Wearable computing device with behind-ear bone-conduction speaker

• US 8,553,910 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Dong, Jianchun, Heinrich, Mitchell, Ooi, Leng
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/299,201
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 381/151, 381/380, 381/326, 381/327, 381/23.1, 381/322, 381/324, 381/334, 381/374, 381/376, 381/381, 151/158, 455/347, 351/158
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/02 Viewing or reading apparatus stereoscopic systems G02B30/00
• 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: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• 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 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

Apparatuses that provide a bone-conduction speaker arranged to be located behind the ear are described herein. An exemplary apparatus may include: (a) a glasses-style support structure comprising a front section and at least one side section; (b) at least one bone-conduction speaker; and (c) a member having a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the proximate end is attached to the at least one side section, and wherein the at least one bone-conduction speaker is attached to the member at or near the distal end; wherein the member is arranged on the at least one side section such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the member: (a) extends to the anterior of the at least one side section and (b) locates the bone-conduction speaker posterior to an ear.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a glasses-style support structure comprising a front section and at least one side section;

at least one bone-conduction speaker; and

a curved cantilever spring having a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the proximate end is attached to the at least one side section, and wherein the at least one bone-conduction speaker is attached to the curved cantilever spring at or near the distal end;

wherein the curved cantilever spring is coupled to the at least one side section such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the curved cantilever spring;

(a) extends to the anterior of the at least one side section, (b) locates the bone-conduction speaker posterior to an ear, and (c) exerts a force on the bone-conduction speaker towards the posterior surface of the ear;

wherein the curved cantilever spring is flexible and tends to return to a natural curved shape; and

wherein the proximate end of curved cantilever spring is coupled to the at least one side section at a coupling location such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the coupling location is anterior to a location where the bone-conduction speaker contacts the ear.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the glasses-style support structure is configured to support a head-mountable device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved cantilever spring is arranged on the at least one side section such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the bone-conduction speaker that is attached at the distal end of the curved cantilever spring faces a posterior surface of the ear.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved cantilever spring is moveable such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the bone-conduction speaker attached at or near the distal end of the curved cantilever spring is generally moveable along an anterior-posterior axis towards and away from a posterior surface of the ear.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved cantilever spring is moveable such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the bone-conduction speaker attached at or near the distal end of the curved cantilever spring is configured for movement towards and away from a posterior surface of the ear having an anterior and posterior component, respectively, and an inferior and superior component, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved cantilever spring is moveable such that the bone-conduction speaker attached at the distal end of the member is anteriorly moveable towards a posterior surface of the ear.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the curved cantilever spring exerts on the bone-conduction speaker presses the bone-conduction speaker against an auricle of the ear.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retention mechanism attached to the at least one side section, wherein the retention mechanism is configured to hold the curved cantilever spring in a retracted position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved cantilever spring and the bone-conduction speaker collectively provide a spring-loaded bone conduction speaker.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retraction system, wherein the curved cantilever spring is moveable such that the bone-conduction speaker is retractable.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the member is substantially flush with the side section when retracted.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the curved cantilever spring is substantially embedded within the side section when retracted.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional bone-conduction speakers arranged on the curved cantilever spring to face one or more posterior surfaces of the ear.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one side section comprises a first side section, wherein the curved cantilever spring is a first curved cantilever spring, and wherein the bone-conduction speaker is a first bone-conduction speaker, the apparatus further comprising:

a second side section of the glasses-style support structure;

a second bone-conduction speaker; and

a second curved cantilever spring having a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the proximate end of the second curved cantilever spring is attached to the second side section, and wherein the second bone-conduction speaker is attached to the second curved cantilever spring at or near the distal end;

wherein the second curved cantilever spring is arranged on the second side section such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the second curved cantilever spring;

(a) extends to the anterior of the second side section and (b) locates the bone-conduction speaker posterior to an ear that is opposite the ear that the first bone-conduction speaker is posteriorly located.

15. An apparatus comprising:

at least one bone-conduction speaker; and

a curved cantilever spring having a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the proximate end comprises an attachment feature that is configured to attach to a side section of a glasses-style support structure, and wherein the at least one bone-conduction speaker is attached to the curved cantilever spring at or near the distal end;

wherein the curved cantilever spring is attachable to the side section such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the curved cantilever spring;

(a) extends to the anterior of the at least one side section, (b) locates the bone-conduction speaker posterior to an ear, and (c) exerts a force on the bone-conduction speaker towards the posterior surface of the ear;

wherein the curved cantilever spring is flexible and tends to return to a natural curved shape; and

wherein the proximate end of curved cantilever spring is attachable to the side section at an attachment location such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the attachment location is anterior to a location where the bone-conduction speaker contacts the ear.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the curved cantilever spring is attachable to the side section such that when the glasses-style support structure is worn the bone-conduction speaker attached at or near the distal end of the curved cantilever spring is generally moveable along an anterior-posterior axis towards and away from a posterior surface of the ear.