System with wireless earphones

• US 10,368,155 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Koss, Michael J., Pelland, Michael J., Sagan, Michael, Reckamp, Steven R., Hallingstad, Gregory J., Bovee, Jeffery K., Lowery, Morgan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet M
• Application Number:
  US16/182,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20190075390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74, 381 80, 381311, 4555561, 455 412, 4553432, 4555691, 4555531, 4555752, 4554122, 345 8, 345156, 345 7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 : Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks

Abstract

Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system. Adapter is configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player. Speaker system is in communication with adapter, and comprises multiple acoustic transducers, programmable processor circuit, and wireless communication circuit. In first operational mode, processor circuit receives, via adapter, and processes digital audio content from personal digital audio player into which adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the received audio content from the personal digital audio player. In second operational mode, wireless communication circuit receives digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, processor circuit processes the digital audio content received from remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content received from the remote digital audio source.

Claims

1. A wireless headphone assembly comprising:

first and second earphones, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises an acoustic transducer;

an antenna for receiving wireless signals;

a wireless communication circuit connected to the antenna, wherein the wireless communication circuit is for receiving and transmitting wireless signals to and from the wireless headphone assembly;

a processor in communication with the wireless communication circuit; and

a rechargeable battery for powering the wireless headphone assembly,

wherein the headphone assembly is configured, with the processor, to transition automatically from playing digital audio content received wirelessly by the headphone assembly via a first wireless network to playing digital audio content received wirelessly by the headphone assembly via a second wireless network.

2. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, upon activation of a user-control of the headphone assembly, initiate transmission of a request to a remote network server.

3. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the headphone assembly further comprises a microphone; and

the processor is further configured to;

process audible utterances by a user of the headphone assembly picked up by the microphone in response to activation of the microphone by the user; and

transmit a communication based on the audible utterances via the first or second wireless networks.

4. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first earphone comprises a first earbud; and

the second earphone comprises a second earbud.

5. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises:

an antenna;

a wireless communication circuit connected to the at least the antenna;

a processor in communication with the wireless communication circuit; and

a rechargeable battery for powering the wireless headphone assembly.

6. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, further comprising a headband connected between the first and second earphones.

7. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and second earphones comprise speaker elements housed in on-ear headphones.

8. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and second earphones comprise speaker elements housed in over-ear headphones.

9. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises:

a hanger bar that sits upon an upper external curvature of a user'"'"'s ear; and

a body connected to the hanger bar, wherein the acoustic transducer is connected to the body.

10. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, further comprising a docking station to charge the rechargeable battery when the first and second earphones are connected to the docking station.

11. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transition automatically from playing digital audio content received wirelessly by the headphone assembly via the first wireless network to playing digital audio content received wirelessly by the headphone assembly via the second wireless network based on a signal strength level for the second wireless network.

12. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to transition automatically from playing digital audio content received wirelessly by the headphone assembly via the first wireless network to playing digital audio content received wirelessly by the headphone assembly via the second wireless network based on whether the signal strength level for the second wireless network is above a threshold level.

13. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive firmware updates from a remote computer device.

14. The wireless headphone assembly of claim 1, further comprising a memory unit that stores network identifiers for the first and second wireless networks.