Methods of generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices and related systems

• US 10,070,213 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Inventors: Noertker, Sam, Timothy, John, Windt, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad N
• Application Number:
  US15/652,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/03 Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods of generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may involve sending a feedback signal from a computing device to a headphone device operatively connected to the computing device. A tactile vibration may be generated utilizing a tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal. Systems for generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may include a headphone device operatively connected to a computing device, the headphone device comprising a tactile bass vibrator configured to generate a tactile vibration in response to a feedback signal received from the computing device. The computing device may be programmed to send a feedback signal to the headphone device in response to a predetermined event.

Claims

1. A method of generating tactile user feedback utilizing a headphone device, comprising:

generating a signal indicative of a real-world condition utilizing at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a heart-rate monitor, a GPS, and an altimeter, the at least one sensor being operatively connected to a headphone device and a computing device;

sending a feedback signal from the computing device to the headphone device in response to the signal from the at least one sensor, the headphone device being operatively connected to the computing device; and

generating a tactile vibration utilizing a tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the signal indicative of the real-world condition comprises generating the signal indicative of at least one of a heart rate of a user, a distance traveled during a specified interval, a pace maintained during a specified interval, a distance remaining to a destination, an approaching a change of course in a predetermined route, and an altitude reached.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the signal indicative of the real-world condition comprises generating the signal indicative of the approaching a change of course in the predetermined route and wherein generating the tactile vibration utilizing the tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal comprises generating the tactile vibration utilizing only one of a left-side tactile bass vibrator and a right-side tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an audio signal associated with media playback or conversational audio from the computing device to the headphone device; and

generating audible sound utilizing a speaker of the headphone in response to the audio signal, the speaker being distinct from the tactile bass vibrator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein sending the feedback signal and sending the audio signal comprise sending the feedback signal concurrently with the audio signal and wherein generating the tactile vibration utilizing the tactile bass vibrator and generating the audible sound utilizing the speaker comprises generating the tactile vibration concurrently with the audible sound.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the feedback signal from the computing device to the headphone device comprises sending a feedback signal composed of bass frequency waves from the computing device to the headphone device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending another feedback signal from the computing device to the headphone device in response to a user input received at the computing device and generating another tactile vibration utilizing the tactile bass vibrator in response to the other feedback signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the tactile vibration utilizing the tactile bass vibrator comprises generating the tactile vibration in a predetermined vibration pattern utilizing the tactile bass vibrator.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting the predetermined vibration pattern from a set of predetermined vibration patterns stored in memory of the computing device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising defining the predetermined vibration pattern in response to user input at the computing device.

11. A system for generating tactile user feedback utilizing a headphone device, comprising:

a headphone device operatively connected to a computing device, the headphone device comprising a tactile bass vibrator configured to generate a tactile vibration in response to a feedback signal received from the computing device; and

at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a heart-rate monitor, a GPS, and an altimeter, the at least one sensor operatively connected to the headphone device and the computing device;

wherein the computing device is programmed to automatically generate and send a feedback signal to the headphone device in response to a signal indicative of a real-world condition from the at least one sensor, the feedback signal being distinct from any audio signal associated with media playback and conversational audio sent from the computing device to the headphone device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the headphone device comprises a speaker distinct from the tactile bass vibrator and the computing device is programmed to send an audio signal associated with media playback or conversational audio from the computing device to the headphone device, causing the speaker of the headphone to generate audible sound in response to the audio signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is programmed to send the feedback signal concurrently with the audio signal, causing the tactile vibration to be generated concurrently with the audible sound.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is programmed to render the feedback signal of bass frequency waves when sending the feedback signal from the computing device to the headphone device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is programmed to send the feedback signal to cause the tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device to generate the tactile vibration in a predetermined vibration pattern.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is programmed to send the feedback signal from the computing device to the headphone device such that the feedback signal is composed of bass frequency waves.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate the signal indicative of at least one of a heart rate of a user, a distance traveled during a specified interval, a pace maintained during a specified interval, a distance remaining to a destination, an approaching a change of course in a predetermined route, and an altitude reached.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate the signal indicative of the approaching a change of course in the predetermined route and wherein the computing device is configured to send the feedback signal to only one of a left-side tactile bass vibrator and a right-side tactile bass vibrator within a housing corresponding to only one of a corresponding left-side ear cup and a corresponding right-side ear cup of the headphone device in response to the signal indicative of the approaching a change of course in the predetermined route.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is at least one of a tablet device, a smartphone, a video game console, and an in-car infotainment system.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the headphone device comprises an amplifier located within a housing of the headphone device, the amplifier being operatively connected to the tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device.