Audio information transmitting apparatus and the method thereof, and a vibrator holding structure

• US 20040183690A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Government of Japan)
• Original Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Government of Japan)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Masahiko, Nakagawa, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

An audio information transmitting apparatus for transmitting audio information to a human body, comprises an audio signal generating unit in which an audio signal is generated based on inputted audio, an audio information recognizing unit in which the audio signal is recognized as audio information, a vibration signal generating unit in which a vibration signal is generated based on the audio information, a vibration transmitter for transmitting mechanical vibration based on the vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal generating unit modulates a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency based on a predetermined pulse-like pattern corresponding to the audio information so as to generate the vibration signal.

Claims

1. An audio information transmitting apparatus for transmitting audio information to a human body, comprising:

an audio signal generating unit in which an audio signal is generated based on inputted audio,

an audio information recognizing unit in which the audio signal is recognized as audio information,

a vibration signal generating unit in which a vibration signal is generated based on the audio information,

a vibration transmitter for transmitting mechanical vibration based on the vibration signal,

wherein the vibration signal generating unit modulates a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency based on a predetermined pulse-like pattern corresponding to the audio information so as to generate the vibration signal.

2. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the carrier signal is 20 to 100 kHz.

3. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, further including at least one vibrator capable of fixing on a predetermined surface portion of a human as the at least one vibrator is in contact with the predetermined surface.

4. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulse-like pattern is set up based on Morse Code.

5. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pulse-like pattern is set up based on Morse Code.

6. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pulse-like pattern is set up based on Morse Code.

7. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration transmitter comprises a vibration for transmitting audio information to a human body, a case accommodating the vibrator, and a sucker-like member disposed on an opening of the case, wherein the vibrator is swingably supported by Gimbals mechanism with respect to two axes which are at right angle to each other in the case.

8. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vibration transmitter comprises a vibration for transmitting audio information to a human body, a case accommodating the vibrator, and a sucker-like member disposed on an opening of the case, wherein the vibrator is swingably supported by Gimbals mechanism with respect to two axes which are at right angle to each other in the case.

9. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the vibration transmitter comprises a vibration for transmitting audio information to a human body, a case accommodating the vibrator, and a sucker-like member disposed on an opening of the case, wherein the vibrator is swingably supported by Gimbals mechanism with respect to two axes which are at right angle to each other in the case.

10. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the vibration transmitter comprises a vibration for transmitting audio information to a human body, a case accommodating the vibrator, and a sucker-like member disposed on an opening of the case, wherein the vibrator is swingably supported by Gimbals mechanism with respect to two axes which are at right angle to each other in the case.

11. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a connecting hole is provided on a bottom portion of the case, a pouched body capable of elastic deformation is disposed on the case so as to connect an inner space of the pouched body to the connecting hole.

12. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 7, further including a hook-like engaging member disposed elastically and rotatably on the case.

13. The audio information transmitting apparatus according to claim 11, further including a hook-like engaging member disposed elastically and rotatably on the case.

14. A method for transmitting audio information to a human body, comprising the following steps of:

generating an audio signal based on inputted audio,

recognizing the audio signal as audio information,

generating a vibration signal based on the audio information, wherein a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency is modulated based on a predetermined pulse-like pattern corresponding the audio signal,

transmitting mechanical vibration based on the vibration signal.

15. A vibration holding structure for an audio information transmitting apparatus, comprising a vibration for transmitting audio information to a human body, a case accommodating the vibrator, and a sucker-like member disposed on an opening of the case, wherein the vibrator is swingably supported by Gimbals mechanism with respect to two axes which are at right angle to each other in the case.

16. The vibration holding structure according to claim 15, wherein a connecting hole is provided on a bottom portion of the case, a pouched body capable of elastic deformation is disposed on the case so as to connect an inner space of the pouched body to the connecting hole.

17. The vibration holding structure according to claim 15, further including a hook-like engaging member disposed elastically and rotatably on the case.