Contact type sound collecting device

Abstract

To continuously collect a voice with high articulation without requiring a user to be conscious of a wearing state or to perform adjustment each time.SOLUTION: A contact type sound collecting device includes: a holding member that is worn on at least one of a side, a top, and a front of a head of a user; and a sound collection rotation unit that includes a vibration detection unit, being rotatably supported by the holding member, and rotates in a state where the vibration detection unit is made to be in contact with a predetermined position of a throat of the user in accordance with movement of a lower jaw of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a contact-type sound collection device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a sound collection device that collects the voice of a speaker in a state with a good S / N in a high-noise environment, a throat microphone is known.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, when collecting sound in an environment with noise, when listening to the collected sound, the noise and the voice are mixed and difficult to hear, so it is difficult to understand the content. As a solution to this, a throat microphone has been known for a long time as one of the devices that collect the voice of a speaker from vibrations using a sensor that contacts the throat. The throat microphone has a lower clarity of the collected sound and the sound changes compared to the airway microphone, so there are problems both for people to listen to and for voice recognition. The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a contact-type sound collection device that does not require the user to be conscious of the wearing state or adjust it each time, and can continuously collect sound with high clarity.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The contact type sound collecting device according to the embodiment includes a holding member that is mounted on at least one of the user's temporal region, vertex region, or frontal region, and a vibration detection unit. The vibration detection unit is rotatably supported by the holding member, and rotates in a state where the vibration detection unit is in contact with a predetermined position of the user's throat following the movement of the user's lower jaw.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the contact type sound collecting device of the present invention, it is not necessary for the user to be conscious of the wearing state or to adjust it each time, and it is possible to continuously collect clear voice.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Next, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a voice transmission recording system of the contact type sound collecting device according to the embodiment. The voice transmission recording system 10 includes a contact type sound collecting device 11, a receiver unit 12, an amplifier unit 13, a voice processing unit 14, and a speaker unit 15. The contact type sound collecting device 11 is worn by a user, detects vibrations in the user's throat to collect sound, and transmits wireless data corresponding to voice transmission data according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The receiver unit 12 receives wireless data from the contact type sound collecting device 11 via the antenna 12A, converts it into an analog voice signal and outputs it to the amplifier unit 13, and extracts voice transmission data from the wireless data and outputs it to the voice processing unit 14. The amplifier unit 13 amplifies the analog voice signal and outputs an acoustic output via the speaker unit 15. The voice processing unit 14 performs voice recognition based on the input voice transmission data, converts it into corresponding text data, and stores it. This text data can be transmitted to a computer, a portable information processing device such as a smartphone, etc. that are communicably connected via a communication network (wired and wireless) not shown, or stored in a semiconductor storage device such as a USB memory.

[0010] [1] First Embodiment Next, the contact type sound collecting device 11 of the first embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the contact type sound collecting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front external view of the contact type sound collecting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a left side external view of the contact type sound collecting device according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The contact type sound collecting device 11 includes a vibration detection unit 21, an elastic pressing part 22, a pressing part support arm part 23, an elastic rotation support part 24, an ear hook part 25, and a main body unit part 26.

[0012] In the above configuration, the elastic rotation support part 24 and the ear hook part 25 function as holding members to be attached to the user's temporal region. Further, the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing part 22, the pressing part support arm part 23, and the main body unit part 26 function as a sound collecting rotation part.

[0013] A pair of left and right vibration detection units 21 are provided. For example, the vibration detection unit 21 is configured to include at least one of a piezoelectric element such as a piezoelectric bimorph and a vibration / electricity converter typified by an electret condenser microphone, and converts the vibration of the vocal cords transmitted through the left and right skins of the user's throat into an electric signal and outputs it to the main body unit part 26. The vibration detection unit 21 houses, for example, an electret condenser microphone in a resin housing.

[0014] A pair of left and right elastic pressing parts 22 are provided, which are formed of an elastic material such as metal, and bring the corresponding vibration detection units 21 into contact with the skin on the surface of the throat in a pressed state. For this reason, when the contact type sound collecting device 11 is not attached to the user, the elastic pressing part 22 holds the corresponding vibration detection units 21 so that the vibration detection units 21 face the directions of the arrows in FIG. 3 more than when attached.

[0015] Furthermore, the elastic pressing part 22 can be plastically deformed according to the user's preference and the position and shape of the user's throat, so that it can be more reliably brought into contact with the user's throat in a pressed state. A pair of left and right pressing part support arm parts 23 are provided to support the elastic pressing part 22 to hold it at a predetermined position. The pressing part support arm part 23 is integrally formed with the main body unit part 26 of, for example, a resin material.

[0016] The elastic pivoting support portion 24 integrally and pivotably supports the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing portion 22, the pressing portion support arm portion 23, and the main body unit portion 26 when viewed from the side of the user's face as the user's lower jaw moves with the contact type sound collection device 11 mounted thereon. The ear hook portion 25 maintains the contact type sound collection device 11 at a predetermined mounting position while being hooked on the user's auricle.

[0017] The main body unit portion 26 includes a signal processing circuit (not shown) that processes the electrical signal output by the vibration detection unit 21 and outputs it as voice transmission data, and a communication circuit that wirelessly transmits the voice transmission data output by the signal processing circuit in accordance with a communication protocol corresponding to, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. Further, it has a neck band portion 26A that contacts the back of the user's head in a slidable state.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view of the mounting state of the contact type sound collection device. In FIG. 5, the broken line area indicated by the symbol FH is the front head of the user US, the broken line area indicated by the symbol TH is the top of the user US's head, and the broken line area indicated by the symbol SH is the temporal head of the user US (the same applies hereinafter).

[0019] The contact type sound collection device 11 of the first embodiment is mounted in a state of being hooked on the auricle ER by the ear hook portion 25 as a holding member on the temporal head of the user. And the elastic pressing portion 22 that constitutes the sound collection pivoting portion contacts the vibration detection unit 21 in a pressed state against the skin on the surface of the throat.

[0020] Also, the neck band portion 26A of the main body unit portion 26 is in contact with the back of the user US's head so that the vibration detection unit 21 is stably held at a predetermined position. The predetermined position where the vibration detection unit 21 is held will be described in detail later.

[0021] FIG. 6 is an explanatory front view of the mounting state of the contact type sound collection device. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the vibration detection unit 21 is in contact with a predetermined position of the throat of the user US in a pressed state by the elastic pressing portion 22. When there is movement of the lower jaw of the user US, the vibration detection unit 21 is rotatably supported along with the movement of the lower jaw of the user US wearing the contact-type sound collection device 11 by the elastic rotation support portion 24.

[0022] Therefore, it continues to be held at a predetermined position of the throat of the user US without being affected by the movement of the lower jaw of the user US.

[0023] Here, the predetermined position where the vibration detection unit 21 is held will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an experiment for setting the sound collection position. Prior to determining the predetermined position where the vibration detection unit 21 is held, the inventors conducted an experiment for setting the sound collection position.

[0024] Basically, since the throat microphone detects the vibration of the vocal cords through the skin on the surface of the throat, it is preferable to detect the vibration in the vicinity of the vocal cords. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when viewing the user US from the side, the inventors assumed a first virtual straight line VL1 along the extending direction of the airway from the mandibular angle AM of the user US on a virtual plane parallel to the paper surface.

[0025] Subsequently, on the aforementioned virtual plane, a second virtual straight line VL2 that is orthogonal to the first virtual straight line VL1 and passes through a position corresponding to the pharyngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage TC, and a third virtual straight line VL3 that is orthogonal to the first virtual straight line VL1, parallel to the second virtual straight line VL2, and passes through the lower end of the cricoid cartilage CC were assumed. Furthermore, the intersection point of the first virtual straight line VL1 and the second virtual straight line VL2 was set as the intersection position P1 (corresponding to the first intersection point).

[0026] Subsequently, the intersection point of the first virtual straight line VL1 and the third virtual straight line VL3 was set as the intersection position P7 (corresponding to the second intersection point), and the distance obtained by bisecting the distance between the intersection position P1 (corresponding to the first intersection point) and the intersection position P7 (corresponding to the second intersection point) was set as the separation distance DL.

[0027] Then, on the second virtual straight line VL2, a position separated by a separation distance DL from the intersection position P1 was defined as the intersection position P2, and a position separated by a separation distance DL×2 from the intersection position P1 on the second virtual straight line VL2 was defined as the intersection position P3.

[0028] Furthermore, the midpoint of the line segment connecting the intersection position P1 and the intersection position P7 was defined as the intersection position P4. Assuming a straight line passing through the intersection position P4 and parallel to the second virtual straight line VL2 on the same virtual plane, and assuming a straight line passing through the intersection position P2 and parallel to the first virtual straight line VL1 on the same virtual plane, the intersection of the two straight lines was defined as the intersection position P5. Furthermore, assuming a straight line passing through the intersection position P4 and parallel to the second virtual straight line VL2 on the same virtual plane, and a straight line parallel to the first virtual straight line VL1 on the same virtual plane and passing through the intersection position P3, the intersection of the two straight lines was defined as the intersection position P6.

[0029] Also, assuming a straight line passing through the intersection position P7 and parallel to the second virtual straight line VL2 on the same virtual plane, and a straight line parallel to the first virtual straight line VL1 on the same virtual plane and passing through the intersection position P2, the intersection of the two straight lines was defined as the intersection position P8. Furthermore, assuming a straight line passing through the intersection position P7 and parallel to the second virtual straight line VL2 on the same virtual plane, and a straight line parallel to the first virtual straight line VL1 on the same virtual plane and passing through the intersection position P3, the intersection of the two straight lines was defined as the intersection position P9.

[0030] The inventors made the vibration / electricity converter of the vibration detection unit 21 face the corresponding intersection positions so that the sensitivity was higher for each intersection position among the intersection positions P1 to P9, and acquired the voice transmission data. As a result, it was found that the intersection position P1 could acquire voice transmission data with the clearest and sufficient volume.

[0031] Also, it was found that the intersection position P2 could also acquire voice transmission data with a clear and sufficient volume. Furthermore, for the intersection position P4 and the intersection position P5, voice transmission data with lower clarity and lower volume were obtained compared to the intersection positions P1 and P2.

[0032] However, at the intersection positions P3, P6 to P9, the clarity is low, and voice transmission data that cannot be used for voice recognition or the like is obtained.

[0033] From the above results, it was found that if the vibration detection unit 21 is mainly located at the intersection position P1 and the state where the vibration / electricity converter faces the intersection position P2 can be maintained, clear voice transmission data with sufficient volume can be obtained.

[0034] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the mounting state of the contact-type sound collecting device based on the results of the setting experiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the shape of the contact-type sound collecting device 11 is designed such that the intersection position P1 is located so as to face the vibration detection surface of the vibration / electricity converter 21A constituting the vibration detection unit 21.

[0035] In addition, in order to enable multiple users to use it freely, the pressing part support arm part 23 can pull out the elastic pressing part 22 and maintain the pulled-out position, or the elastic pressing part 22 can pull out the vibration detection unit 21 and maintain the pulled-out position. Such a configuration may be used.

[0036] With such a configuration, even if the user US moves the lower jaw in the direction of arrow AA in FIG. 8 for speaking, the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing part 22, the pressing part support arm part 23, and the main body unit part 26 that function as the sound collecting rotation part rotate in the direction of arrow AB in FIG. 8 with the elastic rotation support part 24 as the fulcrum, and the intersection position P1 can always face the vibration detection surface of the vibration / electricity converter 21A constituting the vibration detection unit 21. There is no need for the user US to be conscious of the mounting state of the contact-type sound collecting device 11 or to adjust it each time, and clear sound can be collected, and thus, voice transmission data with high clarity and enabling voice recognition can be continuously obtained.

[0037] As described above, according to the contact type sound collecting device of the first embodiment, the user can easily collect sound without worrying about the wearing state, and the obtained voice has high clarity and sufficient volume. Therefore, voice recognition processing and the like can be performed reliably and easily.

[0038] As described above, since the contact type sound collecting device 11 of the first embodiment is configured to be held at the user US's temporal head SH, when used at a construction site with high noise, it does not hinder the wearing of the helmet, and the introduction and actual operation are easy.

[0039] [2] Second Embodiment Next, the contact type sound collecting device 11A of the second embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a left side view of the appearance of the contact type sound collecting device of the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0040] The contact type sound collecting device 11A includes a vibration detection unit 21, an elastic pressing unit 22, a pressing unit support arm unit 23, a main body unit 26, a rotation support unit 31, and a headband unit 32.

[0041] In the above configuration, the rotation support unit 31 and the headband unit 32 function as holding members to be worn on the user's crown TH. Further, the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing unit 22, the pressing unit support arm unit 23, and the main body unit 26 function as a sound collecting rotation unit.

[0042] The vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing unit 22, and the pressing unit support arm unit 23 are provided in a pair on the left and right, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0043] Even in this case, when the contact-type sound collection device 11A is not worn by the user, the elastic pressing part 22 holds the vibration detection units 21 so that the vibration detection units 21 face the arrow directions in Fig. 3 more than when worn, and the pressing part support arm part 23 supports the elastic pressing part 22 to hold it in a predetermined position.

[0044] The main body unit part 26 processes the electrical signal output by the vibration detection unit 21 and wirelessly transmits the generated voice transmission data via the communication circuit.

[0045] The rotation support part 31 supports the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing part 22, the pressing part support arm part 23, and the main body unit part 26 to be rotatable integrally with the rotation center CP as the rotation center when viewed from the side of the user's face along with the movement of the user's lower jaw with the contact-type sound collection device 11A worn. The headband part 32 maintains the contact-type sound collection device 11A at a predetermined wearing position while pressing the left and right sides of the user's head with the contact-type sound collection device 11A held on the top of the user's head.

[0046] Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the wearing state of the contact-type sound collection device of the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, also in this second embodiment, based on the results of the setting experiment, the shape of the contact-type sound collection device 11A is designed so that the intersection position P1 is located so as to face the vibration detection surface of the vibration / electrical converter 21A constituting the vibration detection unit 21.

[0047] In this case, the headband part 32 can be adjusted in the vertical direction in the same manner as a normal headband. Also, in order to enable a plurality of users to use it freely, the pressing part support arm part 23 can be configured to be able to pull out the elastic pressing part 22 and maintain the pulled-out position, or the elastic pressing part 22 can be configured to be able to pull out the vibration detection unit 21 and maintain the pulled-out position.

[0048] With such a configuration, even if the user US moves the lower jaw in the direction of arrow AA in FIG. 10 for speaking, the vibration detection unit 21 functioning as the sound collection rotation unit, the elastic pressing unit 22, the pressing unit support arm unit 23, and the main body unit 26 rotate in the direction of arrow AB in FIG. 10 with the rotation center CP as the fulcrum, and the intersection position P1 can always face the vibration detection surface of the vibration / electricity converter 21A constituting the vibration detection unit 21.

[0049] Therefore, it is not necessary for the user US to be conscious of the wearing state of the contact type sound collection device 11A or to adjust it each time, and it is possible to continuously collect clear sound, and thus to continuously obtain voice transmission data with high clarity and enable voice recognition.

[0050] As described above, also with the contact type sound collection device of the second embodiment, the user can easily collect sound without worrying about the wearing state, and the obtained sound has high clarity and sufficient volume, so voice recognition processing and the like can be surely and easily performed.

[0051] [2.1] Modification Example of the Second Embodiment Next, the contact type sound collection device 11B of the modification example of the second embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 11 is a left side external view of the contact type sound collection device of the modification example of the second embodiment. In FIG. 11, the same parts as those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0052] The contact type sound collection device 11B includes a vibration detection unit 21, an elastic pressing unit 22, a pressing unit support arm unit 23, a main body unit 26, a rotation support unit 31, a headband unit 32, and a second headband unit 33.

[0053] In the above configuration, the rotation support unit 31, the headband unit 32, and the second headband unit 33 function as holding members to be worn on the top of the user's head TH and the forehead FT. In addition, the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing part 22, the pressing part support arm part 23, and the main body unit part 26 function as a sound collecting rotating part.

[0054] Similar to the first embodiment, a pair of left and right vibration detection units 21, elastic pressing parts 22, and pressing part support arm parts 23 are provided.

[0055] The main body unit part 26 processes the electrical signal output by the vibration detection unit 21 and wirelessly transmits the generated voice transmission data via the communication circuit.

[0056] The rotation support part 31 supports the vibration detection unit 21, the elastic pressing part 22, the pressing part support arm part 23, and the main body unit part 26 so as to be integrally rotatable about the rotation center CP when viewed from the side of the user's face as the user's lower jaw moves with the contact type sound collecting device 11B attached. The headband part 32 maintains the contact type sound collecting device 11B at a predetermined wearing position while pressing the left and right sides of the user's head with the device held on the user's head top.

[0057] Therefore, the user US does not need to be conscious of the wearing state of the contact type sound collecting device 11B or adjust it each time, and can continuously collect clear sound, and thus can continuously obtain voice transmission data with high clarity and enable voice recognition.

[0058] As described above, also with the contact type sound collecting device according to the modification of the second embodiment, the user can easily collect sound without worrying about the wearing state, and the obtained voice has high clarity and sufficient volume, so voice recognition processing and the like can be surely and easily performed.

[0059] [3] Effects of the Embodiment As described above, according to each of the above embodiments, if the contact type sound collecting device is adjusted at the time of wearing so that the vibration detection unit 21 is at a predetermined position as described above, then thereafter, the contact type sound collecting device can maintain that state. Therefore, the user can casually collect sound without worrying about the wearing state, and the obtained voice is highly intelligible and has sufficient volume, so that voice recognition processing and the like can be surely and easily performed.

[0060] [4] Modifications of the Embodiment In the above description, the signal processing circuit and the communication circuit are provided in the main body unit 26. However, it is also possible to configure such that only the signal processing circuit is provided in the main body unit 26, or the signal processing circuit and the communication circuit are provided in an external device connected by a signal cable.

[0061] In the above description, only the case where the contact type sound collection device is on the output side of the voice transmission data has been described. However, it is also possible to configure it to perform two-way communication and to conduct a conversation as a headset with a microphone or a headphone with a microphone.

[0062] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0063] 10 Voice Transmission Recording System 11 Contact Type Sound Collection Device 11A Contact Type Sound Collection Device 11B Contact Type Sound Collection Device 12 Receiver Unit 12A Antenna 13 Amplifier Unit 14 Voice Processing Unit 15 Speaker Unit 21 Vibration Detection Unit 21A Electric Converter 22 Elastic Pressing Portion 23 Pressure support arm part 24 Elastic pivot support part 25 Ear hook part 26 Main body unit part 26A Neck band part 31 Pivot support part 32 Head band part 33 Second head band part AA Arrow AB Arrow AM Mandibular angle CC Cricoid cartilage CP Pivot center DL Separation distance ER Auricle FT Frontal part P1 - P9 Intersection positions SH Temporal part TC Thyroid cartilage TH Vertex US User VL1 First virtual line VL2 Second virtual line VL3 Third virtual line

Claims

1. A holding member that is attached to at least one of the user's temporal region, vertex region, or frontal region; A sound-collecting rotating portion having a vibration detection unit, rotatably supported by the holding member, and rotating in a state where the vibration detection unit is brought into contact with a predetermined position of the user's throat following the movement of the user's lower jaw; A contact-type sound-collecting device comprising the above.

2. The sound-collecting rotating portion includes an elastic pressing portion that presses and contacts the vibration detection unit against the throat, The contact-type sound-collecting device according to Claim 1.

3. The holding member supports the sound-collecting rotating portion and includes an elastic rotation support portion that elastically deforms and rotates following the movement of the user's lower jaw, The contact-type sound-collecting device according to Claim 1.

4. The holding member includes an ear hook portion that is hooked on the auricle in the temporal region to maintain the attachment position, The contact-type sound-collecting device according to Claim 1.

5. The holding member includes a headband portion that extends from the vertex region to the left and right temporal regions to maintain the attachment position, The contact-type sound-collecting device according to Claim 1.

6. The sound-collecting rotating portion includes a main body unit portion including a signal processing circuit at a position facing the user's occipital region, The contact-type sound-collecting device according to Claim 1.

7. When viewing the user from the side, assume a first virtual straight line orthogonal to a first virtual straight line along the extending direction of the airway from the user's mandibular angle, a second virtual straight line passing through a position corresponding to the pharyngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage, and a third virtual straight line orthogonal to the first virtual straight line and passing through the upper end of the cricoid cartilage. Let the intersection of the first virtual straight line and the second virtual straight line be the first intersection point, the intersection of the first virtual straight line and the third virtual straight line be the second intersection point, and the distance obtained by bisecting the distance between the first intersection point and the second intersection point be the separation distance. On the second virtual straight line, the position between the first intersection point and the position separated from the first intersection point by the separation distance toward the pharyngeal prominence side is defined as the predetermined position of the user's throat. The contact-type sound-collecting device according to Claims 1 to 6.

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