US20200060373A1

US20200060373A1 - Cap mounted with bone conduction module

Info

Publication number: US20200060373A1
Application number: US16/488,361
Authority: US
Inventors: Tae Kyeong OH; Jin Kyu Yoon
Original assignee: Seojinfni Co Ltd
Current assignee: Seojinfni Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-23
Filing date: 2019-08-23
Publication date: 2020-02-27
Also published as: JP2019510144A; WO2018155737A1; CN108882768A; KR101894493B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cap mounted with a bone conduction module. The cap includes a body part directly contacting a user's head, a cap part protruding from a front portion of the body part, and a bone conduction module provided on the body part and the cap part. The body part is provided on both sides with audio signal output parts, the cap part is provided on one side with a first recess part and on the other side with a second recess part, a wireless communication part of the bone conduction module is inserted in the first recess part, a battery part of the bone conduction module is inserted in the second recess part, and the first recess part and the second recess part are disposed spaced apart on both sides of the cap part and have a shallower depth than the thickness of the cap part.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to convergence of apparel and information technology (IT), so-called smart apparel, and more particularly, to smart apparel which is formed by mounting an audio signal transmission module in a normal cap that a user wears to allow the user to receive an audio signal and to recognize sound.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the field of apparel employs IT which is remarkably developing, and may give enjoyment to users or change life to be more convenient. Such future apparel of a new concept employing IT is called smart apparel. An example of the smart apparel is a smart shirt which has a digital sensor or a micro-computer chip mounted therein to sense an external stimulus and to react thereto. The smart shirt was developed initially for the military purpose, but nowadays, is utilized for various purposes such as medical purpose or sport.
As the convergence of apparel and IT is popularized, new and diverse IT functions are spotlighted, but unique characteristics of various types of apparel are not considered. Typically, wearing comfort that users may have and a design are regarded as the most important factors in the field of apparel. Furthermore, various types of apparel do their respective practical and decorative functions. In particular, a cap, which is one type of apparel, is a means for protecting user's head from the cold and the heat, and also serves as an important item of a fashion. Recently, such a cap is regarded as a means for expressing a person's identity, and many users always or casually wear caps.
In mounting an audio signal transmission module, which is IT, in a cap in related-art technology, only the functions that can be provided to a user casually or always wearing the cap, such as listening to music, calling and answering calls, or the like, are emphasized, and unique wearability and design values that the cap has are relatively disregarded.
The audio signal transmission module normally employs two methods, an air conduction method and a bone conduction method. An air conduction module allows sound waves in the air to arrive at the internal ear through the external auditory meatus and the eardrum and allows a user to hear sound, whereas a bone conduction module refers to an audio signal transmission module that conducts sound waves to the bones of the skull and directly transmits sound to the internal ear,
When the related-art air conduction module is mounted in a cap, there may be a problem that a user feels fatigue and pain when the user receives an audio signal for a long time. Even in the case of the bone conduction module, the bone conduction module is separately manufactured and then is mounted in a related-art cap by pressing-fitting to be exposed to the outside without changing the cap. Therefore, there may be a problem that the wearability and the design of the cap are destroyed, and also, the bone conduction module is exposed to sweat coming from the user's head or moisture caused by an external environment, and thus there may be a problem that the bone conduction module is not safely used for a long time.
Therefore, the inventor of the present disclosure has made an effort to solve the above-described problems in mounting an audio signal transmission module in a cap, and has completed the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Technical Objects

To solve the above-described problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a cap in which an audio signal transmission module which directly transmits an audio signal the bones of the skull is implemented, such that fatigue or pain is not caused even when a user receives an audio signal for a long time.
In addition, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein, which does not degrade the wearability of the cap and does not destroy the unique design of the cap when the bone conduction module is mounted in the cap.
Furthermore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein, which blocks sweat coming from the user's head or moisture caused by an external environment from accessing the bone conduction module, and can be safely operated for a long time.

Technical Solving Means

To achieve the above-described objects, the present disclosure provides a cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein, the cap including a body part 100 which directly comes into contact with a user's head, a cap part 200 which protrudes from a front surface of the body part 100, and a bone conduction module 300 provided on the body part 100 and the cap part 200, wherein the body part 100 has audio signal output units 110 provided on both sides thereof, wherein the cap part 200 has a first recess part 210 formed on one side thereof, and a second recess part 220 formed on the other side, wherein a wireless communication unit 310 of the bone conduction module 300 is inserted into the first recess part 210, and a battery unit 320 of the bone conduction module 300 is inserted into the second recess part 220, wherein the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 are disposed on both sides of the cap part 200, spaced apart from each other, and are formed to have a depth shallower than a thickness of the cap part 200.
In addition, the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 may be provided to be symmetric with reference to a center line of the cap part 200.
In addition, the wireless communication unit 310 and the battery unit 320 inserted into the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220, respectively, may be provided to balance their weights with reference to a center line of the cap part 200.
In addition, a third recess part 230 may further be provided between the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220, and a connection line 330 of the bone conduction module 300 may be inserted into the third recess part 230.
In addition, the third recess part 230 may be formed to have a depth shallower than the thickness of the cap part 200.
In addition, a film 250 may be attached to a lower surface of the cap part 200 in contact therewith.
In addition, a charging recess 211 may be provided on the first recess part 210 or the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and a charging terminal 314 to which an external power supply is connected may be inserted into the charging recess 211.
In addition, a switch recess 212 may be provided on the first recess part 210 or the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and a user input unit 340 may be inserted into the switch recess 212 to turn on or off a power based on an operation of the user.
In addition, a microphone recess 221 may be provided on the first recess part 210 or the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and an audio signal input unit 350 may be inserted into the microphone recess 221.
In addition, the audio signal output unit 110 may be wrapped by a silicon protector 120.

Advantageous Effects

According to the solving means described above, the bone conduction module which directly transmits an audio signal to the bones of the skull is implemented in the cap, such that there is an effect that fatigue or pain is not caused even when the user receives an audio signal for a long time while wearing the cap.
Furthermore, the bone conduction module is designed to be optimized to the structure and the shape of the cap and to be integrated thereinto when being mounted in the cap, such that there are effects that degradation of the wearability can be prevented, and the unique design of the cap is not destroyed.
In addition, sweat coming from the user's head or moisture caused by an external environment is blocked, and removal of the bone conduction module or a physical shock can be prevented, such that there is an effect that the bone conduction module mounted in the cap can be safely operated for a long time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an overall exterior of a cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the bone conduction module mounted in the internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view of a cap part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a first embodiment of the bone conduction module disposed in the internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a second embodiment of the bone conduction module disposed in the internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a third embodiment of the bone conduction module disposed in the internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the bone conduction module disposed in the internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the bone conduction module disposed in the internal recess part of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure.

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

Various examples of a cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure can be applied, and hereinafter, most preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an overall exterior of a cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an internal recess part, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the bone conduction module mounted in the internal recess part.
Referring to these drawings, the cap includes a body part 100 which comes into contact with a user's head, and a cap part 200 which protrudes from a front surface of the body part 100.
Herein, the body part 100 may be any part that directly comes into contact with the user's head. Accordingly, the cap defined in the present disclosure may include a cap the body part 100 of which comes into contact with the entire head of a user, for example, a baseball cap or a sports cap, and a cap the body part 100 of which comes into contact with a part of the user's head, for example, a sun cap or a visor-shaped cap.
In addition, the cap of the present disclosure includes a bone conduction module 300 provided on the body part 100 and the cap part 200 (see FIG. 3). The bone conduction module 300 includes an audio signal output unit 110, a wireless communication unit 310, a battery unit 320, or the like, and refers to an audio signal transmission module that conducts an audio signal wirelessly received to the bones of the skull of the user, and directly transmits the signal to the internal ear.
Specifically, the audio signal output units 110 are provided on both sides of the body part 100, and the cap part 200 has a first recess part 210 formed on one side thereof, and a second recess part 220 formed on the other side. The wireless communication unit 310 of the bone conduction module 300 is inserted into the first recess part 210, and the battery unit 320 of the bone conduction module 300 is inserted into the second recess part 220.
The first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 are not limited to the left side (or right side) of the cap part 200 when a user wears the cap. In other words, when the first recess part 210 is formed on the left side which is one side of the cap part 200, the second recess part 220 may be formed on the right side, which is the other side. When the first recess part 210 is formed on the right side of the cap part 200, the second recess part 220 may be formed on the left side.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view of the cap part 200 of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring this drawing, the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 may be disposed on both sides of the cap part 200, spaced apart from each other, and may be formed to have a depth shallower than a thickness of the cap part 200, thereby allowing all of the components of the bone conduction module 300 to be inserted thereinto, and simultaneously, retaining the shape of the cap part 200. In other words, the bone conduction module can be designed to be optimized into a structure and a shape of the cap and integrated thereinto.
Preferably, the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 may be provided to be symmetric with reference to a center line of the cap part 200. Alternatively, the wireless communication unit 310 and the battery unit 320 inserted into the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220, respectively, may be provided to balance their weights with reference to the center line of the cap part 200.
Accordingly, an audio signal transmission module that can noticeably reduce fatigue or does not cause pain, compared to an air conduction module such as a typical earphone, is employed, and simultaneously, the bone conduction module 300 is mounted to be completely inserted into the cap part 200 of the cap. Therefore, there are advantages that wearability is not degraded and a sense of difference in the design is not caused (see FIG. 1).
The internal recess part of the cap part 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.
Referring to this drawing, a third recess part 230 may further be provided between the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220, and a connection line 330 of the bone conduction module 300 may be inserted into the third recess part 230.
The connection line 300 includes a means for transmitting an electric signal between the wireless communication unit 310 and the battery unit 320. Accordingly, the connection line 330 may include at least two sheathed electric wires. Preferably, the third recess part 230 may be formed to have a depth shallower than the thickness of the cap part 200, such that the connection line 330 is completely inserted into the cap part 200, and simultaneously, the shape of the cap part 200 is retained.
In addition, a charging recess 2100 may be provided on the first recess part 210 or the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and a charging terminal 314 connected with an external power supply may be inserted into the charging recess 211.
In addition, a switch recess 212 may be provided on the first recess part 210 or the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and a user input unit 340 may be inserted into the switch recess 212 to turn on or off power based on user's operation.
In addition, a microphone recess 221 may be provided on the first recess part 210 or the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and an audio signal input unit 350 may be inserted into the microphone recess 221.
Since the charging recess 211 or the switch recess 212 is provided to fluidly communicate with the outside, only a part of the charging terminal 314 or the user input unit 340 inserted into the charging recess 211 or the switch recess 212, respectively, is exposed. Therefore, the overall design of the cap can be retained (see FIG. 1).
In addition, electric wire recesses 240 may be provided on the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 to fluidly communicate therewith, and connection lines 330 may be inserted into the electric wire recesses 240 to be connected with the audio signal output units 110 provided on both sides of the body part 100.
In an embodiment, the charging recess 211 and the switch recess 212 are provided to fluidly communicate with the first recess part 210 into which the wireless communication unit 310 is inserted, and the charging terminal 314 and the user input unit 340 may be inserted into one side of the cap part 200 to be adjacent to the wireless communication unit 310. The microphone recess 221 is provided to fluidly communicate with the second recess part 220 into which the battery unit 320 is inserted, and the audio signal input unit 350 may be inserted into the other side of the cap part 200 to be adjacent to the battery unit 320. These arrangements may be changeable as long as the components are provided to be symmetric or to balance their weights with reference to the center line of the cap part 200 when the user wears the cap of the present disclosure, and the wearability is not degraded.
As a result, the bone conduction module 300 is inserted and integrated into the internal recess part of the cap part 200 to fit the unique shape and structure of the cap. Therefore, the initial intention of the designer of the cap is not damaged, and also, the function of the bone conduction module 300 can be safely performed for a long time.
FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to this drawing, the bone conduction module 300 which conducts a received audio signal to the bones of the skull of a user, and directly transmits the signal to the internal ear, and the audio signal output unit 110 will be described in detail.
Preferably, the audio signal output unit 110 may be configured by a bone conduction speaker 111 to directly conduct sound waves to the bones of the skull of the user. The bone conduction speaker 111 may be configured to conduct sound to the bones of the skull of the user by vibrating a magnetic circuit at one side of a case by an elastic rebound body, with a coil being fixed to the case, and may be formed in a substantially flat cylindrical shape.
In addition, to maximize a vibrating force of bone conduction that the user feels, at least two bone conduction speakers 111 may be provided on one side of the audio signal output unit 110. In addition, the audio signal output unit 110 may be wrapped by a silicon protector 120, such that wearability can be enhanced, and sweat coming from the user's head or moisture caused by an external environment is blocked, such that the bone conduction module 300 including the audio signal output unit 110 can be safely operated for a long time.
Preferably, the silicon protector 120 may have speaker insertion recesses formed thereon to allow the at least two bone conduction speakers 111 to be inserted thereinto, and may have connection recesses formed thereon to allow connection lines 330, which are electrically connected with the bone conduction speakers 111, to be inserted thereinto.
The wireless communication unit 310 may include a signal processor 311 and a wireless transceiving module 312. The signal processor 311 may include a filter 311 a to remove a noise, and an amplifier 311 b to amplify a transceived audio signal.
The wireless transceiving module 312 may be configured by Bluetooth to be able to wirelessly transceive an audio signal with the external terminal 400 such as a smartphone.
The wireless communication unit 310 may include a power supply 313. The power supply 313 may include the charging terminal 314 connected with an external power supply to charge the battery unit 320, and a protection circuit 315. The power supply 313 may be wirelessly connected with the external power supply when necessary, and may charge the battery unit 320. In this case, the charging terminal 314 and the charging recess 211 into which the charging terminal 314 is inserted may be omitted.
The wireless communication unit 310 may be integrated into one circuit board (PCB), and some components may be separated when necessary. For example, the power supply 313 may be electrically connected with the wireless communication unit 310, but may be spaced apart from the circuit board into which the wireless communication unit 310 is integrated.
The battery unit 320 may be configured by a lithium ion battery which is a secondary battery, and may receive external power from the power supply 33 to be recharged.
The user input unit 340 may be configured by a switch to allow the user to easily operate with user's finger, and the switch may provide a power on-off function, a call answering function, and a volume up-down function.
The audio signal input unit 350 may be configured by a microphone to convert a voice generated by the user into an audio signal.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to this drawing, a film 250 is attached to a lower surface of the cap part 200 in contact therewith, such that the bone conduction module 300 inserted into the internal recess part of the cap part 200 can be prevented from being released, or a physical shock can be prevented, and also, a stress can be reinforced to retain the shape of the cap part 200. Specifically, the cap part 200 may include the third recess part 230 connected to the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 provided on both sides, and in particular, reduction of a stress caused by the third recess part 230 can be effectively compensated for. Preferably, the film 250 may be configured by polycarbonate having a constant strength to compensate for the reduction of the stress.
In addition, a finishing part 260 may be provided to wrap the cap part 200 in the vertical direction with the film 250 being attached to the cap part 200. The finishing part 260 may be formed with the same material as the entire fabric forming the cap.
Accordingly, the lower surface of the cap part 200 may retain its shape to be seamless, such that the unique design of the cap part 200 is not destroyed.
Hereinafter, various embodiments of insertion and arrangement of the bone conduction module 300 in the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.
FIG. 7 illustrates a first embodiment, and referring to this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 310 may be inserted into the first recess part 210 and the battery unit 320 may be inserted into the second recess part 220. Accordingly, the user can continuously recognize a received audio signal while wearing the cap.
FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment, and referring to this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 310 and the user input unit 340 may be inserted into the first recess part 210, and the battery unit 320 may be inserted into the second recess part 220. Accordingly, the user may control the bone conduction module 300 by operating the user input unit 340, and for example, may turn down the volume of music which is a received audio signal.
FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment, and referring to this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 310 and the user input unit 340 may be inserted into the first recess part 210, and the battery unit 320 and the audio signal input unit 350 may be inserted into the second recess part 220. The user may input a user's voice through the audio signal input unit 350, and accordingly, the user may call the other user by using the wireless communication unit 310 and the external terminal 400.
FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment, and referring to this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 310, the user input unit 340, and the audio signal input unit 350 may be inserted into the first recess part 210, and the battery unit 320 and the power supply 313 may be inserted into the second recess part 220. When the power supply 313 employs a wired charging method, an external power supply may be connected to the charging terminal 314 inserted into the charging recess 211 provided to fluidly communicate with the second recess part 220, and the switch and the microphone may be inserted into the switch recess 212 and the microphone recess 221 provided to fluidly communicate with the first recess part 210.
FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth embodiment, and referring to this embodiment, the wireless communication 310, the user input unit 340, and the audio signal input unit 350 may be inserted into the first recess part 210, and the battery unit 320 may be inserted into the second recess part 220. The wireless communication unit 310 inserted into the first recess part 210 may be configured to have the signal processor 311, the wireless transceiving module 312, and the power supply 313 integrated into one circuit board (PCB).
The arrangements of the bone conduction module 300 inserted into the first recess part 210 and the second recess part 220, including these embodiments, may be changeable as long as the components are provided to be symmetric or to balance their weights with reference to the center line of the cap part 200 when the user wears the cap of the present disclosure, and the wearability is not degraded.
Accordingly, the bone conduction module which directly transmits an audio signal such as a voice, music, or the like to the bones of the skull is implemented in the cap, such that there is an effect that fatigue or pain is not caused even when the user receives an audio signal for a long time while wearing the cap. Furthermore, the bone conduction module is designed to be optimized to the structure and the shape of the cap and to be integrated thereinto when being mounted in the cap, such that there are effects that degradation of the wearability can be prevented, and the unique design of the cap is not destroyed. In addition, sweat coming from the user's head or moisture caused by an external environment is blocked from accessing the bone conduction module, and removal of the bone conduction module or a physical shock applied to the bone conduction module can be prevented, such that there is an effect that the bone conduction module mounted in the cap can be safely operated for a long time.
The cap having the bone conduction module mounted therein according to the present disclosure has been described. It will be understood that the technical constitution of the present disclosure can be embodied in other specific forms by those skilled in the related art without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present disclosure.
Therefore, embodiments described above are merely examples from all aspects, and should be understood as not being limited.

Claims

1. A cap having a bone conduction module mounted therein, the cap comprising a body part which directly comes into contact with a user's head, a cap part which protrudes from a front surface of the body part, and a bone conduction module provided on the body part and the cap part,

wherein the body part has audio signal output units provided on both sides thereof,

wherein the cap part has a first recess part formed on one side thereof, and a second recess part formed on the other side,

wherein a wireless communication unit of the bone conduction module is inserted into the first recess part, and a battery unit of the bone conduction module is inserted into the second recess part,

wherein the first recess part and the second recess part are disposed on both sides of the cap part, spaced apart from each other, and are formed to have a depth shallower than a thickness of the cap part.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the first recess part and the second recess part are provided to be symmetric with reference to a center line of the cap part.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit and the battery unit inserted into the first recess part and the second recess part, respectively, are provided to balance their weights with reference to a center line of the cap part.

4. The cap of claim 1, wherein a third recess part is further provided between the first recess part and the second recess part, and a connection line of the bone conduction module is inserted into the third recess part.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the third recess part is formed to have a depth shallower than the thickness of the cap part.

6. The cap of claim 4, wherein a film is attached to a lower surface of the cap part in contact therewith.

7. The cap of claim 1, wherein a charging recess is provided on the first recess part or the second recess part to fluidly communicate therewith, and a charging terminal to which an external power supply is connected is inserted into the charging recess.

8. The cap of claim 1, wherein a switch recess is provided on the first recess part or the second recess part to fluidly communicate therewith, and a user input unit is inserted into the switch recess to turn on or off a power based on an operation of the user.

9. The cap of claim 1, wherein a microphone recess is provided on the first recess part or the second recess part to fluidly communicate therewith, and an audio signal input unit is inserted into the microphone recess.

10. The cap of claim 1, wherein the audio signal output unit is wrapped by a silicon protector.