Ear tip and ear tip component

Abstract

To provide an ear chip capable of appropriately acquiring a biological signal while reducing costs.SOLUTION: An ear tip includes a conductive first member (10) including a cylindrical portion (11) having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a contact portion extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion, and an elastic second member (20) covering an outside of the cylindrical portion, wherein the contact portion is located outside the second member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an eartip and components of an eartip. [Background technology]

[0002] Previously, there was a technology that used silver as a conductive agent in the ear tips of earphones that capture biosignals. This is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-215963 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-24758 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional ear tips, conductive fillers are mixed into the rubber to enhance conductivity. However, silver is expensive and is therefore not suitable for eartips. If silver filler is mixed into the entire ear tip, the cost of the ear tip will be high. Prepare ear tips in multiple sizes for users with different ear and ear canal shapes. Therefore, multiple ear tips with silver fillers may be prepared for one user. And the cost will increase further.

[0005] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an earphone that can appropriately acquire biological signals while reducing costs. One of the purposes is to provide tips. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The ear tip according to one aspect of the present invention includes a tubular portion having a first end and a second end, a conductive first member having a contact portion extending from a first end to the second end; and a second member having elasticity and covering the outer side of the contact portion, Located in. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an earpiece that can appropriately acquire biological signals while reducing costs. A top can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an entire earphone according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the ear tip according to the first embodiment in the YZ plane as seen from the X direction. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section passing through a central axis R in the Z direction of the first member according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the first member in the XZ plane as seen from the Y direction according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of an ear tip when another second member according to the first embodiment is used. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a first member according to a modified example. [Figure 6B] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of ear tips according to modified examples. [Figure 7A] 10 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an ear tip 1D according to a modified example in the YZ plane. FIG. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an ear tip 1D according to a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an earphone according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an earphone according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a ground sensor according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference sensor according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating how three sensors of the earphone according to the second embodiment come into contact with the wearer. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an earphone according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The above examples are merely examples and are not intended to exclude the application of various modifications or technologies not explicitly stated below. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to the actual dimensions, proportions, etc. The drawings may contain parts with different dimensional relationships or ratios. There is.

[0010] [First embodiment] Below, an overview of the earphone in the first embodiment will be described, and then the earphone in the first embodiment will be described. An example of the yer chip will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <Earphone Overview> First, an overview of the earphone according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an entire earphone according to a first embodiment.

[0012] The earphone shown in Figure 1 is one of a pair of earphones. The earphone main body 2 includes the ear tip 1 and the earphone body 2. The nozzle 3 has a nozzle (connection part) 3 that can be detachably attached to the headphone main body 2. For example, it is a part that constitutes a sound guide part, has electrodes, and is electrically connected to the conductive part of the ear tip 1 described later. The nozzle 3 has a detachable attachment structure with the ear tip 1. Has.

[0013] The earphone main body 2 includes, for example, a communication circuit (communication interface) for communicating sound signals with other devices. The device includes a control panel with earphone operation functions, a power source (battery), and a microphone. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the earphones are of a wireless type. The earphone may have a cable including a plurality of signal lines connecting the circuits in the earphone. The main body 2 has a biosensor that acquires a biosignal detected by the ear tip 1. The body signal may be, for example, an electroencephalogram signal or an electrooculogram signal. In the following, an electroencephalogram signal will be used as an example. .

[0014] The example of the ear tip 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first member (component) 10 having electrical conductivity and a second member (component) 11 having electrical conductivity. The first member 10 and the second member 20 form the ear tip 1. For example, the first member 10 and the second member 20 The first member 10 is made of a different material and is detachable. The present invention is not limited to the example shown in 1, and may have a part that comes into contact with the inner wall of the ear canal of the wearer, and this contact part may be It is sufficient if the earphone has a structure that allows it to make proper contact with the ear canal. Also, the larger the surface area of ​​this contact part, the better. The second member 20 is preferably made of an inexpensive non-conductive elastic material (such as silicone rubber). It is preferably formed by

[0015] <Ear tip overview> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the ear tip 1 according to the first embodiment in the YZ plane as viewed from the X direction. The ear tip 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a view showing a first member 1 positioned on the eardrum side (Z1 direction). The first member 10 is located on the earphone body 2 side (Z2 direction), and the second member 20 is located on the earphone body 2 side (Z2 direction). is made of, for example, conductive rubber, and this conductive rubber contains silver or silver chloride. Preferably, silver or silver chloride is contained in the conductive rubber to ensure proper conductivity. The conductive material is contained in an amount of 10 mass % or more.

[0016] The first member 10 may also be made of a silicon material containing a metal filler. For example, the first member 10 may contain, as a metal filler, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, zinc, nickel, or the like. By appropriately blending silicon materials with silicon dioxide, highly conductive materials can be created. Furthermore, it is not necessary for all of the filler contained to be silver or silver chloride, and it is also possible for a part of the filler to be silver. This allows the content of silver or silver chloride to be reduced, which improves the hardness of the rubber. By lowering the hardness, a conductive rubber with an appropriate hardness can be created.

[0017] The first member 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a cylindrical portion having a second end in the Z2 direction and a first end in the Z1 direction. 11 (the dotted line portion shown in FIG. 2) and a contact portion ( The contact portion has a first portion 12 and a second portion 13. The contact portion has a dome shape (or a bowl shape) extending from the first end. A first portion (tip portion) 12 formed in a shape of a slit, and a second portion from a predetermined position of the tip portion 12 to a second end portion and a second portion (extension portion) 13 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the arrow.

[0018] The cylindrical portion 11 is hollow inside, and this hollow is used to transmit the sound output from the earphone main body 2. The sound output from the earphone main body 2 and output through the nozzle is guided by a cylindrical The second end of the cylindrical portion 11 passes through the cavity of the first end and reaches the eardrum of the wearer. Any configuration that forms a sound guide portion is acceptable, and the shape does not necessarily have to be a hollow cylinder.

[0019] The first part (tip part) 12 of the contact part has, for example, a dome-like or bowl-like shape with a recess. The opening at the first end of the cylindrical portion 11 is formed in the center of the bowl-shaped bottom surface. The convex direction of the end 12 is located on the first end side. In order to make it easier for the tip portion 12 to enter the ear canal when worn, the tip portion 12 is The radius from the central axis R becomes shorter as the tip portion 1 2 does not necessarily have to be dome-shaped or bowl-shaped, but should be shaped so that it can be easily inserted into the ear canal. Any shape (a shape in which the diameter becomes smaller toward the tip) is sufficient.

[0020] The second part (extension part) 13 of the contact part is a part extending from the first end side of the cylindrical part 11 to the second end side. The extension 13 is a part formed on the outside of the cylindrical part 11. For example, the extension 13 is a part formed on the outside of the cylindrical part 11. The earphone has a planar shape extending from the first end side to the second end side, and contacts at least the inner wall of the ear canal of the wearer. The extension 13 is also in contact with the tip end portion located at the first end of the cylindrical portion 11. At least a part of 12 may be formed by extending toward the second end.

[0021] The extension portion 13 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2, and at least one extension portion 13 may be provided on the first member 10. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the extension 13 is also provided on the back side, and the extension 13 is provided on the first member 10. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the extension 13 has a plate-like shape. The shape is not limited to the above, but may include any flat surface that will adequately contact the inner wall of the wearer's ear canal. It is preferable that the surface area of ​​the extension 13 is as large as possible. , it does not need to be a straight line in the Z direction or the Y direction, and the curve of the outer surface of the second member 20 described later It may have a rounded curve to fit along the

[0022] The mounting structure 14 (shown by a dotted line) is a structure that can be detachably attached to the earphone main body 2. The mounting structure 14 has a mechanism. For example, the mounting structure 14 has a recessed portion in the circumferential direction on the second end side of the cylindrical portion 11. The mounting structure 14 including this recess is formed in the nozzle 3 of the earphone main body 2. The protrusion is detachably fitted into the cylindrical portion 11, and the recess is provided in the nozzle 3. The mounting structure 14 may be any other structure or mechanism that is detachable, other than the use of projections and recesses. This mounting structure 14 is similar to that of a known earphone or the like. A conventional ear tip attachment / detachment structure or mechanism may be employed.

[0023] According to the first embodiment described above, the first member 10 constituting a part of the ear tip 1 is made of metal. By mixing metal filler into the ear tip, it is easier to sell than if the entire ear tip were filled with metal filler. You can lower the selling price.

[0024] In addition, as in the prior art, the entire ear tip is made of a metal filler (silver, copper, gold, When silicon material mixed with aluminum, zinc, nickel, etc. is used, the impedance In order to reduce the carbonaceous particles, it is conceivable to increase the amount of carbonaceous particles. If too much is added, the resilience will be weak and the surface of the ear tip will be easily damaged by tearing. This reduces the pressure on the skin, making it difficult to obtain good quality biosignals.

[0025] In addition, silicone containing metal fillers (silver, copper, gold, aluminum, zinc, nickel, etc.) The ear tips are made of carbon material and contain a large amount of carbon particles to prevent breakage. If the hardness of the silicone is too high, it will be uncomfortable to wear and may not fit the shape of your ear. It becomes.

[0026] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the impedance of the first member 10 is reduced while the impedance is appropriately reduced. In order to obtain a material with sufficient flexibility, the following configuration is adopted as an example. For silicone materials mixed with AG (silver) filler, the carbon content must be 10% or more. The impedance of silicon material mixed with AG filler, for example, the volume specific resistivity 1×10 5 Ω·cm or less. For silicone materials mixed with AG filler, the hardness must be 30 to 50 degrees or less.

[0027] By mixing the above-mentioned AG filler into the silicone material, it has a moderate flexibility. It can be made of a material that makes it easier to fit into the ear canal when worn. In addition, it contains a moderate amount of AG filler. This reduces the impedance and allows appropriate biosignals, such as electroencephalograms, to be acquired. It becomes Noh.

[0028] The first member 10 has a cylindrical portion 11 and a contact portion including a tip portion 12 and an extension portion 13 made of metal. It may be integrally molded using a mold or made from the same conductive silicon material as described above. The cylindrical portion 11 and the contact portion may be separate members as long as they are electrically conductive and connected to each other. In addition, since the cylindrical portion 11 serves as a sound guide portion, it is preferable that the shape does not change so as not to block the cavity. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 11 has conductivity and its hardness is set to be lower than that of the extension portion 13. The tip portion 12 is also the portion that comes into contact with the ear canal, so the tube The hardness of the shank portion 11 may be greater than the hardness of the tip portion 12 .

[0029] The second member 20 is an elastic member that roughly determines the overall size of the ear tip 1. The member 20 is made of a material such as rubber, which is commonly used for ear tips. The second member 20 has a shape that covers the cylindrical portion 11 of the first member 10, and is, for example, a hollow drum. The shape is doughnut-like or hollow cylindrical.

[0030] Since the second member 20 is hollow, the second member 20 is The cylindrical portion 11 is inserted into the hollow of the second member 20, and the second member 20 is attached to the first member 10. As a result, the second member 20 is attached to the first member 10 in an easily detachable manner. At this time, the tip portion of the second member 20 in the Z1 direction is inserted into the cavity of the tip portion 12 of the first member 10. In this case, the tip portion of the second member 20 may be inserted between the tip portion 1 of the first member 10. By being accommodated in the space 2, the cylindrical portion 11 cannot slide any further, In addition, the first member 10 and the second member 11 are less likely to be displaced in the horizontal direction (X direction or Y direction). The method of attaching and detaching the device 20 is not limited to the above example.

[0031] The size of the second member 20 is determined by the length of the radius from the central axis to the outside in the Y direction. For example, in the Z direction, prepare three levels of average radius length in the Y direction, The sizes may be L, M, and S from the largest. Also, even for the second member 20 of the same size, as it goes from the Z2 direction to the Z1 direction (the tip of the ear tip 1), the radius in the Y direction may be shortened as well.

[0032] Also, since the extension part 13 of the first member 10 has elasticity, it can be elastically deformed outward by the second member 20. For example, when this ear tip 1 is inserted into an ear canal that is slightly narrower than the diameter around the central axis R of the ear tip 1, the elastic second member 20 is inserted while being pressed against the outer side. As a result, the extension part 13 located between the second member 20 and the ear canal can appropriately contact the inner wall of the ear canal because the second member 20 applies pressure to the ear canal.

[0033] Also, for the extension part 13, the distance L1 from the central axis R gradually increases from the first end side to the second end side. Also, for the second member 20, the distance L2 from the central axis R to the outer edge also gradually increases from the first end side to the second end side. In this case, at least a part of the extension part 13 may have L1 < L2. As a result, when the second member 20 is attached to the first member 10, the extension part 13 receives an outward pressure in the Y direction from the second member 20 and is pushed outward in the Y direction.

[0034] At least when the extension part 13 appropriately contacts the ear canal, the contact part can more appropriately contact the inner wall of the ear canal due to the pushing force from the second member 20 to the ear canal side and the reaction force pushing back from the ear canal on the biological signal (for example, the brain ​​​​​​​​​​​​​The biosignal is transmitted through the cylindrical portion 11. The signal is transmitted from the contacts of the earphone body 2 to the biosensor of the earphone body 2. The biosensor of the main body 2 can appropriately acquire the biosignal transmitted through the first member 10. becomes.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows an example of a cross section passing through the central axis R in the Z direction of the first member 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical portion 11 has a hollow portion 15 passing through the central axis R. The cylindrical portion 11 has a second end portion in the Z2 direction. The earphone has a mounting structure 14, and a protrusion provided on the nozzle 3 of the earphone body 2 is The first member 10 and the second member 20 are attached by being fitted into the recessed portions.

[0036] For example, an electrode is provided on the nozzle 3 of the earphone body 2, and the contact point of this electrode is connected to the cylindrical portion 11. As an example, the protrusion provided on the nozzle 3 of the earphone main body 2 is By fitting the nozzle 3 into the recess of the mounting structure 14, the cylindrical portion 11 and the nozzle 3 can be properly connected to each other. They come into contact with each other.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows an example of the appearance of the first member 10 according to the first embodiment in the XZ plane as viewed from the Y direction. In the example shown in FIG. 4, contact portions (tip portions) are provided on the outer sides of the first member 10 in the X1 direction and the X2 direction. The end portion 12 and the extension portion 13 are provided. Also, a cylinder having a cavity including a central axis R in the Z direction is provided. The extension 13 has a thickness W. 3 has a rounded curved shape in both the XZ plane and the XY plane. For example, the extension portion 13 is folded back and extended from a first end portion including an opening portion in the Z1 direction of the cylindrical portion 11. The insulating layer 12 may be formed by stretching the insulating layer 12 .

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the ear tip 1B when another second member 20B according to the first embodiment is used. 5 is a diagram showing an example. The second member 20B of the example shown in FIG. 5 is smaller than the second member 20 shown in FIG. That is, the second member 20B has a small diameter and a small size. Since the diameter is shorter than the average diameter of the same plane of the second member 20B, the surface volume of the second member 20B is , which is smaller than the surface volume of the second member 20. As shown in FIG. This allows second members of different sizes to be detachably attached.

[0039] This allows each user to select the second member according to the size and shape of their ear canal. By selecting one secondary member from the list and combining that secondary member with a common primary member, This makes it possible to change the size of the ear tip itself.

[0040] As described above, the ear tip 1 in the first embodiment ensures sufficient conductivity and at the same time, In order to achieve a structure with an appropriate hardness that changes appropriately in the ear, the first member 10 and the second member 11 are The first member 10 detects a biological signal, so the second member 10 is used as the second member. The first member 10 is made of a conductive elastic electrode containing a metal (e.g., AG) filler. The second member 20 may be made of inexpensive elastic rubber in order to keep the price of the ear tip down.

[0041] In addition, the second member 20 may have a lower hardness (more flexibility) than the first member 10. This allows the ear tip to be inserted into the ear canal without forming a part of the ear tip. By using the flexibility of the second member 20, the ear tip can be inserted according to the shape of the ear canal. It becomes easier.

[0042] Furthermore, the first member 10 and the second member 20 may be attached in a detachable manner. This allows the expensive first member 10 to be used as a common part, and the inexpensive second member 20 to be used as needed. By changing the size of the ear tip itself, the size can be changed and sales costs can be reduced. This becomes possible.

[0043] In addition, the first member 10 is provided with a cylindrical portion 11, a tip portion 12, and an extension portion 13, The extension part 13 and the tip part 12 are pressed against the inner wall of the ear canal, and the biological signal is detected with high accuracy. In addition, the cylindrical portion 11, the tip portion 12, and the extension portion 13 can be integrally molded. When the components are integrally molded, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0044] [Variations] The first embodiment of the technology disclosed in the present application has been described above. However, the above is not limited to the above.

[0045] FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a first member 10C according to a modified example. In the example shown in FIG. The plurality of extensions 13C of the first member 10C are connected to the first end portion via the dome-shaped tip portion. The extensions 13C are formed radially from a predetermined position on the tip. The surface area in contact with the inner wall of the ear canal is This makes it possible to acquire biosignals with high accuracy.

[0046] In addition, on the second end side of the plurality of extension portions 13C, a slit 1 is formed between two extension portions 13C. For example, the slit 16C may be provided along the Z direction (the central axis direction). The slits allow the extensions 13C to be radially aligned in accordance with the size of the second member 20. It can be opened or closed as needed.

[0047] FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an example of an ear tip 1C according to a modified example. As shown in FIG. 6B, the second member 20C is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the first member 10C. In addition, the slits 16C expand radially, so that the contact portion (for example, the extension portion 1 3C) is in proper contact with the outer circumferential surface of the second member 20C according to the size of the second member 20C. This makes it possible to:

[0048] The radial shape of the first member 10C shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and the shape is not limited to this. In order to maximize the area that comes into contact with the inner wall of the ear canal, the number of slits 16C is The fewer people that come, the better.

[0049] The first member 10 also has at least two extensions 13, which are connected to the corresponding contact points of the nozzle. By isolating each conduction path in the In this case, the cylindrical portion 11 of the first member 10 may be divided into two parts along a plane passing through the central axis. The circuit can be divided into two areas and each area can be insulated.

[0050] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an ear tip 1D according to a modified example in the YZ plane. In the example shown in FIG. 7A, the contact portions 13D1 and 13D2 are connected to the first member 10D of the ear tip 1D. D2 are provided on both ends in the Y direction. The contact portions (for example, extension portions) 13D1 and 13D2 are Each is a conductive elastic body, but is insulated and has a non-conductive gap between the two contacts. A second member 20D (eg, silicone or urethane) is provided.

[0051] 7B is a perspective view of an ear tip 1D according to a modified example. The contact portions 13D1 and 13D2 are located outside the second member 20D. The first portion 13D1 of the cylindrical portion is electrically connected to the second portion 13D2 of the contact portion. The contact portion and the second portion 11D2 of the cylindrical portion D2 are electrically connected. The first part (13D1 and 11D1) and the second part (13D2 and 11D2) are electrically insulated One electrode is used as the main bioelectrode for detecting biosignals, and the other is used as the reference electrode. In this case, the earphone body 2 may have a biosensor that detects a biosignal. The difference signal obtained by subtracting the reference signal from the body signal is output to the outside. The first member 10D and the second member 20D may be separate, detachable members, or may be integrally formed.

[0052] [Second embodiment] Next, the earphone 100 using the ear tip described in the first embodiment will be described. The ear tip in the second embodiment is any of the ear tips described in the first embodiment. An ear tip may also be used, and will be described using the reference numeral 272 in the second embodiment.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the components of the earphone 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing an example of the earphone 100 according to the second embodiment. The earphone 100 shown in Figures 8 and 9 has three sensors. For example, represents a main sensor 272 (first sensor) corresponding to the ear tip in the first embodiment; A reference sensor 273 (second sensor) and a ground sensor 274 (third sensor) are provided. do.

[0054] The main sensor 272 is provided at a position where it can acquire the first biological information of the user as an electrical signal. The main sensor 272 is located at the outer ear as described in the first embodiment. The main sensor 272 is the tip that is inserted into the ear canal and comes into close contact with the inner wall of the ear canal. The sampled first biological information is output to an amplifier (to be described later).

[0055] The reference sensor 273 is positioned so as to be able to acquire the second biological information of the user as an electrical signal. The reference sensor 273 is disposed at, for example, the tip of the wing 120. The reference sensor 273 converts the sensed second biological information into an amplifier (amplifier) ​​described later. Output to the

[0056] Here, the wings 120 are provided on the periphery of the cover portion 105 in which the substrates and the like are housed. The wings 120 are arranged in a generally U-shape around the periphery of the cover portion 105. 272. Reference sensor provided at the end of wing 120 273 functions to hook onto the wearer's outer ear when the earphone 100 is worn, 100 from falling off the wearer's concha. 273 contacts the concha and is capable of measuring the second biological signal. The housing, which is the outer member of the headphone main body 2, is made of a material having elasticity and flexibility. The housing may be made of a non-conductive elastic material.

[0057] The ground sensor 274 is a sensor that acquires ground potential information as an electrical signal. The position of the end sensor 274 is, for example, on the cover portion 105 side of the housing, and The reference sensor 273 is provided in the opposite direction. This is because it is desirable to keep the distance to the ground sensor 274 as far as possible. This improves the accuracy of each biological signal acquired from each sensor. The ground sensor 274 outputs the sensed ground potential information to an A / D converter, which will be described later. The sensor 274 preferably has a convex shape facing outward so that it can easily fit closely to the ear.

[0058] The material or composition of the main sensor 272 is the same as that described in the first embodiment. The reference sensor 273 and the ground sensor 274 are made of, for example, conductive rubber. The conductive rubber contains silver or silver chloride. To ensure the durability, silver or silver chloride is contained in a specified mass % or more of the conductive material contained in the conductive rubber. To make.

[0059] The reference sensor 273 and the ground sensor 274 are made of silicon containing a metal filler. For example, the reference sensor 273 and the ground sensor 27 4. Metal fillers such as silver, copper, gold, aluminum, zinc, and nickel are used in silicon By mixing it appropriately into the material, it is possible to create a highly conductive material. It is not necessary that all of the filler be silver or silver chloride, and it is also possible that only a part of the filler is silver or silver chloride. This reduces the content of silver or silver chloride, so the hardness of the rubber can be reduced and the Conductive rubber of various hardness can be produced.

[0060] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the ground sensor 274 according to the second embodiment. In the example shown, the ground sensor 274 is detachable from a predetermined area of ​​the earphone body 2. For example, the ground sensor 274 has a second mounting structure 112 with a convex shape, and The housing has a recessed first mounting structure 110 that fits into a second mounting structure 112. When the mounting structure 112 and the first mounting structure 110 are mated, their respective connection points come into contact, and electrical The ground potential information from the ground sensor 274 is input to the A / D converter in the earphone main body 2. The concave and convex portions may be reversed.

[0061] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference sensor 273 according to the second embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the wing 120 including the reference sensor 273 is For example, the cover portion 105 can be slid along the circumferential direction. The end of the wing 120 opposite to the reference sensor 273 is This forms a part of the slide mechanism 130. By making the reference sensor 273 adjustable relative to the circumference of the earpiece 05, the reference sensor 273 can be adjusted by the wearer's ear. This allows for better contact and more appropriate acquisition of the second biological signal. 30 is easy to move towards the ear, but it takes more force to move away from the ear. Just do that.

[0062] FIG. 12 shows the state where three sensors of the earphone 100 according to the second embodiment come into contact with the wearer. 12 is a diagram for explaining the ear tips of the earphone 100. As the main sensor 272 penetrates into the ear canal, The main sensor 272 is in closer contact with the ear canal. The reference sensor 273 comes into contact with the concha of the wearer, and The ground sensor 274 contacts the cavity of the concha below the concha of the wearer.

[0063] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the earphone 100 according to the second embodiment. The earphone 100 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a first earphone 100R and a second earphone 100R. The first earphone 100R is worn on the right ear of the user (wearer). The second earphone 100L is worn on the left ear of the user. The earphone 100L is configured to be able to communicate with the smartphone M. M is an example of a communication terminal. The first earphone 100R and the second earphone 100L are GN SS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellite It is configured to be able to receive GNSS signals transmitted from Sa and Sb.

[0064] The first earphone 100R includes, as its components, a first time acquisition unit 271, a main sensor 27 2 (first sensor), reference sensor 273 (second sensor), ground sensor 274 ( a third sensor), a first A / D converter 275, a first transmitter 276, and an amplifier 277. There are.

[0065] The first time acquisition unit 271 receives a GNSS signal transmitted from a GNSS satellite Sa, and The first time acquisition unit 271 acquires absolute time information included in the NSS signal. The first time acquisition unit 271 outputs the time information to the first A / D conversion unit 275. The first time acquisition unit 271 is, for example, a GPS. (Global Positioning System) chip included.

[0066] The main sensor 272 is provided at a position where it can acquire the first biological information of the user as an electrical signal. The main sensor 272 outputs the sensed first biological information to the amplifier 277. .

[0067] The reference sensor 273 is positioned so as to be able to acquire the second biological information of the user as an electrical signal. The reference sensor 273 outputs the sensed second biological information to the amplifier 27 Output to 7.

[0068] The ground sensor 274 is a sensor that acquires ground potential information as an electrical signal. The ground sensor 274 outputs the sensed ground potential information to the first A / D conversion unit 275. .

[0069] The amplifier 277 receives the first biological signal sensed by the main sensor 272 and the reference signal. The second biological signal sensed by the lens sensor 273 is amplified to expand the signal. The amplifier 277 outputs each of the expanded signals to the first A / D conversion section 275.

[0070] The first A / D conversion unit 275 samples each piece of information in accordance with the timing of the absolute time information. For example, as a way to synchronize sampling with the timing of absolute time information, Sampling can be performed according to absolute time information, or at regular intervals such as every second. The first A / D conversion unit 275 may perform sampling in accordance with the absolute time information. The pulled information is output to the first transmission unit 276.

[0071] The first transmitting unit 276 transmits the first biological information sampled by the first A / D converting unit 275. , the second biometric information, and the third biometric information are respectively associated with absolute time information and transmitted to the communication terminal M. The first transmitting unit 276 also transmits the first biological information output from the main sensor 272. and the ground potential information output from the ground sensor 274. Alternatively, the first transmitting unit 276 may be configured to associate the absolute time information with the time information and transmit it to the communication terminal M. is the second biological information output from the reference sensor 273 and the ground sensor 274. Second difference information, which is the difference from the output ground potential information, is generated and associated with absolute time information. It is also possible to transmit the information to the communication terminal M by associating absolute time information with each piece of information (e.g., time The stamping may be performed by the first A / D conversion unit 275.

[0072] In the above example, the first transmission unit 276 transmits the first biometric information or the first difference information and the absolute time. The first biometric information or the first time information is transmitted to the communication terminal M via the first channel. The absolute time information associated with the difference information is the time sensed by the main sensor 272. The first transmitting unit 276 is synchronized with the second biological information or the second difference information. The second biometric information is associated with absolute time information and transmitted to the communication terminal M via the second channel. The absolute time information associated with the second difference information is the time when the reference sensor 273 senses the The second channel is synchronized with the timing of the first channel. It may be on the same channel or on different channels.

[0073] The second earphone 100L has the same configuration as the first earphone 100R. For each component in 100L, the component with the same name as the component in the first earphone 100R performs the same processing, so the explanation will be omitted here.

[0074] The first transmitter 276 transmits the first biological information on the right ear side where the first earpiece 2R is worn as absolute time. Since the information is associated and transmitted to the communication terminal, the communication terminal can It is possible to accurately determine whether the biometric information has been obtained.

[0075] The first transmitter 276 transmits the first biological information on the right ear side where the first earphone 100R is worn as absolute time. Since the information is associated and transmitted to the communication terminal, the communication terminal can Since earphones are worn in the ears, Even if multiple sensors for acquiring biological information are installed in the same earphone, the potential difference of the acquired signals The signals are so small that they cancel each other out, making it difficult to improve the accuracy of the biological information. By installing a sensor in each earphone and acquiring biometric information using each sensor, However, if the potential difference is not ensured, the problem of not being able to ensure the same potential difference can be solved. If the acquired biometric information is sent to a communication terminal for processing, errors may occur due to communication delays, etc. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a difference occurs between the earphones. By associating absolute time information with each piece of biometric information and transmitting it to the communication terminal, communication delays can be reduced. It is possible to eliminate errors caused by delay and obtain accurate biometric information by ensuring potential difference. There are.

[0076] In this embodiment, the absolute time information included in the GNSS signal is used as an example of the reference time information. However, if the accuracy required for time identification of biometric information acquired by each earphone is sufficient, other The time information can be used as the reference time information. For example, The first time acquisition unit 271 and the second time acquisition unit 272 acquire signals with a time error of 1 ms or less. The reference time information may be acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 81. It can also be used to synchronize with biometric information acquired by earphones. The reference time information is synchronized with the biological information acquired by other earphones. It is also possible to use synchronization information for the purpose of may be altered or modified.

[0077] The present embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present disclosure does not limit the scope of the present invention to these specific examples. The present invention is not limited to the specific examples. A person skilled in the art may modify the design of these specific examples as appropriate. As long as the features of the present disclosure are included, they are included within the scope of the present disclosure. The elements and their arrangement, conditions, shapes, etc. are not limited to those shown in the examples, but may be used as appropriate. The elements of each of the above-mentioned specific examples may be changed as needed. As long as the combination is appropriate, it can be changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 ear tip 10 First member 11 Cylindrical part 12 Tip 13 Stretching section 14 Mounting structure 15 Cavity 16 Slit 20 Second member 100 earphones 105 Cover part 110 First mounting structure 112 Second mounting structure 130 Slide mechanism 272 Main Sensor 273 Reference Sensor 274 Ground Sensor

Claims

1. An eartip, a cylindrical portion having a first end and a second end, and a contact portion extending from the first end toward the second end; a conductive first member having a portion; a second member that covers the outside of the cylindrical portion and has elasticity, The ear tip, wherein the contact portion is located outside the second member.

2. The first member is formed of a silicon material containing a metal filler. Eartips as described.

3. The second member is detachably attached to the first member. Eartips as described.

4. The contact portion has a first portion formed in a dome shape from the first end portion and a predetermined position of the first portion. and one or more second portions extending from the position toward the second end portion. Ear tips.

5. The eartip of claim 4 , wherein a slit is provided between the second portions.

6. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact portions are plural and at least two of the contact portions are electrically insulated. The ear tip according to claim 1.

7. A component of an eartip, a tubular portion having a first end and a second end; a contact portion extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion, The component, wherein the cylindrical portion and the contact portion are formed from a conductive material.

8. a first sensor corresponding to the ear tip according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and configured to acquire first biological information; 、 a second sensor configured to acquire second biological information at a position different from that of the first sensor; a third sensor for acquiring third biological information at a position different from the first sensor and the second sensor; Sa and, An earphone having:

9. the second sensor contacts the concha above the concha of the wearer of the earphone; The third sensor according to claim 8 , wherein the third sensor contacts the cavity of the concha below the concha of the wearer. Earphones.

10. The second sensor is provided at the tip of a wing that protrudes from the body of the earphone, 10. The earphone of claim 8, wherein the position of the wings is adjustable relative to the body of the earphone. earphones.

11. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the third sensor is detachable from the housing of the earphone. The earphone according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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