Helmet with acoustic device, combination of helmet and acoustic device mounted on said helmet, and combination of helmet and vibration type acoustic unit used in the acoustic device mounted on said helmet

Abstract

To provide a vibration type acoustic unit attached to a helmet that makes it easy to hear sound from outside and provide a good sound quality with a small and simple structure, an acoustic device using the same, and a helmet with the acoustic device.SOLUTION: There is provided a vibration type acoustic unit that is attached to a helmet and generates sound, an acoustic device using the same, and a helmet mounted with the acoustic device. The acoustic device has an acoustic device main body and a vibration type acoustic unit. The helmet has a cap body and a shock absorbing liner on its inner surface. The vibration type acoustic unit has a flat housing and an exciter. The vibration type acoustic unit is fixed to an inner surface of the shock absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the shock absorbing liner to vibrate the shock absorbing liner and the cap body, thereby generating sound. With this configuration, it becomes easy to hear sound from outside, and it is possible to obtain a good sound quality with a small and simple structure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention Helmet with acoustic device, combination of helmet and acoustic device mounted on helmet, and combination of helmet and vibration type acoustic unit used in the acoustic device mounted on helmet More specifically, the present invention relates to a helmet-mounted device that generates sound. Helmet with acoustic device, combination of helmet and acoustic device mounted on helmet, and combination of helmet and vibration type acoustic unit used in the acoustic device mounted on helmet Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for devices that allow users to enjoy music or make calls while wearing a helmet.

[0003] One such device is a helmet headset disclosed in Patent Document 1. This device is attached to the inside of a helmet and has a microphone and two speakers installed in the headset body, and a jog dial is provided on the headset body. These two speakers are attached to the inside surface of the helmet with double-sided tape or the like so that they are located at both ears of the user when the user is wearing the helmet. The headset body is configured to be connected to an external device via Bluetooth (registered trademark) for wireless communication, allowing the user to make hands-free calls and listen to music.

[0004] Another such device is a vibration type sound generator disclosed in Patent Document 2. This device can be used as a full-range speaker even when mounted on a helmet, and includes a driver unit and a case to house it in. The driver unit includes a magnetic circuit including a yoke and a permanent magnet, and a voice coil formed in a magnetic space formed in the magnetic circuit.

[0005] The yoke side case and the voice coil side case are divided by an elastic member into an area where the magnetic circuit or the voice coil contacts and an area outside the area. When the voice coil side surface is attached to the lower center of the back of the helmet or to the lower sides of both sides of the helmet using a bracket, vibrations are transmitted to the helmet and sound is reproduced. In this way, a vibration type sound generator that can be used as a substitute for a full-range speaker by improving sound pressure by making it difficult to suppress vibrations is provided. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5390569 [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-258955 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the speakers are installed so as to be located at both ears of the user, which makes it difficult to hear sounds from the outside. In other words, from the viewpoint of safety and the like, it is necessary to be able to hear sounds from the outside in a helmet equipped with an audio device, but there is an inconvenience that the sound from the speakers close to the ears makes it difficult to hear the outside sounds. In addition, since the speakers are installed inside the helmet, small ones are used as the speakers, which causes an inconvenience that the sound quality obtained is only so-so.

[0008] In addition, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, since the vibration type sound generator is attached to the outer surface of the helmet, it is necessary to vibrate the helmet greatly, which requires the use of a driver unit with a large output, resulting in the inconvenience of a large device size. Also, since the yoke side case and the voice coil side case are divided by an elastic member into the area where the magnetic circuit or voice coil contacts and the area outside of that, there is the inconvenience of the case structure becoming complicated, such as forming the case by a two-color molding method.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an audio device for a helmet which makes it easy to hear external sounds and which has a small, simple structure and provides good sound quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

[0011] The present invention relates to a helmet equipped with an acoustic device. The acoustic device has an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and operates in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, and the helmet has a shell made of reinforced resin material and an impact absorbing liner made of impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, and the vibration type acoustic unit has a flat, sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface, and the vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that the outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the shell to vibrate and generate sound.

[0012] The vibration type acoustic unit is also characterized by having a passive radiator that is fixed facing the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover an opening provided in the second main surface.

[0013] The second main surface is also characterized in that it has a protrusion around the passive radiator for protecting the passive radiator.

[0014] The audio device has a microphone that can capture the user's voice, and the audio device body is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the mobile terminal, so that the user can sound equipment The device is characterized in that it is configured to enable calls using the

[0015] The vibration type acoustic unit is characterized in that it is configured so that one is placed behind each of the user's ears when the user is wearing the helmet with the acoustic device.

[0016] The shock absorbing material is made of expanded polystyrene.

[0017] The sound device body is characterized in that it is provided on the outer front surface, inner front surface, outer rear surface or inner rear surface of the helmet.

[0018] Helmet and Helmet-mounted audio device combination The acoustic device has an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and operates in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, the helmet has a shell made of reinforced resin material, and an impact absorbing liner made of impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, the vibration type acoustic unit has a flat, sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface, the vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that the outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the shell to vibrate and generate sound.

[0019] The vibration type acoustic unit is also characterized by having a passive radiator that is fixed facing the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover an opening provided in the second main surface.

[0020] Also, Helmet and Vibration type acoustic unit for use in a helmet-mounted acoustic device In combination with The acoustic device has an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and operates in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, and the helmet has a shell made of reinforced resin material and an impact absorbing liner made of impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, and the vibration type acoustic unit has a flat, sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface, and the vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that the outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the shell to vibrate and generate sound.

[0021] The vibration type acoustic unit is characterized by having a passive radiator fixed facing the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover an opening provided in the second main surface. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, since it has the above-mentioned characteristics, it is possible to achieve the following.

[0023] A helmet with an acoustic device attached to the helmet, the acoustic device having an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and operates in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, the helmet having a shell made of reinforced resin material and an impact absorbing liner made of impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, the vibration type acoustic unit having a flat, sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface, the vibration type acoustic unit being configured such that the outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the shell to vibrate and generate sound, so that external sounds are easy to hear, and a helmet acoustic device with good sound quality can be obtained with a small, simple structure.

[0024] In addition, since the vibration type acoustic unit has a passive radiator that is fixed facing toward the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover the opening provided in the second main surface, it is possible to obtain an acoustic device for a helmet with better sound quality.

[0025] In addition, since there are protrusions for protecting the passive radiator around the passive radiator on the outer surface of the second main face, it is possible to prevent the movement of the vibration surface of the passive radiator from being hindered inside the helmet.

[0026] The audio device has a microphone that can capture the user's voice, and the audio device body is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the mobile terminal, so that the user can sound equipment Since the device is configured to enable calls using the microphone, the user can enjoy calls using the microphone.

[0027] In addition, the vibration type acoustic units are configured to be positioned one behind each of the user's ears when the user is wearing the helmet with an acoustic device, thereby preventing the vibration type acoustic units from touching the user's ears.

[0028] Furthermore, since the shock absorbing material is polystyrene foam, it can be effectively vibrated by a vibration type acoustic unit.

[0029] In addition, since the sound device main body is provided on the outer front surface, inner front surface, outer rear surface or inner rear surface of the helmet, the sound device main body can be stored in a place that does not get in the way of the user when the helmet is worn.

[0030] Also, Helmet and Helmet-mounted audio device combination the acoustic device has an acoustic device main body which generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit which is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and is operated in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, the helmet has a shell made of a reinforced resin material, and an impact absorbing liner made of an impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, the vibration type acoustic unit has a flat and sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface, the vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that an outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the shell to vibrate and generate sound, so that external sounds are easy to hear, and the helmet has a small, simple structure and good sound quality. Helmet and Helmet-mounted audio device Combination of can be obtained.

[0031] In addition, the vibration type acoustic unit has a passive radiator fixed toward the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover the opening provided on the second main surface, thereby providing better sound quality. Helmet andHelmet-mounted audio device Combination of can be obtained.

[0032] Also, Helmet and Vibration type acoustic unit for use in a helmet-mounted acoustic device Combination of the acoustic device has an acoustic device main body which generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit which is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and is operated in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, the helmet has a shell made of a reinforced resin material, and an impact absorbing liner made of an impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, the vibration type acoustic unit has a flat and sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface, the vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that an outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the shell to vibrate and generate sound, so that external sounds are easy to hear, and the helmet has a small, simple structure and good sound quality. Helmets and helmets A vibration type acoustic unit used in an acoustic device attached to a Combination of can be obtained.

[0033] The vibration type acoustic unit has a passive radiator fixed toward the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover the opening provided on the second main surface, thereby producing better sound quality. Helmet and Vibration type acoustic unit for use in a helmet-mounted acoustic device Combination of can be obtained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded view showing the configuration of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3]1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an audio device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of use of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a main part of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is an exploded view showing the configuration of a main part of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 3 is a graph showing frequency characteristics in a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing the configuration and usage example of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a helmet equipped with an acoustic device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, the front-to-back, up-down, and left-to-right directions are indicated when viewed from the user's perspective when the helmet equipped with an audio device (a helmet with an audio device) is worn on the user's head, and the direction in which the user's face is located is referred to as the front (front) direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear (rear) direction. However, the directions of front / rear, up / down, and left / right shown below are shown for the convenience of explanation, and the application of the present technology is not limited to these directions.

[0036] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration of a helmet 1 with a sound device and an example of its use will be described with reference to Figs. Figure 1 is a front perspective view showing the configuration of a helmet 1 with an audio device, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the same, Figure 3 shows the configuration of an audio device 2 attached to the helmet 1 with an audio device, and Figure 4 shows an example of how the helmet 1 with an audio device is used.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 1, a helmet 1 with an audio device has an audio device 2 mounted inside a helmet body 10. The audio device 2 has an audio device body 3 that generates a drive signal, vibration type audio units 4, 4 on the left and right sides that are driven by the drive signal, and a microphone 5 that captures the user's voice. The vibration type audio units 4, 4 and the microphone 5 are connected to the audio device body 3 by signal transmission cables 6, 6 that can transmit signals.

[0038] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view seen from the front, showing the configuration of the helmet body 10 and how the acoustic device 2 is attached to the helmet body 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the helmet body 10 has a shell 11 made of reinforced resin material, an impact absorbing liner 12 made of impact absorbing material, a top cover 13 and a head side cover 14 made of cloth, and cheek pads 15, 15 removably attached to both cheek portions of the shell 11.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 2, the impact absorbing liner 12 is formed by molding polystyrene foam or a material having impact absorbing performance equivalent to polystyrene foam, and its top surface is fixed to the inside of the hat body 11 with adhesive or the like. The top cover 13 is made of jersey fabric 131 in the center and mesh fabrics 132, 132 on both sides, and is configured to completely and detachably cover the inner surface, lower end, and outer side of the impact absorbing liner 12 together with the head cover 14 made of jersey fabric. An audio device main body bottom cover 16 made of soft resin that covers the bottom surface of the audio device main body 3 is provided on the front bottom surface of the head cover 14.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 2, the outer surface of the impact absorbing liner 12 has a recess near the lower end of the forehead, and the acoustic device main body 3 is fixed between this recess of the impact absorbing liner 12 and the inner surface of the cap body 11. The inner surface of the impact absorbing liner 12 also has a recess in a portion corresponding to the back of both ears of the user, and vibration type acoustic units 4, 4 are fixed in this recess. The microphone 5 is fixed between the cheek pad 15 and the cap body 11. The signal transmission cable 6, not shown in this figure, is configured to be fixed by being sandwiched between the cap body 11 and the impact absorbing liner 12.

[0041] 1 and 2, the helmet body 10 used in this embodiment is of a type called an open-face helmet or a jet helmet. An open-face helmet is a helmet that protects the head, ears, and cheeks, and does not have a chin section, unlike a full-face helmet. In addition, open-face helmets usually have a chin strap for fastening the helmet to the head, but this is not shown or described here.

[0042] Next, the configuration of the audio device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Fig. 3, the audio device 2 comprises the audio device main body 3, vibration type audio units 4, 4, microphone 5, and signal transmission cables 6, 6 as described above, each of which has a waterproof structure. This is to protect against stuffiness caused by sweat from the user and against raindrops entering the helmet 1 with an audio device while riding a motorcycle or the like in the rain. The signal transmission cables 6, 6 are configured to be detachable midway via connectors 61, 61, and these connectors 61, 61 also use waterproof connectors having a waterproof structure.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 3, the audio device main body 3 has a flat rectangular shape, with the front surface curved like a part of a large sphere. This is to allow it to be stored completely in the recess between the cap body 11 and the impact absorbing liner 12. The bottom surface has a waterproofed power button 31 and a USB connector 32 for charging, and signal transmission cables 6, 6 protrude from the left and right sides and are held by waterproof bushes 33, 33.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the vibration type acoustic units 4, 4 have a flat shape and are configured so that their outer surfaces are fixed to recesses formed on the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner 12, the details of which will be described later.

[0045] 3, the microphone 5 has a microphone unit 51 and a microphone holder 52 that holds the microphone unit 51, and a microphone holding hook-and-loop fastener 53 is attached to one surface of the microphone holder 52. A hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) that engages with the microphone holding hook-and-loop fastener 53 is attached to the position of the cap body 11 corresponding to the microphone holder 52, and the microphone holder 52 is firmly held between the cheek pad 15 and the cap body 11 by engaging the hook-and-loop fasteners with each other.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a situation in which a user U wearing a helmet 1 with an audio device is enjoying played music, a call, or the like, using the audio device 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the audio device main body 3 is configured to be able to connect to a mobile terminal S such as a smartphone via wireless communication such as Bluetooth. When an audio signal is sent from the mobile terminal S to the audio device main body 3, the vibration type audio unit 4 is activated by the drive signal sent from the audio device main body 3, and the user U can enjoy music, etc. In this way, the audio signal from the mobile terminal S is transmitted to the user U as sound, and similarly, the audio signal from the microphone 5 is transmitted to the mobile terminal S, so that the user U can make a call using the mobile terminal S via the audio device 2.

[0047] Here, the helmet 1 with sound device can be operated by tapping lightly on the helmet body 10. That is, the sound device body 3 contains an acceleration sensor that detects tapping, so for example, music can be played or stopped by tapping. Also, if a call comes in while music is playing, you can answer by tapping, end the call by tapping again, and reject the call by double tapping. In the case of motorcycles, etc., it is recommended not to make calls while driving, but to stop the call after stopping on the side of the road, etc.

[0048] In addition, by using the microphone 5, it is possible to operate the mobile terminal S using a voice assistant such as Siri (registered trademark) or Google Assistant (registered trademark). That is, it is possible to say things such as "Call Mr. XX" or "What's the weather today?" by voice. Group calls are also possible by creating a group on LINE (registered trademark) or Facebook (registered trademark) Messenger.

[0049] Furthermore, by having the audio device main body 3 communicate with the mobile terminal S, the firmware of the audio device main body 3 can be updated. The portable terminal S can also be used as a car navigation system, allowing a user to listen to music while narrating audio guidance as he or she drives a motorcycle or the like.

[0050] Next, the vibration type acoustic unit 4 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1, and shows the detailed state of the vibration type acoustic unit 4 fixed in a recess provided in the impact absorbing liner 12 as shown in Fig. 2, and also shows the cross-sectional details of the vibration type acoustic unit 4. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the vibration type acoustic unit 4, and Fig. 7 is a graph showing frequency characteristics according to the structure of the vibration type acoustic unit 4.

[0051] 5, the upper part of the outer surface of the impact absorbing liner 12 is fixed to the inner surface of the hat body 11, and the upper part of the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner 12 is covered by the top cover 13, and the lower part of the inner surface, the lower end surface, and the lower part of the outer surface are covered by the head side cover 14. The vibration type acoustic unit 4 fixed to a recess provided in the impact absorbing liner 12 is configured to be covered by the top cover 13 and the head side cover 14.

[0052] 5 and 6, the vibration type acoustic unit 4 has a flat, box-shaped case body 41 made of resin, an exciter 7, and a passive radiator 8. The case body 41 has a first main surface on the left side, a second main surface on the right side, and a side surface connecting these two main surfaces, and has a fixed case 42 consisting of the first main surface and the side surface, and a cover case 43 consisting of the second main surface.

[0053] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to a recess provided in the impact absorbing liner 12, and an exciter 7, which is a vibration type vibrator, is fixed to the inner surface of the first main surface. The second main surface has an opening, and a passive radiator 8 is fixed to close this opening. In addition, a passive radiator guard protrusion 44 protrudes from the periphery of the passive radiator 8 on the outer surface of the second main surface so as to surround the passive radiator 8. As shown in Figure 6, the fixing case 42 and the cover case 43 are fixed watertightly with four fixing screws via waterproof double-sided tape 45.

[0054] 5, the passive radiator 8 has a passive radiator body 81 made of flexible rubber, elastomer, or the like, and a weight plate 82 made of metal such as iron. The weight plate 82 is fixed to the center of the passive radiator body 81, and there is an edge part with a damper structure around it that holds the weight plate 82 so that it can swing.

[0055] 5, the exciter 7 has a magnetic circuit made up of a yoke 71 and a permanent magnet 72, and one end of a voice coil 73 is held in the magnetic gap between the yoke 71 and the permanent magnet 72. The voice coil 73 is connected to the yoke 71 via a diaphragm-shaped damper 74 fixed to the yoke 71. A fixed part 75 is connected to the other end of the voice coil 73, and the fixed part 75 is fixed to the bottom of the fixed case 42, so that the exciter 7 is held in the hollow inside the case body 41.

[0056] 5, a terminal wire 76 comes out from the other end of the voice coil 73 and is connected to the signal transmission cable 6. When a drive signal is input to the voice coil 73 from the signal transmission cable 6 via the terminal wire 76, the voice coil 73 vibrates left and right within the magnetic gap. The vibration of the voice coil 73 is transmitted to the impact absorbing liner 12 via the fixed part 75 and the first main surface of the fixed case 42, and the impact absorbing liner 12 and the cap body 11 are excited to vibrate, generating sound within the helmet body 10.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 5, the vibration type acoustic unit 4 is configured to be attached to a recess formed on the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner 12, so it needs to be thin and small. Therefore, the exciter 7 used in the vibration type acoustic unit 4 also needs to be thin and small, and as a result, the output power needs to be relatively small, about 1 W. When the exciter is attached to the outer surface of the helmet body 10, the impact absorbing liner 12 is vibrated via the cap body 11, so the output power needs to be large, at least about 2 W. However, in this embodiment, since the exciter is attached to the inner surface of the helmet body 10, it has been confirmed that a sufficient volume can be obtained even if the output power is relatively small.

[0058] As for sound quality, while it tends to have difficulty producing low-pitched sounds, it is still good enough for phone calls and listening to music in quiet places. However, a problem specific to helmets arose here. When riding a motorcycle, especially at high speeds, a lot of wind noise is generated in the helmet, and this wind noise makes it difficult to hear the low-pitched sounds, thinning the sound and making it difficult to enjoy the music. According to wind tunnel experiments, wind noise in an environment equivalent to riding at 100 km / h is a mountain-shaped sound that peaks at around 200 Hz, and it is thought that this wind noise masks the low-pitched sounds, making them inaudible.

[0059] The inventors suspected that the phenomenon of low-pitched sounds being difficult to produce may also be due to the fact that the exciter 7 is placed in a small, sealed box such as the case body 41. In other words, it is possible that the air inside acts like an air spring, suppressing the vibration of the exciter 7. Therefore, in order to reduce the action of the air spring, a passive radiator 8 was attached to the second main surface. In addition, in the case of the passive radiator 8, the resonance can be expected to have the effect of increasing the volume of the low-pitched sounds.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 7, the output of the low frequencies drops when there is no passive radiator 8, as indicated by the dashed line. However, the data when there is a passive radiator 8, as indicated by the solid line, shows that the output of the low frequencies improves by about 10 dB, especially in the low frequency range from 150 Hz to 350 Hz. In this way, even with the use of the small-output Exciter 7, the sound quality has been improved with a fuller bass, making it possible to comfortably listen to music as well as make phone calls. In particular, it has become possible to enjoy music with a full bass even when driving at high speeds on a motorcycle or other vehicle where wind noise is loud.

[0061] 5 and 6, the passive radiator 8 is fixed so as to cover the opening provided on the second main surface of the lid case 43, so that the case body 41 can be kept sealed. Also, since it is attached to the second main surface of the flat case body 41, a large passive radiator 8 can be used. Furthermore, since the passive radiator 8 is fixed facing the inner surface of the helmet body 10, the low-pitched sounds generated by the vibration of the passive radiator 8 can be delivered directly to the ears of the user.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, a passive radiator guard protrusion 44 protrudes from the periphery of the passive radiator 8 on the outer surface of the second main surface, and this is for protecting the passive radiator 8. In other words, it is configured to prevent the head cover 13, the head side cover 14, etc. from accidentally touching the passive radiator 8 inside the helmet body 10 and hindering the vibration of the passive radiator 8. Note that, although a circular rib-shaped one is shown as the passive radiator guard protrusion 44 here, this is not limited thereto, and multiple protrusions such as dowel-shaped or column-shaped protrusions may be arranged around the passive radiator 8. Also, the height of the passive radiator guard protrusion 44 from the second main surface may be made higher.

[0063] As mentioned above, from the viewpoint of safety, etc., it has been stated that the helmet audio device must be able to hear external sounds as well. This will be considered. Even when riding a motorcycle wearing a helmet, it is necessary to pay attention to external sounds such as emergency vehicle sirens and warning sounds at railroad crossings. External sounds are thought to reach the ears via the helmet, but if there is a speaker near the ear, the direct sound that reaches the ear directly from the speaker next to the ear cancels out the external sounds, making them difficult to hear.

[0064] On the other hand, in the helmet 1 with an acoustic device, the vibration type acoustic units 4, 4 vibrate the impact absorbing liner 12 and the shell 11 of the helmet body 10 to generate sound. It is believed that external sound also vibrates the helmet and is transmitted to the inside of the helmet. In that case, these two sounds are caused by the same helmet vibration, and do not cancel each other out, but overlap and reach the ears. It is believed that this makes it easier to hear external sounds.

[0065] By the way, the low-pitched sound of the passive radiator 8 fixed facing the inner side of the helmet body 10 reaches the user's ears directly, and we will consider whether this direct sound makes it difficult to hear sounds such as phone calls and sirens. A man's voice is said to be about 500 Hz and a woman's voice is about 1000 Hz, but since the passive radiator 8 reproduces low frequencies, it is thought that the impact is small. In other words, even with the direct sound of the passive radiator 8, the voice of a phone call or narration can be heard sufficiently. Also, for example, the harmonic siren of an ambulance is said to sound "beep-po" with fundamental frequencies of 960 Hz and 770 Hz, and this can also be heard sufficiently.

[0066] As described above, the helmet 1 with an audio device according to this embodiment is small and has a simple structure that makes it easy to hear sounds from the outside and provides good sound quality. In addition, since the vibration type audio units 4, 4 are mounted inside the helmet body 10, the helmet has a neat shape with no protrusions compared to those mounted outside. Furthermore, since the vibration type audio units 4, 4 are mounted inside the helmet body 10, a sufficient volume can be obtained with the exciter 7 with a small output, power consumption is reduced, the battery can be made smaller, and the audio device body 3 can also be made smaller.

[0067] In this embodiment, the shock absorbing liner 12 to which the vibration type acoustic unit 4 is fixed is described as being made of polystyrene foam or a material having shock absorbing performance equivalent to that of polystyrene foam, but polystyrene foam is particularly preferable because polystyrene foam is hard and light, and can be easily vibrated by the vibration type acoustic unit 4 to effectively vibrate and produce sound.

[0068] Furthermore, although the acoustic device main body 3 has been described as being stored between the recess of the impact absorbing liner 12 and the inner surface of the cap body 11, this is not limiting. For example, it goes without saying that it is also possible to not provide a recess in the impact absorbing liner 12, but to make the lower part of the forehead of the cap body 11 bulge forward, and to store the acoustic device main body 3 between the inner surface of this bulge and the impact absorbing liner 12.

[0069] Furthermore, the helmet body 10 has been described using an open-face helmet, but is not limited to this. For example, it may be used in a full-face helmet that protects the head, ears, cheeks, and chin, or of course any helmet that at least protects the head and ears.

[0070] Furthermore, the audio device 2 of the helmet with audio device 1 has been described as having an audio device main body 3, vibration type audio units 4, 4, and a microphone 5, but is not limited to this and may not have the microphone 5. Without the microphone 5, it would be impossible to make calls using the microphone 5, but wearing the helmet with audio device 1 would allow one to enjoy listening to music, etc., and so the helmet can be fully utilized.

[0071] Furthermore, the microphone 5 has the microphone unit 51 and the microphone holder 52 that holds it, and the microphone holder 52 is held between the cheek pads 15 and the cap body 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case of a full-face helmet, only the microphone unit 51 may be fixed to the back surface of the chin with a hook-and-loop fastener or the like. Also, it is of course possible to fix a fulcrum to the outer surface of the helmet, provide a long arm that is rotatable, and attach the microphone unit 51 to the tip of this arm.

[0072] Furthermore, although the helmet 1 with an audio device is operated by tapping the helmet main body 10, this is not limited to this, and it is of course possible to provide an operating unit on the helmet main body 10 and operate this, or to provide a separate operating unit.

[0073] Furthermore, the passive radiator 8 has been described as consisting of a passive radiator body 81 made of a flexible material and a weight plate 82 made of metal, but it is of course not limited to this form and various shapes, materials, and types may be used. Similarly, it goes without saying that the exciter 7 may have various shapes, materials, and types.

[0074] Second embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the helmet audio device 1 has an audio device main body 3, vibration type audio units 4, 4, and a microphone 5, but the mounting position of the audio device main body 3 is different. In the following, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted, and only the different parts are described.

[0075] FIG. 8 shows a situation in which a user U wearing a helmet 1 with an audio device is enjoying listening to music being played, making calls, etc. using the audio device 2. As shown in FIG. 8, the vibration type acoustic unit 4 and the microphone 5 are attached in the same positions as in the first embodiment, but the acoustic device main body 3 is attached to the outer side of the forehead of the helmet main body 10, not the inner side of the forehead.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 8, a forehead acoustic device holder 100 for holding the acoustic device 2 is attached to the outer surface of the forehead of the helmet body 10. The forehead acoustic device holder 100 has an acoustic device storage section 110, a holder attachment section 120, and a front brim section 130, and when the acoustic device 2 is attached to the inside of the acoustic device storage section 110, it is fixed in position by an acoustic device fixing section (not shown). The forehead acoustic device holder 100 is fixed to the helmet body 10 by two rivets 121 of the holder attachment section 120. The front brim section 130 has a short sun visor shape and serves to protect the acoustic device 2 and the face of the user U from sunlight and rainwater.

[0077] 8, the signal transmission cables 6 are bundled and routed from the edge of the helmet body 10 to the inside. Here, for example, if a connector is attached between the audio device 2 and the signal transmission cables 6, it becomes possible to detach the signal transmission cables 6 from the audio device 2, release the fixation of the audio device fixing part (not shown), and remove it from the forehead audio device holder 100. In this case, instead of connecting the entire audio device-equipped helmet 1 to the charger when charging, it is only necessary to connect the audio device 2, which simplifies handling during charging.

[0078] In this embodiment, the front head acoustic device holder 100 is attached to the helmet body 10 by the rivet 121, but this is not limited to this. For example, if the helmet body 10 has a sun visor attachment section to which a sun visor can be attached so as to be easily removed, it is of course possible to configure the attachment using this.

[0079] (Third embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the helmet audio device 1 has an audio device main body 3, vibration type audio units 4, 4, and a microphone 5, but the mounting position of the audio device main body 3 is different. In the following, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted, and only the different parts are described.

[0080] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the helmet 1 with a sound device as viewed from the rear side. As shown in FIG. 9, the vibration type acoustic units 4, 4 are attached in the same positions as in the first embodiment, but the acoustic device main body 3 is attached to the outer back surface of the head of the helmet main body 10, not to the inner front surface of the head.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 9, a rear head audio device holder 200 for holding the audio device 2 is attached to the outer rear surface of the helmet body 10. The signal transmission cables 6 are bundled and routed from the edge of the helmet body 10 to the inside. Here, for example, a connector may be attached between the audio device 2 and the signal transmission cables 6, and the audio device 2 may be configured to be removable from the rear head audio device holder 200. In this case, as in the second embodiment, when charging, it is not necessary to connect the entire helmet 1 with an audio device to the charger, but only the audio device 2, which simplifies handling during charging.

[0082] In this embodiment, the signal transmission cable 6 is configured to be wired inward from the edge of the helmet body 10, but this is not limited to this. It is of course also possible to drill a hole in the helmet body 10 and attach a grommet, and wire the cable through the hole of the grommet.

[0083] (Fourth embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the helmet audio device 1 has an audio device main body 3, vibration type audio units 4, 4, and a microphone 5, but the mounting position of the audio device main body 3 is different. In the following, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted, and only the different parts are described.

[0084] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the helmet 1 with a sound device as viewed from the rear side. 10, the vibration type acoustic units 4, 4 are attached in the same positions as in the first embodiment, but the acoustic device main body 3 is attached to the inner back side of the head of the helmet main body 10, not the inner front side of the head. That is, the impact absorbing liner 12 has a recess in the lower part of the outer surface of the head at the back, and the acoustic device main body 3 is fixed to the inner back head acoustic device holder 300 formed by the gap between the impact absorbing liner 12 and the inner surface of the cap body 11 caused by this recess. By providing the inner back head acoustic device holder 300 on the inner back head surface, the helmet main body 10 can be configured neatly without any protrusions.

[0085] In this embodiment, the acoustic device main body 3 is stored in the head inner acoustic device holder 300 between the recess of the impact absorbing liner 12 and the inner surface of the cap body 11, but this is not limiting. For example, it is of course possible to not provide a recess in the impact absorbing liner 12, but to make the lower part of the head of the cap body 11 bulge backward, and to store the acoustic device main body 3 in the space between the inner surface of this bulge and the impact absorbing liner 12 as the head inner acoustic device holder 300. As described above, as with the first embodiment, in the second to fourth embodiments as well, the helmet 1 with audio device of this embodiment makes it easy to hear sounds from outside, and produces good sound quality with a small, simple structure.

[0086] 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, in the above embodiment, the vibration type acoustic unit is fixed to the recess on the inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, but it may be directly attached to the inner surface of the shell.

[0087] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the vibration type acoustic unit is used in an acoustic device attached to the helmet body, but the present invention is not limited to this. Since this vibration type acoustic unit is compact and produces good sound, it may be attached to a plate-shaped diaphragm for music playback, or attached to an acrylic partition for splash prevention so that the contents of a meeting can be conveyed in a loud voice. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] U user S Mobile terminal 1. Helmet with sound device 2 Sound equipment 3. Sound equipment body 4. Vibration type acoustic unit 5. Mike 6 Signal transmission cable 7. Exciter 8 Passive Radiator 10 Helmet body 11 Hat body 12 Shock absorbing liner 13 Top Cover 14 Head cover 15 Cheek pads 16 Audio device bottom cover 71 York 72 Permanent Magnets 73 Voice coil 74 Damper 75 Fixed part 76 Terminal Wire 100 Frontal Sound Device Holder 200 Headphone Holder 300 Head internal sound device holder

Claims

1. A helmet with a sound device, the helmet having a sound device attached thereto, The acoustic device includes an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and is operated in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, The helmet has a shell made of a reinforced resin material and an impact absorbing liner made of an impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, The vibration type acoustic unit has a flat and sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to an inner surface of the first main surface, The vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that an outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to an inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the cap to vibrate and generate sound. A helmet with an acoustic device.

2. The vibration type acoustic unit has a passive radiator fixed toward the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover an opening provided in the second main surface.

2. A helmet with a sound device according to claim 1.

3. The second main surface has a protrusion around the passive radiator for protecting the passive radiator.

3. A helmet with a sound device according to claim 2.

4. the audio device has a microphone capable of capturing a user's voice, and the audio device body is configured to be capable of wireless communication with a mobile terminal; The user is configured to be able to make a call using the audio device via the mobile terminal.

4. A helmet with a sound device according to claim 1, wherein the sound device is attached to the helmet.

5. The vibration type acoustic units are configured to be disposed one behind each of the user's ears when the user is wearing the helmet with the acoustic device.

5. A helmet with a sound device according to claim 4.

6. The shock absorbing material is a polystyrene foam material.

6. A helmet with a sound device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The sound device body is provided on the front outer surface, the front inner surface, the rear outer surface, or the rear inner surface of the helmet.

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

8. A combination of a helmet and an acoustic device attached to the helmet, The acoustic device includes an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and is operated in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, The helmet has a shell made of a reinforced resin material and an impact absorbing liner made of an impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, The vibration type acoustic unit has a flat and sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to an inner surface of the first main surface, The vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that an outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to an inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the cap to vibrate and generate sound. A combination of a helmet and an acoustic device mounted on said helmet.

9. The vibration type acoustic unit has a passive radiator fixed toward the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover an opening provided in the second main surface.

9. A combination of a helmet according to claim 8 and an acoustic device mounted on said helmet.

10. A combination of a helmet and a vibration type acoustic unit used in an acoustic device attached to the helmet, the acoustic device includes an acoustic device main body that generates a drive signal, and a vibration type acoustic unit that is connected to the acoustic device main body by a transmission cable and is operated in response to the drive signal to vibrate the helmet, The helmet has a shell made of a reinforced resin material and an impact absorbing liner made of an impact absorbing material provided on the inner surface of the shell, The vibration type acoustic unit has a flat and sealed housing having a first main surface, a second main surface facing the first main surface, and a side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, and an exciter fixed to an inner surface of the first main surface, The vibration type acoustic unit is configured such that an outer surface of the first main surface is fixed to an inner surface of the impact absorbing liner, and the exciter vibrates the impact absorbing liner via the first main surface, causing the impact absorbing liner and the cap to vibrate and generate sound. A combination of a helmet and a vibration type acoustic unit used in an acoustic device mounted on the helmet.

11. The vibration type acoustic unit has a passive radiator fixed toward the inner surface of the helmet so as to cover an opening provided in the second main surface.

11. A combination of the helmet according to claim 10 and a vibration type acoustic unit used in an acoustic device mounted on the helmet.

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