Wireless earphone set

• US 8,655,420 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Pelland, Michael J., Koss, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US14/031,938
• Time in Patent Office: 152 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.2, 455/412.2, 455/553.1, 455/425, 455/436, 455/90.2, 455/418, 370/328, 370/389, 370/352, 381/58, 381/74
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• 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 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks

Abstract

An earphone set that comprises a paired set of earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user is disclosed. Each earphone in the paired set comprises at least one acoustic transducer for producing sound to be heard by the user. At least one of the earphones in the pair set comprises a transceiver circuit and at least one button. The transceiver circuit is for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals via a wireless network. The at least one button is accessible to the user at an exterior of the at least one earphone. Upon activation of the at least one button by the user, an indication for a song played by the pair of earphones is caused to be transmitted wirelessly, by the transceiver circuit via the wireless network, to a remote server connected to the Internet. The song played by the pair of earphones may be streamed from a digital audio content server connected to the Internet.

Claims

1. An earphone set comprising:

a paired set of earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user, wherein each earphone in the paired set comprises at least one acoustic transducer for producing sound to be heard by the user; and

wherein at least one of the earphones in the paired set comprises;

a transceiver circuit for wirelessly communicating via a wireless network, and wherein transceiver circuit wirelessly receives digital audio content for songs to be played by the paired set of earphones via the wireless network; and

at least one user control accessible to the user at an exterior of the at least one earphone, wherein upon activation of the at least one user control by the user, metadata for a song played by the pair of earphones is caused to be transmitted wirelessly, by the transceiver circuit via the wireless network, to a remote server connected to the Internet.

2. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a WiFi network.

3. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a Bluetooth network.

4. The earphone set of claim 3, wherein the earphone set is in wireless communication with an audio source via the Bluetooth network.

5. The earphone set of claim 4, wherein the song played by the pair of earphones is streamed from a digital audio content server connected to the Internet.

6. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the song played by the pair of earphones is streamed from a digital audio content server connected to the Internet.

7. The earphone set of claim 1, further comprising a headband connected between the paired set of earphones.

8. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the paired set of earphones comprises a paired set of in-ear earphones, and wherein both of the earphones in the paired set of earphone comprises a transceiver circuit for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals via a wireless network.

9. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the earphones in the paired set comprises:

memory for storing firmware; and

a processor for executing the firmware.

10. The earphone set of claim 9, wherein the transceiver circuit is for receiving an update for the firmware via the wireless network.

11. The earphone set of claim 9, wherein at least one of the earphones in the paired set is connectable to a computer for receiving an update for the firmware via the computer.

12. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the transceiver circuit is further for transmitting an approval indication for the song wirelessly, via the wireless network, to the remote server connected to the Internet.

13. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control comprises at least one button.

14. The earphone set of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control comprises at least one switch.