Luminescent headphones without battery packs

• US 8,509,453 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bychkov, Eyal, Moran, Dov, Sherman, Itay
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): FALEY, KATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US12/903,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones

Abstract

Audio apparatus, including an audio player, housed within a casing, for producing audio output, a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, a light emitting source, a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to the audio player and to the light emitting source, and a headphone for listening to audio output produced by the audio player, including a connector for insertion into the port, and a light pipe for transmitting light generated by the light emitting source.

Claims

1. Audio apparatus, comprising:

an audio player, housed within a casing, for producing audio output;

a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, through which sound produced by said audio player is transmitted;

a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to said audio player; and

a headphone for listening to audio output produced by said audio player, comprising;

a connector for insertion into said port;

an AC-to-DC convertor;

an LED light emitting source for generating light, the light emitting source being powered via said AC-to-DC converter by an audio tone produced by said audio player at an inaudible high frequency above 20 KHz; and

a light pipe for transmitting light generated by said light emitting source.

2. The audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector is a USB connector.

3. The audio apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector is an audio jack.

4. The audio apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light pattern generator, housed within the casing and receiving power from said power source, for controlling said light emitting source to generate any one of a plurality of light patterns.

5. The audio apparatus of claim 4 wherein said light pattern generator generates a light pattern according to volume of audio output produced by said audio player.