MUSIC HEADPHONES FOR MANUAL CONTROL OF AMBIENT SOUND

• US 20070116316A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Syncronation, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/370
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analogue or digital, e.g. DECT, GSM, UMTS
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A headphone and method for allowing manually controlled reception of ambient sound by a user. More particularly, the invention relates to a headphone for listening to an audio signal while allowing varying amounts of ambient sound to the user. In one aspect, the headphone comprises a manually-controllable physical characteristic that controls the amount of ambient sound accessible to the user. The physical characteristic can be sound ports that can be opened or closed. In another aspect, the headphone can comprise a microphone receptive of ambient sound, wherein the user can control the proportion of sound that comes from the ambient sound or the audio signal. The microphone can be part of a noise cancellation system.

Claims

1. A headphone for listening to an audio signal allowing for the controlled reception of ambient sound by a user, comprising:

a speaker for outputting sound;

a connector to an audio player from which the audio signal is received, wherein the audio signal is played through the speaker;

a microphone receptive of ambient sound, wherein the signals received by the microphone are played through the speaker; and

a manual switch for adjusting the proportion of the sound from the speaker that comes from the audio signal and from the ambient sound.

2. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the headphone comprises part of a noise-cancellation system.

3. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the phase of the ambient sound played through the speaker is adjustable.

4. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the phase of the ambient sound played through the speaker is coincident with the ambient sound.

5. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the headphone comprises an earphone.

6. A headphone for listening to an audio signal allowing for the controlled reception of ambient sound by a user comprising:

a speaker that is oriented towards the user'"'"'s ear for providing the audio entertainment;

a speaker enclosure for reducing the amount of ambient noise perceptive to the user; and

an adjustable characteristic of the enclosure for adjusting the amount of ambient sound perceptive to the user.

7. The headphone of claim 6, wherein the adjustable characteristic comprises a plurality of sound ports in the enclosure that admit ambient sound.

8. The headphone of claim 6, wherein the manually-adjustable characteristic comprises the surface area of the enclosure.

9. The headphone of claim 6, wherein the manually-adjustable characteristic comprises the thickness of the enclosure.

10. The headphone of claim 6, additionally comprising a spacer that attaches to the headphone and which increases the distance between the speaker and the user'"'"'s ear.

11. The headphone of claim 6, additionally comprising a secondary enclosure that encloses the enclosure and the speaker, and which is detachable from the headphone.

12. The headphone of claim 6, wherein the headphone comprises an earphone.

13. A headphone for listening to an audio signal allowing for the controlled reception of ambient sound by a user comprising:

a speaker that is oriented towards the user'"'"'s ear for providing the audio entertainment; and

a speaker enclosure surrounding the speaker, the enclosure further comprising;

a non-rotable surface having a plurality of fixed sound ports, and

a rotatable external circumferential surface surrounding the non-rotatable surface, the rotatable surface having a plurality of sound ports, wherein the rotatable surface is enabled to rotate around the non-rotatable surface to vary the amount of ambient sound directed towards the user.

14. The headphone of claim 13, further comprising an extender that attaches to the headphone and which increases the distance between the speaker and the user'"'"'s ear.

15. The headphone of claim 13, wherein the sound ports are open holes.

16. The headphone of claim 13, wherein the headphone comprises an earphone.

17. A method for an individual to listen to audio signals through an earphone while allowing ambient sound to be accessible to the individual, comprising:

playing the audio signals to the individual through the earphone; and

variably allowing ambient sound to be accessible to the individual through the earphone under manual control by the individual;

wherein variable amounts of the ambient sound are heard in conjunction with the audio signals.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the manual control adjusts the proportion of sound from the audio signal and from the ambient sound.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving ambient sound from a microphone, wherein the received sound signal is played through the headphone, the received sound having a phase.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the phase of the received sound is adjustable.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the phase of the ambient sound played through the speaker is coincident with the ambient sound.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of variably allowing ambient sound to be accessible further comprises adjusting a speaker enclosure that surrounds a speaker within the headphone.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting consists of changing a size of an opening within the speaker enclosure, changing a number of openings of the speaker enclosure or changing a thickness of the speaker enclosure.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting further comprises attaching a spacer that attaches to the headphone and which increases the distance between the speaker and the user'"'"'s ear.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting comprises attaching a secondary enclosure that encloses the enclosure and the speaker, and which is detachable from the headphone.

26. A headphone for listening to an audio signal allowing for the controlled reception of ambient sound by a user, comprising:

means for playing the audio signals to the user through the headphone; and

means for variably allowing ambient sound to be accessible to the user through the earphone under manual control by the user;

wherein variable amounts of the ambient sound are heard in conjunction with the audio signals.