WIRELESS DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER

• US 20080298606A1
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Manifold Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manifold Products, LLC
• Inventors: JOHNSON, Kevin M., GUNDLACH, John D.
• Application Number:
  US12/131,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20080298606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for audio playback, comprising at least two earpieces wherein each of the earpieces include memory configured to store audio content and/or data thereon and a timing device. The two earpieces are configured to asynchronously provide audio playback of the audio content stored in said memory upon or after synchronization and at a rate determined by the timing device to provide acceptably matched audio content.

Claims

1. A device for audio playback, comprising:

at least two earpieces wherein each of said earpieces include memory configured to store audio content and/or data thereon and a timing device and said at least two earpieces are configured to asynchronously provide audio playback of said audio content stored in said memory upon or after synchronization and at a rate determined by said timing device to provide acceptably matched audio content.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said earpieces contain electronics which comprise:

an audio processor,

an electro-mechanical transducer in communication with said audio processor,

said timing device in communication with said audio processor,

said memory in communication with said audio processor, and

a controller.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said earpieces are configured to be electrically connected and to synchronize said timing devices therein before electrically separating said earpieces from one another.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said earpieces are configured to synchronize said timing devices therein upon or after electrically connecting said earpieces with one another.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said earpieces further comprise a transceiver, wherein one of said at least two earpieces is configured to send a signal and at least one of another of said at least two earpieces is configured to receive said signal.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said earpieces are configured to synchronize said timing devices, upon sending and receiving said signal.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said earpieces include control functions and are configured to relay inputs to said control functions between said earpieces upon sending and receiving said signal.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein said earpieces include a microphone in communication with said earpiece electronics.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein one of said at least two earpieces are configured to send an audio signal and another of said at least two earpieces is configured to receive said signal and synchronize said timing devices, or respond to a control input upon sending and receiving said signal.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said earpiece electronics are configured to receive and process voice commands.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein said timing devices each include a timing reference and said timing devices are configured to compare said timing references and adjust said audio play back.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a base station, wherein said earpieces include electrical contacts for providing electrical communication with said base station.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said base station is configured to communicate with an external device.

14. The device of claim 2, further comprising an external device configured to provide said memory with said audio content and/or data.

15. The device of claim 2, further comprising an energy storage device in each of said at least two earpieces and a base station including an energy source configured to charge said energy storage devices in said at least two earpieces.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said earpieces are configured to be retained by the tragus.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said earpieces are configured to extend into a portion of an ear canal and said electromechanical transducer is positioned in communication with said ear canal.

18. The device of claim 6, further comprising an independent control module configured to send control and/or synchronization signals to at least one of said at least two earpieces.

19. The device of claim 5, further comprising an independent control module configured to measure biometric data.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said independent control module is configured to provide said biometric data to said earpieces and said earpieces provide an indication of said biometric data.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said indication is provided by a voice over said audio playback.

22. The device of claim 5 wherein said transceivers are configured to communicate on a predetermined schedule.

23. The device of claim 18 wherein said transceivers are configured to communicate on a predetermined schedule.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein said timing devices are within plus or minus 0 to 15 milliseconds of one another.

25. The device of claim 8 wherein said microphone can deliver ambient sound through at least one of said earpieces.

26. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said earpieces measures and stores biometric data.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said biometric data is provided by a voice over said audio playback.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said earpieces are configured to be electrically connected and said timing devices therein are synchronized before electrically separating said earpieces from one another.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said earpieces further comprise a transceiver, wherein one of said at least two earpieces sends a signal to another of said at least two earpieces, wherein said signal synchronizes said timing devices.

31. The method of claim 25 comprising supplying a command to one of said earpieces, wherein said earpiece skips a portion of said played audio content upon a given time count from said timing device.

28. A method of providing audio playback comprising:

providing at least two earpieces wherein each of said earpieces include memory to store audio content and/or data thereon and a timing device where said two earpieces are configured to asynchronously provide audio playback of said audio content stored in said memory upon or after synchronization and at a rate determined by said timing device to provide acceptably matched audio content; and

playing said audio content.

32. An article comprising a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following operations:

providing playback of audio information on at least two earpieces wherein each of said earpieces include memory configured to store audio content and/or data thereon and a timing device and said at least two earpieces are configured to asynchronously provide audio playback of said audio content stored in said memory upon or after synchronization and at a rate determined by said timing device to provide acceptably matched audio content.