Bone conduction earphone and method of using bone conduction earphone

Abstract

To provide a bone conduction earphone capable of improving a sound volume and sound isolation while enhancing a mounting feeling to ears of a user, and provide a method of using the bone conduction earphone.SOLUTION: In a bone conduction earphone 1, a sound emission part 10 emits a sound signal, and a control circuit 11 converts the sound signal emitted into a predetermined electric signal. A vibration part 12 has a shape to be mountable to ears of a user, and generates a vibration corresponding to the sound signal on the basis of the electric signal thus converted. Clay 13 is made of a component having a biocompatibility, has plasticity, and can be attached to an outer surface of the vibration part 12. The clay 13 is attached to the outer front surface of the vibration part 12, and is closely attached to an outer ear, an outer ear meatus, or both of inner ear front surfaces of the user, and thus the clay 13 is deformed to a shape to be adapted to an inner ear front surface, and an earphone that has the clay 13 after the deformation can transmits the vibration of the vibration part 12 to a born tissue of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bone conduction earphone and a method for using the bone conduction earphone. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are many technologies related to earphones (also called ear inserts) that improve the fit and volume. For example, JP2017-521021A (Patent Document 1) discloses a customizable ear insert and method comprising a main body and a light source. The main body is made of a photocurable polymer and is configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a user in a first shape. The light source is positioned adjacent to the main body, and light generated from the light source hardens the main body into a second shape that fits the inner surface of the user's outer ear, ear canal, or both. This makes it possible to provide a customizable ear insert and method that fits the inside of the user's outer ear, ear canal, or both.

[0003] Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-222682 (Patent Document 2) discloses a bone conduction earphone including a bone conduction vibration unit, a front side convex portion, and a back side convex portion. The bone conduction vibration unit is formed on an ellipsoid and generates audio vibration. The front side convex portion is provided to protrude from one end side of the bone conduction vibration unit in the length direction and from the front side in the thickness direction. The back side convex portion is provided to protrude from one end side of the bone conduction vibration unit in the length direction and from the back side in the thickness direction. When the one end side of the bone conduction vibration unit in the length direction is inserted into the depression of the concha cavity and rotated so that the lower part of the bone conduction vibration unit in the width direction is in close contact with the bottom of the depression of the concha cavity and worn, the bone conduction earphone is in pressure contact with the tragus, the concha cavity, the antitragus, and the periphery of the entrance of the ear canal. It is said that this makes it possible to provide a bone conduction earphone that is excellent in the reproducibility of audio information, easy to insert into the depression of the concha cavity, and has excellent support stability after wearing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2017-521021 [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-222682 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Currently, bone conduction earphones that transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear through bone tissue are appearing. In general bone conduction earphones, the vibrating part is placed near the temple of the user's ear, vibrating the bone tissue of the user's skull and other parts, which directly vibrates the user's inner ear and transmits sound to the user's brain. Therefore, bone conduction earphones do not block the user's ear canal, so that it is possible to hear external sounds, for example, and can be used daily or during exercise.

[0006] However, with bone conduction earphones, the ear canal is open, so the user perceives sound vibrations mixed with external noise. This makes it difficult for the user to accurately recognize the sound. In addition, since bone conduction earphones are placed near the temples of the user's ears, if the user wears glasses, the tips of the glasses (temples) and the bone conduction earphones are crowded around the ears, creating an uncomfortable feeling around the user's ears.

[0007] Here, the technology described in Patent Document 1 uses a photocurable polymer to create an ear insert that fits the user's ear, but requires a light source to perform a photocuring process. Also, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has the problem that when used as earphones, sound holes, speakers, etc. must be set in advance, which is time-consuming and laborious.

[0008] In addition, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, when the bone conduction vibration unit is sandwiched between the tragus and the antitragus, the vibration generated by the bone conduction vibration unit can be transmitted to the inside of the ear without attenuation, but it is necessary to prepare multiple sizes of the bone conduction vibration unit, for example, S, M, L, etc. Therefore, it is difficult to fit it to everyone's ear canal, and there is a problem that the adhesion with the bone conduction vibration unit is weak, making it difficult for sound vibration to be transmitted, and external noise enters, making it difficult for the user to accurately recognize the sound.

[0009] It is especially important to accurately convey sound to the hearing impaired and hard of hearing. As mentioned above, depending on the size, it is difficult to make the earphones fit everyone's ears, which can lead to problems such as poor fit, poor sound insulation, and poor volume. Therefore, there has been a demand for bone conduction earphones that are comfortable to wear, have good sound insulation, and have good volume.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a bone conduction earphone and a method for using a bone conduction earphone that can improve the fit to the user's ear while also improving volume and sound insulation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The bone conduction earphone according to the present invention includes a sound generating unit, a control circuit, a vibration unit, and clay. The sound generating unit transmits an audio signal. The control circuit converts the transmitted audio signal into a predetermined electrical signal. The vibration unit has a shape that can be attached to the user's ear, and generates vibrations corresponding to the audio signal based on the converted electrical signal. The clay is made of a biocompatible component, has plasticity, and can be attached to the outer surface of the vibration unit. The bone conduction earphone according to the present invention is such that the clay is attached to the outer surface of the vibration unit and is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the outer ear, the ear canal, or both of the ears of the user, thereby deforming the clay into a shape that fits the inner surface of the ear, and the deformed clay serves as an earphone that transmits the vibration of the vibration unit to the bone tissue of the user.

[0012] The method of using the bone conduction earphone according to the present invention is a method of using the bone conduction earphone comprising a sound generating unit, a control circuit, a vibration unit, and clay. The method of using the bone conduction earphone according to the present invention is to attach the clay to the outer surface of the vibration unit and bring it into close contact with the inner surface of the outer ear, the ear canal, or both of the ears of the user, thereby deforming the clay into a shape that fits the inner surface of the ear, and the deformed clay becomes an earphone that transmits the vibration of the vibration unit to the bone tissue of the user. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the fit to the user's ears, as well as improve the volume and sound insulation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a conceptual diagram showing an example of a bone conduction earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an enlarged view showing an example from a vibration unit to clay. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional and front views showing an example of a bone conduction earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after the clay is attached to a user's ear. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are a cross-sectional view and a front view showing an example of how vibrations of a vibration section of a bone conduction earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention are transmitted. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a front view showing an example of a bone conduction earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention when a pendant band is provided, and FIG. 4B is a front view showing an example of a case in which the sound output unit and control circuit of the bone conduction earphone communicate wirelessly. [Diagram 5] This is an enlarged view showing an example of the bone conduction earphone according to an embodiment of the present invention, from the vibration part to the clay when an outer frame part is provided, and a cross-sectional view showing an example of the clay after it has been attached to the user's ear. [Figure 6] 3 is a photograph showing an example of bone conduction earphones of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. [Figure 7] 1 is a table showing bone conduction earphones of Examples 1-2 and Comparative Example 1 and the evaluation results. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to help the understanding of the present invention. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the bone conduction earphone 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a sound generating unit 10, a control circuit 11, a vibration unit 12, and clay 13. In Fig. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, the sound generating unit 10, the control circuit 11, the vibration unit 12, and the clay 13 are provided in pairs on the left and right sides.

[0017] Here, the sound output unit 10 transmits an audio signal, and the control circuit 11 converts the transmitted audio signal into a predetermined electrical signal. The sound output unit 10 can be, for example, a microphone unit that collects external sounds and transmits an audio signal corresponding to the collected sounds. The control circuit 11 can be, for example, a conversion circuit that has a power supply unit and is electrically connected to the sound output unit 10 by an electric wire, and converts the audio signal from the sound output unit 10 into an electrical signal by utilizing the voltage of the power supply unit. The control circuit 11 performs the function of amplifying the audio signal.

[0018] The vibration unit 12 has a shape that can be worn on the user's ear, and generates vibrations corresponding to the audio signal based on the converted electrical signal. Here, the vibration unit 12 has, for example, a small cylindrical shape that can be stored in the user's concha, and is, for example, a vibrator made of piezoelectric ceramics. The vibration unit 12 is electrically connected to the control circuit 11 by an electric wire, and vibrates in response to the electrical signal by receiving the electrical signal from the control circuit 11. The electrical signal includes a voltage signal based on a voltage and a current signal based on a current. For example, if the vibration unit 12 is made of piezoelectric ceramics, the control circuit 11 will input a voltage signal to the vibration unit 12, and if the vibration unit 12 is magnetic, the control circuit 11 will input a current signal to the vibration unit 12.

[0019] The clay 13 is made of a biocompatible component, has plasticity, and can be attached to the outer surface (outer surface) of the vibration unit 12. Here, biocompatibility means a property that has affinity with living tissue and does not cause a foreign body reaction or rejection reaction, etc., and in the embodiment of the present invention, it can be exemplified as a property that does not cause a foreign body reaction or rejection reaction even when it comes into contact with the surface of the ear. Plasticity means a property (also called plasticity) in which, when a solid is deformed by applying force, the deformation (distortion) remains as it is even when the force is removed, and in the embodiment of the present invention, it can be exemplified as a property that can be deformed into various shapes by the user applying force.

[0020] In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, the bone conduction earphone 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the clay 13 is attached to the outer surface of the vibration unit 12 and is brought into close contact with the user's outer ear OE, ear canal EC, or both ear inner surfaces OES and ECS, thereby deforming the clay 13 into a shape that fits the ear inner surfaces OES and ECS, and the deformed clay 13 serves as an earphone that transmits the vibration of the vibration unit 12 to the user's bone tissue. In Fig. 2, the clay 13 is deformed into a shape that matches the shape of the ear inner surface OES of the user's outer ear OE and the ear inner surface ECS of the ear canal EC.

[0021] This makes it possible to improve the fit to the user's ear and to improve the volume and sound insulation. That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, by providing plastic clay 13 as an earphone between the vibration unit 12 and the user's ear (the inner ear surface OES of the outer ear OE, and the inner ear surface ECS of the ear canal EC), the shape of the clay 13 matches the shape of the user's ear, making it possible to make the vibration unit 12 adhere closely to the user's ear without any gaps. Therefore, even if the user moves slightly, the clay 13 functions as a holding means for maintaining the adhesion between the vibration unit 12 and the user's ear, making it possible to improve the fit to the user's ear.

[0022] Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the clay 13 may simply be brought into close contact with the inner ear surfaces OES and ECS, or the clay 13 may be sandwiched between the tragus and the antitragus and brought into close contact with the inner ear surfaces OES and ECS. If the clay 13 is sandwiched between the tragus and the antitragus, the vibration of the vibration unit 12 will be more easily transmitted to the user's ear.

[0023] In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention, the clay 13 is directly attached to the outer surface of the vibration part 12, so that the vibration of the vibration part 12 can be transmitted directly to the user's ear through the clay 13. For example, if another substance is provided between the vibration part 12 and the clay 13, the vibration passes through the other substance and is transmitted to the clay 13, so that the waveform of the vibration changes and the intended vibration may not be transmitted to the user's ear. Therefore, it is important to provide the clay 13 on the outer surface of the vibration part 12.

[0024] In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the clay 13 makes the vibration unit 12 adhere closely to the user's ear without any gaps, so that the contact area of ​​the clay 13 can be increased. Due to this increase in the contact area, the vibration of the vibration unit 12 is directly transmitted to the internal bone tissue through the clay 13, as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the user can receive the vibration of the vibration unit 12 firmly with the bone tissue, so that the user can accurately recognize the voice. In other words, by providing the clay 13, the bone conduction ability can be fully brought out, and the vibration of the vibration unit 12 can be transmitted to the bone tissue to the maximum extent. This makes it possible to improve the volume of sound transmitted to the user.

[0025] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the clay 13 conforms to the shape of the ear canal EC, so that the clay 13 functions as an earphone that blocks external sounds. Therefore, it is possible for the user to have an environment in which only the vibration of the vibration unit 12 is transmitted to the bone tissue. In other words, the clay 13 enhances the sound insulation, so that it is possible to transmit sound clearly to the user without external noise. In particular, it is possible to transmit sound accurately to the hearing impaired and hard of hearing, making this a groundbreaking invention.

[0026] In the embodiment of the present invention, the clay 13 functions as a holding means for the vibration unit 12, eliminating the need to place bone conduction earphones around the ears, and even when the user wears glasses, no discomfort is felt around the user's ears.

[0027] In addition, the clay 13 can be deformed to fit the shape of the inner ear surface OES of the user's outer ear OE and the inner ear surface ECS of the ear canal EC, so it can be adjusted to any user's ear. The plasticity of the clay 13 eliminates the need for the manufacturer of the bone conduction earphone 1 to prepare ear pads and ear pieces of multiple shapes, which can lead to a reduction in the number of parts for the manufacturer. Even if the clay 13 deteriorates due to long-term use, it can be easily maintained by the user because it can be replaced with new clay 13.

[0028] In this way, the present invention improves the fit to the user's ear and improves sound insulation against external sounds, thereby maximizing the bone conduction capabilities and making it possible to transmit accurate sound to the user.

[0029] Here, there is no particular limitation on the configuration of the pronunciation unit 10, but for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the pronunciation unit 10 may be a microphone unit that collects external sounds and transmits audio signals corresponding to the collected sounds, or it may be a voice-producing device that produces music or sounds, such as a music player or radio.

[0030] Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the configuration of the control circuit 11, but for example, as shown in FIG. 1, it may simply be a conversion circuit that converts an audio signal into an electrical signal, or it may further include an adjustment circuit (corresponding to a volume adjustment circuit) that adjusts the magnitude of the electrical signal, a switch section that controls the power supply on and off, a filter circuit that blocks noise signals contained in the audio signal, or a combination of these.

[0031] Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the configuration of the vibration unit 12, but for example, as shown in FIG. 1, it may be a vibrator made of piezoelectric ceramics, or it may be a quartz crystal vibrator, a piezoelectric element, or a magnetic vibrator that can vibrate based on an electrical signal.

[0032] The shape of the vibration unit 12 is not particularly limited as long as it can be attached to the user's ear, but may be, for example, a small cylindrical shape, a shape in which a long and thin pin is connected to a disk, or a long, elongated shape. If the shape of the vibration unit 12 is a shape that can be inserted into the user's ear canal, it is possible to transmit the vibration of the vibration unit 12 to the inside of the ear more clearly. The shape of the vibration unit 12 may be a general shape such as a cylinder, a polygonal column, a cylinder, a polygonal tube, a cone, a polygonal pyramid, etc., or may be a shape with a length, width, and height of 1 cm or less, like the size of a general earphone. If the outer surface of the vibration unit 12 to which the clay 13 is attached is set as one outer surface, an outer cover part 12a may be provided on the other outer surface (outer surface) of the vibration unit 12 that exists at a position opposite to the one outer surface, and the design of this outer cover part 12a is appropriately changed according to the shape of the vibration unit 12.

[0033] Furthermore, the vibration part 12 may be provided with a cover part as necessary. For example, the back surface (inner surface) of the cover part is in close contact with the outer surface of the vibration part 12 to cover the outer surface of the vibration part 12. In this case, clay 13 is attached to the outer surface of the cover part.

[0034] In addition, the components of the clay 13 are not particularly limited, but examples of biocompatible components include silicone, polyurethane, polyethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, polyamino acid ester, polydimethylsiloxane, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), etc. In addition, the clay 13 only needs to have plasticity, so it may be, for example, a soft elastomer or a soft curable resin.

[0035] In addition, the configuration of the cover part is not particularly limited, but for example, a resin composed of a component corresponding to the component of the clay 13 can be mentioned. For example, if the component of the clay 13 is silicon, the component of the cover part can be silicon resin or silicon rubber. In addition, if the component of the clay 13 is polyurethane, the component of the cover part can be polyurethane resin or polyurethane rubber. By making the cover part the same component as the component of the clay 13, even if the vibration passes through the cover part, it is the same as the one that passed through the clay 13 because it is the same component as the clay 13, and it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the waveform of the vibration.

[0036] In addition, there is no particular limitation on the method for adhering the back surface of the cover portion to the outer surface of the vibration portion 12, but one example is a method of adhering the back surface of the cover portion to the outer surface of the vibration portion 12 using an adhesive or adhesive tape whose components correspond to the components of the cover portion.

[0037] Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the configuration of the clay 13 attached to the vibration part 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the clay 13 may be configured as a separate body from the vibration part 12, or the clay 13 may be configured as an integral part of the vibration part 12 by insert molding or the like.

[0038] In addition, the configuration of the bone conduction earphone 1 is not particularly limited, but as shown in FIG. 1, a neckband 14 may be provided that is configured in a C-shape and has a sound generating unit 10 and a control circuit 11 built in each of the tip portions. This makes it possible to improve the fit to the user. In addition, by electrically connecting the control circuit 11 at the tip portion of the neckband 14 to the vibration unit 12 via an electric wire and separating the sound generating unit 10 and the vibration unit 12 at the tip portion of the neckband 14, howling that occurs between the microphone unit 10 and the vibration unit 12 can be prevented when the sound generating unit 10 is a microphone unit. In addition, the sound generating unit 10 is a microphone unit that collects external sounds and transmits audio signals corresponding to the collected sounds, and like the neckband 14, a pair of sound generating units 10 and a control circuit 11 may be provided on the left and right sides of the user in correspondence with the left and right ears of the user, and a pair of vibration units 12 and clay 13 may be placed on the left and right ears of the user. As a result, each vibration section 12 generates vibrations corresponding to the sound from each sound generation section 10, making it possible to transmit sound independently to each of the user's left and right ears, allowing the user to experience a sense of direction of sound that indicates the direction from which the sound is coming.

[0039] Also, as shown in FIG. 4A, the bone conduction earphone 1 may be configured in an O-shape and include a pendant band 15 with a sound generator 10 and a control circuit 11 built in the center. In this case, a pair of left and right vibration units 12 and clay 13 are provided, and the pair of left and right vibration units 12 commonly generate vibrations from the sound collected by the sound generator 10 in the center of the pendant band 15, so that a common sound can be transmitted to the left and right ears of the user, and the voice can be accurately transmitted to the user. In FIG. 4A, the control circuit 11 is provided with a volume button 11a (a volume up button and a volume down button) for adjusting the volume, and a switch 11b for controlling the power on and off.

[0040] 4B, the bone conduction earphone 1 may be configured such that the sound generating unit 10 and the control circuit 11 are separated, the sound generating unit 10 is provided with a wireless transmission unit 16, the pair of left and right vibration units 12 are provided with a control circuit 11 and a wireless reception unit 17, and the sound generating unit 10 wirelessly transmits an audio signal using the wireless transmission unit 16, and the control circuit 11 wirelessly receives the audio signal using the wireless reception unit 17, converts it into an electric signal, and transmits it to the vibration unit 12. In this case, since the pair of left and right vibration units 12 and the control circuit 11 are separated from the sound generating unit 10, the user will not get caught on a cord such as an electric wire, and it is possible to improve the wearing comfort and operability of the user. The volume button 11a and the switch 11b may be controlled by providing another control circuit 18.

[0041] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the bone conduction earphone 1 may further include a ring-shaped outer frame 19 to which the outer periphery of the vibration unit 12 can be attached. The outer frame 19 is not particularly limited as long as it is ring-shaped, and may be C-shaped or O-shaped. The outer frame 19 may be, for example, elliptical so that it can be attached to the concha or tragus, or may be sandwiched between the tragus and the antitragus. By attaching the outer frame 19 to the outer periphery of the vibration unit 12, it is possible to fit the clay 13 along the outer frame 19 and make it adhere to the inner surface OES and ECS of the user's ear. In addition, by hooking the outer frame 19 on the concha or tragus of the user, it is possible to more firmly bring the vibration unit 12, the clay 13, and the user's ear into close contact, and it is possible to firmly transmit the vibration of the vibration unit 12 to the bone tissue. Here, the components of the outer frame 19 are not particularly limited, but for example, a resin composed of components corresponding to the components of the clay 13 can be mentioned. Furthermore, the wire diameter (thickness) of the outer frame portion 19 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, within the range of 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm, like an O-ring.

[0042] In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the method of using the bone conduction earphone 1 can be provided. As described above, the method of using the bone conduction earphone 1 is a method of using a bone conduction earphone including the sound generating unit 10, the control circuit 11, the vibration unit 12, and the clay 13, and the clay 13 is attached to the outer surface of the vibration unit 12 and brought into close contact with the user's outer ear OE, the ear canal EC, or both inner ear surfaces OES and ECS, thereby deforming the clay 13 into a shape that fits the inner ear surfaces OES and ECS, and the deformed clay 13 serves as an earphone that transmits the vibration of the vibration unit 12 to the user's bone tissue. This makes it possible to improve the fit to the user's ear and improve the volume and sound insulation. EXAMPLES

[0043] Examples and comparative examples of the present invention will be described below in detail, but the application of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0044] (Manufacture of bone conduction earphones) A bone conduction earphone according to the present invention was manufactured with reference to the bone conduction earphone shown in FIG. 1. Piezoelectric ceramics was used for the vibration part 12, and silicon clay or polyurethane clay was used for the clay 13. Example 1 was a case where the clay 13 was silicon clay, and Example 2 was a case where the clay 13 was polyurethane clay. Meanwhile, a bone conduction earphone was manufactured as Comparative Example 1 in which commercially available ear tips, ear pads, and bumpers were placed on the vibration part 12 instead of the clay 13. FIG. 6 shows examples of the bone conduction earphones of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

[0045] (Evaluation method) Next, we evaluated the performance of the manufactured bone conduction earphones. The performance evaluation items were (1) wearing comfort, (2) volume, and (3) sound insulation.

[0046] (1) Fit A designated number of test subjects were asked to wear bone conduction earphones and complete a questionnaire to determine whether the earphones fit well. Two categories of fit evaluation were prepared: good fit and bad fit. The results were tallied for the number of test subjects, and the number of evaluations that indicated the earphones fit well was divided by the number of test subjects to calculate the good fit ratio (%), which was then ranked according to the following criteria. A rating of "good" indicates that the product passed the test. <Standards> ○: When the fit is good for 75% to 100% of the cases △: When the fit is good in 50% to 75% of cases ×: When the percentage of good fit is 0% to 50%

[0047] (2) Volume A designated number of test subjects were asked to wear bone conduction earphones, and commercially available music such as classical music was played through the sound output unit 10, and a questionnaire was given to ask whether the volume was good or not. In this case, the control circuit 11 set the volume to 30 dB, lower than the normal conversation level of 60 dB in daily life, and it was confirmed whether the volume reached the test subjects through the bone conduction earphones even though the volume of the music output was low. Two types of volume evaluation items, good volume and bad volume, were prepared, and the results were tallied for the number of test subjects. The number of evaluation results that said the volume was good was divided by the number of test subjects to calculate the good volume ratio (%), and the product was ranked according to the following criteria. A rating of "good" is an acceptable product. <Standards> ○: When the volume is good at 75% to 100% △: When the volume is good at 50% to 75% ×: When the volume is good at 0% to 50%

[0048] (3) Sound insulation A designated number of test subjects were asked to wear bone conduction earphones, and an external voice generating device was prepared and classical or other commercially available music was played to ask whether the sound insulation was good in terms of whether the external music was blocked out. In this case, the volume of the music played by the voice generating device was set to 100 dB, a level considered to be unpleasant to the ears, and it was confirmed whether the bone conduction earphones could block out sound even when the volume of the music output was loud. Two types of sound insulation evaluation items were prepared: good sound insulation and bad sound insulation, and the results were tallied for the number of test subjects. The number of evaluation results that indicated good sound insulation was divided by the number of test subjects to calculate the good sound insulation rate (%) and rank the products according to the following criteria. A rating of "Good" indicates that the product is acceptable. <Standards> ○: When the rate of good sound insulation is 75% to 100% △: When the rate of good sound insulation is 50% to 75% ×: When the rate of good sound insulation is 0% to 50%

[0049] (Evaluation Results) 7, in Comparative Example 1, (1) fit was rated "△", but (2) volume and (3) sound insulation were both rated "×", meaning that the product was unsatisfactory. On the other hand, in Examples 1 and 2, (1) fit, (2) volume, and (3) sound insulation were all rated "◯", meaning that the product was acceptable. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] As described above, the bone conduction earphones and method of using the bone conduction earphones of the present invention are useful not only in the field of general bone conduction earphones, but also in the field of bone conduction earphones for the hearing impaired and hard of hearing, and are effective as a method of using bone conduction earphones and bone conduction earphones that can improve the fit to the user's ears as well as improve volume and sound insulation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Bone conduction earphones 10. Pronunciation Section 11 Control circuit 12 Vibration section 13. Clay

Claims

1. A sound - emitting part that emits an audio signal, A control circuit that converts the transmitted audio signal into a predetermined electrical signal, A vibrating part having a shape that can be worn on a user's ear and generating vibrations corresponding to the audio signal based on the converted electrical signal, Clay composed of biocompatible components, having plasticity and attachable to the outer surface of the vibrating part, Comprising, By attaching the clay to the outer surface of the vibrating part and making it adhere to the outer ear, ear canal, or inner surfaces of both ears of the user, deforming the clay into a shape that conforms to the inner ear surface, and using the deformed clay as an earphone that transmits the vibration of the vibrating part to the user's bone tissue, A bone - conduction earphone.

2. The sound - emitting part is a microphone part that collects external sounds and emits an audio signal corresponding to the collected sound, Corresponding to a pair of left and right ears of the user, a pair of the sound - emitting parts and the control circuit are provided on the left and right sides of the user, and a pair of the vibrating parts and the clay are installed on a pair of left and right ears of the user, The bone - conduction earphone according to Claim 1.

3. Further comprising a ring - shaped outer frame part that can be attached to the outer peripheral part of the vibrating part, The bone - conduction earphone according to Claim 1.

4. A sound - emitting part that emits an audio signal, A control circuit that converts the transmitted audio signal into a predetermined electrical signal, A vibrating part having a shape that can be worn on a user's ear and generating vibrations corresponding to the audio signal based on the converted electrical signal, Clay composed of biocompatible components, having plasticity and attachable to the outer surface of the vibrating part, A method of using a bone - conduction earphone comprising, By attaching the clay to the outer surface of the vibrating part and making it adhere to the outer ear, ear canal, or inner surfaces of both ears of the user, deforming the clay into a shape that conforms to the inner ear surface, and using the deformed clay as an earphone that transmits the vibration of the vibrating part to the user's bone tissue, A method of using a bone - conduction earphone.

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