Wireless interactive headset

• US 20040157649A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Reyes, Carlos, Baden, Colin, Bruns, Sumner Lane, Jannard, James, Saderholm, Davin
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• 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 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable audio interface includes a support for positioning the plurality of speakers juxtaposed to and spaced from the ears of a wearer. The audio device can include wireless networking electronics so as to allow the device to interact with other wireless network devices.

Claims

1. A wearable wireless audio interface, comprising:

a support configured to support at least one lens in a field of view of a wearer;

interface electronics carried by the support and configured to output a first signal; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a second readable signal not more than about 100 yards, the second signal corresponding to the first signal.

2. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, wherein the support comprises a first and a second ear stem for positioning along the wearer'"'"'s temples above the wearer'"'"'s first and second ears.

3. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, wherein the support comprises a pair of eyeglasses.

4. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the second readable signal not more than about 30 feet.

5. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 4, further comprising at least one microphone carried by the support.

6. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal in the Industrial Scientific Medical frequency band.

7. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, further comprising a first speaker and a second speaker in communication with the interface electronics, and carried by the support such that they are positioned adjacent, but spaced apart from first and second ears of the wearer when the support is carried by the wearer, wherein the lateral distance between the center of the first speaker and the tragus of the first ear in the as worn orientation is within the range of from about 2 mm and about 3 cm.

8. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 7 wherein the distance is at least about 4 mm.

9. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 7 wherein the distance is within the range of from about 4 mm and about 2 cm.

10. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1 additionally comprising a first user-removable battery powering the interface electronics.

11. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 10 additionally comprising a second battery powering the interface electronics.

12. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 10 additionally comprising means for recharging the first battery without removing the battery from the support.

13. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1 additionally comprising a photovoltaic power device powering the interface electronics.

14. A method of receiving a telephone call, comprising the steps of:

wearing a wireless audio interface carried by an eyeglass frame, the eyeglass frame comprising at least a first speaker, a microphone, and a short range transceiver for communicating with a cellular telephone which is electronically paired with the transceiver;

perceiving an incoming call on the cellular telephone; and

activating the wireless interface to communicate with the cellular telephone.

15. A method of receiving a telephone call as in claim 14, wherein the activating step comprises activating a control carried by the eyeglass frame.

16. A method of receiving a telephone call as in claim 14, wherein the perceiving step comprises perceiving an audible signal.

17. A method of receiving a telephone call as in claim 14, wherein the perceiving step comprises perceiving a tactile signal.

18. An audio interface system, comprising:

a wireless audio interface; and

source electronics, electronically paired with the wireless audio interface;

wherein the interface comprises a first speaker and a second speaker carried by the interface such that in an as worn orientation on a wearer the first speaker is positioned adjacent but spaced apart from a first ear of the wearer and the second speaker is positioned adjacent but spaced apart from a second ear of the wearer, and wherein the wireless audio interface and the source electronics are configured to communicate wirelessly over a distance of no more than about 100 yards.

19. An audio interface system as in claim 18, wherein the source electronics comprises a source of music.

20. An audio interface system as in claim 19, wherein the source electronics comprises an MP3 player.

21. An audio interface system as in claim 18, wherein the source electronics comprises a cellular telephone.

22. An audio interface system as in claim 18, wherein the source electronics comprises a wireless communication device.

23. An audio interface system as in claim 18, wherein the interface electronics are capable of receiving a useful signal from the source electronics throughout a working range of no greater than about 70 yards.

24. An audio interface system as in claim 18, wherein the interface electronics are capable of receiving a useful signal from the source electronics throughout a working range of no greater than about 30 feet.

25. An audio interface system as in claim 18, further comprising a control carried by the audio interface, for controlling the source electronics.

26. An audio interface system as in claim 25, wherein the control comprises an on-off control.

27. An audio interface system as in claim 25, wherein the control comprises a send control.

28. An audio interface system as in claim 25, wherein the control comprises a receive control.

29. An audio interface system as in claim 18, wherein the interface comprises a first support for carrying the first speaker and a second support for carrying the second speaker.

30. An audio interface system as in claim 29, wherein the first support is configured to extend along a first side of a wearer'"'"'s head, and the second support is configured to extend along a second side of the wearer'"'"'s head, to support the interface by the wearer'"'"'s head.

31. An audio interface system as in claim 30, wherein the first speaker is offset laterally from the first support and the second speaker is offset laterally from the second support.

32. An audio interface system as in claim 30, wherein the interface system comprises an eyeglass frame.

33. An audio interface system as in claim 32, further comprising a battery in at least one of the first and second supports.

34. An audio interface system as in claim 32, further comprising a BLUETOOTH chip carried by the eyeglass frame.

35. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network, comprising the steps of:

providing source electronics within an effective range of the wireless personal network;

providing an interface having at least one speaker, the interface configured to position the speaker adjacent the ear of a wearer;

activating a control on the interface; and

sending a signal from the source electronics to the speaker in response to the activating step.

36. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network as in claim 35, wherein the interface comprises at least two speakers.

37. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network as in claim 35, wherein the providing step comprises mounting the source electronics on the wearer.

38. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network as in claim 35, wherein the providing step comprises providing a cellular telephone.

39. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network as in claim 35, wherein the providing step comprises providing a music source.

40. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network as in claim 39, wherein the providing step comprises providing an MP3 player.

41. A method of manipulating a signal in a wireless personal network as in claim 35, further comprising the step of wirelessly communicating the signal from a remote transceiver to the source electronics.