Active crossover and wireless interface for use with multi-driver headphones

• US 20060193482A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech International SA
• Original Assignee: Ultimate Ears LLC
• Inventors: Harvey, Jerry J., Dyer, Medford Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/02 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/005 For headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupleable to a first audio source using a wired connection and to a second audio source using a wireless connection. A controller is used to determine whether the first, or second, audio source is coupled to the active crossover network which, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within the headphones of the headset. The output from the network'"'"'s filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network'"'"'s filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source.

Claims

1. A headset, comprising:

means for coupling the headset to a first audio source, said first audio source having at least a first audio channel and a second audio channel;

a wireless interface for coupling the headset to a second audio source;

a controller coupled to said coupling means and said wireless interface, said controller capable of a first operating configuration and a second operating configuration;

a crossover network, wherein when said controller is in said first operating configuration said crossover network is coupled to said first audio source and wherein when said controller is in said second operating configuration said crossover network is coupled to said second audio source, and wherein when said crossover network is coupled to said first audio source said crossover network divides said first audio channel into at least a first frequency region and a second frequency region and divides said second audio channel into at least a third frequency region and a fourth frequency region, and wherein said crossover network outputs a first audio signal corresponding to said first frequency region, a second audio signal corresponding to said second frequency region, a third audio signal corresponding to said third frequency region, and a fourth audio signal corresponding to said fourth frequency region, and wherein said crossover network further comprises;

a first amplifier, wherein said first amplifier amplifies said first audio signal and outputs a first amplified audio signal;

a second amplifier, wherein said second amplifier amplifies said second audio signal and outputs a second amplified audio signal;

a third amplifier, wherein said third amplifier amplifies said third audio signal and outputs a third amplified audio signal;

a fourth amplifier, wherein said fourth amplifier amplifies said fourth audio signal and outputs a fourth amplified audio signal; and

at least one power source coupled to said first, second, third and fourth amplifiers; and

a first headphone comprising at least a first driver and a second driver, wherein said first driver is coupled to said first amplifier and receives said first amplified audio signal and said second driver is coupled to said second amplifier and receives said second amplified audio signal; and

a second headphone comprising at least a third driver and a fourth driver, wherein said third driver is coupled to said third amplifier and receives said third amplified audio signal and said fourth driver is coupled to said fourth amplifier and receives said fourth amplified audio signal.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein when said crossover network is coupled to said second audio source said crossover network said crossover network divides said second audio source signal into at least said first frequency region and said second frequency region, and wherein said crossover network outputs said first audio signal corresponding to said first frequency region and a second audio signal corresponding to said second frequency region.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein said second audio source signal is comprised of at least a first alternative audio channel and a second alternative audio channel, and wherein when said crossover network is coupled to said second audio source said crossover network divides said first alternative audio channel into at least said first frequency region and said second frequency region and divides said second alternative audio channel into at least said third frequency region and said fourth frequency region, and wherein said crossover network outputs said first audio signal corresponding to said first frequency region, said second audio signal corresponding to said second frequency region, said third audio signal corresponding to said third frequency region, and said fourth audio signal corresponding to said fourth frequency region.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a switch with at least a first position and a second position, wherein said first position corresponds to said first configuration and said second position corresponds to said second configuration.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein said second audio source is a cellular telephone.

6. The headset of claim 1, wherein a first dual channel amplifier is comprised of said first amplifier and said second amplifier, and wherein a second dual channel amplifier is comprised of said third amplifier and said fourth amplifier.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein a four channel amplifier is comprised of said first amplifier, said second amplifier, said third amplifier and said fourth amplifier.

8. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a first gain controller coupled to said first amplifier;

a second gain controller coupled to said second amplifier;

a third gain controller coupled to said third amplifier; and

a fourth gain controller coupled to said fourth amplifier.

9. The headset of claim 8, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth gain controllers are adjustable.

10. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a first gain controller coupled to said first amplifier and said second amplifier; and

a second gain controller coupled to said third amplifier and said fourth amplifier.

11. The headset of claim 10, wherein said first and second gain controllers are adjustable.

12. The headset of claim 1, wherein said coupling means is comprised of a stereo jack.

13. The headset of claim 1, wherein said crossover network further comprises a plurality of analog bandpass filters, wherein said plurality of analog bandpass filters divides said first audio channel into at least said first frequency region and said second frequency region and divides said second audio channel into at least said third frequency region and said fourth frequency region.

14. The headset of claim 1, wherein said crossover network further comprises a digital circuit that divides said first audio channel into at least said first frequency region and said second frequency region and divides said second audio channel into at least said third frequency region and said fourth frequency region, and wherein said digital circuit is electrically coupled to said at least one power source.

15. The headset of claim 14, wherein said digital circuit is comprised of a digital signal processor.

16. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a first headphone housing corresponding to said first headphone, wherein said first driver and said second driver are contained within said first headphone housing; and

a second headphone housing corresponding to said second headphone, wherein said third driver and said fourth driver are contained within said second headphone housing.

17. The headset of claim 16, wherein said first amplifier and said second amplifier are contained within said first headphone housing, and wherein said third amplifier and said fourth amplifier are contained within said second headphone housing.

18. The headset of claim 17, wherein said at least one power source is comprised of at least a first power source coupled to said first and second amplifiers and a second power source coupled to said third and fourth amplifiers, wherein said first power source is contained within said first headphone housing, and wherein said second power source is contained within said second headphone housing.

19. The headset of claim 18, wherein said crossover network further comprises:

a first audio channel crossover network that divides said first audio channel into at least said first frequency region and said second frequency region, wherein said first audio channel crossover network is contained within said first headphone housing; and

a second audio channel crossover network that divides said second audio channel into at least said third frequency region and said fourth frequency region, wherein said second audio channel crossover network is contained within said second headphone housing.

20. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a first headphone housing corresponding to said first headphone, wherein said first driver and said second driver are contained within said first headphone housing, and wherein said first amplifier and said second amplifier are contained within said first headphone housing;

a second headphone housing corresponding to said second headphone, wherein said third driver and said fourth driver are contained within said second headphone housing, and wherein said third amplifier and said fourth amplifier are contained within said second headphone housing;

a first gain controller coupled to said first amplifier and contained within said first headphone housing;

a second gain controller coupled to said second amplifier and contained within said first headphone housing;

a third gain controller coupled to said third amplifier and contained within said second headphone housing; and

a fourth gain controller coupled to said fourth amplifier and contained within said second headphone housing.

21. The headset of claim 20, wherein said at least one power source is comprised of at least a first power source coupled to said first and second amplifiers and a second power source coupled to said third and fourth amplifiers, wherein said first power source is contained within said first headphone housing, and wherein said second power source is contained within said second headphone housing.

22. The headset of claim 21, wherein said crossover network further comprises:

a first audio channel crossover network that divides said first audio channel into at least said first frequency region and said second frequency region, wherein said first audio channel crossover network is contained within said first headphone housing; and

a second audio channel crossover network that divides said second audio channel into at least said third frequency region and said fourth frequency region, wherein said second audio channel crossover network is contained within said second headphone housing.

23. The headset of claim 22, further comprising a means for coupling said at least one power source to said headset, wherein said at least one power source is external to said headset.

24. The headset of claim 23, wherein said means for coupling the headset to said audio source and said means for coupling the headset to said at least one power source are combined into a single interface assembly.