Antenna for miniature wireless devices and improved wireless earphones supported entirely by the ear canal
First Claim
1. A wireless earphone system comprising:
- a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a two-channel stereophonic signal;
a first earphone comprising a first tip configured to be inserted into a first ear canal of a wearer, wherein the first earphone is configured to receive a first channel of the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver, and wherein the first earphone is configured to be supported entirely by the first ear canal of the wearer when the first tip is inserted into the first ear canal; and
a second earphone comprising a second tip configured to be inserted into a second ear canal of the wearer, wherein the second earphone is configured to receive a second channel of the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver, and wherein the second earphone is configured to be supported entirely by the second ear canal of the wearer when the second tip is inserted into the second ear canal,wherein the first earphone and the second earphone together provide stereophonic reproduction of sound to the wearer based on the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver when the tips are inserted into the ear canals of the wearer, andwherein at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone excludes external noise greater than thirty decibels from entering an ear canal of the wearer when the earphone tip is inserted into the ear canal such that the ear canals are substantially acoustically sealed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Wireless earphone systems provide earphones configured to be supported entirely by the ear canals of the wearer and to provide stereophonic reproduction of sound to the wearer based on a two-channel stereophonic signal from a transceiver that is attachable to a device. Certain systems include earphones configured such that channel reception can be switched between the earphones. Certain systems include an earphone that includes: a housing; a ground plane comprising circuitry; and a multi-segmented antenna configured to receive a signal from a transceiver, wherein the antenna and the ground plane are disposed within the housing, wherein the antenna is substantially parallel to the ground plane, and wherein the antenna and the ground plane are separated by a distance.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A wireless earphone system comprising:
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a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a two-channel stereophonic signal; a first earphone comprising a first tip configured to be inserted into a first ear canal of a wearer, wherein the first earphone is configured to receive a first channel of the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver, and wherein the first earphone is configured to be supported entirely by the first ear canal of the wearer when the first tip is inserted into the first ear canal; and a second earphone comprising a second tip configured to be inserted into a second ear canal of the wearer, wherein the second earphone is configured to receive a second channel of the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver, and wherein the second earphone is configured to be supported entirely by the second ear canal of the wearer when the second tip is inserted into the second ear canal, wherein the first earphone and the second earphone together provide stereophonic reproduction of sound to the wearer based on the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver when the tips are inserted into the ear canals of the wearer, and wherein at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone excludes external noise greater than thirty decibels from entering an ear canal of the wearer when the earphone tip is inserted into the ear canal such that the ear canals are substantially acoustically sealed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless earphone system comprising:
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a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a two-channel stereophonic signal; a first earphone comprising a first tip configured to be inserted into a first ear canal of a wearer, wherein the first earphone is configured to receive a first channel of the two-channel stereo signal from the transceiver; and a second earphone comprising a second tip configured to be inserted into a second ear canal of the wearer, wherein the second earphone is configured to receive a second channel of the two-channel stereo signal from the transceiver, wherein the first earphone and the second earphone are configured such that channel reception can be switched so that the first earphone receives the second channel of the two-channel stereo signal and the second earphone receives the first channel of the two-channel stereo signal, wherein the first earphone and the second earphone together provide stereophonic reproduction of sound to a wearer based on the two-channel stereophonic signal from the transceiver when the earphone tips are inserted into the ear canals of the wearer, and wherein at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone excludes external noise greater than thirty decibels from entering an ear canal of the wearer when the earphone tip is inserted into the ear canal such that the ear canals are substantially acoustically sealed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless earphone system comprising:
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a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a signal; and an earphone comprising; a tip configured to be inserted into an ear canal of a wearer; a housing; a ground plane comprising circuitry; and a multi-segmented antenna configured to receive the signal from the transceiver, wherein the antenna and the ground plane are disposed within the housing, wherein the antenna is substantially parallel to the ground plane, and wherein the antenna and the ground plane are separated by a distance that is 5 millimeters or less, and wherein the ground plane is disposed at a first end of the housing, wherein certain portions of the circuitry protrude beyond the ground plane, and wherein the antenna follows a tortuous path around the portions of the circuitry protruding beyond the ground plane. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless earphone system comprising:
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a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a signal; and an earphone comprising; a tip configured to be inserted into an ear canal of a wearer; a housing; a ground plane comprising circuitry; and a multi-segmented antenna configured to receive the signal from the transceiver, wherein the antenna and the ground plane are disposed within the housing, wherein the antenna is substantially parallel to the ground plane, and wherein the antenna and the ground plane are separated by a distance that is 5 millimeters or less, and wherein the antenna has a total physical length that is about 57 millimeters or less and has an effective length that is about 32 millimeters or more. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification