System with wireless earphones

• US 10,506,325 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2019
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• 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:
  US16/528,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20190356979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 131 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74, 381380, 381375, 381364, 381381, 455 42, 455557, 455 413, 455573, 455466, 4555691, 4555531
• 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. Headphones comprising:

a pair of first and second wireless earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user, wherein the first and second earphones are separate such that when the headphones are worn by the user, the first and second earphones are not physically connected, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises;

a body portion;

an earbud extending from the body portion that is inserted into an ear of the user when worn by the user;

a curved hanger bar connected to the body portion, wherein the curved hanger bar comprises a portion that rests upon an upper external curvature of an ear of the user behind an upper portion of an auricula of the ear of the user;

a wireless communication circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless signals;

a processor circuit connected to the wireless communication circuit;

at least one acoustic transducer for producing audible sound from the earbud;

a microphone for picking up utterances of a user of the headphones;

an antenna connected to the wireless communication circuit; and

a rechargeable power source; and

a docking station for holding at least the first wireless earphone, wherein the docking station comprises a power cable for connecting to an external device to power the docking station, and wherein the docking station is for charging at least the first wireless earphone when the first wireless earphone is placed in the docking station.

2. The headphones of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content;

the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and

each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer.

3. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit for the first earphone is for, upon activation of a user control of the headphones, initiating transmission of a request to a remote network server that is remote from the headphones.

4. The headphones of claim 3, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is further for receiving a response to the request.

5. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the processor circuits are configured to transition from playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a first digital audio source via a first communication link to playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a second digital audio source via a second communication link based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link.

6. The headphones of claim 5, wherein:

the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content;

the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and

each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer.

7. The headphones of claim 6, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises:

a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and

a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone.

8. The headphones of claim 7, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a passive, wireless rechargeable power source.

9. The headphones of claim 1, the processor circuits of the headphones are configured to receive firmware upgrades transmitted from a remote network server.

10. The headphones of claim 9, wherein the headphone are configured to receive the firmware upgrades wirelessly.

11. The headphones of claim 10, wherein the processor circuits are configured to transition from playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a first digital audio source via a first communication link to playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a second digital audio source via a second communication link based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link.

12. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises:

a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and

a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone.

13. The headphones of claim 12, wherein:

the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content;

the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and

each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer.

14. The headphones of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content;

the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and

each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer.

15. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is configured to:

process audible utterances by the user picked by the microphone in response to activation of the microphone by the user; and

transmit a communication based on the audible utterances via the Bluetooth wireless communication links.

16. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises wirelessly chargeable circuit components.

17. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a passive, wireless rechargeable power source.

18. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises:

a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and

a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone.