Helmet intercom

Abstract

To provide an intercom for a helmet that is easy to hear and easy to use even at a construction site, etc., where there is a lot of ambient noise.SOLUTION: An intercom for a helmet that allows a user with a helmet on the head to talk includes a main portion having a communication portion, and a voice generation portion and a voice microphone at the bottom of the main portion, and the sound generation portion includes a sound generation unit having a diaphragm and an exciter for vibrating the diaphragm, the diaphragm faces substantially in the direction of the ear, and configured to transmit sound to the ear, and therefore, it is easy to hear and easy to use even in places with a lot of ambient noise.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a helmet intercom, and more particularly to a helmet intercom that is attached to a helmet when used. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for helmet communication devices that are easy to hear and use even in places with high ambient noise, such as construction sites.

[0003] One such device is a helmet-mounted speaker box for a radio, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. This device consists of a speaker box with a built-in speaker that is attached to the helmet with a metal fitting in a position where the sound can be heard without the speaker coming into contact with the ear.

[0004] Conventional methods for listening to audio from a radio include earphones or headphones that are placed directly on the ear, and speakers built into the radio itself. However, when using earphones or headphones for radio communication in places with high ambient noise, such as construction sites, the construction workers must seal off one ear with the earphone or headphones. Listening to ambient noise with one ear for a long period of time can cause physiological pain, such as headaches. Furthermore, speakers built into radios have the disadvantage that the audio is drowned out by ambient noise, making it difficult to hear.

[0005] The speaker box of this device allows you to hear the sound from the radio without touching your ears, and also allows you to hear the surrounding noise with both ears. This configuration eliminates the foreign body sensation of earphones or headphones, and also ensures a constant, stable sound without the sound being drowned out like with built-in speakers in radios.

[0006] Another such device is a helmet-mounted radio disclosed in Patent Document 2. This device is configured so that the radio and information terminal are attached to the helmet with the main body and storage battery separated into left and right halves, and the power cable connecting these is located at the rear of the helmet.

[0007] Here, slinging work, which is performed while communicating with a crane, is the work of loading and unloading cargo using a sling with a hook or other sling during cargo handling and transportation work using a crane or the like, and requires advanced skills. In addition, in the case of the speaker box described in Patent Document 1, the speaker box is connected by a connection wire to a radio or the like in a chest pocket or waist belt.

[0008] In this case, the signal person and slinger who use the radio are the actual workers, and their jobs involve frequent movements such as using tools, slinging, and checking assembly, so the connection wires that are always in front of their faces and bodies get in the way of their work.In other words, because the connection wires run from the helmet to the chest pocket and waist belt, the work efficiency of the signal person and slinger who are wearing the radio decreases, and if they accidentally damage the connection wires, communication with the crane is cut off, causing problems with work.

[0009] Furthermore, when installing, commissioning, inspecting, or adjusting equipment in a small space, the actual equipment operates in a remote location and is monitored and displayed on a control panel. Since no mistakes are permitted when changing wiring or turning switches on and off in an emergency, double or triple checks are required, and it is essential that the information terminals supporting the workers function properly.

[0010] According to the radio etc. of this device, the main body and storage battery are attached to the left and right sides of the helmet, and the power cord is located at the rear of the helmet, so the weight that puts a burden on the neck is distributed to the left and right, so there is no hindrance to work, and it has a structure that reduces the burden on the neck even when used for long periods of time.In addition, even when inspecting or adjusting equipment in a narrow space, it does not protrude more than the width of the helmet, so it does not interfere with working posture and can be used for long periods of time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3054182 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3231461 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has the disadvantage that, as described in Patent Document 2, the connecting wires coming out of the speaker box get in the way of the worker's work. Furthermore, in order to obtain sufficient volume from a speaker box located far from the ears at a noisy construction site, a relatively large speaker is required, as shown in the drawings in Patent Document 1. The larger the speaker, the heavier the magnet that generates the magnetic field becomes. This results in the weight of supporting the speaker box with the neck becoming heavier, and the power consumption required to operate it is large, necessitating a large and heavy power supply.

[0013] Furthermore, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, the main body of the radio or the like and the storage battery are attached to the left and right sides of the helmet to distribute the weight to the left and right, thereby reducing the burden on the neck. However, in either case, the total weight is supported by the neck, which has the disadvantage of increasing the weight supported by the neck.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a helmet communication device that is easy to hear and use even in places with a lot of ambient noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

[0016] The present invention relates to a helmet communication device that can be attached to a helmet so that a user wearing the helmet can make a call. The helmet communication device has a main body having a communication section, and a sound generating section and a sound microphone section at the bottom of the main body, and the sound generating section has a sound generating unit having a diaphragm and an exciter fixed to the back surface of the diaphragm to vibrate the diaphragm and generate sound, and the diaphragm is positioned near the outside of at least one of the user's ears and is oriented approximately in the direction of the ear so that sound is transmitted to the ear.

[0017] The sound generating section also has a sound guide that surrounds the sides and bottom of the sound generating unit and opens roughly in the direction of the ear, and the sound guide is spaced a predetermined distance from the side of the sound generating unit.

[0018] The sound generating unit also has a diaphragm holding portion separated from the diaphragm by a first elastic body, and is configured so that an exciter is held in the space formed by the diaphragm, the first elastic body, and the diaphragm holding portion, and is characterized in that the diaphragm holding portion is fixed to the sound guide.

[0019] The diaphragm holding portion is fixed to the audio guide via a second elastic body, and the audio microphone portion is a built-in microphone housed inside the helmet communication device.

[0020] The helmet is also characterized in that the cap body is configured in an approximately hemispherical shape, the main body contains a battery that is the power source for the helmet communication device, and when the helmet communication device is attached to the helmet, the main body is located approximately at the top of the edge of the side of the cap body, and the sound generating unit provided at the bottom of the main body is located approximately at the bottom of the edge of the side of the cap body.

[0021] The helmet communication device is characterized by having an attachment portion for detachably attaching the helmet communication device to the helmet.

[0022] The helmet has a mounting portion corresponding to the mounting portion, and the mounting portion and the mounting portion are configured to be connectable by a string or wire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, since it has the above-mentioned characteristics, the following becomes possible.

[0024] This is a helmet communication device that can be attached to a helmet so that a user wearing the helmet can make a call. The helmet communication device has a main body portion with a communication unit, and a sound generation portion and sound microphone portion located at the bottom of the main body portion. The sound generation portion has a sound generation unit that has a diaphragm and an exciter that is fixed to the back surface of the diaphragm and vibrates the diaphragm to generate sound. The diaphragm is positioned near the outside of at least one of the user's ears and is facing approximately in the direction of the ear, so that sound is transmitted to the ear. This makes it possible to obtain a helmet communication device that is easy to hear and use, even in places with high ambient noise, without having to seal the ear like earphones or headphones.

[0025] In addition, the sound generating unit has a sound guide that surrounds the sides and bottom of the sound generating unit and opens approximately in the direction of the ear, and the sound guide is spaced a predetermined distance from the side of the sound generating unit, so that the sound pressure in the voice band of the human voice increases, generating sound that is easy to hear, and the generated sound is made directional so that it is transmitted approximately in the direction of the user's ear, while reducing the transmission of sound in directions other than the approximately direction of the ear, preventing the contents of the call from leaking to the outside.

[0026] In addition, the sound generating unit has a diaphragm holding portion separated from the diaphragm by a first elastic body, and is configured so that the exciter is held in the space formed by the diaphragm, the first elastic body, and the diaphragm holding portion, and the diaphragm holding portion is fixed to the sound guide, so that the vibration energy generated by the exciter is concentrated on the diaphragm, causing it to vibrate and generate sound efficiently, and it is also possible to reduce the transmission of vibrations to other parts of the helmet communication device and the leakage of sound to the outside.

[0027] In addition, since the diaphragm holding portion is fixed to the audio guide via the second elastic body and the audio microphone portion is a built-in microphone housed inside the helmet communication device, it is possible to reduce leakage of generated audio to the outside of the helmet communication device and also reduce the possibility of audio being transmitted through the housing of the helmet communication device to the built-in microphone, causing howling, etc., and therefore the built-in microphone can be positioned near the audio generating unit, making it possible to make the helmet communication device smaller.

[0028] Furthermore, the helmet has a cap body configured in an approximately hemispherical shape, and the main body contains a battery that serves as the power source for the helmet communication device. When the helmet communication device is attached to the helmet, the main body is positioned approximately at the top of the edge of the side of the cap body, and the sound generating unit provided at the bottom of the main body is positioned approximately at the bottom of the edge of the side of the cap body. This means that the main body is held stably by the cap body, and the sound generating unit can transmit directional sound in the approximate direction of the ear.

[0029] Furthermore, the helmet intercom has an attachment portion for detachably attaching the helmet intercom to the helmet, so that the helmet intercom can be removed from the helmet and charged independently.

[0030] The helmet has a receiving part that corresponds to the mounting part, and the mounting part and receiving part are configured to be connectable with a string or wire, so that even if the helmet communication device comes off the helmet while working at height, for example, it is possible to prevent the helmet communication device from falling and to prevent the helmet communication device from being lost, broken, or hitting another person. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a helmet. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B show the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view seen from the front side, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the back side. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B show the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a reference perspective view and (B) is a front view. [Figure 5] 1A to 1E show the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with (C) being a rear view, (D) being a top view, and (E) being a bottom view. [Figure 6] 1A to 1H show the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with (F) being a left side view, (G) being a right side view, and (H) being a reference perspective view. [Figure 7] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a main part of a helmet intercom system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a main part of a helmet intercom system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10]1A and 1B are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of use of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of use of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a helmet communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a helmet communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B show the configuration of a helmet communication device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view seen from the front side, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the back side. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a main part of a helmet intercom system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 10 is a graph showing frequency characteristics of helmet intercoms according to different embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 19] 1A and 1B show the configuration of the main parts of a helmet communication device according to fourth to sixth embodiments of the present invention, in which (A) is a partially sectional perspective view showing the configuration of the fourth embodiment, (B) is a partially sectional view showing the configuration of the fifth embodiment, and (C) is a partially sectional view showing the configuration of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of use of a helmet communication device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, the terms "front-back", "up-down" and "left-right" refer to the front-rear, "up-rear" and "left-right" directions as seen from the user's perspective when the user is wearing a helmet with a helmet communication device attached to the left side of the helmet on their head. The direction in which the user's face is located will be called the front direction (front side), the opposite direction will be called the rear direction (rear side), the direction to the left side of the user's face will be called the left direction (front side), and the opposite direction will be called the right direction (rear side). However, the directions such as front-back, up-down, left-right, etc. shown below are shown for the convenience of explanation, and the application of the present technology is not limited to these directions.

[0033] (First embodiment) A helmet intercom 1 (helmet intercom) according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. FIG. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing an example of use of the helmet communication device 1, FIGS. 3(A) and (B) are perspective views showing its configuration, FIGS. 4 to 6 (A) to (H) are drawings expressing its external shape in design terms, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, FIGS. 8 and 9 are exploded perspective views of the main parts, FIGS. 10(A) and (B) and 11 are partial cross-sectional views, FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of use, FIG. 13 is a circuit block diagram, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of use.

[0034] 1 shows a situation in which a user U wearing a helmet 1000 with a helmet communication device 1 attached to the left side of the helmet is making a call using the helmet communication device 1. Before explaining the helmet communication device 1, a brief explanation will be given of the helmet 1000.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, Helmet 1000 is a work helmet or industrial protective cap that is designed to prevent head injury by absorbing impacts from flying or falling objects or from crashing or falling at construction sites, etc. Work helmets come in a variety of types: the MP type, which is hemispherical, the baseball cap type with a front peak, and the American type, which has a front peak and is highly stylish. Helmet 1000 is an American type.

[0036] 1, helmet 1000 has a helmet body 1100 (cap body) made of glass fiber reinforced resin or the like which is a shell that covers and protects the head, a hammock (not shown) that absorbs shock, and a chin strap 1200 that secures the helmet to the head and prevents it from falling off. The helmet body 1100 has a hemispherical helmet body main body 1110 and a front peak 1120, and a gutter 1130 with a roughly U-shaped cross section is formed around the entire periphery of the edge that is continuous with the front peak 1120 to prevent raindrops from getting into the nape of the neck.

[0037] 1, the helmet communication device 1 has a main body 10 (main body) formed in a roughly rectangular box shape at the top and a sound generating unit 20 (sound generating unit) that generates sound at the bottom, and is attached to the left side of the helmet 1000. Here, the sound generating unit 20 is positioned near the outside of the ear of the user U, but at a distance from the ear, rather than sealing the ear like earphones or headphones.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the helmet intercom 1 is attached to the helmet 1000. As shown in FIG. As shown in Fig. 2, the mounting adapter 30 (mounting portion) is fixed to the left side of the helmet 1000 with double-sided adhesive tape or the like. Then, by attaching the helmet intercom 1 so that it engages with the mounting adapter 30, the helmet intercom 1 is fixed to the helmet 1000. How the helmet 1000 is fastened will be described later.

[0039] FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view of the helmet communication device 1 as seen from the front side, and FIG. 3(B) is a perspective view as seen from the back side. 3(A) and (B), a connection operation unit 40 is formed on the rear surface of the main body 10, and from above, a communication indicator 41, a power button 42, a charging indicator 43, a connection connector 44, an external sound microphone hole 45, and an audio microphone mute knob 46 are arranged. In addition, a label 11 for displaying the company name, control number, etc. is affixed to the front surface of the main body 10, and mounting adapter engagement portions 12, 12 (mounting portions) that engage with the mounting adapter 30 are formed on the back surface, as will be described later.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3(A), the sound generating unit 20 at the bottom of the main body 10 has a bulge 21 in the center of the surface side that is approximately rectangular and shorter than the front-to-back length of the main body 10, and at the front and back of the bulge 21 are a front connecting portion 22 and a rear connecting portion 23 that connect to the main body. As shown in Fig. 3(B), the inner surface of the bulging portion 21 is formed with a voice guide 24 (voice guide), which is a square recess that opens to the back side, and a voice generating unit 50 (voice generating unit) is fixed inside the voice guide 24. In addition, a voice microphone hole 25 is formed in the front connecting portion 22, and a drop prevention main body hole 26 is formed in the rear connecting portion 23.

[0041] Figures 4 to 6 (A) to (H) are design drawings of the external shape of the helmet intercom 1. That is, Figure 4(A) is a reference perspective view of the helmet intercom 1 as seen from the front, Figure 4(B) is a front view, Figure 5(C) is a rear view, Figure 5(D) is a top view, Figure 5(E) is a bottom view, Figure 6(F) is a left side view, Figure 6(G) is a right side view, and Figure 6(H) is a reference perspective view as seen from the back.

[0042] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the helmet intercom 1 as viewed obliquely from the rear, and the internal configuration of the helmet intercom 1 will be described using this drawing. 7, the exterior case 60 of the helmet communication device 1 has a front case 61 and a back case 62 made of resin, and a connection operation panel 63 that covers the connection operation unit 40. The back case 62 is configured to cover the main body 10 of the front case 61 from the back side like a lid. In addition, a voice guide 24 is formed in the lower part of the back side of the exterior case 60, which is a recess that opens to the back side.

[0043] Here, the exterior case 60 is configured to have a waterproof structure as a whole. That is, when assembling the front case 61 and the back case 62, they are fastened with screws via O-rings 64 along the overlapping portions of the two cases, thereby assembling them in a watertight manner. Note that instead of the O-rings 64, a waterproof double-sided tape or the like may be sandwiched between them to form a waterproof structure. The connection operation panel 63 is also assembled to the rear surface of the main body 10 using waterproof double-sided tape (not shown).

[0044] 7, the electrical-related section 70 has a main board 80, a battery 71 (battery), and an audio microphone 72 (audio microphone section). An antenna, a control circuit (not shown), electrical components 73 such as switches and LEDs, and a connection connector 44 are mounted on the main board 80. In addition, cables from the sound generating unit 50 and a cable from the audio microphone 72 (not shown) are connected to the main board 80 in a watertight manner via bushings.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 7, the communication indicator 41 and the charging indicator 43 are light guides that guide the light of the respective LEDs (not shown) mounted on the main circuit board 80 to the outside. The power button 42 is made of a flexible material such as urethane rubber and is configured to be able to press a switch (not shown) on the main circuit board 80 through a hole in the surface case 61. The connection connector 44 is a waterproof USB connector with a packing and is arranged watertight so that it can be connected from the outside through a hole in the side of the surface case 61. Note that the connection connector 44, which can be connected from the outside, may be configured to be covered with a detachable lid. This is to prevent powder from entering the connection connector 44, for example, when a user U works in an environment where powder is present.

[0046] As shown in Figure 7, the external sound microphone hole 45 is watertightly sealed from the inside by a waterproof sheet 47, and transmits environmental sounds to an external sound microphone (not shown) on the main circuit board 80. In other words, the external sound microphone serves to pick up information such as the volume of ambient sound. The audio microphone mute knob 46 switches an audio microphone mute switch (not shown) on the main circuit board 80 via a waterproof bushing 48 and a click sensation imparting part 49 made up of a lever, slide plate, compression coil spring, or the like. The audio microphone mute knob 46 switches whether to mute the sound from the audio microphone 72, and whether the upper or lower microphone is to be muted can be set separately, as will be described later.

[0047] 7, audio microphone hole 25 provided in the front lower part of rear case 62 is sealed watertight from the inside with a waterproof sheet (not shown). Audio microphone 72 is held by audio microphone vibration-proof holder 75 made of urethane rubber via windshield foam material 74 for a windscreen inside microphone hole 25, and is configured to receive the voice of user U.

[0048] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the sound generating unit 50 from the rear side, and the configuration of the sound generating unit 50 will be described using this figure. 8, sound generating unit 50 has, from the rear side, front frame 51 (diaphragm holder), diaphragm 52 (diaphragm) made of resin and acting as a diaphragm, exciter 90 (exciter), diaphragm damper 53 (first elastic body), fixing plate 54, rear frame 55 (diaphragm holder), and sound generating unit mounting damper 56 (second elastic body). The functions of these components and how they are combined will be described later.

[0049] Next, we will explain the configuration of the exciter 90 used in this helmet communication device 1 using Figures 9(A), (B), and (C). Figure 9(A) is a perspective view of the exciter 90 seen from the front, Figure 9(B) is a perspective view of the exciter 90 seen from the back, and Figure 9(C) is an exploded view seen from the front.

[0050] 9(A), (B), and (C), exciter 90 has a generally rectangular exciter frame 91 made of resin and a hollow section in the center. In the center of this hollow section is a cylindrical vibration transmission section 92 with a generally closed base, which is held so as to be able to vibrate freely by four generally S-shaped dampers 93, 93, 93, 93. The bottomed section at one end of vibration transmission section 92 protrudes outward, and double-sided adhesive tape 94 is attached to the outer surface of this bottomed section.

[0051] As shown in Figure 9(C), a cylindrically wound coil 95 is fitted onto the cylindrical outer surface of the other end of the vibration transmission unit 92 and fixed with an adhesive or the like. Both terminals of the coil 95 are connected to terminal plates 96, 96. Like other exciters, the exciter 90 has a cylindrical yoke 97 with a bottom and a permanent magnet 98 that form a magnetic circuit, and the coil 95 is held so as to be positioned in the gap between the inner side surface of the yoke 97 and the outer side surface of the permanent magnet 98. When driving power is supplied to the coil 95 from the terminal plates 96, 96, the coil 95 moves back and forth through the gap between the yoke 97 and the permanent magnet 98, and the vibration transmission unit 92, which is held by four dampers 93, 93, 93, 93, is configured to start vibrating.

[0052] 10(A) and 10(B) are cross-sectional views of the helmet intercom 1, with FIG. 10(A) showing the AA cross section in FIG. 4(B) and FIG. 10(B) showing the BB cross section. 10(A), the front case 61 and back case 62 of the exterior case 60 are assembled watertight via an O-ring 64. This is to prevent rain, powder, etc. from entering the interior of the exterior case 60 when the helmet intercom 1 is used in the rain or in a harsh location with a lot of powder, etc. Also, a main board 80 is held inside the main body 10 at the top of the helmet intercom 1, on which a battery 71 and electrical components 73 such as an antenna are mounted.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B), a sound generating unit 50 is fixed to the sound generating section 20 below the vibration transmitting section 92, and the sound generating unit 50 holds the exciter 90. The configuration and operation will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10(A) and (B).

[0054] 8, 9, and 10(B), one end of the vibration transmission part 92 of the exciter 90 is fixed to approximately the center of the back surface of the diaphragm 52 of the sound generating unit 50 via double-sided adhesive tape 94. The diaphragm 52 is fitted into a groove provided on the inside of a diaphragm damper 53, which is an elastic body made of a soft material such as urethane, and the diaphragm damper 53 is fixed so as to be sandwiched between the front frame 51 and the rear frame 55. Furthermore, two holes on the bottom of the rear frame 55 are fitted into grooves in a sound generating unit mounting damper 56, which is an elastic body, and the sound generating unit mounting damper 56 is fixed to a protrusion on the bottom of the sound guide 24 using a fixing plate 54 and screws.

[0055] 10(B), diaphragm 52 is separated via diaphragm damper 53 and held by front frame 51 and rear frame 55. Also, exciter 90 fixed to the back surface of diaphragm 52 is held in the hollow portion of the watertight space created inside by diaphragm 52, diaphragm damper 53, front frame 51 and rear frame 55. Also, sound generating unit 50 is fixed and held within sound guide 24 via sound generating unit mounting damper 56, which is an elastic body. The reason why the exciter 90 is held in a watertight space is to prevent rain or powder from entering the inside of the exciter 90 when the helmet communication device 1 is used in the rain or in a harsh location with a lot of powder.

[0056] 9(C) and 10(B), when driving power for an audio signal is applied to exciter 90, the magnetic circuit, which is composed of yoke 97 made of a magnetic material such as iron and permanent magnet 98, has a large weight, so vibration transmission unit 92 vibrates more strongly. Diaphragm 52 is then vibrated by vibration transmission unit 92 of exciter 90, and sound is generated from sound generation unit 50. Note that if a driving current for a large, deep bass sound is input, the magnetic circuit may also vibrate more strongly, causing the back surface of yoke 97 to hit the inner wall of the hollow section and generating abnormal noise, in which case low-resilience urethane foam or the like may be sandwiched between the back surface of yoke 97 and the inner wall.

[0057] 10(B), the sound generated by the sound generating unit 50 is guided by the sides and bottom being surrounded by the sound guide 24, and the sound is transmitted mainly in the direction of the back surface where the opening of the sound guide 24 is located. In other words, the generated sound is made directional so that the sound is transmitted in the approximate direction of the user's ear, and the transmission of the sound in directions other than the approximate direction of the ear is reduced, thereby preventing the contents of the call from leaking to the outside. Here, the shape of this voice guide 24 is a cylindrical shape with a bottom, like a rectangular tube with one opening closed, like a container for drinking water, so it can be said that a cylindrical voice guide is formed.

[0058] As shown in Figure 10(B), the sound generating unit 50 is attached to the sound generating section 20 via a sound generating unit mounting damper 56, which is an elastic body, which serves to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the sound generating unit 50 to the sound generating section 20. This also serves to reduce leakage of generated sound to the outside of the sound generating section 20, and to reduce the transmission of vibrations through the exterior case 60 to the sound microphone 72 attached to the front of the sound generating section 20, which causes feedback, microphone noise, etc. As a result, the sound microphone 72 can be located near the sound generating unit 50, making it possible to further miniaturize the helmet intercom 1.

[0059] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the CC cross section in FIG. 1, and shows the relationship between the position of the helmet communication device 1 attached to the helmet 1000 and the position of the ear of the user U. As shown in Figure 11, the sound generated by the sound generating unit 50 is made directional by the sound guide 24 and transmitted in the direction of the rear surface, toward the ears of the user U. Furthermore, the sound guide 24 and the sound generating unit mounting damper 56 act to reduce leakage of the generated sound to the outside, which prevents the contents of the call from leaking to the outside.

[0060] Here, by attaching the audio guide 24 as shown in Figure 11, the sound pressure of the audio transmitted to the ear increases, and the audio band, especially of human voices, increases, making the sound quality easier to hear; however, the frequency characteristics and other details will be described later.

[0061] As described above, the device has the sound generating unit 50 and the sound guide 24 that surrounds the sides and bottom of the sound generating unit 50 and opens in the general direction of the ears, with the sound guide 24 spaced a predetermined distance from the sides of the sound generating unit 50. With this configuration, even when a small exciter 90 is used, sufficient sound pressure and sound quality that is easy for the user U to hear can be obtained. In this way, the use of a small exciter 90 allows for a smaller, lighter device, and also reduces power consumption, allowing for longer operation times and smaller batteries.

[0062] Now, how the helmet communication device 1 operates will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram viewed from the left, showing a situation in which a user U wearing a helmet 1000 equipped with a helmet communication device 1 on his / her head is making a call using the helmet communication device 1 via a mobile terminal S such as a smartphone that he / she is wearing.

[0063] FIG. 13 is a circuit block diagram showing in detail how FIG. 12 is performed. As shown in FIG. 13, a main board 80 has a control unit 81, and the battery 71 is connected to the control unit 81 via a power supply unit 82, and a display unit 83 and an operation unit 84 are connected to the control unit 81 via their respective interfaces.

[0064] 13, the exciter 90 is driven by an exciter driving unit 85 connected to a control unit 81. The audio microphone 72 and the external sound microphone 86 are connected to the control unit 81 via an audio microphone signal processing unit 87 and an external sound microphone signal processing unit 88, respectively. The control unit 81 is also connected to a communication unit 89 (communication unit) and is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal S via the communication unit 89.

[0065] 13, when an external cable (not shown) is connected to the USB connector serving as the connection connector 44, the battery 71 is charged via the power supply unit 82. At this time, an LED (not shown) that emits light to the display unit 83 is activated, causing the charging indicator 43 to light up in red, and then turns off when charging is complete. Furthermore, with the external cable connected to the connection connector 44, it is also possible to perform updates to the firmware of the control unit 81, etc.

[0066] In Figure 13, when the power button 42, which is one of the operation units 84, is pressed and held down, the helmet intercom 1 starts up. Here, when the power is turned on for the first time, it automatically goes into pairing mode, and the communication indicator 41 flashes red and blue alternately. The communication unit 89 is configured to be connected to the mobile terminal S via Bluetooth (registered trademark) and to be able to communicate wirelessly, so if pairing is performed here, the connection will be automatic thereafter. The states of waiting for connection to the mobile terminal S and currently connected are displayed by different ways of flashing blue on the communication indicator 41. Furthermore, while connected to the mobile terminal S, it is possible to perform firmware updates and make various settings for the helmet intercom 1 using the mobile terminal S.

[0067] 13, the operation unit 84 has an acceleration sensor (not shown), and allows tapping by tapping the surface of the helmet communication device 1 or the helmet 1000 with the palm of your hand. For example, when a call comes in, tapping once will answer the call, and tapping again will hang up the call. Also, tapping twice will launch a voice assistant such as Siri (registered trademark) or Google Assistant (registered trademark).

[0068] 13, by switching the audio microphone mute knob 46, which is another of the operation units 84, it is possible to switch whether or not to mute the sound from the audio microphone 72, as described above. Note that whether the top or bottom of the audio microphone mute knob 46 is to be muted can be set by the mobile terminal S. This is to prioritize usability for the user U.

[0069] The reason why the audio microphone mute knob 46 is a mechanical switch knob rather than a push button is so that the user U can understand the switch without having to look at it. Furthermore, because the audio microphone mute knob 46 protrudes from the main body 10, the user U can operate the audio microphone mute knob 46 even if they are wearing gloves or work gloves.

[0070] 13, the external sound microphone 86 is for an automatic volume adjustment function. That is, once the volume is adjusted by the exciter 90 using the mobile terminal S, the volume will automatically increase as the noise gets louder and decrease as the noise gets quieter, depending on the volume of the surrounding noise.

[0071] In Fig. 13, the audio microphone 72 is for capturing the voice of the user U during a call or the like. Here, as shown in Fig. 1, the audio microphone 72 is not positioned near the mouth using an arm as in the conventional case, but is placed a little distance from the mouth. The inventors have confirmed that even if the microphone is positioned a little distance 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.

[0072] FIG. 14 shows the helmet intercom 1 and the mounting adapter 30 fixed to the helmet 1000. Using FIG. 14, how the helmet intercom 1 is locked to the helmet 1000 will be described.

[0073] 14, the mounting adapter 30 has a fixing surface 31 whose back surface is fixed to the helmet 1000 with double-sided adhesive tape or the like, mounting adapter engaged portions 32, 32 at the front and rear ends of the fixing surface 31, a substantially U-shaped guide groove 33, and a locking claw 34 at the upper end. Also, a falling-prevention mounting adapter hole 35 is formed at the rear of the lower end. In addition to the mounting adapter engagement parts 12, 12, the back surface of the main body 10 of the helmet communication device 1 is formed with a guide rib 13 corresponding to the guide groove 33 and a lock claw guide recess 14 that is slightly recessed in a strip shape to allow the lock claw 34 to slide.

[0074] 14, when the helmet intercom 1 is pressed against the top of the mounting adapter 30, the guide ribs 13 enter the guide grooves 33, and when the device is pressed down, the mounting adapter engaging portions 12, 12 engage with the mounting adapter engaged portions 32, 32. In addition, the locking claws 34 slide along the locking claw guide recesses 14, and when the device is pressed down to the end, the locking claws 34 lock the upper end of the locking claw guide recesses 14.

[0075] As shown in Figure 14, it is preferable to tie the fall prevention main body hole 26 and the fall prevention mounting adapter hole 35 together with fall prevention strings 36, 36. This is to prevent the helmet intercom 1 from falling and to prevent the helmet intercom 1 from being lost, broken, or hitting another person, even if a user U wearing the helmet 1000 on their head accidentally causes the helmet intercom 1 to come off the helmet 1000 while working at a height, for example.

[0076] 14, a connection locking portion 37 may be provided midway or at the end of the fall prevention cords 36, 36. With this configuration, the helmet communication device 1 can be detached from the helmet 1000 using the connection locking portion 37, and can be charged independently. Although the string 36 for preventing the fall is used here, it goes without saying that a wire for preventing the fall or the like may also be used.

[0077] As explained above, in the helmet communication device 1 of this embodiment, the sound generation section 20 has a sound generation unit 50 that has a diaphragm 52 and an exciter 90 that is fixed to the diaphragm 52 and vibrates the diaphragm 52 to generate sound. The diaphragm 52 is arranged near the outside of at least one of the ears of the user U, faces roughly in the direction of the ear, and is configured so that sound is transmitted to the ear, so that it is possible to obtain a helmet communication device that is easy to hear and easy to use, even in places with high ambient noise, without having to seal the ear like earphones or headphones.

[0078] Furthermore, the sound generating section 20 has a sound guide 24 that surrounds the sides and bottom of the sound generating unit 50 and opens in the approximate direction of the ear, with the sound guide 24 being spaced a predetermined distance from the side of the sound generating unit 50. This configuration increases the sound pressure in the voice band of the human voice, generating a sound that is easy to hear, and imparts directionality to the generated sound so that the sound is transmitted in the approximate direction of the user's ear, while reducing the transmission of sound in directions other than the approximate direction of the ear, thereby preventing the contents of the call from leaking to the outside.

[0079] Furthermore, the sound generating unit 50 has a front frame 51 and a rear frame 55 separated from the diaphragm 52 via a diaphragm damper 53. The exciter 90 is held in the space formed by the diaphragm 52, the diaphragm damper 53, the front frame 51, and the rear frame 55, and the front frame 51 and the rear frame 55 are fixed to the sound guide 24. Therefore, the vibration energy generated in the exciter 90 is concentrated on the diaphragm 52, causing it to vibrate and generate sound efficiently, and it is possible to reduce the transmission of vibrations to other parts of the helmet intercom 1 and the leakage of sound to the outside.

[0080] Furthermore, the front frame 51 and the rear frame 55 are fixed to the audio guide 24 via an audio generating unit mounting damper 56, and the audio microphone 72 is a built-in microphone housed inside the helmet intercom 1. This configuration reduces leakage of generated audio to the outside of the helmet intercom 1. It also reduces the risk of audio being transmitted through the exterior case 60 of the helmet intercom 1 to the audio microphone 72, causing feedback or the like. This also makes it possible to position the audio microphone 72 near the audio generating unit 50, making it possible to make the helmet intercom 1 more compact.

[0081] Furthermore, the helmet 1000 is configured such that the cap body is configured in a substantially hemispherical shape, the main body 10 houses a battery 71 (battery) that is the power source for the helmet intercom 1, and when the helmet intercom 1 is attached to the helmet 1000, the main body 10 is located approximately at the top of the edge of the side of the cap body 1100, and the sound generating unit 20 provided at the bottom of the main body 10 is located approximately at the bottom of the edge of the side of the cap body 1100. Therefore, the main body 10 is stably held in the cap body 1100, and the sound generating unit 20 can transmit directional sound approximately in the direction of the ear. Furthermore, because the power supply and the like are configured to be integrated with the helmet intercom 1, no connecting wires from the power supply are required, and there is less of it protruding from the helmet 1000, making it easier to use.

[0082] In addition, this embodiment is configured to allow calls to be made via a mobile terminal S such as a smartphone, which makes it extremely convenient for communication at construction sites, etc. For example, by using a group call function such as Facebook (registered trademark) Messenger, it is easy to make regular contact with all workers at a construction site, or to make emergency contact when an emergency occurs. Furthermore, for example, at a construction site such as a tunnel construction site deep in the mountains, by installing a mobile base station for a mobile communication system, communication with the head office and communication between workers can be easily realized.

[0083] In addition to the call function of the mobile terminal S, other functions such as the audio playback function can also be utilized. For example, in the case of work that requires a single person to perform complicated steps, the steps can be recorded in advance as audio on the mobile terminal S, and then played back as audio at the site, allowing the worker to use both hands to perform the work according to the steps without missing a thing. Similarly, for example, the final inspection items for each task can be read out by the mobile terminal S, making it possible to carry out thorough inspections.

[0084] 3A, in this embodiment, a label 11 for displaying a company name, a control number, etc. can be attached to the surface of the main body 10, but this is not limiting. Instead of attaching the label 11, it is also possible to print directly on the surface of the main body 10. Furthermore, it is also possible to attach notes describing the work to be done that day and important points to be aware of when performing the work, so that all workers can be aware of the important points.

[0085] 12, in this embodiment, the helmet communication device 1 is configured to communicate via a mobile terminal S such as a smartphone, but is not limited to this. For example, if the communication unit 79 is provided with the functionality of a wireless device such as a regular intercom, it will be possible to communicate using the helmet communication device 1 alone.

[0086] (Second embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this second embodiment, like the first embodiment, the helmet communication device 1 has a main body 10 and a voice generating unit 20, but the structure and attachment position of the voice microphone 72 (voice microphone unit) are different. Below, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

[0087] 15 is a usage diagram showing a situation in which a user U wearing a helmet 1000 with a helmet communication device 1 attached to the left side of the helmet is making a call using the helmet communication device 1. Here, the audio microphone 72 is not built into the helmet communication device 1, but is attached externally to the helmet communication device 1.

[0088] That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the audio microphone 72 has a microphone arm portion 76, one end of the microphone arm portion 69 is fixed to the front lower portion of the audio generating unit 20, and the other end is configured to hold the audio microphone 62 near the mouth of the user U.

[0089] In this way, by using the arm portion 76 to hold the audio microphone 72 near the mouth of the user U, it becomes easier to capture the voice of the user U more reliably than with a built-in microphone, and the user U can speak in a quieter voice.

[0090] If the audio microphone 72 is placed near the mouth, the audio microphone 72 will move up and down across the face while being in contact with the face when the helmet 1000 is lifted. That is, when putting on or taking off the helmet 1000, it becomes necessary to move the audio microphone 72 from the mouth by, for example, flipping up the microphone arm portion 76.

[0091] (Third embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this third embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the helmet communication device 1 has a main body 10 and a voice generating unit 20, but the shape of the voice guide 24 is different. In the following, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, and only the different parts will be explained.

[0092] 16(A) is a perspective view of the helmet intercom 1 as seen from the front side, FIG. 16(B) is a perspective view as seen from the back side, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the DD cross section in FIG. 16(A). 18 is a graph showing frequency characteristics measured at a position 5 cm away from the sound generating unit 50 for the cylindrical sound guide 24 of the first embodiment, the parabolic sound guide 24 of this embodiment, and no sound guide 24. Note that this distance of 5 cm is the approximate distance from the sound generating unit 20 to the eardrum. Here, the voice band, which is the frequency range of the human voice, is said to be approximately 100 Hz to 1000 Hz.

[0093] 16(B) and 17, the voice guide 24 of this embodiment surrounds the sides and bottom of the voice generating unit 50 and opens roughly in the direction of the ears, similar to the first embodiment, but has a different cross-sectional shape. The voice guide 24 is spaced from the sides of the voice generating unit 20 so that its cross section forms a part of a roughly parabola. Here, the shape of this voice guide 24 is such that the cross section is a nearly parabolic shape like a drinking vessel, so it can be said that a parabolic voice guide is formed.

[0094] Here, in the voice guide 24 of this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the voice generated by the voice generating unit 50 is transmitted with directionality toward the ears of the user U by the voice guide 24. In addition, the voice guide 24 serves to reduce leakage of the generated voice to the outside, i.e., outside, thereby preventing the contents of the call from leaking to the outside.

[0095] 18, when the voice guide 24 of the first embodiment and the present embodiment is used, a large improvement of about 10 dB or more is observed in the 100 Hz to 1000 Hz range of the audio frequency band compared to when the voice guide 24 is not used. This shows that when the voice guide 24 is not used, only sounds above 2000 Hz are emphasized, resulting in a scratchy sound like a small radio, whereas when the voice guide 24 is used, the low-frequency parts of the audio frequency band are also clearly reproduced, resulting in an easy-to-listen-to sound.

[0096] As shown in Figure 18, comparing the voice guide 24 of the first embodiment and this embodiment, it can be seen that the first embodiment shows a greater improvement in the low-frequency range of the audio band, especially around 150 Hz, while the present embodiment shows a slightly more advantageous improvement in the high-frequency range. This is thought to be because low-frequency sounds tend to diffuse over distance, but the opening of the voice guide 24 of the first embodiment is smaller than that of this embodiment, making it less likely to diffuse, allowing the sound to reach farther. Also, it is thought that the parabolic shape of the voice guide 24 of the first embodiment is effective in the high-frequency range.

[0097] When listening to the sounds produced by the helmet communication devices 1 of the first and third embodiments using actual prototypes, it is clear that human voices sound natural and clear. This is thought to be due to factors such as increased sound pressure in the audio band, a richer sound due to the stronger bass in the audio band, and a more natural sound due to the inclusion of overtones. Furthermore, when music was played, it sounded normal, but with music containing vocals, the human voices were emphasized and clearly audible, while the instrumental sounds seemed to be slightly backed up and not emphasized. In any case, the fact that human voices sound natural and clear indicates that we have achieved an optimal audio generation unit 20 for a communication device.

[0098] That is, in normal use, the exciter 90 is configured to be fixed to a diaphragm with a large area to produce sound. However, it has been said that when fixed to a diaphragm with a small area, only high-pitched sounds can be produced. In fact, when the sound generating unit 50, which has a small diaphragm, is used without the voice guide 24, only sounds above 2000 Hz are emphasized. In the present invention, we have discovered that by providing a voice guide around the voice generating unit 50 to form the voice generating section 20, it is possible to produce sounds in the voice band of the human voice even with a diaphragm having a small area, and we have applied this configuration. Furthermore, because the sound generating unit 20 can be made small, it has become possible to form a small helmet communication device 1. The small helmet communication device 1 is unobtrusive and can be used effectively even when working in a narrow space.

[0099] (Fourth to Sixth Embodiments) Fourth to sixth embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 19(A), (B), and (C). In these embodiments, like the first embodiment, the helmet intercom 1 has a main body 10 and a sound generating unit 20, but the shapes and configurations of the sound generating unit 50 of the sound generating unit 20 and the sound guide 24 are different. In the following explanation, drawings and explanations of parts such as the main body 10 that are the same as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the different parts, the sound generating unit 50 and the sound guide 24, will be explained using schematic drawings. Also, for convenience of explanation, the upper part in the drawings will be explained as up and the lower part as down.

[0100] 19(A), (B), and (C) show fourth to sixth embodiments, respectively. The sound generating unit 50 of the sound generating section 20 in these embodiments is circular when viewed from above, and the exciter 90 housed in the sound generating unit 50 is also circular when viewed from above, but functions in the same way as the rectangular one in the first embodiment.

[0101] The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Figure 19(A), the sound generating unit 50 has a circular shape when viewed from above, a flat, thin, watertight, approximately cylindrical box shape with an inner space, and a circular shape. In the figure, the top surface is divided by a bellows-shaped diaphragm damper 53 made of an elastic material, and the inner diameter portion of the top surface forms a diaphragm 52 with an exciter 90 fixed to the back surface. The outer diameter portion, side surfaces, and bottom portion of the top diaphragm damper 53 form a diaphragm holding frame 57 (diaphragm holding portion), which is similar to the front frame 51 and rear frame 55 of the first embodiment. The sound generating unit 50 is fixed to the sound guide 24 via sound generating unit mounting dampers 56, 56 (second elastic body).

[0102] As shown in FIG. 19(A), the voice guide 24 has a shallow cylindrical shape with a bottom, surrounds the sides and bottom of the voice generating unit 20, and opens upward, approximately in the direction of the ears, forming a cylindrical voice guide. The voice guide 24 is spaced at a substantially uniform distance from the sides of the voice generating unit 20. The voice generated by the voice generating unit 50 is transmitted directionally toward the ears of the user U by the voice guide 24. The voice guide 24 also serves to reduce leakage of the generated voice to the outside, which prevents the contents of the call from leaking to the outside.

[0103] As explained above, in this embodiment, the exciter 90, the voice guide 24, and the voice generating unit 50 are all round when viewed from above. Of course, these shapes may be changed to various shapes, such as an elliptical or oblong shape. Furthermore, while the voice generating unit mounting dampers 56, 56 in this embodiment are shown as two elastic bodies, it is of course possible to use more than two, or to have a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0104] Furthermore, although the voice generating unit 50 and the top of the voice guide 24 are at approximately the same height, this is not limiting. For example, the height of the side of the voice guide 24 may be made higher. In this case, it is believed that the directivity will be further increased. Also, for example, the height of the side of the voice guide 24 may be made lower. In this case, it is believed that the directivity will be slightly lower, but of course, various changes may be made as necessary.

[0105] The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 19(B). This fifth embodiment has the same configuration as the fourth embodiment, so the same parts as those in the fourth embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanations are omitted, with only the different parts being explained.

[0106] As shown in Figure 19(B), sound generating unit 50 of this embodiment has a thin, approximately cylindrical box shape, just like the fourth embodiment, but the location where it is divided by diaphragm damper 53 is different. In the figure, the top surface and upper parts of the sides of the box form diaphragm 52, diaphragm damper 53 is located in the middle of the sides, and the lower parts of the sides and the underside form diaphragm holding frame 57. With this configuration, the entire top surface can be used as diaphragm 52 to be vibrated by exciter 90, making it possible to generate sound over a wider area.

[0107] As shown in Figure 19(B), the voice guide 24 is spaced apart from the sides of the voice generating unit 20 in a manner that increases as it approaches the top, and is shaped like a truncated cone. By gradually widening the shape of the voice guide 24 toward the opening in this way, it is believed that the peak of the bass part of the audio band is lowered, but the mid- and treble parts are slightly louder. Of course, it is also possible to gradually narrow the shape toward the opening. In this case, it is believed that the bass will reach farther and be emphasized.

[0108] The sound generated by the sound generating unit 50 is transmitted toward the ears of the user U by the sound guide 24. The sound guide 24 also serves to reduce leakage of the generated sound to the outside, which prevents the contents of the call from leaking to the outside.

[0109] The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since this sixth embodiment has the same configuration as the fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the fourth embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation is omitted, and only the different parts are explained.

[0110] As shown in Figure 19(C), like the fourth embodiment, the sound generating unit 50 of this embodiment has a thin, approximately cylindrical box shape, but the location where it is divided by the diaphragm damper 53 is different. In the figure, the outer diameter portions of the top, side, and bottom of the box form the diaphragm 52, the diaphragm damper 53 is located in the middle of the bottom, and the inner diameter portion of the bottom forms the diaphragm holding frame 57. With this configuration, the diaphragm damper 53 can be positioned so that it is not visible from the outside, and the diaphragm damper 53, which is made of a flexible elastic body, can be prevented from being damaged.

[0111] 19(C), the voice guide 24 has a structure in which the upper part is tilted in the same horizontal direction, which is to deliver more of the voice generated by the voice generating unit 20 when the ear of the user U is slightly tilted to the side. Of course, in addition to the side panels of the voice guide 24, it is also possible to direct the generated voice by arranging a louver-like member, for example, made up of multiple long, thin slats arranged in parallel and tilted, above the voice generating unit 50.

[0112] As shown in Figure 19(C), the center of the diaphragm holding frame 57 at the bottom of the sound generating unit 50 bulges downward, and furthermore, the center of the bottom surface of the sound guide 24 also bulges downward. By bulging the bottom downward in this way, the space above and below the center of the sound generating unit 50 is expanded, and this space can be used to mount a larger exciter 90. If the exciter 90 is made larger, power consumption will increase, but it will be possible to generate more powerful sound.

[0113] Although the fourth to sixth embodiments described above are modified versions of the first to third embodiments, it goes without saying that further modifications may be made. That is, in the above embodiment, the top of the voice guide 24 is entirely open and forms an opening, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the fourth embodiment, the height of the side of the audio guide 24 may be slightly increased, and the top surface may be formed by covering the top with a plate-like material with a hole. In this case, the area of ​​the opening is reduced, but it is thought that audio with a more emphasized bass portion can be obtained from the opening hole on the top surface.

[0114] Furthermore, although the bottom surface of the sound generating unit 50 in the fourth to sixth embodiments is simply a plate, it is not limited to this, and an acoustic part may be arranged here. For example, a so-called passive radiator type diaphragm may be disposed in the approximate center of the bottom surface of the sound generating unit 50 of the fourth to sixth embodiments, which is believed to further improve the sound generated.

[0115] Furthermore, although the sound generating units 50 of the fourth to sixth embodiments have been described as being watertight, the present invention is not limited to this. This is because watertightness is not necessary if the sound generating units 50 are intended for use indoors or inside a car. For example, a hole may be drilled in the approximate center of the bottom surface of the sound generating unit 50 of any of the fourth to sixth embodiments, and a through-hole may be drilled in the bottom surface of the sound guide 24 corresponding to this hole. By doing so, the sound generating unit 50 has a configuration similar to that of a so-called bass reflex speaker, and it is believed that the sound generated will be even better.

[0116] Furthermore, for example, in the sound generating units 50 of the fourth to sixth embodiments, the sound generating units 50 are configured from the diaphragm 52, the diaphragm damper 53, and the diaphragm holding frame 57, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the diaphragm damper 53 and the diaphragm holding frame 57 may be integrally formed from an elastic body to serve as both a single unit, with a hole provided on the top surface into which the diaphragm 52 is fitted or fixed with adhesive or the like. This configuration can reduce the number of parts. In this case, sound generating unit mounting dampers 56, 56 may also be added and integrally formed from an elastic body to serve as both a single unit.

[0117] In the above first to sixth embodiments, the helmet to which the helmet communication device 1 is attached has been described as being called a work helmet or an industrial protective helmet, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may of course be applied to bicycle helmets and half-cap helmets with ear protection used for small motorcycles, etc.

[0118] For example, there are services such as Uber Eats (registered trademark) that deliver meals ordered via smartphone, and the delivery personnel use bicycles or small motorcycles. If these delivery personnel use a helmet equipped with a helmet-mounted communication device 1, they can receive voice navigation and guidance to the delivery destination, and can also easily communicate with headquarters. Furthermore, the volume automatically adjusts for noisy roads and quiet residential areas, making it convenient to use. In addition, it can also be effectively utilized in other delivery industries that use small motorcycles, etc.

[0119] It may also be applied to sports helmets, for example. For example, in a snowboarding class, the instructor and students wear snowboard helmets. If the helmet communication device 1 is attached to these helmets, the group voice chat function can be used to share the instructor's instructions on the students' performances, questions from the students, and their answers with all participants. Some snowboarding helmets have earmuffs, but even in these cases, they are configured to allow outside sounds to be heard. It can also be effectively used in other sports such as skiing and skateboarding.

[0120] (Seventh embodiment) A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Unlike the first embodiment, this seventh embodiment is not a helmet communication device 1, but rather an application example that utilizes the voice generating unit 20 of the present invention, and relates to a neck-mounted communication device 2000 that can be used by a user U who is riding a bicycle and not wearing a helmet 1000. In the following, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanations will be omitted, with only the different parts being explained.

[0121] FIG. 20 shows a user U wearing the neck-mounted communication device 2000 of this embodiment around his neck, enjoying a call via a mobile terminal S. 20, the neck-hanging communication device 2000 is roughly C-shaped, with an opening located at the front of the neck, and is flexible so that it can be easily attached and detached from the neck. An audio microphone 72 is located inside the portion near the opening, and an external sound microphone 86 is located outside, so that the voice of the user U and external sounds can be captured, respectively.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 20, the neck-hanging communication device 2000 has sound generating units 20, 20 arranged on the left and right sides near the ears, facing substantially in the direction of the ears. In this way, by using the voice generating unit 20 of the present invention, it is possible to hear the voice of the person you are talking to clearly and naturally, and the part that generates the voice can be made smaller and lighter, and power consumption can also be reduced. In other words, the neck-mounted communication device 2000, which allows for comfortable calls, can be made smaller and lighter, and can be used for long periods of time.

[0123] This sound generating unit 20 can also be expressed as follows. A sound generating device using an exciter, the sound generating device having a sound generating unit and a sound guide, the sound generating unit having a diaphragm and an exciter fixed to the diaphragm to vibrate the diaphragm and generate sound, the sound guide surrounding the sides and bottom of the sound generating unit and having a predetermined distance from the sides of the sound generating unit.

[0124] As described above, the voice generating unit 20 can clearly produce natural human voices, and can also be made small, lightweight, and energy-efficient, so it can be used in a variety of applications. For example, it can be used as a wireless handheld speaker that allows elderly people to listen to the TV sound at their fingertips when watching TV. In particular, human voices are emphasized and heard clearly, making it possible to hear the conversations on TV programs clearly, making it a convenient application.

[0125] It can also be applied to a smart speaker, for example. When using the smart speaker as a secretary to read out schedules, emails, documents, etc., the voice generating unit 20, which emphasizes the human voice so that it can be heard clearly, is convenient to use. Of course, calls via the mobile terminal S can also be made hands-free. In this case, a speaker for playing music can be provided separately from the voice generating unit 20, and the voice generating unit 20 can be used exclusively for voice generation. This is because each can be used optimally.

[0126] Furthermore, for example, the sound generating unit 20 has strong directionality and good sound localization, making it convenient for use in games. For example, by placing multiple sound generating units 20 on either side of the head of a gaming chair, you can grasp the situation by sound, such as the footsteps of your opponents or the positions of your allies, giving you an advantage in the game.

[0127] The helmet communication 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-described embodiment, the helmet intercom is configured to be detachable from the helmet, but it may also be configured to be integrated with the helmet from the beginning. In this case, the side of the helmet shell is configured to extend slightly downward. By configuring it in this way, the number of components can be reduced, making it even simpler. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] U user S mobile device 1 Helmet intercom 10 Main body 11 Label 11 Mounting adapter engagement part 13 Guide rib 14 Locking claw guide recess 20 Sound generation unit 21 Bulge 22 Front coupling 23 Rear coupling 24 Audio Guide 25 Audio microphone hole 26 Drop prevention hole on the main body 30 Mounting adapter 31 Fixed surface 32 Adapter engaged part 33 Guide groove 34 Locking Claw 35 Fall prevention mounting adapter hole 36 Fall prevention cord 37 Connection lock part 40 Connection operation section 41 Communication Display 42 Power button 43 Charging display 44 Connection connector 45 External sound microphone hole 46 Audio microphone mute knob 47 Tarpaulin 48 Waterproof bushing 50 Voice Generation Unit 51 Front frame 52 diaphragm 53 Diaphragm damper 54 Fixed plate 55 rear frame 56 Sound generating unit mounting damper 57 Diaphragm Retaining Frame 60 outer case 61 Surface Case 62 Back case 63 Connection operation panel 64 O-ring 70 Electrical Department 71 Battery 72 Audio microphone 73 Electrical Components 74 Windshield foam 75 Audio microphone vibration isolation holder 76 Microphone arm 80 Main board 81 Control Section 82 Power supply section 83 Display section 84 Control section 85 Exciter drive unit 86 External sound microphone 87 Audio microphone signal processing section 88 External sound microphone signal processing unit 89 Communications Department 90 Exciter 91 Exciter Frame 92 Vibration transmission part 93 Damper 94 double-sided adhesive tape 95 coils 96 Terminal board 1000 helmets 1100 hat body 1200 chin strap

Claims

1. A helmet communication device configured to be attachable to a helmet so that a user wearing the helmet can make a call, The helmet communication device has a main body having a communication unit, and a voice generating unit and a voice microphone unit provided below the main body, the sound generating section has a sound generating unit having a diaphragm and an exciter fixed to the rear surface of the diaphragm to vibrate the diaphragm and generate sound, the diaphragm is positioned near the outside of at least one ear of the user; the diaphragm is oriented generally toward the ear and configured to transmit sound to the ear; the sound generating section has a sound guide that surrounds the sides and bottom of the sound generating unit and opens in the direction of the ear, The audio guide has a predetermined distance from the side of the audio generating unit. A communication device for a helmet.

2. the sound generating unit has a diaphragm holding portion separated from the diaphragm by a first elastic body, the exciter is held in a space formed by the diaphragm, the first elastic body, and the diaphragm holding portion, The diaphragm holding portion is fixed to the voice guide.

2. The helmet communication device according to claim 1.

3. the diaphragm holding portion is fixed to the voice guide via a second elastic body, The audio microphone unit is a built-in microphone housed inside the helmet communication device.

3. The helmet communication device according to claim 2.

4. The helmet has a cap body formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, The main body contains a battery that is a power source for the helmet communication device, When the helmet communication device is attached to the helmet, the main body is located approximately at the upper end of the side of the helmet body, and the sound generating unit provided at the lower part of the main body is located approximately at the lower end of the side of the helmet body.

4. The helmet communication device according to claim 1, wherein the helmet communication device is a communication device for a helmet.

5. The helmet intercom has an attachment portion for detachably attaching the helmet intercom to the helmet.

5. A helmet communication device according to claim 1, wherein the helmet communication device is a communication device for a helmet.

6. The helmet has a mounting portion corresponding to the mounting portion, and the mounting portion and the mounting portion are configured to be connectable with a string or wire.

6. The helmet communication device according to claim 5.

Images