System and method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels

• US 20060083388A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rothschild Audio Innovations LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: Trust Licensing, Inc.
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure will enable a user to listen to desired audio content, e.g., music with a total lack of distraction while selectively allowing certain important and selected sounds to interrupt the audio content. The system for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels includes an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel; at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the system on a second channel; an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel and for selectively switching between the first and second channel; and an audio output device (AOD) for audibly producing sounds from the selected channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively switching between audio channels, the apparatus comprising:

a first audio input connection for receiving audio content;

a second audio input connection for receiving an acoustic signal;

a controller for receiving the audio content and acoustic signal and for determining whether to output the audio content or acoustic signal; and

an output connection for outputting the determined signal.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a switching mechanism having a first and second position controlled by the controller, wherein in the first position the first audio input connection is coupled to the output connection and in the second position the second audio input connection is coupled to the output connection.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first audio input connection is a hardwired port for receiving audio content through a wire.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first audio input connection is a wireless port for receiving audio content wirelessly.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second audio input connection includes at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the apparatus.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the at least one microphone input device is located remotely from the second audio input connection.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the remote microphone input device communicates to the second audio input connection wirelessly.

8. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the controller receives the acoustic signal, determines if the acoustic signal matches a predetermined pattern and, if the acoustic signal matches the predetermined pattern, positions the switching mechanism to couple the second audio input connection to the output connection.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized human speech.

10. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized emergency sounds or preselected sound patterns.

11. The apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a memory device for storing the audio content received while the second audio input connection is coupled to the output connection.

12. The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the controller positions the switching mechanism back to couple the first audio input connection to the output connection after a predetermined period of time.

13. The apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a switch for allowing the user to manually position the switching mechanism.

14. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the output connection further comprises an audio output device for audibly producing the determined signal.

15. A system for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels, the system comprising:

an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel;

at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the system on a second channel;

an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel and for selectively switching between the first and second channel; and

an audio output device (AOD) for audibly producing sounds from the selected channel.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the ASPCU further comprises a switching mechanism having a first and second position, wherein in the first position the first channel is coupled to the audio output device and in the second position the second channel is coupled to the audio output device.

17. The system as in claim 15, wherein the at least one microphone input device is located remotely from the ASPCU.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein the remote microphone input device communicates to the ASPCU wirelessly.

19. The system as in claim 16, wherein the ASPCU receives the acoustic signal, determines if the acoustic signal matches a predetermined pattern and, if the acoustic signal matches the predetermined pattern, positions the switching mechanism to couple the second channel to the audio output device.

20. The system as in claim 19, further comprising a memory device for storing the audio content received while the second channel is coupled to the audio output device.

21. The system as in claim 19, wherein when the second channel is coupled to the audio output device, the ASPCU pauses the audio content supplied from the audio content device.

22. The system as in claim 19, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized human speech.

23. The system as in claim 19, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized emergency sounds or preselected sound patterns.

24. The system as in claim 19, wherein the ASPCU positions the switching mechanism back to couple the first channel to the audio output device after a predetermined period of time.

25. The system as in claim 19, further comprising a switch for allowing the user to manually position the switching mechanism.

26. The system as in claim 15, wherein the audio content device is located remotely from the ASPCU and communicates to the ASPCU wirelessly.

27. A headphone for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels, the headphone comprising:

an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel;

at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the headphone on a second channel;

an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel and for selectively switching between the first and second channel; and

first and second speakers for audibly producing sounds from the selected channel.

28. The headphone as in claim 27, wherein the ASPCU further comprises a switching mechanism having a first and second position, wherein in the first position the first channel is coupled to the first and second speakers and in the second position the second channel is coupled to the first and second speakers.

29. The headphone as in claim 27, wherein the at least one microphone input device is located remotely from the headphone.

30. The headphone as in claim 29, wherein the remote microphone input device communicates to the ASPCU wirelessly.

31. The headphone as in claim 28, wherein the ASPCU receives the acoustic signal, determines if the acoustic signal matches a predetermined pattern and, if the acoustic signal matches the predetermined pattern, positions the switching mechanism to couple the second channel to the first and second speakers.

32. The headphone as in claim 31, further comprising a memory device for storing the audio content received while the second channel is coupled to the first and second speakers.

33. The headphone as in claim 31, wherein when the second channel is coupled to the first and second speakers, the ASPCU pauses the audio content supplied from the audio content device.

34. The headphone as in claim 31, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized human speech.

35. The headphone as in claim 31, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized emergency sounds or preselected sound patterns.

36. The headphone as in claim 31, wherein the ASPCU positions the switching mechanism back to couple the first channel to the first and second speakers after a predetermined period of time.

37. The headphone as in claim 31, further comprising a switch for allowing the user to manually position the switching mechanism.

38. The headphone as in claim 27, wherein the ASPCU receives the acoustic signal, determines if the acoustic signal matches a predetermined pattern and, if the acoustic signal matches the predetermined pattern, couples the first channel to the first speaker and couples the second channel to the second speaker.

39. The headphone as in claim 28, wherein the audio content device is located remotely from the headphone and communicates to the ASPCU wirelessly.

40. A method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels in an audio device, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying audio content on a first channel of the audio device;

generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the audio device on a second channel;

receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel and selectively switching between the first and second channel; and

audibly producing sounds from the selected channel.

41. The method as in claim 40, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the acoustic signal matches a predetermined pattern; and

if the acoustic signal matches the predetermined pattern, selecting the second channel to be audibly produced.

42. The method as in claim 41, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized human speech.

43. The method as in claim 41, wherein the predetermined pattern is digitized emergency sounds.

44. The method as in claim 41, further comprising the step of switching back to the first channel after a predetermined period of time.

45. The method as in claim 41, further comprising the step of storing the received audio content when the second channel is selected.

46. The method as in claim 41, further comprising the step of pausing the audio content when the second channel is selected.