IP Library Granted Patent US 8,521,239
Granted Patent B2
US 8,521,239 · App. 13/489,971 · Granted Aug 27, 2013

Mobile telephone

Inventors: Hiroshi Hosoi (Osaka, JP); Yoji Hosoi (Osaka, JP); Masashi Morimoto (Kyoto, JP); Masahide Tanaka (Osaka, JP)
Assignees: Rohm Co., Ltd.; Hiroshi Hosoi
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,521,239
App. No.
13/489,971
Granted
Aug 27, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile telephone includes a cartilage conduction unit for making contact with the ear cartilage. The cartilage conduction unit is provided to at least one of two corner parts at an upper side of the mobile telephone. The mobile telephone can include a surface of an outer wall and a cartilage conduction vibration source arranged inward from the surface of the outer wall, the vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source being transmitted to the surface of the outer wall, wherein when the surface of the outer wall is brought into contact with at least a part of the ear cartilage around the entrance part to the external auditory meatus without making contact with the auricular helix, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an at least 10 dB increase compared to the non-contact state.

Claims (46)

1. A mobile telephone comprising a cartilage conduction unit to transmit vibration to ear cartilage through direct contact therewith,

the cartilage conduction unit being located at at least one of two corner parts at an upper side of the mobile telephone,

wherein when the cartilage conduction unit is brought into contact with at least one part of the ear cartilage around an entrance part to the external auditory meatus without making contact with the auricular helix, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 10 dB over that in the non-contact state, and the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus changes by at least 5 dB increase due to a change in contact pressure; and, when the entrance part of the external auditory meatus is occluded by an increase in contact pressure, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 20 dB over that in the non-contact state.

2. The mobile telephone according to claim 1 wherein the cartilage conduction unit is located at each of the two corner parts at the upper side of the mobile telephone.

3. The mobile telephone according to claim 1 wherein a corner part of a chassis of the mobile telephone is the cartilage conduction unit, and vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source is transmitted to the corner part by having one part of a cartilage conduction vibration source supported on the inside of the chassis in the vicinity of the corner part, and by causing another part thereof to vibrate unrestrictedly inside the chassis.

4. The mobile telephone according to claim 3 wherein the cartilage conduction vibration source is supported by the cartilage conduction unit so that a primary vibration direction of the cartilage conduction vibration source is perpendicular to any one of an upper surface, side surface, or front surface of the chassis of the mobile telephone.

5. The mobile telephone according to claim 3 wherein a circuit for the cartilage conduction vibration source is supported inside the chassis and is integrated with the cartilage conduction vibration source.

6. The mobile telephone according to claim 3 wherein a part of the cartilage conduction vibration source to which an electrical terminal is not provided is supported inside the chassis, and another part to which the electrical terminal is provided is made to vibrate unrestrictedly.

7. The mobile telephone according to claim 1 wherein a part of a cartilage conduction vibration source is supported inside an elastic body, and an exterior of the elastic body is arranged at a corner part of a chassis of the mobile telephone as the cartilage conduction unit.

8. The mobile telephone according to claim 2 wherein each of two end parts of a cartilage conduction vibration source is respectively supported inside a pair of elastic bodies, and an exterior of each of the pair of elastic bodies is respectively arranged at two corner parts at the upper side of the mobile telephone as the cartilage conduction units.

9. The mobile telephone according to claim 8 wherein an elastic body is arranged at each of two corner parts at the lower side of the mobile telephone and are configured, together with the pair of elastic bodies arranged at the two corner parts at the upper side of the mobile telephone, so as to attenuate a collision from an external unit with the four corners of the mobile telephone.

10. The mobile telephone according to claim 8 wherein the cartilage conduction vibration source is supported so that a primary vibration direction thereof is orthogonal to any one of a front surface or an upper surface of the chassis.

11. The mobile telephone according to claim 2 comprising a pair of elastic bodies arranged at two corner parts at the upper side of the mobile telephone as the cartilage conduction units, and a pair of cartilage conduction vibration sources provided to the pair of elastic bodies, respectively.

12. The mobile telephone according to claim 11 wherein the pair of cartilage conduction vibration sources provided to the pair of elastic bodes can be controlled independently of each other.

13. The mobile telephone according to claim 1 wherein a cartilage conduction vibration source is held by the cartilage conduction unit so as not to make contact with a chassis of the mobile telephone; and an anti-vibration material is interposed between the cartilage conduction unit and the chassis of the mobile telephone.

14. The mobile telephone according to claim 13 wherein the cartilage conduction unit is constituted of a hard material, and the anti-vibration material is an elastic body.

15. The mobile telephone according to claim 1 comprising: an audio input unit; a phase inverter for phase-inverting audio information inputted from the audio input unit; and a controller for outputting, from the cartilage conduction unit, the audio information phase-inverted by the phase inverter.

16. A mobile telephone comprising: a cartilage conduction unit for making contact with ear cartilage; an audio input unit; a phase inverter for phase-inverting audio information inputted from the audio input unit; and a controller for outputting, from the cartilage conduction unit, the audio information having been phase-inverted by the phase inverter,

wherein when the cartilage conduction unit is brought into contact with at least one part of the ear cartilage around an entrance part to the external auditory meatus without making contact with the auricular helix, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 10 dB over that in the non-contact state, and the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus changes by at least 5 dB increase due to a change in contact pressure; and, when the entrance part of the external auditory meatus is occluded by an increase in contact pressure, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 20 dB over that in the non-contact state.

17. A mobile telephone comprising a cartilage conduction unit to transmit vibration to ear cartilage through direct contact therewith,

the cartilage conduction unit being located at at least one of two corner parts at an upper side of the mobile telephone,

the mobile telephone further comprising: a cartilage conduction vibration source for the cartilage conduction unit; a sound source signal output unit for outputting a sound source signal; and an equalizer for correcting the frequency characteristic in consideration of the frequency characteristic specific to cartilage conduction in regard to the cartilage conduction vibration source being driven by the sound source signal of the sound source signal output unit; the vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source being transmitted to the cartilage conduction unit.

18. A mobile telephone comprising a cartilage conduction unit to transmit vibration to ear cartilage through direct contact therewith,

the cartilage conduction unit being located at at least one of two corner parts at an upper side of the mobile telephone,

the mobile telephone further comprising: a telephone function unit; a cartilage conduction vibration source for the cartilage conduction unit; an application processor for controlling the telephone function unit; a power management unit for supplying a plurality of different voltages to the telephone function unit; a drive circuit for driving the cartilage conduction vibration source on the basis of power supplied from the power management unit; and a controller for controlling the power management unit and the drive circuit on the basis of an instruction from the application processor; the power management unit, the drive circuit, and the controller being configured as a single-chip integrated circuit.

19. The mobile telephone according to claim 1 comprising: a cartilage conduction vibration source for conducting vibration to the cartilage conduction unit, the cartilage conduction vibration source being provided to the interior of a chassis of the mobile telephone; and an elastic body integrally affixed to the exterior of the chassis to cover the same.

20. A mobile telephone comprising: a cartilage conduction unit for making contact with ear cartilage; an audio input unit; a phase inverter for phase-inverting audio information inputted from the audio input unit; and a controller for outputting, from the cartilage conduction unit, the audio information having been phase-inverted by the phase inverter,

the mobile telephone further comprising: a cartilage conduction vibration source for the cartilage conduction unit; a sound source signal output unit for outputting a sound source signal; and an equalizer for correcting the frequency characteristic in consideration of the frequency characteristic specific to cartilage conduction in regard to the cartilage conduction vibration source being driven by the sound source signal of the sound source signal output unit; the vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source being transmitted to the cartilage conduction unit.

21. A mobile telephone comprising: a surface of an outer wall; and a cartilage conduction vibration source arranged inward from the surface of the outer wall, wherein when the vibration of the cartilage conduction vibration source is transmitted to the surface of the outer wall, and the surface of the outer wall is brought into contact with at least a part of the ear cartilage around the entrance part to the external auditory meatus without making contact with the auricular helix, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 10 dB over that in the non-contact state.

22. A mobile telephone comprising:

a telephone function unit;

a cartilage conduction unit for making contact with ear cartilage;

a cartilage conduction vibration source for the cartilage conduction unit;

an application processor for controlling the telephone function unit;

a power management unit for supplying a plurality of different voltages to the telephone function unit;

a drive circuit for driving the cartilage conduction vibration source on the basis of power supplied from the power management unit; and

a controller for controlling the power management unit and the drive circuit on the basis of an instruction from the application processor; the power management unit, the drive circuit, and the controller being configured as a single-chip integrated circuit,

wherein the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus changes by at least 5 dB increase due to a change in the contact pressure, and

wherein, when the entrance part of the external auditory meatus is occluded by an increase in contact pressure, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 20 dB over that in the non-contact state.

23. A mobile telephone comprising: a cartilage conduction unit for making contact with ear cartilage; an audio input unit; a phase inverter for phase-inverting audio information inputted from the audio input unit; and a controller for outputting, from the cartilage conduction unit, the audio information having been phase-inverted by the phase inverter,

the mobile telephone further comprising: a telephone function unit; a cartilage conduction vibration source for the cartilage conduction unit; an application processor for controlling the telephone function unit; a power management unit for supplying a plurality of different voltages to the telephone function unit; a drive circuit for driving the cartilage conduction vibration source on the basis of power supplied from the power management unit; and a controller for controlling the power management unit and the drive circuit on the basis of an instruction from the application processor; the power management unit, the drive circuit, and the controller being configured as a single-chip integrated circuit,

wherein the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus changes by at least 5 dB increase due to a change in the contact pressure, and

wherein, when the entrance part of the external auditory meatus is occluded by an increase in contact pressure, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 20 dB over that in the non-contact state.

24. The mobile telephone according to claim 21 , wherein the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus changes by at least 5 dB increase due to a change in contact pressure.

25. The mobile telephone according to claim 24 , wherein, when the entrance part of the external auditory meatus is occluded by an increase in contact pressure, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 20 dB over that in the non-contact state.

26. The mobile telephone according to claim 21 , wherein, when the entrance part of the external auditory meatus is occluded by an increase in contact pressure, the sound pressure inside the external auditory meatus at about 1 cm from the entrance part of the external auditory meatus has an increase of at least 20 dB over that in the non-contact state.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: ROHM CO., LTD.
To: FINEWELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 047343/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: HOSOI, HIROSHI
To: FINEWELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039903/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2016
From: HOSOI, HIROSHI
To: FINEWELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 038918/0401 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2015
From: HOSOI, HIROSHI
To: FINEWELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034665/0956 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2012
From: HOSOI, HIROSHI; HOSOI, YOJI; MORIMOTO, MASASHI; TANAKA, MASAHIDE
To: ROHM CO., LTD.; HOSOI, HIROSHI
Reel/Frame 028366/0124 →
Priority Claims (23)
JP 2010289894 · Dec 27, 2010 · national
JP 2011009546 · Jan 20, 2011 · national
JP 2011021312 · Feb 3, 2011 · national
JP 2011028489 · Feb 14, 2011 · national
JP 2011037543 · Feb 23, 2011 · national
JP 2011038011 · Feb 24, 2011 · national
JP 2011048787 · Mar 7, 2011 · national
JP 2011064543 · Mar 23, 2011 · national
JP 2011102006 · Apr 28, 2011 · national
JP 2011103604 · May 6, 2011 · national
JP 2011125705 · Jun 3, 2011 · national
JP 2011132634 · Jun 14, 2011 · national
JP 2011147934 · Jul 4, 2011 · national
JP 2011155966 · Jul 14, 2011 · national
JP 2011166439 · Jul 29, 2011 · national
JP 2011179815 · Aug 19, 2011 · national
JP 2011191995 · Sep 2, 2011 · national
JP 2011207627 · Sep 22, 2011 · national
JP 2011219638 · Oct 3, 2011 · national
JP 2011228890 · Oct 18, 2011 · national
JP 2011243624 · Nov 7, 2011 · national
JP 2011253267 · Nov 18, 2011 · national
JP 2011276060 · Dec 16, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2011080095 · Dec 26, 2011
Related Publication 20120244917A1 · Sep 27, 2012