DUAL MODE HEADPHONES AND METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE SAME

• US 20120281850A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hyatt, Edward C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Dual mode headphones, and methods for constructing the same are provided. Headphones can be connected to an electronic device to provide an audio output. The headphones can include a transducer or other component for providing sound waves at appropriate levels near a user'"'"'s ear. To provide audio as a speaker, however, circuitry in the headphones can include a powered amplifier that may be selectively used. The headphones can be moved between a first, in-ear position and a second, speaker position. A sensor in the headphones can detect the current position of the headphones, and can change the mode of the circuit to correspond to the detected current position. For example, the sensor can change between an in-ear mode in which the amplifier is bypassed and a speaker mode in which the amplifier is powered and used. In some cases, the headphones can include a sensor for preventing the speaker mode when the headphones are positioned near a user'"'"'s ears.

Claims

1. Dual mode headphones for use with an electronic device, comprising:

a body comprising an articulated component movable between a first position and a second position; and

a circuit placed at least in part within the body, the circuit comprising;

a transducer operative to convert electrical signals from an audio source into sound;

a first sensor operative to detect the position of the articulated component;

an amplifier operative to selectively amplify the electrical signals in accordance with a mode of operation chosen from a plurality of modes of operation based on the detected position of the articulated component; and

a second sensor operative to determine that the transducer is near a user'"'"'s ears, and direct the amplifier to not amplify the electrical signals in accordance with a mode of operation chosen from the plurality of modes of operation.

2. The dual mode headphones of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply operative to provide power to the amplifier.

3. The dual mode headphones of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a sound port enclosing at least the transducer; and

a band coupled to the sound port.

4. The dual mode headphones of claim 1, wherein:

the first position corresponds to an in-ear position; and

the second position corresponds to a speaker position.

5. The dual mode headphones of claim 4, wherein:

the amplifier does not amplify electrical signals when the articulated component is in the speaker position.

6. The dual mode headphones of claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises:

a switch for selectively powering the amplifier.

7. The dual mode headphones of claim 6, wherein:

the switch is controlled by the sensor.

8. The dual mode headphones of claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises:

a bypass for providing electrical signals from the audio source directly to the transducer.

9. The dual mode headphones of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is further operative to:

direct the circuit to bypass the amplifier.

10. A method for selectively enabling a speaker mode in a headphone, comprising:

receiving an output from a sensor in the headphone, wherein the sensor detects the position of an articulated component of the headphone;

determining a position of the headphone corresponding to the received output;

identifying a mode of operation of a circuit of the headphone associated with the determined position of the headphone from a plurality of modes of operation, wherein in a first mode of operation signals are not amplified and in a second mode of operation signals are amplified; and

changing the mode of operation of the circuit of the headphone to the identified mode of operation of the circuit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the determined position of the headphone is one of an in-ear position and a speaker position.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing power to an amplifier in response to changing the mode of the circuit to the second mode of operation.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

bypassing an amplifier in response to changing the mode of the circuit to the first mode of operation.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the headphones are near a user'"'"'s ear; and

automatically changing the mode of the circuit to the first mode of operation.

15. A method for disabling a speaker mode of a headphone, comprising:

enabling a speaker mode in which audio signals provided to a transducer are amplified by an amplifier;

detecting that transducer has been placed near a user'"'"'s ears; and

automatically disabling the speaker mode in response to detecting, wherein audio signals provided to the transducer are not amplified by the amplifier when the speaker mode is disabled.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein disabling the speaker mode further comprises:

enabling an in-ear mode.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting that the transducer is no longer placed near a user'"'"'s ears; and

re-enabling the speaker mode.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the headphones have been positioned in an in-ear position; and

disabling the speaker mode.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein disabling the speaker mode further comprises:

reducing power to the amplifier.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein disabling the speaker mode further comprises:

bypassing the amplifier.