HEADPHONE SYSTEM FOR EARBUD SPEAKERS

• US 20140211959A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Audio LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Audio LLC
• Inventors: BOYAJIAN, Adam G.P., PARELLI, Michael O., KNIGHT, Eric A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,568 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 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• 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 relates to a personal headphone device, system and method configured to combine a headphone and earbud into one acoustical product. The headphone earbud device is configured with an adaptive attachment for controlling the audio signals and/or device providing the audio signals. The adaptive connection includes an electro mechanical and/or mechanical connection so that when an earbud is placed into a headphone contact plates on the earbud mate with contact plates on the interior recess of the headphone so as to energize a loudspeaker in the headphone and or to control the device providing the audio signals.

Claims

1. A headphone and earbud device for receiving an audio signal, comprising:

a headphone including a speaker acoustic device to amplify the audio signal, with said speaker acoustic device comprising a speaker chamber that is in close proximity to a user'"'"'s ear and loudspeaker configured to cooperate with an aperture in the headphone;

an earbud to be detachably connected to said aperture in said headphone to transmit the audio signal to said speaker chamber; and

an adaptive connection configured between said headphone and said earbud configured to control a playback of the audio signal to said loudspeaker in said headphone.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of the audio signal in the headphone so as to turn the audio signal on and off.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of the audio signal in said loudspeaker in the headphone so as to turn the audio signal on and off.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, whereby the adaptive connection controls the audio signal in the headphone to increase and decrease the volume.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of the audio signal in a speaker in the headphone to increase and decrease the volume of the audio signal.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, whereby the earbud includes a microphone.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of microphone associated with the headphone so as to mute and un-mute the audio signal.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adaptive connection is opened and closed by placing or removing said earbud in an aperture of said headphone.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said adaptive connection includes positioning a doughnut magnet adjacent a seal, whereby said doughnut magnet is part of the electrical circuit being connected thereto to ground and said seal is constructed of conductive metal attracted to the doughnut magnet.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said adaptive connection includes a headphone magnet positioned transversely in a hole of a headphone aperture assembly adjacent said doughnut magnet and adjacent a earbud magnet, whereby earbud magnet is positioned within a clip contact that interacts to connect an earbud speaker drive unit so as to energize said loudspeaker of said headphone.

17. A system as claimed in claim 6, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of the audio signal in a said loudspeaker in the headphone to increase and decrease the volume of the audio signal.

11. A headphone and earbud system that intrinsically concentrates, amplifies, and efficiently transmits earbud audio signals to a user'"'"'s ear, comprising:

a headphone including a speaker acoustic device, with said speaker acoustic device comprising a speaker chamber that is in close proximity to a user'"'"'s ear and a loudspeaker configured to cooperate with an aperture in the headphone;

at least one earbud detachably connected to said aperture in said headphone in close proximity to the user'"'"'s ear canal to transmit audio signals to said loudspeaker through said aperture opening in the outside surface of said headphone and the other opening in close proximity to the user'"'"'s ear canal; and

an adaptive connection configured between said headphone and said earbud configured to control a playback of the audio signal.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the earbud is magnetically connected to the speaker chamber.

13. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said adaptive connection is configured between the headphone and the earbud configured to control a playback of the audio signal.

14. A system as claimed in claim 11, whereby said adaptive connection controls energization of the audio signal in the headphone so as to turn the audio signal on and off.

15. A system as claimed in claim 11, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of the audio signal in a said loudspeaker in the headphone so as to turn the audio signal on and off.

16. A system as claimed in claim 11, whereby the adaptive connection controls the audio signal in the headphone to increase and decrease the volume.

18. A system as claimed in claim 11, whereby the earbud includes a microphone.

19. A system as claimed in claim 16, whereby the adaptive connection controls energization of microphone in the headphone so as to mute and un-mute the audio signal.

20. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said adaptive connection is opened and closed by placing or removing said earbud in an aperture of said headphone.