Speaker horn

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing an inexpensive and lightweight speakerphone by specializing the structure as a speaker for output of a proximity alarm sound. As a solution, the present invention provides a speakerphone (100) comprising a vibration plate (10), a magnet (20) fixed to the vibration plate (10), an electromagnet (30) that vibrates the vibration plate (10) and the magnet (20), and an enclosure (40) accommodating the vibration plate (10), the magnet (20), and the electromagnet (30), characterized in that the electromagnet (30) includes: a coil (35) formed by winding a wire (34) around a bobbin (33) having a tubular part (31) and a flange (32); and a yoke (36), and the enclosure (40) is formed from a magnetic material and has formed therein a tube-entering part which enters the interior space of the tubular part (31) and which functions as the yoke (36).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a speaker horn. [Background technology]

[0002] Hybrid and electric vehicles, when traveling at low speeds, emit a proximity warning sound to alert those around the vehicle of an approaching vehicle. Such proximity warning sounds are output from an external speaker specifically designed for the proximity warning sound, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2014-76746 A) and Patent Document 2 (JP 2011-54149 A). For this reason, hybrid and electric vehicles must be equipped with a horn that outputs a general warning sound and an external speaker that outputs the proximity warning sound. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-76746 A (specification paragraphs 0012-0013, Figure 1, etc.) [Patent Document 2] JP 2011-54149 A (specification paragraphs 0021-0027, Figure 1, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As such, hybrid and electric vehicles have the problem that the installation of a speaker that outputs a proximity warning sound and a horn that outputs a warning sound increases the manufacturing costs and weight of the safety parts related to the warning sound. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has the following object: The present invention aims to reduce the manufacturing cost and weight increase of safety parts related to alarm sounds.

[0006] As a result of extensive research by the inventors to realize the above-mentioned speaker horn configuration, the following configuration was conceived: The present invention is a speaker horn comprising a diaphragm, a magnet fixed to the diaphragm, an electromagnet that vibrates the diaphragm and the magnet, and a housing that houses the diaphragm, the magnet, and the electromagnet, wherein the electromagnet has a coil formed by winding an electric wire around a bobbin having a cylindrical portion and a flange portion, and a yoke, and the housing is formed of a magnetic material and has a cylindrical portion entry portion that enters the internal space of the cylindrical portion and functions as the yoke.

[0007] This reduces the manufacturing costs and weight of safety parts related to the alarm sound.

[0008] It is also preferable that the magnet is attached to a magnet holder, and that the magnet holder and the magnet are fixed to the diaphragm by a caulking member.

[0009] This allows the coil to be separated from the diaphragm, preventing the coil from breaking due to vibration of the diaphragm, and providing a highly reliable speaker horn.

[0010] It is also preferable that the magnet holder consists of a first member on the vibration plate side and a second member on the tube entry portion side, and that the magnet is held in a state where it is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the first member and the second member.

[0011] This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the magnet from falling off the diaphragm.

[0012] It is also preferable that the diaphragm is made of a magnetic material, and the magnet holder and the crimping member are made of a non-magnetic material.

[0013] This prevents leakage of the magnetic flux of the electromagnet into the magnet holder or the crimping member, making it possible to reduce the size of the magnet and its power consumption.

[0014] It is preferable that a packing be provided at a portion of the housing that abuts against the outer periphery of the diaphragm.

[0015] This eliminates the need for a suspension structure for the diaphragm, making it possible to provide a cheaper and lighter speaker horn.

[0016] It is also preferable that the device further comprises a specific vibration detection means for detecting vibration of the housing and an electromagnet power supply control unit for controlling the power supply to the electromagnet, and when the specific vibration detection means detects vibration of the housing, it sends a housing vibration detection signal to the electromagnet power supply control unit, and when the electromagnet power supply control unit receives the housing vibration detection signal, it temporarily suspends the power supply to the electric wire.

[0017] This allows the reliability of the speaker horn to be improved by suppressing any resonance that may occur between the diaphragm and the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The speaker horn configuration of the present invention makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs and weight increase associated with safety parts related to alarm sounds. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of the speaker horn according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the speaker horn in this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the speaker horn in this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 viewed from a different angle. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of the tube entry portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Speaker horn 100 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Speaker horn 100 of this embodiment is a so-called electric speaker horn 100 that is attached to an automobile (an automobile with two or more wheels) such as a hybrid automobile or an electric automobile, and is operated by power supplied from a battery or the like installed in the automobile. Speaker horn 100 of this embodiment comprises diaphragm 10, magnet 20 fixed to diaphragm 10, electromagnet 30 for vibrating diaphragm 10 and magnet 20, and housing 40 that houses these.

[0021] In this embodiment, the diaphragm 10 is formed from a magnetic material, but the diaphragm 10 can also be formed from a non-magnetic material. The diaphragm 10 has an inverted truncated cone shape with a slightly recessed generatrix, and a magnet 20 is fixed to the small-diameter side (bottom) of the diaphragm 10. A gasket 42, typically made of synthetic rubber, is provided around the outer periphery of the large-diameter side of the diaphragm 10 in the housing 40, and the outer periphery of the large-diameter side of the diaphragm 10 is sandwiched by a folded portion 44, which is formed by folding back a required width of the outer periphery of the housing 40, via the gasket 42. By holding the diaphragm 10 in the housing 40 via the gasket 42 in this manner, the waterproofness of the speaker horn 100 can be improved. The material of the gasket 42 is not limited to synthetic rubber. Furthermore, the provision of the gasket 42 can be omitted.

[0022] In this embodiment, magnet 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is attached to magnet holder 50, which enters the inner space of the cylinder, and is fixed to the small-diameter side of diaphragm 10 by crimping member 60. In this embodiment, elastic adhesive 70 is applied between magnet 20 and magnet holder 50. Applying such adhesive 70 is advantageous in that it can attenuate vibrations acting from diaphragm 10 to magnet 20, but the application of adhesive 70 between magnet 20 and magnet holder 50 can also be omitted. Even if adhesive 70 is not applied, if diaphragm 10 is made of a magnetic material, magnetic attraction also acts between diaphragm 10 and magnet 20, so there is no risk of magnet 20 falling off diaphragm 10.

[0023] The electromagnet 30 in this embodiment includes a cylindrical portion 31, a coil 35 having an electric wire 34 wound around a non-magnetic bobbin 33 having flanges 32 extending radially outward from the cylindrical portion 31 at both heightwise ends of the cylindrical portion 31, and a yoke 36 formed from a portion of the housing 40. A portion of the flange 32 on the diaphragm 10 side is expanded radially outward, and the electromagnet 30 is fixed to the housing 40 at the expanded portion of the flange 32 together with the terminal 46 by a rivet (crimping member) that secures the terminal 46 attached to the housing 40. As described above, the electromagnet 30 in this embodiment is housed in the housing 40 independently of the diaphragm 10, which significantly reduces the risk of the electric wire 34 breaking due to vibration of the diaphragm 10. As described above, the greatest feature of the present invention is that the yoke 36 in this embodiment is formed from a portion of the housing 40.

[0024] That is, in this embodiment, housing 40 is made of a magnetic material, and a cylindrical portion entry portion formed as a convex portion by press working (drawing) in the portion corresponding to cylindrical portion 31 of bobbin 33 enters the internal space of cylindrical portion 31, and functions as yoke 36. As a result, yoke 36 is configured from a part of housing 40, making it possible to significantly reduce the weight of speaker horn 100. Furthermore, because the cylindrical portion entry portion that functions as yoke 36 can be formed simultaneously when housing 40 is press worked, there is no need to separately manufacture yoke 36 from a highly pure magnetic material, and assembly costs and parts manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced.

[0025] The magnet holder 50 in this embodiment is made of a non-magnetic material. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the magnet holder 50 is composed of a first member 52 on the diaphragm 10 side and a second member 54 on the housing 40 side. The magnet 20 is sandwiched in the height direction between the first member 52 and the second member 54, and is fixed to the diaphragm 10 with a crimping member 60 made of a non-magnetic material inserted through the first member 52 and the second member 54. With this configuration of the magnet holder 50, the diaphragm 10 and the magnet 20 are fixed by crimping force and magnetic force, which more reliably prevents the magnet 20 from falling off the diaphragm 10. Forming the magnet holder 50 and the crimping member 60 from a non-magnetic material prevents the magnetic flux of the electromagnet 30 from leaking into the magnet holder 50 or the crimping member 60. This advantageously enables the magnet 20 to be made smaller and consume less power. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views at the same cross-sectional position, but in FIG. 5, coloring (hatching) of the cross-sectional portion is omitted for ease of illustration.

[0026] In this embodiment, power is supplied to speaker horn 100 by a power supply device such as a battery, an operating switch, and a control unit (none of which are shown). When the operating switch is operated (the operating button is pressed) by a user or the like, current from the power supply device is supplied to a contact point (not shown) via terminal 46, switching between energized and de-energized state of electromagnet 30 and generating an alarm sound. Furthermore, when the vehicle is traveling at a speed that requires a proximity alarm sound, the control unit causes the power supply device to energize electromagnet 30 based on a vehicle traveling speed signal to generate a proximity alarm sound.

[0027] Furthermore, even when the vehicle is traveling at a speed that generates a proximity alarm, when the user or other person operates the activation switch, the control unit supplies current to electromagnet 30 to generate an alarm sound, thereby generating an alarm sound instead of a proximity alarm sound. Speaker horn 100 can be provided with a current circuit for generating a proximity alarm sound and a current circuit for generating an alarm sound (neither shown). In speaker horn 100 provided with these, it is preferable that a switch mechanism (not shown) be provided between terminal 46 and the current circuit, which can automatically switch the current supply circuit depending on the current value.

[0028] Furthermore, as in the speaker horn 100 of this embodiment, a specific vibration detection means 90 for detecting resonance between the diaphragm 10 and the housing 40 can be provided. In this embodiment, the specific vibration detection means 90 is provided in the expanded diameter portion 48 of the housing 40, but the location of the specific vibration detection means 90 on the housing 40 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, a specific vibration frequency within a required range centered on the frequency at which the diaphragm 10 and the housing 40 resonate is calculated in advance through experiments and structural analysis. When the specific vibration detection means 90 detects the specific vibration frequency, it continuously transmits a housing vibration detection signal to the control unit while the specific vibration frequency is being detected. When the control unit receives the housing vibration detection signal, an electromagnet power supply control unit provided in the control unit executes a process to temporarily suspend the power supply to the electromagnet 30. It is preferable that the electromagnet power supply control unit continue to suspend the power supply to the electromagnet 30 at least until the housing vibration detection signal from the specific vibration detection means 90 is no longer received.

[0029] By preventing resonance between diaphragm 10 and housing 40 in this way, it is possible to prevent a decrease in sound emission performance (volume, sound quality, etc.) and a decrease in reliability.

[0030] Because the yoke 36 of the speaker horn 100 in this embodiment is not formed of a solid, highly magnetic material as in the prior art, there was concern that a reduction in the volume of the highly magnetic material in the yoke 36 would result in a decrease in magnetic performance. However, experiments conducted by the applicant showed that a reduction in the volume of the highly magnetic material in the yoke 36 due to the skin effect had almost no effect on the decrease in magnetic performance. Therefore, even in a configuration in which the cylindrical portion entry portion formed in the housing 40 enters the internal space of the cylindrical portion 31 of the bobbin 33 to function as the yoke 36, as in this embodiment, sufficient magnetic performance can be obtained when used as the speaker horn 100. Furthermore, the configuration of the speaker horn 100 in this embodiment is specialized for outputting a proximity warning sound as a speaker, but is also capable of outputting a normal warning sound, allowing for the provision of an inexpensive and lightweight speaker horn 100.

[0031] While speaker horn 100 according to the present invention has been described in detail above based on the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, speaker horn 100 in this embodiment has a convex cylindrical entry portion formed to function as yoke 36 during press molding of housing 40 made of a magnetic material, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a hat-shaped body may be formed separately from housing 40, and the hat-shaped body may be attached to housing 40 by a known method such as adhesive to form a cylindrical entry portion at a desired position on housing 40, with the hat-shaped body attached to housing 40 functioning as yoke 36.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which an elastic adhesive 70 is applied between the magnet 20 and the magnet holder 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a rubber-elastic member, such as adhesive tape or packing, is disposed between the magnet 20 and the magnet holder 50.

[0033] 6, a magnet holder 50 may be employed in which a tubular portion 56 is inserted into the internal space of a cylindrical magnet 20 and a flange portion 58 is formed at one end of the tubular portion 56. With the magnet holder 50 formed in this manner, the flange portion 58 is brought into contact with the diaphragm 10, and a crimping member 60 is inserted into the tubular portion 56 of the magnet holder 50 from the small-diameter side of the diaphragm 10, and the magnet 20 and magnet holder 50 are fixed to the diaphragm 10 by crimping the tip end (lower end in the figure) of the magnet holder 50 (tubular portion 56). With this type of magnet holder 50, the overall length of the magnet holder 50 and the crimping member 60 becomes long, and it may be impossible to ensure a gap between the tubular portion entry portion that functions as the yoke 36 and the magnet holder 50.

[0034] In such a case, it is possible to employ a configuration in which a through hole 37 is formed in the upper end surface of the cylindrical entry portion (yoke 36), as shown in Fig. 6. Even in the configuration shown in Fig. 6, the volume of magnetic material in the portion that becomes the yoke 36 is reduced, but as a result of experiments conducted by the applicant, it has been confirmed that the magnetic performance of the yoke 36 made of a solid body of highly magnetic material and the yoke 36 made of the cylindrical entry portion shown in Fig. 6 are comparable.

[0035] Furthermore, when the configuration of speaker horn 100 according to Supplementary Note 1 described below is adopted, there is no need to adopt a configuration in which the cylindrical entry portion formed in housing 40 functions as yoke 36, as in speaker horn 100 in the embodiment described above. Speaker horn 100 according to Supplementary Note 1 can employ yoke 36 (not shown) that is separate from housing 40 and is formed from a solid body made of a magnetic material or a hollow body made of a magnetic material.

[0036] It is also possible to adopt a form in which the respective forms described in this specification are appropriately combined.

[0037] (Appendix 1) A diaphragm and a magnet fixed to the diaphragm; an electromagnet that vibrates the diaphragm and the magnet; a housing that houses the diaphragm, the magnet, and the electromagnet; The electromagnet includes a coil formed by winding an electric wire around a bobbin having a cylindrical portion and a flange portion, and a yoke. The magnet is mounted in a magnet holder; A speaker horn characterized in that the magnet holder and the magnet are fixed to the diaphragm by a crimping member.

[0038] By adopting this configuration, it is possible to provide a highly reliable speaker horn that will not break over long periods of time, even in places where there is a lot of external vibration input, such as when it is installed in an automobile.

[0039] (Appendix 2) The speaker horn described in Appendix 1 is characterized in that the magnet holder consists of a first member on the diaphragm side and a second member on the tubular entry side, and the magnet is held in a state where it is sandwiched vertically between the first member and the second member.

[0040] This makes it possible to reliably prevent the magnet 20 from falling off the diaphragm 10.

[0041] (Appendix 3) 3. The speaker horn according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is made of a magnetic material, and the magnet holder and the crimping member are made of a non-magnetic material.

[0042] This allows the diaphragm 10 and magnet 20 to be integrated by magnetic force in addition to the crimping force, further improving reliability. Also, leakage of magnetic flux from the electromagnet 30 to the magnet holder 50 and crimping member 60 is prevented, making it possible to reduce the size of the magnet 20 and its power consumption.

[0043] (Appendix 4) 4. The speaker horn according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive is applied between the magnet and the magnet holder.

[0044] This further improves the integration of magnet 20 and magnet holder 50. When adhesive 70 that maintains a highly elastic state is used, vibrations can be attenuated by adhesive 70, improving the reliability of speaker horn 100.

Claims

1. A diaphragm and a magnet fixed to the diaphragm; an electromagnet that vibrates the diaphragm and the magnet; a housing that houses the diaphragm, the magnet, and the electromagnet; The electromagnet includes a coil formed by winding an electric wire around a bobbin having a cylindrical portion and a flange portion, and a yoke. The speaker horn is characterized in that the housing is made of a magnetic material and has a cylindrical portion entry portion formed therein that enters the internal space of the cylindrical portion and functions as the yoke.

2. The magnet is mounted in a magnet holder; 2. The speaker horn according to claim 1, wherein the magnet holder and the magnet are fixed to the diaphragm by a caulking member.

3. The speaker horn of claim 2, characterized in that the magnet holder consists of a first member on the diaphragm side and a second member on the tubular entry side, and the magnet is held in a state where it is sandwiched vertically between the first member and the second member.

4. 4. The speaker horn according to claim 2, wherein the diaphragm is made of a magnetic material, and the magnet holder and the crimping member are made of a non-magnetic material.

5. 5. The speaker horn according to claim 1, wherein a packing is provided at a portion of the housing that abuts against the outer periphery of the diaphragm.

6. The device further includes a specific vibration detection unit that detects vibration of the housing, and an electromagnet power supply control unit that controls power supply to the electromagnet, When the specific vibration detection means detects vibration of the housing, it transmits a housing vibration detection signal to the electromagnet power supply control unit; 6. The speaker horn according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnet power supply control unit temporarily stops the power supply to the electric wire when the housing vibration detection signal is received.

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