GREEN HEADPHONE

• US 20160366507A1
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uneo Incorporated (Universal Cement Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Uneo Incorporated (Universal Cement Corporation)
• Inventors: HOU, Chih-Sheng, CHEN, Cheng-Tsung, CHOU, Chia-Hung
• Granted Patent: US 9,686,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A green headphone is disclosed. A force sensor is configured between a speaker cover and a cushion of the headphone. The headphone switches on automatically to play audio when a user puts the headphone on his head. The headphone switches off automatically to stop playing audio when a user puts the headphone off his head, the power consumption is saved.

Claims

1. A headphone, comprising:

a speaker configured to generate sound;

a speaker cover covering the speaker;

a cushion covering the speaker cover and configured to be in contact with an ear of a user, in use; and

a force sensor sandwiched between the speaker cover and the cushion;

wherein

in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in a direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker when the user puts on the headphone, the force sensor is configured to generate a first signal triggering power-on or playback of audio through the speaker.

2. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in response to the cushion releasing a pressure against the force sensor when the user puts off the headphone, the force sensor is configured to generating a second signal triggering power-off or pausing said playback.

3. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the force sensor is one selected from the group consisting of:

membrane switch, piezo-capacitive switch, piezo-electric switch, piezo-resistive switch, strain gauge, and micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS).

4. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a membrane switch comprising, between the cushion and the speaker cover:

a top electrode;

a bottom electrode; and

a space between the top electrode and the bottom electrode when the cushion does not press against the force sensor,

wherein, in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the top electrode is moveable in said direction toward the bottom electrode to electrically contact the bottom electrode and establish an electrical path between the top and bottom electrodes for generating the first signal.

5. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a piezo switch comprising, between the cushion and the speaker cover:

a top electrode;

a bottom electrode; and

a first piezo sheet between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.

6. A headphone as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a space between the first piezo sheet and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode when the cushion does not press against the force sensor,

wherein, in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the top electrode is moveable in said direction toward the bottom electrode to (i) cause the first piezo sheet to contact said one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and then (ii) squeeze the first piezo sheet to establish an electrical path between the top and bottom electrodes and through the first piezo sheet for generating the first signal.

7. A headphone as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a second piezo sheet between the first piezo sheet and the bottom electrode,

wherein the first piezo sheet is between the second piezo sheet and the top electrode.

8. A headphone as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a space between the first piezo sheet and the second piezo sheet when the cushion does not press against the force sensor,

wherein, in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the top electrode is moveable in said direction toward the bottom electrode to (i) cause the first piezo sheet to contact the second piezo sheet, and then (ii) squeeze the first and second piezo sheets to establish an electrical path between the top and bottom electrodes and through the first and second piezo sheets for generating the first signal.

9. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a piezo switch comprising, between the cushion and the speaker cover:

a top left electrode having a first bottom surface;

a top right electrode having a second bottom surface, wherein the first bottom surface is coplanar with the second bottom surface; and

a piezo sheet on bottom of the electrodes,

wherein the electrodes are between the piezo sheet and the cushion.

10. A headphone as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a space between the piezo sheet and the electrodes when the cushion does not press against the force sensor,

wherein, in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the electrodes are moveable in said direction toward the piezo sheet to (i) contact the piezo sheet, and then (ii) squeeze the piezo sheet to establish an electrical path between the electrodes and through the piezo sheet for generating the first signal.

11. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein force sensor is a piezo switch comprising, between the cushion and the speaker cover:

a bottom left electrode having a first top surface;

a bottom right electrode having a second top surface, wherein the first top surface is coplanar with the second top surface; and

a piezo sheet on top of the electrodes,

wherein the electrodes are between the piezo sheet and the speaker cover.

12. A headphone as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a space between the piezo sheet and the electrodes when the cushion does not press against the force sensor,

wherein, in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the piezo sheet is moveable in said direction toward the electrodes to (i) contact the electrodes, and then (ii) be squeezed to establish an electrical path between the electrodes and through the piezo sheet for generating the first signal.

13. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the force sensor has a shape of a complete ring,

said speaker cover includes a plurality of holes for sound emission in a center portion of the speaker cover, and

said complete ring extends around said plurality of holes.

14. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the force sensor has a shape of a partial ring of at least one third of a complete ring,

said speaker cover includes a plurality of holes for sound emission in a center portion of the speaker cover, and

said complete ring extends around said plurality of holes.

15. A headphone as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said speaker cover includes a plurality of holes for sound emission in a center portion of the speaker cover,

a ring extends around said plurality of holes, and

said force sensor comprises first and second force sensor pads separate from each other and arranged on the ring, at a left side and a right side, respectively.

16. A headphone as claimed in claim 15, wherein

said force sensor further comprises third and fourth force sensor pads separate from each other and arranged on the ring, at a bottom side and a top side, respectively.

17. A headphone as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the first piezo sheet is attached to one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode,

when the cushion does not press against the force sensor, the first piezo sheet contacts, without applying a force to, the other of the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and

in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the top electrode is moveable in said direction toward the bottom electrode to squeeze the first piezo sheet and establish an electrical path between the top and bottom electrodes and through the first piezo sheet for generating the first signal.

18. A headphone as claimed in claim 9, wherein

when the cushion does not press against the force sensor, the electrodes contact, without applying a force to, the piezo sheet, and

in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the electrodes are moveable in said direction to squeeze the piezo sheet and establish an electrical path between the electrodes and through the piezo sheet for generating the first signal.

19. A headphone as claimed in claim 12, wherein

when the cushion does not press against the force sensor, the electrodes contact, without applying a force to, the piezo sheet, and

in response to the cushion pressing against the force sensor in the direction toward the speaker cover and the speaker, the piezo sheet is moveable in said direction toward the electrodes to be squeezed and establish an electrical path between the electrodes and through the piezo sheet for generating the first signal.