Sound output device

Abstract

To provide a device that has a simple and lightweight structure and allows a user to hear sound emitted from a device without blocking the user's ears.SOLUTION: A sound output device 100 includes a case 1 (a first case 11 and a second case 12) and a diaphragm 3 arranged within the case 1 and generating a surface wave from a curved vibration surface (the surface of a main body portion 31 of the diaphragm 3), and the case 1 is provided with sound emission holes 7 (a first sound hole 71 and a second sound hole 72) that send out a surface wave in a direction different from the normal direction D of the vibration surface (the surface of the main body part 31 of the diaphragm 3).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound output device. [Background technology]

[0002] Various sound output devices are known in the art. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a diaphragm of a piezoelectric speaker is attached to a support formed inside a cabinet, and sound generated from the piezoelectric speaker is emitted outside the cabinet through a plurality of sound emission holes.

[0003] The piezoelectric speaker device described in Patent Document 1 has multiple sound emission holes, so that even if some of the sound emission holes are blocked when the piezoelectric speaker device is attached to, for example, a mobile device, sound can be emitted from the other sound emission holes, thereby enabling the speaker to function as intended. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 61-158796 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the piezoelectric speaker device described in Patent Document 1 is intended to be used on the floor or the like, and is not intended to be worn and carried around.

[0006] Wearable sound output devices like earphones and headphones are needed to enjoy music and other media on a personal level. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of opportunities to wear headsets to participate in online meetings and other events. In such situations, it is desirable to be able to wear headphones that look natural and that put as little strain on the body as possible. In addition, in order to participate in conversations or meetings while wearing devices such as headphones or headsets, it is preferable to be able to hear sounds from the device while also being able to hear sounds around you.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a sound output device that allows a user to clearly hear sounds output from a device without blocking their ears. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the sound output device according to the present invention is to Case and a diaphragm disposed within the case and generating a surface wave from a curved vibration surface; having The case is provided with a sound emission hole for emitting the surface wave in a direction different from the normal direction of the vibration surface. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present invention has an advantageous effect of being simple and lightweight, and allowing the user to hear sounds emitted from a device without blocking the ears. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a main part of a sound output device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing the internal configuration of the sound output device shown in FIG. 1 with a second case thereof seen through. [Diagram 3] 3 is a plan view showing a diaphragm disposed in the sound output device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a diaphragm and a magnet. [Diagram 5]5 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining the principle of the sound output device by cutting out a part of the diaphragm and magnet shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sound output device taken along line VI-VI in direction a in FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sound output device taken along line VII-VII in the direction b in FIG. [Figure 8] 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the emission directions of sound waves emitted from a sound output device according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a side view of a person illustrating an example in which a sound output device according to an embodiment is applied to a headset. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view of a person wearing a headset to which the sound output device shown in FIG. 9 is applied, as seen obliquely from the front. [Figure 11] 10 is a plan view of a person wearing a headset to which the sound output device shown in FIG. 9 is applied, as seen from above the head. [Figure 12] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a person wearing a helmet to which a sound output device according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 13] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a person wearing VR goggles to which a sound output device according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a booth to which a modified example of the sound output device according to the embodiment is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of a sound output device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The sound output device of this embodiment is a surface wave speaker of a full-surface drive type in which a diaphragm that generates surface waves of a surface sound source (sound waves from a surface sound source) is provided on the entire surface. Because of the full-surface drive, divided vibrations of the diaphragm are unlikely to occur, and clear, high-quality sound output with little distortion is possible. In the following embodiment, a case will be described in which the sound output device is a small device that can be worn on a person's head. In addition, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0012] [composition] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the main parts of the sound output device according to the embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the internal configuration of the sound output device in a state where the second case 12 of the sound output device shown in Fig. 1 is seen through. In Figs. 1 and 2, the longitudinal direction of the sound output device 100 when viewed from the second case 12 side is defined as direction a, and the direction of the short side perpendicular to direction a is defined as direction b.

[0013] The sound output device 100 of the present embodiment includes a case 1 formed of, for example, various synthetic resins. The case 1 includes a first case 11 and a second case 12, and a storage space is secured inside the case 1 by combining the first case 11 and the second case 12. When the sound output device 100 is worn by a user, the first case 11 faces the side of the user's head, and the second case 12 faces the space of the external environment on the opposite side of the user. For convenience, the lower surface of the case 1 in the state in which the sound output device 100 is worn on the side of the user's head is referred to as surface R1, the upper surface of the case 1 is referred to as surface R2, the front side of the case 1 is referred to as surface R3, and the outer side of the case 1 facing the opposite side of the user's head is referred to as surface R4. In the storage space within case 1, a diaphragm 3 and a magnet 5 are housed. Although not shown in the drawings, the sound output device 100 includes a communication unit configured with an antenna chip or the like, and is capable of receiving signals from a terminal device such as a smartphone by wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi. Note that communication with various terminal devices is not limited to wireless communication and may be performed by wired connection.

[0014] The diaphragm 3 generates a surface wave (sound wave) by vibration, and is supported in the case 1. In this embodiment, a flexible wiring board in which a wiring pattern 311 (see FIG. 5) made of a conductor such as aluminum or copper is formed on a resin film is used as the diaphragm 3. The conductor wiring pattern 311 functions as a printed coil. This allows the diaphragm 3 integrated with the coil to be configured to be thin and lightweight. Therefore, when a force is applied to the diaphragm 3, the diaphragm 3 easily vibrates, and the sound reproducibility is high. In addition, by making the diaphragm 3 integrated with the coil light, the sound output device 100 itself can be made lighter. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wiring pattern 311 can be applied to the entire surface of the diaphragm 3, so that a vibrating force can be generated on the entire surface of the diaphragm 3 (the diaphragm 3 can be driven on the entire surface).

[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the diaphragm in this embodiment. 3, the diaphragm 3 of this embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular shape overall, except for a folded portion 33, which will be described later. The central portion of the diaphragm 3 is a main body portion 31. The main body portion 31 constitutes a vibration surface that vibrates when a force is applied to the diaphragm 3. Peripheral edge portions 32 are formed on both sides of the main body portion 31 in the longitudinal direction (direction a) (peripheral edge portions 32 are shown surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 3). In addition, both ends of the short sides of the main body portion 31 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (direction a) form folded-back portions 33 arranged on the outside of the case 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the folded-back portions 33 are folded so as to fit along the outer surface of the case 1 and arranged on the outer surface of the second case 12 or the like, and are fastened to the outside of the case 1 by a fastener or the like (not shown).

[0016] Corrugations 34, 36 are formed approximately parallel to each side of the diaphragm 3. That is, a pair of peripheral edges 32 along the longitudinal direction (direction a) of the diaphragm 3 are each provided with a first corrugation 34 approximately parallel to the side of the diaphragm 3 in the longitudinal direction (direction a). In addition, a second corrugation portion 36 is provided between the main body portion 31 and each folded portion 33, and is approximately parallel to the short side (side in the short side direction (direction b)) perpendicular to the longitudinal side (direction a) of the diaphragm 3. In addition, when the term "corrugation portion" is simply used, it includes the first corrugation portion 34 and the second corrugation portion 36.

[0017] The diaphragm 3 is fixed to and supported by the case 1 on the outer circumferential side of the corrugations 34, 36. That is, the diaphragm 3 is sandwiched and fixed between the first case 11 and the second case 12 on the outer circumferential side of the corrugations 34, 36. This divides the inside of the case 1 into spaces above and below the diaphragm 3, and prevents air from moving above and below the diaphragm 3. Furthermore, by configuring the main body portion 31 to be surrounded (blocked) on all four sides by the corrugation portions 34, 36 as in the embodiment, when the diaphragm 3 is fixed to the case 1 on the outer periphery side of the corrugation portions 34, 36, it is possible to more reliably prevent air from moving inside the case 1 above and below the diaphragm 3.

[0018] The corrugations 34, 36 are ridges with linear projections and recesses formed by bending the film-like diaphragm 3 into mountain or valley shapes. As described below, the corrugations 34, 36 are flexible (springy), and can expand and contract to a certain degree when force is applied to the diaphragm 3. By expanding and contracting and deforming in this way, the corrugations 34, 36 suppress the divided vibration of the diaphragm 3 and facilitate larger vibration. The corrugated portions 34, 36 may have any structure that is flexible, and the specific shapes and the like are not limited to those shown in the figures. For example, while Fig. 2 shows an example in which the corrugated portions 34, 36 are convex upward, the corrugated portions 34, 36 may be convex downward instead.

[0019] In this embodiment, the entire sound output device 100 has a curved shape that is curved in the longitudinal direction (direction a). That is, the case 1, the diaphragm 3, and the magnet 5 that constitute the sound output device 100 all have a curved shape that is curved in the longitudinal direction (direction a). The curved shape of the sound output device 100 is a shape that fits, for example, the outer periphery of a person's head (for example, the outer periphery of the temporal region). In this respect, since the corrugation portion 34 is a protruding portion, when the horizontal plate-like diaphragm 3 is curved as shown in FIG. 2, the corrugation portion 34 may undergo unintended deformation and may not function as a corrugation. Therefore, in the diaphragm 3 of this embodiment (peripheral portion 32 of the diaphragm 3 as shown in FIG. 3), a plurality of slit portions 35 extending approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the corrugation portion 34 are formed along the side in the longitudinal direction (direction a). Since the corrugation portions 34 adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction (direction a) are separated from each other, there is no risk that the corrugation portion 34 will be damaged due to distortion caused by stress when the diaphragm 3 is curved when it is not separated, and the diaphragm 3 can be curved smoothly as shown in FIG. 2, etc. Furthermore, even if the corrugation portion 34 is curved, the concave or convex shape of the protruding portion is not deformed by the stress at the time of bending so as to disappear, so the corrugation function is not lost. The slits 35 are preferably formed at approximately equal intervals along the side in the longitudinal direction (direction a). The width and number of the slits 35 to be provided are appropriately determined.

[0020] The magnet 5 is a magnet magnetized with multiple poles, with N and S poles magnetized in a striped pattern. As described above, the sound output device 100 of this embodiment has a curved shape that is curved in the longitudinal direction (direction a) as a whole. For this reason, for example, a rubber magnet made of magnetic powder solidified with resin is used as the magnet 5. This makes it possible to deform the magnet 5 into a curved shape according to the shape of the sound output device 100.

[0021] Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main part showing the diaphragm and magnet. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the principle of the sound output device by cutting out a part of the diaphragm and magnet shown in Fig. 4. In the figure, N is the north pole of the magnet 5, and S is the south pole of the magnet 5. Note that Figs. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams for explanation, and show the diaphragm and magnet in an uncurved state, but in reality they are curved like the first case 11 and the second case 12 in Fig. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, stripe-shaped magnets 5 extending in the longitudinal direction (direction a) are arranged in a row in the direction b on the inner surface of a pair of sheet-like base layers 4, and an insulating layer 6 is provided between the magnets 5 along the direction b. The magnets 5 are rubber magnets and therefore flexible, and the base layers 4 and the insulating layer 6 are also flexible, so that they can be easily curved into shapes similar to those of the first case 11 and the second case 12 shown in FIG. 1. Each base layer 4 is arranged so that the same poles (e.g., N poles) of the magnets 5 face each other and the wiring pattern 311 is located between the magnets 5 adjacent to each other in the direction b, that is, at a position facing the insulating layer 6. A space is provided between the diaphragm 3 and the magnet 5 so that the diaphragm 3 does not come into contact with the magnet 5 or the insulating layer 6 even if the diaphragm 3 is deformed by vibration.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, diaphragm 3 and magnets 5 are arranged within case 1 in a position according to Fleming's left-hand rule, and magnetic field lines are generated between magnets 5 in the direction of arrow M1. When an electrical sound signal is supplied to wiring pattern 311 made of a conductor functioning as a printed coil and a current is passed in the direction of arrow C1, a force acting on diaphragm 3 is generated in the direction of arrow F1, causing diaphragm 3 (main body 31 of the diaphragm) to vibrate in normal direction D (see Figures 6 and 7) of the vibration plane (surface of main body 31).

[0023] Fig. 6 is a schematic VI-VI cross-sectional view of the sound output device along the direction a in Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a schematic VII-VII cross-sectional view of the sound output device along the direction b in Fig. 1. In Figs. 6 and 7, the vibration of the vibration surface of the diaphragm 3 is indicated by wave-shaped arrows. 6 and 7, when a force is applied to the diaphragm 3 so that it vibrates in the vertical direction in the figure (direction moving away from and toward the side of the user's head), by sequentially reversing the direction of the current flowing through the wiring pattern 311, the corrugated portions 34, 36, which have flexibility (springiness) as described above, expand and contract and deform, and the diaphragm 3 (main body portion 31, which is the vibration surface of the diaphragm 3) vibrates greatly up and down in the normal direction D (see the wavy arrows in FIGS. 6 and 7). The air vibrations (sound waves) caused by this are sent out from the sound emission hole 7 formed in the case 1.

[0024] The sound output device 100 is formed with a sound output hole 7 that outputs sound in a direction different from the normal direction D of the vibration surface (surface of the main body part 31) of the diaphragm 3. The sound output hole 7 includes a first sound hole 71 and a second sound hole 72 that is arranged at a position point-symmetrical to the first sound hole 71 with respect to the center P of the vibration surface. 1, 2, and 7, in this embodiment, a first sound hole 71 is formed on the first face R1 of the case 1, that is, on the right side of the longitudinal direction (direction a) of the first case 11 of the case 1 and on the near side in direction b (the near side in FIG. 2, etc.), and a second sound hole 72 is formed on the second face R2 located on the opposite side of the first face R1 of the case 1, that is, on the left side of the direction a and on the far side in direction b (the far side in FIG. 2, etc.) of the second case 12. In other words, the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 pass through the center P of the vibration surface, curve according to the curved shape of the case 1, and are not in a line symmetrical positional relationship with each other with respect to the axis AX along the direction a when viewed from the second case 12 side, but are in an asymmetrical positional relationship. When the sound output device 100 is worn by a user, the first sound hole 71 located closer to the side of the user's head relative to the second sound hole 72 is a sound output hole that outputs sound toward the user's ear, and the second sound hole 72 located farther away from the side of the user's head relative to the first sound hole 71, that is, closer to the space of the external environment, is a sound output hole that outputs sound toward the user's ear. For this reason, the sound output from the second sound hole 72 is difficult to hear by the user's ear. Note that the sound output device 100 with the arrangement of the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a specification for the right ear, and the sound output device 100 for the left ear has a structure in which each part is in a mirror image positional relationship with each part of the sound output device 100 for the right ear.

[0025] The first sound hole 71 emits sound waves generated by the action of pressure increasing when the diaphragm 3 (the vibration surface of the diaphragm 3) moves downward in Figure 7 and pressure decreasing when the diaphragm 3 (the vibration surface of the diaphragm 3) moves upward. In contrast, the second sound hole 72 emits sound waves generated by the action of pressure decreasing when the diaphragm 3 (the vibration surface of the diaphragm 3) moves downward in Figure 7 and pressure increasing when the diaphragm 3 (the vibration surface of the diaphragm 3) moves upward.

[0026] In this way, the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 each emit sound waves in opposite phases to each other. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates the emission direction of sound waves emitted from each sound output hole of the sound output device according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, in the sound output device 100 of this embodiment, a positive sound wave (first plane wave) S1 (shown by a solid wave in Fig. 8) that reaches the human ear is sent from the first sound hole 71, and a sound wave (second plane wave) S2 (shown by a dashed wave in Fig. 8) of the opposite phase is sent from the second sound hole 72. Since sound waves diffract and spread, the sound waves sent from the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 cancel each other out at the intersection, resulting in bidirectionality. Note that in Fig. 8, an image of the part where the sound waves S1 and S2 sent from the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 intersect and cancel each other out (area Arn where sound is not heard or is difficult to hear even if sound waves are sent from the sound output hole 7) is shown by shading.

[0027] [Effect] Next, the operation of the sound output device 100 in this embodiment will be described.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a side view of a person showing an example of application of the sound output device of the embodiment to a headset, FIG. 10 is an oblique view of a person wearing a headset to which the sound output device shown in FIG. 9 is applied, viewed from diagonally in front, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of a person wearing a headset to which the sound output device shown in FIG. 9 is applied, viewed from above. When the sound output device 100 is applied to a headset HS, a pair of sound output devices 100 curved to fit the periphery of the temporal region of a person's head are prepared, one on each side, and connected by a headband Hb, as shown in Fig. 9 to Fig. 11. Then, each sound output device 100 is worn so as to be positioned above the ear E.

[0029] When an electric signal of sound is supplied to the sound output device 100 of the headset HS, the sound generated by the vibration of the diaphragm 3 (main body 31 constituting the vibration surface) in the normal direction D is propagated within the first case 11 and is sent out as a sound wave S1 from the first sound hole 71 toward the ear E of a person located below the sound output device 100, in the direction in which the first sound hole 71 is opened. In Fig. 9, the direction of the sound wave S3 toward the ear E is indicated by a dashed arrow. At this time, in the space on the opposite side of the diaphragm 3, the sound generated by the vibration of the diaphragm 3 is propagated within the second case 12, and a sound wave S2 in the opposite phase to the sound wave S1 is sent out from the second sound hole 72 toward the overhead direction, in the direction in which the second sound hole 72 is opened. The sound wave S2 of the opposite phase can be heard at a position above the head, but at a position in the lateral direction of the sound output device 100 (to the side of the person wearing the headset HS), it cancels out and cannot be heard with the sound wave S1 sent from the first sound hole 71. This allows only the user to hear the sound heard by the headset HS, without the person next to him / her hearing it. In addition, the sound output device 100 is disposed above the ear E as shown in the figure, and does not block the ear E. Therefore, the user can hear the surrounding sounds, and can ensure safety even when walking outside, for example. In addition, when wearing the device at a meeting, it is possible to participate in the meeting while listening to surrounding conversations. Furthermore, the sound output device 100 may be applied as a hearing aid or a sound collector. In this case, the sound output device 100 is combined with a microphone that collects sound and a circuit that amplifies the sound collected by the microphone.

[0030] In the illustrated example of the headset HS, the microphone 8 is provided integrally with the sound output device 100. The sound S3 traveling from the user's mouth toward the microphone 8 is indicated by an upward dashed arrow. The sound collection section of the microphone 8 is provided on the surface of the sound output device 100 so as to be exposed to the external space. The position where the sound collecting section of the microphone 8 is provided is on a third surface R3 different from the first surface R1 and the second surface R2 of the case 1 so as not to collect the sound from the first sound hole 71 or the sound from the second sound hole 72, but is not limited to the illustrated example as long as it is provided on a surface different from the first surface R1 and the second surface R2 of the case 1. For example, the microphone 8 may be provided on a side surface R4 or the like of the sound output device 100. In this case, the microphone 8 is disposed in an area Arn where the sound waves S1 and S2 emitted from the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 cancel each other out and the sound cannot be heard, so that the user's voice can be picked up without being disturbed by the sound emitted from the sound output device 100. The microphone may also be configured separately from the sound output device 100. In this case, for example, the microphone is disposed near the user's mouth and connected to the headset HS by an arm or the like.

[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a person showing an example of wearing a helmet to which the sound output device according to the embodiment is applied. In addition, in FIG. 12, a case is illustrated in which the microphone 8 is provided integrally with the sound output device 100 even when the sound output device 100 is applied to the helmet HM, but the microphone 8 does not necessarily have to be provided. When the sound output device 100 is applied to a helmet HM, for example, as shown in Fig. 12, it is attached inside the helmet HM at a position where the sound output device 100 is located above the ears E when a person wears the helmet HM. In this case, a pair of sound output devices 100 may be provided corresponding to the left and right ears E as in the case of the headset HS, or only one may be provided corresponding to either the left or right ear E.

[0032] When an electric sound signal is supplied to the sound output device 100, the diaphragm 3 (main body 31 constituting the vibration surface) vibrates in the normal direction D, and a sound wave S1 is emitted from the first sound hole 71 toward the human ear E located below the sound output device 100. In Fig. 12, the direction of the sound wave toward the ear E is indicated by a dashed arrow. At the same time, a sound wave S2 of opposite phase is also emitted upward from the second sound hole 72, but this sound wave S2 of opposite phase is absorbed within the helmet HM, so that leakage of the opposite phase sound to the surroundings can be suppressed.

[0033] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a person showing an example of wearing VR goggles to which the sound output device according to the embodiment is applied. The VR goggles VG are devices that are communicatively connected to a terminal device such as a smartphone, and allow the wearer to easily experience virtual reality (VR) simply by wearing them. When the sound output device 100 is applied to VR goggles VG, the sound output device 100 may be provided in a pair corresponding to the left and right ears E, as in the case of the headset HS, or may be provided on only one side corresponding to either the left or right ear E.

[0034] When an electric signal of sound is supplied to the sound output device 100, the diaphragm 3 (main body part 31 constituting the vibration surface) vibrates in the normal direction D to generate sound waves, which propagate through the space within the sound output device 100 and are sent out from the first sound hole 71 toward the ear E of a person located below the sound output device 100 as sound waves S1. In FIG. 12, the direction of the sound wave S1 toward the ear E is indicated by a dashed arrow. At the same time, a sound wave S2 of opposite phase is sent out from the second sound hole 72 in the upward direction, and the sound wave S1 sent out from the first sound hole 71 cancels out the sound wave S2 of opposite phase on the side of the user, making it inaudible or difficult to hear. This allows the user to immerse himself in the world of virtual reality without worrying about sound leaking to the surroundings. Even in this case, the sound output device 100 is placed above the ear E and does not block the ear E itself. This allows the user to simultaneously hear surrounding sounds, enabling them to properly grasp their surroundings and ensure their safety while still enjoying the virtual reality world.

[0035] [effect] As described above, according to this embodiment, the sound output device 100 has a case 1 and a diaphragm 3 that is disposed within the case 1 and generates a surface wave by vibration of a curved vibration surface, and the case 1 is provided with a sound emission hole 7 that sends out a surface wave in a direction different from the normal direction D of the vibration surface. The sound emission hole 7 includes a first sound hole 71 provided on the first surface R1 of the case 1, which emits a first surface wave S1 from one surface side of the vibration surface, and a second sound hole 72 provided on a second surface R2 different from the first surface R1 of the case 1, which emits a second surface wave S2 from the other surface side of the vibration surface. The second sound hole 72 is disposed at a position point-symmetrical to the first sound hole 71 with respect to the center P of the vibration surface (the surface of the main body 31), for example. Therefore, the first case 11 and the second case 12 can be made to have the same size and shape, and therefore the same thing can be used.

[0036] Moreover, with such a configuration, the sound output device 100 can be configured simply and lightly, and can be worn comfortably on the upper part of the ear E or the like. In addition, since the device can be constructed to be lightweight, it does not place a burden on the user even when worn for long periods of time or while exercising, such as running. Furthermore, since it can be made small and lightweight, it can be widely applied to various wearable devices such as various headsets HS, helmets HM, and VR goggles VG.

[0037] Furthermore, unlike conventional plane wave speakers, sound output device 100 does not emit sound in the normal direction D of the vibration surface, but has sound emission holes 7 at positions that are above and below when worn, thereby rotating the sound wave emission direction by approximately 90 degrees. For this reason, there is no need to provide sound emission holes in the magnet or case in the normal direction D of the vibration surface as in conventional plane wave speakers, eliminating the effort and man-hours required to form many sound emission holes over a large surface. Furthermore, by rotating the sound wave transmission direction by 90 degrees, a sound output device (speaker) that had to be worn on the outside of the ear E like headphones in the past, blocking the ear E, can now be mounted on the upper or front side of the ear E without blocking the ear E by closely contacting the head. The first sound hole 71 is disposed at a position from which the first surface wave S1 is transmitted toward the ear E when the device is worn on the ear E at the side of the head. This makes it easier to hear the sound, improves the wearing comfort, and allows the user to simultaneously hear the sound transmitted from the sound output device 100 and external sounds, allowing the user to safely wear the sound output device 100 while paying attention to the surrounding situation.

[0038] In addition, the sound output device 100 of this embodiment further has magnets 5 arranged on the front and back of the vibration surface (the surface of the main body portion 31) of the diaphragm 3 with an air layer between them, and the case 1, magnets 5 and diaphragm 3 have a curved shape in which the longitudinal direction (direction a) of the case 1 is curved. In this embodiment, a rubber magnet is used as the magnet 5, and the magnet 5 can be easily curved and deformed even when the sound output device 100 is to be formed into an arbitrary curved shape, for example to fit the shape of a person's temporal region. Therefore, the shape of the sound output device 100 can be flexibly changed depending on the installation location, the wearing position, and the wearing object. This curved shape is preferably a shape that fits along the outer periphery of a person's temporal region. This allows the entire sound output device 100 to be fitted to the shape of the side of the person's head, making it comfortable and unobtrusive to wear. It also does not easily slip off during exercise, and can be worn in a stable state.

[0039] In addition, the sound output device 100 of this embodiment further has a microphone 8 having a sound collection portion, and the case 1 has a third surface R3 on which the sound collection portion of the microphone 8 is arranged, and the third surface R3 is a surface different from the first surface R1 and the second surface R2. This makes the microphone 8 less susceptible to the effects of surface waves emitted from the first sound hole 71 provided on the first surface R1 and the second sound hole 72 provided on the second surface R2, making it easier to pick up the user's voice, etc.

[0040] The diaphragm 3 of this embodiment is formed in a rectangular shape, with corrugations 34, 36 formed approximately parallel to each side. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the corrugated portions 34, 36 are flexible and can expand, contract, and deform. Therefore, when a force is applied to the diaphragm 3, the diaphragm 3 can easily vibrate flexibly (see Figs. 6 and 7), which is expected to provide excellent sound reproducibility and to emit a louder sound from the sound emission hole 7.

[0041] Further, the diaphragm 3 in this embodiment is fixed to the case 1 on the outer circumferential side of the corrugated portions 34 and 36 . As a result, the inside of case 1 is divided into upper and lower spaces by diaphragm 3, and a structure is formed in which air does not move above or below diaphragm 3. Furthermore, by providing corrugations 34 and 36 so as to surround the periphery of main body 31 which constitutes the vibration surface, the strength of diaphragm 3 is improved and split vibration can be suppressed. The corrugated portions 34, 36 are flexible and can expand and contract to a certain extent when force is applied to the diaphragm 3. By expanding and contracting the corrugated portions 34, 36 in this way, the concaves and conves are not lost, and the diaphragm 3 can vibrate more flexibly and more strongly.

[0042] Further, in the diaphragm 3 of this embodiment, a plurality of slit portions 35 that are substantially perpendicular to the corrugation portion 34 are formed along the side in the longitudinal direction (direction a). This allows the diaphragm 3 to bend flexibly in the longitudinal direction (direction a) even if the corrugation portions 34 are formed along the longitudinal direction (direction a).

[0043] Moreover, the slits 35 are preferably formed at approximately equal intervals along the side in the longitudinal direction (direction a). This allows the diaphragm 3 to be curved more smoothly and evenly, and allows for flexible adaptation to the installation location, mounting position, and mounting object of the sound output device 100.

[0044] [Variations] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0045] For example, in the above embodiment, the sound output device 100 is illustrated as being small enough to be worn on a person's head, but the sound output device is not limited to being small. For example, FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a booth to which a modified example of the sound output device according to the embodiment is applied.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 14, the sound output device 200 may be installed in a booth BS for online meetings. In this case, for example, the sound output device 200 is provided on both sides of the user's seat. The sound output device 200 is connected to a terminal device PC such as a personal computer installed in the booth BS in a wired manner, for example, by a cable W. Note that the sound output device 200 is not limited to being connected to the terminal device PC in a wired manner, and may be connected to the terminal device PC or various networks, etc., by a wireless method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi. Note that FIG. 14 is an image diagram and does not limit various environments, such as the size of a space to which the sound output device 200 can be applied.

[0047] Even when the sound output device 200 is installed in a space such as a booth BS in this way, a first sound hole 71 is provided as a sound output hole 7 on the lower side of the device, and a second sound hole 72 is provided on the upper side of the device at a diagonal position of the first sound hole 71. In this case, the sound wave S2 in the opposite phase from the second sound hole 72 is sent toward the ceiling of the booth BS and does not affect a user who is in a lower position than the sound output device 200. Furthermore, the sound spreading in the horizontal direction intersects with the sound wave S2 in the opposite phase and cancels each other out, so that the sound cannot be heard by those around, and it is possible to concentrate on a meeting, etc. without worrying about others around you. 14, a duct (not shown) for controlling the direction of sound waves output from the sound hole 7 is provided around the sound hole 7, and the sound waves output from the first sound hole 71 are shown to be directed toward the user inside the booth BS. By providing a duct in which the angle of the inner wall of the tube that outputs the sound wave S1 is adjusted so that the sound wave S1 is output in any direction, it is possible to adjust the output direction of the sound wave to a desired direction (in the illustrated example, the direction toward the center of the booth BS where the user is) depending on the installation position of the sound output device 200. Note that the configuration for controlling the direction of the sound wave output from the first sound hole 71 is not essential.

[0048] By using a sound output device 200 as shown in FIG. 14, even when an online meeting is held in a space with no wall behind it, such as the booth BS in the illustrated example, there is no need to worry about sound leakage, and the conference can be held without worrying about those around. Also, because your ears are not blocked like with regular headphones or headsets, you can participate in meetings while still hearing the voices around you. Furthermore, unlike normal headphones or headsets, there is no need to wear the device and it can be installed on a wall or the like at a higher position than the user, so it will not be captured on a camera recording the meeting, and meetings can be held without the user being aware of the presence of the sound output device 200 (speaker).

[0049] When the sound output device 200 is to be installed in such a space, it is not necessary to make the entire device curved, and the diaphragm 3 and magnet 5 can be flat and not curved. In this case, since there is no need to bend the corrugation portion 34 of the diaphragm 3, there is also no need to provide the slit portion 35 in the diaphragm 3. In addition, since there is no need to curve the magnet 5, a general magnet can be widely applied without using a rubber magnet. Furthermore, when there is no need to curve the sound output device 200, the first case 11 and the second case 12 constituting the case 1 can be made vertically symmetrical, which facilitates manufacturing. Also, by making the shape of the case 1 (at least the shape of the storage space inside the case 1) vertically symmetrical, the air volumes and the like of the spaces above and below the diaphragm 3 become equal, and the vibrations of the diaphragm 3 above and below can be made more uniform, resulting in a structure that is less likely to cause sound distortion.

[0050] The shape of the sound output device is not limited to the shapes described in the embodiments. For example, not only in the case of a relatively large device such as the sound output device 200 shown in FIG. 14, but also in the case of the small sound output device 100 described in the embodiment, depending on the installation location, the overall shape may not be curved but may instead have a linear appearance. If the sound output device 100 is to have a shape that is not curved, the first case 11 and the second case 12 that constitute the case 1 can be made to have a vertically symmetrical shape, and the diaphragm 3 and the magnet 5 can also be flat and not curved.

[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, an example has been given of a case in which one sound emission hole 7 is provided in each of the first case 11 and the second case 12 (i.e., the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72), but the shape and number of the sound emission holes 7 are not limited to this. The first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 may be arranged in point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center P of the vibration surface, and for example, the first sound hole 71 and the second sound hole 72 may each be composed of a collection of small sound holes. In addition, it is expected that the smaller the sound emission hole, the more concentrated the sound waves will be and the stronger the sound will be emitted, but the size of the sound emission hole may be set appropriately depending on the design and engineering considerations, etc. The sound emission hole may be, for example, a series of small holes arranged in a row over almost the entire longitudinal direction (direction a) of the sound output device.

[0052] It should be noted that, in this disclosure, an "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but may. In this disclosure, for example, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" means "(A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C)" unless otherwise specified. Also, for example, if C is plural, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" means "(A), (B), (at least one or more C), (A and B), (A and at least one or more C), (B and at least one or more C), or (A, B, and at least one or more C)". When A is plural or B is plural, it is interpreted as being treated in the same manner as above. The phrase "or" is used to refer to non-exclusive things, unless otherwise stated, e.g., the phrase "A or B" means "any of (A but not B), (B but not A), and (A and B)." In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," etc., unless otherwise specified, are applied for discriminatory purposes only and do not imply any other kind of ordering (e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 case 11 Case 1 12 Second Case 3 Vibration plate 31 Main body 32 Periphery 34 First corrugation section 35 Slit section 36 Second corrugation section 5. Magnets 7 Sound emission hole 71 First tone hole 72 Second tone hole 8. Mike 100 Sound output device E-ear

Claims

1. Case and a diaphragm disposed within the case and generating a surface wave from a curved vibration surface; having The sound output device, wherein the case is provided with a sound emission hole that emits the surface wave in a direction different from the normal direction of the vibration surface.

2. 2. The sound output device according to claim 1, wherein the sound output holes include a first sound hole provided on a first surface of the case for sending out a first surface wave from one side of the vibration surface, and a second sound hole provided on a second surface of the case different from the first surface for sending out a second surface wave from the other side of the vibration surface.

3. 3. The sound output device according to claim 2, wherein the first sound hole is disposed at a position from which the first surface wave is sent toward the ear when the device is worn above the ear on the side of the head.

4. Further comprising a microphone having a sound collecting section, the case has a third surface on which the sound collecting portion of the microphone is disposed, The sound output device according to claim 2 , wherein the third surface is different from the first surface and the second surface.

5. The diaphragm further includes magnets arranged on the front and back of the vibration surface of the diaphragm with an air gap therebetween, The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein the case, the magnet, and the diaphragm are curved in a longitudinal direction of the case.

6. The sound output device according to claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is formed in a rectangular shape, and corrugations are formed approximately parallel to each side of the diaphragm.

7. The diaphragm is fixed to the case on an outer circumferential side of the corrugation portion. The sound output device according to claim 6.

8. The diaphragm has a plurality of slits formed along a longitudinal side of the case, the slits being substantially perpendicular to the corrugation portion. The sound output device according to claim 6.

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