Ear device, ear device notification system, ear device notification method and program

Abstract

To allow the howling sound to change depending on the distance, making an ear device easier to find.SOLUTION: An ear device 100 includes a communication unit 160 that receives a wireless signal, a sound acquisition unit 130 that acquires ambient sound as sound data at a set first input level, a sound output unit 140 that outputs sound corresponding to the acquired sound data at a set first output level, and a control unit 110 that instructs the change of at least one of the first input level or the first output level to a level at which howling occurs on the basis of the reception strength of the wireless signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ear device, an ear device notification system, an ear device notification method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Ear devices such as wireless earphones and hearing aids are small and lightweight, so if they are dropped or left behind, they can be difficult to find. To make it easier to find the ear device, Patent Document 1 discloses a hearing aid that generates a howling sound when it receives a search signal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3148939 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The hearing aid disclosed in Patent Document 1 generates a howling sound when it receives a search signal, allowing the user to find the hearing aid using the howling sound as a clue. However, in reality, it can be difficult to determine where the hearing aid is located just from the howling sound.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and aims to provide an ear device, an ear device notification system, an ear device notification method, and a program that can change the howling sound depending on the distance, making the ear device easier to find. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the ear device according to the present invention is to a communication unit for receiving a wireless signal; a sound acquisition unit that acquires ambient sound as sound data at a set first input level; a sound output unit that outputs a sound corresponding to the acquired sound data at a set first output level; a control unit that instructs, based on the reception strength of the wireless signal, to change at least one of the first input level and the first output level to a level at which feedback occurs; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the howling sound can be changed depending on the distance, making it easier to find the ear device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an ear device notification system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the ear device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a mobile terminal. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for ear device processing. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for terminal communication processing. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a howling pattern table. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an ear device notification system including one ear device. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates another example of an ear device notification system. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the functional configuration of the ear device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The ear device notification system and the like will be described with reference to the drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the ear device notification system 1000 comprises an ear device 100, which is a hearing aid including a sound collector that is worn by the user in the ear (when there is no need to distinguish between an ear device 100R worn on the right ear and an ear device 100L worn on the left ear, it will be referred to as ear device 100), and a mobile terminal 200 that is carried by the user, which communicate and operate via a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0011] The ear device 100 is a hearing aid that adjusts surrounding speech to make it easier for the user to hear (for example, by removing noise or amplifying each frequency band), and has a notification function that generates a sound so that the user can find out where the ear device 100 is if the ear device 100 is dropped or left behind. The mobile terminal 200 is a smartphone or music player, and has a function of transmitting a wireless signal to the ear device 100 to activate the notification function.

[0012] To explain in more detail, in normal mode, the ear device 100, like a general hearing aid, picks up the voice of the person speaking with the microphone 131, adjusts the voice to be easy for the user to hear, and outputs it from the speaker 141. If the user drops or loses the ear device 100, the user can touch the notification ON button 241 displayed on the display unit 230 of the mobile terminal 200, which sends a notification command (notification ON command) to the ear device 100. Upon receiving the notification command, the ear device 100 switches to notification mode and generates a howling sound so that the user can find out where the ear device 100 is.

[0013] The ear device 100 also changes the generation pattern of the howling sound (howling pattern) depending on the distance from the mobile terminal 200. For example, when the distance between the mobile terminal 200 and the ear device 100 is short (for example, less than 3 m), the howling sound is generated in a generation pattern of repeating short sounds such as "beep beep beep." When the distance between the mobile terminal 200 and the ear device 100 is long (for example, 10 m or more), the howling sound is generated in a generation pattern of repeating long sounds such as "beep beep beep." When the distance between the mobile terminal 200 and the ear device 100 is intermediate (for example, 3 m or more but less than 10 m), the howling sound is generated in a generation pattern of alternating long and short sounds such as "beep beep beep beep."

[0014] Then, for example, when the user finds the ear device 100 generating the howling sound and touches the notification OFF button 242 displayed on the display unit 230 of the mobile terminal 200, a notification stop command (notification OFF command) is sent to the ear device 100. Then, upon receiving the notification stop command, the ear device 100 stops generating the howling sound and returns to the normal mode.

[0015] 1, when neither the ear device 100R nor the ear device 100L is worn in the ear, both devices generate a howling sound when the notification ON button 241 is touched on the mobile terminal 200. However, when the ear device 100 is worn in the ear, the ear device 100 does not generate a howling sound even when the notification ON button 241 on the mobile terminal 200 is touched.

[0016] For example, when only ear device 100R is removed from the ear and ear device 100L is still attached to the ear, if notification ON button 241 is touched on mobile terminal 200, ear device 100R will switch to notification mode and output a howling sound, but ear device 100L will remain in normal mode and continue to operate as a hearing aid without generating a howling sound.

[0017] Furthermore, the frequency characteristics of the sound output by the ear device 100 as a hearing aid can be adjusted to suit the user's hearing characteristics (which can be determined, for example, by an audiogram). This adjustment method is arbitrary, but for example, when a parameter setting application is started on the mobile terminal 200, a parameter setting screen is displayed on the display unit 230 of the mobile terminal 200, and the setting values ​​(acoustic characteristics) of various acoustic parameters can be adjusted (reset). Examples of acoustic parameters that can be set on the parameter setting screen include the amplification level for each specific frequency band in the audible band of the sound output by the ear device 100 (for example, frequency bands centered around 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz), the overall volume, etc.

[0018] Furthermore, the generation pattern of the howling sound generated by the ear device 100 may be changed to a default generation pattern according to the user's preference by executing a generation pattern setting application on the mobile terminal 200, for example.

[0019] The above has been a summary of the functions of the ear device notification system 1000. Next, the functional configurations of the ear device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 included in the ear device notification system 1000 will be described.

[0020] The ear device 100 is a small wearable device, specifically an earphone-type hearing aid worn in the user's ear as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the ear device 100 has, as its functional configuration, a control unit 110, a memory unit 120, a sound acquisition unit 130, a sound output unit 140, a wearing detection unit 150, and a communication unit 160.

[0021] The control unit 110 is configured with at least one processor, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The control unit 110 executes programs stored in the storage unit 120 to perform various processes for operating the ear device 100. For example, the control unit 110 executes ear device processing, which will be described later. The control unit 110 supports multi-thread processing and can execute multiple processes in parallel. The control unit 110 may also include the storage unit 120 internally.

[0022] The storage unit 120 stores programs executed by the control unit 110 and necessary data. The storage unit 120 may include, but is not limited to, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, etc. The above-mentioned acoustic parameters, the generation pattern of the howling sound, etc. are also stored in the storage unit 120 as setting values.

[0023] The sound acquisition unit 130 includes a microphone 131, an A / D (Analog / Digital) converter, etc., and acquires ambient sounds as sound data at a set first input level. Then, the control unit 110 records in the storage unit 120 the sound data obtained by A / D converting the sounds acquired by the sound acquisition unit 130 with the microphone 131 at a predetermined sampling frequency (for example, 44.1 kHz).

[0024] The sound output unit 140 includes a D / A (Digital / Analog) converter, a speaker 141, etc., and outputs sound data adjusted by the control unit 110 from the speaker 141. More specifically, the control unit 110 amplifies the digital sound data acquired by the sound acquisition unit 130 (sound data acquired from sounds around the user and converted from analog to digital) based on setting values ​​(various acoustic parameters related to hearing such as the amplification degree of each frequency band) set for each user, and outputs the amplified sound (sound corresponding to the sound data acquired by the sound acquisition unit 130) from the speaker 141 of the sound output unit 140 as sound at a set first output level.

[0025] The wearing detection unit 150 includes a distance sensor 151 and detects whether or not the ear device 100 is worn on the user's ear based on the distance from the ear detected by the distance sensor 151. Note that the sensor included in the wearing detection unit 150 is not limited to the distance sensor 151, and any sensor (for example, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, a temperature sensor, etc.) that can detect whether or not the ear device 100 is worn on the user's ear can be used.

[0026] The communication unit 160 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data between the ear device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 via Bluetooth (registered trademark). By communicating with the mobile terminal 200 via the communication unit 160, the ear device 100 can receive, for example, a wireless signal from the mobile terminal 200. Note that the communication standard supported by the communication unit 160 is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark), and it may also be a communication interface compatible with a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the like.

[0027] The mobile terminal 200 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes, as its functional configuration, a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, a display unit 230, an operation input unit 240, and a communication unit 250, as shown in FIG.

[0028] The control unit 210 is configured with a processor such as a CPU. The control unit 210 performs various processes for operating the mobile terminal 200 using programs stored in the storage unit 220. For example, the control unit 210 executes terminal communication processing, which will be described later. The control unit 210 supports multi-thread processing and can execute multiple processes in parallel. The control unit 210 may also include the storage unit 220 internally.

[0029] The storage unit 220 stores programs and necessary data executed by the control unit 210. The storage unit 220 may include RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0030] The display unit 230 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

[0031] The operation input unit 240 is a user interface such as a push button switch or a touch panel integrated with the display unit 230, and receives operation input from the user. The control unit 210 can acquire what kind of operation input the user has performed based on the detection results of the pressed state of the push switch of the operation input unit 240, a tap operation on the touch panel, etc.

[0032] The communication unit 250 is a communication interface for the mobile terminal 200 to communicate data with the ear device 100, external devices (e.g., other smartphones, tablets, PCs (Personal Computers)), etc., and to acquire information from the Internet. The communication unit 250 may include a wireless communication interface for communicating via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN, for example.

[0033] When distinguishing between the control units 110, 210 of the ear device 100 and the mobile terminal 200, the control unit 110 is referred to as an ear device control unit or simply as a control unit, and the control unit 210 is referred to as a terminal control unit. When distinguishing between the communication units 160, 250 of the device, the communication unit 160 is referred to as an ear device communication unit or simply as a communication unit, and the communication unit 250 is referred to as a terminal communication unit. The same applies to the storage units 120, 220.

[0034] Next, ear device processing, which is processing for the ear device 100 to realize the above-mentioned functions, will be described with reference to Fig. 4. It is assumed that the ear device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 have been paired in advance via Bluetooth (registered trademark). When the ear device 100 is turned on, the control unit 110 starts executing the ear device processing. The ear device 100 is normally placed in a charger when not in use, and is automatically turned on when removed from the charger. Although not shown to avoid complication, when the ear device 100 is turned off, for example by being placed in a charger, the control unit 110 ends execution of the ear device processing.

[0035] First, the control unit 110 performs initialization processing required for the ear device 100 and establishes a communication connection with the mobile terminal 200 using Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE) (step S101).

[0036] Then, the control unit 110 acquires sound data using the microphone 131 of the sound acquisition unit 130 (step S102). Next, the control unit 110 performs acoustic processing on the acquired sound data (step S103). This acoustic processing is processing such as removing noise from the sound data and adjusting (processing) the audio data based on the above-mentioned acoustic parameters (similar to acoustic processing in general hearing aids), and is processing such as increasing the amplification of high-frequency bands in accordance with the user's hearing characteristics (which can be determined, for example, by an audiogram). Then, the sound data after acoustic processing is output from the speaker 141 of the sound output unit 140 (step S104).

[0037] Then, control unit 110 receives a wireless signal from mobile terminal 200 via communication unit 160, and determines whether or not the wireless signal includes a notification command, i.e., whether or not a notification ON command has been received (step S105). If a notification ON command has not been received (step S105; No), the process returns to step S102.

[0038] On the other hand, if the notification ON command is received (step S105; Yes), the control unit 110 determines whether or not the ear device 100 is worn in the user's ear using the wearing detection unit 150 (step S106). If the ear device 100 is worn in the ear (step S106; Yes), the process returns to step S102.

[0039] If the ear device 100 is not worn in the ear (step S106; No), the control unit 110 turns off the howling suppression function of the ear device 100, maximizes the microphone gain of the microphone 131 of the sound acquisition unit 130 (gain of the sound acquisition unit 130), and maximizes the amplification factor in the acoustic processing (step S107). Note that maximizing the microphone gain of the microphone 131 and the amplification rate in the acoustic processing in this step is just an example, and these do not have to be maximized, but may be increased to a level at which feedback from the ear device 100 occurs. Specifically, control unit 110 may control, based on the reception strength of the wireless signal, the interval between the time during which a first input level of the microphone gain (gain of sound acquisition unit 130) of microphone 131 of sound acquisition unit 130 is changed to a second input level at which feedback occurs and the time during which the first input level is not changed to the second input level. Furthermore, control unit 110 may control, based on the reception strength, the interval between the time during which a first output level, which is a set volume to be output from speaker 141 of sound output unit 140 by increasing the amplification factor in acoustic processing, is changed to a second output level at which feedback occurs and the time during which the first output level is not changed to the second output level.

[0040] Then, control unit 110 requests mobile terminal 200 to transmit radio waves via communication unit 160 (step S108). This is done by control unit 110 transmitting, for example, a packet requesting radio wave transmission to mobile terminal 200 via communication unit 160.

[0041] The control unit 110 then measures the reception strength of the radio waves (wireless signals) transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 (step S109). Note that while BLE communication is being performed, communication for keep-alive may also be performed. Therefore, if keep-alive packets are periodically transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 to the ear device 100, the process of step S108 may not be performed, and in step S109 the control unit 110 may measure the reception strength of the keep-alive packets (wireless signals) transmitted from the mobile terminal 200. In this case, the ear device 100 generates an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value based on the reception strength when the keep-alive packet is received, and executes processing according to the RSSI value. That is, based on the reception strength that can be determined from the generated RSSI value, the control unit 110 may control the interval between the time when the first input level of the microphone gain (gain of the sound acquisition unit 130) is changed to the second input level at which feedback occurs and the time when the first input level is not changed to the second input level, or may control the interval between the time when the first output level, which is the set volume output from the speaker 141, is changed to the second output level at which feedback from the ear device 100 occurs and the time when the first output level is not changed to the second output level.

[0042] Then, the control unit 110 determines whether the reception strength measured in step S109 is strong, that is, whether it is equal to or greater than a first threshold value (for example, 70 dBm) (step S110). If the reception strength is strong (step S110; Yes), the control unit 110 sets the howling pattern to be output to the howling pattern for strong reception strength (step S111), and proceeds to step S115.

[0043] A howling pattern in the case of a strong reception strength is a howling pattern in which short sounds such as beeps are repeated. Since the microphone gain and amplification rate are set to maximum in step S107, the volume output from speaker 141 is controlled to be above the high volume threshold (e.g., maximum) for a short time (e.g., 0.5 seconds), and then to be below the low volume threshold (e.g., zero volume) for a short time (e.g., 0.5 seconds), thereby obtaining such a howling sound generation pattern. In this example, the proportion of time the volume is above the high volume threshold (duty ratio) is 1 / 2. Naturally, the high volume threshold is greater than the low volume threshold. Furthermore, the duty ratio = (time the volume is above the high volume threshold) / (time the volume is above the high volume threshold + time the volume is below the low volume threshold).

[0044] On the other hand, if the reception strength is not strong (step S110; No), the control unit 110 determines whether the reception strength measured in step S109 is weak, i.e., whether it is less than a second threshold (for example, 50 dBm) (step S112). If the reception strength is weak (step S112; Yes), the control unit 110 sets the howling pattern to be output as the howling pattern for weak reception strength (step S113), and proceeds to step S115.

[0045] A feedback pattern when the reception strength is weak is a feedback pattern that repeats a long sound like "beep beep beep." Because the microphone gain and amplification rate are set to maximum in step S107, this type of feedback sound generation pattern can be obtained by repeatedly controlling the volume output from speaker 141 to be above the loud volume threshold (e.g., maximum) for a long period of time (e.g., 1 second), and then below the soft volume threshold (e.g., zero volume) for a short period of time (e.g., 0.5 seconds). In this example, the proportion of time the volume is above the loud volume threshold (duty ratio) is 2 / 3.

[0046] On the other hand, if the reception strength is not weak (step S112; No), the control unit 110 sets the howling pattern to be output to the howling pattern for medium reception strength (step S114), and proceeds to step S115.

[0047] The feedback pattern for medium reception strength is a feedback pattern that alternates between long and short sounds, such as "beep beep beep." Because the microphone gain and amplification rate are set to maximum in step S107, the volume output from speaker 141 is controlled to be above the loud volume threshold (e.g., maximum) for a long period (e.g., 1 second), then below the quiet volume threshold (e.g., zero volume) for a short period (e.g., 0.5 seconds), then above the loud volume threshold (e.g., maximum) for a short period (e.g., 0.5 seconds), and then below the quiet volume threshold (e.g., zero volume) for a short period (e.g., 0.5 seconds). This feedback pattern can be obtained by repeating this control. In this example, the proportion of time the volume is above the loud volume threshold (duty ratio) is 3 / 5.

[0048] In step S115, control unit 110 controls the volume output from sound output unit 140 using the set howling pattern. Then, control unit 110 receives a wireless signal from mobile terminal 200 via communication unit 160, and determines whether the wireless signal includes a notification stop command, that is, whether a notification OFF command has been received (step S116). If a notification OFF command has not been received (step S116; No), the process returns to step S108.

[0049] On the other hand, if the notification OFF command is received (step S116; Yes), the control unit 110 restores the microphone gain of the microphone 131 of the sound acquisition unit 130, the amplification factor in the acoustic processing, and the volume output from the speaker 141 of the sound output unit 140, and turns on the howling suppression function of the ear device 100 (step S117). Then, the process returns to step S102.

[0050] The above is a description of the ear device processing. Of these processes, repeating the processes from step S102 to step S104 is processing in normal mode, and repeating the processes from step S108 to step S115 is processing in notification mode.

[0051] In the above-described ear device processing (FIG. 4), the microphone gain and amplification rate are maximized in step S107, but this processing may not be performed in step S107 and may be controlled simultaneously when controlling the volume in step S115. For example, in step S115, when control unit 110 sets the volume to a high volume threshold or higher (e.g., maximum) in accordance with the set howling pattern, control unit 110 may also set the microphone gain and amplification rate to a predetermined threshold or higher (e.g., maximum). Also, when control unit 110 sets the volume to a low volume threshold or lower (e.g., zero) in step S115, control unit 110 may also set the microphone gain and amplification rate to a predetermined threshold or lower (e.g., zero). In other words, as shown as an example in the ear device processing (Figure 4) described above, the control unit 110 can instruct the howling suppression function to be stopped based on the reception strength of the wireless signal, and can also instruct the control unit 110 to change at least one of the first input level and the first output level to a level at which howling occurs.

[0052] Next, the terminal communication process, which is the process of the mobile terminal 200 that transmits a notification ON command and the like to the ear device 100, will be described with reference to Fig. 5. When the mobile terminal 200 is powered on, the control unit 210 starts executing the terminal communication process in parallel with other processes that realize the functions of the mobile terminal 200. Note that the terminal communication process may not be executed when the mobile terminal 200 is powered on, but may be executed when the user instructs execution of the terminal communication process.

[0053] First, the control unit 210 establishes a communication connection with the ear device 100 using BLE (step S201).

[0054] Then, the control unit 210 determines whether or not the notification ON button 241 displayed on the display unit 230 has been touched (step S202). If the notification ON button 241 has been touched (step S202; Yes), the control unit 210 transmits a notification ON command to the ear device 100 via the communication unit 250 (step S203), and proceeds to step S206.

[0055] If the notification ON button 241 has not been touched (step S202; No), the control unit 210 determines whether or not the notification OFF button 242 displayed on the display unit 230 has been touched (step S204). If the notification OFF button 242 has been touched (step S204; Yes), the control unit 210 transmits a notification OFF command to the ear device 100 via the communication unit 250 (step S205), and proceeds to step S206.

[0056] If the notification OFF button has not been touched (step S204; No), the control unit 210 determines whether or not a radio wave transmission request has been received from the ear device 100 via the communication unit 250 (step S206). If a radio wave transmission request has been received (step S206; Yes), the control unit 210 transmits radio waves to the ear device 100 via the communication unit 250 (step S207), and determines whether or not an instruction to end the terminal communication process has been given by the user via the operation input unit 240 (step S208). If an instruction to end has been given (step S208; Yes), the control unit 210 ends the terminal communication process. If an instruction to end has not been given (step S208; No), the control unit 210 returns to step S202.

[0057] On the other hand, if the control unit 210 has not received a radio wave transmission request (step S206; No), the process proceeds to step S208.

[0058] The above has described the terminal communication processing. The ear device processing described above is executed in the ear device 100, and the mobile terminal 200 executes the terminal communication processing described above. If the user loses sight of the ear device 100, touching the notification ON button on the mobile terminal 200 causes the ear device 100 to generate a howling sound with a howling pattern according to the distance from the mobile terminal 200. Therefore, the user can easily find the ear device 100 by listening to the howling sound.

[0059] Furthermore, when generating a howling sound, the control unit of the ear device 100 generates the howling sound in a set howling pattern (a howling pattern in which the generation and stopping of the howling sound is repeated periodically). As a result, the ear device 100 periodically stops the howling sound, thereby preventing the user from feeling uncomfortable due to the continuous generation of an unpleasant howling sound.

[0060] Furthermore, the duty ratio during the time when the howling sound is generated is set to decrease (to decrease monotonically in a broad sense) as the distance between the ear device 100 and the mobile terminal 200 decreases.

[0061] For example, if the reception strength is equal to or greater than a first threshold (e.g., 70 dBm), the control unit 110 controls the duty ratio to be equal to or less than a first duty ratio threshold (e.g., 1 / 2), if the reception strength is equal to or greater than a second threshold (e.g., 50 dBm) but less than the first threshold, the control unit 110 controls the duty ratio to be less than a second duty ratio threshold (e.g., 2 / 3) that exceeds the first duty ratio threshold, and if the reception strength is less than the second threshold, the control unit 110 controls the duty ratio to be equal to or greater than the second duty ratio threshold. Here, the first threshold is greater than the second threshold, and the first duty ratio threshold is less than the second duty ratio threshold.

[0062] Therefore, when the ear device is far away, the time during which the howling sound is generated becomes longer, making it easier for the user to find the ear device 100. Conversely, when the user gets closer to the ear device 100, the time during which the harsh howling sound is generated becomes shorter, thereby shortening the time during which the user feels uncomfortable.

[0063] In the above-described ear device processing (FIG. 4), the control unit 110 sets a howling pattern by performing conditional branching according to the strength of the reception strength in steps S110 and S112, but the way in which the howling pattern is set is not limited to this. For example, a howling pattern table 121 in which howling patterns according to reception strength are defined as shown in FIG. 6 may be stored in advance in the storage unit 120, and the control unit 110 may set a howling pattern based on the measured reception strength and the howling pattern table 121.

[0064] By using the howling pattern table 121, the howling pattern can be set more flexibly.

[0065] Furthermore, the control unit 110 may obtain the howling pattern using a mathematical formula. For example, the time t1 at which the volume is increased to or above the loud volume threshold (for example, maximum) and the time t0 at which the volume is decreased to or below the quiet volume threshold (for example, zero) may be obtained from the numerical value R of the reception strength using the following mathematical formulas. t1=max(80-R,10) / 20 t0=0.5

[0066] According to the above formula, when the reception strength is 70 dBm or more, the feedback pattern repeats changing the volume above the loud threshold for 0.5 seconds and then below the quiet threshold for 0.5 seconds. When the reception strength is 60 dBm, the feedback pattern repeats changing the volume above the loud threshold for 1 second and then below the quiet threshold for 0.5 seconds. When the reception strength is 50 dBm, the feedback pattern repeats changing the volume above the loud threshold for 1.5 seconds and then below the quiet threshold for 0.5 seconds.

[0067] Setting the feedback pattern using a mathematical formula eliminates the need for conditional branching, simplifying the processing, and also has the advantage of saving storage capacity since there is no need to store the feedback pattern table 121.

[0068] The above has described a case where the ear device notification system 1000 includes two ear devices 100 (ear device 100L and ear device 100R) and a mobile terminal 200, but the ear device notification system does not necessarily have to include two ear devices 100. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the ear device notification system 1001 may include one ear device 101 (worn on one ear of the user) and a mobile terminal 200.

[0069] In the ear device notification system 1001, the ear device 101 does not have to be equipped with the wearing detection unit 150. The ear device processing for an ear device 101 that does not have the wearing detection unit 150 is the same as the ear device processing described above (FIG. 4) except that step S106 is omitted (if the determination in step S105 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S107).

[0070] In the ear device notification system 1000, in order to prevent the ear device 100 worn in the ear from generating a howling sound, the ear device 100 generates a howling sound only when the wearing detection unit 150 detects that the ear device 100 is not worn in the ear. However, because there is only one ear device 101 in the ear device notification system 1001, if the user touches the notification ON button 241 in an attempt to find the ear device 101, the ear device 101 is not likely to be worn in the ear. Therefore, even if the wearing detection unit 150 does not take the trouble of determining whether the ear device 101 is worn in the ear, there is no risk of the ear device 101 wearing the ear generating a howling sound.

[0071] Therefore, in the ear device notification system 1001, the ear device 101 does not need to have a wearing detection unit 150, and there is no need for the ear device processing to determine whether or not the ear device 101 is worn in the ear. Conversely, in the ear device notification system 1000, the wearing detection unit 150 determines whether or not the ear device 100 is worn in the ear, thereby preventing the ear device 100 worn in the ear from generating a howling sound.

[0072] Furthermore, the ear device notification system does not necessarily have to include the mobile terminal 200. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the ear device notification system 1002 may include only two ear devices 102 (an ear device 102L for the left ear and an ear device 102R for the right ear).

[0073] The ear device 102 included in the ear device notification system 1002 includes an operation input unit 170 (for example, a touch sensor, a push button switch, etc.) as shown in Fig. 9. Specifically, the operation input unit 170 includes a notification ON button 171 and a notification OFF button 172 as shown in Fig. 8. These function as the notification ON button 241 and the notification OFF button 242 in the ear device notification system 1000 described above.

[0074] In other words, when the ear device 102L for the left ear and the ear device 102R for the right ear are turned on, they communicate via BLE, and when the user operates (touches, presses, etc.) the notification ON button 171 of the ear device 102 worn on the ear, the ear device 102 that is not worn on the ear will generate a howling sound.

[0075] In the ear device notification system 1002, the ear device 102L for the left ear and the ear device 102R for the right ear must be connected for communication, but this has the advantage of eliminating the need for the mobile terminal 200. In the ear device notification system 1002, the ear device 102 worn on the ear can be said to be a mobile terminal for sending a notification ON command to the ear device 102 that is not worn on the ear.

[0076] When the ear device 102 is powered on, the control unit 110 starts executing ear device processing and terminal communication processing in parallel, allowing the ear device 102 to function as both an ear device and a mobile terminal.

[0077] The ear devices 100, 101, and 102 are not limited to hearing aids, but may be hearing aids such as sound collectors, or may be realized by wireless earphones or a computer having the above-mentioned configuration. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 200 is not limited to a smartphone, but may be realized by a smart watch, tablet, PC, or other computer capable of communicating with the ear devices 100 and 101.

[0078] In the above description, it has been assumed that the programs executed by the control units 110 of the ear devices 100, 101, and 102 are stored in advance in the storage unit 120, and that the programs executed by the control unit 210 of the mobile terminal 200 are stored in advance in the storage unit 220. However, it is also possible to configure a computer that can execute each of the above-mentioned processes by storing and distributing the programs on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), an MO (Magneto-Optical disc), a memory card, or a USB memory, and then reading and installing the programs into a computer.

[0079] Furthermore, the program may be superimposed on a carrier wave and applied via a communication medium such as the Internet. For example, the program may be posted and distributed on a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication network. The program may then be started and executed under the control of an operating system (OS) in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-described processes to be performed.

[0080] In addition, the control unit 110 and the control unit 210 may be configured by any single processor such as a single processor, a multiprocessor, or a multi-core processor, or may be configured by combining any of these processors with processing circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the reception strength is determined on the ear device 100, 101 side, but the reception strength of the radio waves from the ear device 100, 101 may be determined on the mobile terminal 200 side. In this case, the mobile terminal 200 may transmit instruction data to the ear device 100, 101 for changing the volume or howling pattern settings based on the determined reception strength.

[0081] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 100, 100L, 100R, 101, 102, 102L, 102R...Ear device, 110, 210...Control unit, 120, 220...Memory unit, 121...Howling pattern table, 130...Sound acquisition unit, 131...Microphone, 140...Sound output unit, 141...Speaker, 150...Wear detection unit, 151...Distance sensor, 160, 250...Communication unit, 170, 240...Operation input unit, 171, 241...Notification ON button, 172, 242...Notification OFF button, 200...Mobile terminal, 230...Display unit, 1000, 1001, 1002...Ear device notification system

Claims

1. a communication unit for receiving a wireless signal; a sound acquisition unit that acquires ambient sound as sound data at a set first input level; a sound output unit that outputs a sound corresponding to the acquired sound data at a set first output level; a control unit that instructs, based on the reception strength of the wireless signal, to change at least one of the first input level and the first output level to a level at which feedback occurs; An ear device comprising:

2. The control unit controlling an interval between a time during which the first input level is changed to the second input level and a time during which the first input level is not changed to the second input level based on the reception intensity; The ear device of claim 1 .

3. The control unit controlling an interval between a time during which the first output level is changed to a second output level and a time during which the first output level is not changed to the second output level based on the reception intensity; The ear device of claim 1 .

4. The control unit When instructing the change, an instruction to stop the howling suppression function is given. The ear device of claim 1 .

5. a wear detection unit that detects whether the ear device is worn in the ear of a user; The control unit When the wearing detection unit does not detect that the earphone is being worn on the ear, the change instruction is executed; When the wearing detection unit detects that the earphone is worn on the ear, the change instruction is not executed. The ear device of claim 1 .

6. an ear device and a mobile terminal, The ear device comprises: a communication unit for receiving a wireless signal; a sound acquisition unit that acquires ambient sound as sound data at a set first input level; a sound output unit that outputs a sound corresponding to the acquired sound data at a set first output level; a control unit that instructs, based on the reception strength of the wireless signal, to change at least one of the input level and the output level to a level at which feedback occurs; Equipped with The mobile terminal an operation input unit that accepts operation input; a terminal communication unit that transmits a wireless signal to the ear device; Equipped with Ear device notification system.

7. The control unit Acquire ambient sound as sound data at a set first input level; outputting a sound corresponding to the acquired sound data at a set first output level; instructing the user to change at least one of the input level and the output level to a level at which feedback occurs based on the received strength of the wireless signal; Ear device notification method.

8. In the control section, Acquire ambient sound as sound data at a set first input level; outputting a sound corresponding to the acquired sound data at a set first output level; instructing the user to change at least one of the input level and the output level to a level at which feedback occurs based on the received strength of the wireless signal; A program that executes a process.

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