HEADPHONES WITH INTERACTIVE DISPLAY

• US 20140036127A1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King Hei Liu, Ronald Pong
• Original Assignee: King Hei Liu, Ronald Pong
• Inventors: Pong, Ronald, Liu, King Hei
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection

Abstract

A novel headphone system includes a first speaker assembly, a second speaker assembly, and an interactive visual display system. The interactive visual display system includes a display operative to output visual contents according to interaction with a user. In a more particular embodiment, the headphone system includes an external device interface that enables a user to interact with the contents displayed from the screen via an external device or via the Internet. In another embodiment, the interactive visual display system is removable from the rest of the headphone system and can optionally be installed in another compatible non-headphone device.

Claims

1. A headphone system comprising:

a frame having a first region, a second region, and an intermediate region;

a first speaker assembly coupled to said first region of said frame;

a second speaker assembly coupled to said second region of said frame;

a display coupled to said frame;

a user interface operative to receive input from a user;

memory for storing data and code; and

a controller coupled to said frame, responsive to said user input, and operative to execute said code and display images on said display based at least in part on said user input.

2. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes a data communication interface operative to facilitate data communication between said headphone system and an external system.

3. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein:

said user interface includes an input sensor coupled to said frame; and

said controller responsive to input from said input sensor is operative to provide control signals to said external device via said data communication interface.

4. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein said controller is operative to control said headphone system based at least in part on instructions received from said external system via said data communication interface.

5. The headphone system of claim 4, wherein said data communication interface is configured to receive audio control instructions from said external system.

6. The headphone system of claim 4, wherein said data communication interface is operative to receive display control instructions from said external system.

7. The headphone system of claim 4, further comprising a camera system, and wherein said communication interface is configured to receive camera control instructions from said external system.

8. The headphone system of claim 4, wherein said controller and said communication interface facilitate real-time control of said headphone system by said external system.

9. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein said data communication interface is configured to communicate with said external system via a wired connection.

10. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein said data communication interface includes a wireless system configured to communicate with said external system.

11. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein said data communication interface is configured to receive audio signals from said external system, and said first speaker assembly is operative to output sound indicative of said audio signals in real-time.

12. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to:

receive digital audio data via said data communication interface; and

store said digital audio data in said memory.

13. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein:

said data communication interface is configured to receive display signals from said external system; and

said controller is configured to display images on said display based on said display signals in real-time.

14. The headphone system of claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to:

receive display data via said communication interface; and

store said display data in said memory.

15. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein said controller, said memory, and said display are embodied in a first detachable display unit, which is removable coupled to said frame.

16. The headphone system of claim 15, wherein said first detachable display unit is adapted to mount to said first speaker assembly.

17. The headphone system of claim 16, wherein said first speaker assembly includes a first electrical contact, and said first detachable display unit includes a complementary second electrical contact, said first electrical contact and said complementary second electrical contact being adapted to electrically contact one another.

18. The headphone system of claim 17, wherein:

said first detachable display unit is adapted to rotate relative to said first speaker assembly about an axis when said first detachable unit is attached to said first speaker assembly;

one of said first electrical contact and said complementary second contact includes a substantially annular electrical conductor formed at least partially about said axis, said annular conductor being adapted to slidably engage the other of said first electrical contact and said complementary second electrical contact while said first detachable display unit is being rotated with respect to said first speaker assembly; and

the other of said first electrical contact and said complementary second electrical contact is a conductive biasing member adapted to exert force on said annular conductor, said force being sufficient to maintain electrical contact with said annular conductor while said first detachable display unit is being rotated with respect to said first speaker assembly.

19. The headphone system of claim 18, wherein said first speaker assembly includes a first thread set and said first display unit includes a complementary second thread set, said first thread set and said second thread set facilitating the engagement of said display unit with said first speaker assembly.

20. The headphone system of claim 15, further comprising a second detachable display unit having a second display.

21. The headphone system of claim 20, wherein said display and said second display are cooperatively controlled by said controller.

22. The headphone system of claim 20, wherein:

said first detachable display unit is adapted to engage said first speaker assembly;

said second detachable display unit is adapted to engage said second speaker assembly; and

said headphone system further includes a third display unit having a third display, said third display unit being coupled to said intermediate region of said frame.

23. The headphone system of claim 22, wherein said display, said second display, and said third display are cooperatively controlled by said controller.

24. The headphone system of claim 15, wherein said first detachable display unit is adapted to mount on said frame.

25. The headphone system of claim 15, wherein said first detachable display unit is adapted to mount to alternate non-headphone systems.

26. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to display static content on said display.

27. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to display video on said display.

28. The headphone system of claim 1, further comprising a camera coupled to said frame.

29. The headphone system of claim 1, further comprising a second display.

30. The headphone system of claim 29, wherein said display and said second display are cooperatively controlled by said controller.

31. The headphone system of claim 29, wherein:

said display is coupled to said frame via said first speaker assembly;

said second display is coupled to said frame via said second speaker assembly; and

said headphone system further includes a third display coupled to said intermediate region of said frame.

32. The headphone system of claim 31, wherein said display, said second display, and said third display are cooperatively controlled by said controller.

33. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein said display is coupled to said frame via said first speaker assembly.

34. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein said display is mounted on said intermediate region of said frame.

35. The headphone system of claim 1, wherein:

said user interface includes an input sensor coupled to said frame; and

wherein said controller is operative to control said headphone system based at least in part on input from said input sensor.

36. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said controller displays images on said display based at least in part on said input from said input sensor.

37. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said controller controls the operation of at least one of said first speaker assembly and said second speaker assembly based at least in part on said input from said input sensor.

38. The headphone system of claim 35, further comprising:

a camera system; and

wherein

said controller controls the operation of said camera based at least in part on said input from said input sensor.

39. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said input sensor is a sound sensor.

40. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said input sensor is an orientation sensor.

41. The headphone system of claim 40, wherein said orientation sensor includes a gyroscope.

42. The headphone system of claim 40, wherein said orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.

43. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said input sensor is a motion sensor.

44. The headphone system of claim 43, wherein said motion sensor includes a gyroscope.

45. The headphone system of claim 43, wherein said motion sensor includes an accelerometer.

46. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said input sensor is a manual user input device.

47. The headphone system of claim 46, wherein said input sensor and said display are integral parts of a touchscreen display.

48. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein:

said input sensor generates output indicative of the orientation of said display; and

said controller is configured to automatically adjust the orientation of images displayed on said display based at least in part on said output of said input sensor.

49. The headphone system of claim 35, wherein said controller responsive to signals from said input sensor is operative to provide control instructions to said external device, whereby a user can control said external device via said headphone system.

50. The headphone system of claim 49, wherein said control instructions include audio instructions.

51. The headphone system of claim 1, further comprising a location determining device.

52. A method for manufacturing headphones, said method comprising:

providing a frame having a first region, a second region, and an intermediate region;

coupling a first speaker assembly to said first region of said frame;

coupling a second speaker assembly to said second region of said frame;

assembling a user interface, memory, a display and a controller into a display unit; and

coupling said display unit to said frame.