Wearable personal audio loop apparatus

• US 6,091,832 A
• Filed: 08/11/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Inventors: Burdick, Wayne A., Shurman, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US08/909,402
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 381/370, 381/374, 381/375, 381/377, 381/378, 381/381, 381/327, 381/72, 381/74, 455/344, 455/350, 455/351, 455/347, 455/90, 455/89, 379/430, 379/432, 379/433, 351/123, 2/422, 2/423
• US Class Current: 381/381
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable personal audio apparatus includes one or more wearable U-shaped loop members adapted to fit an individual in a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, particularly around the head and neck. The plurality of positions can include positions across the forehead, top or back of the head of the individual, and around the front or back of the neck of the individual. The loop member can have an eyewear receiving member which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide protective or corrective eyewear when the loop member is worn on the front of the head of the wearer. In one embodiment, a plurality of sets of quick-connect interface ports are disposed around the loop member to selectively receive a plurality of external audio transducer modules. The quick-connect interface ports provide a respective communication path between each of the external audio transducer modules and an audio circuit which can be either external to the loop member or contained within the loop member. In another embodiment, a plurality of internal audio transducers are disposed within the loop member. The internal audio transducers can include audio output devices and/or audio input devices.

Claims

1. For use with an audio circuit, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable U-shaped loop member adapted to fit an individual in any of a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, the plurality of positions including at least a first position around a forehead of the individual; and

a plurality of quick connect interface ports disposed around the loop member to selectively receive a plurality of external audio transducer modules and to provide a respective communication path between each of the external audio transducer modules and the audio circuit.

2. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an audio circuit wherein the audio circuit is external to the loop member.

3. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an audio circuit wherein the audio circuit is contained within the loop member.

4. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least two external audio transducer modules adapted to be received in said interface ports.

5. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least four audio transducer modules are provided, two of said modules containing audio input transducers and two of said modules containing audio output transducers.

6. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the external audio transducer modules includes an audio output device which produces an acoustic pressure wave in response to an audio signal provided by the audio circuit.

7. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the audio transducer modules includes an audio input device which produces an audio signal representative of an acoustic pressure wave received thereby for communication to the audio circuit.

8. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first plurality of the quick connect interface ports is designated for receiving audio output device modules, and wherein a second plurality of the quick connect interface ports is designated for receiving audio input device modules.

9. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of positions includes at least a second position around the neck of the individual.

10. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 9 wherein a first pair of the quick connect interface ports are located on generally opposite sides of the neck and are proximate to the individual'"'"'s collarbone when worn in the second position, the first pair of quick connect interface ports for receiving a pair of audio input device modules.

11. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 10 wherein a second pair of the quick connect interface ports are located on generally opposite sides of the neck and rearward from the individual'"'"'s collarbone when worn in the second position, the second pair of quick connect interface ports for receiving a pair of audio output device modules.

12. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein the loop member includes two earpieces which rest on a portion of the individual'"'"'s ears in the first position.

13. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 12 wherein a first of the quick connect interface ports is located within a first of the two earpieces and a second of the quick connect interface ports is located within a second of the two earpieces.

14. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of positions includes at least a third position around the top of the head of the individual.

15. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and the second of the quick connect interface ports are located on inner portions of the two earpieces to receive a pair of audio output devices, wherein the pair of audio output devices are proximate to the individuals ears when worn in the second position to thereby provide a headphone.

16. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein the loop member includes a loop-receiving member for mounting thereto a like loop member from a like wearable personal audio apparatus.

17. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 16 wherein the audio circuit communicates with an audio transducer of the like wearable personal audio apparatus when the like loop member is mounted to the loop-receiving member.

18. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an interface port which connects to a mating interface port of the like wearable personal audio apparatus when the like loop member is mounted in the loop-receiving member to provide a communication path between the audio circuit and an audio transducer of the like wearable personal audio apparatus.

19. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of positions includes at least a fourth position around the back of the head of the individual.

20. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a signal indicating member positioned on said loop member for indicating when said audio apparatus is in use.

21. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 2 further comprising wireless communication means for electronically connecting said interface ports with said audio circuit.

22. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an eyewear-receiving member on said loop member which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when said loop member is worn in said first position.

23. For use with a plurality of audio transducers, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable arcuate loop member adapted to fit an individual in a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, including a first position around a forehead of the individual and a second position around the neck of the individual, the loop member having an eyewear-receiving portion which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when the loop member is worn around the forehead of the individual; and

an audio circuit to communicate audio signals with the plurality of audio transducers;

wherein the audio circuit is contained within the loop member.

24. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 23 wherein at least one of the audio transducers includes an audio output device which produces an acoustic pressure wave in response to an audio signal provided by the audio circuit.

25. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 23 wherein at least one of the audio transducers includes an audio input device which produces an audio signal representative of an acoustic pressure wave received thereby for communication to the audio circuit.

26. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 23 wherein the audio transducers are disposed within the loop member.

27. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 23 wherein said plurality of audio transducers includes a first plurality of audio input devices positioned in said loop member and a second plurality of sets of audio output devices positioned in said loop member, said audio input devices being positioned at least at two spatially separated positions on said loop member in order to receive audio input from said individual depending on where the audio apparatus is worn on the individual'"'"'s body.

28. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a switch mechanism for allowing said individual to selectively activate and deactivate said audio input and audio output devices.

29. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a signal indicating device positioned on said loop member for indicating when said audio apparatus is in use.

30. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 27 further comprising extendable connector means for extendably connecting at least one of said audio input devices to said loop member.

31. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 27 wherein said plurality of audio transducers includes a first plurality of audio input devices positioned in said loop member and a second plurality of sets of audio output devices positioned in said loop member, said audio input devices being positioned at least at two spatially separated positions on said loop member in order to receive audio input from said individual depending on where said audio output device is worn on the individual'"'"'s body.

32. wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 23 wherein the loop member includes an arcuate member and a pair of side support members jointed thereto, wherein the eyewear-receiving member is disposed on the arcuate member.

33. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 32 wherein the audio circuit communicates the audio signals between the arcuate member and at least one of the pair of side support members.

34. For use with a plurality of audio transducers, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable loop member adapted to fit an individual in a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, including a first position around a forehead of the individual, the loop member having an eyewear-receiving member which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when the loop member is worn around the forehead of the individual; and

an audio circuit contained within the loop member to communicate audio signals with the plurality of audio transducers, wherein the loop member includes a loop-receiving member for mounting thereto a like loop member from a like wearable personal audio apparatus.

35. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 34 wherein the audio circuit communicates with an audio transducer of the like wearable personal audio apparatus when the like loop member is mounted to the loop-receiving member.

36. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 34 further comprising an interface port which connects to a mating interface port of the like wearable personal audio apparatus when the like loop member is mounted in the loop-receiving member to provide a communication path between the audio circuit and an audio transducer of the like wearable personal audio apparatus.

37. For use with a plurality of audio transducers, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable loop member adapted to fit an individual in a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, including a first position around a forehead of the individual, the loop member having an eyewear-receiving member which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when the loop member is worn around the forehead of the individual; and

an audio circuit to communicate audio signals with the plurality of audio transducers, wherein said loop member is adapted to fit said individual in a second position around the neck of the individual.

38. For use with a plurality of audio transducers, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable loop member adapted to fit an individual in a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, including a first position around a forehead of the individual, the loop member having an eyewear-receiving member which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when the loop member is worn around the forehead of the individual; and

an audio circuit to communicate audio signals with the plurality of audio transducers, wherein said loop member is adapted to fit said individual in a second position around the top of the head of the individual.

39. For use with a plurality of audio transducers, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable loop member adapted to fit an individual in a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body, including a first position around a forehead of the individual, the loop member having an eyewear-receiving member which selectively receives an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when the loop member is worn around the forehead of the individual; and

an audio circuit to communicate audio signals with the plurality of audio transducers, wherein said loop member is adapted to fit said individual in a plurality of positions on the head and neck of the individual.

40. For use with an audio circuit, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable arcuate loop member adapted to fit an individual in any of a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s head and neck, the plurality of positions including a first position around a forehead of the individual and a second position around the neck of the individual;

a plurality of internal audio transducers disposed within the loop member, the plurality of internal audio transducers including at least one of an audio output device which produces an acoustic pressure wave in response to an audio signal provided by the audio circuit and an audio input device which produces an audio signal representative of an acoustic pressure wave received thereby for communication to the audio circuit;

wherein said loop member includes an eyewear-receiving portion for selectively receiving an eyewear insert to provide eyewear when the loop member is worn around the forehead of the individual.

41. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 40 wherein the audio circuit is external to the loop member.

42. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 41 wherein said audio circuit communicates with said loop member by wireless communication means.

43. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 40 further comprising an audio circuit contained within the loop member.

44. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 40 wherein a first pair of the internal audio transducers are located on generally opposite sides of the neck and are proximate to the individual'"'"'s collarbone when worn in the second position, the first pair of internal audio transducers including a pair of audio input devices which produce audio signals representative of acoustic pressure waves received thereby.

45. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 44 wherein a second pair of the internal audio transducers are located on generally opposite sides of the neck and rearward from the individual'"'"'s collarbone when worn in the second position, the second pair of internal audio transducers including a pair of audio output devices which produce acoustic pressure waves representative of audio signals applied thereto.

46. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 40 wherein the loop member includes two earpieces which rest on a portion of the individual'"'"'s ears in the first position.

47. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 46 wherein said earpieces are extendably connected to said loop member.

48. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 46 wherein said audio output devices are extendably connected to said loop member.

49. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 48 wherein the plurality of positions includes a third position around the top of the head of the individual.

50. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 49 wherein the plurality of audio transducers includes a pair of audio output devices, a first of the pair of audio output devices located within a first of the two earpieces and a second of the pair of the audio output devices located within a second of the two earpieces so that the pair of audio output devices are proximate to the individual'"'"'s ears when worn in the second position to thereby provide a headphone.

51. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 40 wherein the loop member includes a loop-receiving member for mounting thereto a like loop member from a like wearable personal audio apparatus.

52. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 51 further comprising an interface port which connects to a mating interface port of the like wearable personal audio apparatus when the like loop member is mounted in the loop-receiving member to provide a communication path between the audio circuit and an audio transducer of the like wearable personal audio apparatus.

53. The wearable personal audio apparatus of claim 51 wherein the audio circuit communicates with an audio transducer of the like wearable personal audio apparatus when the like loop member is mounted to the loop-receiving member.

54. For use with an audio circuit, a wearable personal audio apparatus comprising:

a wearable arcuate loop member adapted to fit an individual in any of a plurality of positions on the individual'"'"'s body;

at least one quick connect interface port disposed on the loop member to selectively connect the loop member to at least one external module to provide at least one communication path between the external module and the loop member; and

at least one indicator disposed on the loop member and in communication with at least one communication path to provide control information to the indicator.

55. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

56. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator comprises an LCD display.

57. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator comprises at least one light emitting element.

58. The audio apparatus of claim 57 wherein the light emitting element is an LED.

59. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator comprises at least two indicators disposed on opposite outwardly facing sides of the loop member.

60. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator automatically provides information to observers based on activity on the at least one communication path.

61. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator is controllable by the individual to provide selected information to observers.

62. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator provides information indicative of a type of signal present on at least one of the communications paths.

63. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator provides information indicative of signal strength of signals on at least one of the communications paths.

64. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator provides information indicative of signal origin for signals on at least one of the communication paths.

65. The audio apparatus of claim 54 wherein the indicator comprises an audio indicator.

66. The audio apparatus of claim 65 wherein the indicator is automatically activated based on signals on at least one communication path.

67. The audio apparatus of claim 65 wherein the indicator is controllable by the individual to provide information selected by the individual to observers.

68. The audio apparatus of claim 65 wherein the indicator generates sound having intensity based on activity on at least one communication path.