Helmet sound device

Abstract

To provide an acoustic device for a helmet, which enables a user to hear sounds when wearing a motorcycle helmet, and can be charged while attached to the helmet. [Solution] This is an audio device for a helmet that is attached to a motorcycle helmet 1000 and used, in which the audio device main body 3 and the audio generating unit are connected by a connection cable, the audio generating unit generates sound inside the helmet, and the housing of the audio device main body is provided with a connection connector 35 that supplies charging power to the battery inside the device, and this connection connector protrudes from the lower edge of the helmet and is configured so that the connection connector faces approximately horizontally when the helmet is placed with the bottom side down.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a helmet sound device, and more particularly to a helmet sound device that is attached to a motorcycle helmet. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for devices that allow users to hear sounds when wearing a motorcycle helmet. In this case, it is necessary to solve the specific problems that arise when charging the device while it is attached to the helmet, so that the device can be used comfortably.

[0003] A conventional helmet audio device with these configurations is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1. This audio device is an intercom device that enables communication while riding a motorcycle, and is configured to allow up to eight people to have intercom conversations with the same intercom device. Furthermore, by pairing it with a mobile device such as a smartphone via Bluetooth (registered trademark), you can enjoy riding your motorcycle while freely listening to music and GPS guidance, while also communicating with fellow touring companions and checking safety. This intercom device has a Bluetooth module and a unit consisting of two speakers, a microphone, operation buttons for controlling volume, etc., and an antenna, all connected to the Bluetooth module by cable.

[0004] This intercom device is designed specifically for motorcycle helmets and the like, as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 2, and this helmet is equipped with a structure for mounting the intercom device. Specifically, the helmet has a recess and a groove near the ears on the inside surface, and two speakers are housed and attached in the recesses, with cables routed through the grooves. The microphone is also configured so that the base of its arm is attached in a similar manner. The lower edge of the rear of the helmet bulges slightly toward the back, and inside the bulge, on the inside bottom of the helmet, there is an upward-facing recessed storage recess where a Bluetooth module is housed and attached. In addition, the lower edge of the left and right sides of the exterior of the helmet has approximately triangular mounting parts, and removable triangular covers are provided. These triangular covers can be removed from the mounting parts, and operation button and antenna units with similar shapes can be attached to the mounting parts.

[0005] As described in Non-Patent Document 3 and shown in a photograph, this intercom device is configured so that the Bluetooth module fits into a recess on the inside of the rear end of the cap body, and the Bluetooth module also has a built-in battery that can be charged by plugging a cable into the micro USB terminal.

[0006] Another example of such a helmet acoustic device is disclosed in Patent Document 1, which was developed by the same applicant as the present invention. This helmet acoustic device is configured to be detachably attached to a helmet and includes a box-shaped housing and exciters provided near the left and right ends of the housing, which are operated in response to a drive signal to transmit acoustic vibrations to the helmet and are held facing the helmet, respectively, and a mounting portion attached to an adapter having an engagement portion attached to the helmet. The exciters are arranged on the left and right sides of the horizontal housing and are attached to the back of the helmet to vibrate the helmet and generate sound. Because this helmet acoustic device is configured to be detachably attached to the helmet, it can be charged while removed from the helmet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-188169 [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] SRL catalog, [Retrieved January 29, 2022], Internet <URL: https: / / senabluetooth.jp / global-image / units / upfiles / sena-SRL_detail.pdf> [Non-patent document 2] NEOTEC (registered trademark) 2, [Retrieved January 29, 2022], Internet <URL: https: / / www.shoei.com / contact / rider / catalog / NEOTEC%20II_web_20201001.pdf> [Non-patent document 3] "Did you know? SENA's invisible intercom. SRL / SRL2" BikeJIN, May 1, 2019 issue, [Retrieved May 10, 2025], Internet: https: / / senabluetooth.jp / global-image / units / upfiles / bikeJIN_201904.pdf Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, when the technology described in Non-Patent Document 1 is attached to the motorcycle helmet described in Non-Patent Document 2, as shown in the photograph in Non-Patent Document 3, the connection connector is located on the bottom of the Bluetooth module, facing downward. Therefore, it is necessary to turn the helmet with the attached audio device upside down to connect the connection plug to the connection connector. Furthermore, as shown in the photograph in Non-Patent Document 3, even if an L-shaped connection plug is used, the connection plug protrudes downward from the bottom of the helmet when inserted into the connection connector. This causes various inconveniences, such as the helmet being very unstable when turned upside down and the possibility of external force being applied to the connection plug when the helmet is placed with its bottom facing down, as will be described in detail later in the fifth embodiment of this specification.

[0010] Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which exciters are placed on the left and right sides of a horizontal housing and attached to the back of the helmet, and the audio device is detachably attached to the helmet, so that the audio device can be charged while removed from the helmet. However, the audio device main body of the present invention has the disadvantage that it is difficult to charge while removed from the helmet.

[0011] To provide a helmet sound device that allows the user to listen to sounds when wearing a motorcycle helmet, by solving the specific problems that arise when charging the device while it is attached to the helmet, and by which the user can use the device comfortably. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

[0013] The present invention relates to a helmet sound device that is attached to a motorcycle helmet. The helmet acoustic device has an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and an acoustic generating section that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a connection cable and generates sound within the helmet in response to the drive signal, and has a storage recess that is an upward recess on the inside bottom of the rear part of the helmet, and at least a part of the housing of the acoustic device main body is stored in the storage recess so that the helmet acoustic device can be attached to the helmet, and the housing of the acoustic device main body has a connection connector that supplies power for charging the battery within the acoustic device main body, and the connection connector protrudes from the lower edge of the helmet and is configured so that the connection connector is oriented approximately horizontally relative to the placement surface when the helmet is placed with its bottom facing down.

[0014] Furthermore, when the straight-type connection plug is inserted into the connection connector, the connection plug is spaced apart from the lower edge of the helmet and from the placement surface.

[0015] The sound device body is also characterized by having a mounting foot at the bottom end of the bottom surface for placing the helmet on a mounting surface.

[0016] The connector is also configured to face the rear, allowing the connection plug to be inserted from the rear side.

[0017] In addition, the housing of the main body of the audio device has a watertight structure and is composed of a bottom case, which is a bottom portion of a predetermined thickness with an approximately bow-shaped arc surface that bulges downward at the center in the left-right direction, and a storage case in the shape of an approximately rectangular plate that protrudes upward from the bottom case, with mounting legs formed on the left and right near the lower end of the approximately bow-shaped arc surface, and a connection connector provided on the back side of the bottom case.

[0018] The sound generating unit is an acoustic unit that uses a vibration-type sound generator, and is configured so that the vibration-type sound generator generates vibrations in response to a drive signal, which then vibrates the helmet, thereby generating sound.

[0019] The sound generating unit is characterized by being a speaker provided near the ears inside the helmet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, since it has the above-mentioned features, it is possible to achieve the following:

[0021] This is a helmet audio device that is attached to a motorcycle helmet, the helmet audio device having an audio device main body that generates a drive signal, and an audio generating section that is connected to the audio device main body by a connection cable and generates sound within the helmet in response to the drive signal, the helmet has an upward recessed storage recess on the inside bottom of the rear part of the helmet, and at least a part of the housing of the audio device main body is stored in the storage recess so that the helmet audio device can be attached to the helmet, the housing of the audio device main body has a connection connector that supplies power for charging the battery within the audio device main body, the connection connector protruding from the lower edge of the helmet and being configured so that the connection connector is oriented approximately horizontally relative to the mounting surface when the helmet is placed with its bottom side down, so that with the connection plug inserted into the connection connector, the helmet can be placed in a stable position and charged without turning it upside down.

[0022] Furthermore, when the straight-type connection plug is inserted into the connection connector, the connection plug is spaced apart from the lower edge of the helmet and from the placement surface, making it possible to prevent external forces from being applied to the connection plug when the helmet is placed.

[0023] Furthermore, the lower end of the bottom surface of the acoustic device body is provided with mounting legs for placing the helmet on a mounting surface, making it possible to place the helmet in a more stable state.

[0024] In addition, the connection connector is configured to face the rear, making it possible to insert and connect the connection plug from the rear side, making it possible to insert and connect the connection plug from the rear side.

[0025] In addition, the housing of the main body of the audio device has a watertight structure and is composed of a bottom case, which is the bottom part of a predetermined thickness with an approximately bow-shaped arc surface that bulges downward at the center in the left-right direction, and a storage case in the shape of an approximately rectangular plate that protrudes upward from the bottom case, with mounting feet formed on the left and right near the lower end of the approximately bow-shaped arc surface, and a connection connector provided on the back side of the bottom case, so that the housing of the main body of the audio device has a watertight structure and can be connected by inserting a connection plug from the back side.

[0026] In addition, the sound generating unit is an acoustic unit that uses a vibration-type acoustic generator, and is configured so that the vibration-type acoustic generator generates vibrations in response to a drive signal, which in turn vibrates the helmet, thereby generating sound.Therefore, it has become possible to charge the helmet acoustic device, which generates sound using a vibration-type acoustic generator, in a simple and stable manner.

[0027] Furthermore, since the sound generating unit is a speaker located inside the helmet near the ear, it is now possible to charge the helmet sound device, which uses a speaker to generate sound, in a simple and stable manner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a helmet; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1A and 1B show the configuration of a main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view seen from the rear, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view seen from the front. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B show the configuration of the main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a reference perspective view seen from the surface, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a rear view of the same. [Figure 6] 1 shows the configuration of the main parts of the helmet acoustic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (D) is a bottom view, (E) is a left side view, (F) is a right side view, and (G) is a reference oblique view seen from the back. [Figure 7] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 1A and 1B show the configuration of a main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a cross-sectional view seen from the front, and (B) is a cross-sectional view seen from the bottom. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B show the configuration of the main parts of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a reference oblique view seen from the front, (B) is a reference oblique view seen from the back, and (C) is an exploded oblique view. [Figure 10] 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the front, showing the positional relationship of essential parts of a helmet acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention when in use. [Figure 12]3 is a graph showing frequency characteristics at the mounting position on the helmet of the main part of the helmet acoustic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the helmet acoustic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a helmet acoustic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a helmet. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a helmet acoustic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10A to 10C are three-view diagrams showing the configuration of the main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 5A and 5B show the configuration of the main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a cross-sectional view seen from above, and (B) is an exploded perspective view seen from behind. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a helmet acoustic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B show the configuration of a main part of a helmet acoustic device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view seen from below, and (B) is a bottom view. [Figure 20] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a state in which a helmet sound device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is attached to a helmet, in which (A) is a partial perspective view seen from the rear, and (B) is a partial rear view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] This is a helmet audio device that is attached to a motorcycle helmet, the helmet audio device having an audio device main body that generates a drive signal, and an audio generating section that is connected to the audio device main body by a connection cable and generates sound within the helmet in response to the drive signal, the helmet has an upward recessed storage recess on the inside bottom of the rear part of the helmet, and at least a part of the housing of the audio device main body is stored in the storage recess so that the helmet audio device can be attached to the helmet, the housing of the audio device main body has a connection connector that supplies power for charging the battery within the audio device main body, the connection connector protruding from the lower edge of the helmet and being configured so that the connection connector is oriented approximately horizontally relative to the mounting surface when the helmet is placed with its bottom side down, so that with the connection plug inserted into the connection connector, the helmet can be placed in a stable position and charged without turning it upside down. [Example]

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, the terms "front-to-back," "up-to-down," and "left-to-right" refer to the front-to-back, up-to-down, and left-to-right directions as seen from the user's perspective when wearing a helmet equipped with a helmet sound device on the head. The direction in which the user's face is located will be referred to as the front direction (frontal direction), the opposite direction as the rear direction (rear direction), the direction to the left side of the user's face as the left direction, and the opposite direction as the right direction. However, the front-back, up-down, and left-right directions shown below are shown for the convenience of explanation, and the application of the present technology is not limited to these directions.

[0031] A helmet acoustic device 1 (helmet acoustic device) according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the helmet acoustic device 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are perspective views showing how to install and use the device, Fig. 4(A) and (B) are perspective views showing the configuration of the main parts, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6(A) to (G) are drawings expressing the external shapes of the main parts in a design sense, Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts, Fig. 8(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of the main parts, Fig. 9(A)(B)(C) are perspective views and exploded perspective views of the main parts, Fig. 10 is a circuit block diagram, Fig. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship of the main parts when in use, Fig. 12 is a graph showing the frequency characteristics, and Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation.

[0032] 1, the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment has an acoustic device main unit 2 (acoustic device main body) having an acoustic device main body 3 and a mounting adapter 4, two acoustic units 5, 5 (vibration type acoustic units), and a microphone unit 6 (audio microphone). The acoustic units 5, 5 and the microphone unit 6 are connected to the acoustic device main unit 2 by connection cables 21, 21, 21 (connection cables) via waterproof connectors 22, 22, 22, respectively.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the motorcycle helmet 1000 of this embodiment is a full-face helmet that completely covers the head from the crown to the chin, providing high safety. The helmet 1000 includes a hard outer shell 1100, a shield 1200 that is rotatable relative to the shell 1100, and an impact-absorbing liner 1300 positioned inside the shell 1100. The shell 1100 is made of a hard material such as fiber-reinforced plastic and functions to disperse and absorb impacts from falls, etc. The shield 1200 is made of a transparent resin or similar material and prevents wind, dust, insects, and other elements from entering while riding. The impact-absorbing liner 1300 is made of polystyrene foam or similar material and functions to absorb impacts by being crushed by the shell 1100 and the head in the event of a fall, etc. The helmet 1000 also includes an interior lining and a chin strap, but these are not shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] 2, the acoustic device main unit 2 is fixed to the lower part of the outer surface of the rear of the helmet 1000, the acoustic units 5, 5 are fixed to the lower edges of the outer surfaces of the left and right sides, and the microphone unit 6 is fixed to the inner surface of the jaw. The connection cables 21, 21, 21 and waterproof connectors 22, 22, 22 are attached so as to be sandwiched between the shell 1100 and the impact absorbing liner 1300 located inside the shell 1100.

[0035] 3 shows a situation in which a user U wearing a helmet 1000 equipped with a helmet sound device 1 is listening to music and making calls via a mobile terminal S (portable terminal) such as a smartphone while riding a motorcycle. That is, the helmet sound device 1 is configured to be capable of wireless connection via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like with the mobile terminal S carried by the user U. The user U can send acoustic signals to the helmet sound device 1 and control the helmet sound device 1 by operating the mobile terminal S.

[0036] 4(A) and 4(B) show the audio device main unit 2 with the audio device main unit 3 removed from the mounting adapter 4. FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view from the rear, and FIG. 4(B) is a perspective view from the front. As shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the audio device main unit 3 has a watertight audio device main unit case 31, which is a box-shaped, horizontally elongated, and approximately rectangular shape with a predetermined thickness. The lower rear portion of the audio device main unit 3 bulges toward the rear, and a connection operation unit 32 is formed on the bottom. Arranged in the connection operation unit 32 from left to right are an external volume microphone hole 33, a power button 34, and a connection connector 35 (connection connector). An external volume microphone 81 (described later) is housed watertight within the external volume microphone hole 33. Additionally, a communication indicator 36 and a charging indicator 37 are located on the left and right of the bulging portion at the lower rear portion. These communication indicators 36 and charging indicators 37 are located on the bulging portion to make them easier to see from the outside.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4(B), the central part of the inner surface of the audio device main body 3 has a square bulging engagement part 38, and engagement protrusions 39, 39, 39, 39 that protrude in the left and right directions are formed at the four corners of the engagement part 38. In addition, the connection cables 21, 21 are configured to be pulled out watertightly to the outside from the lower left and right ends of the inner surface via waterproof packing.

[0038] As shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the mounting adapter 4 has an outer shape that is a horizontally elongated rectangle with the same size as the audio device main body 3, and has a square recessed engaged portion 41 in the center of its outer surface. Engaged protrusions 42, 42, 42, 42 that protrude in the left-right direction toward the inner surface of the recess are formed at the four corners of the engaged portion 41, and an engagement lock 43 is provided on the upper left side of the engaged portion 41. To engage the audio device main body 3 with the mounting adapter 4, the engaging portion 38 is pressed against the engaged portion 41 while shifting it slightly upward, and then pushed down, which engages the engagement lock 43. To remove the audio device main body 3 from the mounting adapter 4, the engagement lock 43 is pressed leftward to release the lock, and the audio device main body 3 is then removed by pushing it slightly upward.

[0039] 4(A) and 4(B), cable cutouts 44, 44 are provided on the underside of the left and right ends on the outer surface of the mounting adapter 4, and are configured so that when engaged, the connection cables 21, 21 can be led out to the outside. The front side of the mounting adapter 4 is formed with a helmet mounting surface 45 that is a curved surface that roughly matches the shape of the lower back of the helmet 1000, and a double-sided adhesive tape 46 for the mounting adapter is affixed to the helmet mounting surface 45. In other words, the mounting adapter 4 is configured to be attached to the lower edge of the back of the helmet 1000 by the double-sided adhesive tape 46 for the mounting adapter.

[0040] The reason why the audio device main unit 2 is made separable into two parts, the audio device main unit 3 and the mounting adapter 4, is to enable charging of the audio device main unit 3 alone. In other words, by disconnecting the waterproof connectors 22, 22, 22 and removing it from the mounting adapter 4, the audio device main unit 3 can be easily separated from the large helmet 1000 and charged. Of course, it is also possible to prepare a plurality of mounting adapters 4 each having a helmet mounting surface 45 that roughly matches the curved shape of the lower edge of the back of helmets 1000 of different sizes.

[0041] Figures 5(A) to (C) and Figures 6(D) to (G) show detailed design drawings of the external shape of the acoustic unit 5. Specifically, Figures 5(A) to (C) and Figures 6(D) to (G) show the acoustic unit 5 in three views: a perspective view from the exterior, a front view, a rear view, a bottom view, a left side view, a right side view, and a perspective view from the interior. While Figure 6(D) shows the bottom view, the top view also has a similar shape. Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the acoustic unit 5 as seen from the exterior, Figure 8(A) shows a cross section taken along line A-A in Figure 5(B), Figure 9(B) shows a cross section taken along line B-B in Figure 5(B), and Figures 9(A) to (C) show perspective and exploded views of the main components used in the acoustic unit 5. Next, the structure of the acoustic unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0042] As shown in Figures 5(A) to (C) and Figures 6(D) to (G), the acoustic unit 5 has a so-called streamlined shape with a pointed front, and is roughly box-shaped with an outer surface portion 51 (housing) and an inner surface portion 52 (housing) that are vertically symmetrical and horizontally long. As shown in Figure 6(D), the outer surface portion 51 is formed with a gently curved surface that bulges toward the approximate center, and a connection cable hole 53 for connecting the connection cable 21 is provided at the rear edge. Also, as shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), an external sound microphone hole 54 is provided at the rear of the outer surface portion 51.

[0043] As shown in Figures 7 and 8(A) and (B), the acoustic unit 5 contains an exciter 7 (a vibration-type sound generator) and an external sound microphone 82 (an external sound microphone) arranged at a predetermined interval in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the direction of travel of the motorcycle. The connection cable 21 is attached via a waterproof cable bushing 55, and the outer surface portion 51 and the inner surface portion 52 are fixed with screws via a thin, rubber-like waterproof packing sheet 56, forming a watertight structure. The acoustic unit 5 also has a skirt portion 57 made of a flexible material such as urethane rubber, and the outer surface of the inner surface portion 52 is fixed to the outer surface of the helmet 1000 via waterproof double-sided adhesive tape 58 for the acoustic unit. Here, the skirt portion 57 has a curved surface that is continuous with the curved surface of the outer surface portion 51, allowing wind hitting the helmet 1000 to flow smoothly backward, and its flexible material does not interfere with the transmission of vibrations from the acoustic unit 5 to the helmet 1000.

[0044] Here, the acoustic unit 5 houses the exciter 7 and the external sound microphone 82 side-by-side in the direction of travel, thereby reducing the area of ​​the helmet 1000 protruding from the left and right sides of its exterior as viewed from the front. Meanwhile, when riding a motorcycle, strong winds blow directly against the helmet 1000. The acoustic unit 5 is attached to the side of the helmet that is most susceptible to the wind, generating sound to cancel out noise while riding. However, if the acoustic unit 5 itself generates loud wind noise, the purpose of noise cancellation becomes questionable. Therefore, as one solution to this problem, the external sound microphone 82 is positioned downwind of the exciter 7, thereby reducing wind resistance and significantly reducing wind noise. The same applies when the exciter 7 is positioned downwind of the external sound microphone 82, and this case is also included in the definition of "approximately fore-aft direction."

[0045] As shown in Figures 7 and 8(A) and (B), an exciter mounting recess 59 for mounting the exciter 7 at a predetermined position is formed on the inner surface of the inner surface portion 52, and the exciter 7 is fixed therein. The external sound microphone hole 54 is sealed from the inside with a waterproof sheet 83 in a watertight manner. The waterproof sheet 83 is a membrane that allows air to pass through but not water, and is used to prevent sound from being muffled while providing waterproofing. The inside of the waterproof sheet 83 is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape, and a windshield foam material 84 for a windscreen and an external sound microphone 82 are fixed thereto. The external sound microphone 81 inside the external sound microphone hole 33 of the audio device main body 3 and the audio microphone 85 housed in the microphone unit 6 both have the same configuration as the external sound microphone 82, and are fixed therein in a watertight manner.

[0046] Here, we will explain the configuration of the exciter 7 used in this acoustic unit 5 using Figures 9(A), (B), and (C). Figure 9(A) is a perspective view of the exciter 7 seen from the front, Figure 9(B) is a perspective view seen from the back, and Figure 9(C) is an exploded view seen from the front.

[0047] As shown in Figures 9(A), (B), and (C), the exciter 7 has a generally rectangular exciter frame 71 with a hollow section in the center. In the center of this hollow section is a cylindrical vibration transmission section 72 that is generally bottomed and has a hole in the bottom, and is held in a vibrating state by four generally S-shaped dampers 73, 73, 73, and 73. The bottom section of one end of the vibration transmission section 72 protrudes outside the hollow section, and exciter surface adhesive tape 74 is affixed to the outer surface of this bottom section. The exciter frame 71, vibration transmission section 72, and dampers 73, 73, 73, 73 are made of a single piece of resin.

[0048] As shown in Figure 9(C), a cylindrically wound coil 75 is fitted onto the cylindrical outer surface of the other end of vibration transmission unit 72 and fixed with an adhesive or the like. Both terminals of coil 75 are connected to terminal plates 76, 76. Like other exciters, exciter 70 has a cylindrical yoke 77 with a bottom and a cylindrical permanent magnet 78 that form a magnetic circuit, and coil 75 is held so as to be located in the gap between the inner surface of the cylindrical part of yoke 77 and the outer surface of permanent magnet 78. When driving power is supplied to coil 75 from terminal plates 76, 76, coil 75 moves back and forth through the gap between yoke 77 and permanent magnet 78, and vibration transmission unit 72, which is held by four dampers 73, 73, 73, 73, is configured to start vibrating.

[0049] 8(A) and 8(B), the exciter 7 is fixed to the exciter mounting recess 59 on the inner surface of the inner surface 52 of the acoustic unit 5, so when the vibration transmitting part 72 vibrates, the vibration is transmitted to the shell 1100 to which the inner surface 52 is fixed. Then, sound is generated indirectly as the shell 1100 of the helmet 1000 vibrates, and the sound is transmitted to the user U.

[0050] Now, how the helmet acoustic device 1 operates will be explained using the circuit block diagram shown in FIG. 10, the audio device main body 3 of the audio device main unit 2 has a main board 9 and a battery 86, etc., and the microphone unit 6 has an audio microphone 85. The main board 9 has a control section 91, and the battery 86 is connected to the control section 91 via a power supply section 92, and the display section 93 and operation section 94 are connected to the control section 91 via their respective interfaces.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 10, the exciters 7, 7 mounted on the two acoustic units 5, 5 are driven by exciter driving units 95, 95 connected to a control unit 91. Furthermore, the external sound microphones 82, 82 are connected to the control unit 91 via external sound microphone signal processing units 96, 96, respectively. The audio microphone 85 and the external volume microphone 81 are connected to the control unit 91 via an audio microphone signal processing unit 97 and an external volume microphone signal processing unit 98, respectively. Furthermore, the control unit 91 is connected to a communication unit 99 (communication unit) and is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal S via the communication unit 99.

[0052] 10, when an external cable (not shown) is connected to the USB connector serving as the connection connector 35, the battery 86 is charged via the power supply unit 92. At this time, an LED (not shown) on the display unit 93 is activated, and the charging indicator 37 lights up in red, and turns off when charging is complete. Furthermore, with the external cable connected to the connection connector 35, it is also possible to perform firmware updates for the control unit 91, etc.

[0053] In Figure 10, when the power button 34, which is one of the operation units 94, is pressed and held, the helmet sound device 1 starts up. Here, when the power is turned on for the first time, it automatically enters pairing mode, an LED (not shown) on the display unit 93 is activated, and the communication indicator 36 flashes red and blue alternately. The communication unit 99 is configured to be connected to the mobile terminal S via Bluetooth (registered trademark) and capable of wireless communication, so if pairing is performed here, the connection will be automatic thereafter. The states of waiting for connection and connected to the mobile terminal S are indicated by different ways of flashing blue on the communication indicator 41. Furthermore, when connected to the mobile terminal S, it is possible to perform firmware updates and make various settings for the helmet sound device 1 using the mobile terminal S.

[0054] 10, the operation unit 94 has an acceleration sensor (not shown), and a tap operation can be performed by tapping the surface of the helmet sound device 1 or the helmet 1000 with the palm of your hand. For example, when a call comes in, one tap can answer the call, and another tap can hang up the call. Also, two taps can launch a voice assistant such as Siri (registered trademark) or Google Assistant (registered trademark).

[0055] 10, the external volume microphone 81 is for the automatic volume adjustment function. That is, once the volume is adjusted by the exciter 7 using the mobile terminal S, the volume will automatically increase as the ambient noise increases and decrease as the ambient noise decreases. Although the external sound volume microphone 81 is provided in this embodiment, the external sound volume may be obtained using external sounds detected by the two external sound microphones 82, 82, so that the external sound volume microphone 81 can be omitted.

[0056] In Figure 10, the audio microphone 85 is for capturing the voice of the user U during a call or the like. Here, as shown in Figure 3, the audio microphone 85 is positioned slightly away from the mouth. The inventors have confirmed that even if the microphone is positioned slightly away from the mouth in this way, it can adequately capture the voice of the user U, as long as the microphone does not have a very high degree of directionality. Of course, the audio microphone 85 may also be positioned near the mouth.

[0057] In Fig. 10, external sound microphones 82, 82 are used to detect noise generated when a motorcycle is traveling. That is, as shown in the graph in Fig. 11 of the aforementioned Patent Document 1, when traveling at high speeds, loud noises are generated, including wind noise components that peak at several hundred Hz, and engine noise, road noise, and exhaust noise components that peak at several kHz. Moreover, when traveling on a highway, for example, this noise continues for a long period of time.

[0058] Therefore, external noise is detected by the external sound microphones 82, 82, and the signal is processed on the main board 9 to generate an acoustic signal with an inverted phase. If music is being played, this is synthesized with the music signal to generate a drive signal. This then drives the exciters 7, 7, respectively, causing the helmet 1000 to vibrate and generate sound, and noise cancellation is performed within the helmet 1000, thereby reducing noise when the motorcycle is being driven.

[0059] Here, the acoustic unit 5 is attached to the side of the exterior of the helmet 1000, and the ambient sound microphone 82 is housed near the internal exciter 7, so that the exciter 7 and the ambient sound microphone 82 are on the same exterior side of the helmet 1000 and are spaced approximately the same distance from the ears. This makes it possible to cancel external noise by inverting the external noise picked up by the ambient sound microphone and causing the exciter 7 to vibrate the helmet 1000 to generate the inverted noise. In other words, noises such as wind noise, engine noise, exhaust noise, and road noise that occur when riding a motorcycle are reduced, allowing the rider to ride the motorcycle comfortably while enjoying clear music.

[0060] Next, frequency characteristics depending on the position where the acoustic unit 5 is attached to the helmet 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in Fig. 11, measurements were taken when the acoustic unit 5 was installed on the helmet 1000 in "A. the case where it was installed on the lower edge" and "B. the case where it was installed on the side of the ear." Fig. 12 shows the measured frequency characteristics for each case. In measuring the frequency characteristics, an ear dummy microphone 2000 was used, which was an ear dummy 2100 made of resin with an auricle and ear canal formed from a mold of an actual human ear, as shown by the hatching in Figure 11, and had a dummy microphone 2200 embedded in it.

[0061] As shown in Figure 12, when placed on the lower edge, deep bass sounds below 100 Hz are produced compared to when placed next to the ears, harsh high-pitched sounds with peaks around 900 Hz and 3500 Hz are reduced, and there is less of a drop in the frequency range around 300 Hz. In other words, since it is possible to produce both low-pitched sounds and high-pitched sounds, the user U can hear sounds that are easy to listen to, and it is also possible to effectively cancel wind noise components that have peaks at several hundred Hz.

[0062] This is because, when the acoustic unit 5 is installed at the lower edge of the helmet 1000, it becomes possible to effectively vibrate the inner surface of the helmet 1000 on the ear side, thereby generating good sound. That is, the inventors discovered that, due to the structure of the helmet 1000, the lower edge of the side of the helmet 1000 is a part that is likely to vibrate the shell 1100 with a large amplitude. When this lower edge is vibrated using the exciter 7, the vibration is transmitted, and the inner surface of the shell 1100 on the ear side vibrates as a diaphragm, generating sound.

[0063] Here, the inner surface of the helmet 1000 on the ear side is a curved surface with a roughly arcuate shape that faces inward, and is structured so that sound tends to converge toward each ear. In addition, the exciter 7 is positioned away from the ear, which has the effect of making it difficult for external sound to be blocked from passing through the helmet 1000, making it easier for the user to hear external sound. In other words, rather than playing a loud sound near the ear, the sound generated by the shell 1100 vibrating due to the transmitted vibrations is actually heard as an enveloping sound, similar to the sound heard using a speaker in a room.

[0064] Furthermore, because the lower edge is a location that is easily vibrated, it is possible to use a small exciter 7 to generate sound, allowing the vibration-type acoustic unit to be made smaller, which is useful for reducing wind noise, etc. In other words, attaching the exciter 7 to the lower edge of shell 1100, which is easily vibrated by the exciter 7, also helps to make the exciter 7 itself smaller.

[0065] For example, in the helmet acoustic device disclosed in Patent Document 1, which was developed by the same applicant as the present invention, the back part of the helmet is vibrated by an exciter, which necessitates the use of a large and powerful exciter. The shell part at the back of the helmet plays an important role in protecting the back of the user's head, so it is constructed to be sturdy and is difficult to vibrate, and therefore a large and powerful exciter is required to vibrate it.

[0066] The exciter used in the helmet audio device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a rated input (continuous power handling) of 2 watts and a maximum input (burst power handling) of less than 4 watts, whereas the exciter 7 used in the present invention has a rated input of 0.5 watts and a maximum input of less than 1 watt.

[0067] This significantly reduces the portion that protrudes from the side of the helmet 1000, which helps to reduce wind noise, and also contributes to longer continuous use time by reducing power consumption. Furthermore, for the same continuous use time, it becomes possible to reduce the size of the battery 86, which in turn makes it possible to reduce the size of the audio device main unit 2.

[0068] An exciter is designed to vibrate a diaphragm to generate sound, so compared to a speaker, it can produce lower frequencies and a higher volume, but it also requires at least enough power to vibrate the diaphragm and generate the desired volume. That is, if an exciter with a rated input of 2 watts is installed on the side of the helmet 1000, it will protrude significantly and cause a lot of wind noise, so a smaller exciter is preferable, but it also needs to have enough power to vibrate the diaphragm of the shell 1100 and produce a sufficient volume. In this case, the rated input of the exciter 7 should be 1 watt or less, half that of a 2 watt exciter, and preferably 0.3 watt or more.

[0069] Although the acoustic unit 5 is attached to the helmet 1000 at the lower edge of the helmet 1000, this does not mean that the acoustic unit 5 is limited to being attached along the lower edge of the helmet 1000. For example, some helmets have a rubber-like material of a certain thickness that covers the lower edge of the helmet in a U-shaped bulge, making it difficult to attach the acoustic unit 5 along the lower edge. In such cases, it has been confirmed that sufficient effectiveness can be achieved even if the acoustic unit 5 is attached above the rubber-like material, avoiding the rubber-like material. In other words, the lower edge of the helmet 1000 refers to the area near the lower edge.

[0070] Here, the noise cancellation of the helmet acoustic device 1 is configured to respond to emergency sounds such as the sirens of emergency vehicles such as police cars and ambulances. How the helmet acoustic device 1 operates to cancel noise, etc. will now be explained using the flowchart in Fig. 13.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 13, in S01, it is determined whether the detected external sound is at or above a predetermined volume. If the external sound is at or above the predetermined volume, the process proceeds to S02, where noise cancellation is activated.

[0072] 13, if an emergency sound among external sounds is at or above a predetermined volume, the process proceeds to S04, where the noise cancellation operation is suspended, and to S05, where, if music is being played, the playback is suspended.Then, in S06, the counter is reset to zero, and the process proceeds to S07, S08, and S09, where the voice guidance "An emergency vehicle is approaching" is repeated three times the first time only.

[0073] In S10 of Fig. 13, it is determined whether the helmet 1000 or the sound device main body 3 has been tapped. That is, if the user U recognizes that an emergency vehicle is traveling in the opposite lane, for example, and taps, the process proceeds to S12. If no tap is performed, the process proceeds to S11. If the emergency sound in the external sound is at or above a predetermined volume, the process returns to S07, where no audio guidance is provided but the current situation is maintained. If the volume of the emergency sound falls below the predetermined volume, the process proceeds to S12. Then, in S12, noise cancellation is activated, and music playback resumes in S13. As described above, the helmet sound device 1 operates.

[0074] Here, if the detected external sound is at or above a predetermined volume, noise cancellation will continue to operate thereafter, but if the external sound falls below the predetermined volume while noise cancellation is in operation, noise cancellation may be configured to stop operation. Furthermore, the determination of whether an emergency sound among external sounds is at or above a predetermined volume may be made by the audio device main body 3, or the audio device main body 3 may communicate with the mobile terminal S and the determination may be made by the mobile terminal S. Making the determination by the mobile terminal S allows for a more thorough and sophisticated determination, while making the determination by the audio device main body 3 without communication allows for a faster determination.

[0075] As described above, the system is configured so that the operation of noise cancellation is interrupted and music playback is paused when an emergency sound is heard, so that the emergency sound is transmitted to the user U without being interfered with by noise cancellation or music playback, allowing the user U to ride the motorcycle more comfortably. Although the noise cancellation function and music playback are interrupted in response to an emergency sound, the system may be configured to interrupt the phase inversion of the portion of the emergency sound that is approximately the frequency range, or to lower the volume of the music playback. This is because, in this case, it is possible to prevent the emergency sound from being impeded from reaching the user U.

[0076] The invention of this embodiment can also be expressed as follows. This is an acoustic device for a helmet that is attached to a motorcycle helmet and used, and has an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration-type acoustic unit that is fixed to the left and right sides of the helmet and vibrates the helmet with the drive signal to generate sound.The acoustic device for a helmet is configured so that the external noise is canceled out by generating sound using a drive signal that is generated by synthesizing an acoustic signal that is an inverted phase of external noise detected by an external sound microphone in the vibration-type acoustic unit with a musical audio signal. With this configuration, external noises such as wind noise that occur while riding a motorcycle are canceled, allowing the motorcycle to be ridden comfortably while enjoying music. [Example]

[0077] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment 2, similar to the embodiment 1, the helmet acoustic device 1 has an acoustic device main unit 2, two acoustic units 5, 5, and a microphone unit 6, and has the same functions. In the following, the same parts as those in the embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

[0078] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing how the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment is attached to the helmet 1000, showing the helmet 1000 turned upside down with the acoustic device main unit 2 and one of the acoustic units 5 partially removed. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an example of how the helmet acoustic device 1 is used. As with the first embodiment, a user U can listen to music or make calls via a mobile terminal S while riding a motorcycle. FIG. 16 shows a side view and a bottom view of the acoustic device main unit 3, plus a view from an oblique angle. FIG. 17(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the CC cross section of the acoustic unit 5 in FIG. 14, and FIG. 17(B) is an exploded perspective view.

[0079] Here, the motorcycle helmet 1000 used in this embodiment is a full-face helmet having a shell 1100, a shield 1200, an impact absorbing liner 1300, etc., similar to the first embodiment. However, since the mounting configuration for the helmet acoustic device 1 is significantly different, this helmet 1000 will be described using Figures 14 and 15.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 14, helmet 1000 of this embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the motorcycle helmet described in Non-Patent Document 2, and is configured to allow the intercom device of Non-Patent Document 1 to be attached. That is, the lower edge of the rear of helmet 1000 bulges slightly toward the back, and a recess facing upward from the bottom is provided on the inner surface thereof to form storage recess 1400 (storage recess). In addition, approximately triangular mounting portions 1500, 1500 (mounting portions) are provided on the lower edge of the left and right sides of the outer surface of helmet 1000. Mounting portion edges 1600, 1600 are provided around mounting portions 1500, 1500, bulging from the outer surface of shell 1100 toward mounting portions 1500, 1500. It should be noted that the helmet of Non-Patent Document 2 has a face cover that can be opened and closed, but the helmet 1000 of this embodiment does not have this function. Also, in Figure 14, the illustration of the connection cable 21 and the like is omitted.

[0081] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment has the same functions as Example 1, but is shaped so that it can be fitted snugly and comfortably to a helmet 1000 having a similar configuration to that of Non-Patent Document 2. That is, as shown in Figure 14, the acoustic device main unit 2 can be attached to a storage recess 1400 on the inner bottom of the rear of the helmet 1000, and acoustic units 5, 5 can be attached to mounting portions 1500, 1500 on the lower edge of the left and right sides of the outer surface. Here, unlike the first embodiment, the audio device main unit 2 does not have the mounting adapter 4 and is composed of only the audio device main unit 3.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 16 , the audio device main body 3 has a watertight audio device main body case 31 made up of a bottom case 47 (bottom portion) that is a bottom portion of a predetermined thickness, and a storage case 48 (storage portion) that protrudes diagonally upward from the bottom case 47. A connection operation unit 32 is formed on the bottom surface of the bottom case 47. Arranged on the connection operation unit 32 from the left side are a power button 34, a communication indicator 36, a charging indicator 37, a connection connector 35, and an external volume microphone hole 33, and an external volume microphone 81 (not shown) is stored watertight inside the external volume microphone hole 33. An engagement unit 38 is formed in the front center of the bottom case 47, and connection cables 21, 21 are configured to be pulled out watertight from the front left and right sides via waterproof packing.

[0083] As shown in Figures 14 and 16, the storage case 48 for the audio device main body 3 is stored inside a storage recess 1400, which has an upward recess on the inside bottom of the rear part of the helmet 1000. The bottom case 47 is configured to have an area larger than the opening of the storage recess 1400, and is attached in a manner that covers it. The storage recess 1400 of the helmet 1000 originally has an engaged portion (not shown) for engaging a Bluetooth module of an intercom device that can be originally attached. When the audio device main body 3 is attached to this storage recess 1400, the engaging portion 38 detachably engages with this engaged portion, and is fixed to the helmet 1000.

[0084] Incidentally, the storage case 48 of the audio device main body 3 stores electrical components such as a battery 86 (not shown). This storage case 48 has a shape resembling an acute triangle with a flattened tip when viewed from the side to match the shape of the interior of the storage recess 1400 of the helmet 1000, but the shape can be modified in various ways as long as it fits into the storage recess 1400. In addition, the bottom case 47 has an area larger than the opening of the storage recess 1400, allowing for the placement of the power button 34, connection connector 35, and connection operation unit 32 having various display units, etc., making it easy for the user U to use.

[0085] That is, the structure of the audio device main body 3 can also be expressed as follows. 1. A helmet acoustic device that is attached to and used on a helmet having a storage recess that is an upward recess on the inside bottom of the rear part of the helmet, the helmet acoustic device comprising: an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal; and an acoustic generator that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a connection cable and generates sound inside the helmet in response to the drive signal, the acoustic device main body having a bottom surface portion of a predetermined thickness that is larger in area than the opening of the storage recess and that covers the opening as a lid, and a storage portion that bulges upward from the top surface of the bottom surface and is stored in the storage recess, the storage portion storing at least a battery for powering the helmet acoustic device, and an operation unit and a display unit are provided on the underside of the bottom surface. By configuring the helmet acoustic device in this way, it is possible to provide a large operating surface, making it easier for the user U to operate.

[0086] 14, 15, and 17(A) and (B), the acoustic units 5, 5 are configured in a triangular box shape having an outer surface 51 and an inner surface 52 that fit the left and right triangular mounting portions 1500, 1500. That is, the left and right acoustic units 5, 5 are formed in a plane-symmetrical shape in order to be attached to the left and right mounting portions 1500, 1500. The outer surface 51 has a curved surface that bulges out approximately in the center, continuing from the mounting portion edges 1600, 1600, and an external sound microphone hole 54 is provided at the rear.

[0087] 17(A) and 17(B), the acoustic unit 5 has an outer surface portion 51 and an inner surface portion 52 which are fixed with screws via a thin rubber waterproof packing sheet 56, and the connection cable 21 is drawn out via waterproof packing (not shown), forming a watertight structure. The acoustic unit 5 is configured such that the outer surface of the inner surface portion 52 is fixed to the mounting portion 1500 via waterproof double-sided adhesive tape 58 for the acoustic unit. Here, the outer surface portion 51 of the acoustic unit 5 has a curved surface that is continuous with the bulging curved surface of the mounting portion edge 1600, so that wind hitting the helmet 1000 is smoothly channeled backward.

[0088] 17(A) and 17(B), the acoustic unit 5 houses the exciter 7 and the external sound microphone 81 located nearby, arranged approximately front to back in the direction of travel of the motorcycle. An exciter mounting recess 59 for mounting the exciter 7 in a predetermined position is formed on the inner surface of the inner surface portion 52, and the exciter 7 is fixed in place. The external sound microphone hole 54 is sealed watertight from the inside with a waterproof sheet 83, the inside of which is formed in an approximately cylindrical shape, and a windshield foam material 84 for the windscreen and the external sound microphone 82 are fixed therein.

[0089] Here, as in the first embodiment, the acoustic unit 5 houses the exciter 7 and the external sound microphone 82 lined up in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the direction of travel, making it possible to reduce the area protruding from the left and right sides of the exterior of the helmet 1000 as viewed from the front. Incidentally, when riding a motorcycle, a strong wind blows directly against the helmet 1000. Even if the acoustic unit 5 is fixed to the side of the helmet that is most susceptible to this wind, the external sound microphone 82 is positioned downwind of the exciter 7, reducing wind resistance and enabling significant reductions in wind noise. The same applies when the exciter 7 is positioned downwind of the external sound microphone 82.

[0090] Furthermore, since the acoustic unit 5 is attached to the side of the exterior of the helmet 1000 and the external sound microphone 82 is housed near the internal exciter 7, the exciter 7 and the external sound microphone 82 are on the same exterior side of the helmet 1000 and are spaced approximately the same distance from the ears. This makes it possible to cancel external noise by inverting the external noise picked up by the external sound microphone and causing the exciter 7 to vibrate the helmet 1000 to generate the inverted noise. In other words, noises such as wind noise, engine noise, exhaust noise, and road noise that occur when riding a motorcycle can be reduced, allowing the rider to ride the motorcycle comfortably while enjoying clear music.

[0091] Furthermore, the mounting portions 1500, 1500 are provided at the lower edge portions of the outer surfaces of the left and right sides of the helmet 1000. In other words, the two exciters 7, 7 are fixed to the lower edge portions of the outer surfaces of the left and right sides of the helmet 1000, respectively, and therefore it is possible to effectively vibrate the inner surfaces of the helmet 1000 on the ear side, thereby generating good sound.

[0092] Here, the lower edge of the side of the helmet 1000 is a part that is likely to vibrate the helmet with a large amplitude, and sound is generated by using the exciter 7 to vibrate the inner surface of each ear side of the helmet 1000 as a diaphragm. Here, the inner surface of the helmet 1000 on the ear side is a curved surface that has a roughly circular arc facing inward, and is configured so that sound tends to gather at each ear. In addition, by placing the exciter 7 at a position slightly away from the ear, it has the effect of making it easier for the user to directly hear external sounds that pass through the helmet 1000. Furthermore, because it is in a place that is likely to vibrate, it is possible to use a small exciter 7, which helps to reduce wind noise.

[0093] As explained above, the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment is configured, so that the acoustic device main body 3 and acoustic units 5, 5, etc. can be attached snugly and comfortably to the helmet 1000 used in this embodiment. In addition, the speaker of the intercom device of Non-Patent Document 1 is no longer necessary, eliminating the inconvenience of the speaker touching the ear, and eliminating the need for its attachment, etc. [Example]

[0094] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the same helmet acoustic device 1 as in embodiment 2 is used, but since the configuration of the helmet 1000 to which it is attached is slightly different, a corresponding arm-equipped microphone unit 61 is used. In the following, the same parts as in embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

[0095] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an example of how the helmet sound device 1 is used. As in Examples 1 and 2, the user U can listen to music and make calls via the mobile terminal S while riding the motorcycle.

[0096] As shown in Fig. 18, the helmet 1000 used in this embodiment is not the full-face type used in embodiments 1 and 2, but is a type called an open-face helmet or jet helmet. An open-face helmet is a helmet that protects the head, ears, and cheeks, and unlike a full-face helmet, does not have a chin section.

[0097] This open-face helmet has an open chin area, so compared to full-face helmets, it does not get stuffy when worn, can be worn with glasses on, and also provides a wider field of vision. Note that some helmets come with a shield to protect against wind, while others do not, and the helmet 1000 of this embodiment has a rotatable shield 1200.

[0098] Here, helmet 1000 of this embodiment, like embodiment 2, has the same mounting configuration as the motorcycle helmet described in Non-Patent Document 2. That is, similar to embodiment 2, helmet 1000 has a storage recess 1400 (not shown) with an upward recess on the inside bottom of the rear part, and has approximately triangular mounting portions 1500, 1500 on the lower edges of the left and right sides of the outer surface.

[0099] In the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, the acoustic device main unit 2 can be attached to the storage recess 1400, and the acoustic units 5, 5 can be attached to the attachment portions 1500, 1500. However, since the helmet 1000 does not have a chin portion, the microphone unit 6 cannot be attached as is. Therefore, the arm-attached microphone unit 61 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0100] 18, the armed microphone unit 61 has a microphone unit 6 and an audio microphone arm 62. The armed microphone unit 61 used here is the microphone unit 6 itself from Examples 1 and 2 attached and fixed to one end of the audio microphone arm 62. That is, one end of the audio microphone arm 62 is formed in a substantially flat shape with a substantially rounded outer shape, and is configured so that the microphone unit 6 can be fixed to the back surface thereof. Then, via a step toward the inner surface, the other end of the audio microphone arm 62 is formed in a thin, substantially flat, substantially rectangular shape, and is formed in a curved surface that describes a substantially spherical shape that fits along the inner surface of the helmet 1000 to which it is attached.

[0101] Here, a detachable cheek pad (not shown) is provided on the cheek portion of the inner surface of the helmet 1000. By removing this cheek pad and fastening the outer surface of the other end of the audio microphone arm 62 to the inner surface of the helmet 1000 with hook-and-loop fastener, double-sided adhesive tape, or the like, the armed microphone unit 61 can be fixed to the helmet 1000. The other end of the audio microphone arm 62 is formed in a thin, approximately flat plate shape, and the attachment process is completed by attaching the removed cheek pad to its original position on the inner surface of the helmet 1000.

[0102] Although the helmet 1000 of this embodiment has been described as an open-face type, it also corresponds to the helmet described in Non-Patent Document 2, which has a face cover that can be opened and closed. That is, in a helmet with a face cover that can be opened and closed, the chin section moves together with the face cover, so the microphone unit 6 cannot be attached as is. Therefore, by using the audio microphone arm 62 of this embodiment, the arm-equipped microphone unit 61 can be attached to the helmet in the same way as the open-face type helmet 1000 of this embodiment. [Example]

[0103] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 19(A) and 19(B). This fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the helmet audio device 1 of the second embodiment, but the audio device main body 3 of the audio device main unit 2 is partially modified to make charging easier. In the following, the same parts as those of the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, with only the different parts being explained.

[0104] Here, the helmet audio device 1, which allows the user to listen to sound while wearing the helmet 1000, first needs to be charged in order to function. While charging is possible by connecting an external cable to the audio device main body 3 alone, this requires the device to be detached from the helmet 1000 each time. Allowing charging to be performed while the audio device main body 3 is attached to the helmet 1000 simplifies handling and is convenient. However, as will be described in detail in the following Example 5, various inconveniences arise when attempting to charge the audio device 1 using a power supply cable to the connector 35, which is disposed on the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 and faces downward. Therefore, this example shows a configuration that allows charging the helmet audio device 1 simply and stably while attached to the helmet 1000, without using a power supply cable.

[0105] Fig. 19(A) shows a perspective view of the acoustic device main body 3 of the acoustic device main body unit 2 as seen from the bottom, and Fig. 19(B) shows a bottom view of the acoustic device main body 3. As shown in Figs. 19(A) and 19(B), the acoustic device main body 3 of this embodiment has an external shape that is almost the same as that of embodiment 2, and has a bottom case 47 of a predetermined thickness and a storage case 48 that protrudes obliquely upward from the bottom case 47, but the configuration of the connection operation unit 32 of the bottom case 47 and the like is different. Here, the audio device main unit 2 does not have the mounting adapter 4, as in the second embodiment, and is composed of only the audio device main unit 3.

[0106] 19(A) and 19(B), the connection operation unit 32 on the underside of the audio device main body 3 has a flat central portion with a predetermined area that bulges downward. A power button 34, a communication indicator 36, and an external volume microphone hole 33 are located near the left end, and a connection connector 35 and a charging indicator 37 are located near the right end. A power receiving coil 87 for a wireless charging system is located on the inner surface of the bulging flat portion of the connection operation unit 32, forming a charging bulge 49, which enables wireless charging of a battery 86 stored in the audio device main body 3.

[0107] With this configuration, bottom case 47 of audio device main body 3 is located at the bottom of helmet 1000 and protrudes downward, so that charging is possible simply by placing audio device main body 3 attached to helmet 1000 on a power supply device such as a charging pad. That is, the reason why the central portion of connection operation unit 32 is made flat with a predetermined area is so that the magnetic field of the power supply coil of the power supply device is received by power receiving coil 87 by electromagnetic induction, enabling smooth wireless charging. Of course, to align power receiving coil 87 and the power supply coil of the power supply device, magnets that attract each other may be placed on each coil, or appropriate irregularities or the like that engage with each other may be provided.

[0108] Furthermore, it is desirable that this wireless charging system conform to the Qi (registered trademark) standard defined by the Wireless Power Consortium. This is because it is possible to use power feeders and power receiving coils that are already commercially available. In order to attach the power receiving coil, it is necessary to provide a power receiving unit with a predetermined area that is approximately parallel to the placement surface. This is made possible by the audio device main body 3 of this embodiment, which is provided with not only the storage case 48 but also the bottom case 47.

[0109] That is, the structure of the audio device main body 3 of this embodiment can also be expressed as follows. An acoustic device for a helmet that is attached to and used on a helmet that has a storage recess that is an upward recess on the inside bottom of the rear of the helmet, the acoustic device for a helmet having an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and an acoustic generator that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a connection cable and generates sound inside the helmet in response to the drive signal, the acoustic device main body having a bottom surface portion of a predetermined thickness that is larger in area than the opening of the storage recess and is shaped to cover the opening as a lid, and a bulge portion that bulges upward from the top of the bottom surface and is stored in the storage recess, and the bottom surface is provided with a receiving coil for wireless charging. By configuring the helmet audio device in this manner, it is possible to position the receiving coil in the bottom case 47 approximately parallel to the placement surface, and it is also possible to charge the helmet in a stable position without having to turn it upside down.

[0110] Here, the formation of the charging bulge portion 49 by making a flat surface of a predetermined area bulge downward from the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 will be described. Generally, when a mobile terminal such as a smartphone with a built-in power receiving coil is charged using a power supply, the entire mobile terminal is placed on the top surface of the power supply, so that there is no gap between the two and charging is efficient. On the other hand, in the case of the helmet audio device 1, the audio device main body 3 is attached to the bottom of the rear of the helmet 1000, and charging is performed by inserting a power supply having a predetermined thickness into the bottom of the rear of the helmet 1000. In other words, the helmet 1000 with the audio device main body 3 attached is placed and charged with the front of the helmet 1000 abutting on the placement surface and the rear raised by the amount of the power supply.

[0111] As mentioned above, helmets 1000 come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including full-face and open-face styles, and power supply units also come in a variety of thicknesses. In this case, when helmet 1000 is placed for charging, the way in which the rear of helmet 1000 is lifted by the power supply unit or the like varies. As a result, when helmet 1000 is placed for charging, there is a possibility that the bottom surface of audio device main body 3 may be slightly tilted relative to the top surface of the power supply unit. This tilt creates a gap, reducing charging efficiency.

[0112] As shown in Figures 19(A) and 19(B), in this embodiment, the charging bulge 49 bulges downward from the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 and is shorter in the front-to-back direction than in the left-to-right direction. A flat power receiving coil 87 with a generally rounded rectangular shape and elongated left-to-right direction is provided on the inner surface of the charging bulge 49 so that it is completely covered by the inner surface of the charging bulge 49. If the audio device main body 3 is tilted when placed on the top surface of the power supply device, the front or rear end of the charging bulge 49 will abut, and the other end will rise by the amount of the tilt, creating a gap. This gap would increase if the width between the front and rear ends were larger, but in this embodiment, the front-to-back width of the charging bulge 49 is configured to be short, so the resulting gap is small. Therefore, even if the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 and the top surface of the power supply device are tilted, the gap is small and the impact on charging efficiency is minimized.

[0113] That is, the structure of the audio device main body 3 of this embodiment can also be expressed as follows. An acoustic device for a helmet that is attached to and used on a helmet that has an upward recessed storage recess on the inside bottom of the rear of the helmet, the acoustic device for a helmet having an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and an acoustic generator that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a connection cable and generates sound within the helmet in response to the drive signal, the acoustic device main body is configured so that at least a portion of it is stored and attached in the storage recess, the acoustic device main body has a receiving coil that supplies power wirelessly for charging a battery within the acoustic device main body, the receiving coil is formed downward and is configured so that its front-to-back width is shorter than its width, and the receiving coil is stored in a housing that covers the receiving coil and is configured so that its front-to-back width is shorter than its width, and the helmet acoustic device is configured so that it protrudes downward from the storage recess. By configuring the helmet audio device in this manner, even if there is an inclination between the underside of the audio device body and the upper surface of the power supply, the gap is small and the impact on charging efficiency is minimal.

[0114] Although the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment is described as using an exciter 7 for the acoustic unit 5, it is of course also applicable to helmet acoustic devices that use speakers. This is because the present invention can be used similarly conveniently with helmet acoustic devices or helmet intercom devices that use speakers located inside the helmet near the ears.

[0115] Furthermore, for example, two recesses may be provided near the left and right ends of the charging bulge 49 at the center of the front-to-rear width of the power receiving coil 87, and two protrusions corresponding to these recesses may be provided on the left and right sides of the center of the front-to-rear width of the power feeding coil on the top surface of the power feeder. If the recesses and protrusions are configured to fit together loosely, the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 and the top surface of the power feeder can be tilted, and the power receiving coil 87 and the power feeding coil can also be positioned. The same applies if the recesses and protrusions are reversed. In any case, this effect can be achieved by fitting the power receiving coil 87 and the power feeding coil so that they can swing back and forth approximately around the center.

[0116] Furthermore, for example, the height of the mounting legs of the power supply unit may be adjusted to adjust the angle between the top surface of the power supply unit and the mounting surface, bottom case 47 may be made rotatable in the front-to-back direction relative to storage case 48, or a power supply unit dedicated to that helmet may be prepared. In this case, since it is possible to prevent inclination between the bottom surface of audio device main body 3 and the top surface of the power supply unit, the entire surface of charging bulge 49 can be closely attached to the top surface of the power supply unit. With this configuration, charging can be performed without a decrease in charging efficiency even if charging bulge 49 does not bulge out from the bottom surface of audio device main body 3 but is flush with it.

[0117] Furthermore, in addition to the power receiving coil 87, the audio device main body 3 of this embodiment is also provided with a connection connector 35, which allows firmware updates and the like to be performed via the connection connector 35, as well as enabling so-called top-up charging, etc. In other words, when touring on a motorcycle, for example, it is possible to charge the device using a mobile battery or the like, for example, during lunch time.

[0118] Furthermore, the connection connector 35 may be removed from the audio device main body 3, and charging may be performed only via the power receiving coil 87. Removing the connection connector 35 makes it possible to reduce costs and make the device more compact, and also, as mentioned above, firmware updates and the like can be performed by having the audio device main body 3 and the portable terminal S communicate with each other. [Example]

[0119] A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 20(A) and 20(B). In this embodiment 5, the same helmet acoustic device 1 as in embodiment 1 is used, but since the configuration of the helmet 1000 to which it is attached is different, an acoustic device main body 3 of an acoustic device main unit 2 corresponding to this is used. It is also configured to make charging easier. In the following, the same parts as in embodiments 1 to 4 are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

[0120] As explained in the fourth embodiment, handling is simplified and convenient if charging is performed while the acoustic device main body 3 is attached to the helmet 1000. Therefore, this embodiment shows acoustic device main bodies 3 that are compatible with helmets 1000 of different configurations, and also shows a configuration that allows charging in a simple and stable state while the helmet acoustic device 1 is attached to the helmet 1000.

[0121] Figures 20(A) and (B) show an example of use of the helmet acoustic device 1 of this embodiment, where Figure 20(A) shows a portion of an oblique view from below the back of the helmet 1000 with the acoustic device main body 3 of the acoustic device main unit 2 attached, and Figure 20(B) shows a portion of a rear view. Here, similar to the second embodiment, the audio device main unit 2 does not have the mounting adapter 4, and is composed only of the audio device main unit 3. Also, the connection cable 21 and the like are not shown.

[0122] 20(A) and 20(B), the helmet 1000 of this embodiment has a storage recess 1400 similar to that shown in embodiment 2, but its configuration is different. In the helmet 1000 of embodiment 2, the lower edge of the rear part bulges out slightly toward the back side, and a recess facing upward from the bottom is provided on the inner surface of this to form the storage recess 1400, but in the helmet 1000 of this embodiment, a substantially rectangular storage recess 1400 of a predetermined thickness is provided on the back side. This makes it possible to store the storage case 48 of the sound device main body 3, which has a substantially rectangular plate shape, in the storage recess 1400. The helmet 1000 of this embodiment is of a full-face type or an open-face type.

[0123] Incidentally, the safety performance of helmets for riding motorcycles, etc. is regulated by JIS T8133. This regulation requires the helmet to have impact absorption performance from the upper front to the upper rear, and requires that impact tests be conducted. In the helmet 1000 of this embodiment, the rear side of the impact absorbing liner 1300 is partially thinned to provide a storage recess 1400 in the lower rear portion outside the area where impact testing is performed, within a range where safety can be ensured. In other words, the storage recess 1400 is located between the inner surface of the shell 1100 and the impact absorbing liner 1300. For this reason, the portions near the left and right ends on the rear side of the storage case 48 of the audio device main body 3 are made slightly thinner to fit the curved surface of the inner surface of the shell 1100. Of course, the entire rear side of the helmet 1000 may be bulged out toward the rear side to provide the storage recess 1400, thereby making the impact absorbing liner 1300 thick enough.

[0124] As shown in Figures 20(A) and 20(B), the audio device main body 3 of this embodiment has a watertight audio device main body case 31 composed of a bottom case 47 and a storage case 48. That is, the audio device main body case 31 is composed of the bottom case 47, which is a bottom portion of a predetermined thickness having a generally bow-shaped arcuate surface that bulges downward at the center in the left-right direction, and the storage case 48, which is a generally rectangular plate-like surface that protrudes upward from the bottom case 47. The generally bow-shaped arcuate surface forms the connection operation unit 32, which is provided, from right to left, with a communication indicator 36, a power button 34, a charging indicator 37, and an external volume microphone hole 33. In addition, mounting legs 40, 40 are formed on the left and right near the lower end of the connection operation unit 32, and a connection connector 35 is provided approximately in the center of the back side of the bottom case 47.

[0125] 20(A) and 20(B), the bottom case 47 of the acoustic device main body 3 is configured to bulge further downward from the lower edge of the helmet 1000 when viewed from the back. Therefore, the connection connector 35 provided on the back side of the bottom case 47 can be connected by inserting a connection plug P of an external cable from the back side of the helmet 1000.

[0126] In the first to fourth embodiments, the connector 35 is located on the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 and faces the bottom. This means that when connecting the connection plug P of the external cable to the connector 35 while the audio device main body 3 is attached to the helmet 1000, it is necessary to turn the helmet 1000 upside down. However, there is a problem with charging in this state, which requires a certain amount of time.

[0127] Here, the outer surface of helmet 1000 is roughly spherical, and it is extremely unstable when turned upside down, so if you let go of it in this state to charge it for a predetermined time, it will roll away. If it rolls off a table or the like and falls onto the floor, helmet 1000 will receive an impact, reducing its shock absorption.

[0128] Furthermore, the motorcycle helmet 1000 is expensive, but the paint on the exterior surface can be scratched or peeled off due to the impact of being dropped, etc. Even when the helmet 1000 is placed on its side, it becomes unstable, just like when it is upside down. For example, if you prepare something like a donut-shaped cushion, it will be possible to place it upside down, but it will not be stable and will easily roll over if it is subjected to a slight impact.

[0129] As expected, it is most stable to place the helmet 1000 as it is, without turning it upside down. However, in the cases of Examples 1 to 4, the connection connector 35 is disposed at the bottom of the helmet 1000, facing the bottom, and therefore when the connection plug P is inserted, the connection plug P protrudes downward from the bottom of the helmet 1000. If the helmet 1000 is placed bottom-down in this state, the gravity of the helmet 1000 will act on the connection plug P. This may cause the external cable connected to the connection plug P to break, and may also cause the connection connector 35 of the audio device main body 3 to break if some force is applied to the helmet 1000.

[0130] One of the purposes of this embodiment is to prevent external force from being applied to the inserted connection plug P even when the bottom of the helmet 1000 is placed on the bottom. 20(A) and 20(B), in this embodiment, the connection connector 35 is located further below the lower edge of the helmet 1000, and is provided on the rear side of the bottom case 47 so as to face the rear side. When the connection plug P is inserted into the connection connector 35, the connection connector 35 is configured to be located so that the connection plug P is spaced apart from the lower edge of the shell 1100 of the helmet 1000 and the surface on which it is placed. With the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent external forces from being applied to the connection plug P when the helmet 1000 is placed.

[0131] Here, in this embodiment, the connection plug P is configured to be inserted into the connection connector 35 from the rear side, but this is not limiting. For example, the connection connector 35 may be configured to face forward, and the connection connector 35 may be positioned so that, when the connection plug P is inserted, it is spaced apart from the lower edge of the impact absorbing liner 1300, etc. of the helmet 1000, and from the placement surface. Even with this configuration, it is possible to achieve a configuration in which external force, etc. is not applied to the connection plug P when the helmet 1000 is placed with its bottom facing down. The same applies if the connector 35 is oriented left or right, or obliquely.

[0132] In other words, the connection connector 35 is configured to face approximately horizontally (approximately parallel) to the mounting surface rather than downward toward the mounting surface, and the connection plug P is configured to be positioned away from both the lower edge of the helmet 1000 and the mounting surface. By configuring it in this manner, when the connection plug P is inserted into the connection connector 35, no external force is applied to the connection plug P, and the helmet 1000 can be placed in a stable state without changing its upside down position. Furthermore, since the bottom surface of the connector 35 has mounting legs 40, 40, the helmet 1000 can be mounted in a more stable state.

[0133] Here, the structure of the audio device main body 3 of this embodiment can also be expressed as follows. An acoustic device for a helmet that is attached to and used in a helmet that has an upward recessed storage recess on the inside bottom of the rear of the helmet, the acoustic device for a helmet having an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and an acoustic generator that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a connection cable and generates sound within the helmet in response to the drive signal, the acoustic device main body being configured so that at least a portion of it is stored in the storage recess, and a connection connector that supplies power for charging the battery within the acoustic device main body protrudes from the lower edge of the helmet and is configured so as to face approximately horizontally. By positioning the connection connector in this way, it is possible to charge the helmet while it is placed in a stable position with the connection plug inserted, without having to turn the helmet upside down.

[0134] And you can add: This is an acoustic device for a helmet, characterized in that when the helmet is placed with the connection plug of the power supply cable inserted into the connection connector, the connection plug is held so as not to abut against the lower edge of the helmet or the surface on which the helmet is placed. This configuration prevents force from being applied to the connection plug when the helmet is placed on it, and prevents the power supply cable from being broken or the connection connector from being damaged.

[0135] In this embodiment, a vibration-type sound generator is used as the sound generator for the "sound generator that generates sound inside the helmet in response to a drive signal," but the invention is not limited to this and, of course, a speaker may also be used as the sound generator. This is because a similar effect can be achieved with a helmet sound device that uses a speaker located inside the helmet near the ear as the sound generator. In other words, the helmet can be placed stably with the power supply cable connection plug inserted.

[0136] In this embodiment, the mounting legs 40, 40 are provided on the left and right near the center of the lower end of the bottom surface of the acoustic device main body 3, but they may be provided near the left and right ends of the bottom surface and configured to protrude for mounting. If the spacing between the mounting legs 40, 40 is increased, the helmet 1000 can be mounted in a more stable state.

[0137] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom case 47 of the audio device main body 3 is configured to bulge downward, but it is also possible to configure it so that only the connection connector 35 and the mounting legs 40, 40 bulge downward, rather than the entire bottom case 47. This is because if the connection connector 35 protrudes from the lower edge of the helmet 1000 and faces laterally, charging, etc., can be performed with the helmet 1000 in a stable state. In this case, the bottom case 47 may be omitted, and the connector 35 and the mounting legs 40, 40 may be configured to bulge downward directly from the storage case 48. In this case, for example, the width of the lower portion of the connector 35 may be increased so that the connector 35 and the mounting legs 40, 40 are integrally formed.

[0138] Furthermore, the lower edge of the shell 1100 or the impact absorbing liner 1300 of the helmet 1000 may be slightly scraped upward to form an arc-shaped recess in the portion corresponding to the connection connector 35. The upward recess raises the position of the lower edge of the helmet 1000 corresponding to the connection connector 35 upward, so that the position of the connection connector 35 can be raised upward while separating this lower edge from the connection plug P. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of downward protrusion of the connection connector 35 from the helmet 1000.

[0139] Furthermore, in Examples 1 to 4, similarly to this embodiment, the connection connector 35 may be configured to protrude from the lower edge of the helmet 1000 and face laterally. Furthermore, when the helmet is placed with the power supply cable connection plug inserted into the connection connector, the connection plug may be held so as not to abut against the lower edge of the helmet or the surface on which the helmet is placed. By adopting the configuration of this embodiment in this way, it is possible to prevent force from being applied to the connection plug, prevent the power supply cable from being disconnected, and prevent the connection connector from being damaged, and enable charging with the helmet 1000 in a stable state with the bottom facing down.

[0140] The helmet acoustic device of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the acoustic units 5, 5 and the microphone unit 6 are configured to be connected to the acoustic device main unit 2 by connection cables 21, 21, 21 via waterproof connectors 22, 22, 22, respectively, but this is not limitative.

[0141] That is, the connection cables 21, 21, 21 may be combined into one connector and connected to the sound device main unit 2. Of course, a connector or contact may also be provided at the back of the storage recess 1400, so that connection or contact can be made simply by inserting the sound device main unit 2 into the storage recess 1400. With this configuration, it becomes even easier to remove the sound device main unit 2 from the helmet 1000 and charge it separately.

[0142] Furthermore, although the user U has been described as making a call via the portable terminal S, this is not limited to this. For example, the intercom device of Non-Patent Document 1 allows intercom conversations between the same intercom devices, but a similar configuration may be used to provide the audio device main unit 2 with an intercom conversation function. With this configuration, direct communication between helmet audio devices 1 is possible without going through the portable terminal S.

[0143] In other words, in the explanation so far, the device attached to the helmet has been referred to as a helmet audio device, but of course it can also be expressed as a helmet intercom device, etc. Here, the helmet audio device of this invention refers to a device that allows you to hear sounds while wearing a motorcycle helmet, and includes helmet intercom devices, etc.

[0144] Furthermore, the motorcycle helmet compatible with the present invention is not limited to the helmet described in the above embodiment. For example, a standard called "Universal Communication Solutions" is currently being proposed, which calls for providing an upward recessed storage recess in the bottom rear part of the helmet to store a motorcycle intercom, and it goes without saying that the helmet may be configured to conform to this standard.

[0145] In other words, it is of course possible to configure the acoustic device main body 3 of the acoustic device main unit 2 so that its outer shape fits into this storage recess, and to attach the acoustic units 5, 5 as shown in Example 1 to the helmet. Here, as mentioned above, the acoustic device main body 3 may be configured to have a bottom surface portion of a predetermined thickness that covers and caps the opening of the storage recess, and a storage portion that bulges upward from the top surface of the bottom surface and is stored in the storage recess.

[0146] By configuring the audio device main body 3 in this manner, the bottom surface is formed wider than the lower end surface of the storage section, and the storage section stores at least a battery for driving the helmet audio device. An operating section, a display section, and a connection connector can be provided on the underside of the storage section, which increases the operating surface and makes it easier for the user U to operate.

[0147] Furthermore, if the bottom surface is configured to be wider than the lower end surface of the storage section, it becomes possible to install a power receiving coil on the bottom surface, enabling wireless charging using a power supply such as a charging pad. Also, charging becomes possible simply by placing the helmet without turning it upside down, and charging can be done with the helmet placed in a stable position.

[0148] The audio device body may also have a connector for supplying power, the connector protruding from the lower edge of the helmet and facing approximately horizontally to the surface on which the helmet is placed. With the plug inserted, the helmet can be charged while being placed stably without turning it upside down.

[0149] Alternatively, the power receiving coil may be configured to protrude downward from the lower end face of the storage section, with the front-to-back width being shorter than the width of the power receiving coil, and the power receiving coil may be configured to be stored in a housing of the audio device main body 3 that is also shorter in the front-to-back width than the width. By doing so, even if there is an inclination between the bottom surface of the audio device main body and the top surface of the power supply device, the gap can be made small and the impact on charging efficiency can be minimized. When helmets of various shapes and sizes conforming to this standard are produced, this configuration will be effectively used when wirelessly supplying power to helmet audio devices corresponding to these helmets.

[0150] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the detailed features and the like explained in detail in the above-mentioned Examples 1 to 5 may be applied to a helmet conforming to this standard, as this would make it even more convenient to use.

[0151] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the helmet sound device has been described as being for use on a motorcycle, but this is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that it may also be used for, for example, four-wheeled automobile racing, boat racing, etc.

[0152] For example, if a helmet-mounted audio device of the present invention is attached to a foam material molded into the shape of a helmet, spatial audio using technologies such as Dolby Atmos (registered trademark) can be reproduced, resulting in an audio device with excellent three-dimensional positioning. This can be used for watching movies or listening to music with noise cancellation, and is also convenient for gaming. In other words, it allows players to gain an advantage in the game by communicating with distant players through a microphone while keeping track of the situation, such as the footsteps of opponents and the location of teammates, through sound. [Explanation of symbols]

[0153] U user S mobile device P connection plug 1. Helmet sound device 2. Sound device main unit 21 Connection cable 22 Waterproof connector 3. Sound equipment body 31 Sound equipment case 32 Connection operation section 33 External volume microphone hole 34 Power button 35 Connection connector 36 Communication Display 37 Charging display 38 Engagement part 39 Engagement protrusion 4 Mounting adapter 41 engaged portion 42 Engaged convex part 43 Engagement lock 44 Cable cutout 45 Helmet mounting surface 46 Double-sided adhesive tape for mounting adapter 47 Bottom case 48 Storage case 49 Power receiving bulge 40 Standing feet 5 sound units 51 External part 52 inner surface 53 Connection cable hole 54 External sound microphone hole 55 Waterproof cable bushing 56 Waterproof packing sheet 57 Skirt Club 58 Double-sided adhesive tape for sound units 59 Exciter mounting recess 6 microphone units 61 Arm-mounted microphone unit 62 Audio microphone arm 7. Exciter 71 Exciter Frame 72 Vibration transmission unit 73 Damper 74 Double-sided adhesive tape for exciter 75 coils 76 Terminal board 77 York 78 Permanent Magnets 81 External volume microphone 82 External sound microphone 83 Tarpaulin 84 Windshield foam 85 Audio microphone 86 Battery 87 Receiving coil 9 Main board 91 Control Section 92 Power supply section 93 Display section 94 Operation section 95 Exciter drive unit 96 External sound microphone signal processing section 97 Audio microphone signal processing section 98 External volume microphone signal processing section 99 Communications Department 1000 helmets 1100 shells 1200 Shield 1300 Impact absorbing liner 1400 Storage recess 1500 Mounting part 1600 Mounting edge 2000 Ear Dummy Microphone 2100 Ear Dummy 2200 Dummy Microphone

Claims

1. A helmet sound device attached to a motorcycle helmet, The helmet acoustic device includes an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and an acoustic generating unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a connection cable and generates sound within the helmet in response to the drive signal, The helmet has an upward recessed storage recess at the inner bottom of the rear portion, At least a part of the housing of the acoustic device main body is stored in the storage recess so that the acoustic device can be attached to the helmet, The housing of the sound device main body has a connection connector that supplies power for charging the battery in the sound device main body, and the connection connector protrudes from the lower edge of the helmet and is configured so that the connection connector faces substantially horizontally with respect to the placement surface when the helmet is placed with its bottom facing downwards.

1. A helmet acoustic device comprising:

2. When a straight-type connection plug is inserted into the connection connector, the connection plug is spaced apart from the lower edge of the helmet and the placement surface.

2. The acoustic device for a helmet according to claim 1.

3. The bottom end of the bottom surface of the acoustic device body has a mounting foot for placing the helmet on the mounting surface.

3. The acoustic device for a helmet according to claim 2.

4. The connector is configured to face the rear, and the connection plug can be inserted from the rear side for connection.

4. The helmet acoustic device according to claim 3.

5. The housing of the acoustic device main body has a watertight structure and is composed of a bottom case, which is a bottom portion of a predetermined thickness having a substantially bow-shaped arc surface with a central portion in the left-right direction bulging downward, and a storage case in the form of a substantially rectangular plate protruding upward from the bottom case, The mounting legs are formed on the left and right sides of the substantially arch-shaped arc surface near the lower end thereof, The connection connector is provided on the rear side of the bottom case.

5. The helmet acoustic device according to claim 4.

6. the sound generating unit is an acoustic unit using a vibration type sound generator, The drive signal causes the vibration-type sound generator to generate vibrations, which in turn vibrate the helmet, thereby generating sound.

6. The acoustic device for a helmet according to claim 1.

7. The sound generating unit is a speaker provided in the helmet near the ears.

6. The acoustic device for a helmet according to claim 1.

Images