JP3007047B2 - Sound identification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an acoustic discriminating apparatus, and more particularly to an acoustic discriminating apparatus suitable for assisting activities of a hearing-impaired person who perceives various kinds of acoustic information and has difficulty in taking action based on the information. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In normal life, for example, a normal person hears the sound of a door chime to know that there is a visitor, opens the door, hears the dial tone of a telephone, picks up a receiver, and fires a bell of a fire alarm. You can perceive various kinds of acoustic information, such as evacuation after knowing the occurrence of a fire with the sound of the sound, and take actions based on it, but people with hearing impairments perceive acoustic information like healthy people Can't take action. Hearing dogs trained to identify and transmit acoustic information to hearing-impaired persons are known as a means of resolving such inconveniences for hearing-impaired persons.

[0003]

However, training a hearing dog requires a lot of time and money, so that only a small number of hearing-impaired persons can take advantage of this benefit. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an acoustic identification device that can assist the behavior of a hearing-impaired person instead of a hearing dog.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acoustic identification apparatus for analyzing a waveform of a sound collected by a sound collecting means, and a plurality of types of sounds obtained by performing the waveform analysis. Storage means for storing the spectrum of the plurality of types of sounds previously stored in the storage means and the spectrum of the sound newly collected by the sound collection means, Discriminating means for discriminating the type and outputting a discrimination signal; bodily sensation vibration generating means for generating bodily sensation vibration based on the discrimination signal; and display for visually displaying the type of the newly collected sound based on the discrimination signal. Means. The sound identification device according to the invention according to claim 2, a sound analysis unit that performs waveform analysis of the sound collected by the sound collection unit, a storage unit that stores a spectrum of a plurality of types of sounds obtained by performing the waveform analysis, The spectrum of the plurality of types of sounds previously stored in the storage unit is compared with the spectrum of the sound newly collected by the sound collection unit to determine the type of the newly collected sound and output a determination signal. It is characterized by comprising a discriminating means and a bodily sensation generating means for generating a bodily sensation vibration capable of discriminating the type of the newly collected sound based on the discrimination signal. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the acoustic identification apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the discrimination signal transmitting means is provided, and the bodily sensation vibration generating means and the discrimination signal receiving means are provided integrally. It is characterized by having. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the acoustic identification device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the discrimination signal transmitting means is provided, and the bodily sensation vibration generating means, the display means, and the discrimination signal receiving means are provided integrally. It is characterized by having.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
For example, the sound of a door chime, the sound of a door opening / closing, the sound of a telephone call, the ringtone of a facsimile, the sound of an alarm bell of a fire alarm, the sound of a railroad crossing, the sound of an emergency vehicle, etc. are perceived in daily life. By storing in advance in the storage means several kinds of sound spectra that need to be processed, when a new sound is generated, the discriminating means compares it with some kinds of stored spectra and takes action Determine whether the required sound has been generated or not, inform the hearing impaired by the bodily sensation vibration of the bodily sensation vibration means that the required sound has been generated, and visually display the type of sound with the display means By informing, it is possible to prompt a required action according to the type of sound. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is not possible to inform a hearing-impaired person of the generation of sound that requires action by the bodily sensation vibration generated by the bodily sensation vibrator. By changing the amplitude or the mode of occurrence of the bodily sensation, the type of sound can be notified by the bodily sensation. According to the invention described in claim 3,
The sensory vibration generating means and the integral receiving means and other essential components of the acoustic identification device are configured separately,
The discrimination signal is transmitted by the transmission means, and this can be received to generate bodily sensation vibration. Therefore, if the hearing impaired person carries only the bodily sensation vibration generating means and the receiving means integral therewith, the hearing impaired person can know that the sound that needs to take action has been generated, and is thus convenient to use. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the sensational vibration generating means and the display means, the receiving means integrated therewith, and the other essential components of the acoustic identification device are separately formed, and the discrimination signal is transmitted by the transmitting means. By transmitting and receiving this, a bodily sensation vibration can be generated and the type of sound can be visually displayed. Therefore, if the hearing-impaired person carries only the sensational vibration generating means, the display means, and the receiving means integrated with them, the hearing-impaired person knows that the sound required to take action has been generated, and knows the type of the sound, and performs the required action. Can be used, so it is easy to use.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of an acoustic identification device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The acoustic identification device 10 includes a mode switch 11, a sound collection microphone 12, an acoustic analysis unit 13, a storage unit 14, a body vibrator 15, a liquid crystal display 16, and a determination unit 17. The mode switch 11, which will be described in detail later, is provided for selecting one of a storage mode and a detection mode. The sound collecting microphone 12 is for collecting sound generated by a sound source such as a door chime or a telephone. As an example, when the sound collecting microphone 12 is collected toward a buzzer of a fire alarm in FIG. 4 shows a signal waveform of an obtained buzzer sound. The sound analysis unit 13 is for obtaining a sound spectrum by frequency-analyzing the signal waveform of the sound collected by the sound-collecting microphone 12, and using a method of performing frequency analysis using fast Fourier transform or a band-pass filter group. A known analysis method such as a method of measuring a level for each frequency band can be used. FIG.
FIG. 2 shows an acoustic spectrum obtained by frequency-analyzing the signal waveform of the buzzer sound shown in FIG. 2 using the fast Fourier transform. FIG. 4 shows an acoustic spectrum obtained by frequency-analyzing the signal waveform of the buzzer sound using a band-pass filter. The storage unit 14 stores the acoustic spectra of several types of sound sources obtained by the acoustic analysis unit 13, and can use a random access memory or an optical disk. The bodily sensation vibrator 15 is for generating bodily sensation vibration, and a small vibrator is used. In addition, the liquid crystal display 16 has a function of visually displaying the type of the sound source using symbols or characters. The determination unit 17 processes the output signal of the sound analysis unit 13 in a predetermined procedure according to the mode selected by the mode switch 11, thereby storing the storage unit 1.
4 has a function of storing an acoustic spectrum, reading an acoustic spectrum from the storage unit 14, and further driving the bodily sensation vibrator 15 and the liquid crystal display 16, and is configured by a microcomputer.

The procedure of the signal processing in the discriminating section 17 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 101, the mode switch is manually operated to select either the storage mode or the detection mode, and the selected mode is determined in step 102. When the storage mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 103, and when the detection mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 106. When the memory mode is selected, in step 103, for example, a sound of a door chime is collected by the sound collecting microphone 12, and then in step 1
At 04, the sound analysis unit 13 analyzes the waveform of the door chime sound, and the obtained spectrum S1 is stored in the storage unit 14 at step 105. By repeating such a series of storage modes, in addition to the door chime sound, the door opening / closing sound, the telephone call sound, the facsimile ringtone, the fire alarm sound, the railroad crossing sound, the emergency vehicle alarm Several kinds of acoustic spectra S1, S2, S3,... Sn, such as sounds, which need to be perceived in daily life, are stored in the storage unit 14 in advance.
To memorize.

On the other hand, when the detection mode is selected in step 101, the process proceeds to step 106, in which the sound collecting microphone 12 is turned on to detect newly generated sound, and the detected sound is subjected to waveform analysis in step 107 to obtain a spectrum. .. Sn are read out from the storage unit 14 in order in step 108, and the read out audio spectra S1, S2. Compare the spectra S1 and S2 in which the acoustic spectrum S is stored.
If it matches any of Sn, the process proceeds to step 110 to output a determination signal. For example, when the detected sound spectrum S matches the sound spectrum S1 of the door chime, the body-sensing vibrator 1 is determined in step 111 based on the determination signal.
5 is driven, and then the process proceeds to step 112, where the liquid crystal display 16 is driven, and the fact that the detected sound is a door chime sound is visually displayed in characters or symbols. If it is determined in step 109 that the detected acoustic spectrum S does not match any of the stored spectra S1, S2,..., Sn, the process returns to step 101. By selecting the detection mode in this way, the hearing-impaired person perceives the occurrence of a sound that requires action by the bodily sensation vibration of the bodily sensation vibrator 15 and visually recognizes the type of sound on the liquid crystal display 16 to make necessary sound. You can take action.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an acoustic identification device 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The acoustic identification device 10A includes a transmitter 18 that wirelessly transmits an output signal of the determination unit 17 and a receiver 19 of the output signal.
Are provided integrally, and the essential components of the acoustic identification device 10A other than the bodily sensation vibrator 15 and the receiver 19 are separately provided, and the discrimination signal is transmitted by the transmitter 18 and received to generate bodily sensation vibration. It is configured as follows. According to such a configuration,
If the main body is installed in a remote place and the hearing-impaired person carries the sensational vibrator 15, it is possible to know that sound that needs to take action is generated, and it is necessary to always carry the bulky main body. Because there is no, it is convenient. Also, if the receiver 19, the bodily sensation vibrator 15, and the liquid crystal display 16 are provided integrally as in the acoustic identification device 10B according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, sound that needs to take action is generated. In addition, since the type of sound can be visually recognized on the liquid crystal display 16 and required action can be taken, the usability is further improved.

FIG. 8 shows a functional configuration of an acoustic identification device 10C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The bodily sensation vibrator 20 in the acoustic identification device 10C is represented by a graph (A) in FIG.
(B) As shown in (C), since the apparatus has a function of generating a bodily sensation that can identify the type of detected sound, a liquid crystal display for visually displaying the type of sound is omitted. I have. When the acoustic spectrum S detected in the detection mode is an alarm sound of emergency evacuation such as a bell sound of a fire alarm, for example, the bodily sensation vibrator 20 outputs 4 Hz as shown in the graph (A) based on the discrimination signal. Continuously generate bodily sensation vibrations. In the case where the sound spectrum S is a bell of a telephone, as shown in the graph (B), a bodily sensational vibration of 4 Hz is continuously generated for 5 seconds, then stopped for 1 second, and this is repeated as one cycle. In the case where the sound spectrum is the sound of a door chime, as shown in the graph (C), the bodily sensation vibration of 4 Hz is continued for 3 seconds and then stopped for 3 seconds, and this is stopped for 1 second.
Repeat as a cycle. Since the other configuration of the acoustic identification device 10C is the same as that of the acoustic identification device 10 described above, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 shows a functional configuration of an acoustic identification device 10D according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The sound identification device 10D includes a transmitter 1 that wirelessly transmits an output signal of the determination unit 17.
8 and an output signal receiver 19, the receiver 19 and the bodily sensation vibrator 20 are provided integrally, and the components indispensable to the acoustic identification device 10 </ b> D other than the bodily sensation vibrator 20 and the receiver 19 are provided separately. The signal is transmitted by the transmitter 18 and received to generate a bodily sensation vibration as shown in FIG.

In the acoustic discriminating apparatuses 10, 10A, and 10B according to the above-described embodiments, only the sound collected by the sound collecting microphone 12 is stored, but the sound is standardized as an alarm sound of an emergency vehicle. If the waveform of the sound is analyzed in advance and the obtained sound spectrum is directly stored in the storage unit 14, the sound collecting work by the sound collecting microphone 12 can be omitted, and the usability is further improved. In addition, by changing the frequency and amplitude of the bodily sensation vibration by the bodily sensation vibrators 20 of the sound identification devices 10C and 10D according to the type of sound, it is possible to notify the hearing impaired person of the type of sound.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a sound identification device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a waveform of an output signal of a sound collecting microphone of the acoustic identification device.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a spectrum of an output signal of an acoustic analysis unit of the acoustic identification device.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing another spectrum of the output signal of the acoustic analysis unit of the acoustic identification device. It is.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of signal processing of a determination unit of the acoustic identification device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an acoustic identification device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an acoustic identification device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a sound identification device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing types of bodily sensation vibrations generated by a bodily sensation vibrator of the acoustic identification device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an acoustic identification device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D: Acoustic identification device, 11: Mode switch, 12: Sound collecting microphone, 13:
Acoustic analysis unit, 14 ... storage unit, 15, 20 ... body vibrator,
16: liquid crystal display, 17: discriminator, 18: transmitter, 19: receiver.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kuniko Asai 27-9 Asahi-cho, Anjo-shi, Aichi (56) References JP-A-6-168381 (JP, A) JP-A-6-75438 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 58-64320 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 63-249560 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61F 11/04 G10L 3/00 531 G10L 3 / 00 551 G10L 3/00 561 H04R 1/00 310

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sound analysis means for performing waveform analysis of sound collected by a sound collection means, a storage means for storing spectra of a plurality of types of sounds obtained by performing a waveform analysis, and the storage means pre-stored in the storage means. Discriminating means for comparing the spectrum of a plurality of types of sound with the spectrum of the sound newly collected by the sound collecting means to determine the type of the newly collected sound and outputting a discrimination signal; A sound identification device comprising: a bodily sensation generating unit that generates a bodily sensation based on the detection signal; and a display unit that visually displays the type of the newly collected sound based on the determination signal. 2. A sound analysis means for performing waveform analysis of sound collected by a sound collection means, a storage means for storing spectra of a plurality of types of sounds obtained by performing a waveform analysis, and the storage means pre-stored in the storage means. Discriminating means for comparing the spectrum of a plurality of types of sound with the spectrum of the sound newly collected by the sound collecting means to determine the type of the newly collected sound and outputting a discrimination signal; A sound sensation generating means for generating a sensational vibration capable of identifying the type of the newly collected sound based on the sound identification. 3. The acoustic identification device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit for transmitting the discrimination signal, and wherein the body vibration generating unit and the reception unit for receiving the discrimination signal are provided integrally. 4. The acoustic identification apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit for transmitting the discrimination signal, wherein the body vibration generating unit, the display unit, and a reception unit for receiving the discrimination signal are provided integrally.