JP2005094535A - Speaker system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a speaker capable of being floated in the air in its used condition, and a speaker system. <P>SOLUTION: A speaker 30, an acoustic signal receiving unit 31, an amplifier 32, a power-supply battery 33, and the like are provided at a balloon 1, to which helium gas is enclosed. In a condition in which the balloon 1 is floated, an acoustic signal is transmitted from a base 2 mounted under the balloon 1, the acoustic signal is received on the side of balloon 1, and an acoustic output is generated from the speaker 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a speaker device and a speaker system that can be used in a state where the speaker is floated in the air by the buoyancy of a balloon.

  A speaker is a device that converts an electrical signal into sound and outputs the sound, and is widely used for outputting various sounds such as music and voice. For example, it is used for audio appreciation as an output device for audio equipment at home, used for BGM output as an output device for music broadcasting at stores such as coffee shops, and used as an output device for audio and music at venues such as events. It has been.

The speaker itself generally includes a driving body that vibrates in response to an input of an electroacoustic signal, and a vibrating body that vibrates due to the vibration of the driving body, and a cone formed of a material such as paper, By oscillating a so-called vibrating body, the electroacoustic signal is converted into air vibration sound and output.
In recent years, various types of loudspeakers have been developed due to technological progress. For example, loudspeakers using a balloon-shaped sphere enclosing gas as a vibrating body have been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Further, for example, a film speaker made of a film-like vibrating body that vibrates itself in response to an input of an electroacoustic signal, as used in a display device of a computer device, is also known. Has been realized.
JP 2002-320292 A JP-A-9-247790

Conventional speakers are installed on a floor or a stand, attached to a wall, or suspended from a ceiling.
However, when installing on a floor, the installation area of a speaker is required, and not only the room will become complicated, but it may also disturb the user's indoor movement.

In addition, when installing on a wall or hanging from the ceiling, not only must the installation work be performed on the wall or ceiling, but the wall and ceiling are damaged by the mounting holes drilled in the wall and ceiling surface. Once attached, the attachment position is fixed, and the speaker cannot be easily rearranged.
For example, if you live in a rental apartment where walls and ceilings are not allowed to be damaged, you may have to work hard to secure a place on the floor to install speakers. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a speaker device or a speaker system that can realize a completely new concept of use as compared with the related art.

The speaker device according to the present invention is to provide a buoyancy by enclosing a balloon lighter than air such as helium gas into a balloon provided with a speaker, wired connection via a cable, or wireless connection by transmission of radio waves or light An audio signal is input to the speaker and output through an interface of the form.
Therefore, the speaker can be easily installed in the air, and the speaker device can be installed or moved to any place without choosing the installation place on the floor and without damaging the wall surface or ceiling surface. And the speaker can be used in a novel manner, for example a balloon is floating.

  The speaker system according to the present invention using the speaker device includes a balloon in which a speaker and a signal receiving unit are provided and in which a gas lighter than air is enclosed, and a signal transmission that transmits an acoustic signal to the signal receiving unit. A sound signal received from the signal receiving unit by transmitting an acoustic signal from the signal transmitting unit to the balloon signal receiving unit to which buoyancy is given by the gas sealed inside. Sound is output from the balloon speaker in response to the signal.

Depending on the interface format of the speaker device, the speaker system according to the present invention has the following configuration.
For example, in the case of an interface configuration in a wireless transmission format, the speaker system according to the present invention uses a signal receiver as a radio signal receiver and a signal transmitter as a radio signal transmitter so that the sound from the base to the balloon A configuration is adopted in which sound is output from a speaker by wirelessly transmitting a signal.

  For example, when the interface configuration of the optical transmission format is adopted, the speaker system according to the present invention uses the signal receiver as an optical signal receiver such as an optical / electric converter and the signal transmitter as an electric / optical converter. An optical signal transmitter, such as an instrument, transmits an acoustic signal from the base to the balloon, converts the acoustic light signal received by the optical signal receiver into an acoustic electric signal, and outputs sound from the speaker.

  For example, in the case of a cable connection type interface configuration, in the speaker system according to the present invention, the signal reception unit and the signal transmission unit are transmission cable connection units, and transmit acoustic signals from the base to the balloon. It transmits through the cable and outputs sound from the speaker.

Here, in the present invention, the buoyancy imparted to the balloon by enclosing a gas lighter than air may be a large buoyancy exceeding the weight of the balloon provided with necessary parts such as a speaker, or substantially equal to the weight. It may be a moderate buoyancy, or a buoyancy smaller than the weight.
When such a large buoyancy is applied, the balloon provided with a speaker or the like will rise up to a certain height, but it will come into contact with the ceiling of the building, a transmission cable, a string that is easily tied together, etc. The speaker can be used in a state where it is floated inside.

  Further, when a moderate buoyancy is applied as described above, the balloon provided with a speaker or the like is in a state of floating in the air, but does not have sufficient buoyancy to continue to float. When a small buoyancy is applied as described above, a balloon provided with a speaker or the like does not have a buoyancy for rising. However, even with this level of buoyancy, the weight of the balloon provided with the speaker or the like can be reduced by buoyancy, so that the speaker can be provided at a high place by a simple method such as hanging from a ceiling with a string. it can. That is, a strong metal fitting for hanging the speaker and a large-scale construction for attaching the same are not required.

  According to the present invention, the speaker is levitated in the air using the buoyancy of the balloon, or the weight of the speaker is reduced. Therefore, the speaker can be easily installed and used regardless of location. Further, according to the present invention, the speaker is shaped like a balloon, and the speaker is provided in a novel manner that floats inside. An eye-catching advertising effect can be produced.

The present invention will be specifically described based on embodiments.
FIG. 1 shows a speaker system according to an example of the present invention. The speaker system includes a balloon 1 that is provided with a speaker and inflated with a gas lighter than air (in this example, helium gas) enclosed therein, And a base 2 for transmitting an acoustic signal to the balloon 1.
In the speaker system shown in the figure, the helium gas enclosed in the balloon 1 gives sufficient buoyancy to lift the weight including the speaker and other devices provided on the balloon. It floats in the air in contact with the ceiling, and the base 2 is installed on the floor below the balloon 1.

As shown in FIG. 2 showing the balloon 1 in a side view and in FIG. 3 showing the balloon 1 in a plan view from below, a cover 10 for attaching and housing a device such as a speaker is attached to the center of the lower surface of the balloon 1. In the state where the balloon 1 is lifted, the cover 10 side is heavy, so that the cover 10 provided with a speaker is located below the balloon 1.
The example shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the example shown in FIG. 5 described later, and a net-like speaker cover 11 that covers the cone portion of the speaker attached in the cover 11 is provided.
More specifically, the speaker system shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a wireless connection interface type as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or an optical transmission interface type as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, or FIG. And a wired connection interface type configuration as shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a speaker 30 mounted with a cone facing downward (speaker cover) in a balloon cover 10, a radio signal receiver 31 for receiving radio frequency acoustic signals, and radio reception An amplifier 32 that amplifies the sound signal and outputs it to the speaker 30 and a battery 33 that supplies power to these devices 30 to 32 are provided, and the balloon 1 itself is formed into a spherical shape with a flexible sheet material such as vinyl or rubber. In addition, the devices 30 to 33 have sufficient capacity to float by the buoyancy of the helium gas sealed inside.

The devices 30 to 33 provided on the balloon 1 are arranged so that a horizontal balance is obtained when the balloon 1 is lifted, and the speaker 30 is in a state where the cone is directed downward on the balloon 1 that has floated. Become.
The balloon 1 is provided with an injection tube 12 for filling the inside with helium gas. Helium gas is injected into the balloon 1 from the tube 12 and the mouth of the tube 12 is closed with a cap 13. Thus, helium gas can be sealed inside the balloon 1.

The base 2 is provided with a terminal for inputting an electroacoustic signal from an external audio device (stereo, radio, television, etc.), and a radio signal for converting the inputted electroacoustic signal into a radio frequency and transmitting the radiofrequency signal. A transmitter 35 is provided.
Therefore, according to this example, by transmitting an electric acoustic signal from the base 2 on the floor toward the upper balloon 1, the acoustic signal is received and demodulated by the wireless signal receiver 31 of the balloon 1, and the electric signal is demodulated. The sound signal can be amplified by the amplifier 32 and output from the speaker 30 as sound.

6 and 7, in the balloon cover 10, a plurality of speakers 40 mounted radially with the cone facing downward and an optical signal receiver (in this example) for receiving a photoacoustic signal. , An optical / electrical converter) 41, an amplifier 42 that amplifies the received acoustic signal subjected to the optical / electrical conversion and outputs it to the speaker 40, and a battery 43 that supplies electric power to these devices 40 to 42 are provided. As such, it has a capacity sufficient to make these devices 40-43 float.
The devices 40 to 43 provided on the balloon 1 are arranged so that a horizontal balance can be obtained when the balloon 1 is lifted, and the radially arranged speakers 40 face the cone downward on the balloon 1 that has floated. It will be in the state which turned to the side.

The base 2 is provided with a terminal for inputting an electroacoustic signal from an external acoustic device, and an optical signal transmitter 45 for converting the inputted electroacoustic signal into an optical signal and outputting the optical signal. .
Therefore, according to this example, by transmitting an electroacoustic signal from the base 2 on the floor to the upper balloon 1 in the form of an optical signal, the acoustic signal is received by the optical signal receiver 41 of the balloon 1 and is electrically transmitted. The signal is converted into a signal, the electroacoustic signal is amplified by the amplifier 42, and the sound can be output from the speaker 40.

In the example shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a plurality of speakers 50 and transmission cables 59 that are radially attached with the cone facing downward are branched in the balloon cover 10 in order to connect the speakers 50. A branching device 51 is provided, and the transmission cable 59 is drawn downward from the center of the cover 10.
Note that the balloon 1 itself has a capacity sufficient to float the devices 50 and 51 and the transmission cable 59 in the same manner as described above. The devices 50 and 51 provided on the balloon 1 are arranged so that a horizontal balance is obtained when the balloon 1 is lifted, and the radially arranged speakers 50 face the cone on the balloon 1 that has floated. It will be in the state which turned to the side.

The base 2 is provided with a terminal for inputting an electroacoustic signal from an external acoustic device 58, and is connected with a power cable 53 for inputting electric power from an external power source. An amplifier 52 is provided that amplifies and outputs to the transmission cable 59 by the power supplied from.
Therefore, according to this example, the acoustic signal can be acoustically output from the speaker 40 of the balloon 1 by transmitting the electric acoustic signal from the base 2 on the floor to the upper balloon 1 through the transmission cable 59. In this example, since the balloon 1 is connected to the base 2 by the transmission cable 59, the balloon 1 can be used even if it is not connected with a string or the like even outdoors.

In the above, the balloon 1 floats in the air by itself due to the buoyancy of the helium gas enclosed in the inside. However, depending on the size of the balloon, the gravity of the balloon portion, etc. The present invention can be implemented.
In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the balloon 1 provided with a speaker or the like may be installed suspended from the ceiling 4 by the string 3. Even in this case, the balloon 3 is attached to the string 3 by the buoyancy of the balloon 1. Such a weight burden is reduced, and the speaker can be installed at a high place in a state of floating in the air with a simple attachment structure using a thin string.

If the outline | summary of the apparatus structure of the speaker system mentioned above is demonstrated, it can grasp | ascertain, for example as an apparatus structure shown in FIG. 11 or FIG.
The example shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to the example shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and the example shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and necessary equipment (acoustic signal receiving unit 61, An amplifier 62 and a power source 63) are provided, and other necessary devices (acoustic signal transmission unit 64, acoustic signal input unit 65) are provided on the base 2 side.
On the other hand, the example shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the minimum required equipment (acoustic signal receiving unit 61) is provided on the balloon 1 side together with the speaker 60, and the base 2 side. In addition, other necessary devices (amplifier 62, power source 63, acoustic signal transmitter 64, acoustic signal input unit 65) are provided.

  Although these device configurations are exemplary, it can be said that it is preferable to simplify the device configuration provided on the balloon 1 as much as possible in terms of the weight borne by the buoyancy of the balloon 1 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the aspect of wireless connection without using the transmission cable 59, since it is necessary to suppress the signal level for wireless transmission, it is generally necessary to provide a power source and an amplifier on the reception side (balloon 1 side). In such a case, it is preferable to reduce the weight of the device provided in the balloon 1 as much as possible by employing a film speaker.

It is a figure which shows the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the speaker apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the speaker apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the speaker apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the speaker apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the principal part cross section of the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and a speaker apparatus. It is a figure explaining the example of attachment of the speaker apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the apparatus structural example of the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the apparatus structural example of the speaker system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: balloon, 2: base,
3: String, 10: Cover,
12: injection tube, 13: cap,
30: Speaker, 31: Radio signal receiver,
32: Amplifier, 33: Power battery,
35; wireless signal transmitter, 40: speaker,
41: Optical signal receiver (optical / electrical converter),
42: amplifier, 43: power battery,
45: Optical signal transmitter, 50: Speaker,
51: Branch device, 52: Amplifier,
59: Transmission cable,

Claims (5)

  A balloon including a speaker and a signal receiving unit and enclosing a gas lighter than air inside, and a base having a signal transmitting unit that transmits an acoustic signal to the signal receiving unit, and enclosed inside A speaker that transmits an acoustic signal from a base signal transmission unit to a signal reception unit of a balloon given buoyancy by gas, and outputs sound from the speaker of the balloon by the acoustic signal received by the signal reception unit system. The signal receiver is a radio signal receiver, and the signal transmitter is a radio signal transmitter,
The speaker system according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic signal is wirelessly transmitted from the base to the balloon and the sound is output from the speaker. The signal receiver is an optical signal receiver, and the signal transmitter is an optical signal transmitter,
The speaker system according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic signal is optically transmitted from the base to the balloon, the acoustic light signal received by the optical signal receiver is converted into an acoustoelectric signal, and the sound is output from the speaker. . The signal receiver and signal transmitter are connected by a transmission cable,
The speaker system according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic signal is transmitted from the base to the balloon through a transmission cable to output sound from the speaker.   A balloon having a speaker and a gas lighter than air enclosed therein, and an interface for receiving an acoustic signal input to the speaker from the outside, wherein buoyancy is given by the gas enclosed in the balloon Speaker device.

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