Noise attenuating headset

• US 7,292,704 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lisa Lederer
• Original Assignee: Wayne Lederer
• Inventors: Lederer, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US10/723,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 381/311, 381/328, 381/380, 381/382, 381/334, 181/129, 181/130, 600/410, 600/418, 600/421, 600/424, 600/427
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/145 electric, e.g. for active noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/02 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Systems and techniques are disclosed for a headset that may be used in an audio system used in a magnetic field. In one aspect, the system includes an inner set portion adapted to fit into an ear canal. A pneumatic port is disposed in the hole to couple audible sounds to the ear canal. The system may include a non-magnetic transducer coupled to the pneumatic port. The system also may include a fiber-optic microphone to couple sound from a user of the headset. Other techniques provide a stethoscope-type yoke to couple the pneumatic port and the fiber-optic antenna to the non-magnetic transducer.

Claims

1. A magnetically inert headset comprising:

an ear cup;

an outer set portion disposed in the ear cup, and adapted to cover an ear;

an inner set portion disposed in the outer set portion, including an ear insert adapted to fit into an ear canal and having a through-hole; and

a pneumatic port disposed in the hole in the ear insert to couple audible sound waves to the ear canal

wherein the ear cup has a removable piece adapted to provide access to the ear insert and pneumatic port.

2. The headset of claim 1 comprising a stethoscope-type yoke to couple the pneumatic port to a non-magnetic audio transducer.

3. The headset of claim 2 comprising an adapter coupled to the outer set portion and having a substantially conical opening to receive and to guide an end of the pneumatic port into the stethoscope-type yoke.

4. The headset of claim 2 wherein the non-magnetic audio transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

5. The headset of claim 2 wherein the non-magnetic audio transducer comprises an electrostatic transducer.

6. The headset of claim 2 comprising a non-magnetic microphone coupled to the outer set portion.

7. The headset of claim 6 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a fiber-optic microphone.

8. The headset of claim 6 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a piezoelectric microphone.

9. The headset of claim 4 comprising a non-magnetic microphone coupled to the outer set portion.

10. The headset of claim 9 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a fiber-optic microphone.

11. The headset of claim 9 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a piezoelectric microphone.

12. The headset of claim 1 wherein the removable piece is adavted to provide access to the ear canal.

13. The headset of claim 1 comprising a non-magnetic acoustic driver coupled to the pneumatic port.

14. The headset of claim 13 comprising a non-magnetic microphone.

15. The headset of claim 14 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a fiber-optic microphone.

16. The headset of claim 14 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a piezoelectric microphone.

17. The headset of claim 16 wherein the ear cup has a removable piece to provide access to the ear insert and pneumatic port.

18. The headset of claim 16 comprising a non-magnetic audio transducer coupled to the pneumatic port.

19. The headset of claim 18 wherein the non-magnetic audio transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

20. The headset of claim 18 wherein the non-magnetic audio transducer comprises an electrostatic transducer.

21. The headset of claim 1 wherein the ear insert is adapted to substantially conform to the ear canal.

22. A non-magnetic headset system comprising:

an audio transducer;

a non-magnetic headset including an ear insert having a through-hole and adapted to fit into an ear canal;

a pneumatic port disposed in the hole in the ear insert to receive audible sound waves from the audio transducer; and

an ear cup including a removable piece adapted to cover the ear insert and provide access to the ear insert.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the audio transducer comprises a magnetically inert transducer.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the magnetically inert transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the audio transducer comprises an electrostatic transducer.

26. The non-magnetic headset system of claim 22, wherein the removable piece is adapted to provide access to the ear canal.

27. The non-magnetic headset system of claim 22, wherein the ear insert is adapted to substantially conform to the ear canal.

28. A method comprising:

removing a cover of an ear cup to provide access to an ear insert having a through-hole inserting an ear insert having a through-hole into an ear canal of a user;

disposing a pneumatic port into the hole in the ear insert;

disposing the ear insert and the pneumatic port in an outer set portion;

coupling the pneumatic port to a pneumatic tube; and

coupling the pneumatic tube to an output of an audio transducer.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the pneumatic port is coupled to the pneumatic tube through an adapter having a substantially conical opening on one end.

30. The method of claim 28 comprising disposing the ear insert and pneumatic port in an ear cup having sound absorbing foam.

31. The method of claim 28 comprising providing a non-magnetic microphone to enable communication between the user and another person.

32. The headset of claim 31 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a fiber-optic microphone.

33. The headset of claim 31 wherein the non-magnetic microphone comprises a piezoelectric microphone.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein removing the cover provides access to the ear canal.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the ear insert substantially conforms to the ear canal.