Sound driver with UV-led and earphone

Abstract

To provide a sound driver with a UV-LED, and an earphone.SOLUTION: A sound driver 1 with a UV-LED, includes: a housing 11 having a suction port 112 sucking external air into the inner part; a sound driver unit having a vibration board 121 that is provided into a housing, and vibrates on the basis of a sound electric signal to be input; a ventilation part 113 that is provided into the housing, and can ventilate the internal part of the housing with an external auditory canal in a state where the earphone is mounted to an ear; an exhaust part 114 that is provided to the housing, and communicates the internal part and the external part of the external auditory canal in the state where the earphone is mounted to the ear; and a UV-LED module 13 that is provided to the housing, and radiates to air in the housing.EFFECT: Air can be ventilated to the external auditory canal, growth of fungi and eumycetes is prevented, an ear disease such as an otitis externa or the like can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of earphones, and in particular to audio drivers for earphones and earphones. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid spread of smartphones and small music players, the number of people listening to music while wearing earphones is increasing. Most conventional earphones are of the type that seal the ear canal when worn. For example, when wearing in-ear earphones, a plastic earpiece is inserted into the ear canal and made to fit tightly. Also, when wearing headphones, the ear pad is made to fit tightly against the ear. In such a sealed state, the ear canal is isolated from the outside air, and wearing the earphones for a long time causes discomfort to the user. In addition, the moisture in the ear canal may cause the proliferation of bacteria and fungi, which may lead to diseases such as dermatitis in the ear canal.

[0003] Conventionally, earphones that use a motor fan for ventilation have been proposed, as in Patent Document 1. However, this type of ventilation method requires a complex noise canceling mechanism because the noise of the motor operation affects music listening, and is therefore not very versatile.

[0004] In addition, in terms of technology related to disease prevention, the only technology available is making the material of the earpieces that come into contact with the skin antibacterial, but no fundamental countermeasures have been developed at this time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] CN212324316U publication Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, when earphones are worn in the ears, the air in the ear canal is sealed and stabilized at the same temperature as body temperature, and the increase in humidity due to moisture generated from the body surface becomes a problem. The stabilization of temperature and the increase in humidity cause the proliferation of bacteria and fungi, leading to the occurrence of diseases such as otitis externa. In order to prevent diseases of the outer ear caused by wearing earphones, it is important to ventilate and purify the air in the ear canal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In this application, an audio driver and earphone with UV-LED are presented to solve at least one of the above problems. In order to solve at least one of the above problems, this application proposes an audio driver and earphones with UV-LED for use in earphones that, when worn in the ear, can be irradiated with ultraviolet light to send sterilized air into the ear canal and circulate it, preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi and ear diseases such as otitis externa.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided an audio driver with UV-LED for use in earphones, the audio driver comprising: a housing having an intake port for taking in outside air; an audio driver unit provided within the housing, the audio driver unit having a diaphragm that vibrates based on an audio electrical signal input to the audio driver unit; a ventilation section provided within the housing that allows ventilation between the inside of the housing and the ear canal when the earphone is worn in the ear; an exhaust section provided in the housing that connects the inside and outside of the ear canal when the earphone is worn in the ear; and a UV-LED module provided within the housing that irradiates the air within the housing.

[0009] Preferably, an intake valve is provided at the intake port, a vent valve is provided at the ventilation section, and an exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust section, and when a front-to-rear direction is set with the direction in which the diaphragm moves away from the inside of the housing being the front direction and the direction in which the diaphragm moves toward the inside of the housing being the rear direction, when the diaphragm vibrates in the forward direction based on an audio electrical signal, the intake valve opens, the vent valve closes, and the exhaust valve opens, and when the diaphragm vibrates in the rear direction based on the audio electrical signal, the intake valve is closed, the vent valve opens, and the exhaust valve is closed.

[0010] Preferably, the ventilation portion is formed as an opening that opens into a portion that supports the diaphragm on the housing, and a ventilation valve is provided at the opening.

[0011] Preferably, the UV-LED module includes a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within a range of 253 to 315 nm.

[0012] Preferably, the UV-LED module is a composite UV-LED module including a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within a range of 275 to 280 nm and a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 265 nm.

[0013] Preferably, a side wall of the housing between the wall in which the air intake is formed and the audio driver unit is provided with a partition plate that divides the internal space of the housing in the front-to-rear direction and is partially open, and a baffle that is spaced apart from the partition plate in the front-to-rear direction and arranged to block the opening of the partition plate, and the UV-LED module is provided in the space surrounded by the wall in which the air intake is formed, the partition plate, and the baffle.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided an earphone including the above-mentioned UV-LED-equipped audio driver.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided an earphone comprising: a housing having an intake port for taking in outside air and having a sound emission nozzle on the side that enters the ear; an audio driver unit provided within the housing and dividing the inside of the housing into a front air chamber on the sound emission nozzle side and a rear air chamber on the intake port side, the audio driver unit having a diaphragm that vibrates based on an audio electrical signal input to the audio driver unit; a ventilation section provided within the housing for ventilating the rear air chamber and the front air chamber; an earpiece fitted onto the wall of the sound emission nozzle and inserted into the ear canal; and a UV-LED module provided within the housing for irradiating the air within the housing, the earpiece having an exhaust section drilled in it that connects the inside and outside of the ear canal when the earphone is worn in the ear.

[0016] Preferably, an intake valve is provided at the intake port, a vent valve is provided at the ventilation section, and an exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust section, and when a forward / backward direction is set with the direction of the diaphragm approaching the sound emission nozzle being the forward direction and the direction of the diaphragm moving away from the sound emission nozzle being the rearward direction, when the diaphragm vibrates in the forward direction based on an audio electrical signal, the intake valve opens, the vent valve closes, and the exhaust valve opens, and when the diaphragm vibrates in the rearward direction based on the audio electrical signal, the intake valve is closed, the vent valve opens, and the exhaust valve is closed.

[0017] Preferably, the UV-LED module is a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within a range of 253 to 315 nm.

[0018] Preferably, the UV-LED module is a composite UV-LED module including a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within a range of 275 to 280 nm and a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 265 nm.

[0019] Preferably, the earphones further include a control unit that controls the operation of the earphones, and the control unit includes a mode switching unit that receives a mode command indicating an operation mode from a user, switches the operation mode of the earphones based on the mode command, and outputs a valve control command and a light source control command, a valve control unit that receives the valve control command from the mode switching unit and controls whether or not to lock each of the intake valve, vent valve, and exhaust valve based on the valve control command, and a light source control unit that receives a light source control command from the mode switching unit and controls the on / off of the UV-LED module based on the light source control command.

[0020] Preferably, the operating modes include at least a sealed mode and an open mode, and when the mode switching unit determines that the received mode command indicates the sealed mode, it outputs a valve lock command and a light source off command, and the valve control unit locks the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve in a closed state based on the valve lock command from the mode switching unit, and the light source control unit turns off the UV-LED module based on the light source off command from the mode switching unit, and when the mode switching unit determines that the received mode command indicates the open mode, it outputs a valve unlock command and a light source on command, and the valve control unit unlocks each valve based on the valve unlock command from the mode switching unit so that each valve can be freely opened and closed in accordance with the vibration of the vibrating plate, and the light source control unit turns on the UV-LED module based on the light source on command from the mode switching unit.

[0021] Preferably, the earphone further includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the ear canal, and the operating mode further includes a sleep induction mode, and when the mode switching unit determines that the received mode command indicates the sleep induction mode, it outputs a valve unlock command and a light source adjustment command, and the valve control unit unlocks each valve so that each valve can be freely opened and closed in accordance with the vibration of the diaphragm based on the valve unlock command from the mode switching unit, and the light source control unit turns on the UV-LED module based on the light source adjustment command from the mode switching unit, and obtains the temperature in the ear canal detected by the temperature sensor, and controls at least one of the wavelength, illuminance or irradiation time of the UV-LED module based on the temperature in the ear canal so that the temperature in the ear canal becomes a predetermined temperature.

[0022] Preferably, the earphone further includes a mode button provided on the earphone for receiving a mode command input by a user and transmitting the input mode command to the control unit as an electrical signal. Preferably, the control unit further includes a communication unit which receives a mode command input by a user from an external device via wireless communication or wired communication. Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the present application, by providing a UV-LED module that irradiates and sterilizes the air sent to the ear canal, and by constructing a ventilation path that takes in outside air and passes it through the ear canal to ventilate the ear canal, it is possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, and ultimately ear diseases such as otitis externa. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an audio driver used in an earphone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an earphone according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a control unit of an earphone according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process in each operation mode of the control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] In order to make the inventive objectives, technical solutions and beneficial technical effects of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are only for illustrating the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0026] Hereinafter, an audio driver used in the earphone according to the present application will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The audio driver according to the present application is mounted on various earphones such as in-ear type earphones, half in-ear type earphones, and headphones, and can generate and output an audio signal based on an input audio electrical signal. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an audio driver 1 according to a first embodiment of the present application.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the audio driver 1 includes a housing 11 and an audio driver unit attached in the housing 11. The audio driver unit includes a diaphragm 121 fixed to the housing 11 via a support member 111, a voice coil 122 supported by the diaphragm 121, and a magnet 123 arranged inside or outside the voice coil 122. Here, for convenience of explanation, the front-rear direction is set such that the direction in which the diaphragm 121 leaves the inside of the housing 11 is the front direction or forward, and the direction in which the diaphragm 121 approaches the inside of the housing 11 is the rear direction or rear. When an audio electric signal is input to the voice coil 122 in a magnetic field, a magnetic field that changes with the audio electric signal is generated, and this magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet 123 to vibrate the voice coil 122 along the front-rear direction in the figure, driving the diaphragm 121 to generate a corresponding front-rear vibration in the surrounding air, thereby converting mechanical energy (kinetic energy) into sound energy and generating sound.

[0028] The audio driver 1 has an intake port 112 opened in the housing 11 through which outside air enters the housing 11. An intake valve 1121 is provided in the intake port 112, and the intake valve 1121 opens when the diaphragm 121 moves (vibrates) forward based on an audio electrical signal, and closes when the diaphragm 121 moves (vibrates) backward and returns to its original position.

[0029] The audio driver 1 further includes a ventilation section 113. The ventilation section 113 is provided in the housing 11, and allows ventilation between the inside of the housing 11 and the inside of the outer ear when the earphone equipped with the audio driver 1 is worn on the ear. The ventilation section 113 may be formed in a channel shape that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing 11, or may be formed in an opening shape that opens in the housing 11, for example. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the ventilation section 113 is formed in an opening shape by opening in the support member 111. However, as long as ventilation between the inside of the housing 11 and the inside of the ear canal is possible, the configuration and installation position are not particularly limited. In addition, a ventilation valve 1131 may be provided in the ventilation section 113. The ventilation valve 1131 closes when the diaphragm 121 moves forward based on the audio electric signal, and opens when the diaphragm 121 moves backward and returns to its original position.

[0030] The audio driver 1 further includes an exhaust unit 114. The exhaust unit 114 is provided in the housing 11, and communicates the inside and outside of the ear canal when the earphone equipped with the audio driver 1 is attached to the ear. Furthermore, the exhaust unit 114 may be configured to discharge air in the ear canal to the outside of the ear canal and the audio driver 1. The exhaust unit 114 may be formed in a channel shape or an opening shape, and as long as the ear canal can communicate with the outside when the ear canal is attached to the ear, its configuration and installation position are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, for example, an inner wall may be provided on the inside of a part of the side wall of the housing 11 shown in FIG. 1, and the side wall and the inner wall may form a channel with front and rear ends open as the exhaust unit 114. In addition, an exhaust valve 1141 may be provided in this channel or at its front opening. The exhaust valve 1141 opens when the diaphragm 121 moves forward based on the audio electric signal, and closes when the diaphragm 121 moves backward and returns to its original position.

[0031] When an audio electric signal is input to the audio driver 1 while the earphone is attached to the ear, the diaphragm 121 moves back and forth due to the back and forth vibration of the voice coil 122. When the diaphragm 121 moves forward, the space in front of the audio driver 1 and the space in the ear canal communicating therewith are pressurized, and the exhaust valve 1141 is opened, so that the air in the ear canal is pushed out of the ear canal and the earphone via the exhaust part 114, and at the same time, the air in the audio driver 1 becomes negative pressure, the ventilation valve 1131 is closed, the intake valve 1121 is opened, and fresh air from the outside is taken into the housing 11 through the intake port 112. Then, when the diaphragm 121 moves backward from the forward state to return to its original position, the space in front of the audio driver 1 and the space in the ear canal communicating therewith become negative pressure, and the exhaust valve 1141 is closed, and at the same time, the inside of the housing 11 is pressurized, the intake valve 1121 is closed, the ventilation valve 1131 is opened, and the air in the housing 11 enters the ear canal through the ventilation part 113. In this way, as the diaphragm 121 moves back and forth, fresh air from the outside is sent from the intake port 112 through the housing 11 into the ear canal, and the air in the ear canal is discharged to the outside. By providing a ventilation path for the ear canal to ventilate the ear canal, it is possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. In addition, by providing valves such as an intake valve, a ventilation valve, and an exhaust valve, it is possible to ensure one-way flow of air, and it is possible to ventilate the ear canal more efficiently.

[0032] In the present embodiment, each valve such as the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve may be a check valve. For example, an existing micro-check valve may be used, and preferably, an existing micro-check valve that can be electrically controlled to lock the valve in a closed state may be used.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the audio driver 1 may include a UV-LED module 13 as an ultraviolet light source. The UV-LED module 13 is provided in the housing 11, and irradiates and sterilizes the air in the housing 11, so that the sterilized air can be sent to the ear canal, and the proliferation of bacteria and fungi can be further prevented. Here, the UV-LED module 13 uses a UV-LED (UV Light Emitting Diode) as a light source. The emission wavelength is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 253 to 315 nm. The UV-LED module 13 may include a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of preferably 253 to 285 nm, more preferably 253 to 265 nm. Particularly preferably, the UV-LED module 13 may be a composite UV-LED module including a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 275 to 280 nm and a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 265 nm.

[0034] Ultraviolet light is often used for sterilization and disinfection. As an ultraviolet light source, UV-LEDs are small and consume very little energy compared to general low-pressure ultraviolet lamps. They are also easy to control on and off and have a long lifespan, making them very suitable for earphones. UV-LEDs can be used in the form of a UV-LED module with a single dominant wavelength, or they can be used in the form of a composite wavelength UV-LED module that combines LEDs with multiple different wavelengths, which is efficient for sterilization.

[0035] The inventors of the present application conducted an experiment to investigate the sterilization effect of a composite wavelength UV-LED lamp, a single wavelength UV-LED lamp, and a low-pressure mercury ultraviolet lamp. In this experiment, cyanobacteria was used as an example of bacteria, and the sterilization effect of ultraviolet lamps such as a UV-LED lamp with a composite wavelength of 265 nm and 280 nm, a UV-LED lamp with single dominant wavelengths of 265 nm and 280 nm, and a low-pressure mercury ultraviolet lamp (dominant wavelength 253.7 nm) was investigated. Specifically, cyanobacteria (Microcystis spp., approximately 1000 cells / 0.1 mL) with a water layer thickness of 5 mm was prepared. Then, while stirring the aqueous solution, the power (V x A) of each ultraviolet lamp was adjusted to approximately 8 W, and the solution was irradiated from a position approximately 15 cm above the liquid surface for 8 minutes. After that, the survival of the culture was confirmed at an illuminance of 3000 Lux and 25°C, and the cyanobacterial killing rate (number of cells killed after ultraviolet treatment / number of cells not exposed to ultraviolet light * 100%) as shown in Table 1 below was obtained.

[0036] [Table 1]

[0037] As can be seen from the above table, the bactericidal effect of the composite wavelength of 265nm and 280nm is far superior to that of a single wavelength. Here, we have examined the bactericidal effect of each ultraviolet lamp using cyanobacteria as an example, and since the bactericidal effect of ultraviolet light on bacteria and fungi that are likely to cause ear canal diseases is based on the same DNA structure destruction as cyanobacteria, it is easy to see from the above table that the composite wavelength of 265nm and 280nm has a superior killing power even for bacteria and fungi that cause ear canal diseases.

[0038] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a partition plate 115 and a baffle plate 116 may be provided on the side wall of the housing 11 between the wall on which the air intake 112 is formed and the audio driver unit. The partition plate 115 divides the internal space of the housing 11 in the front-rear direction, and is partially open so that air can pass through. The baffle plate 116 is provided at a position separated from the partition plate 115 in the front-rear direction and blocking the opening of the partition plate 115. Therefore, the air entering from the air intake 112 collides with the partition plate 115 and the baffle plate 116, changes direction, and merges with the following air to generate a turbulent flow. In other words, the baffle plate 116 is provided on a part of the side wall of the housing 11 so that air can pass through. In such a configuration, the UV-LED module 13 is preferably placed in the vicinity of the turbulent flow, for example, in a space surrounded by the partition plate 115, the baffle plate 116, and the wall of the housing 11 provided with the air intake 112, so that the air can be irradiated more sufficiently and sterilization can be performed more effectively. In this embodiment, the partition plate 115 and the baffle plate 116 are provided, but it is not necessary to provide the partition plate 115 and the baffle plate 116, and only one of them may be provided.

[0039] When the air is irradiated with a UV-LED module, it can sterilize and heat the air. The inventors have found that people are more likely to fall asleep when the air temperature in the ear canal is slightly higher than body temperature, especially when the air temperature is low. In the present application, the air in the earphones can be sterilized and heated by irradiating the air with a UV-LED module. From the viewpoint of sleep induction, the air is preferably heated to a temperature about 1 to 3°C higher than body temperature. For example, if the normal body temperature of the user is 36°C, it is preferable to heat the air to about 37 to 39°C. However, taking into consideration that the constitution and experience of comfort of each individual user are different, the air heating temperature can be adjusted according to the individual needs to create the most comfortable state for the user. For example, the air may be set to the same temperature as body temperature, or may be 1°C or higher than body temperature, or may be 3°C or higher than body temperature. The air can be heated to a preset temperature by adjusting at least one of the wavelength, illuminance, and irradiation time of the UV-LED module. The air heating can be monitored by installing a temperature sensor in the audio driver of this embodiment or in the earphone equipped with the same. Here, the temperature sensor may be provided to detect the air temperature in the audio driver or earphone as the temperature in the ear canal, or may be provided to directly detect the temperature in the ear canal. The specific adjustment and setting of the wavelength, illuminance or irradiation time of the UV-LED module, the installation position of the temperature sensor, etc. can be specifically realized by those skilled in the art after reading this specification and utilizing their specialized knowledge as necessary, so the description will be omitted here.

[0040] In this embodiment, the UV-LED module 13 is disposed near the partition plate 115 and the baffle plate 116, but may be disposed at any position within the housing 11. Here, the number of UV-LED modules may be one or more. When a plurality of UV-LED modules are installed, the plurality of UV-LED modules may be disposed at different positions, and at least one of the wavelength, illuminance, and irradiation time may be set so that each UV-LED module performs a different function, thereby providing a good experience to the user.

[0041] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above as an audio driver that can be mounted on various earphones, the present invention may also be embodied in the form of an earphone. Hereinafter, an earphone according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an earphone 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the earphone 2 includes a housing 21. The housing 21 has an air inlet 212 for taking in outside air, and a sound emission nozzle 215 is provided on the side where the housing 21 enters the ear. The earphone 2 further includes an earpiece 24 that is inserted into the ear canal, and the earpiece 24 is removably fitted to the wall of the sound emission nozzle 215. Also, an audio driver unit is attached to the housing 21, the audio driver unit including a diaphragm 221 fixed to the housing 21 via a support member 219, a voice coil 222 supported by the diaphragm 221, and a magnet 222 fitted into the voice coil 222. The audio driver unit divides the inside of the housing 21 into a front air chamber 216 on the sound emission nozzle side and a rear air chamber 217 on the air inlet side. In this embodiment, for example, the inside of the housing 21 is divided into the front air chamber 216 and the rear air chamber 217 by the diaphragm 221 and the support member 211. For ease of explanation, the front-rear direction is defined as the direction in which the diaphragm 221 approaches the sound-emitting nozzle 215, and the rear direction is defined as the direction in which the diaphragm 221 moves away from the sound-emitting nozzle 215. As in the first embodiment, when an audio electrical signal is input to the voice coil 222 in a magnetic field, a magnetic field that changes with the audio electrical signal is generated, and this magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet 222 to vibrate the voice coil 222 along the front-rear direction in the figure, driving the diaphragm 221 to generate a corresponding front-rear vibration in the surrounding air, thereby converting mechanical energy into sound energy and generating sound.

[0043] An intake valve 2121 is provided in the intake port 212, and the intake valve 2121 opens when the diaphragm 221 moves forward based on the audio electrical signal, and closes when the diaphragm 221 moves backward and returns to its original position.

[0044] The earphone 2 further includes a ventilation section 213. The ventilation section 213 is provided in the housing 21 and provides ventilation between the rear air chamber 216 and the front air chamber 217. The ventilation section 213 may be in the form of a channel that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing, or may be in the form of an opening that opens in the housing. In this embodiment, the ventilation section 213 is formed in the form of an opening by opening in the support member 211. However, as long as ventilation between the rear air chamber 216 and the front air chamber 217 is possible, the configuration and installation position are not particularly limited. In addition, a ventilation valve 2131 may be provided in the ventilation section 213. The ventilation valve 2131 closes when the diaphragm 221 moves forward based on an audio electric signal, and opens when the diaphragm 221 moves backward and returns to its original position.

[0045] Further, the earpiece 23 is provided with an exhaust section 214. The exhaust section 214 communicates the inside and outside of the ear canal when the earphone 2 is attached to the ear. Furthermore, the exhaust section 214 may be configured to discharge air in the ear canal to the outside of the ear canal and the earphone 2. The exhaust section 214 may be formed in a channel shape or an opening shape, and its configuration and installation position are not particularly limited as long as the ear canal can communicate with the outside when the earphone 2 is attached to the ear. Furthermore, the exhaust section 214 may be provided with an exhaust valve 2141. The exhaust valve 2141 opens when the diaphragm 221 moves forward based on an audio electric signal, and closes when the diaphragm 221 moves backward and returns to its original position.

[0046] When an audio electric signal is input to the earphone 2 while the earphone 2 is attached to the ear, the diaphragm 221 moves back and forth due to the back and forth vibration of the voice coil 222. When the diaphragm 221 moves forward, the inside of the front air chamber 216 and the ear canal communicating therewith via the sound emission nozzle 215 are pressurized, and the exhaust valve 2141 is opened, so that the air in the ear canal is pushed out to the outside of the ear canal and the earphone via the exhaust part 214, and at the same time, the air in the rear air chamber 217 becomes negative pressure, the ventilation valve 2131 is closed, the intake valve 2121 is opened, and fresh air from the outside is taken into the rear air chamber 217 from the intake port 212. When the diaphragm 221 moves backward from the forward position to return to its original position, the inside of the front air chamber 216 and the ear canal connected thereto become negative pressure, the exhaust valve 2141 is closed, and at the same time, the inside of the rear air chamber 217 is pressurized, the intake valve 2121 is closed, the ventilation valve 2131 is opened, and the air in the rear air chamber 217 enters the front air chamber 216 through the ventilation part 213 and further into the ear canal. In this way, as the diaphragm 121 moves forward and backward, fresh air from the outside is sent from the intake port 212 through the housing 21 into the ear canal, and the air in the ear canal is discharged to the outside. By providing a ventilation path for the ear canal to ventilate the ear canal, it is possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. In addition, by providing valves such as an intake valve, a ventilation valve, and an exhaust valve, it is possible to ensure one-way flow of air, and it is possible to ventilate the ear canal more efficiently.

[0047] As in the first embodiment, each valve such as the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve in this embodiment may be a check valve. For example, an existing micro check valve may be used, and preferably, a micro check valve whose closed state can be locked electrically may be used.

[0048] Similarly to the first embodiment, the earphone 2 may include a UV-LED module 23 as an ultraviolet light source. The UV-LED module 23 is provided in the housing 21, and irradiates and sterilizes the air in the housing 21, so that the sterilized air can be sent to the ear canal, and the proliferation of bacteria and fungi can be further prevented. Here, the UV-LED module 23 uses a UV-LED as a light source. The emission wavelength is not particularly limited, but may include, for example, a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 253 to 315 nm. Preferably, the UV-LED module 23 may include a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 253 to 285 nm, more preferably, 253 to 265 nm. Particularly preferably, the UV-LED module 23 may be a composite UV-LED module including a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 275 to 280 nm and a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 265 nm.

[0049] The position of the UV-LED module is not particularly limited, and may be provided in the front air chamber 216, may be provided in the rear air chamber 217, or may be provided in both the front air chamber 216 and the rear air chamber 217. From the viewpoint of sufficient irradiation sterilization, it is preferable to provide the UV-LED module at a position where it can irradiate the air in the front air chamber 216. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the UV-LED module is provided at a position close to the ventilation section 217 in the front air chamber 216. In this embodiment, since the outside air enters the rear air chamber 217 and then enters the front air chamber 216 through the ventilation section 213, and the air in the front air chamber 216 enters the ear canal, the ventilation section 213 is a passage point for the outside air to enter the ear canal, so by providing the UV-LED module at a position close to the ventilation section 213 in the housing 21, the air can be irradiated more sufficiently, and bacteria, fungi, and the like in the air can be more sufficiently killed. However, without being limited thereto, the UV-LED module may be provided at a position close to the sound emission nozzle 215 in the front air chamber.

[0050] Also, as described in the first embodiment, when the air is irradiated with the UV-LED module, it can sterilize and heat the air. This allows the air sent to the ear canal to be heated to an appropriate temperature, thereby providing a sleep induction effect. The air can be heated to a preset temperature by adjusting at least one of the wavelength, illuminance, irradiation time, etc. of the UV-LED module. The heating of the air can be monitored by providing a temperature sensor in the earphone of this embodiment. The specific adjustment and setting of the wavelength, illuminance, or irradiation time of the UV-LED module, the installation position of the temperature sensor, etc. can be specifically realized as needed by a person skilled in the art after reading this specification and utilizing his / her specialized knowledge, so the explanation will be omitted here.

[0051] Similarly to the first embodiment, the number of UV-LED modules may be one or more, and the number is not particularly limited. When installing a plurality of UV-LED modules, the plurality of UV-LED modules may be arranged at different positions, and by setting the wavelength, illuminance, or irradiation time for each UV-LED module so that each UV-LED module performs a different function, it is possible to set a combination that is effective for sterilizing bacteria, fungi, and other viruses that are targets of sterilization.

[0052] As in the first and second embodiments, the present application constructs a ventilation path to allow air to pass through the ear canal when the earphones are worn, and the air sent to the ear canal can be irradiated with a UV-LED module to sterilize and heat it.

[0053] In this case, the earphone according to the present application can operate in different operation modes by controlling the operation of the valve in the ventilation path and the UV-LED module. For example, by controlling the opening and closing of the ventilation path, it can operate in an open mode that exerts a ventilation function, or in a closed mode that closes the ventilation path to prevent sound leakage and external sound intake. In addition, it can also operate in a sleep induction mode by heat generation by the UV-LED module.

[0054] Hereinafter, control of the operation modes of an earphone according to the third embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a control unit of an earphone according to the third embodiment of the present application. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the control of the control unit in each operation mode. Here, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the earphone is provided with a ventilation path and a UV-LED module.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 3, the earphone according to the present application further includes a control unit 3 that receives a mode command from a user instructing an operation mode and switches the operation mode of the earphone based on the mode command. Specifically, the control unit 3 includes a mode switching unit 31, a valve control unit 32, and a light source control unit 33. The mode switching unit 31 receives a mode command from a user instructing an operation mode, switches the operation mode of the earphone based on the mode command, outputs a valve control command to the valve control unit 32, and outputs a light source control command to the light source control unit 33. The valve control unit 32 outputs a valve lock necessity signal to the intake valve, the ventilation valve, and the exhaust valve in the ventilation path based on the valve control command from the mode switching unit 31. The light source control unit 33 outputs a light source control signal to the UV-LED module based on the light source control command from the mode switching unit 31.

[0056] Specifically, referring to Fig. 4, the mode switching unit 31 receives a mode instruction from the user to instruct an operation mode (step S1). Here, the earphone according to the present application may further include a mode button that receives a mode instruction input by the user and transmits the mode instruction to the mode switching unit 31 as an electrical signal. Alternatively, the earphone according to the present invention may include a communication unit that receives a mode instruction input by the user from an external device by wireless communication or wired communication. The external device may be, for example, a mobile phone, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet, an in-vehicle computer, a smart watch, or the like.

[0057] When the mode switching unit 31 receives a mode instruction, in step S2, it determines the type of the mode instruction.

[0058] In step S2, if the mode control unit 31 determines that the mode command indicates the closed mode, it outputs a valve lock command to the valve control unit 32 as a valve control command, and outputs a light source off command to the light source control unit 33 as a light source control command.

[0059] In step S3, the valve control unit 32 outputs a valve lock signal to each valve in the ventilation passage, such as the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve, based on the valve lock command, to lock each valve in a closed state. The light source control unit 33 outputs a light source off signal to the UV-LED module as a light source based on the light source off command, to turn off the UV-LED module.

[0060] Thus, in the sealed mode, the UV-LED module does not operate, so no electrical energy is wasted. Also, the intake valve, exhaust valve, and ventilation valve are locked in the closed state and do not open or close with the back and forth vibration of the diaphragm 121, so that the phenomenon of sound leakage through the ventilation path and the phenomenon of external sound entering the earphones are avoided. This makes it possible to prevent sound leakage and the intake of external sound, and not only to protect personal privacy, but also to reproduce sound with precise and clear sound quality, providing the user with a good music listening environment.

[0061] In step S2, if the mode control unit 31 determines that the mode command indicates the open mode, it outputs a valve unlock command to the valve control unit 32 as a valve control command, and outputs a light source on command to the light source control unit 33 as a light source control command.

[0062] In step S4, the valve control unit 32 outputs a valve unlock signal to each valve such as the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve in the ventilation passage so that the valves can be opened and closed freely in accordance with the back and forth vibration of the diaphragm based on the valve unlock command. The light source control unit 33 outputs a light source on signal to the UV-LED module based on the light source on command to turn on the UV-LED module.

[0063] In this way, in the open mode, the UV-LED module irradiates the air inside the earphone, and the intake valve, exhaust valve, and ventilation valve open and close with the back and forth vibration of the diaphragm, so that when the earphone is placed in the ear, the irradiated and sterilized air is sent into the ear canal and the air in the ear canal can be promptly discharged to the outside, sealing the inside of the ear canal and preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi due to humidity and heat, and thus ear diseases such as otitis. In addition, the open mode can also reproduce natural and wide sound field sounds.

[0064] As described above, the present invention makes it possible to enjoy changes in sound quality by switching between open mode and closed mode.

[0065] Also, in step S2, if the mode control unit 31 determines that the mode command indicates the sleep induction mode, it outputs a valve unlock command to the valve control unit 32 as a valve control command, and outputs a light source adjustment command to the light source control unit 33 as a light source control command.

[0066] In step S5, the valve control unit 32 outputs a valve unlock signal to each valve in the ventilation passage, such as the intake valve, the ventilation valve, and the exhaust valve, so that the valves can be opened and closed in accordance with the back and forth vibration of the diaphragm, based on the valve unlock command. The light source control unit 33 turns on the UV-LED module based on the light source adjustment command, obtains the temperature in the ear canal detected by a temperature sensor provided in the earphone, and controls the irradiation of the UV-LED module according to the temperature in the ear canal so that the temperature in the ear canal becomes a predetermined temperature. For example, it controls at least one of the wavelength, illuminance, and irradiation time.

[0067] Thus, in the sleep induction mode, the temperature inside the ear canal can be heated to a preset temperature (for example, about 37 to 39°C) by supplying sterilized and heated air using the UV-LED module into the ear canal. This makes it possible to promote sleep, for example, by supplying sterilized air and warm heat to the ear canal along with music. Particularly in low-temperature periods such as winter, better sleep can be induced by heating the ear canal to warm heat.

[0068] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be changed or modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. Each of the above-mentioned embodiments includes substantially the same aspects and can be appropriately combined. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is clear that all other embodiments obtained without creative effort by a person skilled in the art are also included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. 1. An audio driver for use in an earphone, comprising: A housing having an intake port for taking in outside air; An audio driver unit provided in the housing, the audio driver unit having a diaphragm that vibrates based on an audio electrical signal input to the audio driver unit; A ventilation section provided in the housing, which allows ventilation between the inside of the housing and the ear canal when the earphone is attached to the ear; an exhaust section provided in the housing, which connects the inside and outside of the ear canal when the earphone is attached to the ear; a UV-LED module provided in the housing and configured to irradiate the air in the housing; An audio driver with UV-LED, comprising:

2. The intake port is provided with an intake valve, the ventilation section is provided with an air vent valve, and the exhaust section is provided with an exhaust valve, When the front-rear direction is set such that the direction in which the diaphragm moves away from the inside of the housing is the front direction and the direction in which the diaphragm moves toward the inside of the housing is the rear direction, When the diaphragm vibrates in the forward direction based on the audio electrical signal, the intake valve opens, the ventilation valve closes, and the exhaust valve opens; When the diaphragm vibrates in the rearward direction based on the audio electrical signal, the intake valve is closed, the vent valve is opened, and the exhaust valve is closed.

2. The audio driver with UV-LED according to claim 1.

3. The audio driver with UV-LED as described in claim 2, characterized in that the ventilation section is formed as an opening that opens into the part that supports the diaphragm on the housing, and the ventilation valve is provided in the opening.

4. The audio driver with UV-LED as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the UV-LED module comprises a UV-LED with an emission wavelength within 253-315 nm.

5. The audio driver with UV-LED as described in claim 4, characterized in that the UV-LED module is a composite UV-LED module equipped with a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within 275 to 280 nm and a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 265 nm.

6. A side wall of the housing between the wall in which the air intake is formed and the audio driver unit is provided with a partition plate that divides the internal space of the housing in the front-rear direction and is partially open, and a baffle that is spaced apart from the partition plate in the front-rear direction and arranged to block the opening of the partition plate, The UV-LED module is provided in a space surrounded by the wall in which the air intake is formed, the partition plate, and the baffle. The audio driver with UV-LED according to claim 2.

7. An earphone comprising an audio driver with a UV-LED according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A housing having an air intake port for taking in outside air and a sound emission nozzle on the side that enters the ear; An audio driver unit provided in the housing and dividing the interior of the housing into a front air chamber on the sound output nozzle side and a rear air chamber on the air intake side, the audio driver unit having a diaphragm that vibrates based on an audio electrical signal input to the audio driver unit; a ventilation section provided in the housing for ventilating the rear air chamber and the front air chamber; an earpiece that is fitted onto a wall of the sound emitting nozzle and inserted into an ear canal; a UV-LED module provided within the housing and configured to irradiate the air within the housing; Equipped with The earphone is characterized in that the earpiece is provided with an exhaust port that connects the inside and outside of the ear canal when the earphone is attached to the ear.

9. The intake port is provided with an intake valve, the ventilation section is provided with an air vent valve, and the exhaust section is provided with an exhaust valve, When the front-rear direction is set such that the direction of the vibration plate approaching the sound-emitting nozzle is the front direction and the direction of the vibration plate moving away from the sound-emitting nozzle is the rear direction, When the diaphragm vibrates in the forward direction based on the audio electrical signal, the intake valve opens, the ventilation valve closes, and the exhaust valve opens; When the diaphragm vibrates in the rearward direction based on the audio electrical signal, the intake valve is closed, the vent valve is opened, and the exhaust valve is closed. The earphone according to claim 8 .

10. The earphone according to claim 9, wherein the UV-LED module comprises a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within 253 to 315 nm.

11. The earphone according to claim 10, wherein the UV-LED module is a composite UV-LED module including a UV-LED having an emission wavelength within 275 to 280 nm and a UV-LED having an emission wavelength of 265 nm.

12. The earphone further includes a control unit for controlling an operation of the earphone, the control unit being: a mode switching unit that receives a mode command from a user instructing the operation mode, switches the operation mode of the earphone based on the mode command, and outputs a valve control command and a light source control command; a valve control unit that receives the valve control command from the mode switching unit and controls whether or not each of the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve needs to be locked based on the valve control command; a light source control unit that receives the light source control command from the mode switching unit and controls the UV-LED module on and off based on the light source control command; The earphone according to claim 7 or 10, further comprising:

13. the operating modes include at least a closed mode and an open mode; When the mode switching unit determines that the received mode command indicates the sealed mode, the mode switching unit outputs a valve lock command and a light source off command; the valve control unit locks the intake valve, the vent valve, and the exhaust valve in a closed state based on the valve lock command from the mode switching unit; The light source control unit turns off the UV-LED module based on the light source off command from the mode switching unit, When the mode switching unit determines that the received mode command indicates the open mode, the mode switching unit outputs a valve unlock command and a light source ON command; the valve control unit unlocks each of the valves based on the valve unlock command from the mode switching unit so that each of the valves can be freely opened and closed in accordance with the vibration of the vibration plate; The light source control unit turns on the UV-LED module based on the light source on command from the mode switching unit. The earphone according to claim 12 .

14. A temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the ear canal is further provided. The operational modes further include a sleep induction mode; When the mode switching unit determines that the received mode command indicates the sleep induction mode, the mode switching unit outputs a valve unlock command and a light source adjustment command; the valve control unit unlocks each of the valves based on the valve unlock command from the mode switching unit so that each of the valves can be freely opened and closed in accordance with the vibration of the vibration plate; The light source control unit turns on the UV-LED module based on the light source adjustment command from the mode switching unit, acquires the temperature in the ear canal detected by the temperature sensor, and controls at least one of the wavelength, illuminance, and irradiation time of the UV-LED module based on the temperature in the ear canal so that the temperature in the ear canal becomes a predetermined temperature.

14. The earphone according to claim 13.

15. The earphone according to claim 12, further comprising a mode button provided on the earphone for receiving an input of the mode command from the user and transmitting the input mode command to the control unit as an electrical signal.

16. The earphone according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit further comprises a communication unit that receives the mode command input by the user from an external device via wireless communication or wired communication.

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