Earphone apparatus capable of reducing power consumption

• US 20070160255A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec CC
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Su-Yi, Cheng, Chia-Min, Huang, Yin-Lung
• Application Number:
  US11/328,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20070160255A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/384
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

The present invention discloses an earphone apparatus capable of saving power consumption that comprises a transmission line, a connecting portion disposed at an end of the transmission line and coupled to a multimedia electronic device for receiving an audio source signal transmitted from the multimedia electronic device, at least one audio output portion disposed at another end of the transmission line and the each audio output portion is worn at a human ear for outputting the audio source signal from the connecting portion through the transmission line, and a sensing portion disposed at an end of the each audio output portion for detecting whether or not the audio output portion is in contact with the human ear and transmitting a play signal to the multimedia electronic device through the connecting portion, such that the multimedia electronic device outputs the audio source signal from the audio output portion.

Claims

1. An earphone apparatus capable of saving power consumption, comprising:

a transmission line;

a connecting portion, disposed at an end of said transmission line and coupled to a multimedia electronic device for receiving an audio source signal transmitted from said multimedia electronic device;

at least one audio output portion, disposed at another end of said transmission line, and said each audio output portion is worn at a human ear for outputting said audio source signal from said connecting portion through said transmission line; and

a sensing portion, disposed at an end of said each audio output portion for detecting whether or not said audio output portion is in contact with said human ear and transmitting a play signal to said multimedia electronic device through said connecting portion, such that said multimedia electronic device outputs said audio source signal from said audio output portion.

2. The earphone apparatus of claim 1, wherein said each audio output portion comprises:

a main body; and

a cover, covered onto said main body at a position away from an end of said transmission line, and being in contact with said human ear, and said sensing portion being disposed around said cover at a position in contact with said human ear.

3. The earphone apparatus of claim 2, wherein said each sensing portion will send out a pause signal to said multimedia electronic device, if said each sensing portion does not detect any audio output portion, so that said multimedia electronic device pauses outputting said audio source signal according to said pause signal.

4. The earphone apparatus of claim 3, wherein said transmission line includes a plurality of conducting wires disposed between said each audio output portion and said connecting portion, and said each audio output portion is coupled to said connecting portion by said each conducting wire for transmitting signals between said multimedia electronic device and said two audio output portions.

5. The earphone apparatus of claim 3, wherein said connecting portion is substantially in a cylindrical shape and at its surface sequentially comprises:

a ground;

a first audio ring, for transmitting said audio source signal from said multimedia electronic device to said each audio output portion;

a second audio ring, for transmitting said audio source signal from said multimedia electronic device to said each audio output portion; and

a signal ring, for transmitting said play signal from said sensing portion to said multimedia electronic device.

6. The earphone apparatus of claim 5, wherein said each cover includes a speaker proximate to said main body, and two speakers are coupled separately to said first audio ring and said second audio ring by said conducting wires.

7. The earphone apparatus of claim 5, wherein said ground, said first audio ring, said second audio ring, and said signal ring are separated with each other by an insulating ring for independently transmitting signals to the outside.

8. The earphone apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sensing portion is coupled to said signal ring by said conducting wires.

9. The earphone apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sensing portion is a touching type sensor.

10. The earphone apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sensing portion is an optical sensor.

11. The earphone apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sensing portion is an infrared sensor.