IP Library Granted Patent US 9,215,523
Granted Patent B2
US 9,215,523 · App. 13/981,034 · Granted Dec 15, 2015

Audio output device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,215,523
App. No.
13/981,034
Granted
Dec 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable terminal device ( 100 ) includes a plurality of operation units (for example, a plurality of operation keys ( 11 )) that are operated by a user; a detection unit that detects which operation unit of the plurality of operation units is operated; and a directional speaker (for example, a parametric speaker ( 30 )). The portable terminal device ( 100 ) further includes an audio control unit that controls the directional speaker so that an audio image is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the operation unit operated by the user among the plurality of operation units.

Claims (19)

1. An audio output device comprising:

a plurality of operation units that are operated by a user;

a detection unit that detects which operation unit of the plurality of operation units is operated;

a directional speaker;

an audio control unit that controls the directional speaker so that an audio image is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the operation unit operated by the user among the plurality of operation units;

a light-emitting member; and

an emission control unit that controls the light-emitting member,

wherein the audio control unit controls the directional speaker so that the audio image is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the light-emitting member in association with the emission operation of the light-emitting member.

2. The audio output device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the audio control unit controls the directional speaker so that an audio corresponding to the operation unit operated by the user is output.

3. The audio output device according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the plurality of operation units is an operation key.

4. The audio output device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the directional speaker is a parametric speaker.

5. The audio output device according to claim l, further comprising a plurality of the light-emitting members which are arranged in a matrix,

wherein the audio control unit controls the directional speaker so that the audio image is formed at the position corresponding to the position of the light-emitting member that emits light among the plurality of light-emitting members.

6. The audio output device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the emission control unit performs a series of emission control operations for causing the plurality of light-emitting members to emit light in a predetermined order.

7. The audio output device according to claim 1 , wherein the audio output device is a portable terminal device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2015
From: NEC MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036037/0476 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 9, 2015
From: NEC CASIO MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.
To: NEC MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 035866/0495 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2013
From: KITATANI, KENICHI; YAGIHASHI, AYUMU; AOKI, HIROYUKI; KATOU, YUMI; MURAYAMA, ATSUHIKO; SUGAHARA, SEIJI
To: NEC CASIO MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 030849/0856 →