Wireless interactive headset

• US 20040160573A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Reyes, Carlos, Baden, Colin, Jannard, James, Saderholm, Davin, Bruns, Summer Lane
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• 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: G02C 3/003 Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/348 Muting in response to a mechanical action or to power supply variations, e.g. during tuning; Click removal circuits
• 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 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 comprising a first ear stem and an orbital, the support configured to support at least one lens in a wearer'"'"'s field of view;

a first earphone supported by the support, directed toward at least one of the wearer'"'"'s ears, and configured to convert at least one received telecommunication signal into sound;

a microphone supported by the support, and configured to convert the wearer'"'"'s voice into at least one transmitted telecommunication signal;

first electronics supported by the support and configured to receive the at least one received telecommunication signal; and

second electronics supported by the support and configured to transmit the at least one transmitted telecommunication signal.

2. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, wherein the microphone is arranged to face towards the mouth of a wearer of the eyeglass frame.

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 3, wherein the pair of eyeglasses comprises a frame for supporting at least two lenses in the wearer'"'"'s field of view.

5. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 4, further comprising a second microphone supported by the support.

6. A wearable wireless audio interface as in claim 1, further comprising a second earphone supported by the support, directed toward at least one of the wearer'"'"'s ears, and configured to convert a least one received telecommunication signal into sound.

7. An audio interface system, comprising:

an eyeglass frame, comprising;

a first earphone directed toward a wearer'"'"'s ear;

a first ear stem for supporting the first earphone;

a second earphone directed toward a wearer'"'"'s ear;

a second ear stem for supporting the first earphone; and

an orbital connected to at least one of the first ear stem and second ear stem and configured to support at least one lens in a wearer'"'"'s field of view;

receiver electronics supported by the eyeglass frame and configured to wirelessly receive information; and

source electronics electrically coupled with the receiver electronics and configured to wirelessly transmit information to the receiver electronics.

8. An audio interface system as in claim 7, wherein the source electronics are configured to wirelessly receive information that the source electronics transmit to the receiver electronics.

9. An audio interface system as in claim 8, wherein the source electronics comprises a satellite.

10. An audio interface system as in claim 9, wherein the satellite comprises a source of global positioning to determine the position of the wearer.

11. An audio interface system as in claim 8, wherein the source electronics comprises a source of music.

12. An audio interface system as in claim 9, wherein the source electronics comprises an MP3 player.

13. An audio interface system as in claim 8, wherein the receiver electronics is configured to receive telecommunications information.

14. An eyeglass frame, comprising:

a support for supporting at least one lens in the path of a wearer'"'"'s field of view;

a first ear stem attached to the support, for extending in a posterior direction along a first side of the wearer'"'"'s head;

a second ear stem attached to the support, for extending in a posterior direction along a second side of the wearer'"'"'s head; and

at least one microphone supported by at least one of the support, first ear stem, and second ear stem, the microphone being arranged to face towards the head of a wearer of the eyeglass frame.

15. An eyeglass frame as in claim 14, further comprising a power supply replaceably carried by the support.

16. An eyeglass frame as in claim 14, wherein the support comprises a pair of orbitals supporting the at least one lens and a second lens, respectively, a bridge connecting the orbitals, the microphone being supported by the bridge.

17. An eyeglass, comprising:

a frame configured to support a lens in the path of a wearer'"'"'s field of view, the frame comprising;

at least one orbital; and

a first earphone support;

a telecommunications receiver positioned inside of the frame;

a telecommunications transmitter positioned inside of the frame;

a first earphone carried by the first earphone support; and

a microphone carried by the frame.

18. An eyeglass as in claim 17, further comprising a digital storage device.

19. An eyeglass as in claim 18, wherein the digital storage device comprises an MP3 storage device.

20. An eyeglass as in claim 17, further comprising a power supply carried by the frame.

21. An eyeglass as in claim 20, wherein the power supply is rechargeable.

22. An eyeglass as in claim 20, wherein the power supply is replaceably carried by the frame.

23. An eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the frame further comprises a second earphone and a second earphone support and wherein the second earphone is carried by the second earphone support.

24. An eyeglass as in claim 23, wherein the first earphone support extends rearwardly from the front of the eyeglass and second earphone support extends rearwardly from the front of the eyeglass.

25. An eyeglass as in claim 23, wherein the first earphone support extends down from the frame and second earphone support extends down from the frame.