Power transferring headphones

• US 9,271,063 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phaz Music Corp.
• Original Assignee: Zeikos Incorporated
• Inventors: Saideh, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul S
• Application Number:
  US14/665,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/309
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• 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 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

The invention relates to headphones which can facilitate the transfer of electrical power from the headphones'"'"' internal power source to other devices. A pair of headphones can connect to a device through a modified cable. The modified cable triggers the transfer of electrical power to the device. A pair headphones may have a modified port which, when connected to the device through a non-modified or regular cable, causes the transfer of power from the headphones. A power management component connected to the internal power source of the headphones helps control or regulate the transfer of power transfer to and from the headphones.

Claims

1. A pair of headphones, comprising:

a first speaker unit configured to provide audio output and comprising an internal power source;

a second speaker unit configured to provide audio output and electronically connected with the first speaker unit, the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit physically connected with a band;

a port located on one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit, the port in electrical communication with the internal power source and configured to receive electronic data;

an internal digital-to-analog converter disposed within one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit and electronically connected between the port and the first and second speaker units; and

an internal power management component disposed within one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit and operatively connected between the internal power source and the port to direct electrical power to flow from the internal power source to an external electronic device that is electronically connected to one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit via the port while simultaneously directing electrical power to flow from the internal power source to one or more other powered components of the headphones;

wherein the port is configured to transmit electrical power and receive electronic data simultaneously.

2. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprise a wireless communication receiver.

3. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises an amplifier.

4. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the internal power management component is configured to control an output voltage of the internal power source.

5. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the internal power management component is configured to determine an amount of electrical power in the internal power source.

6. The pair of headphones of claim 5, wherein the internal power management component is configured to prevent electrical power from flowing through the port if the internal power source is below a predetermined threshold level.

7. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the port is configured to receive a portion of a power transferring cable.

8. The pair of headphones of claim 7, wherein the port is configured as one of the group comprising:

a USB-A port, a mini USB-A port, a micro USB-A port, a USB-B port, a mini USB-B port, a micro USB-B port, and a Lightning Port.

9. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the port is configured to receive electronic data associated with audio content.

10. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises a noise-cancellation component.

11. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the power management component is a digital signal processor.

12. The pair of headphones of claim 1, wherein the power management component is configured to apportion a predetermined amount of electrical power to an external electronic device electrically coupled with the port.

13. A pair of headphones, comprising:

a first speaker unit configured to provide audio output and comprising an internal power source;

a second speaker unit configured to provide audio output and electronically connected with the first speaker unit, the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit physically connected with a band;

a port located on one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit, the port in electrical communication with the internal power source and configured to receive electronic data;

a wireless communication receiver disposed within one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit and electronically connected to the internal power source; and

an internal power management component disposed within one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit and operatively connected between the internal power source and the port to direct electrical power to flow from the internal power source to an external electronic device that is electronically connected to one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit via the port while simultaneously directing electrical power to flow from the internal power source to one or more other powered components of the headphones.

14. The pair of headphones of claim 13, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises an amplifier.

15. The pair of headphones of claim 13, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises a noise-cancellation component.

16. The pair of headphones of claim 13, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises an internal digital-to-analog converter.

17. A pair of headphones, comprising:

a first speaker unit configured to provide audio output and comprising an internal power source;

a second speaker unit configured to provide audio output and electronically connected with the first speaker unit, the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit physically connected with a band;

a port located on one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit, the port in electrical communication with the internal power source and configured to receive electronic data;

a noise-cancellation component electronically connected to the internal power source; and

an internal power management component disposed within one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit and operatively connected between the internal power source and the port to direct electrical power to flow from the internal power source to an external electronic device that is electronically connected to one of the first speaker unit and the second speaker unit via the port while simultaneously directing electrical power to flow from the internal power source to one or more other powered components of the headphones.

18. The pair of headphones of claim 17, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises an amplifier.

19. The pair of headphones of claim 17, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises a wireless communication receiver.

20. The pair of headphones of claim 17, wherein the one or more other powered components of the headphones comprises an internal digital-to-analog converter.