Automatic earpiece sensing

• US 20040042629A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mellone, Charles M., Seymour, Shafer Burch
• Application Number:
  US10/232,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

An earpiece device (300) provides automatic left/right ear sensing for stereo reception as well as the ability to receive two separate and distinct channel signals. The earpiece device (300) provides an orientation indication as to which ear or channel it is coupled. A pair of such devices can be used as stereo headphones providing interchangeability between ears. The devices can also be used to receive distinct and separate channel signals. Thus, a communication system can automatically adjust a transmission to the headphone device in response to the orientation of the earpieces with minimal effort on the part of the user.

Claims

1. A headphone device comprising first and second earpieces, each earpiece providing automatic orientation information.

2. The headphone device of claim 1, wherein the automatic orientation information provides left/right ear sensing.

3. The headphone device of claim 1, wherein the automatic orientation information provides left/right ear sensing for stereo.

4. The headphone device of claim 1, wherein the automatic orientation information provides first and second distinct channels.

5. A headphone device for a communication system, comprising:

a first earpiece for coupling to a user'"'"'s ear;

a second earpiece for coupling to the user'"'"'s other ear;

the first and second earpieces providing orientation information to the communication system indicating to which ear each is coupled; and

the communication system automatically adjusting a stereo signal to the headphone device in response to the orientation of the first and second earpieces.

6. The headphone device of claim 5, wherein the communication system includes a radio.

7. The headphone device of claim 5, wherein the communication system includes a cellular phone.

8. The headphone device of claim 5, wherein the communication system includes a television.

9. The headphone device of claim 5, wherein the communication device includes a DVD player.

10. A headphone device for a radio, comprising:

a first earpiece for coupling to a user'"'"'s ear;

a second earpiece for coupling to the user'"'"'s other ear; and

the radio automatically sensing to which ear the first and second earpieces are coupled.

11. The headphone device for a radio as described in claim 10, wherein the radio adjusts a stereo emission to the headphone device depending on which of the ears each of the first and second earpieces is coupled.

12. A stereo headphone device for a radio, comprising:

a first earpiece coupled to the radio;

a second earpiece coupled to the radio;

the first and second earpieces being interchangeable between a user'"'"'s left and right ears; and

the radio automatically sensing to which of the user'"'"'s ears the first and second earpieces are coupled, and the radio adjusting a stereo signal to the stereo headphone device in response thereto.

13. The stereo headphone device of claim 12, wherein the first earpiece provides a short circuit when coupled to the right ear and the second earpiece provides an open circuit when coupled to the left ear.

14. The stereo headphone device of claim 13, wherein the second earpiece provides a short circuit when coupled to the right ear and the first earpiece provides an open circuit when coupled to the left ear.

15. The stereo headphone of claim 12, wherein the first earpiece provides an open circuit when coupled to the right ear, and the second earpiece provides a short circuit when coupled to the right ear.

16. The stereo headphone of claim 15, wherein the second earpiece provides an open circuit when coupled to the right ear, and the first earpiece provides a short circuit when coupled to the right ear.

17. A stereo headphone device for receiving an audio signal from a communication device, comprising:

a first earpiece for receiving left or right audio channels;

a second earpiece for receiving left or right audio channels;

the first and second earpieces being interchangeable and providing left/right orientation information to the communication device; and

the communication device providing left and right audio channels simultaneously to the first and second earpieces depending on which ear each earpiece is coupled.

18. The stereo headphone device of claim 17, wherein each earpiece is wired to the communication device.

19. The stereo headphones device of claim 17, wherein each earpiece is coupled wirelessly to the communication device.

20. The stereo headphone device of claim 17, wherein the communication device communicates with the headphone device using a Bluetooth protocol.

21. A headphone device for a multi-channel communication system, comprising:

a first earpiece for coupling to a user'"'"'s ear;

a second earpiece for coupling to the user'"'"'s other ear;

the first and second earpieces providing orientation information to the communication system indicating to which ear or to which channel each earpiece is coupled; and

the multi-channel communication system automatically adjusting a signal to the headphone device in response to the orientation of the first and second earpieces.

22. A headphone device for a communication system as described in claim 21, wherein the first and second earpieces receive left/right stereo transmissions from the communication system.

23. A headphone device for a communication system as described in claim 21, wherein the first and second earpieces receive first and second distinct audio channels from the communication system.

24. A headphone device for a communication system as described in claim 23, wherein the communication system is a television and the first channel is a primary program audio channel and the second channel is a secondary audio program channel.

25. A headphone device for a communication system as described in claim 23, wherein the communication device is a television and the first channel is a main picture audio channel while the second channel is a picture in picture (PIP) audio channel.

26. A headphone device for a communication system as described in claim 23, wherein the communication system is a DVD player and the first channel provides main audio while the second channel provides a commentary track.

27. The headphone device of claim 21, wherein each earpiece is wired to the communication device.

28. The headphone device of claim 21, wherein the each earpiece is wirelessly coupled to the communication device.

29. The headphone device of claim 21, wherein the each earpiece includes a pivotable portion for indicating coupling to the left or right ear.

30. A headphone device for a communication system, comprising:

first and second earpieces providing automatic orientation information; and

the communication device broadcasting multi-channels to both the first and second earpiece devices, the first and second earpieces devices selecting which of the multi-channels goes to which earpiece.