from the front end of the earphone body 2 to the attachment position of the earring 4, and the length from the attachment position of the earring 4 to the top end of the sound tube 3 are preferably 2:3 to 2:5, so that the earphone 1 can be worn firmly on the user's ear.

[0071] It should be noted that the above description focuses on the configuration of the earphone 1 worn on one ear (left or right). However, the configuration of the earphone 1 worn on the other ear (right or left) is identical or symmetrical to that of the aforementioned earphone, and therefore illustration and description thereof are omitted. If the configuration of the earphones worn on the left and right ears is identical and does not differentiate between left and right, the user can wear both earphones on the left and right ears without distinguishing between left and right, thereby improving user convenience.

[0072] Here, in Figure 6, the state in which the earphone 1 of this embodiment is worn on the ear of the user is shown. The earphone 1 is worn in a direction in which the rear surface of the sound tube 3 abuts against the tragus 11 (ear lobe) of the ear. That is, the earphone 1 is worn on the ear of the user by inserting the sound tube 3 into the external auditory canal 12 of the ear, but at this time, the rear surface of the sound tube 3 abuts against the tragus 11 of the ear. In this way, since the sound tube 3 is pressed by the tragus 11, the earring 4 installed on the sound tube 3 is pressed against the inner wall 13 of the concha, more specifically, against the inner wall of the cymba concha, and as shown in FIG. Figure 6 In this case, because earrings 4 are formed by connecting two rings 4A, 4B, they are elastically deformed and pressed against the inner wall 13 of the concha.

[0073] Next, in the Figure 6 On an XY coordinate plane, with the X-axis defining the left-right direction (front-back direction) and the Y-axis defining the top-bottom direction, the forces acting on the earphone 1 and the torques generated by these forces are analyzed as follows. Note that the point where the rear surface of the acoustic conduit 3 contacts the tragus 11 of the ear is designated a, the point where the earring 4 contacts the inner wall 13 of the concha is designated b, and the point where the earphone body 2 contacts the cheek is designated c.

[0074] When the earphone 1 is worn, an external force F acts from the tragus 11 of the user's ear to point a on the rear surface of the sound duct 3 of the earphone 1. Due to the action of the external force F, the earring 4 is pushed forward and hits point b on the inner wall 13 of the concha. The earring 4 is compressed between the sound duct 3 and the inner wall 13. As a result, the earring 4 is elastically deformed and becomes Figure 6 The earphone body 2 of the earphone 1 is deflected in an arc shape and receives a reaction force (resistance) R1 from the inner wall of the concha 13 at point b. This reaction force R1 generates a moment M in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in the earphone 1. The rear end of the earphone body 2 of the earphone 1, which receives this moment M, contacts the user's cheek 14 at point c, and receives an upward reaction force (reaction force) R2 from the cheek 14.

[0075] Here, the X-axis direction components Fx, R1x, and R2x of the external force F and the two reaction forces R1 and R2 are expressed by the following equations, respectively.

[0076] Fx=F·sinθ

[0077] R1x=R1·sinθ

[0078] R2x=0

[0079] As shown in the above formula, since the X-axis direction component R2x of the reaction force R2 is R2x=0,

[0080] F=R1

[0081] Established.

[0082] Furthermore, the Y-axis direction components Fy, R1y, and R2y of the external force F and the two reaction forces R1 and R2 are expressed by the following equations, respectively.

[0083] Fy=F·cosθ

[0084] R1y=R1·cosθ

[0085] R2y=R2

[0086] Here, if the distance between point a and point b in the X-axis direction is L1 and the distance between point a and point c in the X-axis direction is L2 and the moment balance is considered, the following equation holds.

[0087] R1y·L1=R2·L2…(1)

[0088] Therefore, the reaction force R2 received by the earphone body 2 (lower case 2B) of the earphone 1 from the cheek 14 of the user is obtained as follows using the above formula (1).

[0089] R2=R1y·(L1 / L2)

[0090] =R1·cosθ·(L1 / L2)

[0091] =F·cosθ·(L1 / L2)…(2)

[0092] Therefore, according to the principle of action and reaction, the user's cheek 14 receives a pressing force P from the earphone 1 at point c that is equal to and opposite to the reaction force R2 represented by equation (2).

[0093] Furthermore, at point b, the user experiences a pressing force Q of equal magnitude and opposite direction to the reaction force R1 acting on the inner wall 13 of the concha. Thus, because the earphone 1, worn on the user's ear, presses the inner wall 13 of the concha with pressing force Q at point b and presses the user's cheek 14 with pressing force P at point c, the earphone 1 securely fits the user's ear and offers excellent wearability. Because variations in the size and shape of the user's auricle and external auditory canal 12 are absorbed by the elastic deformation of the earring 4, the earphone 1 ensures excellent wearability for all users and is less likely to become detached from the ear, even during vigorous exercise.

[0094] As described above, when the earphone 1 of this embodiment is worn, the force F exerted by the side surface of the acoustic conduit 3 against the tragus 11 causes the earring 4 to elastically deform, pressing against the inner wall 13 of the concha, more specifically, the inner wall of the cylindrica concha. Consequently, the moment M generated by the reaction force R1 exerted on the earring 4 from the inner wall 13 of the concha causes the rear end of the earphone body 2 to press against the cheek 14. With the tip of the earring 4 pressing against the inner wall of the concha, and the end of the earphone body 2 pressing against the cheek, the earphone 1 securely fits the user's ear.

[0095] Thus, unlike conventional earplug-type earphones that are worn by inserting an earpiece attached to the acoustic conduit, the earphone 1 of this embodiment does not press against the inner wall of the external auditory canal via the acoustic conduit 3. To this end, the acoustic conduit 3 can be constructed of a hard material and made thinner than the external auditory canal. Consequently, the user experiences no sense of pressure and enjoys a comfortable wearing experience.

[0096] In the case where the earphone 1 of this embodiment is a bone conduction earphone, when the earphone 1 is worn snugly on the left and right auricles 10 of the user, the electrical signal of the sound (speaker sound) emitted from the speaker 5 is converted into mechanical vibration by a converter (not shown) built into the earphone body 2. The mechanical vibration is transmitted to the bone near the user's ear through the acoustic tube 3, causing the bone to vibrate. In this way, the vibration of the bone is transmitted to the cochlea, and the vibration of the lymph fluid in the cochlea is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the auditory nerve, and the brain recognizes this electrical signal as sound. For this reason, even a hearing-impaired person with an abnormality in the eardrum or auditory ossicles can reliably hear the sound through this bone conduction as long as the cochlea and auditory nerve are normal. In the earphone 1 of this embodiment, since the vibration from the speaker 5 is directly transmitted to the user's bone through the acoustic tube 3 inserted into the external auditory canal 12, it is possible to obtain a high sense of volume and sound quality. That is, in this embodiment, since the sound tube 3 is inserted into the external auditory canal 12 of the user's ear, and the sound tube 3 is made of a high-rigidity hard resin (for example, ABS resin), the vibration generated by the speaker sound can be directly and effectively transmitted to the bones around the user's ear without attenuation, thereby obtaining a high sense of volume and sound quality.

[0097] When the earphone 1 of this embodiment is an air conduction earphone, a communication path can be formed in the acoustic conduit 3 of the earphone 1, connecting the speaker 5 with the external auditory canal of the ear. The speaker sound is guided into the external auditory canal of the user's ear through this communication path and transmitted through the eardrum to the cochlea. According to the earphone 1 of this embodiment, since the speaker sound is reliably guided into the external auditory canal, the speaker sound can be clearly heard even in places with loud ambient noise, while also preventing the reverberation of touch noise or the user's own voice.

[0098] As a result, according to the earphones 1 of this embodiment, when the user wears the earphones and inserts the acoustic tube through the external auditory canal of the user's ear, the side of the acoustic tube abuts the tragus of the ear, which presses the acoustic tube. Consequently, the force exerted on the acoustic tube causes the earring to elastically deform while abutting against and pressing the inner wall of the concha, more specifically, the inner wall of the cylindrica concha. This in turn causes the earring to receive a reaction force from the inner wall of the concha, more specifically, the inner wall of the cylindrica concha. The torque generated by this reaction force causes the longitudinal end of the earphone body to abut against and press the user's cheek, while also receiving a reaction force from the cheek. Thus, the earphones of this embodiment, utilizing the principle of action and reaction, press the inner wall of the concha and cheek with a pressing force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the two reaction forces. As a result, even earphones designed to insert the acoustic tube into the external auditory canal of the ear canal can be securely worn in a snug fit, improving wearability.

[0099] The earphone 1 of this embodiment is formed by contacting the point where the tragus on the acoustic conduit abuts ( Figure 6 With point a) as the center, the entire headset can swing like a seesaw, so it is also called a "seesaw-type headset."

[0100] Because the earphones 1 of this embodiment are worn in a seesaw-like manner, they can be securely worn on the ear without feeling any pressure, even if the earphone body is larger or heavier. This allows for increased speaker diaphragm diameter to improve sound quality, or for the battery or circuit board to be larger to add various functions.

[0101] Furthermore, in the earphone 1 of this embodiment, one side of the sound duct only needs to contact the tragus of the ear, and unlike conventional earbud-type earphones, there is no need to stabilize the earphone by simply inserting an earpiece into the ear hole, thereby suppressing the feeling of pressure on the ear.

[0102] Furthermore, in the earphone 1 of this embodiment, since the acoustic conduit is inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear, further inward than the tragus, sound vibrations can be reliably directed into the external auditory canal. For example, if the earphone of the present invention is a bone conduction earphone, the vibrations from the speaker are efficiently transmitted directly to the user's bones via the acoustic conduit inserted into the external auditory canal, thereby achieving a high sense of volume and sound quality.

[0103] (Variation)

[0104] Next, based on Figures 7 to 9 A modification of the above embodiment will be described. Figure 7 This figure shows a substrate incorporated in an earphone according to a modified example of the present invention. Figure 8It is a cross-sectional view of an acoustic duct of an earphone according to a modified example of the present invention. Figure 9 It should be noted that in the following description of this modification, only the configurations that differ from the above-mentioned embodiment will be described, and descriptions of the common parts will be omitted.

[0105] The difference between this variant and the above-mentioned embodiment is that the sound tube 3 has at least one sensor for detecting the biological information of the user. That is, the earphones of this variant also function as a device for measuring the biological information of the user. In this specification, "biological information" refers to information related to the state of the organism, specifically, information related to the health status and exercise status of the organism. The biological information detected by the present invention includes, but is not limited to, pulse rate, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure, blood flow, HRV analysis (pressure level), vascular age, head tilt, activity level, body temperature, and ear temperature.

[0106] In this modification, the acoustic catheter 3 has the function of not only guiding the speaker sound into the user's external auditory canal, but also has the function of detecting the user's biological information. In this modification, the acoustic catheter 3 has a pulse sensor (HR sensor) 8 and a temperature sensor 9. In this modification, Figures 7-9 As shown, a substrate 10 carrying a pulse sensor 8 and a temperature sensor 9 is incorporated into the acoustic tube 3. The pulse sensor 8 and temperature sensor 9 are mounted so that they are exposed on the surface of the acoustic tube 3 that contacts the tragus. When worn, they come into contact with the skin behind the tragus in the external auditory canal. The substrate 10 is not particularly limited and can be a deformable substrate, such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

[0107] The pulse sensor 8 is a reflection-type pulse sensor that detects the pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) by irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength toward the skin in the external auditory canal and measuring the reflected light.

[0108] The temperature sensor 9 includes a thermal contact temperature detection element such as a thermistor, and is a sensor that detects the temperature of the skin in the external auditory canal, that is, the body temperature, by coming into contact with the skin.

[0109] It should be noted that in the present invention, the sensor possessed by the acoustic catheter is not particularly limited as long as it can obtain the user's biological information. For example, it can be a pulse sensor, temperature sensor, body temperature sensor, acceleration sensor, gyroscope sensor, 9-axis sensor, and blood pressure measurement sensor.

[0110] In the present invention, the sensor included in the acoustic catheter is not limited to a sensor that contacts the skin in the external auditory canal to obtain biological information through the skin, but may also be a sensor that obtains biological information without contacting the skin in the external auditory canal. For example, the sensor included in the acoustic catheter may be a non-contact temperature sensor that uses infrared light or the like to measure surface temperature.

[0111] Furthermore, the earphones of the present invention may include an acceleration sensor to obtain the user's head tilt (posture) and movement status as biological information.

[0112] The earphone 1 of this modified example includes two sensors: a pulse sensor 8 and a temperature sensor 9. However, the earphone of the present invention is not limited thereto and may include only one sensor or three or more sensors. Furthermore, the earphone of the present invention may measure one or more biological information.

[0113] The earphone 1 of this modification measures biological information in the external auditory canal. Therefore, when measuring the pulse using a reflective pulse sensor such as an HR sensor, the earphone 1 is not affected by sunlight and can stably obtain biological information.

[0114] The main body 2 of the earphone 1 of this modified example can house a substrate connected to the substrate 10 mounted on the acoustic duct 3, or the substrate can be formed integrally with the substrate 10. The electronic components mounted on the substrate within the main body 2 include an A / D converter that converts analog signals detected by the pulse sensor 8 and the body temperature sensor 9 into digital signals, a storage device that temporarily stores the converted digital signals, and a communication device that transmits the measured data to an external terminal or the like.

[0115] The earphones 1 of this modified example can be worn securely on the user's ears without causing the user to feel a sense of oppression, thereby achieving an effect of being able to accurately measure the user's biological information.

[0116] For example, the earphones of the present invention may be configured such that the earphone worn on one ear further functions as a biological information measuring device, as in the aforementioned modified example, while the earphone worn on the other ear functions solely as an earphone. In this manner, by wearing the earphone functioning as a biological information measuring device on the left ear and the earphone functioning solely as an earphone on the right ear, respectively, one can enjoy music, etc., with both ears while measuring biological information with a single ear.

[0117] Furthermore, the earphones of the present invention may be configured such that the earphone worn on one ear has a pulse sensor and a body temperature sensor, and the earphone worn on the other ear has an acceleration sensor. This allows the user to enjoy music or the like with both ears while measuring different biological information in each ear.

[0118] Conventional biometric devices that measure biological information include wristwatch-type devices worn on the user's wrist. However, wristwatch-type biometric devices are prone to generating noise due to the user's hand movements during training and daily life. Furthermore, wristwatch-type devices cannot completely block external light, which reduces the accuracy of the optical sensor.

[0119] In contrast, the earphone of the present invention is based on the point ( Figure 6 The earphones are worn by swinging the entire headphone like a seesaw, centered around point a). By wearing the earphones of the present invention in this manner, the side of the sound tube is in close contact with the surface of the tragus in the user's external auditory canal. Due to the high elasticity of the tragus, the side of the sound tube adheres very closely to the skin on the tragus side of the external auditory canal. Because the tragus contains numerous capillaries and has a thin surface, the sensor included in the sound tube is in close contact with this area, enabling accurate measurement of biological information such as pulse rate.

[0120] Furthermore, the earphones of the present invention measure biological information within the external auditory canal, thereby blocking external light compared to conventional wristwatches, improving accuracy even when using light sensors. Furthermore, since the ear moves less than the arm, noise caused by movement is less likely to be generated. Consequently, the earphones of the present invention can measure accurate biological information even while the user is active, both during training and in daily life.

[0121] Furthermore, in the earphone of the present invention, since the sensor is provided in the acoustic conduit having a length sufficient to be inserted into the external auditory canal, a plurality of sensors can be arranged along the length of the acoustic conduit.

[0122] Furthermore, the portion of the present invention that functions as a biological information measuring device can be incorporated into other types of earphones besides the earphones of the present invention. That is, the sensor for detecting a user's biological information is not limited to the earphones of the present invention; it can be incorporated into the acoustic conduit of any earphone capable of detecting biological information within the external auditory canal.

[0123] Of course, the application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, the specification, and the drawings.

[0124] Explanation of symbols

[0125] 1: earphone, 2: earphone body, 2A: upper shell, 2B: lower shell,

[0126] 3: Sound duct, 3A: Fitting protrusion of the sound duct, 3a: Engagement protrusion of the sound duct,

[0127] 3b: Sound tube engagement groove, 4: Earring, 4A, 4B: Ring,

[0128] 4a: Ring fitting recess, 4b: Ring engagement groove, 4c: Ring engagement protrusion,

[0129] 5: Speaker, 6: Multi-function button, 7: Cover, 11: Tragus, 12: External auditory canal, 13: Inner wall of concha, 14: Cheek

Claims

1. A headset, characterized in that: have: An acoustic tube, which is made of a rigid material and inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear; an earphone body connected to the end of the acoustic tube on the opposite side of the insertion direction; and An elastically deformable earring is mounted on the outer side of the sound conduit, wherein The length of the acoustic conduit on the central axis is 5 mm to 13 mm. The earring extends from the outer side surface of the acoustic duct so as to have an inclination angle of 60 to 100 degrees relative to the acoustic duct. The earphone body extends from a connection portion with the sound conduit in a direction opposite to the ear loop at an inclination angle of 50° to 70° relative to the sound conduit.

2. The earphone according to claim 1, wherein The length of the earphone body along the central axis is 15 mm to 75 mm.

3. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that When worn, the side of the sound tube abuts against the tragus of the ear, causing the earring to elastically deform and press the inner wall of the concha. At the same time, the torque generated by the reaction force of the inner wall of the concha on the earring causes the end of the earphone body to press the cheek.

4. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The earring is detachably mounted on the sound conduit.

5. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The length of the earring in the longitudinal direction is 12 to 20 mm.

6. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The earrings are formed by connecting two rings into one.

7. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The acoustic duct is formed integrally with the earphone body.

8. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The earphone body has a built-in speaker. The speaker is arranged directly above the acoustic duct.

9. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that These are air conduction headphones.

10. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It is a bone conduction headset.

11. The earphone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The acoustic catheter includes at least one sensor that detects biological information of a user.

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