WEARABLE SPEAKER SYSTEM

Abstract

Provided is a wearable speaker system that can obtain a higher sense of presence through reproduction of bass. A wearable speaker system includes an enclosure, in which a first speaker unit and a first opening portion that is an end of a first bass reflex duct are disposed in a first end region of the enclosure, in which a second speaker unit and a second opening portion that is an end of a second bass reflex duct are disposed in a second end region, in which each of the first and second speaker units and includes a speaker and a passive radiator that faces in an opposite direction from the speaker, and in which a space between the speaker and the passive radiator included in each of the first and second speaker units and is connected to a space in the enclosure.

Claims

1. A wearable speaker system comprising: a U-shaped enclosure, wherein a first speaker unit and an end of a first bass reflex duct are disposed in a first end region of the enclosure, wherein a second speaker unit and an end of a second bass reflex duct are disposed in a second end region of the enclosure, wherein each of the first and second speaker units includes a speaker and a passive radiator that faces in an opposite direction from the speaker, and wherein a space between the speaker and the passive radiator included in each of the first and second speaker units is connected to a space in the enclosure.

2. The wearable speaker system according to claim 1, wherein main body portions of the first and second bass reflex ducts intersect each other at a center portion of the enclosure.

3. The wearable speaker system according to claim 1, wherein the first end region and the second end region of the enclosure communicate with each other.

4. The wearable speaker system according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a partition that separates the first end region and the second end region of the enclosure into a plurality of spaces.

5. The wearable speaker system according to claim 1, wherein when the enclosure is hung on a neck of a listener, each of the end of the first bass reflex duct and the end of the second bass reflex duct is positioned below an ear of the listener.

6. The wearable speaker system according to claim 1, wherein when the enclosure is hung on a neck of a listener, each of the first and second speaker units is positioned on an upper chest of the listener.

7. The wearable speaker system according to claim 1, further comprising: a first cushioning member inside the U-shaped enclosure.

8. The wearable speaker system according to claim 5, further comprising: a second cushioning member between the first end region and the second end region of the enclosure, and the listener.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a front view of a wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a wearable speaker system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a wearable speaker system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are assumed to be the same configurations and the description thereof may be omitted. Moreover, although a plurality of embodiments are described, as long as a combination is possible, an embodiment can be implemented in arbitrary combinations.

Embodiment 1

[0032] FIG. 1 is a front view of a wearable speaker system 100 according to Embodiment 1. The wearable speaker system 100 includes an enclosure 101. The enclosure 101 is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front. A shape of the enclosure 101 when viewed from the front can also be expressed as a horseshoe shape, a reversed U-shape, or the like. The enclosure 101 includes portions extending from a center portion in both directions of a left diagonally downward direction and a right diagonally downward direction in FIG. 1, and portions extending downward in FIG. 1 from the portions toward both tips of the enclosure 101.

[0033] As one of usage states of the wearable speaker system 100, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 3, it is in a “state of being hung on the neck” in which a center portion of the enclosure 101 is positioned behind the neck of a listener, and other portions of the enclosure 101 are positioned diagonally left and right forward from the back of the neck of the listener through both sides of the neck. Hereinafter, a left-right direction and a left-right relationship regarding the wearable speaker system 100 will be respectively described as a left-right direction and a left-right relationship for a listener in a state in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung on the neck (this is consistent with the fact that the “left ear” and the “right ear” of the listener are determined by the left and right for the listener). Therefore, in the following description, the left-right direction and the left-right relationship with respect to the drawing may be an opposite direction and opposite relationship to each other.

[0034] A portion of the enclosure 101 having a prescribed length from a left tip of both tips thereof is referred to as a first end region (left end region), and a portion of the enclosure 101 having a prescribed length from a right tip of the both tips is referred to as a second end region (right end region). In the enclosure 101, a first speaker unit 102.sub.L and a first opening portion 104.sub.L that is an end of a first bass reflex duct are disposed in this order from the left tip, and a second speaker unit 102.sub.R and an opening portion 104.sub.R that is an end of a second bass reflex duct are disposed in this order from the right tip. A length (the “prescribed length from the left tip of the both tips of the enclosure 101”) of the first end region (left end region) of the enclosure 101 is defined as a length sufficient to include the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the first opening portion 104.sub.L. A length (the “prescribed length from the right tip of the both tips of the enclosure 101”) of the second end region (right end region) of the enclosure 101 is defined as a length sufficient to include the second speaker unit 102.sub.R and the second opening portion 104.sub.R.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a sectional view in a middle from the tip of the first end region (left end region) of the enclosure 101 to the center portion, taken along sectional line I-I in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a part of the enclosure 101, a cross section of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L, and a cross section of the first opening portion 104.sub.L. In addition, since the sectional view in the middle from the tip of the second end region (right end region) of the enclosure 101 to the center portion can also be obtained by reversing the left and right in the illustration of FIG. 2, the illustration will be omitted.

[0036] The first speaker unit 102.sub.L includes a speaker 103.sub.L having an opening upward in FIG. 2 and a passive radiator 105.sub.L having an opening downward in FIG. 2. In other words, the passive radiator 105.sub.L is provided on a back surface of the speaker 103.sub.L. Further, the first speaker unit 102.sub.L includes the speaker 103.sub.L and the passive radiator 105.sub.L that faces in the opposite direction from the speaker 103.sub.L. The speaker 103.sub.L includes a frame 103a forming the speaker 103.sub.L, a magnetic circuit 103b supported by the frame 103a, and a diaphragm 103c connected to the magnetic circuit 103b and the frame 103a. The magnetic circuit 103b includes a magnet and a voice coil (not illustrated). The voice coil is connected to a cable (not illustrated), and vibrates the diaphragm 103c according to a signal supplied to the cable to generate sound.

[0037] The passive radiator 105.sub.L includes a frame 105a that forms the passive radiator 105.sub.L and a diaphragm 105c that is connected to the frame 105a. The passive radiator 105.sub.L generates sound by vibrating the diaphragm 105c in accordance with a change in the atmospheric pressure in the first speaker unit 102.sub.L due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L. As described above, the diaphragm 105c of the passive radiator 105.sub.L vibrates in accordance with the change in the atmospheric pressure, and does not directly vibrate by the magnetic circuit. Therefore, the passive radiator 105.sub.L mainly radiates bass having a low frequency of the change in the atmospheric pressure, in the sound generated by the speaker 103.sub.L, out of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L.

[0038] Therefore, even if the speaker 103.sub.L has a small caliber, the bass is emphasized and reproduced by the passive radiator 105.sub.L disposed facing in the opposite direction from the back surface of the speaker 103.sub.L, and the listener can obtain a high sense of presence.

[0039] In the present embodiment, a space in the enclosure 101 is connected to a space between the speaker 103.sub.L and the passive radiator 105.sub.L. In addition, a hollow space (internal space) that communicates the first end region (left end region) and the second end region (right end region) with each other is formed in the enclosure 101. Therefore, the change in the atmospheric pressure in the first speaker unit 102.sub.L due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L is also transmitted to the internal space of the enclosure 101. Therefore, the enclosure 101 also vibrates according to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L, and can generate a certain amount of sound. Similarly, the change in the atmospheric pressure in the second speaker unit 102.sub.R due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.R is also transmitted to the internal space of the enclosure 101. Therefore, the enclosure 101 also vibrates according to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.R, and can generate a certain amount of sound.

[0040] In addition, since the space in the enclosure 101 communicates with the first end region (left end region) and the second end region (right end region), the change in the atmospheric pressure due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L can reach the second speaker unit 102.sub.R. Therefore, the change in the atmospheric pressure due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L affects the vibration of the diaphragm of the passive radiator (not illustrated) of the second speaker unit 102.sub.R. Similarly, the change in the atmospheric pressure due to the vibration of the diaphragm of the speaker 103.sub.R of the second speaker unit 102.sub.R reaches the first speaker unit 102.sub.L, and affects the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the passive radiator 105.sub.L of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L. Therefore, when comparing between a case of the headphones that block both ears of the related art and a case of the wearable speaker system 100, even if the sound is audible only to the left ear in the case of the headphones or the related art, in the case of the wearable speaker system 100, some components are also generated from the passive radiator of the second speaker unit 102.sub.R. In addition, even when the sound is audible only to the right ear in the case of the headphones of the related art, in the case of the wearable speaker system 100, some components are also generated from the passive radiator 105.sub.L of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L. Therefore, since the left and right sounds are mixed and reproduced from the left and right speakers and heard even if the left and right sounds are not equal, the listener can feel that a localization position of a sound image is positioned in front of the head of the listener, and the sense of presence can be enhanced.

[0041] A cable for driving the speaker 103.sub.L may be disposed in the internal space in the enclosure 101. In addition, a driving circuit and a driving power source for supplying a signal to the cable and driving the speaker 103.sub.L may be disposed in the internal space.

[0042] Further, as described above, the first opening portion 104.sub.L is an end of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L. The other end of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L extends from the first speaker unit 102.sub.L toward the space in the enclosure 101. Therefore, when the atmospheric pressure inside the enclosure 101 changes according to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L, entering and exiting of air from the first opening portion 104.sub.L via the other end of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L are generated. The listener can feel bass by the entering and exiting of the air.

[0043] In FIG. 2, a height of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and a height of the enclosure 101 are illustrated different from each other, but at the same height, the sense of unity between the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the enclosure 101 can be further increased, and a decorative effect that makes the wearer of the wearable speaker system 100 look aesthetic can be obtained. In FIG. 1, widths of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the second speaker unit 102.sub.R in a lateral direction are different from a width of the enclosure 101, but it is also possible to make the widths of the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the second speaker unit 102.sub.R in a lateral direction the same as the width of the enclosure 101.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a state (state of being hung on the neck) in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung on the neck of the listener, the first end region and the second end region of the enclosure 101 are positioned in front of the neck, and the center portion of the enclosure 101 is positioned in the back of the neck. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a case in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung on the neck of the listener, the first speaker units 102.sub.L and 102.sub.R are preferably positioned in a portion of an upper chest portion of the listener. For example, the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the second speaker unit 102.sub.R are preferably positioned on the clavicle or an upper portion of the breast. Therefore, in a case in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung with openings of the speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R facing upward, the listener can feel the vibration of the bass emitted from the passive radiators 105.sub.L and 105.sub.R with his/her body. Further, since a part of the enclosure 101 is also in contact with the back of the neck and the upper chest of the listener, the vibration of the enclosure 101 due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of each of the speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R, and the sound generated by the vibration can be felt by the body. Since the enclosure 101 is disposed so as to surround the neck of the listener, the listener can feel that the vibration of the enclosure 101 and the sound generated by the vibration are emitted from surroundings of the body, and it is possible to obtain a higher sense of presence.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a case in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung on the neck of the listener, it is preferable that the first opening portion 104.sub.L and the second opening portion 104.sub.R are respectively positioned below ears Y.sub.L and Y.sub.R of the listener. Therefore, the listener can listen the bass generated by the entering and exiting of air from the first opening portion 104.sub.L via the main body portion from the other end of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.L. In addition, the listener can hear the bass generated by the entering and exiting of air from the second opening portion 104.sub.R via the main body portion from the other end of the second bass reflex duct due to the vibration of the diaphragm 103c of the speaker 103.sub.R. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a higher sense of presence.

[0046] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the bass can be reproduced, and the listener can obtain a higher sense of presence by the speaker 103.sub.L and the passive radiator 105.sub.L, the speaker 103.sub.R and the passive radiator 105.sub.R, and the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R.

[0047] Further, even in a state in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung on the neck, unlike the headphones, the ears of the listener are not blocked. Therefore, since the sound image is not localized in the head of the listener, there is little feeling of fatigue. In addition, since the ears of listener are not blocked, the listener can hear surrounding sounds, so that attention can be paid to the surroundings in order to avoid dangers. Moreover, since the wearable speaker system 100 is in a state of being hung on the neck, the wearable speaker system 100 is worn at a position close to the ears. Therefore, a sound field does not change even when the listener moves, and a sufficient sound pressure can be obtained even at a low volume.

[0048] A use scene of the wearable speaker system 100 of the present embodiment as described above includes a scene of listening to music or the like in combination with a music playback device, a smartphone, or a tablet-type terminal, or watching, with sound, a video displayed on a screen of the smartphone or the tablet terminal. In addition, by the wearable speaker system 100, it is also possible to reproduce TV sound that is difficult to hear due to a decline in hearing ability in the ears of elderly people or the like. In addition, it is possible to obtain a high sense of presence through vision and hearing by being combined with a virtual reality or augmented reality system.

Embodiment 2

[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 are front perspective views of a wearable speaker system 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention as respectively viewed from the front.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating main body portions of a first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and a second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R by dotted lines. Lengths of main body portions of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R can be arbitrarily selected according to which range in a low frequency region of the sound emitted from speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R is to be emphasized. In general, when the lengths of the main body portions of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R are made longer, the lower frequency range is emphasized.

[0051] In addition, the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R may be related to a sound localization position as described below. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the lengths of the main body portions of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R are further increased, and other ends 107.sub.L and 107.sub.R may be positioned exceeding a center portion of an enclosure 101. In other words, the main body portions of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R may intersect each other in a region including a center portion of the enclosure 101.

[0052] According to such a configuration of the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R, the first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L causes a change in the atmospheric pressure corresponding to the sound generated by the second speaker unit 102.sub.R to be guided to the first opening portion 104.sub.L, and the second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R causes the change in the atmospheric pressure corresponding to the sound generated by the first speaker unit 102.sub.L to be guided to the second opening portion 104.sub.R. Therefore, entering and exiting of the air, corresponding to the sound generated by the second speaker unit 102.sub.R, are generated from the first opening portion 104.sub.L, and entering and exiting of the air, corresponding to the sound generated by the first speaker unit 102.sub.L, are generated from the second opening portion 104.sub.R.

[0053] Therefore, since the listener hears the sound in a state in which the sound heard on the right ear is mixed with the sound heard on the left ear, and the sound heard on the left ear is mixed with the sound on the right ear, the sound is heard. Therefore, the sound is heard as the sound localization position is moved forward, and it is possible to obtain a higher sense of presence than that in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4.

Embodiment 3

[0054] FIGS. 6 and 7 are front perspective views of a wearable speaker system 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, as viewed from the front.

[0055] In FIGS. 6 and 7, portions disposed inside an enclosure 101 are indicated by dotted lines. For example, in FIG. 6, main body portions of a first bass reflex duct 106.sub.L and a second bass reflex duct 106.sub.R are indicated by dotted lines, and a partition 108 is indicated by a dotted line in a center portion of the enclosure 101.

[0056] The partition 108 is a member that partitions an internal space of the enclosure 101. Due to the partition 108, an internal space of the enclosure 101 is separated into two spaces of an internal space 108.sub.1 on a first end region (left end region) side and an internal space 108.sub.2 on a second end region (right end region) side. The internal space 108.sub.1 is connected to a first opening portion 104.sub.L and a first speaker unit 102.sub.L, and the internal space 108.sub.2 is connected to a second opening portion 104.sub.R and a second speaker unit 102.sub.R. Therefore, a change in the atmospheric pressure in the internal space 108.sub.1 is not transmitted to the internal space 108.sub.2, and a change in the atmospheric pressure in the internal space 108.sub.2 is not transmitted to the internal space 108.sub.1.

[0057] Therefore, a so-called sharp sound due to enhancement of left and right separation characteristics, by the partition 108, of the sound generated by the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the second speaker unit 102.sub.R can be heard.

[0058] A plurality of partitions 108 can be disposed. Therefore, the internal space 108.sub.1 and the internal space 108.sub.2 can be adjusted to a length that is half or less of the enclosure 101.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which two partitions 108.sub.L and 108.sub.R are disposed in the enclosure 101. Between the two partitions 108.sub.L and 108.sub.R, a driving power source and a driving circuit for driving speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R, and an input unit of an external sound source can be disposed. For example, if a phone jack is provided in the enclosure 101 as an input unit of an external sound source, entering and exiting of the air can be generated via the phone jack, so that acoustic characteristics of the wearable speaker system 100 may change. However, it is possible to prevent a change in acoustic characteristics by providing a phone jack between the partitions 108.sub.L and 108.sub.R.

Embodiment 4

[0060] FIG. 8 is a front view of a wearable speaker system 100 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. A difference from the previous embodiments is that a neck cushioning member 109 is formed by cushioning materials 110.sub.L, 110.sub.C and 110.sub.R inside a U-shape of the enclosure 101. The neck cushioning member 109 may be referred to as a first cushioning member.

[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a state in which the wearable speaker system 100 is hung on the neck, the neck cushioning member 109 reduces the vibration of the enclosure 101 generated by the vibration of respective diaphragms 103b of speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R, and prevents the vibration of the enclosure 101 from being directly transmitted to the listener. When medium and high sounds are emitted from the first speaker unit 102.sub.L and the second speaker unit 102.sub.R, and the vibration due to the medium and high sounds is transmitted to the back of the neck of the listener via the enclosure 101, the listener may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, by transmitting the vibration due to the medium and high sounds to the listener via the neck cushioning member 109, which is attenuated by the cushioning materials 110.sub.L, 110.sub.C, and 110.sub.R, it is possible to remove the uncomfortable feeling of the listener due to the medium and high sounds. As a material of the cushioning material, for example, an expandable and contractible material such as rubber, polyurethane foam, or a spring can be used.

Embodiment 5

[0062] FIG. 9 is a left side view of a wearable speaker system 100 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. A difference from the previous embodiments is that a chest cushioning member 111.sub.L is provided on a lower surface of a first end region of an enclosure 101 via cushioning materials 112.sub.L and 113.sub.L. Although a right side view of the wearable speaker system 100 is not illustrated in FIG. 9, a right side surface of the wearable speaker system 100 can have the same structure as that viewed from a left side surface. The chest cushioning member may be referred to as a second cushioning member.

[0063] When the wearable speaker system 100 is in a state of being hung on the neck as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cushioning materials 112.sub.L and 113.sub.L reduce the vibration of the enclosure 101 generated by the vibration of a diaphragm 106b of each of speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R, and prevents the vibration of the enclosure 101 from being directly transmitted to a portion of the upper chest of the listener. When medium and high sounds are emitted from the speakers 103.sub.L and 103.sub.R, the listener may feel uncomfortable when the vibration due to the medium and high sounds is transmitted to the upper chest of the listener via the enclosure 101. Therefore, by transmitting the medium and high sounds to the listener via the chest cushioning member 111.sub.L, the bass can be mainly transmitted to the listener via the chest cushioning member 111.sub.L, thereby removing the discomfort feeling of the listener. As a material of the cushioning material, for example, an expandable and contractible material such as rubber, polyurethane foam, or a spring can be used.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0064] 100 wearable speaker system

[0065] 101 enclosure

[0066] 102.sub.L, 102.sub.R speaker unit

[0067] 103.sub.L, 103.sub.R speaker

[0068] 104.sub.L first opening portion

[0069] 104.sub.R second opening portion

[0070] 103a speaker frame

[0071] 103b magnetic circuit (permanent magnet and voice coil)

[0072] 103c diaphragm

[0073] 105a passive radiator frame

[0074] 105c diaphragm

[0075] 106.sub.L bass reflex duct