WO2018139150A1 - Mask-type vibration massaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

This mask-type vibration massaging machine 100 is designed to be overlaid on top of a facial sheet 200 covering the face when used, and provided with: a vibration presentation part 13 on which a vibration imparting body 300 is disposed and which bulges to an opposite side of the mask from the face; and bulging parts 12 that bulge towards the face at locations different from that of the vibration presentation part 13. The vibration presentation part 13 does not contact the facial sheet 200, while the bulging parts 12 do contact the facial sheet 200, and in this state, the vibration imparting part 300 imparts vibrations to the vibration presentation part 13 so that vibrations from the vibration presentation part 13 are transmitted to the facial sheet 200 via the bulging parts 12 that are removed from the vibration presentation part 13. Thus, the entire facial sheet 200 vibrates so that vibrations are imparted across the entire face.

Description

Mask type vibration massage device

The present invention relates to a mask-type vibration massage apparatus, and is particularly suitable for use in an apparatus adapted to perform facial massage by vibrating a mask used on a face.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus for performing facial massage by vibrating a mask used on a face (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6).

In the mask type facial device described in Patent Document 1, the eye part, the nose part, and the mouth part of the mask are cut out, the upper part of the eye part, the outer side part and the lower part, and the outer side part of the nose part And stick a soft vibrator on both sides of the mouth. Then, an oscillator is connected to each of these vibrators, and an oscillation output is applied to each vibrator, so that the troublesomeness of holding a probe or the like for applying vibration for a long time by hand can be eliminated.

The facial mask described in Patent Document 2 is a mask that covers the face with openings in the eyes, nose, and mouth, and includes a plurality of vibration elements in the mask ground. In addition, the face of the mask is provided with a ridge that protrudes toward the face. According to this, it is described that it is possible to provide a facial mask that conforms to the shape of each user's face, can massage each part of the face according to needs, is safe and lightweight, and has quiet operation sound. Yes.

In the facial massage device described in Patent Document 3, all or a part of the face can be massaged by individually operating a plurality of vibration modules provided on the mask. Also, by operating the vibrator of the vibration module with various vibration patterns of pulse width modulation system, various massages similar to massage actions performed by human hands such as stroking, rubbing, grabbing, pushing, hitting, etc. The function can be provided.

The face massage machine described in Patent Literature 4 uses several ultra-small vibration motors on a flat sheet of soft material molded into a mask according to a human face, and vibrates the entire masked sheet. Is. Specifically, a wire mesh is sandwiched between the upper part of the masked flat sheet and the lower part of the masked flat sheet, and several ultra-small vibration motors are installed on the wire mesh, and the upper part of the masked flat sheet and the lower part of the masked flat sheet Are joined.

The facial mask described in Patent Document 5 includes a gel mask formed by enclosing gel in a bag having holes in the eyes, nose, and mouth. A plurality of weirs are provided in the bag body, and gel flow ports are provided in the weirs as necessary. By using this gel mask on the face together with the electrode mask or ultrasonic mask, the gel becomes heavy and the elasticity allows the electrode mask and ultrasonic mask to be immovably fitted to the face. Yes.

The facial device described in Patent Document 6 can be equipped with a covering sheet having at least one air bag in close contact with the face of the beauty treatment person and a connecting short tube communicating with each air bag, and the covering sheet on the inside. At least one facial body having a fastening belt to be fixedly attached to the face of the beauty treatment person, an external control device for sending pressurized air to the air bag via a pipe, and applying electric drive to the facial body The facial device body is made of a hard synthetic resin material.

JP 2004-261409 A JP 2005-118527 A Special table 2014-530640 gazette Noto 3061246 gazette JP 2007-037657 A Noto 3037539

In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, in order to vibrate the entire face, a large number of vibration elements, motors and the like are installed at a plurality of locations on the mask. Therefore, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the mask increases.

In the technique described in Patent Document 5, since the entire face is vibrated through the gel mask covering the entire face, it is not necessary to provide vibration elements, motors, or the like at a plurality of locations on the mask. However, instead of this, an electrode mask or an ultrasonic mask that is used by being superimposed on the gel mask is required, which also increases the manufacturing cost.

In the technique described in Patent Document 6, a mechanism that vibrates the entire face via an air bag of a covering sheet that covers the entire face, and a vibration generating mechanism that applies electric drive to the facial body body that has the covering sheet mounted on the inside is provided. There should be at least one. However, since the covering sheet has a plurality of air bags independently, the entire face cannot be vibrated through all the air bags with only one vibration generating mechanism.

Further, in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 6, it is configured to massage the entire face by vibrating a mask used on the face. However, it is not always possible to provide a comfortable vibration massage. Absent.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to enable a comfortable vibration massage to the face with a simple configuration that does not increase the manufacturing cost. .

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the mask type vibration massage device of the present invention, the facial sheet placed on the face is vibrated, and the face is vibrated through the facial sheet. This mask type vibration massage device is a part where a vibration imparting body is installed, and a vibration presenting part formed so as not to come into contact with the facial sheet placed on the face, and toward the face at a part different from the vibration presenting part And a bulging portion that bulges.

According to the present invention configured as described above, when the mask-type vibration massage device is further covered on the facial sheet placed on the face, the vibration presenting portion does not contact the facial sheet, and the bulge is located away from the facial sheet. The part comes into contact with the facial sheet. And if a vibration is given to a vibration presentation part from a vibration provision body, the vibration will be transmitted to a facial sheet from a bulging part, and a facial sheet will vibrate, and a vibration will be given to a face here now.

Thus, according to the present invention, the vibration imparting body may be installed in one vibration presenting portion, and the swelling portion that swells toward the face and the vibration presenting portion that is formed so as not to contact the facial sheet. Massage can be performed by applying vibration to the face with a simple configuration that does not increase the manufacturing cost. In addition, vibration is transmitted to the face through a facial sheet placed on the face, not directly from the mask-type vibratory massage device, allowing the face to feel a slight difference in tactile sensation, and a feeling of close contact with the face It is possible to create a feeling that the face is wrapped. Thereby, a comfortable vibration massage can be provided to the user.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the mask type vibration massage apparatus by 1st Embodiment, and the facial sheet used with it. It is a side view which shows the example of a partial structure of the mask type vibration massage device by 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the structural example of the mask type vibration massage apparatus by 2nd Embodiment. It is a side perspective view showing the example of composition of the mask type vibration massage device by a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a haptic content production | generation apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically the storage example of the tactile content which a tactile content storage part memorize | stores. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing content by a touch quality parameter specific | specification part. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination algorithm of the repeating pattern by a tactile-contents production | generation part. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function structural example of an audio content production | generation apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a vibration waveform processing part. It is a figure for demonstrating the processing content of a feature extraction part and a weight information generation part. It is a figure which shows the acoustic content produced | generated by the acoustic content production | generation part. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function structural example of the sound reproduction apparatus used in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of a mask type vibration massage apparatus and a facial sheet.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment and a facial sheet 200 used therewith. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a partial configuration example of the mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment.

The mask type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment is used together with the facial sheet 200. The facial sheet 200 is made of a fiber material such as cotton, pulp, rayon, or polyester, and is used by directly covering the face. The facial sheet 200 has holes in the eyes, nose, and mouth. The facial sheet 200 can be applied with a cosmetic liquid or a cosmetic liquid when used on the face.

The mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment is used by further covering the facial sheet 200 on the face, and the facial sheet 200 is vibrated to allow the entire face to pass through the facial sheet 200. It is a device for giving vibration to. That is, the feature of the mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment is not to stimulate the skin directly but to indirectly stimulate the skin through vibrating the facial sheet 200.

The mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment includes an opening 11 provided in a nose portion on a mask (a face-shaped surface excluding a vibration applying body 300 described later), and a side of the opening 11. , A bulging portion 12 that is a portion that bulges toward the face, and a vibration presenting portion 13 that is a portion that bulges toward the opposite side of the face at a portion different from the bulging portion 12 on the mask. A vibration imparting body 300 such as a vibration element or a vibration motor is detachably installed on the vibration presenting unit 13.

The opening 11 is formed in such a size and shape that no user can touch the mask with any user. In the first embodiment, the mask is formed in a curved surface shape that generally follows the standard Japanese facial shape, and the opening 11 at the position of the nose is provided in a part of the curved surface shape of the mask. Yes. The position where the opening 11 is located has a configuration in which a hole is formed in a part of the face along the shape of the nose, without swelling in the face direction or the opposite direction compared to the surrounding face. ing.

The bulging portions 12 are two portions that bulge toward the face rather than the surface of the opening 11 on both sides of the opening 11. The bulging portion 12 is configured such that the most bulging portion on the face side hits both cheeks of the user wearing the mask. The bulging shape of the bulging portion 12 is arbitrary, and it is sufficient that the bulging portion is configured to hit both cheeks of the user.

The vibration presenting portion 13 is a portion that swells toward the opposite side of the face from the surrounding surface at a portion different from the bulging portion 12 on the mask. The reason why the vibration presenting portion 13 is inflated toward the opposite side of the face is to prevent a part of the facial sheet 200 from directly hitting the vibration presenting portion 13 in a state where a mask is mounted on the facial sheet 200. is there. Therefore, the bulge shape and the degree of bulge of the vibration presenting unit 13 are arbitrary, and the vibration presenting unit 13 may be configured not to directly contact the facial sheet 200. For example, it is good also as a structure which expands the vibration presentation part 13 locally, and is good also as a structure which expands gradually from the surrounding surface. Or it is good also as a structure which expands according to the general shape of a person's mouth. In 1st Embodiment, it is set as the structure which expands the vibration presentation part 13 locally.

In the first embodiment, the vibration presenting portion 13 and the bulging portion 12 are provided at a remote location on the mask. If the site where the vibration is presented fits directly to the face (exactly, the surface of the facial sheet 200), the vibration is absorbed at the contact point, making it difficult to spread the vibration over the entire heel. Therefore, the vibration presenting unit 13 is prevented from fitting to the facial sheet 200 by inflating the vibration presenting unit 13 toward the side opposite to the face. In addition, by providing a bulging portion 12 that bulges toward the face at a position beside the nose away from the vibration presenting portion 13, the two points of the bulging portion 12 hit the cheek portion of the facial sheet 200, so that these two points The vibration spreads over the entire face. The position of the side of the nose is preferable in that it is less affected by any shape of the face, and the bulging portion 12 can be surely fitted to the facial sheet 200.

The position (one point) where vibration is presented by the vibration presenting unit 13 is preferably the central portion in the width direction on the mask. In the first embodiment, the vibration presenting unit 13 is provided in the chin portion on the mask. In addition, you may provide the vibration presentation part 13 in a forehead part. In addition, the position of the bulging part 12 where the vibration presented by the vibration presenting part 13 is transmitted to the facial sheet 200 is preferably other than the position of the eyes. This is because if the vibration is directly transmitted to the eyeball, the user feels uncomfortable.

When using the mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment configured as described above, first, the user sticks the facial sheet 200 coated with a cosmetic liquid or the like on the face. Then, the mask-type vibration massage device 100 is placed thereon, and vibration is applied by the vibration applying body 300 installed in the vibration presenting unit 13. Thereby, the vibration generated in the vibration imparting body 300 is transmitted to the facial sheet 200 via the bulging portion 12 of the mask-type vibration massage device 100, and the entire facial sheet 200 is vibrated to impart vibration to the entire face.

The facial sheet 200 plays an important role not only for infiltrating the cosmetic liquid into the skin, but also as a vibration medium for buffering local vibration and propagating the vibration to the entire face. The facial sheet 200 may be any sheet that can exhibit such a function. For example, it may be one that is not coated with a liquid such as a cosmetic liquid, such as a dry tissue paper.

As described above in detail, according to the first embodiment, when the mask-type vibration massage device 100 is further covered on the facial sheet 200 placed on the face, the vibration presentation unit 13 of the chin portion contacts the facial sheet 200. Instead, the bulging portion 12 at a location away from it comes into contact with the facial sheet 200. And if a vibration is given to the vibration presentation part 13 from the vibration provision body 300, the vibration will be transmitted to the facial sheet 200 from the bulging part 12, and the whole facial sheet 200 vibrates so that a vibration is given to the whole face. Become.

As described above, according to the mask-type vibration massage device 100 according to the first embodiment, the vibration imparting body 300 may be installed in the vibration presenting unit 13 at one location, and the bulging portion 12 that bulges toward the face, With a simple configuration that does not increase the manufacturing cost to the extent that it has the vibration presenting portion 13 that swells toward the opposite side, massage can be performed by applying vibration to the entire face. In addition, the vibration is transmitted to the entire face through the facial sheet 200 not directly on the mask but on the face, so that the entire face can feel a slight difference in tactile sensation due to the vibration, and the entire face can feel a close feeling. It is possible to create a feeling that the entire face is wrapped. Thereby, a comfortable vibration massage can be provided to the user.

In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the opening 11 is provided in the nose portion on the mask has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a three-dimensional structure that can enter even with a large nose. That is, a structure in which the nose portion is expanded toward the opposite side of the face may be used. In this case, you may make it provide the vibration presentation part 13 in the part of the nose which swelled toward the opposite side to the face.

In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the opening 11 is provided only in the nose portion has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may make it provide an opening part also in the part of eyes or the part of a mouth.

In the first embodiment, the example in which the bulging portion 12 is provided in the lateral portion of the nose and the vibration presenting portion 13 is provided in the chin portion has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the bulging portion 12 may be provided on the chin portion, and the vibration presenting portion 13 may be provided on a portion other than the chin (for example, a forehead portion or a three-dimensional nose portion).

When the bulging portion 12 is provided on the jaw, the vibration transmitted from the mask to the face via the facial sheet 200 is transmitted from the cheekbone to the forehead via the lower jawbone. Easy to irritate. This is also suggested by the fact that a large vibration stimulus is given to the entire head and neck by hitting the lower jaw in a boxing competition. In addition, since the chin is a part where the subcutaneous fat is relatively small, the vibration transmitted from the mask is not absorbed by the chin and is easily transmitted to the entire face.

Further, in the case where the bulging portion 12 is provided in the jaw, the vibration that is locally transmitted from the mask to the bulging portion 12 is buffered by the facial sheet 200, so that the difference from the vibration of the entire face is not a concern. The vibration strength of the vibration imparting body 300 may be adjusted. In this way, it is possible to comfortably vibrate and massage the entire face by vibration conduction from the bulging portion 12.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration example of the mask-type vibration massage device 100 ′ according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side perspective view showing a configuration example of the mask-type vibration massage device 100 ′ according to the second embodiment. Note that the mask-type vibration massage device 100 ′ according to the second embodiment is also used together with the facial sheet 200, as in the first embodiment. The facial sheet 200 may have the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

The mask type vibration massage device 100 ′ according to the second embodiment includes an opening 11 ′ provided in a nose portion on the mask, an opening 14 provided in both eye portions on the mask, and a portion that swells toward the face. And a vibration presenting portion 13A, 13B that is a portion bulging toward the opposite side of the face at a portion different from the bulging portion 12 ′ on the mask. Vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B such as vibration elements and vibration motors are installed in the vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B.

In the second embodiment, the nose portion on the mask has a three-dimensional structure bulging toward the opposite side of the face, and an opening is formed in the most swelled portion of the three-dimensional structure (corresponding to the head of the nose). 11 'is provided. The three-dimensional structure is formed in such a size and shape that the user's nose does not touch the mask. Two openings 14 are provided on both sides of the portion corresponding to the root of the nose of the three-dimensional structure at positions corresponding to both eyes.

The bulging portions 12 ′ are two portions that bulge toward the face rather than the surface of the root portion of the three-dimensional structure on both sides of the three-dimensional structure having the opening 11 ′. Similar to the first embodiment, the bulging portion 12 ′ is configured such that the most bulging portion on the face side hits both cheeks of the user. The bulging shape of the bulging portion 12 ′ is arbitrary, and it may be configured so that the most swollen portion hits both cheeks of the user.

The vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B are portions that swell toward the opposite side of the face rather than the surrounding surface at a portion different from the bulging portion 12 'on the mask. The swell shape and swell degree of the vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B are arbitrary, and the vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B may be configured not to directly contact the facial sheet 200. In the second embodiment, each of the vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B is configured to gradually expand slightly from the surrounding surface.

In the second embodiment, two vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B are formed, and vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B are respectively installed. The first vibration presenting unit 13A is installed at the position of the jaw, and the second vibration presenting unit 13B is installed at the position of the forehead. The vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B can include, for example, a general speaker magnetic circuit and a voice coil. The vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B are not provided with a speaker cone (diaphragm). In the present embodiment, the mask surface that is vibrated by the vibration applying bodies 300A and 300B is caused to function as a diaphragm of the speaker. That is, the vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B impart vibration to the mask using the mask as a diaphragm. Thereby, the vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B and the mask constitute a speaker having the mask as a diaphragm.

For example, music data is used as data of a vibration source that applies vibration to the vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B, and an audio signal reproduced by an audio reproduction device (not shown) is supplied to the vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B. . If it does in this way, the vibration according to an audio | voice signal can be given to a mask from the vibration provision bodies 300A and 300B, and the mask can be emitted as a substitute for the cone of a speaker by vibrating the whole mask. Thereby, the user wearing the mask can obtain a feeling that music can be heard from the entire mask. Such a thing can be similarly applied to the first embodiment including only one vibration imparting body 300.

In addition, in the second embodiment, a widened portion 15 that spreads laterally toward the outside is provided at both ears of the mask so that the user can easily listen to music reverberating from the entire mask. By providing such a spread portion 15, it is possible to make it easier for the user to listen to music that reverberates from the entire mask due to vibration of the entire mask.

As described above in detail, according to the second embodiment, the vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B may be installed in the two vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B, and the bulging portion 12 ′ that bulges toward the face, and the face With a simple configuration that does not increase the manufacturing cost to the extent that it has vibration presenting portions 13A and 13B that swell toward the opposite side, massage can be performed by applying vibration to the entire face. In addition, as in the first embodiment, vibration that is comfortable to the user through making the entire face feel a slight difference in tactile sensation due to vibration, making the entire face feel close, and making the entire face enveloped. Massage can be provided.

Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, by using music data as a vibration source, massage is performed by giving vibration to the entire face while giving the user a feeling that music can be heard from the entire mask. be able to. By appropriately changing the music data as the vibration source, vibration massage with various rhythm variations can be provided to the user, and comfortable vibration massage can be provided without getting tired of the user receiving the massage. It is.

In the second embodiment, since the two vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B are provided, it is possible to impart different vibrations to the mask from each. For example, the first vibration imparting body 300A is supplied with an audio signal reproduced by a sound reproducing device using music data, and the second vibration imparting body 300B is generated so as to make the user image a predetermined sense. It is possible to supply a vibration signal. The predetermined sensation may be an audible feeling (slow, intense, rhythmical, etc.) felt when hearing a sound, or a tactile sensation (soft, hard, etc.) felt when touching an object. In this way, while giving a predetermined feeling to the user by the vibration signal supplied to the second vibration applying body 300B, music can be heard from the entire mask by the audio signal supplied to the first vibration applying body 300A. It is possible to give a simple experience to the user.

Hereinafter, generation of an audio signal supplied to the first vibration applying body 300A and a vibration signal supplied to the second vibration applying body 300B will be described. The vibration signal generated here is a vibration signal that causes the user to imagine a predetermined sensation regarding tactile sensation. In this specification, such a vibration signal is referred to as “tactile content”. The vibration signal and the audio signal are collectively referred to as “acoustic content”.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a basic configuration example of the haptic content generation apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the haptic content generation apparatus 500 of the present embodiment includes a haptic content storage unit 50 as a storage medium. In addition, the tactile content generation device 500 of the present embodiment includes a tactile content extraction unit 51, a tactile content generation unit 52, a target information input unit 53, and a tactile parameter specification unit 54 as its functional configuration.

The above functional blocks 51 to 54 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 11 and 12 is actually configured by including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. of a computer, and a program stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory. Is realized by operating.

The tactile content storage unit 50 stores tactile content having a unique tactile effect specified by n (n ≧ 2) tactile parameters, each representing one element of tactile sensation, into n tactile parameters. Are stored in association with each other. In this embodiment, an example of n = 2 is shown. In addition, as the two tactile parameters, an example is shown in which a first tactile parameter related to the strength of information and a second tactile parameter related to the length of the divided section of information are used. Both the strength and the length of the divided sections are elements of tactile sensation.

In other words, in the present embodiment, the tactile content storage unit 50 has a unique haptic effect that is specified by the first tactile parameter related to the intensity of information and the second tactile parameter related to the length of the divided section of information. The tactile content is stored in association with the combination of the first tactile parameter and the second tactile parameter. The tactile quality parameter is a parameter that represents the degree of conflicting tactile properties (hereinafter referred to as tactile pairs) such as <hard-soft> and <rough-smooth>.

For example, it is possible to use the strength of information as a tactile parameter related to a <hard-soft> tactile pair. That is, the greater the value representing strength, the harder the value, and the smaller the value representing strength, the softer. In addition, the length of the divided section of information can be used as a tactile parameter related to a tactile pair of <rough-smooth>. That is, the larger the value representing the length, the smoother, and the smaller the value representing the length, the rougher.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a storage example of tactile content stored in the tactile content storage unit 50. FIG. 6 shows a matrix-like tactile pair with the vertical axis representing “strength” as the first tactile parameter and the horizontal axis representing “division section length” as the second tactile parameter. Shows space. In the example of FIG. 6, <hard-soft> is used as the tactile pair represented by the first tactile parameter (strength), and the tactile represented by the second tactile parameter (the length of the divided section). A pair using <rough-smooth> is shown.

In the example of FIG. 6, the maximum value to the minimum value of the intensity is divided into five levels, and the maximum value to the minimum value of the length of the divided section is divided into five steps, thereby forming 25 matrix spaces. Yes. Index numbers 1 to 25 are assigned to the 25 matrix spaces, respectively. The tactile content storage unit 50 stores tactile content corresponding to the combination of the strength and the length of the divided sections in each of these 25 matrix spaces.

The tactile content memorized here is information that allows people to get a tactile sensation. In the present embodiment, vibration information is used as tactile content. When storing vibration information as tactile content, for example, at the position of index number “1”, vibration information with the maximum strength and the minimum length of the divided section, that is, the image of the hardest and roughest can be transmitted. Vibration information is stored. For example, at the position of the index number “25”, vibration information having the minimum intensity and the maximum length of the divided section, that is, vibration information that can transmit the image that is the softest but the smoothest is stored.

Note that what is used as two pairs of tactile qualities for specifying tactile content can be arbitrarily determined according to the use of the tactile content generated by the haptic content generation apparatus 500 of the present embodiment. . That is, here, <hard-soft> and <coarse-smooth> are used as the two pairs of touch properties, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, <large-small>, <sharp-dull>, <heavy-light>, <rough-smooth>, etc. may be used as another example of the tactile pair.

5 shows a configuration in which the tactile content generation device 500 includes the tactile content storage unit 50. However, the tactile content storage unit 50 is provided outside the tactile content generation device 500, and the tactile content generation device 500 is external. The tactile content may be obtained from the tactile content storage unit 50 and used.

For example, the tactile content storage unit 50 outside the haptic content generation device 500 is configured by a removable storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the haptic content generation device 500. Alternatively, the tactile content storage unit 50 outside the haptic content generation device 500 is configured by an external device (for example, an external storage or a server) connected to the haptic content generation device 500 via a communication network.

The target information input unit 53 inputs target information composed of continuous or intermittent values corresponding to the strength. As an example of the target information, time-series waveform information is input in this embodiment. The waveform information input here may be an analog signal or digital data. Further, the input waveform information may be information whose amplitude changes with time, and the type thereof is arbitrary.

For example, audio signals, video signals, measurement signals from various measuring devices such as seismometers / anemometers / light meters, waveform measurement data using oscilloscopes, stock price fluctuation data, and the like are just examples. When an audio signal is input, it may be the same audio signal as the audio signal constituting the audio content (the audio signal supplied to the first vibration imparting body 300A) or another audio signal. . However, it is preferable to input the same audio signal as that constituting the audio content as the target information. The reason will be described later.

The tactile parameter specifying unit 54 divides the waveform information input by the target information input unit 53 into a plurality of pieces in the time axis direction, specifies the amplitude as the first tactile parameter from each divided section, and the second The time length of the divided section is specified as the tactile parameter. At this time, as pre-processing, the waveform information is subjected to low-pass fill processing to extract an envelope of the input waveform information, and the first tactile parameter (amplitude) and a plurality of divided sections are targeted for the envelope. The second tactile parameter (the length of time of the divided section) may be specified.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing contents by the tactile parameter specifying unit 54. FIG. 7 shows waveform information input by the target information input unit 53 (or envelope waveform information subjected to low-pass filter processing as preprocessing by the tactile parameter specifying unit 54).

The tactile parameter specifying unit 54 first divides the waveform information shown in FIG. 7 into a plurality of pieces in the time axis direction. In FIG. 7, as an example, the waveform is divided every time when the amplitude of the waveform is minimized. That is, the first divided section T1 from the waveform start point to the first minimum value, the second divided section T2 from the first minimum value to the second minimum value, and the second minimum value. To the third minimum value is divided into a plurality of waveform information in the time axis direction as in a third divided section T3,.

Note that the way of dividing the waveform information is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the waveform information may be divided into a plurality of sections for each time when the amplitude of the waveform becomes maximum. Alternatively, in the case of waveform information having a positive amplitude and a negative amplitude, the waveform information may be divided into a plurality of sections every time the amplitude value becomes zero.

The tactile parameter specifying unit 54 specifies the representative amplitudes h1, h2, h3,... As the first tactile parameters from the respective divided sections T1, T2, T3,. .., T1, t2, t3,... Are specified as quality parameters. Here, the representative amplitudes h1, h2, h3,... Are divided into the largest value of the minimum value of the start point or the minimum value of the end point in each divided section T1, T2, T3,. The value of the difference with the maximum value in area T1, T2, T3, ... is shown.

That is, since there is only one minimum value for the divided section T1, the difference between this minimum value and the maximum value becomes the representative amplitude h1. Regarding the divided section T2, the local minimum value at the start point of the section is larger than the local minimum value at the end point, so the difference between the local minimum value and the local maximum value is the representative amplitude h2. Regarding the divided section T3, the local minimum value at the end point is larger than the local minimum value at the start point of the section, and therefore the difference between the local minimum value and the local maximum value is the representative amplitude h3.

Note that the representative amplitude identification method shown here is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the minimum value of the minimum value of the start point or the minimum value of the end point in each divided section T1, T2, T3,... And the maximum value in the divided sections T1, T2, T3,. May be specified as the representative amplitude.

Further, when the waveform information having the positive amplitude and the negative amplitude is divided every time when the amplitude value becomes zero, the positive maximum value or the negative minimum value in each divided section is set to the first value. It may be specified as the representative amplitude of the tactile parameter. Here, regarding the negative minimum value, the absolute value may be specified as the representative amplitude of the first tactile parameter.

The tactile content extracting unit 51 is a combination of the first tactile parameter (amplitude) and the second tactile parameter (the length of time of the divided section) specified from each divided section by the tactile parameter specifying unit 54. Are sequentially specified, and a plurality of tactile contents corresponding to the specified combination of the plurality of sets are sequentially extracted from the tactile content storage unit 50.

That is, the tactile content extraction unit 51 combines the combinations {h1, t1}, {h2, t2}, {h3 of the representative amplitudes and the lengths of the divided sections identified from the divided sections T1, T2, T3,. , T3},. Then, the tactile content corresponding to each of the designated combinations is extracted in order on the tactile content matrix space shown in FIG.

The tactile content generation unit 52 determines whether or not the plurality of tactile contents extracted in order by the tactile content extraction unit 51 have a repetition of a pattern composed of a combination of two or more different tactile contents. Is extracted as a tactile content. The tactile content group constituting the repetition is information that can convey a meaningful message to the receiver, and in the present embodiment, this is generated as tactile content. The reason will be described below.

When communicating some message to people by tactile sense, first, it is important to make a difference in tactile sensation. For example, people will not feel pressure if they continue to receive the same pressure all the time, but if they make a difference in pressure, they will feel pressure more strongly. Then, it is possible to express a certain type of message from the series of differences. For example, in the matrix space shown in FIG. 6, when the tactile content with index number 20 and the tactile content with index number 25 are extracted in order, the strength changes slowly over a long time with a relatively weak strength. A difference occurs, and this difference makes it possible to express a message of “soft and smooth” feeling.

Second, by repeating the tactile difference as described above twice or more, it is possible to give an impression that it is something special (not a coincidence). That is, not only the tactile content of No. 20 and the tactile content of No. 25 are extracted once in order, but also by repeating twice or more like No. 20 → No. 25 → No. 20 → No. 25. It is possible to convey the message more strongly. Although an example in which two tactile contents are repeated is shown here, a tactile content is also a structure in which three or more tactile contents are repeated.

Note that the haptic content generated by the haptic content generation unit 52 is stored in, for example, a storage medium included in the haptic content generation apparatus 500 or a removable storage medium that is detachable from the haptic content generation apparatus 500. Alternatively, the haptic content may be transmitted to an external device (for example, an external storage, a server, etc.) connected to the haptic content generation apparatus 500 via a communication network and stored. In the present embodiment, the tactile content stored in this way is used as an element of acoustic content.

Hereinafter, an example of a repetitive pattern determination algorithm by the haptic content generation unit 52 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a repetitive pattern determination algorithm by the haptic content generation unit 52. FIG. 8A shows a permutation of index numbers of ten tactile contents extracted in order by the tactile content extracting unit 51.

First, the tactile content generation unit 52 extracts the first index number extracted by the tactile content extraction unit 51 as a key and immediately before the same index number as the key appears as a pattern. Here, the pattern refers to a combination of two or more different index numbers (tactile content indicated thereby).

For example, when the same index number as the key is continuous (for example, a case such as “11”), the pattern up to immediately before the same index number as the key appears without setting the restriction “two or more different”. When extracted, only the first index number “1” is extracted as a pattern. In the present embodiment, such a single index number is not extracted as a pattern. When this is extracted as a pattern, “11” becomes tactile content in which “1” is repeated twice, but this is not suitable as tactile content because there is no difference in the sequence of tactile content. is there.

After extracting one pattern, the tactile content generation unit 52 next extracts a new pattern as a pattern immediately before the same index number as the key appears, with the next index number of the extracted pattern as the key. The tactile content generation unit 52 performs the above processing up to the end of the index number sequentially extracted by the tactile content extraction unit 51.

If the same index number as the key is not found even after searching up to the last index number with the first index number as the key, the second index number from the beginning is reset to the key, and the key Up to just before the same index number appears as a pattern is extracted. This process is repeated while changing the key until a pattern is found. FIG. 8B shows the result of such pattern extraction processing.

In the example of FIG. 8, first, the first index number “1” is set as the key, and the pattern immediately before the same index number as the key appears is extracted as a pattern. Thereby, “123” is extracted as the first pattern. Next, the next index number (fourth index number) “1” of the extracted first pattern is set as the key, and the pattern is extracted up to immediately before the same index number as the key appears. Thereby, “123” is extracted as the second pattern.

Next, the next index number (seventh index number) “1” of the extracted second pattern is set as the key, and the pattern immediately before the same index number as that key appears is extracted as a pattern. Thereby, “14” is extracted as the third pattern. Furthermore, the next index number (9th index number) “1” of the extracted third pattern is set as the key, and an attempt is made to extract the pattern up to immediately before the same index number as the key appears. No number is found, and the remaining tile “13” is extracted as the fourth pattern.

In the example of FIG. 8, the pattern “123” is repeated twice. Therefore, the tactile content generation unit 52 extracts the tactile content group “123123” constituting this repetition and generates this as tactile content.

In the example of FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the second index number “2” is set as the key, the repetition of the pattern “231” can be extracted. Therefore, the tactile content generation unit 52 extracts a plurality of tactile content groups “123123” and “231231” constituting the repetition by performing pattern extraction processing while sequentially changing the set position of the key from the top, These may be generated as tactile content. Alternatively, all of the index numbers may be sequentially set to “key”, and the repetitive pattern determination process may be performed.

In addition, although the example of determining the repetitive pattern in the case where the tactile content extracted by the tactile content extracting unit 51 is 10 has been described here, there may be many tactile content. Therefore, the haptic content generation unit 52 divides a plurality of tactile contents extracted in order by the tactile content extraction unit 51 into a predetermined number from the top and groups them, and repeats pattern determination processing for each group. Also good.

By transmitting the tactile content generated as described above as an element of acoustic content to the user through the mask-type vibratory massage device 100 ′, it is meaningful due to a series of repeated differences in tactile content. A tactile effect can be given and the tactile message (narrative) can be clearly communicated to the user.

In the above embodiment, a tactile content group consisting of one type of repetitive pattern is extracted from a plurality of tactile contents extracted from the tactile content storage unit 50, and the extracted tactile content group is directly used as the tactile content. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a tactile content group composed of a plurality of types of repetitive patterns may be extracted and combined to generate tactile content.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which one index number is set to Key, and the pattern immediately before the same index number as the Key appears is extracted as a pattern. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a combination of a plurality of index numbers may be set in the key, and the pattern immediately before the combination of the same index number as that key appears may be extracted as a pattern.

In the above embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the repetition of the pattern “123 | 123” is detected, the tactile content group “123123” constituting the repetition is used as the tactile content. Although the example to produce | generate was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this. For example, a combination of an arbitrary number of “123” may be generated as the tactile content.

Alternatively, a sequence in which the order of “123” is replaced with cyclic (“231” or “312”) may be generated, and a combination thereof may be generated as tactile content. Here, the tactile content may be generated by combining the same pattern such as “231231” or “3121212”, or the tactile content may be generated by arbitrarily combining different patterns such as “12323112”. It may be.

Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which handles the waveform information of the form in which the value corresponding to an intensity | strength is continuously or intermittently connected as object information input by the object information input part 53, it is originally like that. Information obtained by converting information that is not in a specific form into the form may be input.

For example, in the case of an audio signal, if it has a certain amount of time, it can be said that the value corresponding to the intensity is continuous or intermittent. On the other hand, in the case of a sound that ends in an instant, there is an amplitude, but it does not have a length that can be divided into a plurality along the time axis. However, when the instantaneous sound is frequency-analyzed and converted to a frequency-axis signal, information with different amplitudes for each frequency, that is, information corresponding to the intensity along the frequency axis, becomes information. This is information that can be input at the input unit 53. In addition, frequency spectrum information, histogram information, image information, moving image information, text information, motion information representing the motion of an object, and the like can be input from the target information input unit 53 as target information.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, an example in which the length of the division section is taken on the horizontal axis has been described, but the reciprocal of the length may be taken.

In the above-described embodiment, n = 2 and the first tactile parameter related to the information strength and the second tactile parameter related to the length of the divided section of information are specified as the two tactile parameters. Although an example has been described, n may be 3 or more. Note that when n ≧ 3, tactile content corresponding to a combination of n tactile parameters is stored as an n-dimensional hierarchical space of three or more layers instead of a two-dimensional matrix space as shown in FIG. Will do.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which both the first tactile parameter related to the strength of information and the second tactile parameter related to the length of the divided section of information are specified. Also good.

That is, the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 divides the target information input by the target information input unit 53 into a plurality of pieces, and from each divided section, relates to the first tactile parameter related to the strength of information and the length of the divided section. It is possible to specify n (n ≧ 2) tactile parameters using at least one of the second tactile parameters.

For example, when n = 3, it is possible to specify one or two first tactile parameters and two or one second tactile parameters. Alternatively, three different ones as the first tactile parameters may be specified, or three different ones as the second tactile parameters may be specified.

When n tactile parameters are specified only by the first tactile parameter related to the intensity of information, for example, n types of target information are input by the target information input unit 53. Then, the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 divides the input n types of target information into a plurality of pieces, and specifies one first tactile parameter from each divided section of the n types of target information. Thus, a plurality of combinations of the n first tactile parameters are specified.

As an example, it is assumed that the target information input unit 53 inputs the following digital values regarding the three types of information of heartbeat, acceleration (body movement), and blood flow as information on the tactile conversion target.
Heartbeat: 79, 60, 79, 75, 74, 79, 75
Acceleration: 40, 10, 30, 40, 35, 40, 20
Blood flow: 80, 60, 40, 60, 80, 60, 80

In this case, the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 divides the input three types of target information for each input value, and specifies the first tactile parameter from each divided section of the three types of target information. Thus, the combination of the three first tactile parameters is specified as follows.
{79, 40, 80}, {60, 10, 60}, {79, 30, 40}, ...

Also, when n tactile parameters are specified only by the second tactile parameter related to the length of the divided section of information, for example, n types of target information are input by the target information input unit 53. Then, the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 divides the input n types of target information into a plurality of pieces, and specifies the second tactile parameters one by one from each divided section of the n types of target information. Thus, a plurality of combinations of n second tactile parameters are generated.

As an example, it is assumed that the target information input unit 53 inputs the same digital value as described above for three types of information of heartbeat, acceleration, and blood flow. In this case, the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 divides each of the three types of target information, for example, until the same value is input, and the second tactile quality is determined from each divided section of the three types of target information. By specifying the parameters, a plurality of combinations of the three second tactile parameters are specified.

In the case of the above example, regarding the heart rate, the same value as the first “79” appears two times later, and then the same value appears three more times later. 3 Regarding acceleration, the same value as the first “40” appears three times later, and then the same value appears two more times later, so the length of the divided section is 3 and 2. Regarding the blood flow rate, the same value as the first “80” appears four times later, and then the same value appears two more times later, so the length of the divided section is 4 and 2. In this case, the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 specifies the combination of the second tactile parameters as {2, 3, 4}, {3, 2, 2}.

In addition, although the example which inputs a digital value as multiple types of tactile conversion object information was demonstrated here, it cannot be overemphasized that you may make it input an analog signal. In this case, the method described in the above embodiment can be applied to the method for specifying the tactile parameter relating to the strength and the tactile parameter relating to the length of the divided section.

In addition, here, an example has been described in which only one of the tactile parameters related to strength or the tactile parameters related to the length of the divided sections is specified from input information of a plurality of types of tactile conversion targets. You may make it identify from object information. For example, as in the above-described embodiment, one type of target information may be divided into a plurality of sections, and a plurality of tactile parameters related to strength may be specified from each divided section (for example, the maximum intensity value and For example, the minimum value is a tactile parameter. Further, when one type of target information is divided into a plurality of sections, the information may be divided into a plurality of sections according to different methods, and the length of the divided section divided by each method may be used as a tactile parameter.

In addition, here, an example has been described in which only tactile parameters related to strength or only tactile parameters related to the length of a divided section are specified from input information of a plurality of types of tactile conversion targets, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Not. For example, a combination of both a tactile parameter relating to strength and a tactile parameter relating to the length of a divided section may be specified from input information of a plurality of types of tactile conversion targets.

Next, the audio content generation device will be described. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the audio content generation device 600 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the acoustic content generation device 600 of this embodiment includes a tactile content acquisition unit 61, an audio signal acquisition unit 62, a vibration waveform processing unit 63, and an acoustic content generation unit 64 as its functional configuration. . In addition, a tactile content storage unit 601 and an audio signal storage unit 602 are connected to the acoustic content generation apparatus 600 of the present embodiment.

The functional blocks 61 to 64 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP, and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 61 to 64 actually includes a computer CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and is a program stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory. Is realized by operating.

The haptic content storage unit 601 stores the haptic content generated by the haptic content generation device 500 configured as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the tactile content storage unit 601 generates tactile content as vibration information by the tactile content generation device 500 when vibration information is used as tactile content stored in the tactile content storage unit 50 of FIG. Remember. The haptic content stored in the haptic content storage unit 601 is time-series waveform information including a tactile content group having a repetition of a pattern composed of a combination of two or more different tactile contents (vibration information).

Note that the haptic content storage unit 601 may be a storage medium included in the haptic content generation device 500 illustrated in FIG. 5, or may be a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like outside the haptic content generation device 500. It may be an information processing device or a removable storage medium. The tactile content storage unit 601 may be an external device (for example, an external storage, a server, or the like) connected to the acoustic content generation device 600 via a communication network.

The audio signal storage unit 602 stores waveform information of an arbitrary audio signal. For example, the audio signal storage unit 602 stores waveform information of an audio signal representing an arbitrary music piece. The waveform information of the audio signal stored in the audio signal storage unit 602 may be an analog signal or digital data. Note that the audio signal storage unit 602 can be configured as an information processing device such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal outside the acoustic content generation device 600, or a removable storage medium. The audio signal storage unit 602 may be an external device (for example, an external storage or a server) connected to the acoustic content generation device 600 via a communication network.

The haptic content acquisition unit 61 acquires the haptic content stored in the haptic content storage unit 601, that is, as described above, the haptic content generated from the haptic content that is vibration information by the haptic content generation device 500 of FIG. 5. To do. The audio signal acquisition unit 62 acquires the audio signal stored in the audio signal storage unit 602.

The vibration waveform processing unit 63 processes the waveform information of the haptic content acquired by the haptic content acquisition unit 61 based on the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62. Note that the total time length of the waveform information of the tactile content acquired by the tactile content acquisition unit 61 may not be the same as the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62. In this case, the vibration waveform processing unit 63 pre-processes the waveform information of the tactile content so that the total time length thereof is the same as the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal, and then performs the main processing described later. .

Note that the pre-processing is, for example, a process in which the waveform information of the haptic content acquired by the haptic content acquisition unit 61 is repeatedly connected and cut when the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal is the same. Is possible. Alternatively, the pre-processing may be a process of extending the pitch of the waveform information of the haptic content acquired by the haptic content acquisition unit 61. However, since the message property of the tactile content may change if the pitch of the waveform information of the tactile content is changed, it is preferable to use the former method.

Note that the total time length of the waveform information of the tactile content acquired by the tactile content acquisition unit 61 and the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 are not necessarily matched. For example, the acoustic content may be generated by combining the waveform information of the tactile content only for a specific section of the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal. In this case, the vibration waveform processing unit 63 performs the pre-processing so as to synchronize the waveform information of the tactile content with a specific section in the entire time length of the waveform information of the audio signal, and then performs the main processing described later. .

The acoustic content generation unit 64 generates an acoustic content by combining the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 and the tactile content processed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63. For example, the acoustic content generation unit 64 uses the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 as the first channel information (the audio signal supplied to the first vibration applying body 300A), and is processed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63. The acoustic content is generated using the tactile content as the second channel information (vibration signal supplied to the second vibration imparting body 300B).

Details of the acoustic content will be described later, and details of the main processing performed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63 will be described below. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the vibration waveform processing unit 63, and illustrates a functional configuration example for the vibration waveform processing unit 63 to perform main processing on the waveform information of the tactile content. As shown in FIG. 10, the vibration waveform processing unit 63 includes a feature extraction unit 63A, a weight information generation unit 63B, and a weight processing unit 63C as functional configurations.

The feature extraction unit 63A extracts a plurality of feature locations that can be distinguished from other locations in the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62. For example, the feature extraction unit 63A extracts, as a feature location, a location where the amplitude value increases by a predetermined value or more during a predetermined time in the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62.

The weight information generation unit 63B generates weight information whose value changes over time in the time interval of adjacent feature locations based on the plurality of feature locations extracted by the feature extraction unit 63A. For example, the weight information generation unit 63B determines the value over time from the time when one feature location is extracted to the time when the next feature location is extracted based on the plurality of feature locations extracted by the feature extraction unit 63A. Weight information that gradually decreases is generated.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing contents of the feature extraction unit 63A and the weight information generation unit 63B. Here, FIG. 11A shows the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62. FIG. 11B shows a state in which the weight information generated by the weight information generation unit 63B is schematically overlapped with the waveform information of the haptic content acquired by the haptic content acquisition unit 61. Here, the waveform information after pre-processing the waveform information of the tactile content so that the total time length thereof is the same as the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal is shown.

In the waveform information of the audio signal shown in FIG. 11 (a), the feature extraction unit 63A selects a plurality of feature locations F ₁ , where the amplitude value becomes larger than a predetermined value during a predetermined time (for example, 0.1 second). Extracted as F ₂ , F ₃ ,... That is, the feature extraction unit 63A extracts locations where the amplitude value of the waveform information of the audio signal increases rapidly as feature locations F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ ,.

Based on the plurality of feature points F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ ,... Extracted by the feature extraction unit 63A, the weight information generation unit 63B uses one feature point F _i (i = 1, 2,... From the time when () is extracted to the time when the next feature location F _{i + 1} is extracted, weight information whose value gradually decreases with time is generated. This weight information is information in which the weight value (both positive values) is between the minimum value and the maximum value, and is schematically shown as a sawtooth wave in FIG.

In the example of FIG. 11B, the weight value becomes maximum at the time when one feature point F _i is extracted, and the value gradually decreases with time in a linear or stepwise manner. Weight information is generated so that the weight value is maximized again at the time when _{i + 1} is extracted. Here, the weight information generation unit 63B has the maximum weight value at the time when one feature location F _i is extracted, and the weight value is set to the minimum value at the time when the next feature location F _{i + 1} is extracted. Such weight information is generated.

The weight information generation process shown here is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIG. 11B shows an example in which the weight value gradually decreases linearly at a constant rate, but the next feature location F _{i + 1} is extracted from the time when one feature location F _i is extracted. Until such time, the weight information may be generated so that the value gradually decreases in a curve according to a predetermined quadratic function or logarithmic function.

Further, the rate at which the weight value gradually decreases (the inclination angle of the hatched portion indicated by the sawtooth wave) may be the same in any section. In this case, if between one feature point F _i and the next feature point F _{i + 1} is a long interval, the weight value reaches a minimum value before reaching the next feature point F _{i + 1.} In this case, for example, after the weight value reaches the minimum value, the weight information generation unit 63B generates weight information that fixes the weight value to the minimum value until the next feature location F _{i + 1} .

Further, the maximum value and the minimum value of the weight value may not be fixed, but may be a variation value that varies according to a predetermined condition. For example, the maximum value of the weight value may be made variable according to the magnitude of the amplitude value at the feature location. In this case, the weight information generation unit 63B sets weight information so that the weight value increases as the amplitude value at one feature location F _i increases, and the value gradually decreases from that to the next feature location F _{i + 1.} Generate. In this way, among the plurality of feature points F _i whose amplitude value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value during a predetermined time, a larger weight value is set as the amplitude value of the feature point F _i is larger.

The weight processing unit 63C obtains waveform information of the haptic content acquired by the haptic content acquisition unit 61 (including the haptic content that has been pre-processed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63; the same applies hereinafter) as the weight information generation unit 63B. It processes by the weight information produced | generated by. For example, the weight processing unit 63C processes the waveform information of the haptic content by multiplying the amplitude value of the waveform information of the haptic content by the weight value of the weight information.

That is, the weight processing unit 63C is similar to the amplitude value at each time of the waveform information of the haptic content shown in FIG. 11B, at each time schematically shown as a sawtooth wave in FIG. Multiply the weight value. In FIG. 11B, the waveform information of the tactile content and the weight information are shown in an overlapping manner to clearly show the correspondence between the amplitude value of the waveform information at each time and the weight value to be multiplied by this. Because.

In the case where the acoustic content is generated by combining the waveform information of the tactile content only with respect to the waveform information of the audio signal in the specific section, out of the total time length of the waveform information of the audio signal, the feature extraction unit 63A, the weight information generation unit 63B and the weight processing unit 63C only need to execute each process in the specific section. That is, the feature extraction unit 63A may extract the feature region of the audio signal only in the specific section. Further, the weight information generation unit 63B may generate the weight information only in the specific section. Further, the weight processing unit 63C may multiply the amplitude value of the waveform information of the tactile content synchronized with the waveform information of the audio signal in the specific section only by the weight value only in the specific section.

As described above, the acoustic content generation unit 64 uses the tactile content processed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63 as described above as the second channel information, and uses the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 as the first channel. A sound content is generated by a combination of information. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating acoustic content generated by the acoustic content generation unit 64. 12A shows the waveform information (first channel information) of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62, and FIG. 12B shows the waveform of the tactile content processed by the dynamic waveform processing unit 23. Information (second channel information) is shown. The waveform information of the audio signal shown in FIG. 12A is the same as the waveform information of the audio signal shown in FIG.

When the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 is a monaural audio signal, as described above, the waveform information of the audio signal (weight for processing the waveform information of the audio content) illustrated in FIG. Waveform information of an audio signal from which a characteristic location is extracted in order to generate information) and waveform information of the audio signal shown in FIG. 12A (waveform information of the audio signal constituting the first channel information of the audio content) Is the same.

On the other hand, when the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 is a stereo audio signal, the waveform information of the audio signal shown in FIG. 11A and the waveform information of the audio signal shown in FIG. May be the same, but not necessarily the same. For example, the audio signal to be extracted from the feature location may be a left channel audio signal, and the audio signal constituting the first channel information of the acoustic content may be a right channel audio signal. Of course, the reverse is also possible.

In the former case, the feature extraction unit 63A extracts a plurality of feature locations from the waveform information of the audio signal of the left channel, the weight information generation unit 63B generates weight information based on the feature locations, and the weight processing unit 63C The waveform information of the haptic content (second channel information) is generated by processing the waveform information of the haptic content using the weight information. The acoustic content generation unit 64 generates the acoustic content by combining the tactile content processed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63 as described above and the right channel audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62. .

The acoustic content generated as described above is composed of a combination of tactile content composed of repeated patterns composed of a combination of two or more different tactile contents (vibration information) and an arbitrary audio signal. Is. In addition, the haptic content combined with the audio signal is a haptic content in which the amplitude value of the waveform is processed by weight information in which the weight value varies in a manner synchronized with the characteristic portion of the audio signal. For this reason, by transmitting this acoustic content to a person through the mask-type vibration massage device 100 ′, the sound reproduced based on the sound signal is provided, and at the same time, the tactile sensation is generated by the vibration of the tactile content synchronized with the characteristics of the sound. Can clearly convey the message nature (narrative).

In the above embodiment, the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 is arbitrary. For example, it can be as follows. That is, when the haptic content is generated by the haptic content generation device 500 shown in FIG. 5, the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 as time-series waveform information input by the target information input unit 53 and The same waveform information is input as the information to be touched. In other words, the target information input unit 53 inputs the same waveform information as the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 as the information on the tactile conversion target, and is thereby generated by the haptic content generation device 500. The tactile content acquisition unit 61 acquires the tactile content.

In this way, the haptic content combined with the audio signal is generated based on the tactile parameters (the amplitude of the divided section and the length of time of the divided section) that are characteristic elements of the audio signal itself, and the sound The amplitude value of the waveform is processed by weight information generated based on the characteristic location extracted from the signal itself. For this reason, the message property by the sound originally possessed by the sound signal itself and the message property by the vibration of the tactile content generated based on the characteristics of the sound signal are transmitted to the person. Thereby, message property can be strongly transmitted to a person by a synergistic effect.

It should be noted that the feature points extracted by the feature extraction unit 63A from the waveform information of the audio signal are not limited to the example shown in the above embodiment. For example, the feature extraction unit 63A may extract, as a feature location, a location where the amplitude value is a predetermined value or more in the waveform information of the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62. Alternatively, the waveform information of the audio signal may be subjected to frequency analysis for each time, and a location where the included frequency component changes abruptly may be extracted as a feature location. Alternatively, the analysis similar to that shown in FIG. 7 may be performed on the waveform information of the audio signal, and a location where the value of h / t changes abruptly may be extracted as a feature location.

In the above-described embodiment, the weight information generation unit 63B generates weight information that gradually decreases from the time when one feature location F _i is extracted to the time when the next feature location F _{i + 1} is extracted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the feature extraction unit 63A extracts a point where the amplitude value suddenly decreases during a predetermined time in the waveform information of the audio signal as a feature point, and the weight information generation unit 63B determines that one feature point F _i is You may make it produce | generate the weight information that a value becomes large gradually from the extracted time to the time when the next feature location F _{i + 1} was extracted.

Next, the sound reproducing device will be described. The mask type vibration massage device 100 ′ according to the second embodiment further includes a sound reproducing device in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 3. That is, the mask according to the second embodiment in a state where the earphone plug 17 connected via the cable from the vibration applying bodies 300A and 300B shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the earphone jack of the sound reproducing device (not shown in FIG. 3). A mold vibration massage device 100 ′ is configured.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the sound reproducing device 700 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the sound reproduction device 700 of this embodiment includes an acoustic content acquisition unit 71, an audio output control unit 72, and a vibration output control unit 73 as functional configurations. In addition, an acoustic content storage unit 701, a first vibration imparting body 300A, and a second vibration imparting body 300B are connected to the sound reproducing device 700 of the present embodiment.

The functional blocks 71 to 73 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP, and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 71 to 73 is actually configured by including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. of a computer, and a program stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory. Is realized by operating.

The acoustic content storage unit 701 stores the acoustic content generated by the acoustic content generation device 600 configured as shown in FIG. The acoustic content stored in the acoustic content storage unit 701 uses the audio signal acquired by the audio signal acquisition unit 62 of FIG. 9 as first channel information, and the tactile content processed by the vibration waveform processing unit 63 as second channel information. This is a combination of two types of waveform information. As described above, the tactile content of the second channel information is a weight whose value changes over time in the time interval of adjacent feature locations, with a plurality of feature locations that can be distinguished from other locations in the waveform information of the audio signal as a break. The waveform information of the tactile content group constituting the repetition of the pattern is processed by the information.

Note that the acoustic content storage unit 701 may be a storage medium included in the acoustic content generation device 600 illustrated in FIG. 9, or may be a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like outside the acoustic content generation device 600. It may be an information processing device or a removable storage medium. The audio content storage unit 701 may be an external device (for example, an external storage or a server) connected to the audio playback device 700 via a communication network. In addition, the sound reproduction device 700 may include the sound content storage unit 701.

The acoustic content acquisition unit 71 acquires acoustic content from the acoustic content storage unit 701. The audio output control unit 72 reproduces the audio signal so that the audio is output from the first vibration imparting body 300A based on the audio signal included as the first channel information in the audio content acquired by the audio content acquisition unit 71. To control. The vibration output control unit 73 reproduces the tactile content so that the second vibration imparting body 300B is vibrated based on the tactile content included in the sound content acquired by the sound content acquisition unit 71 as the second channel information. Control.

According to the sound reproducing device 700 configured as described above, the message property originally possessed by the sound itself output from the first vibration imparting body 300A and the haptic content imparted to the second vibration imparting body 300B. The message characteristics due to the vibrations of the voices are transmitted to people. Thus, by giving the user a predetermined meaning and message by the sound output from the first vibration applying body 300A, and applying a vibration that synchronizes with the meaning and message to the second vibration applying body 300B, It is possible to give the user a feeling that the meaning or message is strongly transmitted to the user.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the mask of the mask-type vibration massage device 100 'is also used as a diaphragm corresponding to the two vibration imparting bodies 300A and 300B. That is, the mask that is vibrated by the tactile content output from the second vibration imparting body 300B is caused to function as a diaphragm of a speaker that outputs sound by the first vibration imparting body 300A.

In this way, by applying vibration according to the waveform information of the audio signal to the mask and vibrating the entire mask, the mask can be emitted as a substitute for the speaker cone. Thereby, the user wearing the mask can obtain a sensation that sounds can be heard from the entire mask. At the same time, vibration corresponding to the waveform information of the tactile content is also given to the mask, so that the user can imagine a predetermined feeling. In this way, while giving a predetermined feeling to the user by the vibration of the tactile content applied to the mask by the second vibration applying body 300B, the mask is generated by the vibration of the audio signal output by the first vibration applying body 300A. It is possible to give the user a feeling that sounds can be heard from the whole.

In the above embodiment, the first and second tactile parameters specified from the target information are analyzed by analyzing the target information input by the target information input unit 53 of FIG. Although the example which specifies sequentially the combination of the 1st tactile parameter and the 2nd tactile parameter by inputting by the content extraction part 51 was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this.

For example, a user who wants to generate desired tactile content may manually specify the first tactile parameter and the second tactile parameter. In this case, the target information input unit 53 and the tactile parameter specifying unit 54 shown in FIG. 5 are unnecessary. As an example, the tactile content extraction unit 51 displays the matrix illustrated in FIG. 6 on a computer screen, and allows the user to sequentially specify a desired position using an operation device such as a touch panel or a mouse. The combination of the tactile parameter and the second tactile parameter is specified in the order of a plurality of sets. In response to this, the tactile content extraction unit 51 sequentially extracts tactile content corresponding to the positions sequentially specified on the matrix from the tactile content storage unit 50.

Alternatively, the tactile content extracting unit 51 may sequentially specify a combination of the first tactile parameter and the second tactile parameter in a random manner or in accordance with a predetermined rule.

In the second embodiment, the example in which the sound content is generated using the audio signal as the first channel information and the tactile content as the second channel information has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the above two channel information, the audio content may be generated by including a third or more number of channel information.

As an example, acoustic content may be generated in which the left channel audio signal is first channel information, the tactile content is second channel information, and the right channel audio signal is third channel information. When adding 3rd channel information, you may make it add the 3rd vibration provision body with respect to the mask type vibration massage apparatus 100 '. However, since the number of vibration imparting bodies included in the mask-type vibration massage apparatus 100 ′ increases, the audio signal of the third channel information is output from a speaker provided separately from the mask-type vibration massage apparatus 100 ′. Also good.

In the second embodiment, the first tactile content, which is the first vibration signal generated so as to make the user imagine a predetermined sense of tactile sense, is supplied to the first vibration presenting unit 13A. On the other hand, you may make it supply the 2nd tactile content which is the 2nd vibration signal produced | generated so that a user may image the predetermined sense regarding tactile sense with respect to the 2nd vibration presentation part 13B. Here, the first haptic content and the second haptic content may be the same or different.

In the second embodiment, the configuration in which the opening 11 ′ is provided in the most swelled portion of the three-dimensional structure is shown. However, as in the first embodiment, a configuration in which the opening is simply provided at the position of the nose is also possible. Good.

In the second embodiment, the opening 11 ′ is provided in the nose and the opening 14 is provided in the eye. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an opening may be further provided in the mouth portion. Moreover, you may make it provide an opening part only in the nose part similarly to 1st Embodiment.

Moreover, although the said 1st and 2nd embodiment demonstrated the example which made the vibration presentation part 13,13A, 13B the site | part which swelled toward the opposite side to the face on a mask, this invention does this. It is not limited. In other words, the vibration presenting portions 13, 13 </ b> A, and 13 </ b> B may be formed so that a part of the facial sheet 200 does not contact the vibration presenting portions 13, 13 </ b> A, and 13 </ b> B without being inflated from the surrounding surface. .

For example, the surfaces around the vibration presenting portions 13, 13 </ b> A, 13 </ b> B are configured to be sufficiently separated from the facial sheet 200, and the swelling portions 12, 12 ′ are sufficiently swollen so as to contact the facial sheet 200. In other words, the vibration presenting portions 13, 13 </ b> A, and 13 </ b> B may be continuous portions without swelling from the surrounding surface. Moreover, it is good also as a site | part which swelled so that it might not contact the facial sheet 200 toward the face on a mask, or a hollow part.

Moreover, in the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, vibration is given to the whole face using the mask type | formula vibration massage apparatus 100,100 'which covers the whole user's face, and the facial sheet 200 which covers the whole user's face. Although the configuration has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is good also as a structure which gives a vibration to a part of face. For example, a configuration in which vibration is applied to the upper half or the lower half of the user's face can be employed.

In the case of a configuration in which vibration is applied to the upper half of the face, for example, as shown in FIG. 14 (a), the mask-type vibration massage device 100 "includes only the upper portion including the bulging portion 12 'of FIG. And the facial sheet 200 "is formed only by the upper half. Further, in the case where the vibration is applied to the lower half of the face, for example, as shown in FIG. 14 (b), the mask-type vibration massage is performed only with the lower structure including the bulging portion 12 ′ of FIG. The apparatus 100 ″ constitutes the facial sheet 200 ″ with only the lower half.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14 (a) or FIG. 14 (b), the mask type vibration massage device 100 ″ is configured with the upper half or the lower half, while the facial sheet 200 covers the entire face as shown in FIG. Thus, vibration may be applied to the entire face via the facial sheet 200 using the mask-type vibration massage device 100 ″ that is simply configured by only half.

In addition, each of the first and second embodiments described above is merely an example of a specific example for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. It will not be. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 11 'Opening part of nose part 12, 12' Swelling part 13, 13A, 13B Vibration presentation part 14 Opening part of eye part 15 Extensive part of ear part 50 Tactile content storage part 51 Tactile content extraction part 52 tactile content generating unit 53 target information input unit 54 tactile parameter specifying unit 61 tactile content acquiring unit 62 audio signal acquiring unit 63 vibration waveform processing unit 63A feature extracting unit 63B weight information generating unit 63C weight processing unit 64 acoustic content generating unit 71 Acoustic content acquisition unit 72 Audio output control unit 73 Vibration output control unit 100, 100 ', 100 "Mask type vibration massage device 200, 200" Facial sheet 300, 300A, 300B Vibration imparting body 500 Tactile content generation device 600 Acoustic content generation device 700 Sound reproduction device

Claims (18)

A mask-type vibration massage device for vibrating a facial sheet placed on a face and applying vibration to the face via the facial sheet,
A vibration presenting unit that is a part where a vibration imparting body is installed on a mask and formed so as not to contact the facial sheet placed on the face;
A mask-type vibration massage device comprising: a bulging portion that bulges toward the face at a portion different from the vibration presenting portion on the mask. 2. The mask-type vibration massage device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration presenting portion is a portion that swells toward the opposite side of the face on the mask. The mask-type vibration massage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bulge portion is provided on a side of a nose portion on the mask. The mask-type vibration massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vibration presenting portion is provided at a central portion in a width direction on the mask. The mask type vibration massage device according to claim 4, wherein the vibration presenting portion is provided on at least one of a chin portion and a forehead portion on the mask. The mask type vibration massage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an opening in the nose portion on the mask. 5. The mask type vibration massage apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the vibration presenting unit is provided in the nose portion on the mask. 3. The mask type vibration massage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bulge portion is provided in a chin portion on the mask. The mask-type vibration massage device according to claim 8, wherein the vibration presenting unit is provided on a forehead portion or a nose portion on the mask. 3. The mask-type vibration massage device according to claim 1, wherein the mask is configured to cover the entire face. The mask type vibration massage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mask is configured to cover a part of the face. 12. The mask-type vibration massage device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration imparting body imparts vibration to the mask using the mask as a vibration plate. Two sets of the vibration presenting unit and the vibration imparting body are provided, and an audio signal is supplied to the first vibration imparting body, while the second vibration imparting body is made to give a user an image of a predetermined sense of touch. The mask-type vibration massage apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a tactile content that is a vibration signal generated as described above is supplied. The tactile content is a combination of two or more tactile content that is a vibration signal having a unique tactile effect specified by n (n ≧ 2) tactile parameters each representing one element of tactile sensation. The mask-type vibration massage apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the mask-type vibration massage apparatus is a combination of tactile contents constituting a repetition of a pattern. The tactile content is a combination of two or more tactile contents specified by the n tactile parameters specified from the same audio signal as the audio signal supplied to the second vibration imparting body, The mask-type vibration massage apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the mask-type vibration massage apparatus is a combination of tactile contents constituting a repetition of the above. The tactile content is a repetition of the pattern according to weight information whose value changes over time in a time section of adjacent feature locations, with a plurality of feature locations that can be distinguished from other locations in the waveform information of the audio signal as a break. The mask type vibration massage device according to claim 15, wherein the waveform information of the tactile content group constituting the mask is processed. In addition to supplying the audio signal to the first vibration imparting body and further supplying the vibration signal to the second vibration imparting body, the sound reproducing apparatus further comprises:
An acoustic content acquisition unit that acquires acoustic content including the audio signal as first channel information and the tactile content as second channel information;
Audio for controlling reproduction of the audio signal so that audio is output from the first vibration imparting body based on an audio signal included as the first channel information in the audio content acquired by the audio content acquisition unit. An output control unit;
Vibration for controlling reproduction of the haptic content so as to give vibration to the second vibration imparting body based on the haptic content included as the second channel information in the acoustic content acquired by the acoustic content acquisition unit The mask-type vibration massage device according to any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising an output control unit. A first tactile sensation that is a first vibration signal that includes two sets of the vibration presenting unit and the vibration imparting body and is generated so that the first vibration imparting body gives a user an image of a predetermined sensation relating to the tactile sensation. While supplying content, the second vibration imparting body is supplied with second tactile content that is a second vibration signal generated so as to make the user image a predetermined sense of touch. The mask type vibration massage device according to claim 12.

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