Audio-optical arrangement, accessory, earpiece unit and audio device

• US 9,258,642 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valkee Oy
• Original Assignee: Valkee Oy
• Inventors: Nissila, Juuso, Aunio, Antti, Tiikkainen, Juha
• Primary Examiner(s): BERNARDI, BRENDA C
• Application Number:
  US13/990,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20130301851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/051 with radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/065 Light sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

There is provided an arrangement, an accessory, an audio device, and at least one earpiece unit. The accessory is suitable for an audio device capable of providing an electrical audio signal. The accessory comprises first and second signal conveyers for conveying electrical audio signal driving audio transducers and electrical optic signal driving optical radiation sources, respectively. The audio transducers and the optical radiation sources are located in the earpiece unit.

Claims

1. An accessory for an audio device, the accessory comprising:

at least one earpiece unit each comprising an audio transducer configured to provide sound to a user;

first signal conveyer configured to convey an electrical audio signal to each audio transducer in order to drive the audio transducer; and

a communication interface configured to receive the electrical audio signal from the audio device and to output the electrical audio signal to the first signal conveyer,

characterized in that

each earpiece unit further comprises at least one optical radiation source configured to provide optical radiation to the user, and the accessory further comprises;

second signal conveyer configured to convey at least one electrical optic signal to the at least one optical radiation source, in order to drive the at least one optical radiation source, wherein the second signal conveyer is different from the first signal conveyer; and

the communication interface is further configured to output the at least one electrical optic signal to the second signal conveyer.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second signal conveyer is a single conducting wire common to each optical radiation source;

and

the communication interface is further configured to output a single electrical optic signal, such that each optical radiation source obtains the same electrical optic signal.

3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory further comprises:

a single reference point common to each audio transducer and each optical radiation source.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the communication interface, is an audio jack with four contacts, wherein:

one contact is for receiving and outputting the electrical audio signal from the audio device to the first signal conveyer in order to generate a right audio channel;

one contact is for receiving and outputting the electrical audio signal from the audio device to the first signal conveyer in order to generate a left audio channel;

one contact is for providing the reference point; and

one contact is for receiving and outputting the electrical optic signal from the audio device to the second signal conveyer in order to control the at least one optical radiation source.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is further configured to output a plurality of electrical optic signals, each electrical optic signal controlling a specific optical radiation source.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory further comprises:

a controller operatively coupled to the communication interface, wherein the controller is configured to;

forward the electrical audio signal received from the audio device to the communication interface; and

generate and provide the at least one electrical optic signal for driving the at least one optical radiation source to the communication interface.

7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the accessory further comprises:

input interface operatively coupled to the controller and configured to allow input commands to be given to the controller by the user, wherein the input commands control the magnitude and duration of the at least one electrical optic signal driving the at least one optical radiation source.

8. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the accessory further comprises:

a second communication interface operatively coupled to the controller and configured to enable communication between the audio device and the controller, wherein the second communication interface is an audio jack, a wireless Bluetooth connection, or a universal serial bus connector.

9. An audio device capable of providing an electrical audio signal, the audio device comprising:

a controller configured to generate the electrical audio signal; and

a communication interface configured to output the electrical audio signal,

characterized in that

the communication interface is further configured to be coir pled to an accessory;

the controller is further configured to generate at least one electrical optic signal for driving at least one optical radiation source of the accessory; and

the communication interface is further configured to output the electrical optic signal to the accessory.

10. The audio device of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control the magnitude and duration of the provided at least one electrical optic signal on the basis of input commands received from the user.

11. The audio device of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to detect and control the parameters of the at least one optical radiation source of the accessory.

12. The audio device of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is an audio plug and the controller is further configured to:

apply the micro hone input contact of the audio plug as the output of electrical optic signal for driving the at least one optical radiation source of the accessory; and

switch between using the microphone input contact as the output of the electrical optic signal and as the microphone unit.

23. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory distribution medium readable by a computer and comprising program instructions which, when loaded into the audio device of claim 9, configure the controller of the audio device to provide at least one electrical optic signal for driving at least one optical radiation source.

13. An earpiece unit, comprising:

an audio transducer configured to receive an electrical audio signal and to convert the received electrical audio signal into sound,

characterized in that the earpiece unit further comprises;

an electric circuit configured to receive at least one electrical optic signal; and

at least one optical radiation source configured to generate optical radiation on the basis of the received at least one electrical optic signal, wherein the generated cal radiation is directed to an ear canal of an user.

14. The earpiece unit of claim 13, wherein the earpiece unit further comprises:

a main body party comprising the audio transduce and the at least one optical radiation source;

a tip part attached to the main body part and configured to fit to the ear of the user, wherein the tip part has an elliptical cross section.

15. The earpiece unit of claim 13, wherein the earpiece unit further comprises:

at least one light guide configured to direct the generated optical radiation to the ear canal of the user, wherein the at least one light guide extends from the main body part to inside the tip part.

16. The earpiece unit of claim 14, wherein the earpiece unit further comprises:

a second guide directing sound to the ear canal of the user, wherein the sound guide extends from the main body part to inside the tip part.

17. The earpiece unit of claim 16, wherein the electrical circuit is a printed wiring board to which the at least one optical radiation source is mounted on, wherein the printed wiring board has an aperture allowing the audio transducer or the sound guide to extend through the printed wiring board.

18. The earpiece unit claim 13, wherein the earpiece unit comprises at least two optical radiation sources arranged in the periphery of a circle.

19. The earpiece unit of claim 18, wherein:

each of the at least two optical radiation sources has at least one light guide configured to guide the optical radiation to the ear canal of the user; and

the sound guide extends inside the tip part between the guides.

20. The earpiece unit of claim 18, wherein:

the tip part and the sound guide are configured to guide the optical radiation to the ear canal of the user, wherein the inner surface of the tip part and the outer surface of the sound guide are at least partly coated with reflective material.

21. The earpiece unit of claim 13, wherein the earpiece unit comprises:

a sound guide directing sound to the ear canal of the user; and

at least one light guide configured to direct the generated optical radiation to the ear canal of the user,

wherein the sound guide, the at least one light guide, the electric circuit and the at least one optical radiation source are integrated into one entity, wherein the entity is replaceably connected to the rest of the earpiece unit; and

at least part of the entity is, in use, configured to enter the ear canal of the user.

22. The earpiece unit of claim 21, wherein:

the sound guide comprises at least one aperture on the longitudinal side of the sound guide for the outputting the sound; and

the electric circuit, on which the at least one optical radiation source is mounted, locates on the end of the sound guide.