Patent Translate Powered by EPO and Google Notice This translation is machine-generated. It cannot be guaranteed that it is intelligible, accurate, complete, reliable or fit for specific purposes. Critical decisions, such as commercially relevant or financial decisions, should not be based on machine-translation output. DESCRIPTION JP2006304020 PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external sound perception apparatus capable of improving the sense of direction of a perceived sound. An external sound perception apparatus for perceiving external sound by ultrasonic vibration, which modulates a carrier signal based on directional microphones 10 and 10 to which the external sound is input, and an input sound signal. And the transducers 31, 31 for transmitting ultrasonic vibration to the living body based on the vibration signal, and the directional microphone 10 and the vibrator 31 are associated with each other. A plurality of ultrasonic vibrations are respectively transmitted from the corresponding transducers based on the external sound input to the directional microphones, and the vibration signal generation unit 20 receives the ultrasonic vibrations from the directional microphones. It is configured to be able to perform unique modulation for each external sound. [Selected figure] Figure 2 External sound perception device [0001] The present invention relates to an external sound perception apparatus for perceiving external sound by ultrasonic vibration. [0002] A hearing aid for the deaf person is known as an external sound perception device for perceiving external sounds. 03-05-2019 1 Hearing aids include air-conduction-type hearing aids in which the vibration of sound is transmitted to the brain's auditory organs via the tympanic membrane, and bone-conduction-type hearing aids in which sound vibration is transmitted directly to the human body from the skull or the like without tympanic membrane. The vibrator is attached to a predetermined part of the human body and used. [0003] Recently, a configuration has been known in which external sound can be perceived by transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the auditory organs of the brain via a transducer. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an external sound perception apparatus configured to transmit ultrasonic signals from a plurality of transducers based on external sound input to a microphone. JP 2004-343302 A [0004] The sound image of bone conduction ultrasound may change significantly due to a subtle difference in the mounting position of the transducer. Therefore, the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to generate different vibration signals for each of the transducers, thereby making it possible to detect the sound sensing state (regardless of the attachment position of the transducers to the living body). The perceptual state of the external sound is optimized. However, since the conventional external sound perception apparatus can not obtain the sense of direction of the sound source even if a good sound sensing state is obtained, there is room for further improvement in this respect. [0005] Then, this invention aims at provision of the external sound perception apparatus which can improve the sense of direction of a perceived sound. [0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a directional microphone to which an external sound is input, a vibration signal generation means for generating a vibration signal by modulating a carrier signal based on the input sound signal, and the vibration signal. And a plurality of directional microphones and a plurality of transducers are provided in association 03-05-2019 2 with each other, and based on the external sound input to each of the directional microphones, An ultrasonic vibration is transmitted from each of the corresponding transducers, and the vibration signal generation unit is configured to be able to perform unique modulation for each external sound input from each of the directional microphones. Achieved by a sound perception device. [0007] In this external sound perception apparatus, preferably, the vibration signal generation unit is configured to be able to perform amplitude modulation by changing the frequency of the carrier signal for each of the directional microphones. [0008] Further, the vibration signal generation means may be configured to be able to perform modulation by a different modulation method for each of the directional microphones. [0009] In these external sound perception apparatuses, preferably, the vibration signal generation unit includes an input unit capable of inputting a modulation condition for performing unique modulation for each external sound. [0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an external sound perception apparatus capable of improving the sense of direction of a perceived sound. [0011] Hereinafter, the actual mode of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an external sound perception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof. 03-05-2019 3 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the external sound perception apparatus generates a vibration signal based on a plurality of directional microphones 10, 10 to which an external sound is input, and an input sound signal. 20, and a plurality of vibration transmission units 30, 30 for transmitting mechanical vibration based on the vibration signal. [0012] The plurality of directional microphones 10 are attached to a casing 20 a in which the vibration signal generation unit 20 is accommodated. The mounting of the directional microphones 10, 10 is fixed so that the main axis directions of the respective directivity are different in the present embodiment, but each main axis direction may be mounted so as to be adjustable. The external sound input to each of the directional microphones 10 and 10 is input to the vibration signal generation unit 20 after amplification processing is performed. [0013] The vibration signal generation unit 20 includes carrier signal generation units 22 and 22 that generate a carrier signal, input units 24 and 24 that can input the frequency, amplitude, timing (phase) and modulation method of the carrier signal, and the directional microphone 10. 10, and carrier signal modulators 26, 26 for generating a vibration signal by modulating the carrier signal based on the sound signals input from 10, 10, and individually for each input sound of the directional microphones 10, 10. Generate a vibration signal. [0014] The input unit 24 includes an individually adjustable volume switch 24a so that the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the carrier signal can be continuously changed, and further, a dial switch 24b for selecting a modulation scheme. Is equipped. As selectable modulation methods, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, etc. may be mentioned, and further, as types of amplitude modulation, for example, 03-05-2019 4 double side band (DSB), single side band (suppressed carrier) (SSB), etc. Can be selected. [0015] The frequency of the carrier signal is preferably 20 to 100 kHz, more preferably 20 to 50 kHz, which is an ultrasonic wave range, so that even a high-grade deaf person can obtain a good sound sensing state. Therefore, it is preferable that the input unit 24 be able to adjust the frequency of the carrier signal in a range including a part or all of the above frequency range. [0016] The vibration transfer units 30, 30 each include a vibrator for transmitting a vibration signal to the outside as mechanical vibration, and each vibrator is associated with each of the plurality of directional microphones 10, 10, and any one of the directivity is The external sound input to the sexual microphone 10 is transmitted from the corresponding vibrator. [0017] As shown in FIG. 3, each vibration transmitting unit 30 includes a cylindrical case 32 in which the vibrator 31 is accommodated, and is configured by attaching a suction disk 34 to the opening edge of the case 32. [0018] The vibrator 31 is supported swingably around two axes orthogonal to each other by a gimbal mechanism. That is, the vibrator 31 is fixed to the first frame 40 so as to expose the vibration surface, and the first frame 40 is fixed to the second frame 44 through the first support shaft 42. It is swingably supported. The second frame 44 is swingably supported inside the case 32 via a second support shaft 46 03-05-2019 5 orthogonal to the first support shaft 42. The vibrating surface of the vibrator 31 slightly protrudes from the opening of the case 32, and when the suction disk 34 is adsorbed to a predetermined attachment site, the vibrating surface of the vibrator 31 is configured to contact and press the adsorption surface. It is done. A communication hole 32a is formed at the center of the bottom of each case 32 (the upper part in the figure), and a spherical bag-like body 48 is connected to the communication hole 32a. The bag-like body 48 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber material, and is configured to be elastically deformable by pressing. The internal space of the bag-like body 48 is in communication with the inside of the case 32 through the communication hole 32a. [0019] Next, the operation of the external sound perception apparatus will be described. First, the plurality of vibration transmitting units 30, 30 are attached to predetermined portions of the human body (for example, in the vicinity of the left and right mastoid projections). Each vibrator 31 can be reliably brought into contact with the human body by the gimbal mechanism by pressing the suction cup 34 against a predetermined portion in a state where the bag-like body 48 is picked by hand. After that, when the hand which has been picked up is released, the inside of the case 32 becomes a negative pressure by the shape restoring force of the bag-like body 48 and the adsorption force is obtained, so that the attachment of the vibrator 31 can be ensured. [0020] Thereafter, when the switch of the external sound perception apparatus is turned on and an external sound is input to the directional microphones 10, 10, a sound signal is input from the directional microphones 10, 10 to the vibration signal generation unit 20. The directional microphones 10, 10 have different principal axes of directivity, so the input sensitivity to the same sound source is different. [0021] In the vibration signal generation unit 20, the carrier signal generation units 22, 22 generate a carrier signal having a predetermined amplitude and frequency, and the carrier signal 03-05-2019 6 modulation units 26, modulate the carrier signal based on the sound signal. Thus, the vibration signal corresponding to the input sound to each directional microphone 10, 10 is generated. At this time, mutually different modulation conditions are input through the input unit 24 so that the carrier signal modulation units 26, 26 perform unique modulation for each input sound to the directional microphones 10, 10, respectively. . For example, the frequency of the carrier signal can be set to be different for each of the directional microphones 10 and 10, and the modulation scheme can perform unique modulation as the same double sideband amplitude modulation. Alternatively, the carrier signals may have the same frequency, and the modulation schemes may be different from each other (for example, one may be double side band amplitude modulation and the other may be suppressed carrier amplitude modulation) to perform unique modulation. The vibration signal generated in this manner is output to the corresponding vibration transmission units 30, 30, respectively. [0022] The vibration transmitting units 30, 30 vibrate the vibrators 31, 31 based on the input vibration signal. As a result, based on the external sound input to each of the directional microphones 10, ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the human body from the corresponding vibration transmitting unit 30, 30, respectively. The carrier signal modulation unit 26 controls so as not to output the vibration signal during a period in which the sound signal is not input. [0023] According to the external sound perception apparatus of the present embodiment, the vibration signal generation unit 20 is configured to be able to perform unique modulation for each external sound input from each of the directional microphones 10 and 10. Each modulation condition is set in advance so that the difference in "hearing (tone)" of ultrasonic vibration transmitted from each vibration transmitting unit 30, 30 can be recognized, and directional microphones 10, 10 corresponding to each "hearing". The user can determine which directional microphone 10 the perceived ultrasound signal has been input from by the user grasping. For example, when the modulation scheme is double-sided band amplitude modulation, both the carrier wave pitch and the demodulated signal wave pitch are perceived simultaneously, while when the modulation scheme is suppressed carrier amplitude modulation, the carrier wave Since the pitch of H is not perceived but only the pitch corresponding to twice the frequency of the original signal wave is perceived, the difference in "hearing" can be determined with certainty. As a result, the user can reliably recognize the direction of the sound source such as voice and environmental sound, which is effective, for example, when working at a disaster site or a 03-05-2019 7 construction site or driving a vehicle such as an automobile. [0024] In the present embodiment, although the positional deviation of the vibrator 31 over time can be effectively prevented by the above configuration of the vibration transmission unit 30, the sound pressure distribution in the head is determined by the attachment position of each vibrator 31. It is difficult to correctly attach each transducer 31 to a portion where the sensory change state is optimum, because it changes significantly due to a slight difference of Therefore, after each transducer 31 is attached, the frequency, phase, amplitude, etc. of the carrier signal corresponding to each transducer 31 are adjusted by the operation of the input unit 24, and the positions of belly and nodes generated by the interference of ultrasonic waves are controlled. Alternatively, it is preferable to optimize the sound sensing state by focusing the ultrasonic waves and locally increasing the sound pressure. When the carrier signal frequency is set to be different for each of the directional microphones 10 and 10 as the modulation condition, the adjustment of the carrier signal in the adjustment of the sound sensing state is performed so that the sense of direction of the perceived sound is not lost. Preferably the frequency is not changed. [0025] Although the specific method for optimizing the sound sensing state is not particularly limited, for example, the following method can be mentioned. First, the amplitudes of the ultrasonic waves emitted from the plurality of transducers 31 are set to be smaller, and are appropriately attached to the mastoid so that the sound sensing state becomes substantially good. Perform positioning. Then, the frequency and the phase of each transducer 31 are adjusted and determined so that the sound sensing state becomes better. For example, when two vibrators 31 are attached and used, the frequency of the carrier signal corresponding to each vibrator 31 is simultaneously changed to set the frequency at which the sound sensing state becomes the best. After that, by setting the phase of the carrier signal corresponding to each transducer 31 in the same manner, the optimum frequency and phase of the carrier signal can be individually obtained for each transducer 31. Can be optimized. The setting of the frequency and the phase may be first. Finally, the amplitude is set to the desired magnitude so as to obtain the desired arousal state. [0026] 03-05-2019 8 As a method of optimizing the sound sensing state, other than this, the carrier signal corresponding to the other transducer 31 is maintained while the frequency, phase and amplitude of the carrier signal corresponding to one transducer 31 are maintained at predetermined values. It is also possible to optimize the perceptual state by sequentially changing the frequency, phase and amplitude of. In this case, the frequency, phase and amplitude of the carrier signal corresponding to the at least one vibrator 31 may be adjustable at the input unit 24. [0027] In any case, by adjusting the frequency, phase and amplitude of the carrier signal in a state where the difference in "hearing" can be determined with certainty, it is possible to obtain both a good sound sensing state and a sense of direction. [0028] As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention was explained in full detail, the concrete mode of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, two directional microphones 10 and 10 are used to perform unique modulation on each input sound, but the directional microphone and the vibration transmission corresponding thereto are used. The number of parts is not particularly limited as long as it is plural. For example, when this external sound perception apparatus is installed in an automobile, the four directional microphones are fixed to the vehicle so that the principal axes of directivity are forward, backward, rightward, and leftward, respectively, and each input is The sound may be uniquely modulated and then transmitted to the human body via the corresponding four vibration transmitters. This makes it possible to reliably grasp the direction of a sound source such as a siren of an emergency vehicle that needs to be recognized during driving. [0029] Further, in the present embodiment, although the modulation condition can be input through the input unit 24, the modulation condition suitable for the user is determined in advance and the 03-05-2019 9 data is stored in a memory or the like. Alternatively, the input unit 24 may not be provided. Further, the input of the change condition from the input unit 24 is not limited to the manual operation, but may be configured such that the result of measurement and calculation by another device is automatically input. [0030] First, in order to investigate whether the subject can distinguish the presenting site of the ultrasonic bone conduction sound, the brain magnetic field (MEG) when the bone conduction ultrasonic stimulation is presented to the left and right mastoid according to the oddball task is It measured. The application of bone conduction ultrasound stimulation was performed by 30 kHz ultrasound amplitude-modulated (100% modulation rate) with a tone burst of frequency 1 kHz (duration 30 ms, rise and fall times 10 ms each), and one side of the mastoid and When the low frequency stimulus (presentation probability 10%) and high frequency stimulus (presentation probability 90%) are given to the other side respectively, the brain magnetic field when the right side is low frequency stimulus (the left side is high frequency stimulus) and Was compared with the case of low frequency stimulation (high frequency stimulation on the right). [0031] FIG. 4 (a) shows the waveform of the brain magnetic field measured in the right side head of the subject for each of the low frequency stimulation and the high frequency stimulation. In all cases, the N1m response was observed about 100 ms after the presentation of the stimulus, but the low frequency stimulus had a larger amplitude of the N1m response and a mismatch response was observed. For comparison, when the same measurement was performed with a bone conduction audible sound at a frequency of 2 kHz, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), also in this case, a mismatch reaction was observed at the same latency. [0032] From the above, it is objective that the two bone conduction ultrasound stimulations can be discriminated as in the case of the bone conduction audible sound and that the subject can discriminate the presentation site (presentation side) of the ultrasound bone conduction sound. It was possible to clarify. [0033] 03-05-2019 10 Next, in order to check whether or not the input sound itself presented to the mastoid can be discriminated, the frequency of the carrier signal is made to be different for each directional microphone 10, 10 as the modulation condition in the above embodiment of the present invention When the modulation method is the same both-sideband amplitude modulation, the relationship between the frequency of the sinusoidal bone conduction sound and the pitch (the subjective sound pitch) is It measured against. [0034] The pitch is measured in a non-acoustic room, and a piezoelectric ceramic vibrator is fixed to the mastoid on one side of the subject with a headband to present bone conduction sound, while the other side is air-guided through headphones. When the sound is presented and the bone conduction sound of each frequency of 16k, 20k, 24k, 28k, 32k, 36k and 40k (Hz) is presented, the frequency of the air conduction sound which makes the pitch equal is adjusted. It is determined by a method of changing the frequency of air conduction sound by dial adjustment or the like. The measurement was performed twice by switching the presenting side of the bone conduction sound and the air conduction sound, and the average value of these two times was calculated for each subject. The results are shown in FIG. [0035] As shown in FIG. 5, in the ultrasonic frequency band, there is no monotonically increasing relationship between the bone conduction frequency and the pitch as in the case of an audible sound, and furthermore, the variation pattern is seen depending on the subject However, in any of the test subjects, it can be seen that the pitch fluctuates 1 to 2 kHz up and down with the increase of the bone conduction frequency. If there is a pitch fluctuation of this degree, the test subject can easily distinguish the difference. Therefore, in an actual product, a bone conduction sound frequency in which the pitch difference can be easily distinguished is selected in advance, and the selected bone is selected. By making the sound induction frequency the frequency of the carrier signal, the inputs from the plurality of transducers can be clearly distinguished. 03-05-2019 11 [0036] It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the external sound perception apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the said external sound perception apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the vibration transmission part in the said external sound perception apparatus. It is a figure which shows the experimental result for verifying the effect of the external sound perception apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other experimental result for verifying the effect of the external sound perception apparatus shown in FIG. Explanation of sign [0037] 10 directional microphone 20 vibration signal generation unit 22 carrier signal generation unit 24 input unit 26 carrier signal modulation unit 30 vibration transmission unit 31 vibrator 03-05-2019 12
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