Wireless interactive headset

• US 7,150,526 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Original Assignee: Oakley, Inc. (EssilorLuxottica SA)
• Inventors: Reyes, Carlos, Baden, Colin, Bruns, Sumner Lane, Jannard, James, Saderholm, Davin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US10/628,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/41, 351/123, 455/343, 455/344, 455/347, 455/350, 455/351, 704/225
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• 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: G02C 3/003 Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/348 Muting in response to a mechanical action or to power supply variations, e.g. during tuning; Click removal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable audio interface includes a support for positioning the plurality of speakers juxtaposed to and spaced from the ears of a wearer. The audio device can include wireless networking electronics so as to allow the device to interact with other wireless network devices.

Claims

1. An eyeglass frame, comprising:

a support for supporting at least one lens in the path of a wearer'"'"'s field of view;

a first ear stem attached to the support, for extending in a posterior direction along a first side of the wearer'"'"'s head;

a second ear stem attached to the support, for extending in a posterior direction along a second side of the wearer'"'"'s head;

at least one speaker supported by the first ear stem with a first mounting mechanism, the first mounting mechanism defining a linear path slang which the speaker can be translated by a user, the first mounting mechanism further defining a pivot configured to allow the speaker to be pivoted about a first pivot axis parallel to the linear path, wherein an electrical conduit extends from the speaker through at least a portion of the first mounting mechanism; and

at least one microphone supported by at least one of the support, first ear stem, and second ear stem, the microphone being arranged to face towards the head of a wearer of the eyeglass frame.

2. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, further comprising a power supply replaceably carried by the support.

3. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the support comprises a pair of orbitals supporting the at least one lens and a second lens, respectively, a bridge connecting the orbitals, the microphone being supported by the bridge.

4. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1 additionally comprising a second speaker supported by the second ear stem with a second mounting mechanism, the second mounting mechanism being configured to define a second linear path along which a user can translate the second speaker, the second mounting mechanism being further configured to allow the second speaker to pivot about a second pivot axis parallel to the second linear path.

5. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to allow the first speaker to pivot about the first pivot axis over a range of at least about 30–

40 degrees.

6. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to allow the first speaker to pivot about the first pivot axis over a range of at least about 90 degrees.

7. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to allow the first speaker to translate along the linear path over a range of at least about one-quarter of one inch.

8. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to allow the first speaker to translate along the linear path over a range of at least about three-quarters of one inch.

9. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the electrical conduit comprises a wire.

10. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the electrical conduit extends through an aperture in the first mounting mechanism.

11. An eyeglass frame as in claim 1, wherein the first mounting mechanism comprises a rod.

12. An eyeglass, comprising:

a frame configured to support a lens in the path of a wearer'"'"'s field of view, the frame comprising;

at least one orbital; and

a first earphone support;

a telecommunications receiver positioned inside of the frame;

a telecommunications transmitter positioned inside of the frame;

a first earphone carried by the first earphone support, the earphone support being configured to define a linear path for the first earphone along which a user can translate the first earphone, the first earphone support being further configured to allow the first earphone to pivot about a first pivot axis parallel to the linear path, wherein an electrical conduit extends from the first earphone through at least a portion of the first earphone support; and

a microphone carried by the frame.

13. An eyeglass as in claim 12, further comprising a digital storage device.

14. An eyeglass as in claim 13, wherein the digital storage device comprises an MP3 storage device.

15. An eyeglass as in claim 12, further comprising a power supply carried by the frame.

16. An eyeglass as in claim 15, wherein the power supply is rechargeable.

17. An eyeglass as in claim 15, wherein the power supply is replaceably carried by the frame.

18. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the frame further comprises a second earphone and a second earphone support and wherein the second earphone is carried by the second earphone support.

19. An eyeglass as in claim 18, wherein the first earphone support extends rearwardly from the front of the eyeglass and second earphone support extends rearwardly from the front of the eyeglass.

20. An eyeglass as in claim 18, wherein the first earphone support extends down from the frame and second earphone support extends down from the frame.

21. An eyeglass as in claim 12 additionally comprising a second earphone supported by a second earphone support, the second earphone support being configured to define a second linear path along which a user can translate the second earphone, the second earphone support being further configured to allow the second earphone to pivot about a second pivot axis parallel to the second linear path.

22. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the earphone support is configured to allow the first earphone to pivot about the first pivot axis over a range of at least about 30–

40 degrees.

23. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the first earphone support is configured to allow the first earphone to pivot about the first pivot axis over a range of at least about 90 degrees.

24. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the earphone support is configured to allow the first earphone to translate along the linear path over a range of at least about one-quarter of one inch.

25. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the earphone support is configured to allow the first earphone to translate along the linear path over a range of at least about three-quarters of one inch.

26. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the electrical conduit comprises a wire.

27. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the electrical conduit extends through an aperture in the first mounting mechanism.

28. An eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the first earphone support comprises a rod.