System for providing wireless waterproof audio

• US 7,755,975 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: H2O Audio, Inc.
• Inventors: Polany, Rany, Rauhala, Kari Kristian, Pettersen, Carl Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/123,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 367/131, 367/141, 367/142, 381/370, 381/374, 381/376, 381/381, 381/74, 381/398
• US Class Current: 367/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing wireless waterproof audio to a user in an aquatic environment. The systems may include earphones adapted to be waterproof and coupled to a receiver for receiving a wireless signal. The systems may also include a waterproof housing containing a transmitter and adapted to receive an electronic audio device such that the signal generated by the device may be transmitted by the transmitter.

Claims

1. A waterproof personal sound generating system, comprising:

at least one earphone adapted for use in an underwater environment; and

a receiver operatively coupled to the earphone, the receiver adapted to receive a digital wireless signal.

2. The sound generating system of claim 1, further comprising components for providing continuous audio data to a speaker in the earphone both while the receiver is submersed under water and while it is above water.

3. The sound generating system of claim 2, wherein the components comprise memory adapted to buffer audio data.

4. The sound generating system of claim 2, wherein the components comprise a microprocessor and algorithms adapted to switch frequencies over which the receiver receives audio data.

5. The sound generating system of claim 2, wherein the components comprise a microprocessor and algorithms adapted to consolidate data received by the receiver over multiple frequencies.

6. The sound generating system of claim 1, wherein the earphone is adapted to be waterproof when inserted into a user'"'"'s ear.

7. The sound generating system of claim 6, wherein the earphone comprises a flexible molding adapted to create a substantially waterproof seal with the user'"'"'s outer ear canal when inserted into the ear canal.

8. The sound generating system of claim 1, wherein the earphone comprises a speaker housed within a waterproof housing.

9. The sound generating system of claim 8, wherein the receiver is also housed within the waterproof housing.

10. The sound generating system of claim 1, comprising two earphones, one for each ear of a user.

11. The sound generating system of claim 10, wherein each earphone comprises a speaker and a receiver.

12. The sound generating system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency electromagnetic signal.

13. The sound generating system of claim 12, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive the wireless signal over more than one frequency.

14. The sound generating system of claim 13, further comprising a microprocessor adapted to automatically select which frequency to receive.

15. The sound generating system of claim 14, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to select a frequency based on whether the receiver is underwater.

16. The sound generating system of claim 13, further comprising a selector adapted to allow a user to manually select which frequency to receive.

17. The sound generating system of claim 13, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive the more than one frequency simultaneously.

18. The sound generating system of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is a satellite radio signal.

19. The sound generating system of claim 1, further comprising a digital-to-analog converter operatively coupled to the receiver and the earphone.

20. The sound generating system of claim 1, further comprising memory adapted to store at least a portion of the signal received by the receiver.

21. The sound generating system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit a wireless signal.

22. The sound generating system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna operatively coupled to the receiver.

23. The sound generating system of claim 22, wherein the antenna is disposed within or on a neckband or headband coupled to the earphone.

24. The sound generating system of claim 1, wherein said receiver is powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of a removable battery, a rechargeable battery, a solar module and a fuel cell.

25. A waterproof housing system, comprising:

a waterproof housing adapted to receive an electronic audio device; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit a wireless signal, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the waterproof housing, and wherein the transmitter is adapted to operatively couple to the electronic audio device.

26. The housing system of claim 25, wherein the transmitter is disposed within the waterproof housing.

27. The housing system of claim 25, further comprising a plug operatively coupled to the transmitter, wherein the plug is adapted to connect to an audio jack on the electronic audio device.

28. The housing system of claim 25, wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency electromagnetic signal.

29. The housing system of claim 28, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the wireless signal over more than one frequency.

30. The housing system of claim 29, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the more than one frequency simultaneously.

31. The housing system of claim 29, further comprising a microprocessor adapted to automatically select which frequency to transmit.

32. The housing system of claim 25, wherein the wireless signal is a digital signal.

33. The housing system of claim 32, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter operatively coupled to the transmitter and adapted to operatively couple to the electronic audio device.

34. The housing system of claim 25, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive a wireless signal.

35. The housing system of claim 25, wherein the waterproof housing comprises:

a waterproof container;

a waterproof lid; and

a seal adapted to form a waterproof seal between the container and the lid.

36. A personal audio system, comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal that encodes an audio signal;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless signal; and

a speaker coupled to the wireless receiver and configured to generate the audio signal underwater.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the system is adapted to keep the wireless transmitter, wireless receiver, and speaker waterproof.

38. A waterproof personal sound generating system, comprising:

an electroacoustic transducer configured to deliver sound to an ear of a user;

a wireless digital signal receiver operatively coupled to the electroacoustic transducer; and

a waterproof housing configured to allow the system to be operated in an underwater environment.

39. A waterproof wireless transmitter system, comprising:

a wireless receiver adapted to receive electronic data encoding an audio signal from an electronic audio device;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal encoding the audio signal, wherein the wireless transmitter is operatively coupled to the wireless receiver; and

one or more waterproofing members configured to waterproof the system such that the system can be operated in an underwater environment.